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David's Latest Blog Posts

New Recovery Voices: Tim Leighton & Gary Rutherford (April 15, 2024)
My Forthcoming UK Trip (April 11, 2024)
My Journey: From Brain Chemicals to Human Connection (March 2, 2024)
Ten Most Viewed Posts, 2023 (December 31, 2023)
Reflections on, and Quotes from, Noreen Oliver MBE (RIP) (December 30, 2023)
An Extraordinary Recovery Champion: Noreen Oliver RIP (December 20, 2023)
My Apologies (December 20, 2023)
Recovery Voices: Our First Two Weeks (October 9, 2023)
The Recovery Walk in Hull 2023: Carl’s Story (October 2, 2023)
Huseyin Djemil, Part 2 (September 26, 2023)
Recovery Voices Launched Today (September 25, 2023)
Apology and What’s Coming Next Month (August 13, 2023)
Powerlessness: Wendy Dossett (August 1, 2023)
Inspired by Natalie’s Story (July 31, 2023)
Gifts of Knowledge That Recovering People Can Bestow: Bill White (July 29, 2023)
An Exciting 24 Hours, Recovery-Wise (July 28, 2023)
My Second Recovery Voices Interview With Wulf Livingston (July 27, 2023)
My Second Interview With James Deakin of North Wales Recovery Communities (July 11, 2023)

Random Content Selection

Random Story

Michael’s Recovery Story: ‘The Power of Empathy and Compassion’

Michael followed both his parents into a life of dependent drinking, but he will be 45 years sober on 10 April 2023. He describes his recovery journey, his work as a drug and alcohol counsellor, and his part-time role in ‘retirement’. (7,316 words)

Random Article

Understanding Intentional Behavioural Change

Recovery from addiction is about behavioural change. James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente’s model about the stages and processes of behavioural change has made a very significant contribution to the field. (2,409 words)

Random Film

Learn the Signs and Symptoms of PTSD, with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

Bessel starts this seven-minute film clip by describing how the diagnosis for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was created to remind the Department of Veterans Administration in the USA to take care of war veterans. It was quite clear that a large of number of Vietnam veterans were traumatised by their war-time experiences. Big Think. [7’15”]

Random Resource

Dr David McCartney’s Blog

One of my favourite bloggers is Dr David McCartney, Clinical Lead at the Lothians & Edinburgh Abstinence Programme (LEAP). I’ve known David for over 15 years and I love visiting LEAP when I am in Edinburgh. Here are links to 11 of David’s posts on our website that first appeared on the Recovery Review blog.

Random Healing

What is Healing to Me?: Australian Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation

Here are quotes from six different people participating in a national consultation process: ‘Initially, I think healing is about recognition. Recognition, both internally and externally, of self, of others and as a collective that there are ‘issues’. That there is pain. That there is anger and hurt and sadness that stems from past events. And […]