For those who have experienced trauma, it can be hard to predict what might trigger an emotional reaction. Smells, sounds, anniversaries of traumatic events – almost anything has the potential to bring back a painful memory, leaving you overwhelmed with emotion and anxiety. When triggered, you may experience what many people describe as the fight-or-flightRead More
As kids, we explore all different types of creative expression. We paint, draw, build, write, sing, and dance regularly – as part of our schooling and on our own or with friends. As we get older, many of us put those pursuits aside, especially if we don’t feel we have a strong aptitude. But artRead More
Most of us have heard of “fight or flight.” But those aren’t our body’s only options when responding to a frightening, traumatic, or painful experience. Some of us become emotionally numb or feel disassociated from our surroundings. This “functional freeze” state is associated with our body’s natural “fight flight freeze fawn” instinct when danger isRead More
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
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
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