Anger is instinctive, or at least that’s how it often feels. Someone cuts you off in traffic? Anger. Stub your toe? Anger. Think you’ve been unfairly reprimanded by your boss? Feeling angry is probably not far away. The immediacy with which we often experience anger has led many to conclude that anger is one of
By Kelsey Harper, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist and Program Director at Promises Malibu Anyone who has ever been caught in an undertow learns that there’s no sense in swimming against it because it only pulls us in deeper. However, going with the natural flow of the ocean will usually bring us back to shore safely on
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Compassion fatigue and burnout are occupational hazards nurses, physicians and therapists often face over the course of a career. Outside the healthcare system, these emotional risks also can affect family members and friends who are dealing with loved ones affected by addiction. In a nutshell, compassion fatigue reflects a reduced ability to feel or show
Losing a friend or peer to addiction can be shattering for people in early recovery who are still solidifying grief coping skills to deal with all of life’s slings and arrows. Loss and grief can negatively impact a person’s recovery process, posing a threat for relapse. But there is also a lot to be learned
You’ve made it through rehab! Now what? Substance abuse treatment centers should prepare you for sober living, but sometimes it still hits you hard. You’ve been used to numbing your emotions and not taking responsibility for your life. Having to learn how to feel and to take care of yourself — to really care for
Addiction can be an expensive problem to endure and overcome. As well as the cost of substance abuse treatment itself, spending increasing amounts of money on drugs, alcohol or gambling have surely made a big dent in your personal finances. Throw in the possibility that you lost your job during the course of your addiction
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It is often difficult to convince men and women abusing drugs and alcohol to seek help for addiction. In many cases, they won’t be ready to accept your offer of assistance until after their lives have been torn to shreds and they can’t deny the truth about their substance abuse any longer. But make no
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By Shannon McQuaid, LMFT, LISAC, CDWF, CSAT-C, Executive Director/Clinical Director at Promises Scottsdale Shame has been referred to as the “silent epidemic.” Although it’s something we all deal with, it’s still considered a taboo topic. Just the mention of the word “shame” can make us shy away and withdraw. But when we live in silence,
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We all have an inner critic. Whether loud and pushy or a mere whisper, you can hear the words as if they are your own: No one likes you. You’ll never succeed at this. This is because your inner critic is a real part of you. Getting to know what makes the inner critic tick
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Chances are you have heard the term “caregiver burnout,” which is defined as “a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion that may be accompanied by a change in attitude — from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. Burnout can occur when caregivers don’t get the help they need, or if they try to