Bryan Hullihen

Working in the field of substance abuse treatment has afforded me the opportunity to meet so many interesting people. I have witnessed countless people come into treatment with the same broken and defeated expression on their faces to leave a few months later walking tall and feeling capable of living a sober life. I have also had the unfortunate experience of seeing those defeated individuals come into treatment asking for help but, for one reason or another, deny themselves the willingness to receive it. Many of these unfortunate individuals have gone on in their suffering to die a premature death and although they were given every opportunity to get better, left a trail of heartache and suffering in their wake. The main distinction that I have found between these two types o f cases in the treatment setting is the ability to take suggestions. The successful group is typically comprised of people that have been able to, not only form a strong therapeutic alliance with their treatmen...

My name is Bryan Hullihen and I have been sober now for several years. In fact, I haven't been sober for this long since I was 11 years old. Over the years I have tried sobriety so many times and have failed in so many ways. Sometimes I made the same mistake twice and other times I found myself high or drunk with no idea how I could’ve been so crazy to use again. The amount of times that I have been asked by my loved ones how I could be so inconsiderate to them or if I had any dignity left is staggering. The truth is I wanted a better life and I wanted to quit messing up but I would always find myself high after a moment of weakness when I blocked out all thoughts of loved ones, my future, my past, and anything that would have kept me from using. This is just one aspect of the thinking of an alcoholic and there exists a myriad of other examples that alcoholics use to explain how they want one thing but do the opposite. This is why so many of us feel weak, confused, and ashamed i...

Recently I ( Bryan Hullihen ) was working with an alcoholic in early recovery regarding the concept of clearing up the wreckage of his past when I noticed a pattern that I've seen over the years begin to emerge. This particular person began to ask my opinion on several instances that, in my opinion, required no amends at all. Details are not important here and if you are in early recovery asking your support group about the validity to your amends is strongly encouraged. What is important is the nature of extremes when dealing with alcoholism or drug addiction. For example, I remember a time when I was told by my mentor that alcoholism is a disease centered in selfishness and self-centeredness. In all of my perplexity I thought, "If I'm to give away all my belongings to become and ascetic while living a life of abnegation I'll never stay sober!" My mentor smiled and looked at me and said, " Bryan Hullihen , that is spoken like a true alcoholic and that stat...

Everybody on the planet has certain needs; the need for air, food, and water. The need to be a part of and accepted by the tribe or common needs. One of my, Bryan Hullihen 's, salient needs is self-actualization which is the attainment of my goals or the living up to my potential. In the very beginning of my personal recovery when I used to say, "My name is Bryan Hullihen and I am an alcoholic.", I would feel a sense of dignity returned to me after spending years as if I had none at all.  That's because during my active addiction I was not living up to my potential and in recovery I have a chance to reach my own self-actualization. The quandary is that although I was not living up to my potential in active addiction I was doing the absolute best I could with the tools I had at the time and the information that I was armed with. This is difficult for many people to accept but you too have done the very best you could every second of every day of your life....

My name is Bryan Hullihen and I have had the experience of early recovery more times than I’d care to admit. I often reflect on my experiences during those difficult times to aid me in assisting others who are new to the recovery process or when I need a shot of gratitude for where I am today. There exists a myriad of growing points in my journey that have contributed to my development, however, the most salient of these catalysts is the concept of “the important things”. I had a tendency to get tight at all the wrong times during early recovery. The thoughts that would enter my mind would invoke a great deal of anxiety for me due to fear that I may act on them. There were times when I was in a formal setting and someone would say something I didn't agree with and I would think to myself, “What an idiot, I'm going to tell them to either get their facts straight or shut up”! Now I knew that was not appropriate and it wouldn't earn me any friends so I ...