The origins of addiction are often misunderstood. Many believe that people drink or use drugs because they cannot handle life and do not care how it affects others. While this may seem to be the case since the characteristics of addiction point to self-centeredness, the truth is that there is more to how addiction startsRead More
Somatic experiencing is a form of therapy that has been effective in treating trauma. The root word soma comes from the ancient Greek word for the body. Somatic experiencing is a therapeutic approach to treating trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other mental health issues that emphasizes the mind-body connection. Somatic experiencing is aRead More
Being vulnerable makes a lot of people feel uncomfortable. After all, vulnerability involves the risk of being judged or rejected. When in recovery from trauma, however, being vulnerable can play a key part in the healing process. You have to not only talk about the things that happened to you, but you have to talkRead More
Every day is a good day for a person to start practicing self-care for themselves. The problem with that statement is many people do not take the time to give care for themselves because they believe they are not worth it. Self-care is not just for someone to maintain physical and mental health, but toRead More
To say that many people across our country are yearning for change is the understatement of the year. With everything that has taken place in 2020, you may feel the same way. You may feel paralyzed with fear about what you can do to make things better around you. Instead of waiting for the otherRead More
Someone who has experienced trauma can be susceptible to developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to the flight or fight response to their fears. With PTSD, relationships might be unintentionally altered because the trauma will undoubtedly change them emotionally. A once-happy person can turn into an angry, depressed, impulsive, or detached trauma survivor, whichRead More
Trauma recovery isn’t always a straight line. One day you can be sailing smooth, while the next you find yourself struggling to stay afloat. It’s what you do in those difficult moments that says the most about your perseverance. We know it isn’t easy, but it is worth it. Learning how to navigate theRead More
Sometimes, traumatic experiences can trigger underlying and pre-existing mental health issues or the experiences can amplify other underlying issues. For example, if you struggled with alcohol addiction prior to a traumatic event, your addiction may spiral out of control following trauma. Where prior to the event, you may have had a low-key issue with alcoholRead More
Trauma looks different for everyone. Each person comes to The Guest House with their own experiences and interpretation of those experiences. This is why it is vital to treat each person individually. If you have dealt with a single event or a series of events that have had a negative impact on your lifeRead More
An ongoing task for many in the recovery world has been to bring light to stigmas of addiction and mental health issues. Drug overdoses were a source of contention in 2017 when the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that over 63,600 deaths occurred from opioid abuse. The revelation that addiction was notRead More