Philosophy Stirred, Not Shaken

Addiction

Who Gets to Say They Are Sober or in Recovery?

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on August 22, 2025

Personal Perspective: Are sobriety, recovery, and abstinence different names for the same thing? These terms represent fault lines in addiction treatment and popular culture.

Personal Perspective: Are sobriety, recovery, and abstinence different names for the same thing? These terms represent fault lines in addiction treatment and popular culture.

Alcoholism

Ambivalent About Dry January?

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on December 31, 2024

A person undertaking Dry January may feel pulled in opposite directions, producing tension that can be productive.

A person undertaking Dry January may feel pulled in opposite directions, producing tension that can be productive.

Friends

Do You End a Close Friendship Because of Politics?

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on November 25, 2024

Ending a close friendship because of different political beliefs may be liberating or a source of grief. It probably will be both.

Ending a close friendship because of different political beliefs may be liberating or a source of grief. It probably will be both.

Alcoholism

Living Under the Influence

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on November 17, 2024

Many people are consuming significant amounts of alcohol and cannabis daily. This can affect their ability to care for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Many people are consuming significant amounts of alcohol and cannabis daily. This can affect their ability to care for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Alcoholism

Relapsing Risks the Very Things You Fought For

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on November 6, 2024

Personal Perspective: Drugs and alcohol are false friends.

Personal Perspective: Drugs and alcohol are false friends.

Sleep

Substances and Sleep

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on September 26, 2024

Many people are caught in a vicious cycle of using alcohol or cannabis to fall asleep and then nicotine, caffeine, and sugar to be more alert. This ought to give us pause.

Many people are caught in a vicious cycle of using alcohol or cannabis to fall asleep and then nicotine, caffeine, and sugar to be more alert. This ought to give us pause.

Alcoholism

Are Alcohol and Drugs True Friends or False Friends?

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on September 9, 2024

Alcohol and other drugs can be fun friends at the beginning and seemingly bring only good things. But they can turn into false friends bringing you to your darkest hour.

Alcohol and other drugs can be fun friends at the beginning and seemingly bring only good things. But they can turn into false friends bringing you to your darkest hour.

Addiction

Drug Use Isn’t All or Only an Individual Choice

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on August 30, 2024

Economic and political dynamics shape individuals' choices about drugs and alcohol. Attempts to redress these issues that ignore these dimensions may make the problems worse.

Economic and political dynamics shape individuals' choices about drugs and alcohol. Attempts to redress these issues that ignore these dimensions may make the problems worse.

Shame

Can Shame Really Be Good for Us?

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on May 20, 2024

There are calls to rehabilitate shame to counter increasing societal shamelessness. Is this a viable strategy or will it harm people already struggling with shame?

There are calls to rehabilitate shame to counter increasing societal shamelessness. Is this a viable strategy or will it harm people already struggling with shame?

Relationships

The Lethal Combination of Toxic Relationships and Addiction

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on April 12, 2024

Substance use disorders and toxic relationships are a potent mix that can be life-threatening. A SUD can be a toxic relationship to oneself.

Substance use disorders and toxic relationships are a potent mix that can be life-threatening. A SUD can be a toxic relationship to oneself.

Workplace Dynamics

Substance Use Disorders and the Work Place

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on November 23, 2023

Substance use disorders for nearly every drug have increased since the pandemic, which presents challenges to employers and workplace dynamics.

Substance use disorders for nearly every drug have increased since the pandemic, which presents challenges to employers and workplace dynamics.

Addiction

Involuntary Commitment for Substance Use Disorder?

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on June 23, 2023

Personal Perspective: Is involuntary commitment an effective way to help a person struggling with a Substance Use Disorder or does it risk other harms?

Personal Perspective: Is involuntary commitment an effective way to help a person struggling with a Substance Use Disorder or does it risk other harms?

Addiction

The Trouble With "Sobersplaining"

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on May 5, 2023

Why do some people authorize themselves to become the expert on others' struggles with addiction and recovery? The best intentions can have troubling consequences.

Why do some people authorize themselves to become the expert on others' struggles with addiction and recovery? The best intentions can have troubling consequences.

Addiction

Multiple Paths to Addiction Recovery

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on May 1, 2023

There is no one right, best, or true method for recovery from addiction. The goodness of a recovery program depends on whether it works for a person.

There is no one right, best, or true method for recovery from addiction. The goodness of a recovery program depends on whether it works for a person.

Addiction

How to Start Looking for Treatment Center Information

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on December 26, 2022

Looking online for information about addiction treatment? You may be heading into deep waters of unsubstantiated claims, overblown promises, and predatory practices.

Looking online for information about addiction treatment? You may be heading into deep waters of unsubstantiated claims, overblown promises, and predatory practices.

Stress

Women’s Stress Can Skyrocket During the Holidays

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on December 11, 2022

Women are expected to maintain most of the holiday traditions. It can come at a high cost to their mental and physical health.

Women are expected to maintain most of the holiday traditions. It can come at a high cost to their mental and physical health.

Alcoholism

Is a "Damp" Approach to Drinking Right for You?

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on December 4, 2022

Many people are willing to reduce or change their alcohol consumption but not be abstinent. Is this a good thing?

Many people are willing to reduce or change their alcohol consumption but not be abstinent. Is this a good thing?

Relationships

Why You Can't Make Someone Else Change

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on July 26, 2022

Every person has their own habitual center of personal energy that another cannot make you change.

Every person has their own habitual center of personal energy that another cannot make you change.

Relapse

Common Reasons for Relapse

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on June 3, 2022

Summertime can be hard for people who struggle with alcoholism. Self-knowledge may protect against relapse.

Summertime can be hard for people who struggle with alcoholism. Self-knowledge may protect against relapse.

Motivation

Affirmations and Rewards Help People to Quit Drugs

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on May 10, 2022

Contingency Management helps people to quit by restoring moral goods such as self-respect, dignity, and autonomy.

Contingency Management helps people to quit by restoring moral goods such as self-respect, dignity, and autonomy.