The holidays can be a difficult and triggering time for loved ones in recovery from trauma, addiction, and related issues. Approach your loved ones with empathy- even if you cannot understand what they are going through, you can have compassion for their experience. Choose to celebrate and support your loved one’s recovery. Ask Them WhatRead More
How does a young boy of middle school age cope after he spent part of his life trapped in a parallel universe being chased by a life-threatening monster? That is how we open Season 2 of Netflix’s hit sci-fi series Stranger Things. Will is back at school with his friends, engaging in all of theRead More
On the fourteenth of June in 2017, a 24-story tower ignited into flames. A public housing development by the name of Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, an area of London, held 129 flats of families, single individuals, and couples. Caused by a fire accidentally started by a refrigerator on the fourth floor, the poorly designedRead More
Anger is a secondary emotion, created out of the fight, flight or freeze response inherent in being a human. Evolution gave us the amygdala which helps us anticipate a threat and prepare our body to make a necessary move. During the holiday season, we can feel on edge and in that state of physical asRead More
Will Bayer had a tough year in Season 1 of the Netflix hit sci-fi thriller Stranger Things. He was supernaturally abducted into a parallel universe where he was alone, sick, and constantly on the look out from a horrendous monster. The only communication he had with the outside world was through supernatural means as well.Read More
The holidays are challenging to endure for those who are in recovery from an eating disorder. Eating disorders manifest for many reasons, but their deeply complex bond between the mind and the body creates a lifelong recovery for overcoming troubling thoughts and compulsive behaviors. For a happy and healthy holiday celebration, follow these suggestions: UnderstandRead More
When we talk about coping with a mental health disorder during the holidays, we usually talk about self-care. Self-care is the many different ways we practice taking care of ourselves and meeting our needs for mind, body, and spirit. Easily, we could list dozens if not hundreds of little ways which have been scientifically provenRead More
Many people experience stress during the holiday season. All different kinds of stresses can arise during the holidays, from trauma to seasonal depression, eating disorders to addiction, financial matters to social status. In 2008 the American Psychological Association conducted a poll on holiday stress and found that 80% of Americans, that is 8 out ofRead More
Addiction is commonly associated with other mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. Depression is so common, that it has been likened to the chicken and the egg debate: which came first, depression or alcoholism? Alcoholism can certainly cause depression, while being depressed can cause a person to reach for a drink. It’s very counterintuitiveRead More
Perfect recovery does not exist, unless we’re talking about hitting the pillow clean and sober every night. Everything leading up to closing your eyes to another 24 hours logged in your sober history, is trial and error. We all do our own recovery differently, and what works for one person, may not work for theRead More