I was 20 years old when I had my first baby. I was a kid, preparing to have a kid. All of the wonderful women in my life did their best to throw their best mom hacks my way in preparation for this new role I was taking on. However, I’m not sure anyone prepared me for the toll becoming a new mom would take on my mental ... Read More
The Pitfalls of Replacing Drug Addiction With Another Addiction
Good ole cross-addiction, the act of laying down one addiction and picking up another. Drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, toxic relationships, shopping, and even eating all stimulate the brain's "pleasure center." For most of us in recovery, we can all recall a time when we convinced ourselves we needed to take a break ... Read More
Choose Your Words Carefully: Why Stigmatizing Mental Health Prevents People From Getting Help
The impacts of mental health effect over 48.3 million Americans in a single year. This startling number pales in comparison to the over 60% of these Americans who never receive treatment for their mental health conditions. While the availability of evidence-based treatment continues to increase, there continue to be ... Read More
5 Effective Self Care Strategies to Ease Depression
Depression is a foe that I have danced with for as long as I can remember. The common misconception about depression is that this mental illness is only found in the suicidal, can’t get out of bed or shower group of unfortunates - this couldn’t be further from the truth. I have battled with depression for years and ... Read More
6 Tips to Recalibrate Life Goals in the Virtual Era
Let me be the first to shamelessly say it has been one heck of a year. Navigating through this seemingly apocalyptic COVID-era has been anything but rejuvenating. I know I’m not alone when I say that this season of isolation has shed light on many painful but necessary areas for self-improvement while also limiting ... Read More
Alumni Outlook: The Importance of Counseling and Recovery
I remember the first time I was introduced to recovery and how ignorant I truly was. It was no secret that my life was unmanageable, and I was powerless over drugs and alcohol. However, I was uneducated on what the disease of alcoholism actually entailed. I assumed that alcoholics were a group of unfortunates who had ... Read More
Debunking 5 Common Misconceptions About Dating Someone in Recovery
Dating, in general, is challenging. Not only are we living in unprecedented times due to COVID, but we are also living in an era where we have the world at our fingertips. Add in the component that your prospective partner is in recovery; it’s not unlikely that you may be a little nervous about pushing forward. ... Read More
Alumni Outlook: How I Overcame Depression with Spirituality
When I was prompted to write a blog on this topic, I smiled with reluctance as I reflected on this past year. Isolation is the fuel to the fire of depression and I am not immune to the hardships that have transpired this year. For those of us in recovery, the community is everything. I’ll speak for myself when I say ... Read More
