Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorJun 144 minSuffering and the Search for MeaningSuffering is part of what it is to be human. The “art of living” (Discourses of Epictetus, 1.15.3) is in large part how we cope with...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorMay 94 minOneself as AnotherWe find ourselves in others. We come to know ourselves as others know us. That is how we find our identity in relation to others. It is...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorApr 54 minChoose LifeWe hear the cry of many, and perhaps we have done it ourselves on occasion – “what is the point of it all?” We do it when we are sick,...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorMar 94 minLiving Sober Versus Not DrinkingThere is a fundamental difference between not drinking and living sober. The former is tough because you focus on being deprived.
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorFeb 54 minInordinate Desire and Excessive AppetiteAlcoholics can’t stop at just the one drink. Whatever the good intentions, one drink is followed by another until oblivion is reached. It...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorDec 13, 20215 minReflections Ahead of the Festive SeasonThis time of year is especially tough for alcoholics. We need to talk about the particular problems posed and the strategies that we can...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorNov 3, 20214 minPut Recovery to the Test? No Thanks!Some people ask me - "how did you manage to cope and be a success in your career?" or "how did you manage to carry on with your work...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorOct 4, 20214 minPractical Wisdom - The Path to RecoveryWhen I stepped into semi-retirement, I wanted to do something useful and with purpose. I said to somebody that I wanted to stop being an...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorSep 3, 20214 minMeditation and Addiction RecoveryIn an earlier blog from last year, called Be Still – Mindfulness in Lockdown, we talked about how lockdown was an opportunity to stop...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorAug 3, 20214 minYou Can't Do It On Your OwnAddiction is a contentious area. The causes and the treatments are subject to much debate. But there are two basic truths about recovery...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorJul 1, 20214 minWhen Were You Really Happy?Is an alcoholic ever really happy? When I went into psychotherapy, I was asked at some stage, "When you were younger, when were you...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorJun 2, 20214 minMotivation, Discipline and RewardAlcoholics and drug users find it tough to stick to a treatment programme. Motivation comes and goes. Discipline is something different....
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorMay 4, 20213 minGiving and Receiving in RecoveryAlcoholics and other sufferers from addictive disorders have a hard time accepting help let alone reaching out to others in a similar...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorApr 6, 20214 minConfession and Memory - Write it DownI’m an alcoholic in recovery. There, I’ve just said it. It wasn’t that difficult. But I’ve been saying it for many years, so I’ve got...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorMar 1, 20214 minWhat Does "Rock Bottom" Mean?Alcoholics in recovery often talk about the need to hit “rock bottom” before a commitment to treatment will have any possibility of...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorFeb 2, 20213 minSome People Just Don't Get ItPaul Merson is a famous ex-football player who still features as a popular TV pundit on Saturday afternoons. He is equally famous for his...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorJan 4, 20214 minThe Inspiration of Skid Row MarathonRunning helps to keep me sober. That is because it helps both my physical and spiritual health. If I go several days without running then...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorDec 1, 20204 minWhy Do You Do It? - The Divided MindI'd been dry for five years. It had taken intensive psychotherapy and three years to overcome excruciating panic attacks. I'd gone...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorNov 2, 20204 minThe Courage To BeThe title of this blog is taken from a book published by Paul Tillich in 1952. At its broadest level, it's saying that we need courage to...
Andrew Bevan - Voluntary MentorOct 5, 20204 minIt Takes One to Know OneOne of the ancient Greek sayings much beloved by philosophers is “know thyself”. With this in mind, I recall being asked at an addiction...