There’s a lot to do when you’re recovering from addiction. There’s therapy, meetings, journaling, exercise, meditation, prayer, taking time to cook healthy meals, and many other things that may be included in your specific recovery plan. It’s also important to … Read More
The Tyranny of Positive Thinking
We seem to live in a society obsessed with optimism and gratitude. We’re often told about the power of positive thinking, to look on the bright side, and to have an attitude of gratitude. There are indeed benefits to feeling … Read More
How Depression Looks Different in Men
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 17 million American adults experienced an episode of major depression in the past year. [https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression.shtml] Women are slightly more likely than men to experience depression–8.7 percent of women experienced depression … Read More
When You Don’t Feel Like You’re Good Enough
Shame and poor self-image are common problems for people who have struggled with addiction. Many people with substance use disorders have a history of childhood abuse or neglect. They often carry excessive guilt over some trauma they have experienced. Their … Read More
3 Misdiagnosed Mental Health Issues
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than half of people with substance use disorders also have a co-occurring mental health issue such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, or PTSD. Getting treatment for co-occurring mental health issues … Read More
What to Do About Your Temper
Anger, in itself, is neither good nor bad. Anger can motivate us to solve a problem, leave a bad situation, or stand up for others. However, if you let your anger control you, it may lead to some terrible outcomes. … Read More
Metta Meditation: May You Be Happy
“Metta” is a Pali word that translates to something like “loving-kindness.” While mindfulness meditation gets all the media attention, metta meditation is a powerful practice that often goes overlooked. Mindfulness is touted for its ability to reduce stress, increase feelings … Read More
Learning to Be Happy
People thinking about getting treatment for addiction or people just starting out in recovery are often told by people with a long history of sobriety that they will be much happier sober but often, they can’t quite believe it. For … Read More
Get Real with Your MD
Very rarely does one acknowledge openly their addictions and any potential medical trouble that addiction has cause. A combination of shame and avoidances teaches us to underplay what substances have done to us; don’t let that get in the way … Read More
When Change Feels Bad
Naturally, we assume that those who begged us to go into rehab for our alcoholism will greet our return with at least some fanfare. After all, we stepped up to the plate and are working the steps to build on … Read More