5 Holiday Stressors That Lead To RelapseRelapse PreventionBy Promises AustinNovember 28, 2013The time from Thanksgiving to New Year’s can be an especially stressful time for those in recovery, particularly those who are newly sober. But you don’t have to shut yourself off from life and become a hermit for three months for fear of falling into relapse. There are safe and sober alternatives. Knowing the five…
PCP Use Linked to Domestic ViolenceOther AddictionsBy Promises AustinNovember 28, 2013Intimate partner violence is a blanket term used to describe various forms of actual or implied violence that occur between people involved in physical relationships, or with a history of prior involvement. Experts and laypeople alike commonly refer to this form of conduct as domestic violence. In a study published in July 2013 in the…
Mothers With Mental Illness May Need Support to Bond With BabyMental Health - WomenBy Promises AustinNovember 27, 2013The attachment that mothers form with their infants is an important part of the mother-child relationship. This early bonding sets the stage for your future relationship with your child. Having a strong relationship, in turn, helps your child to succeed in life and to be mentally, physically, socially and emotionally healthy. Attachment, in most cases,…
Losing a Loved One: Grief in AdulthoodMental HealthBy Promises AustinNovember 19, 2013The sandwich generation—caretakers of our aging parents and our own growing families—knows this grief all too well. While the pain and sadness of losing a parent or other close loved one is a rite of passage we all go through, knowing that is cold comfort when you’re in the middle of it. The emotions connected…
Links Between Mental Health Disorders and Skin DisordersMental HealthBy Promises AustinNovember 11, 2013Skin disorders, also known as dermatological disorders, are a broad-ranging group of conditions that damage the normal health or integrity of one or more layers of your skin. In recent years, mental health professionals have begun to explore the connections between these disorders and a variety of mental health problems. The unofficial name for this…
PTSD, Complex PTSD, Addictions and TreatmentPTSD & TraumaBy Promises AustinNovember 8, 2013If you have experienced one or more traumatic events or experiences in your life, you may not realize that they can be related to current problems or symptoms, such as addictions, depression and anxiety, as well as relationship, social and work problems. Often, those who have experienced trauma do not make the connection between what…
Is Soda Making Your Child Violent?Teen IssuesBy Promises AustinNovember 7, 2013Childhood aggression is, to some extent, normal. Kids are still learning how to deal with their emotions, how to interact properly with others and how to use self-control. While they are learning, they might occasionally lash out or respond to people and to their own feelings with aggression or even minor acts of violence, like…
Live Sober, Live Happy!Staying SoberBy Promises AustinNovember 7, 2013“We aren’t a glum lot. If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn’t want it. We absolutely insist on enjoying life.” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 132) Ten steps for making your sober life more fun and rewarding than the drinking days: Dive in head first. You can choose to stay aloof, sit…
