Rumination: Worrying Over…and Over…and Over…and Over
Based on personal experiences and the stories of many sober people I know, ruminating is common for people with histories of addiction. Perhaps one of the reasons we used substances was to try to escape this type of thinking. Rumination is when you fixate on negative thoughts, and it can feel like a tortuous loop; […]
Coping With Trauma in Recovery is Important
Trauma and addiction are closely linked. One study of over 10,000 people with addiction found that 90% had experienced traumas such as domestic violence or child abuse. Addiction itself can be traumatic—and being chronically under the influence of substances may expose people to more potential trauma. 20% of people who experience trauma will go on […]
4 Common Co-Occurring Disorders
Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or borderline personality disorders often overlap with alcohol or drug addiction. While these disorders can coincide independently, they are often related and require dual diagnosis treatment. If left untreated, co-occurring disorders can trigger each other, making it more difficult for a person to function. For instance, depression can […]
International Stress Awareness Day: Stress Less
The first Wednesday in November (so, today!) is International Stress Awareness Day. We’ve had a lot to stress about lately. But 2014 data shows that even at “normal” times, 77% of people regularly experiences physical symptoms related to stress. 73% habitually experience psychological symptoms of stress. Addiction and stress are closely linked, making stress reduction […]
Daylight Savings and SAD
As the days get shorter and darker, some people deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a form of major depression that’s impacted by the seasons—typically fall and winter. Up to 10% of the population struggles with SAD. People with SAD have the normal symptoms of depression, including fatigue, greater need for sleep, loss […]
How Alcohol Exacerbates Depression and Anxiety
Depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health disorders. Study after study has found that alcohol is the most commonly abused substance. These are unfortunate statistics, because alcohol often exacerbates (or even causes) depression and anxiety. Many people fall into a cycle of drinking to numb the symptoms of one or both of […]
Election Stress Favors No Political Party
2020 has been a really hard year for mental health. One poll found that 1 in 3 adults have experienced symptoms of depression and anxiety during COVID-19. Amid a pandemic that has already upended almost every part of our lives, it’s also a major election year. Regardless of your political affiliation, this is an important […]
Building Self-Esteem in Recovery
Many people with addictions struggle with self-esteem. They may use alcohol or drugs to build artificial self-confidence in place of real self-love. They may carry guilt or shame that they try to numb with substances. In active addiction, people tend to stop taking care of themselves—which only reinforces a lack of self-worth. I didn’t even […]
Gratitude: A Cliché That Works
Any talk of gratitude can feel like cliché; some people may roll their eyes at the mere mention of the word. I get it. When you see Target throw pillows espousing the importance of gratitude, it can feel a bit ridiculous. But as someone with anxiety, historical bouts of depression, and five years of sobriety, […]
COVID-19 Impacts Mental Health of Millions of Americans
A recent CNN Health article summarizes studies asserting that with a second wave of COVID-19 there will be a second wave of mental health and substance use disorders. Many of these cases will be linked to grief for friends and family lost in the first wave of the pandemic. The medical journal JAMA released a [...] 
