Wanting to be good at something is human nature. Wanting to be perfect can cause issues around mental health and even addiction. Being perfect may seem to be the ultimate goal in many areas of your life, but perfectionism can actually hold you back...
Just the words “letting go” might produce an internal response to some who read this. It often comes with a negative connotation of some type of loss, giving up, or defeat. It might feel counter intuitive or even impossible to those of us with...
Making the decision to quit drinking is an important step for your health, both physically and mentally. If you have been drinking heavily or for a long time, you will need to detox your system from the addictive substance. It is wise not to...
“The natural state of motherhood is unselfishness.” – Jessica Lange Sadly, not all mothers are able or willing to maintain such a natural state. If you lacked a mother figure, or if your mother was negligent or abusive, you may be suffering from a mother...
In addiction treatment and recovery, you learn why you became addicted and how to live a life without the drugs or alcohol that controlled you. As you go through treatment, you will also learn that, as an individual, you are connected to others around...
Everyone has good days and bad days. Sometimes, though, you don’t feel either emotion. You just feel kind of blah, with no emotions of any kind. When you are emotionally numb, you may have a condition known as anhedonia. Emotionally Numb When you feel emotionally numb,...
For many years the impact of trauma was acknowledged through the presence of PTSD symptoms largely associated with experiencing war or sexual assault. However, trauma encompasses any distressing event or experience that affects a person’s ability to cope and function. We often recognize the...
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This year’s theme emphasizes the message that you are not alone and that you can connect safely to heal and to prioritize your mental health. Especially given the challenges of the past year, remember that it’s okay to...
Addiction affects the whole family: members who aren’t “addicts” typically take on other unhealthy roles, such as “hero” (trying to make everything better by being personally perfect), “scapegoat” (acting up to distract from the addiction), or “invisible man” (staying quietly out of the line...
You may be ready to quit drinking or stop using drugs, but you are unsure about whether you need help to do so. Maybe you’ve always been independent and want to try to do this by yourself also. Or maybe you think you just...
You wouldn’t sign up for a gym membership and expect to become more physically fit just because you carry a membership card. You won’t build muscles or lose weight even if you do visit the gym occasionally but still do not work out on...
A person who is addicted to drugs or alcohol can feel isolated from friends and family members. When that person is an introvert, the feeling of being alone can be intensified even if the individual prefers to not interact with others. However, in addiction...
