Here are some valuable resources for you and your family to explore, no matter where you or your loved one are in the recovery journey. Whether your loved one is currently in treatment with us for mental health or substance use, whether you’re both actively in recovery and looking to deepen your understanding, or even if you’re simply seeking to become a more informed and supportive ally—these tools are here to empower, educate, and connect you with the support you need.
Articles
ADHD: What is it? What does a diagnosis mean? (Article)
This informative article addresses common questions about ADHD, including diagnosis and treatment options. ADHD and impulsivity are linked to substance use disorder and it can be helpful to understand that connection
Living with OCD (Article)
“That’s just my OCD showing up”. “You don’t need to be so OCD!” You are just like your mom, she had OCD.” What does that mean? What is OCD? When is behavior understandable and when does it warrant an OCD diagnosis? This article is help in clarifying the difference. It reviews the importance of a balanced diet, regular exercise, sleep, spending time with friend and family, and relaxation techniques…all skills supported in our Residential and Outpatient programming.
Facts About Bipolar Disorder (Article)
Link (click here)
There are many misconceptions about Bipolar Disorder and what it looks like in daily life. This article shares a list of 21 facts about this diagnosis to support understanding and education.
What You Need to Know About Naloxone
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/naloxone
From the Experts at NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
Videos
Borderline Personality Disorder: Positive Traits (Video: about 11 minutes)
Let’s talk about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). In the field of mental health we often focus so heavily on what is going “wrong” or what is challenging in a person’s life. Of course, we need to be able to acknowledge and address those symptoms that create problems in someone’s life. However, taking a strength-based perspective means that we are also wanting to understand how those traits can be channeled in a positive direction that supports recovery. This video does just that.
Crisis Survival Skills (Video: about 21 minutes)
Interested in learning more about what kind of skills your loved one is developing and practicing in treatment? Notice moments in your life where your emotions, thoughts, body sensations feel really intense, and you’re looking for some tools to turn the volume down? This is a short video (can be listened to as a podcast on platforms like Spotify) where two mental health professionals describe what we call “crisis survival skills.”
How Stress Affects Your Brain (Video: 5:00 )
This short (4 min) video breaks down, in simple terms, how being stressed changes our brain chemistry. The visuals are simple and can be used at any age to begin to understand how stress has a physical, and not just mental, effect on us.
The Life-Changing Practice of Radical Acceptance (Video: 11:00)
This 10 min motivational talk about bad things that happen and explains the tools to help navigate a life with radical acceptance. She talks through “That happened. This sucks. What now?” Her talk is engaging and encouraging.
Brené Brown on Blame (Video: 3:25)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZWf2_2L2v8
This is an under 5 minute video by emotion and vulnerable expert Brené Brown. Blame is a part of the language of fear, stress, and crisis that people often fall into when in times of distress. It is a helpful resource in understanding why we turn to blame, and other directions we can go instead.
Chain of Analysis (Skill) (Video)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i_vDsXj2VA
This 8 minute video breaks down how behaviors we engage in are a product of a chain of events that lead up to that behavior. If you are looking to critically examine your interactions with your loved one, or even with a problem behavior of your own, give this a view. The Chain of Analysis is a helpful tool to reduce shame and gain a sense of understanding of our reactions so we can begin to respond in ways with intention and not regret.
Adverse Childhood Experiences with Dr. Nadine Burke Harris (Videos). Dr. Nadine Burke Harris is a trailblazing physician fighting for the health and wellbeing of children. In these videos, she discusses childhood trauma and its impact on the body by explaining the groundbreaking Adverse Childhood Experiences study. Dr. Burke Harris walks through what “gets us here” as well as how we move forward towards regulation Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ovIJ3dsNk&t=395s (41 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh1idR1XkC4 (7min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta5tbuFVkHY (4min)
The Brain Disease of Addiction with Dr. Navjyot Singh Bedi, MD (Video) Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4wCgJ55lw0
This presentation, though long, is very easy to listen to. He speaks about the connection between the brain and addiction in a very clear way. Recommend for anyone interested in the biology of addiction and brain science.
Boundaries with Brené Brown (Video – 5:40min)
Link: https://www.theworkofthepeople.com/boundaries
Brené Brown has the wonderful ability to put clear language to seemingly complex topics. She is a researcher and storyteller and offers so much to the field of emotions and interpersonal relationships. In this video, she discusses how boundaries support generosity. She outlines the distinction between compassion and empathy. She offers some hard (and important!) truths about what we assume about other people and their actions. She does all of this with humor, clarity, and a bit of cursing.
Website Resources
National Alliance on Mental Illness: Mental Health Education (Website)
“Across the country, thousands of trained NAMI volunteers bring peer-led programs to a wide variety of community settings, from churches to schools to NAMI Affiliates. With the unique understanding of people with lived experience, these programs and support groups provide outstanding free education, skills training and support.” This is an invaluable resource for families. You can find support groups, information, education and wellness opportunities.
Window of Tolerance Worksheet on Mind My Peelings (Website). Good for Kids Link: https://www.mindmypeelings.com/
Find worksheets on: Window of Tolerance Awareness, Challenge Worries and Anxious Thoughts, and a Health Triangle Assessment. There is a good review of Happy Chemicals in our brain and explaining Depression and Anxiety in simple language.
SMART Recovery Friends & Family (Peer Support and Skills Group) Link: https://smartrecovery.org/family
SMART Recovery was established in 1994 as a secular alternative to the faith-based programming of Alcoholics Anonymous (people often engage with both!). This organization values mutual support and connection and has helped many many people in their recovery. Similar to what Al-Anon offers in relation to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), SMART Recovery provides virtual and in person support groups. If you are learning how to be in relationship with someone struggling with substances, this is a resource for you to connect with others. It can be an incredibly helpful space to share your experience and learn from others.
Recommended Books
Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee (Book)
Ingrid takes a systematic and well researched approach to how we can find and cultivate JOY in our everyday spaces. She weaves a story of 10 aspects of our environment that can be a tool to build joy. Message: Spend time in nature to decrease angst!
Loving Lions by Michael J. Wilson, Jr. (Book)
This self-published book is part memoir, part philosophy, and part guide for families who have Substance Use Disorder inside their system. Michael has been in recovery for many years and currently works with families, particularly around interventions. His perspective on how addiction took hold of him, and how it affected his family normalizes the experience of Substance Use Disorder. He urges families to care for themselves as a way of caring for their struggling loved one.
Beyond Addiction by Jeffrey Foote, Carrie Wilkens, Nicole Kosanke, and Stephanie Higgs (Book)
This book offers a truly compassionate walkthrough of how family members can support change. When it comes to substance use and compulsive behaviors in people we care for, the message we hear often sounds like “let them hit rock bottom, there is nothing you can do.” These authors offer a different perspective. The language is strength-based and helpful. “Beyond Addiction” outlines tangible steps you can take to make active change in your life. It is science-based, concrete, and solution-focused, working directly with behavioral change on your part.
Drama Free by Nedra Glover Tawwab (Book)
This bestselling self-help book looks at how relationships with our families impact our personal mental health. The three sections of the book neatly describe: 1. How to describe your family relationships, including their strengths and their weaknesses. 2. How to proceed in relationship with family or choosing to step away from some relationships. 3. Troubleshoot specific relationship bonds. The writing is punchy and vibrant. Nedra utilizes the reframe as a helpful tool for looking at relationships through different perspectives.
Holiday Preparation
Holiday Questions About Substance Use Disorder (Video: 48:00)
Zac Clark is a valuable voice in the field of substance use treatment. He has a podcast, The Zac Clark Show, where he discusses various factors related to mental health and addiction. In this episode, he answers listener questions around how to navigate the holiday season in recovery. He offers a lot of perspective, advice based in his own experience, and ideas for how to respond to others around changes in relationships. Warning: he curses! If this offends you, proceed with caution!
Mental Health During the Holidays (2021) by Daniel H. Gillison (Article)
Link: https://www.nami.org/from-the-ceo/the-most-difficult-time-of-the-year-mental-health-during-the-holidays/
From the CEO of the National Alliance on Mental Illness is a 2 minute read that normalizes stress, fear, and other big feelings during the holiday season. This year, we have Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and New Years all within about a week! He notes: “64% of people with mental illness say the holidays make their conditions worse.” The author outlines some practical steps to take to navigate this period of time.
Resources Helpful for Children
Window of Tolerance (for kids!) (Video: 4:00)
This YouTube video is an incredibly cute and straightforward way of learning about an essential piece of the language of recovery: the window of tolerance. Highly recommend.
How Stress Affects Your Brain (Video: 5:00 )
This short (4 min) video breaks down, in simple terms, how being stressed changes our brain chemistry. The visuals are simple and can be used at any age to begin to understand how stress has a physical, and not just mental, effect on us.
Window of Tolerance (for kids!) CONTINUED (Video: 5:00)
This is a secondary video that follows the above Window of Tolerance educational video with Panda, The River of Life, and the Tale of Two Lands. This video gives a brief review, then goes onto highlight what it looks like to self-regulate.
How to Talk to Kids about Substance Use Disorder with Dr. Becky Kennedy (Podcast)
Link: https://deepcast.fm/episode/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-substance-use-disorder
This conversation offers a lot of guidance and insight around “how” we can have conversations with kids about substance use. It offers a bit of clarity around “what” we might say in these conversations.
Window of Tolerance Worksheet on Mind My Peelings (Website). Good for Kids Link: https://www.mindmypeelings.com/
Find worksheets on: Window of Tolerance Awareness, Challenge Worries and Anxious Thoughts, and a Health Triangle Assessment. There is a good review of Happy Chemicals in our brain and explaining Depression and Anxiety in simple language.