Mal Duane Coach

Guess Who’s In Recovery?

Recovery: verb – The act of regaining or saving something; returning to an original state or a gradual healing.

Because September is National Recovery Month, I started to think about how recovery is a part of all of our lives.  I don’t feel it applies strictly to people suffering from an addiction. Everyone I can think of is involved in a type of recovery.

Most residents in the Northeast are still trying to recover from the recent hurricane, Irene. I know personally I was without power for three days. Because I carry an iPhone on a mitten clip, I must admit, I was in the throes of cyber withdrawal. Sadly, many people lost their homes and everything they owned.  I am truly grateful that my three properties were not severely damaged. There was a lot of flooding around them, but I was spared. When I drive around and see the uprooted trees, the signs of water penetration, personal furnishings on the street and people dragging more to the curb, I am filled with gratitude for my good fortune.

There are so many people caught suddenly in a financial downturn and trying to recover. Unexpectedly they lost their jobs and are trying to get new ones. Many are barely holding on. Can we extend a helping hand to aid in their recovery?

What about all the women who are trying to recover from failed marriages or relationships and are consumed with guilt and self-loathing? Maybe the housewife who yelled at her husband today is trying to recover from the harsh words that were spoken between them? Let’s not leave out the young couple who may have torn each other up in a fit of jealousy. It goes on and on.

Then we have the truest definition of people trying to heal from an addiction: the abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs is prevalent, especially in tough times. The age of the addict is becoming younger and younger.

So, you see, we are all touched by the act of recovery in some form. It is not exclusive to one individual group. During the month of September we should contemplate more about what it means to recover and then look around us to see who we can lend a hand to. There may be someone closer than you think.

Live Faithfully,
Mal Duane

Mal Duane is a certified Personal Life Coach with more than 23 years in recovery from alcoholism, who has overcome devastating life challenges using the steps in the Alpha Chick Process. Her personal mission is to help women excel in all areas of their lives from business to personal relationships and attract that which they most desire, as she has, through a connection to the divine power within. Her book Alpha Chick, Five Steps for Moving from Pain to Power is coming in February 2012.

Be sure to subscribe to this blog for regular Alpha Chick updates and invitation to the Alpha Chick telesummit coming soon

Dr. Drew – The Real Deal Rehab

It is encouraging to see that there is really someone out there that gets the whole addiction thing. Over the past few years, I have become a fan of Dr. Drew Pinsky.  Dr. Drew is one of the few people involved in the world of celebrity addictions who tells it like it is.  He is not hood-winked by star status, nor is he influenced by those whining parents who ramble on with denials about their children’s addictions and despicable actions. Dr. Drew is for real and he earns the respect of the famously disturbed individuals he assists into recovery. He is blatantly honest and doesn’t sugarcoat his therapeutic recommendations. I feel Dr. Drew really understands the mind-boggling state of addiction.

Before I got into recovery, I did see a therapist for a few years.  He was more interested in the famous people I knew and had dated than in my current state of being. Interestingly, in our many sessions the word “alcoholism” never came up; and we’re talking years of therapy.When I look back, I can’t imagine how he missed the warning signs that I was drinking too much. He ended up prescribing medication for my anxiety.  So, not only was I drinking too much but taking a medication that should never have been mixed with alcohol.

In 1989, I got into the Alcoholics Anonymous program. After several months I realized it would take more than just AA meetings to keep me on the right path. I had to make a commitment to a new way of life. This meant changing my schedule and filling my time with very different things than I did before.  It also required that I make new friends and let my “party friends” go. Most importantly, I needed to have a spiritual practice to anchor the dramatic change that was taking place in my life. Through meditation and prayer, I was able to connect regularly to a different voice that was guiding me on my path of transformation.

Recovery requires honesty, commitment and in many cases a stay in a rehabilitation center. And Dr. Drew is a strong proponent for rehab, as he encourages his celebrity clients to check into a center. He understands that the purpose of that stay is to teach the patient a new way of life – organizing their activities so that they support their recovery – not pull them away from it.  Rehab helps the patient identify the significant changes required and then helps the patient create the structure.

The world could use a lot more Dr. Drew’s to help people find their path to recovery. Sugar-coating the issue doesn’t get you there nor does the sensationalism of the press.

Live Faithfully,

Mal Duane
Alpha Chick

Mal Duane is a certified Personal Life Coach with more than 23 years in recovery from alcoholism, who has overcome devastating life challenges using the steps in the Alpha Chick Process. Her personal mission is to help women excel in all areas of their lives from business to personal relationships and attract that which they most desire, as she has, through a connection to the divine power within. Her book Alpha Chick, Five Steps for Moving from Pain to Power is coming in February 2012.

Be sure to subscribe to this blog for regular Alpha Chick updates and invitation to the Alpha Chick telesummit coming soon.

Thank You Elizabeth Ann – A Farewell to Betty Ford

“My makeup wasn’t smeared, I wasn’t disheveled, I behaved politely,and I never finished off a bottle, so how could I be alcoholic?” ~Betty Ford

A woman that I admire passed away a few days ago.  We heard the news on TV about the death of the amazing former First Lady, Betty Ford.  She was recognized worldwide for her candor about her personal struggles with breast cancer, alcohol and addiction. Shortly after leaving the White House she admitted she was going into treatment for her addiction. The preconceived face of the female alcoholic changed that day, replaced by this beautiful, smart, energetic woman who famously behaved politely. She wasn’t a stumbling, rude, social misfit! It was a giant step for women struggling with alcoholism and addiction. Through her public admission, Mrs. Ford removed the social stigma of women’s addictions

She helped so many women by being open about her own battles.  Mrs. Ford openly discussed her breast cancer and the required surgery with the press.  She posed for photos shortly after her operation and was very candid about her mastectomy. This─ at a time when the word was barely whispered! A subject that had been taboo became news headlines and people were finally free to openly discuss their personal battles.

Mrs. Ford was a strong women’s advocate throughout her life. I loved reading an article about her recently that described her going to the Betty Ford clinic, walking into meetings and introducing herself: “Hi, I am Betty Ford; I am an alcoholic and an addict”. I can just imagine the reassurance that her presence gave the others in attendance.

Living life authentically, with grace and appreciation for what you have, is what Betty Ford showed us all how to do. Even when confronted with personal challenges, she openly shared her feelings of trepidation about them.  I know that she has left an indelible mark in the recovery community and has advanced the treatment of addiction to where it is today. Thank you, Betty Ford.

If you’ve been moved by the life of Betty Ford or other inspirational women, famous or not, who have overcome addictions or other forms of abuse, please share your stories and reflections below! I look forward to reading them.

Live Faithfully,

Mal Duane
Alpha Chick

Mal Duane is a certified Personal Life Coach with more than 23 years in recovery from alcoholism, who has overcome devastating life challenges using the steps in the Alpha Chick Process. Her personal mission is to help women excel in all areas of their lives from business to personal relationships and attract that which they most desire, as she has, through a connection to the divine power within. Her book Alpha Chick, Five Steps for Moving from Pain to Power is coming in February 2012.

Be sure to subscribe to this blog for regular Alpha Chick updates and invitation to the Alpha Chick telesummit coming soon.