Author Archives: Drew Powell

When to Step Away: Safety Planning for Wives in Active Addiction

Colorado mountain landscape graphic titled When to Step Away Safety Planning for Wives, symbolizing stability, protection, and boundaries in addiction recovery.

There is a difference between supporting recovery and surviving chaos. Many wives live in a constant question: “Is this something we work through… or is it something I need to step back from?” That question is not weakness. It is wisdom. Addiction creates instability. When instability becomes unsafe, planning is necessary. WHAT “STEPPING AWAY” REALLY […]

Financial Infidelity in Addiction: Steps to Protect Your Assets

Colorado Rocky Mountain graphic titled Financial Infidelity Protecting Your Stability, symbolizing financial boundaries and accountability in gambling addiction recovery.

It doesn’t start with bankruptcy. It starts with a hidden charge. A missing statement.A new account you didn’t know existed.A loan you never discussed.Cash withdrawals that don’t make sense. When addiction and secrecy combine, financial infidelity often follows. And by the time it is discovered, the damage may already be significant. WHAT IS FINANCIAL INFIDELITY? […]

The “Pink Cloud” Syndrome: Navigating Early Sobriety

pink cloud syndrome in sobriety illustrated by a calm Colorado winter landscape

Early sobriety can feel surprisingly good. Many men experience a burst of energy, optimism, and confidence in the weeks following sobriety. Sleep improves. Relationships feel lighter. Anxiety may decrease. Motivation returns. This phase is often referred to as the “pink cloud.” While this experience can be encouraging, it can also be misleading. When misunderstood, the […]

Identity Reconstruction: Who Are You Without the Drink?

identity reconstruction in recovery reflected in a quiet Colorado landscape

For many men, alcohol is not just something they use.It becomes part of who they are. The drinker.The fun one.The stress-reliever.The guy who can hold it together no matter what. When a man considers stopping or changing his relationship with alcohol, the fear is often not just about cravings. It is about identity.If I am […]

A New Year of Recovery: How Men Can Build a Sustainable Plan for Change

new year recovery plan for men focused on stability accountability and long term change

A new year recovery plan for men begins with structure, honesty, and support, not resolutions. January often feels like a clean slate for men struggling with process addictions such as sex addiction, pornography addiction, or gambling addiction. Many attempt to reset with goals or promises, only to find themselves repeating the same patterns weeks later. […]

What is Vitamin D Deficiency?

Anaheim Hills, Anaheim, United States

Vitamin D deficiency is a common condition with implications for mental health. Several randomized controlled trials have now shown that raising vitamin D levels in individuals with a deficiency can help mitigate the effects of depression. You obtain vitamin D through food and the sun. With summer right around the corner, spending time outdoors with […]

What is Community Care?

diverse characters holding up jigsaw pieces

We often hear about the importance of self-care in the era of mental health clickbait and an increasing desire for likes on social media. But what about community care? What about putting systems in place so that people don’t feel so alone in the world? It Starts With a Neighborhood Imagine neighbors passing one another with […]

The Importance of Individuation

side-profile-of-man

As defined by the Oxford dictionary, to individuate is to distinguish from others of the same kind. In practice, this means deciding how you will differentiate yourself from your place of origin through careful discernment. Throughout life, you will have to make decisions for yourself. You decide, at some level, what job you work, who your […]

Everything I Needed to Know About Life I Learned From Mountain Biking

A man mountain bikes near Wade Lake in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.

Whizzing down the mountain, the wind whips against your face and gives you an exhilarating rush. The tires of your bike roll beneath you down the rickety path as you give yourself to the gravity of the mountain. When you slam the brakes to avoid an oncoming tree, your wheels skid at a 45-degree angle, […]