Journal, QuotesShawn Van DaeleApril 20, 201812 step, 12 Steps, AA, AA 12 Steps, addict, addiction, addiction triggers, alcohol, alcohol abuse, alcohol addiction, alcohol awareness, alcohol experiment, alcohol triggers, alcoholic, alcoholics anonymous, alcoholism, art, buddhism 12 steps, chaos, creative, creative writing, drunk, drunkenness, ideas, inspiration, inspirational, inspirational quotes, learning, life, life in detox, lifeindetox, mental health, motivation, motivational, motivational quotes, photography, poetry, radical recovery, rage, rebirth, rebuild, recover, recovering, recovery, recovery clinic, recovery quotes, refuge recovery, remembering, renewal, repression, sadness, sj vandee, SMART Recovery, sober, sober diaries, sober quotes, sobriety, the riots, the sober diaries, the unexpected joy of being sober, this naked mind, thoughts, train wreck, writing13 Comments

The Riots

Journal, QuotesShawn Van DaeleApril 20, 201812 step, 12 Steps, AA, AA 12 Steps, addict, addiction, addiction triggers, alcohol, alcohol abuse, alcohol addiction, alcohol awareness, alcohol experiment, alcohol triggers, alcoholic, alcoholics anonymous, alcoholism, art, buddhism 12 steps, chaos, creative, creative writing, drunk, drunkenness, ideas, inspiration, inspirational, inspirational quotes, learning, life, life in detox, lifeindetox, mental health, motivation, motivational, motivational quotes, photography, poetry, radical recovery, rage, rebirth, rebuild, recover, recovering, recovery, recovery clinic, recovery quotes, refuge recovery, remembering, renewal, repression, sadness, sj vandee, SMART Recovery, sober, sober diaries, sober quotes, sobriety, the riots, the sober diaries, the unexpected joy of being sober, this naked mind, thoughts, train wreck, writing13 Comments

Boiling The Big Bad Wolf

JournalShawn Van DaeleMarch 21, 201812 step, 12 Steps, AA, AA 12 Steps, addict, addiction, addiction triggers, alcohol, alcohol abuse, alcohol addiction, alcohol awareness, alcohol experiment, alcohol triggers, alcoholic, alcoholics annonymous, alcoholics anonymous, alcoholism, anxiety, buddhism 12 steps, communication, coping, creative writing, drinking, drunk, drunkenness, emotions, freedom, funny, happy, history, inspiration, inspirational, inspirational quotes, learning, mental health, mental illness, mindfulness, motivation, motivational, motivational quotes, moving on, past, Quotes, radical recovery, reality, recover, recovering, recovery, recovery clinic, refuge recovery, regret, shame, SMART Recovery, sober, sober diaries, sobriety, survival, thanks, the unexpected joy of being sober, this naked mind, thoughts, traveling sober, wine, writing1 Comment

Learning To Laugh At It All

JournalShawn Van DaeleMarch 21, 201812 step, 12 Steps, AA, AA 12 Steps, addict, addiction, addiction triggers, alcohol, alcohol abuse, alcohol addiction, alcohol awareness, alcohol experiment, alcohol triggers, alcoholic, alcoholics annonymous, alcoholics anonymous, alcoholism, anxiety, buddhism 12 steps, communication, coping, creative writing, drinking, drunk, drunkenness, emotions, freedom, funny, happy, history, inspiration, inspirational, inspirational quotes, learning, mental health, mental illness, mindfulness, motivation, motivational, motivational quotes, moving on, past, Quotes, radical recovery, reality, recover, recovering, recovery, recovery clinic, refuge recovery, regret, shame, SMART Recovery, sober, sober diaries, sobriety, survival, thanks, the unexpected joy of being sober, this naked mind, thoughts, traveling sober, wine, writing1 Comment

JournalShawn Van DaeleMarch 16, 201812 step, 12 Steps, 30 days sober, 40 days sober, AA, AA 12 Steps, addict, addiction, addiction triggers, alcohol, alcohol abuse, alcohol addiction, alcohol awareness, alcohol experiment, alcohol triggers, alcoholic, alcoholics annonymous, alcoholism, benefits of not drinking, buddhism 12 steps, canada, creative writing, dealing with triggers, drinking, drinking in new orleans, drunk, experiment, focus, happy, health, how not to drink, how not to drink in New Orleans, learning, life, new orleans, new orleans drinking, new orleans drive thru daiquiri, radical recovery, reading, reasons to stop drinking, recover, recovering, recovery, recovery clinic, refuge recovery, SMART Recovery, sober, sober diaries, sobriety, the sober diaries, this naked mind, thoughts, train wreck, travel, traveling and drinking, traveling sober, travelling, trigger, triggers, wine, writingComment

Sober in New Orleans: Day 2

JournalShawn Van DaeleMarch 16, 201812 step, 12 Steps, 30 days sober, 40 days sober, AA, AA 12 Steps, addict, addiction, addiction triggers, alcohol, alcohol abuse, alcohol addiction, alcohol awareness, alcohol experiment, alcohol triggers, alcoholic, alcoholics annonymous, alcoholism, benefits of not drinking, buddhism 12 steps, canada, creative writing, dealing with triggers, drinking, drinking in new orleans, drunk, experiment, focus, happy, health, how not to drink, how not to drink in New Orleans, learning, life, new orleans, new orleans drinking, new orleans drive thru daiquiri, radical recovery, reading, reasons to stop drinking, recover, recovering, recovery, recovery clinic, refuge recovery, SMART Recovery, sober, sober diaries, sobriety, the sober diaries, this naked mind, thoughts, train wreck, travel, traveling and drinking, traveling sober, travelling, trigger, triggers, wine, writingComment

Car Crash, Train Wreck, Tornado

JournalShawn Van DaeleMarch 14, 201712 Steps, alcohol, alcoholic, alcoholism, buddha, buddhism, CCRC, drunk, faith, inspiration, inspirational, learning, lessons, life, mental health, mental illness, quote, Quotes, recovery, Rehab, sober, sobriety, spirituality, survival, thoughts, wine23 Comments

Some Things I've Learned

JournalShawn Van DaeleMarch 14, 201712 Steps, alcohol, alcoholic, alcoholism, buddha, buddhism, CCRC, drunk, faith, inspiration, inspirational, learning, lessons, life, mental health, mental illness, quote, Quotes, recovery, Rehab, sober, sobriety, spirituality, survival, thoughts, wine23 Comments

Journal, RehabShawn Van DaeleMarch 04, 201712 step, 12 Steps, abuse, alcohol, alcohol addiction, alcoholic, alcoholism, anger, anxiety, buddha, buddhism, canada, CCRC, communication, depression, drunk, faith, family, heart, inspiration, learning, life, love, meditation, memories, mental health, mental illness, motivation, phoenix, Quotes, recover, recovery, recovery clinic, regret, religion, sleep, sober, sobriety, spirituality, stress, survival, thoughts, trauma, wine15 Comments

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (And a little Buddha, too)

Journal, RehabShawn Van DaeleMarch 04, 201712 step, 12 Steps, abuse, alcohol, alcohol addiction, alcoholic, alcoholism, anger, anxiety, buddha, buddhism, canada, CCRC, communication, depression, drunk, faith, family, heart, inspiration, learning, life, love, meditation, memories, mental health, mental illness, motivation, phoenix, Quotes, recover, recovery, recovery clinic, regret, religion, sleep, sober, sobriety, spirituality, stress, survival, thoughts, trauma, wine15 Comments

Journal, RehabShawn Van DaeleFebruary 23, 2017addict, addiction, alcohol, alcohol addiction, alcohol awareness, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, avoidance, CCRC, drunk, H-A-L-T-, HALT, learning, mental health, mental illness, motivation, recovery, sober, sobriety, survival, therapy, thoughts, trigger, triggers9 Comments

HALT

Journal, RehabShawn Van DaeleFebruary 23, 2017addict, addiction, alcohol, alcohol addiction, alcohol awareness, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, avoidance, CCRC, drunk, H-A-L-T-, HALT, learning, mental health, mental illness, motivation, recovery, sober, sobriety, survival, therapy, thoughts, trigger, triggers9 Comments

JournalShawn Van DaeleFebruary 21, 2017addict, addiction, alcohol, alcohol addiction, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, drunk, heart, inspiration, mental illness, motivation, recovery, Rehab, sober, sobriety, thanks, thoughts, waiting, wine, worried19 Comments

Let The Games Begin

JournalShawn Van DaeleFebruary 21, 2017addict, addiction, alcohol, alcohol addiction, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, drunk, heart, inspiration, mental illness, motivation, recovery, Rehab, sober, sobriety, thanks, thoughts, waiting, wine, worried19 Comments

Journal, Photo Album, PlaylistShawn Van DaeleFebruary 17, 2017addiction, alcohol, alcohol awareness, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, art, canada, change, courage, Dad, death, deer, depression, drunk, family, grief, grieving, growth, healing, help, hope, inspiration, life, lyrics, mental health, motivation, music, quote, Quotes, rebirth, recovery, Rehab, sadness, seasons, sober, sobriety, soul, surreal, surreal deer, surreal photography, thoughts, to everything there is a season, transformation3 Comments

To Everything There is a Season

Journal, Photo Album, PlaylistShawn Van DaeleFebruary 17, 2017addiction, alcohol, alcohol awareness, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, art, canada, change, courage, Dad, death, deer, depression, drunk, family, grief, grieving, growth, healing, help, hope, inspiration, life, lyrics, mental health, motivation, music, quote, Quotes, rebirth, recovery, Rehab, sadness, seasons, sober, sobriety, soul, surreal, surreal deer, surreal photography, thoughts, to everything there is a season, transformation3 Comments

Journal, PlaylistShawn Van DaeleFebruary 16, 2017addiction, alcohol, alcoholic, alcoholism, awareness, balance, ben howard, broken, change, depression, drunk, emotions, family, grief, growth, healing, heart, hell, help, hope, inspiration, intention, keep your head up, life, lyrics, mental health, motivation, music, quote, Quotes, recovery, Rehab, sober, soul, surreal, thoughts, video9 Comments

Keep Your Head Up

"Feeling blind, I realizeAll I was searching for, was me" – Ben Howard, Keep Your Head Up. I love this song so much.

Journal, PlaylistShawn Van DaeleFebruary 16, 2017addiction, alcohol, alcoholic, alcoholism, awareness, balance, ben howard, broken, change, depression, drunk, emotions, family, grief, growth, healing, heart, hell, help, hope, inspiration, intention, keep your head up, life, lyrics, mental health, motivation, music, quote, Quotes, recovery, Rehab, sober, soul, surreal, thoughts, video9 Comments

JournalShawn Van DaeleFebruary 16, 2017AA, addiction, alcohol, alcohol addiction, alcohol awareness, alcoholaddiction, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, awareness, balance, booze, broken, canada, connection, death, depression, detox, disappointment, drinking, drunk, emotions, family, forgiveness, grief, growth, habit, healing, help, hope, inspiration, intention, life, loss, mental health, mental illness, motivation, music, quote, Quotes, reality, recovery, regret, sadness, self help, sober, sobriety, soul, success, surreal, thoughts, toxic7 Comments

Connection

I struggle to connect with so many people and things. Alcohol is the one thing that is always ready, willing and waiting for me. Ready to numb all my connectors so I don't have to think and I don't have to care. And music. Music is always there to try and bring me back to life, or to help me lose myself even more...

JournalShawn Van DaeleFebruary 16, 2017AA, addiction, alcohol, alcohol addiction, alcohol awareness, alcoholaddiction, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, awareness, balance, booze, broken, canada, connection, death, depression, detox, disappointment, drinking, drunk, emotions, family, forgiveness, grief, growth, habit, healing, help, hope, inspiration, intention, life, loss, mental health, mental illness, motivation, music, quote, Quotes, reality, recovery, regret, sadness, self help, sober, sobriety, soul, success, surreal, thoughts, toxic7 Comments

Journal, Photo AlbumShawn Van DaeleFebruary 15, 2017AA, addict, addiction, alcohol, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, awareness, balance, booze, broken, canada, Dad, death, depression, drunk, emotions, family, forgiveness, grief, growth, healing, hell, help, hope, intention, life, mental health, motivation, quote, Quotes, recovery, regret, Rehab, sadness, self help, sober, soul, surreal, surreal photography, surreal self portrait18 Comments

Grief Is Just Love With No Place To Go

Grief, I've learned, is really just love. It's all the love you want to give, but cannot. All of that unspent love gathers in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in the hallow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.

Journal, Photo AlbumShawn Van DaeleFebruary 15, 2017AA, addict, addiction, alcohol, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, awareness, balance, booze, broken, canada, Dad, death, depression, drunk, emotions, family, forgiveness, grief, growth, healing, hell, help, hope, intention, life, mental health, motivation, quote, Quotes, recovery, regret, Rehab, sadness, self help, sober, soul, surreal, surreal photography, surreal self portrait18 Comments

JournalShawn Van DaeleFebruary 15, 2017AA, addiction, alcohol, alcohol addiction, alcohol awareness, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, awareness, balance, broken, canada, depression, drunk, emotions, family, growth, healing, hell, help, hope, intention, life, marriage, mental health, motivation, recovery, Rehab, sadness, sober, sobriety, surreal, thoughts3 Comments

Stuck in the Mud

JournalShawn Van DaeleFebruary 15, 2017AA, addiction, alcohol, alcohol addiction, alcohol awareness, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, awareness, balance, broken, canada, depression, drunk, emotions, family, growth, healing, hell, help, hope, intention, life, marriage, mental health, motivation, recovery, Rehab, sadness, sober, sobriety, surreal, thoughts3 Comments

JournalShawn Van DaeleFebruary 14, 2017addict, addiction, alcohol, alcohol awareness, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, booze, depression, drunk, emotions, help, life, mental health, mental illness, motivation, recovery, self help, sobriety24 Comments

6 Days of Drinking

JournalShawn Van DaeleFebruary 14, 2017addict, addiction, alcohol, alcohol awareness, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, booze, depression, drunk, emotions, help, life, mental health, mental illness, motivation, recovery, self help, sobriety24 Comments

Journal, PlaylistShawn Van DaeleFebruary 14, 2017addict, addiction, alcohol, alcohol awareness, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, balance, birdy and rhodes, broken, canada, depression, detox, drunk, growth, healing, inspiration, let it all go, let it all go video, life, music, recovery, self help, sober, sobriety, thoughts22 Comments

Songs To Cry and Drink Alone To

Journal, PlaylistShawn Van DaeleFebruary 14, 2017addict, addiction, alcohol, alcohol awareness, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, balance, birdy and rhodes, broken, canada, depression, detox, drunk, growth, healing, inspiration, let it all go, let it all go video, life, music, recovery, self help, sober, sobriety, thoughts22 Comments

JournalShawn Van DaeleFebruary 13, 2017addict, addiction, alcohol, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, awareness, balance, broken, canada, CCRC, depression, detox, drunk, growth, healing, hell, hope, intention, marriage, mental health, naltrexone, reality, recovery, recovery clinic, Rehab, sober, thoughts24 Comments

It's Happening: I'm Going to Rehab

I'm going to rehab. There. I said it. I'm doing it. I'm going.

February 21. A week from Tuesday.

JournalShawn Van DaeleFebruary 13, 2017addict, addiction, alcohol, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, awareness, balance, broken, canada, CCRC, depression, detox, drunk, growth, healing, hell, hope, intention, marriage, mental health, naltrexone, reality, recovery, recovery clinic, Rehab, sober, thoughts24 Comments

Journal, Photo AlbumShawn Van DaeleFebruary 13, 2017addiction, alcohol, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, depression, Dreams, drunk, emotions, growth, healing, hell, hope, mental health, motivation, quote, Quotes, recovery, Rehab, sober, sobriety, surreal photography, surreal self portrait, thoughts6 Comments

Bottled Up Emotions

I did this photo 7 years ago, and am just seeing the irony in it now. That is me, stuck inside a bottle. It's called Bottled Up Emotions.

Journal, Photo AlbumShawn Van DaeleFebruary 13, 2017addiction, alcohol, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, depression, Dreams, drunk, emotions, growth, healing, hell, hope, mental health, motivation, quote, Quotes, recovery, Rehab, sober, sobriety, surreal photography, surreal self portrait, thoughts6 Comments

JournalShawn Van DaeleFebruary 12, 2017addict, addiction, alcohol, alcohol addiction, alcohol awareness, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, depression, detox, drinking, drunk, mental health, reality, recovery, recovery clinic, Rehab, sobriety5 Comments

One Rude Little Awakening

A rude little awakening for me. Not a surprise, but an awakening to add to my list of recent awakenings. A year ago, I would've thought this was the best gift ever...

JournalShawn Van DaeleFebruary 12, 2017addict, addiction, alcohol, alcohol addiction, alcohol awareness, alcoholic, alcoholism, anxiety, depression, detox, drinking, drunk, mental health, reality, recovery, recovery clinic, Rehab, sobriety5 Comments

Journal, Photo AlbumShawn Van DaeleFebruary 12, 2017addiction, alcohol, alcoholic, alcoholism, broken, depression, drunk, fallen, fallen angel, healing, inspiration, life, mental health, motivation, Quotes, recovery, sober, sobriety, surreal self portrait17 Comments

Broken

Journal, Photo AlbumShawn Van DaeleFebruary 12, 2017addiction, alcohol, alcoholic, alcoholism, broken, depression, drunk, fallen, fallen angel, healing, inspiration, life, mental health, motivation, Quotes, recovery, sober, sobriety, surreal self portrait17 Comments

The Dream Box: Missing Pants, Terrifying Stairs and the Absinthe Goddess

JournalShawn Van DaeleFebruary 11, 2017addiction, alcohol, alcoholaddiction, alcoholic, alcoholism, broken, canada, depression, drunk, healing, hell, mental health, quote, Quotes, reality, recovery, sobriety, thoughts10 Comments

The Definition of Hell

"Someone once told me the definition of hell: The last day you have on earth, the person you became will meet the person you could have become"#alcoholicproblems