Lonely, Even Together - A Reflection I woke up one morning to my partner deep in a scroll—pictures of puppies, one after another. Cute, fluffy, harmless. But it had been going on for a while, so I asked, “What’s up with the puppy search?” He paused, then said, “I was thinking about getting a dog.” Naturally, I followed up: “Why?” And that’s when it shifted. He said, quietly, “Because sometimes I just feel so alone.” That moment didn’t just sit with me—it stayed with me. Becau

- Elda-Rosa Coulthrust, PsyD Grief, Loss, and Addiction: A Reflection Grief and addiction often walk hand in hand. Both are responses to pain—but they move in very different directions. Grief shows up when something meaningful is lost. That loss might be a person, a relationship, your health, your stability, or even a sense of who you used to be. It can feel heavy, confusing, and overwhelming. And for many people, that emotional weight doesn’t just sit quietly—it looks for re