Genuine Life Blog - Jodie Stevens

Mental Health Disorders that Co-occur with Addictions

by Jodie Stevens | August 2, 2022 | Emotional Difficulties & Addiction | 0 Comments

Many people who suffer from an addiction also have a co-occurring mental health disorder. The DSM-5 uses the term substance use disorder to describe anyone who’s use of drugs or alcohol causes significant life problems as well as continued use despise decreased...

My Addiction Gave me Wings, then Took Away my Sky

by Jodie Stevens | May 5, 2022 | Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Hope, Psychology and Personal Growth | 0 Comments

Believe it or not, most people are trying to make their lives better when they start using drugs or alcohol. For instance, someone might snort cocaine or stimulants to make more sales at work or feel invincible around people. This may meet a person’s social or...

The Stigma of Addiction

by Jodie Stevens | April 4, 2022 | Emotional Difficulties & Addiction | 0 Comments

The memory of my brother that morning is burned in my mind even though it’s been 20 years since addiction took his life in 2015. He was white as a ghost when he showed up at my apartment as I was getting ready to take him to a recovery center. “Are you ok?” I asked as...

Why Relapse is a Normal Part of Recovery

by Jodie Stevens | January 11, 2022 | Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Hope, Psychology and Personal Growth | 0 Comments

January means millions of us are working toward getting organized, paying down debt or losing 30 pounds. Unfortunately, by March most of us will have had several setbacks if we haven't thrown in the towel altogether. We don't normally see these impediments as...

Addiction and Childhood Trauma

by Jodie Stevens | December 7, 2021 | Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Fear and Anxiety, Psychology and Personal Growth | 0 Comments

The causes of addiction can be complex. However, many begin very early in our development, stemming from a lack of healthy bonding to our caregiver. When we experience healthy bonding or attachment, we come to see the world as a safe place. A place where we can be who...

Can you be an Alcoholic and Codependent?

by Jodie Stevens | October 14, 2021 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

The answer is definitely yes! There is a saying: "If you take the booze away from an alcoholic you get a co-dependent." For me personally, addiction is what I quit and codependency is what I had to overcome to stay sober. In a nutshell, co-dependency is the denial or...

What is the False-Self and Why do We Create One?

by Jodie Stevens | October 5, 2021 | Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Psychology and Personal Growth | 0 Comments

The false self is something we create in early childhood to get our attachment needs met. This false-self becomes a defense mechanism to guard against rejection, disapproval, triggers, hurts, and wounds that began during the early phases of our development. If our...

What is Codependency and is it an Addiction?

by Jodie Stevens | September 14, 2021 | Choices, Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Psychology and Personal Growth | 0 Comments

“When a codependent dies, someone else’s life flashes before their eyes.” I know, it’s funny and not funny at the same time. When I first heard that ‘joke’ I didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. Before I describe codependency, I want to point out that we are all...

What Does Forgiveness have to do with Recovery Anyway?

by Jodie Stevens | August 23, 2021 | Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Forgiveness, Psychology and Personal Growth | 0 Comments

We all know what it’s like to be hurt or betrayed. When it happened to me, I saw no possible hope of ever returning to normal. The pain was unbearable. It wasn’t physical pain, not in the normal sense. It was an ache deep in my inner being. It took my breath away and...

What is Emotional Sobriety and Why Do I Need It?

by Jodie Stevens | August 8, 2021 | Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Psychology and Personal Growth | 0 Comments

If you are sober from drugs or alcohol you may wonder what emotional sobriety is and why you need it, especially since you quit your addiction? Any good recovery program helps clients move toward emotional sobriety through the 12 Steps, counseling, or the...