David Sklar, PhD, ACSWJan 26, 20211 min 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,...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWOct 21, 20202 minA Priest, Rabbi, and Marriage Counselor walk into an officeSeveral weeks ago I received a request from a young women requesting pre-marital counseling for her and the prospective husband. Even...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWApr 29, 20201 minCORONAVIRUS AND ALCOHOLIf we understand that we drink in order to change our spatial and temporal attunement to the world, and not to escape from our problems...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWApr 22, 20201 minEXISTENTIAL MODEL FOR SUSUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENTYOU GOT YOURSELF INTO THIS. YOU WILL GET YOURSELF OUT OF THIS. More on this later.
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWApr 12, 20202 minNOAH, THE ANGER AND SHAME OF THE ALCOHOLIC FATHERWe 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...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWApr 6, 20201 minTHE BEGINNINGS OF SOBRIETYMy 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...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWMar 28, 20201 minPOWERLESS- THE HALLMARK OF AN ALCOHOLICAn understanding of the first step is crucial for maintaining sobriety. A lived understanding of the first step is imperative in...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWMar 26, 20201 minDRY 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...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWMar 26, 20201 minALCOHOLISM IS PROGRESSIVE- WHAT DOES THAT MEANWhen I previously mentioned some of the aspects of alcoholism, I failed to touch on alcoholism as a progressive phenomena. What does this...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWMar 23, 20201 minLONELINESS, 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...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWMar 23, 20201 minRECOVERY AND BEING ALONEBeing alone and being lonely are two different things. Being alone, and being lonely present two different issues for someone in...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWMar 23, 20201 minIS AA NECESSARY FOR SOBRIETY?No. Obviously not. Participation in AA is not necessary for getting sober or maintaining sobriety. Throughout history a certain...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWMar 22, 20202 minALCOHOL IS DIFFERENTAlcohol is different in its origin, history, and use then any other substance. It has qualities, and induces effects that are unique....
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWMar 22, 20201 minTREATMENT GOAL-BE ALCOHOL FREEThe primary goal in the treatment of alcoholism and addiction is sobriety. I define sobriety as total abstention from whatever drug is...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWMar 21, 20201 minTHOUGHTS ON AATreatment for alcoholism is based on the founding principles of Alcoholic Anonymous, as reflected in the twelve steps. The first addition...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWMar 19, 20201 minALCOHOL AND PILLSPharmaceuticals and alcohol are both similar and symbiotic.Both pills and alcohol take some time to reach full effect. One of the...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWMar 19, 20201 minIMAGINATION 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...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWMar 19, 20202 minCRAVINGS? 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....
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWMar 18, 20202 minWHY 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,...
David Sklar, PhD, ACSWMar 18, 20202 minThe Current Opiate EpidemicI was a psychotherapist in a methadone clinic in the early eighties for two years. I left right before the Aides epidemic ravaged the...