David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
2 types of pain
THERE ARE 2 TYPES OF PAIN THE PAIN THAT HURTS, and THE PAIN THAT ALTERS. DENZEL "EQUALIZER 2" I remember an old alcoholic, Bill Stokes,...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Oct 21, 2020
- 2 min
A Priest, Rabbi, and Marriage Counselor walk into an office
Several weeks ago I received a request from a young women requesting pre-marital counseling for her and the prospective husband. Even...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Apr 29, 2020
- 1 min
CORONAVIRUS AND ALCOHOL
If we understand that we drink in order to change our spatial and temporal attunement to the world, and not to escape from our problems...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Apr 22, 2020
- 1 min
EXISTENTIAL MODEL FOR SUSUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT
YOU GOT YOURSELF INTO THIS. YOU WILL GET YOURSELF OUT OF THIS. More on this later.
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Apr 12, 2020
- 2 min
NOAH, THE ANGER AND SHAME OF THE ALCOHOLIC FATHER
We all remember the story of Noah in the Bible. Noah is told by G-d to build an ark in lieu of G-d's decision to destroy the world. Noah...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Apr 6, 2020
- 1 min
THE BEGINNINGS OF SOBRIETY
My greatest wish the day I stopped drinking was for a year of sobriety. I wanted to sit at the kitchen table, across from my family...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Mar 28, 2020
- 1 min
POWERLESS- THE HALLMARK OF AN ALCOHOLIC
An understanding of the first step is crucial for maintaining sobriety. A lived understanding of the first step is imperative in...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Mar 26, 2020
- 1 min
DRY DRUNK?
I have always been confused by the phrase "Dry Drunk" as I have heard it used over the years. How is it possible to be sober and drunk at...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Mar 26, 2020
- 1 min
ALCOHOLISM IS PROGRESSIVE- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
When I previously mentioned some of the aspects of alcoholism, I failed to touch on alcoholism as a progressive phenomena. What does this...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Mar 23, 2020
- 1 min
LONELINESS, RELAPSE, AND ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
The Google definition of loneliness is feeling sad and unhappy about being socially isolated. Loneliness can occur in a crowd, family, or...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Mar 23, 2020
- 1 min
RECOVERY AND BEING ALONE
Being alone and being lonely are two different things. Being alone, and being lonely present two different issues for someone in...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Mar 23, 2020
- 1 min
IS AA NECESSARY FOR SOBRIETY?
No. Obviously not. Participation in AA is not necessary for getting sober or maintaining sobriety. Throughout history a certain...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Mar 22, 2020
- 2 min
ALCOHOL IS DIFFERENT
Alcohol is different in its origin, history, and use then any other substance. It has qualities, and induces effects that are unique....
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Mar 22, 2020
- 1 min
TREATMENT GOAL-BE ALCOHOL FREE
The primary goal in the treatment of alcoholism and addiction is sobriety. I define sobriety as total abstention from whatever drug is...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Mar 21, 2020
- 1 min
THOUGHTS ON AA
Treatment for alcoholism is based on the founding principles of Alcoholic Anonymous, as reflected in the twelve steps. The first addition...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Mar 19, 2020
- 1 min
ALCOHOL AND PILLS
Pharmaceuticals and alcohol are both similar and symbiotic.Both pills and alcohol take some time to reach full effect. One of the...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Mar 19, 2020
- 1 min
IMAGINATION AND RELAPSE
i always wondered why i couldn't drink once every 6 months. That is only 2 times in 365 days. Now that I am sober, I completely...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Mar 19, 2020
- 2 min
CRAVINGS? NOT REALLY
I, like all of us struggling with alcohol or other substances, had many fears prior to quitting. My greatest fear was handling cravings....
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Mar 18, 2020
- 2 min
WHY WE USE DRUGS
This question is usually answered by stating that the reason we use substances is to escape from our problems.That rarely felt true,...
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David Sklar, PhD, ACSW
- Mar 18, 2020
- 2 min
The Current Opiate Epidemic
I was a psychotherapist in a methadone clinic in the early eighties for two years. I left right before the Aides epidemic ravaged the...
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