Recovering from our addictions is much more than shedding our dependence on our drug of choice. A successful recovery also entails learning how to care for ourselves. We need to assess what our needs are and make sure we’re meeting them. Many of us have been neglecting ourselves and our needs for quite some time.Read More
Part of our work in recovery involves looking at how we’ve been trained to think, act and feel over the years. Upon more closely examining our thought patterns, emotional responses, choices and behaviors, many of us discover that we’ve been perpetuating very toxic limiting beliefs that contribute to our mental health issues, including our strugglesRead More
Nature-Deficit Disorder is the term used to describe certain mental, emotional and behavioral issues we can develop from not having enough access to nature. When we’re deprived of our connection to the natural world around us, we can experience heightened anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. We can develop behavioral problems that are especiallyRead More
When we’re in recovery, we will want to find healthy coping skills to replace our addictions and the ways in which we’ve used them to cope. We become dependent on addictive substances and behaviors because of how they make us feel. We experience feelings of pleasure, release, relief and even euphoria. We feel a boostRead More
Many of us struggling with addiction and mental health issues have a very hard time putting ourselves first and caring for ourselves. We prioritize our drugs of choice and the high we receive from them over everything else because it feels better in the moment to escape our difficulties than to confront them. We prioritizeRead More
Exercise has become a nearly universal suggestion for coping with depression. Innumerable personal and scientific accounts have confirmed that regular exercise at at least a daily minimal average of twenty to thirty minutes can greatly alleviate many symptoms of depression. Exercise boosts happy brain hormones, gets the blood pumping, builds confidence, routine, esteem, and muchRead More
The human brain is uniquely complex. With a capacity for self-awareness, memory, consciousness, and empathy, the human brain sets us apart and allow us to rise above animal instinct. We are not born with all the ability needed to fully process the world around us. Rather, it takes years of development for the billions ofRead More
Mixing alcohol with any drugs can be risky and dangerous. Both alcohol and Valium cause relaxation and reduce stress. Many people combine the two so they can magnify impact. With this double dose, there is a real danger of overdose. Alcohol does not mix with drugs and getting treatment is the only real way toRead More
Millennials are defined as being between the ages of approximately 23 and 38 years of age. They were born at a time when health and wellness seemed more prevalent than ever. There were campaigns to discuss healthy aging and finding support for people who struggle, whereas their parents wrestled with so much (including wars andRead More
Mindful eating is not just another mindfulness trick or tip to help people think about what they eat. It is about thinking about the past and learning to lean into what happened but still focus on the present. There is part of recovery that takes people by surprise. Quite often, they are surprised by mindfulRead More