Can you imagine not wanting to fall asleep each night? While such an idea may be hard to fathom under normal circumstances, this can be a very real situation when you’re traumatized. You even may be able to relate as you’re reading this. Unresolved past trauma can negatively impact every aspect of your life, includingRead More
“Boundaries need to be set when you’re in recovery from addiction, and that includes setting boundaries with your parents and family,” explains Deidre Lockhart, Outpatient Clinical Director at The Guest House. The idea of setting boundaries in relationships (especially with your loved ones) may sound uncomfortable. However, when you’re trying to prevent relapse and maintainRead More
Trauma can produce a tidal wave of negative effects throughout your life, from attachment issues and self-defeating behaviors to mental health disorders and substance abuse. Yet there’s one byproduct of trauma that often hides in the background, and its damaging influence on your life (and your healing) is profound: shame. At The Guest House, weRead More
If the fear of relapsing when you’re on your own in the real world keeps you up at night, know that you’re not alone. When you’re navigating recovery from addiction to substances — especially through the lens of trauma — it’s common for people to have apprehension about falling back into addiction, of going backRead More
On the surface, it’s easy to separate the body and mind into wholly different categories. You might even believe the emotional pain you’re facing is unrelated to any physical struggles. The truth is, matters of the heart (and mind and soul) are much more powerful than you’d think. If you are just starting your journeyRead More
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), an estimated 2.3% of people in the U.S. have a lifetime prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Although 2.3% may sound like a small percentage, that percentage represents millions of people in the U.S. alone. Further, as Frontiers in Psychiatry notes, despite being one of the tenRead More
A safe home environment is essential for ensuring that individuals recovering from chronic substance abuse avoid relapse or complications during ongoing recovery. Family involvement in treatment and other factors affect the environment people return to after completing rehabilitation for alcohol or drug abuse. According to Social Work in Public Health, “The effects of a substanceRead More
Art allows people to express their internal landscape through various mediums, providing a sense of catharsis and making it easier to process certain emotions or trauma. Creative therapies, including art, music, and dance, give people who are recovering from substance use disorder (SUD) a new way to voice their struggles and successes. Oftentimes, alumni benefitRead More
Although it is difficult to pin down the prevalence of attachment issues, it is often tied to trauma. In particular, attachment issues usually develop within adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 63.9% of U.S. adults have reported at least one ACEs, and 17.3% have reported four orRead More
Everyone needs purpose and meaning in their lives. Recovery from substance abuse involves addressing these needs by focusing on ongoing personal growth. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), “ Personal development focuses on different ways you can grow in different areas of your life.” Alumni services motivate people to continue moving forward inRead More