As much as the end of the year brings people together with Halloween parties in October, Thanksgiving dinner in November, and a plethora of holidays in December such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, it can also be an overwhelming time. This is especially true for those battling a substance use disorder (SUD) or an alcohol use disorder (AUD).

A well-lived life needs to have significant and possibly considerable amounts of discomfort in it. For instance, do you want to exercise well, maintain a certain weight, get up early, work hard at something, or hold your tongue in an intense discussion? You are likely to feel uncomfortable! The key, then, is to learn skills for managing discomfort that will inevitably come.

The American college experience, ideally, is a broadening time of liberation and learning. For a typical college-aged student, entering young adulthood and freed from the constraints of parental authority, there are ample opportunities for self-discovery and development.

And yet, the outlook is not always rosy.

Though first responders are trained to work efficiently under the most challenging conditions, the constant exposure to life-threatening or traumatizing events eventually takes a toll.

The tumultuous events of the last year – political unrest, the coronavirus, and even the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 – have put our first responders and public health workers in sharp focus.

Hopelessness is a terrible feeling. Not only is it a powerfully defeating emotion, hopelessness changes our perception. When we feel hopeless, it’s difficult to perceive the prospect of improving our present circumstances, our future, our relationships, or society writ large. We may lose interest in things we once valued, such as our favorite activities and important relationships. We may increasingly feel powerless, isolated, and abandoned. Without hope, we lose our ability to imagine the sun behind the clouds, focusing solely on the rain and the storm’s perceived permanency.

Practical Recovery and SMART Recovery both use the self-empowering approach for resolving addictive problems. This approach contrasts with the powerlessness-based approach of AA and other 12-step groups, at least on the surface. Both approaches begin with the person considering change, and then deciding to change (at least to some degree). Both approaches can be effective, but one may work better for specific individuals.