Sexuality has never been more socially acceptable, and depictions of sex have never been more ubiquitous. “Internet pornography has become a billion-dollar industry, stretching the limits of the imagination. Digital media offers portability, access, and visually explicit depictions of sexual acts in high definition that leave nothing to the imagination,” according to a report fromRead More
No one wants to fail, so why do we pull the rug out from under ourselves just when we’re starting to get what we want? Why do we sell ourselves short when the very things we’ve been working for are finally within reach? If you’ve ever found yourself procrastinating on a big goal, walking awayRead More
Is alcoholism genetic? Does addiction run in families? Can you inherit a substance use disorder? If you have a family history of alcohol and substance abuse, you may have asked yourself these questions. Alcohol and substance use disorders may seem to run in your family, but that doesn’t mean you’re destined for addiction. While thereRead More
When you think of someone with alcohol use disorder (AUD), do you think of someone who is obviously intoxicated, who can’t hold down a job or maintain relationships, whose life is a mess? While that may be true for some people with AUD, high-functioning alcoholics look fine from the outside, seeming to have it allRead More
We’ve all been there. You’re at your weekly therapy appointment, discussing an important issue. But just as you arrive at the brink of a breakthrough, your therapist looks at the clock and says, “That’s all we have time for this week.” Sometimes, it seems like there just aren’t enough minutes in a once-a-week therapy appointmentRead More
In the early stages of recovery, many people are extremely confident that they’ll never want to use again and can’t imagine having a relapse. But we now recognize that relapse is a normal part of the recovery process. It’s not at all unusual for someone to relapse at least one time on their journey toRead More
Summer cookouts, wedding receptions, holiday events, Friday night dinner parties. For people who have never struggled with addiction, these events just sound like fun reasons to get together with friends and family. But for people in addiction recovery, social gatherings can be fraught with triggers. You may be around other people who are still using.Read More
“I’m not good enough.” “Nobody will ever love me.” “I don’t deserve to be happy.” If you grew up in a dysfunctional family, these thoughts may be familiar to you. That’s because traumatic early experiences can be devastating to your sense of self-worth. We carry the negative messages we receive in childhood into our adultRead More
Many people feel stuck in patterns of behavior they can’t understand or explain. In ways both small and large, they may sabotage their relationships, their careers, even their physical health. And while some people are aware that past trauma can be the root cause of mental health and addiction issues, most don’t realize that traumaRead More
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