I am not defined by my illnesses but I have been inspired by them to help others recover, too. In that spirit, I offer my evolving stories.
Deirdre's Stories
Getting Sober
Family
I have been dually diagnosed with a mood disorder and a disease called alcoholism.
I grew up in an upper-middle-class family. My father was first-generation Irish on his father's side. He…
Today's Recovery Movement:
Remembering the Past and Planning for the Future
This video is a discussion hosted by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment in February 2005 about the recovery movement.
Congressional Testimony, 2007
Testimony that Thom and I gave before the U.S. Congress Field Hearing on Parity for Mental and Addictive Disorders on March 16, 2007.
Timothy's Law Testimony
On October 10, 2003, I appeared before a hearing in the New York State Senate chaired by Velmanette Montgomery (D-Brooklyn) and delived the following testimony in support of Timothy's Law, which…
Midlife Musings and My Second Career
My other blog. It's for the NYU School of Social Work.