*Frank Johnson put down the newspaper, feeling unsettled. The article about Cyprus and its lingering conflict with Turkey struck a nerve. As a former alcoholic whose family had been torn apart by his drinking, Frank felt a pang of recognition reading about the 'frozen conflict' that had displaced so many Cypriots.

A paragraph in the article discussed how the Cyprus situation connected to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and efforts to redraw national boundaries by force. This triggered memories of Frank's own past transgressions - the times his drunken rages had metaphorically 'invaded' and shattered the boundaries of his family.

Haunted by guilt and pain from those memories, Frank realized he needed help to truly overcome his inner demons. He searched online and discovered the Stepping Into Action program, which taught mindfulness and meditation techniques for addressing addiction. Frank and his wife *Judy both went through the course, learning to be present, release resentments, and find peace.

'The Cyprus news made me see how conflicts keep festering if you don't deal with the root causes,' *Judy said. 'This course helped us dig into the underlying issues behind Frank's drinking.'

Some experts praised mindfulness as an effective supplementary treatment for addiction. 'Meditation increases self-awareness and equanimity, which can disrupt addictive patterns,' said Dr. Sarah Miller. However, others cautioned against seeing it as a panacea. 'Spiritual practices alone won't resolve a clinical disease like substance abuse disorder,' countered Dr. Robert Jacobs. 'Professional treatment is still crucial.'

Controversy aside, Frank felt the online program was invaluable for providing tools to manage his cravings and cultivate inner stillness amidst life's turbulence. Given his remote location, having accessible digital resources was essential. 'If it weren't for the internet, I might never have found the path to healing,' he reflected. 'Sometimes the most improbable connections can lead you exactly where you need to go.'

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