I sometimes introduce myself as YodaNinja. "Yoda on the outside, Ninja on the inside." Outside, I seem calm and composed. When I speak (or write), what I say can be profound, perplexing... or both. But my inner world is another story. Deep inside of me is a Ninja battleground where thoughts, emotions, ideas, and utter randomness all fight for my attention. Every once in a while, they actually cooperate and I have to say, I'm deadly. But then they go at it again... and "Everybody is Kung Fu fighting." I'm a dad, a husband and a guy whose mind has a mind of it's own. My recovery from my addiction to numbing myself (with pretty much anything I can get my hands on) is a lifelong journey. I live with depression, anxiety and adhd... and sometimes they don't get along very well with my family, or with the rest of my life. Professionaly, I make my living as a Counselling Therapist in Edmonton, Canada. I teach on addiction and psychopathology at City University, and I have a small counselling practice where I use superheroes and other geeky stuff to help people make peace with their own personal YodaNinja. This blog is part of my healing and writing keeps me grounded. I hope that something I have written may add a little bit to your journey. Keep it Real
Memories can bring up many things for us. Sadness, regret, longing and at times, gloom. But memories can also be a way to strengthen ourselves. They can be like an inner armor. Thinking about memories and situations of loss or longing, we can sometimes feel deep and difficult emotions. But these memories also remind us … More Your Memories Can Be Your Armor
Reblogged article, by Bethany Bray • • • Stephen Kuniak was in a serious car accident during his first year in the master’s in counseling program at Duquesne University in Pennsylvania. While recovering, Kuniak noticed that he didn’t feel the extreme pain of his shattered femur and other injuries as much when he was engaged … More Geek therapy: Connecting with clients through comics, video games and other ‘geeky’ pursuits
I am a fan of the Netflix Sci-Fi thriller, Stranger Things. If you are not familiar with the show, imdb contributor Charles J. summarizes it this way: In a small town where everyone knows everyone, a peculiar incident starts a chain of events that leads to the disappearance of a child, which begins to tear at … More “Rebellions (and Recoveries) are Built Upon Hope”
What’s the hardest thing you have ever done? This week I read an article by Mayo Oshin, “The Comfort Trap.” I highly recommend the article because it uses science and a bit of philosophy to make a case for how struggle (while unpleasant) is good for us. Having some struggle in our lives is a … More How Comfortable Can Become a Trap
Recovery begins when we admit that we are powerless. But admitting our powerlessness will not change us. Admitting we are powerless to drink, to drugs, to food, to overbuying, and being over-busy will do little more than make us see how empty we really are. Recovery begins when we admit that we are powerless. But … More The Playful Path to Recovery
Athletic performance and substance use ___ Guest Post by Nancy B. Irwin, PsyD Retirement is a major life transition for most people, but for the professional athlete, it can be cataclysmic. Most retired athletes have been competitors since childhood. With that in mind, many feel like their entire identity is gone when their professional sports … More After the Ticker Tape Parade
Last week I wrote about what Batman taught me about happiness. In the post, I ask the question, “What’s holding you back from doing the things that make you feel alive?” “Jason Todd (Robin) is a survivor, someone who could be considered damaged goods. But even with his trauma, Jason has been able to do … More Batman and Robin: Mental Health Superheroes
Originally posted on The Comic Vault:
Superheroes regularly face overwhelming odds to save the world. Sometimes, the greatest battles are fought within, and Daredevil is no stranger to dealing with personal issues. Matt Murdock has one of the most turbulent lives of any hero. From his earliest days, tragedy dogged The Man Without Fear. Over…
The British Psychological Societies Research Digest reported on a 15 week study of 377 adults that looked into which specific behaviors helped change to stick. Perhaps you, or someone you know wants to make changes to their drinking, substance use, smoking or overeating to cope with stress, isolating themselves rather than being with people, or … More Habit Change and Lasting Recovery
What’s holding you back from doing the things that make you feel alive? ___ Happy Halloween. I am sitting alone in a coffee shop. Dressed like Batman. You might think I am dressed up for Halloween. Nope. When I wrote this, it was October 30. I call today my Halloween warm up. The way I … More What Batman Taught Me About the Secret to Happiness
Getting High on Recovery 