If your loved one suffers from a substance use disorder, you know how hard it can be to try to care for them. All too often, loved ones of those who have an addiction get overwhelmed by worry, frustration, and the sheer work of trying to take care of the person. As such, it’s easy […]
Transitions can be challenging, but they also present opportunities to reflect and even celebrate. The New Year is a transition we all experience every January when the calendar changes and we have to remember to write a new date on checks and paperwork. Many people around the world choose to use the New Year transition
If you are struggling with substance use and thinking about getting help, don’t let the holiday season delay your treatment. Even though it might seem selfish or wrong to skip out on all of the family activities in December so you can focus on yourself, it isn’t. In fact, we could argue that getting yourself
As the holiday season continues its march through the next month, it can bring with it excitement and energy. If you’re in addiction recovery, you might find that the break in routine and the extra time with family is a welcome mental health boost. After all, being with those you love and maybe getting a
As we approach the season of gift-buying and giving, the financial burden can feel a little overwhelming depending on the size of your family and friend group and their expectations. Even though it’s fun to exchange gifts, gift-giving can easily become a source of stress. And when you’re in addiction recovery, the last thing you
It’s a beautiful time of year, as October comes to a colorful end and November brings shorter days and the welcome break of Thanksgiving. Whether you look forward to the holiday or not will depend on many things: your work schedule, your family situation, how much you enjoy traditional Thanksgiving food, and how much work
When people enter addiction recovery, they often come face to face with feelings and memories they were using substances to avoid. And because addiction is a disease in which the substance/s hijack the brain, people in active addiction can find themselves doing some pretty shady things. They may lie to, manipulate, use, or gaslight others,
Forgiveness is a loaded word. It has religious connotations and is associated with words like sin and repentance, both of which can feel problematic for many people. No one can tell you to forgive someone who has hurt you. Only you know the level of hurt and whether forgiveness will be possible or helpful. However,
According to Dr. Daniel Sumrok, director of the Center for Addiction Sciences at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Medicine, addiction should not be called addiction. It should be called “ritualized compulsive comfort-seeking.” Why? Because, he believes, most addiction is a normal response to difficult or traumatic experiences in childhood. An article
The term “compassion fatigue” has traditionally been associated with healthcare professionals, particularly those who regularly work with patients who have experienced mental or physical trauma. Over time, caring for these patients can burden the caregiver, causing exhaustion, mood swings, and a sense of detachment, among many other possible physical and mental symptoms. While compassion fatigue
People who always respond to your expressions of worry or struggle with “think positive!” can be more than a little annoying. In fact, there’s a new phrase that describes this tendency to suppress or minimize painful emotions in yourself or others: toxic positivity. Read more about that here, if it intrigues you. Still, for those
Recovery from addiction is a lifelong process. Sometimes it feels like hard work, conquering cravings one day at a time, and other times it can feel beautifully easy. But when it’s hard, it’s hard, and a slip or relapse can threaten your health and perhaps even your life. One crucial aspect of relapse prevention is
If you celebrated Easter as a child, you’ll probably recall new Easter dresses, decorated egg hunts, white bunnies with pink ears (and wondering what they have to do with Easter), and chocolate. If you went to church on Easter Sunday, you’ll remember hearing the story of Jesus’s resurrection: the stone rolled away from the tomb,