So, a few things, dear Holly. First, so much love. Two, QLAW is a wonderful book and was a great help to me in recovery, so thank you. Three, what happened to you at Tempest was a shameful thing engineered by despicable people. I say that having been through workplace cabals myself and while perpetrators offer many rationalizations, they are almost based in greed, cruelty, selfishness, insecurity, power and incompetence. Four, I look forward to your writings on relapse, so widely misunderstood. I remember sitting in a recovery meeting where a few arrogant jerks stated that anyone who picked up was dead to them. How supportive right? That not drinking was simple. I replied that yes,it might be simple but it is never easy. I also remember a different mtg where triggers were discussed, people going around: "My trigger is success, mine is failure, mine is warm days, mine is snowy days, the beach, the mountains etc." Finally, this one guy stood up, a NAM vet, and said quietly:" My trigger is oxygen". Mic drop. So, yes, simple, maybe, but usually fucking hard. Relapse is not failure IMO. Begin again, as Tara Brach might say. Failure is giving up. Anyway, I digress. I look forward to the book, whenever it arrives. Maybe I'll make a signing. Hugs.
Thank you for this, Holly. People don’t know about the neurodivergent to addiction pipeline. I didn’t. I was diagnosed with autism at 49, and prior to that I’d thought “well I can’t be autistic because I’ve been drunk every day for 35 years,” because I believed in some fictional stereotype. I also didn’t know about the relationship between suicide and neurodivergence, and I’ve been suicidal most my life. And maybe the biggest surprise was the link between autism and sex work - but considering how difficult employment is for us, it’s really not that surprising.
I just finished a memoir about all of the above, and I’m searching for an agent. I hope it finds a home and helps even half the number of people your book helped.
"..trouble making abstinence stick/white knuckling, hormonal fluctuations, neurodivergence, learning/processing differences, cPTSD, relational trauma, etc." — Yep. This preaches. Thank you for bearing witness at the delta.
I was so hoping you would write more on these topics, particularly on perimenopause and cannabis. I believe the former caused me to blow up my entire professional career and flirt with (tw) suicidal ideation, and I fell back into addictive patterns using the latter to cope with the symptoms. The past few years have been a shit show — but I’m forever grateful to you and HSS and The Mantra Project for helping me to get sober from alcohol in the first place. Those lessons gave me the foundational tools to dig myself out of some deep holes.
Holly, I am sooooo excited about this series!!! And, btw, I absolutely loved QLAW, and return to it often. My brother and his daughters were diagnosed with ADHD. One of my daughters was diagnosed with ADHD and Level 1 autism spectrum. I feel pretty sure I also have ADHD. I've been diagnosed with C-PTSD, traits of BPD, and bipolar NOS. I went through a brutal end to the marriage I was sure would last forever. I'm 56 and deep into perimenopause. And I've been struggling to stay sober for at least 5 years. It's a LOT!!! I find it really upsetting that perimenopause isnt't better understood and talked about more openly. I talk openly about it at work and can tell it makes people uncomfortable. Oh well. Anyway, thank you again for all that you share, and I can hardly wait for all your upcoming offerings:)
Just another thank you for sharing what you are up to. I read QLAW 3 years ago and it changed my life and my recovery and I am so grateful. I am excited to read/listen to all you have upcoming. Thank you for everything you do!
Can’t wait, love you, love this. PERFECTION on the intro. Thrilled and beyond excited! You are going to help so many people! And I just bought a fresh copy of “quit like a woman” to put on the shelf of my new therapy office, as it indeed stands the test of time and is a wonderful book🤍✨🎉
Holly I can’t tell you how excited with the work you are currently doing. Relapse was / has been such a part of my story. I have loved being part of your work and platforms. Just thank you for all of this.
So, a few things, dear Holly. First, so much love. Two, QLAW is a wonderful book and was a great help to me in recovery, so thank you. Three, what happened to you at Tempest was a shameful thing engineered by despicable people. I say that having been through workplace cabals myself and while perpetrators offer many rationalizations, they are almost based in greed, cruelty, selfishness, insecurity, power and incompetence. Four, I look forward to your writings on relapse, so widely misunderstood. I remember sitting in a recovery meeting where a few arrogant jerks stated that anyone who picked up was dead to them. How supportive right? That not drinking was simple. I replied that yes,it might be simple but it is never easy. I also remember a different mtg where triggers were discussed, people going around: "My trigger is success, mine is failure, mine is warm days, mine is snowy days, the beach, the mountains etc." Finally, this one guy stood up, a NAM vet, and said quietly:" My trigger is oxygen". Mic drop. So, yes, simple, maybe, but usually fucking hard. Relapse is not failure IMO. Begin again, as Tara Brach might say. Failure is giving up. Anyway, I digress. I look forward to the book, whenever it arrives. Maybe I'll make a signing. Hugs.
Thank you for this, Holly. People don’t know about the neurodivergent to addiction pipeline. I didn’t. I was diagnosed with autism at 49, and prior to that I’d thought “well I can’t be autistic because I’ve been drunk every day for 35 years,” because I believed in some fictional stereotype. I also didn’t know about the relationship between suicide and neurodivergence, and I’ve been suicidal most my life. And maybe the biggest surprise was the link between autism and sex work - but considering how difficult employment is for us, it’s really not that surprising.
I just finished a memoir about all of the above, and I’m searching for an agent. I hope it finds a home and helps even half the number of people your book helped.
Thank you for being our resident truth teller
"..trouble making abstinence stick/white knuckling, hormonal fluctuations, neurodivergence, learning/processing differences, cPTSD, relational trauma, etc." — Yep. This preaches. Thank you for bearing witness at the delta.
I was so hoping you would write more on these topics, particularly on perimenopause and cannabis. I believe the former caused me to blow up my entire professional career and flirt with (tw) suicidal ideation, and I fell back into addictive patterns using the latter to cope with the symptoms. The past few years have been a shit show — but I’m forever grateful to you and HSS and The Mantra Project for helping me to get sober from alcohol in the first place. Those lessons gave me the foundational tools to dig myself out of some deep holes.
Also QLAW rules.
ETA: I’m OK now!
(Also: As OK as one can be)
OMG I cannot wait for this
holly i’m excited for this series!! loved the first “ep”
Holly, I am sooooo excited about this series!!! And, btw, I absolutely loved QLAW, and return to it often. My brother and his daughters were diagnosed with ADHD. One of my daughters was diagnosed with ADHD and Level 1 autism spectrum. I feel pretty sure I also have ADHD. I've been diagnosed with C-PTSD, traits of BPD, and bipolar NOS. I went through a brutal end to the marriage I was sure would last forever. I'm 56 and deep into perimenopause. And I've been struggling to stay sober for at least 5 years. It's a LOT!!! I find it really upsetting that perimenopause isnt't better understood and talked about more openly. I talk openly about it at work and can tell it makes people uncomfortable. Oh well. Anyway, thank you again for all that you share, and I can hardly wait for all your upcoming offerings:)
You are describing me with all of those boxes. I’m excited and hopeful to hear the connections and potential strategies for managing this mess!
Just another thank you for sharing what you are up to. I read QLAW 3 years ago and it changed my life and my recovery and I am so grateful. I am excited to read/listen to all you have upcoming. Thank you for everything you do!
Can’t wait, love you, love this. PERFECTION on the intro. Thrilled and beyond excited! You are going to help so many people! And I just bought a fresh copy of “quit like a woman” to put on the shelf of my new therapy office, as it indeed stands the test of time and is a wonderful book🤍✨🎉
Holly I can’t tell you how excited with the work you are currently doing. Relapse was / has been such a part of my story. I have loved being part of your work and platforms. Just thank you for all of this.