Finding a Place of Peace: Overcoming Addiction and Embracing Recovery

By Stephen C. Schultz

Leaves fluttered to the ground as a crisp wind bit my cheeks. The tears welling up in my eyes were not born of emotion but of the chill in the air. The small creek to my left meandered down the canyon. The soft gurgling sound of running water as it crossed over ageless boulders was like music to my ears. A flock of mallards bobbed their heads and glided effortlessly in the current as the water swirled into a back eddy just around the next curve. This was truly a Place of Peace.

For many families and individuals alike, finding a place of peace seems like a fleeting proposition. Whether it's a teenager, husband, or wife, addiction is no respecter of persons or societal status. Addiction doesn’t discriminate. It brings emotional pain, family discord, and misery to everyone it touches.

Addiction is a liar. It tells us there is no problem. It tells us we can handle it. It seduces us into believing that any problems or personal issues are not of our own making but are caused by others. It convinces us that our narrow escapes from family and work failures are due to our exceptionally intuitive and skillful insight. All lies!

Below are some blog posts that discuss the principles surrounding addiction, recovery, and sobriety. There will be mountains to climb and moments of instability underfoot. However, things can get better. I hope these articles are helpful and lead you down the pathway to a Place of Peace.

Comments

Ryan K Biddulph said…

Inspiring Stephen. Ownership of addiction seems to be the turning point. If you own it, you can choose to live with it or be free of it.

November 20, 2018 at 2:59 PM

Stephen C. Schultz said…

Thank you Ryan for your comment. So true...ownership is the key!

November 20, 2018 at 3:19 PM

The Young Boy and the Rattlesnake

By Stephen C. Schultz (Editors note: This is a story used in a Wilderness Treatment Program. Many come to this program having struggled with depression, anxiety and substance use.) Many years ago there was a young Native American who lived in the very land you are residing in. He decided to seek wisdom by journeying to the top of Indian Peak. As he approached the base of the mountain he came across a rattlesnake that slithered beside him. The snake coiled as if to strike and the young boy moved back quickly in fear of being struck by the snake’s deadly venom. At that instant the snake spoke to the boy saying, “Don’t be afraid of me, I mean you no harm. I come to you to ask a favor. I see that you are about to traverse to the top of Indian Peak and was hoping that you may be willing to place me in your satchel so that I don’t have to make the long journey alone.” The young boy surprised by the snake’s request quickly responded by turning down the offer, stating, ...

When Emotional Pain Looks Like Manipulation: Oxbow Academy

By Stephen C. Schultz The teenage years are often full of complexity—especially for young people who struggle with impulse control, social understanding, or emotional regulation in relation to Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB). For some, this difficulty is compounded by co-occurring conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, or Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD) . These teens may unintentionally find themselves caught in compulsive, confusing, or embarrassing situations—sometimes involving inappropriate behavior with siblings, neighbors and friends or accessing dark corners of the internet. As these patterns continue, parents are often left feeling overwhelmed, frightened, and unsure of what to do next. Some worry that law enforcement or government agencies might get involved. Others have already experienced the fear of having electronics confiscated or home environments scrutinized. In the midst of this chaos, many parents recognize that their child’s behavior isn’t just a...

Measuring What Matters: Oxbow’s Edge in Predicting Progress

By Stephen C. Schultz Therapists are highly trained to guide, support, and assess progress. Yet, research continues to show that even experienced clinicians have mixed results at predicting which clients will improve, drop out, or struggle in therapy. This isn’t a critique of therapists—it’s a reality supported by data. And for those who place trust in residential treatment programs—families, school districts, educational consultants, and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs)—this insight is critical. At Oxbow Academy , we take this seriously. That’s why we use validated, research-backed tools to supplement clinical intuition and track meaningful progress in real time. Research Shows: Intuition Isn’t Enough In a foundational study by Hannan et al. (2005), therapists failed to recognize which of their clients were likely to experience treatment failure—even when objective outcome data pointed to risks. Similarly, Hatfield et al. (2010) demonstrated that therapists tend to overestima...

The Interpreted Rock

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