"I'm not a drug addict. I work. It's just a stressful time right now. I don't use all the time. I can stop using whenever I want to. It helps me unwind. I'm not an addict like other people are." Call it denial or a lack of self-awareness, but of the more than 22 million people living with substance use disorders ... Read More
Help for You
Mental health and substance abuse issues are not rare, yet there is a stigma in admitting you need help. Seeking treating can be the turning point you need to live a better life. These articles explore the struggles addicts and those suffering from mental health conditions likely face or will be facing as you seek a better life. Here you’ll also find guidance as you find treatment, navigate early recovery and begin your new life.
The Problem with the View “Addiction Only Happens to Others”
How to Maximize the Benefits of Group Therapy
Some might think of group therapy as the last thing they'd want to try. They might picture a group of surly people sitting in chairs in a drab room, simultaneously enduring awkward silences and being forced to share the most personal details of their lives. Fortunately, most who actually participate in group ... Read More
More Uncertainty About the Future = More Stress?
For many people, the last few years have felt like a whirlwind of unpredictable and uncontrollable circumstances. An ever-changing pandemic, along with social, political and economic unrest, have weighed on minds, contributing to a sense of uncertainty and stress concerning the future. Plus, we all have personal issues ... Read More
How to Prioritize Your Kids’ Mental Health in a Divorce
While divorce rates have been trending down in recent years, many children are still impacted by divorce. Even when it's truly for the best, divorce can have a devastating effect on everyone involved, including the children. From dealing with sweeping lifestyle changes to having to split holidays, there's virtually no ... Read More
5 Communication and Self-Help Tools for Social Anxiety
It's not unusual to feel shy and awkward when meeting new people or speaking to a group. For those with social anxiety disorder, however, these feelings are amplified. You may freeze up, experience a racing heart or spend all night agonizing over your interactions. Recent events forced people to spend months with ... Read More
How Unions Support First Responders’ Substance Abuse Needs
When it comes to first responders and substance abuse, a few things are generally accepted. Primarily, first responders — a category that includes EMS workers, firefighters, police officers, military, ER doctors and more — are at higher risk for emergent mental health conditions and substance use disorders due to ... Read More
The Mental Health Effects of Parental Separation on Children
Divorce is near the top of a list of the most stressful events a person can experience. Even in situations where ending a marriage is the best and safest option for those involved, it is a traumatic experience that can have a profound impact on many areas of the individual's life. This is especially true in children, ... Read More
How to Know Whether “Couple’s Rehab” Is for You
Couples Struggling with Addiction When you enter a relationship with someone, you often start to engage in hobbies and activities that interest them and vice versa. Sharing parts of your life with each other is a natural part of getting to know one another and becoming closer. If one person is abusing alcohol or drugs ... Read More