Depression and alcoholism as a dual diagnosis kept me in a downward spiral until I reached out and asked for help. I drank because I was depressed, and then the alcohol depressed me even more, thus encouraging me to self-medicate with more alcohol. Recovering from either depression or alcoholism alone is challenging enough; recovering from the dual diagnosis of depression and alcoholism often feels impossible. 

How should you deal with a loved one who is actively addicted? For friends and family of addicts and alcoholics, this heartbreaking question constantly presents itself. Guidelines are helpful, but many instances will need to be addressed on a case by case basis.

If you've considered going to an addiction recovery meeting as a newcomer and changed your mind because you're afraid of who might be there, you're not alone. I'm often asked, "What kind of people come to recovery meetings? Do you feel safe there?" and so on. Mainly these questions are posed to me by people who have never seen skid-row -- let alone mixed in with the "wrong crowd" or got caught up in a bar fight. Because of the stigma associated with addicts, I understand why outsiders may assume that everyone in recovery meetings are seedy, untrustworthy, and dangerous people, but most people are not like that. These personal safety tips for newcomers to recovery meetings may make you feel more safe.

I used to lie all the time. In my addiction, I lied constantly to cover up my drinking (not that it worked). Even before I started drinking, I lied about my mental health issues because I thought if people knew what was going on inside my head, they would think I was weird (they still did). It wasn't until I got sober that I realized how dishonest I had been on a daily basis and the importance of honesty in addiction recovery.

Making a resolution to stop an old behavior, or start a new one, is about more than changing the action itself. We also need to develop a lifestyle and environment around the change we want to make. Some people blame the concept and say our annual failings only serve as proof that New Year's resolutions don't work. In reality, the reasons we fail have less to do with making resolutions and more to do with the fact that we lack the lasting motivation that will sustain us through thick and thin. When you're ready to quit drinking, stop smoking, or get off drugs, it doesn't matter if you start on January 1st or July 14th. If you're ready now, here are four essential steps to making that a lasting change in the New Year.

New Year's is almost upon us. That means it's resolution time. This January 1st will mark four years since I've smoked a cigarette or consumed any other form of nicotine. Here's how I broke my nicotine addiction.

Whether the program is LifeRing, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), SMART Recovery, or some other program, the first question of a newcomer is always the same: "Does this addiction recovery program work?" The answer to this simple question varies, depending on who you ask. Yet, there is one factor that can make or break a person's success in any recovery program.

These are some of my favorite responses to the question, "Why aren't you drinking?"

Concerns over having a clean and sober holiday pop up all year round, but especially in the fall and winter months. Every year it happens -- people start talking about the holidays, complaining, planning and worrying. It seems like starting in October, the curmudgeons start to become more vocal. Personally, I enjoy the season, although it can certainly be stressful. Most of us field a lot of expectations, invitations and obligations in November and December. For those of us in addiction recovery, all these events can bring addiction triggers, especially when others are drinking around us and staying clean and sober can become a challenge.

Recognize other ways of dealing with stressful situations in order to avoid drinking or using your substance of choice.