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“We do not heal the past by dwelling there; we heal the past by living fully in the present.” – Marianne Williamson Letting go of the past can be very hard to do. Complex situations of the past can creep into every nook and cranny of space in our minds, filling every subconscious thought or decision we make. Dr. Judith Sills states, “It is heart-stoppingly easy to get stuck in the darkness of bad memories. They are emotional quicksand and exert a strong downward pull on the psyche.” We often have an urge to go back and right the wrongs, do things differently, say something else – anything to change the outcome of a situation that hurt us badly. These memories can plague us and leave us feeling exhausted. Letting go of the chains of the past means giving freedom to ourselves both in the present and future. Dr. John Grohol, founder and CEO of Psych Central, has provided several steps for letting go of the past:

When we only see our friends on the weekends, or a few times a month, it can be hard to tell what they are going through. Sometimes people don’t always tell us their struggles and if something upsetting has recently occurred in their life and we aren’t made aware, our friend may be in more danger of developing an addiction, especially if they feel they do not have an outlet. According to MentalHelp.net, the following are signs to tell if your friend has an addiction problem: Behavioral signs:

Many famous people have been known to have mental illnesses ranging from anxiety and depression to bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. According to Odyssey Online, several key historical figures have been known to have a mental illness:

When first learning of your loved one’s illness, it may feel easy to become panicked, overwhelmed, and confused. Do things change now? How am I supposed to navigate our relationship? These questions are normal and valid – we want to be there for our loved ones, but we may not understand everything they are going through. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) recognizes that mental illness does not only impact the one involved – it affects friends, teachers, neighbors, coworkers, family members, and others in the community. MentalHealth.gov states that learning about mental health issues can lead to earlier treatment of your loved one, improved recognition of signs or symptoms, and great understanding and compassion. The American Psychological Association (APA) has noted that many people with mental illness experience social withdrawal, difficulty functioning at school and work, problems with memory and thinking, feeling disconnected from reality, changes in eat, sleep, and hygiene habits, substance abuse, mood changes, and suicidal thoughts. While these may seem like terrifying symptoms, supporting your loved one fully can help reduce these. Psychology Today has provided several ways that you can support your loved one:

Celebrities serve as key figures in the public eye – most people are watching their every move. When a celebrity becomes addicted to something, many people do not learn of this addiction until later. In recent past, we have seen famous people such as Amy Winehouse, Charlie Sheen, Whitney Houston, Heath Ledger, Lindsay Lohan, Robert Downey Jr., and more fall into addiction and even worse – death. What most people tend to think is, ‘How can these celebrities do this? They make so much money, they are so famous – they have everything they could ever want!’ Contrary to widespread belief, celebrities have different influences and factors that lead them to addiction. John Tsilimparis told the Huffington Post in 2013 that many celebrities are “under watch” 24/7, and trying to maintain a “perfect” image and keep up their success may prove too much to handle. Thus, many stars turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with the overwhelming amount of pressure they are experiencing. ABC News notes that drugs often allow people to escape their reality or deal with the high demand and stress that many celebrities face. Many people that work and befriend celebrities also encourage them to use – Fox News reported that some club owners will even “pay” celebrities with drugs to entice them to check out their venue. Parties are a common aspect of celebrity life, and with many people wanting to be friends with a celebrity, they often get what they want. In addition, celebrities who are in the acting world often get injured on set; to recover as quickly as possible, they may be given painkillers. With the current opioid epidemic that we are facing today, this can easily become an addiction. Alcohol Rehab claims that many celebrities have been using drugs since before they became famous, and many of them are considered high-functioning. Kirsten McGuiness wrote an article for the Huffington Post explaining that people with a high functioning addiction set limits for themselves but inevitably go over them. Celebrities who are high-functioning may appear to be happy, healthy, and successful but may be harboring an addiction secret. Just because a celebrity can maintain their home and family for the meantime, however, doesn’t mean they’re safe. As a person becomes more dependent on their addiction, it slowly begins to take over their lives – even if that first sign is their appearance, or if they slowly start failing to meet their obligations.

According to the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), music therapy is “the clinical and evidence-based use of musical interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.” Music therapy can be used to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of an individual. The American Psychological Association (APA) notes that music therapy can provide a variety of benefits. First, what does music therapy consist of? The AMTA states that musical therapists assess their clients’ emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication skills, and cognitive skills through musical response. Therapists will often design music sessions that involve music improvisation, receptive music listening, song writing, lyric discussion, music and imagery, music performance, and learning through music. Treatment centers, agencies for disabilities, community health centers, drug and alcohol programs, senior centers and nursing homes, hospice programs, correctional facilities, halfway houses, schools, and private practices all typically offer music therapy. In a meta-analysis of 400 studies, researchers found that music improves the body’s immune system and reduces stress. Previous research has also shown music therapy to relax patients before surgery – even more so than prescription drugs. In a 2013 study, researchers from the University of Alberta explored the benefits of music therapy on 42 children, ages 3 to 11. They found that both listening to and playing relaxing music while getting an IV inserted made the children feel significantly less pain, while some children even reported experiencing significantly less distress overall. How is music so beneficial to our health? Doctors from Harvard Medical School state that humans are rhythmic beings; our heartbeat, breathing, and brain waves are all rhythmic. Our brain and nervous system are constructed to identify music as separate from noise, and we can respond to rhythm and repetition, tones and tunes. Music therapy has been shown to help stroke victims, substance abuse problems, brain injuries, physical disabilities, acute and chronic pain, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and more. Music Therapy Connections, an organization that promotes music therapy for recovery, states that music therapy can be used by all: children, adolescents, adults, and elderly.

Beginning your journey to recovery can be nerve-wracking. You may feel fear regarding the unknown, may have hope for the future, or may be experiencing pressure because you want to know that you’re doing the right thing. Seeking help is always the best step that you can take towards your recovery, and detox is the very first component of this. According to Rehab International, detox is the removal of toxins from the body naturally. Although detox may seem frightening, it’s crucial for your overall health and must be completed before you can truly begin your journey to recovery. Here is some valuable information regarding detoxification:

There is no doubt that depression can make us feel hopeless, sad, empty, and isolated – but can depression cause physical health problems? A researcher from Oxford University in the United Kingdom found that depression can lead to physical health problems, such as stroke and cardiovascular disease. Psych Central also notes that depression can lead to coronary heart disease, colorectal cancer, back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and maybe even type 2 diabetes. What aspect of depression causes these health issues? Contributor Alice Walton from Forbes Magazine states that when we’re depressed, we’re less likely to take steps towards bettering our physical health; we are more likely to be sedentary and make poorer few choices, which can lead towards physical problems. Stress and inflammation often found in depression - according to doctors - can lead to damaged arteries and plaque buildup, which explains the relationship. Some studies suggest that depression may contribute to low bone mass by reducing the amount of calcium and other minerals that are deposited throughout the body as we age. According to writer Jane Collingwood of Psych Central, depression in addition to another physical conditions can worsen symptoms as well. For example, if a person has depression and heart disease, they are twice as likely to reduce their social interaction. Combinations not only affect a person, but one can exacerbate the other. Professor David Goldberg of the Institute of Psychiatry in London expresses this by stating, “Depression and chronic physical illness are in a reciprocal relationship with one another; not only do many chronic illnesses cause higher rates of depression, but depression has been shown to antedate some chronic physical illnesses.” Not to mention, the symptoms of depression can be damaging in and of themselves. A study conducted by a researcher at the University of Texas Southwest Medical School stated that depression can cause a person to feel chronic joint pain, limb pain, back pain, gastrointestinal problems, tiredness, sleep disturbances, psychomotor activity changes, and appetite changes. With these physical ailments arising due to depression, it makes sense that these can worsen if not treated. The best way to prevent and reduce the symptoms of depression is to seek treatment for it – psychotherapy is a form of “talk therapy” that includes one-on-one interaction with a therapist. Many people find this beneficial to work through their problems and develop tools to counteract their symptoms.

For people who are beginning their journey to recovery, treatment may seem daunting. With several options available, such as in-patient (residential) treatment, outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, and others, it may be easy to feel overwhelmed. A common concern for those considering residential treatment is what they can expect – the anxiety of a new beginning can create fear and worry. Luckily, residential treatment means that you will be taken care of by a dedicated health care team that will be there for you 24/7. Bradford Health Services, American Residential Treatment Association, and Rehab International have indicated several wonderful components that you can expect while you are in residential treatment:

According to Douglas Gentile, a psychologist from Iowa State University, approximately 3 million children ages 8 to 18 are addicted to video games. His study involved 3,034 children and revealed that on average, people are spending approximately 20 hours a week playing video games. The number of children playing estimates that approximately 72 percent of American household play video games. Nine percent of the children studied had symptoms that correlated with video game addiction. Video games aren’t just for children, though – many adults play as well. Video games can become addicting for several reasons:

“The reality of true forgiveness lies in setting ourselves free from holding on to the pain. It’s simply an act of releasing ourselves from the negative energy.” There are many crucial components to a successful recovery – detoxing, developing tools for when cravings emerge, understanding triggers, developing a dedicated support system, and understanding the effects of mental illness and addiction are just a few key areas of focus. However, recovery is more than just taking the physical steps that are required to live a healthier life – internal work is needed and forgiving ourselves for our past mistakes is incredibly important to recovery. Promises Treatment Center stated in 2010 that forgiveness is a state of mind – being able to forgive yourself, others, circumstances, and more is a tool that can propel you in your recovery. Much of the mindset that you need to take on revolves around understanding that you suffer from the disease of addiction or a mental illness. In recognizing the truth in this, we can understand that in the past, our words and actions may have aligned more with the addiction or illness rather than our clear selves. Researchers McGaffin, Lyons and Deane from the University of Wollongong examined in 2013 one hundred and thirty-three individuals in residential treatment for addiction and explored the relationships between guilt, shame, and forgiveness. The researchers found that guilt is more positively associated with self-forgiveness than shame because it provides more acceptance of past instances. If we can develop more acceptance of ourselves in light of our addiction or illness, we are more likely to forgive ourselves, thus leading to a more successful recovery. Forgiveness is all-encompassing – it involves ourselves and our past actions, others and their actions, circumstance and everything we couldn’t control before. By choosing to forgive ourselves, we are setting ourselves free and making room for new growth, heightened sense of clarity, and a wider perspective than we had before. Learn to forgive yourself. You deserve it. You need it.

Mental health is comprised of several components – treatment, exercise, proper support, nutrition, and more. What we place into our body can have a significant impact on the way our body processes information and the energy that we maintain throughout each day. According to the International Mental Health Collaborating Network, approximately two thirds of people who do not report mental illness eat fresh fruit or fruit juice each day, compared to those who report mental illness eating fewer healthy foods such as chips, chocolate, fast food meals and frozen dinners. Harvard Health states that this makes sense, because 95% of our serotonin (the neurotransmitter that regulates sleep, appetite, moods, and pain) is produced in our gastrointestinal tract, which is lined with a million nerve cells. What we eat directly affects these cells, ultimately affecting our mood and well-being. There are several healthy ways that we can ensure a nutritious diet that will serve our mind and body in the most wonderful ways: