Nearly everyone experiences times of feeling down. Sadness that lasts a day or two or even a few days is normal. But when it lasts for two weeks or more, it could be a sign of depression. Depression affects millions of Americans every year. However, though depression affects both women and men, it seems to…
According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. A new piece of research has investigated the effect our immediate surroundings may be having on this issue, looking at a few hypotheses related to the intuitive idea that we’re generally happier when we’re surrounding by greenery rather than deep in…
Volunteering is a wonderful way to support your recovery from addiction. After completing an intensive program of addiction treatment you may feel invigorated and ready to take on the world. It could also be that you feel lost and unsure what to do next. Many people find themselves without purpose post-rehab. For a long time…
As an addict in recovery you have been through a major life struggle. You lived with your addiction. You forced yourself to realize the problem you had with drugs or alcohol. And finally you accepted offers of help and made it through a rehab program to get sober and learn how to stay sober. You…
As an addict in recovery you know that addiction is far more complicated than a failure of willpower. Drugs and alcohol cause chemical changes in your brain that encourage you to use them repeatedly. With more use come more alterations to the brain. These leave you nearly helpless in your attempts to stop using. However,…
If you have a loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, you know how challenging it is to talk to that person. When you try to confront him about his problem you may encounter any number of deflecting techniques: avoidance, anger, guilt, aggression or anything else that prevents you from having a serious…
When Calista’s friend recently set her up on a blind date, she prepared with the usual amount of nervousness and trepidation. Would he like her? Would she like him? If she did like him (and he liked her), how soon would be too soon to tell him about her mental illness? Calista has borderline personality…
Being outside and enjoying nature have great restorative powers. You don’t have to take a weeks-long wilderness adventure to reap the benefits that the great outdoors offers. Simply spending time in a park or working in front of a window with a view of a green space can work wonders for your mind, lower stress…
As the adult daughter of a mother with mental illness, it falls to me to keep doctors and sometimes even law enforcement apprised of my mother’s history and tendencies. She has been involuntarily committed into psychiatric treatment by police on at least four occasions, and has more than once been arrested as a result of…
Addicts often blame everyone but themselves. To admit having a problem and then taking responsibility for it are both very difficult to do. The truth is that attitude is very important when it comes to addiction recovery and blaming external sources for problems is counterproductive to successful sobriety. Blame never leads to real change. It…
