PEACEMAKERS
As I write this column, our country is going through an incredibly challenging time — certainly, one of the most challenging I have witnessed. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted almost all aspects of our daily lives. For those of us in the law enforcement community, as essential workers, it has been especially demanding and stressful. […]
HEALTHY PARENTING IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
No one imagined the changes we would have to make and the challenges we would have to face when the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the spread of the corona virus had officially become a pandemic on March 11, 2020. This is not the first time humanity has been threatened by a pandemic. However, […]
“SURE I DRINK, BUT I DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM”
It’s one of those phrases I hear frequently enough in the consulting room. Sometimes they’re right. But often, the person sitting across from me is denying a very unhealthy reality. What is a drinking problem? Simply stated, a drinking problem can be defined as any drinking behavior that causes trouble in any one of the […]
HELPING A FRIEND
Making the decision to help a friend with a substance abuse problem is a big one. When making this decision, be aware that you’re likely to experience many different emotional reactions, such as anger, frustration and sadness, to name a few. You might find yourself asking questions like: “How can I be helpful?” and “Is […]
WHY COMMITMENT MATTERS!
Perhaps one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is: “What do I believe I was born to do?” As I walk and talk with LASD deputies, I often feel I’m among people who’ve discovered their purpose. They truly believe in being society’s peacekeepers and servants. They really do believe in protecting the […]
And So It Begins
What happens when you start buying drinks for yourself because you “deserve” a drink for doing a good job? Are you toasting yourself? Are you the only one celebrating? You might be entering a phase called “reward drinking,” which is often an early sign of trouble. The transition from social drinking to reward drinking is […]
THE POWER OF EXERCISE
A couple of months ago, a friend called me in a panic. She shared a number of stressors, including uncertainty about her job, feeling overwhelmed as a mother, increased tension in her marital relationship and feeling “down” lately. She asked for my advice and the first thing I asked was, “How long has it been […]
FOR YOUR PEACE, SAFETY AND HEALTH!
In mid-March, our good friend Rabbi and LASD Chaplain Eric Morgenstern sent out this wish for peace, safety and health. I’d like to share it with you. Whether or not COVID-19 is still active at the time these notes appear, his wishes are still relevant. With his blessing, I added some brief observations as well. […]
PROBLEM? WHAT PROBLEM?
One of the most frequent questions I get from people seeking advice about their drinking has to do with differentiating between being a heavy drinker and an alcoholic. After all, being a heavy drinker isn’t a problem, right? Well, question of whether or not your drinking is a problem is not only answered by how […]