How to Create a Safety Plan A safety plan is a critical tool for anyone with a history of addiction, emotional or physical self-harm, or dangerous spontaneity. By creating a set of actions that you will take in certain situations, you can give yourself and your loved ones some peace of mind. These are highly …
Depression affects your emotions and impairs your ability to think clearly. Symptoms often include sleep disruptions, mood swings, a lack of motivation, and appetite changes. You might find yourself feeling overwhelmed or disconnected from your emotions. Your recovery can be impacted by a lack of motivation or feelings of hopelessness. There are several ways you …
You’ve made it through detoxification, rehabilitation, and now you’re in recovery and sober–it should be smooth sailing from here, right? If only it were that easy. Recovery is a lifelong process and sobriety in its earliest stages is a tough challenge. Once you leave the supportive environment of inpatient rehab, you may be struggling to …
We all get angry in response to specific situations, but when you find yourself overreacting to minor inconveniences, there may be an issue. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “anger becomes a problem when it is felt too intensely, is felt too frequently, or is expressed inappropriately.” Feeling completely out of control …
One of the worst feelings in the world is watching someone you love hurt themselves. It’s one of abject helplessness because you can’t force someone to decide to get sober—they have to do it on their own. Here are some of the things you can do to support your loved ones and yourself until they’re …
Your days may feel like a constant race against time to accomplish everything you need to do. Living with chronic pain adds stress and can leave you feeling stretched thin. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 20% of adults in America live with chronic pain. They also found that chronic conditions …
Permit Yourself to Slow Down When Experiencing Chronic Pain Read More »
Does everyone in recovery have at least one relapse? Does it take more than one try to get it right? You may have heard married couples on their second marriage talking about how they messed up their first marriage but got things right the second try. Sometimes it’s like that with recovery. Some people can …
As a person in recovery, you likely have many friends who are working hard to lead a sober life. What happens in your social circle when someone is headed for relapse or has already done so? Not only are you dealing with trying to get the person back into recovery but you may find yourself …
How Do I Deal With the Relapse of Someone I Care About? Read More »
Some people joke around when they describe what they think is a silly behavior as “your OCD coming out.” When you like things very neat and organized, you might make a joke about having OCD. But what is obsessive-compulsive disorder? When does it go from liking organization or repeating tasks to an actual mental disorder? You …
Sometimes people do not “click.” Their way of thinking and communicating is simply not compatible in a meaningful way. You might be experiencing this in your therapy sessions. Maybe you have been feeling unheard or bossed around, and you want to find someone new. Before taking that step, there are a few important things to …
My Therapist Isn’t Helping Me: Should I Switch to a New One? Read More »