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Racing thoughts, dizziness, increased heart rate, excessive worry and other symptoms of anxiety don’t just affect people at home; anxiety can affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), 72% of people who have daily stress and anxiety state that it interferes with their lives at least moderately, with approximately 56% saying their anxiety most often impacts their work performance. Work-related anxiety may be caused by a demanding boss, a toxic workplace environment, heavy deadlines, or something else. No matter the cause, anxiety can certainly cause people to not only become less productive at work but can cause them to despise showing up for work altogether. A 2017 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health emphasized that employees with anxiety experience lower employment rates, long-term unemployment, increased risk of exposure to inequalities at work such as lower salaries or discrimination, decreased participation, increased absenteeism, and more compared to those without anxiety. If you have experienced these outcomes of work-related anxiety, it’s important that you seek help today. What are some ways that you can better manage your anxiety at work? There are a few things that you can do to potentially help your work situation:

Imagine this: You’ve been in recovery for about a month, and you’re feeling great. You’ve been working hard in individual and group therapy, and you finally feel as though your life is back on track. You think to yourself, “Finally, everything is just as it should be. I’m on TOP of the world!” Recovery consists of highs and lows – much like life – and when things are going well, it can be an amazing feeling. While you should embrace and appreciate these moments, you don’t want to allow yourself to feel invincible. Over-confidence can be just as much as predictor of relapse as feelings of helplessness can; just because everything seems to be going right, doesn’t mean your work in recovery is over. A 2016 study published in Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Policy, involved interviews of 36 participants regarding their history of drug use and rehabilitation, their self-evaluation of addiction, their motivations to abstain, their plans for the future and their attitudes towards rehabilitation. The researchers found that over-confident participants under-estimated their levels of addiction, over-estimated their self-control, and held external motivations and attributions. What does this mean for you? See if you can recognize these statements:

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is “a disorder that develops in some people who have experiencing a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.” It’s very natural to feel afraid during a traumatic event, but some people carry those feelings over time, manifesting in the form of nightmares or unwanted memories, avoidance of situations that bring back memories of the trauma, anxiety, paranoia, agitation, depression, and more. Nearly 5.2 million people are estimated to experience PTSD in a given year. While symptoms of PTSD can affect work, school, and home life, they can worsen if adequate sleep is lost.

Recovery can be challenging, because it involves building a new lifestyle for a better future. If you’ve recently begun a treatment program, you may feel apprehensive about your capabilities; many people who begin recovery have identified with a label – “addict”, for example – that holds them back from their true potential. Motivational enhancement therapy (MET), may help you discover the self-confidence that you need to push through the barriers that addiction tries to enforce on you. MET is designed to help people find new labels of their lives – ones that incorporate happiness, health, recovery, and much more. In the first session, your therapist will conduct an initial assessment to learn more about your history with substance abuse and your thoughts on recovery. Your therapist may work with you to come up with an action plan, as well as discuss with you some useful coping strategies that could help you in times of need. MET therapists are trained to listen to you rather than tell you what to do – this places the decision-making process in your hands. Your therapist won’t argue with you regarding any thoughts or decisions you plan to make about recovery; rather, they will explore with you all of the possibilities that you could take and help you make an informed decision. Ambivalence is completely normal when considering a major change. Often a key method for deciding if treatment would be best is to conduct a cost/benefit analysis; talk to your therapist about the benefits of attending treatment and what it could do for your life, as well as some potential challenges you may run into and some hesitancies you are having. On some occasions, addressing these issues may allow you to reconsider if the risks are all that bad – or more, what you may do in situations where these risks arise. If you’re unsure of whether treatment is the best option with you, schedule an appointment with a professional at a reputable treatment center. Get more information and speak with a therapist regarding your thoughts. Sometimes all it takes is talking to another person out loud so that you can process everything in front of someone who truly cares about your happiness and health.

The opioid epidemic has led to opioid drug overdose as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Opioids are chemically related and interact with opioid receptors in the brain, sending signals to block pain, slow breathing, and provide a calming effect. For those in opiate addiction recovery, withdrawal symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, depression, drug cravings, and more. Many people who become dependent on these drugs do so in an attempt to further medicate themselves of chronic pain they are experiencing; unfortunately, as their body becomes used to the dosage, it begins to require more and more in order for the individual to achieve the desired effect. As a person recovers from opiate addiction, that pain may become more pronounced as their body begins to feel again. A 2015 study published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork sought to find out if Swedish massage could assist in reducing the pain experienced by opioid-dependent patients. Massage therapy has been shown in previous research studies to not only significantly reduce pain levels, but to also enhance relaxation, sleep, emotions, recovery, and the overall healing process. Eighty participants were chosen for a randomized treatment program, to receive either treatment as usual or to engage in Swedish massage therapy for 12 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 50 minutes. Participants from the study reported their chronic pain as an outcome of a car/motorcycle accident, a sports injury, a work-related injury, a fall/accident, partner abuse, a medical condition, pregnancy, or an unknown cause. All participants had tried various remedies for treating their chronic pain. Overall, the researchers found that those in the massage group reported significant improvements regarding their pain. If you’ve been struggling with opiate addiction, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today to learn of how massage therapy can be incorporated into your treatment.

Losing a loved one at any age can be devastating. Grief and loss is a part of the human experience; with every beginning comes an end. The 5 stages of grief and loss, proposed by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in 1969, have become quite universal: 1) denial and isolation, 2) anger, 3) bargaining, 4) depression, and 5) acceptance. These stages may ebb and flow, and a person may move on to one stage and may then take a few steps back on difficult days. Self-medication is defined as the use of substances in order to cope with any physical or psychological ailments. Someone may abuse substances as a way to cope with unwanted feelings, such as depression, anger, shame, guilt, etc. A 2015 study titled “Dulling the Edges” sought to address this phenomenon by conducting semi-structured interviews on 35 men aged 19 to 25 years old, and 22 men aged 26 to 35 years old. These male participants identified as grieving the accidental death of a male friend; the researchers wanted to focus on ways participants used alcohol in the grieving process. The study identified three themes amongst the participants: Using Alcohol to Dull the Pain – One participant described using alcohol to ease the pain of losing a friend who had such a positive influence on his life. Another participant expressed the pressure of what “being a man” means by staying strong and stoic amidst grief and getting through it one one’s own; several people mentioned that with limited coping mechanisms for dealing with strong emotions, alcohol seemed to be the only option. Using Alcohol to Purge Sadness – Several participants mentioned the fact that being drunk would allow them to express their sadness without fear of being judged because the alcohol influenced their behavior. As a vehicle for free expression, alcohol was used to “let loose feelings of despair and sadness”. Troubled Drinking – Many participants noted that while alcohol helped them all to connect in the face of their friend’s death, their drinking eventually became problematic. Heavy drinking became a normal activity for many, as one or two drinks no longer seemed to make them feel better. There are other ways of coping with the death of a loved one. Surround yourself with those you love. Allow yourself to feel the pain and hurt. Seek out therapy. If you’ve developed a drinking problem, speak to someone from a reputable treatment center today. Recovery is possible.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has identified drug overdose as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, with 20,101 overdose deaths related to prescription pain relievers and 12,990 overdose deaths related to heroin use in 2015. People all over the United States have been attempting to find alternative, holistic solutions to chronic pain due to the epidemic. Acupuncture is considered a form of complementary medicine used to alleviate pain and to treat various mental, physical, and emotional conditions – as such, it is becoming a more popular tool for both those who want to avoid taking opioids and for those detoxing from them. Many people detoxing from opioids are turning to holistic treatment methods such as acupuncture to assist them in their recovery. A 2016 study published in the Eastern Asian Archives of Psychiatry found that acupuncture accelerates a person’s endorphins and encephalin productions in addition to up-regulating the dynorphin level, suppressing withdrawal at the spinal level. Overall, it was found that acupuncture could assist in depressive and anxiety-related withdrawal symptoms. In general, acupuncture has been known to treat musculoskeletal problems such as back and neck pain, as well as issues such as nausea, migraines, insomnia, and more. For those seeking a route other than opioid medication for their pain, acupuncture shows promising results; this treatment method has been shown to increase the levels of various chemicals in the body, such as epinephrine, endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine. An increase in these levels is what contributes to the pain and stress relief that many people report. Although many people are advocating for these benefits, research is still being conducted on the efficacy of this method for the prevention and treatment of opioid addiction. If you are in a reputable treatment program for addiction, however, acupuncture could be an excellent therapy method to complement your treatment regime. If you’re currently struggling with opioid addiction, make the decision to seek help today. By participating in a treatment program, you can develop tools towards living a happier, healthier life.

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is often characterized by a sense of grandiosity, lack of empathy, and a need for admiration. It is estimated that nearly 1 in 16 Americans has NPD at some point in their lives, leading many people to believe that their opinions and interests should taken precedence over others’. Those with NPD may have a tough time forming close relationships because of their exaggerated sense of self-importance. As noted in a review of NPD published by EBSCO Information Services, there are two subtypes of NPD: overt and covert. Those with overt NPD display entitlement, denial of weakness and exploitive behavior, whereas those with covert NPD display hypersensitivity to insult, feelings of shame, helplessness or inadequacy, and social withdrawal. There is no known cure for NPD, but it is possible for those with the disorder to seek treatment and develop tools to better relate to others in a more positive way. Treatment may include medication, but should first and foremost involve psychotherapy, also known as “talk therapy”. It may take quite some time for those with NPD to find breakthrough in therapy because it is focused more on their personality traits, but those who are willing to learn more about their disorder and how they come to view themselves and the world, as well as how these perceptions dominate their behaviors are likely to see improvement. The following are likely going to be some key focal points of therapy:

As stated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), marijuana use can lead to the development of marijuana use disorder; research estimates that 30% of people who use marijuana have some degree of this disorder. Furthermore, individuals who use marijuana before the age of 18 are four to seven times more likely to develop marijuana use disorder when they get older. As such, marijuana use disorder is classified as a dependency to marijuana; although many people believe a person cannot become dependent or addicted to the drug, it is possible. A 2014 study conducted by researchers from Harvard University Medical School found that marijuana abusers show lower positive and higher negative emotionality scores along with greater stress and irritability, which is related to the fact that more marijuana use can lower a person’s sensitivity to rewards that would typically cause pleasure. When marijuana is consumed, an influx of “feel good” chemicals in the brain, otherwise known as dopamine, are released. The brain becomes used to this influx so when it is taken away because the person is no longer using the drug, the brain experiences less pleasure – giving an individual more negative emotion reactivity. These physiological reactions are like other addictions, as the brain becomes used to an increase in dopamine production from the drug itself.

Individualized treatment has become more widespread than ever before, as researchers have found that each person’s unique history, experiences, and background contribute to their needs in recovery. Whether you’re attending treatment for a mental illness or addiction, your family dynamic can provide a lot of information to your healthcare team. When a therapist asks you questions regarding your family, this gives them insight into how you were raised and what problems you may have endured when you were younger. Most of us carry the weight of these issues far into adulthood, affecting our mental health and potentially factoring in as a cause of our substance abuse. Family systems theory was coined by American psychiatrist Dr. Murray Bowen and is based on the idea that a person is always connected to their relationships; they cannot be looked at individually without exploring the dynamic of their relationships and how they fit into a larger, complex system that serves as an emotional unit. According to Dr. Bowen, changes of behavior in one family member are likely to have an influence on everyone else in the family. The theory further suggests that as boundaries of a family system tend to change, roles within the family must change to maintain the family’s stability. If a family refuses to change their pattern of behavior, dysfunction may occur. Family doesn’t always mean “mother” or “father” – family is often made up of traditional families such as couples, single parents, adoptive families, foster relationships, grandparents raising children and stepfamilies, extended families such as grandparents, uncles, cousins, etc., and elected families such as godparents, friends, etc. The way in which you relate and communicate with these various systems says a lot about you and how you experience life. From this, a treatment center can explore what your needs are and what type of treatment would be best for you. Family systems are a major informant of what you need for treatment, but this is not the only factor. Your mental health and substance use history, genetics, biology, abuse history, personality, behavioral patterns and more can provide a lot of information as well.

Goal-setting has been used in a variety of instances as an effective way of monitoring progress. People with mental illness often have trouble meeting their goals, as serious mental illnesses can involve symptoms that can be challenging to overcome. With the right treatment program, a person can develop tools to help them better manage their symptoms while strengthening their grasp on recovery. Personal goal-setting is an excellent way to identify specific milestones that you want to surpass. A 2017 study published in the journal Issues in Mental Health Nursing involved the assessment of 27 individuals who were invited to set goals they wish to have achieved by the end of a week-long Recovery Camp dedicated to those with serious mental illness. The researchers identified four collective goal-setting themes from participants: Connectedness – many people in recovery soon discover that they are not alone. Goals for recovery may involve reaching out to others for support, speaking with someone from group therapy or a group activity, or participating and interacting in more recovery-related activities. Developing Healthy Habits – this could include eating more nutritiously, practicing better self-care, thinking more positively, treating oneself with more kindness on bad days, getting better sleep, exercising more, etc. Challenging Oneself – in order to boost your progress in recovery, you could set goals to challenge yourself; examples of this may include partaking in an activity or doing something that’s good for you that you wouldn’t have tried before, practicing forgiveness of yourself and/or others, being assertive and telling others the truth even if it’s challenging, and more. Recovery – goals that are recovery-based may involve meeting with a therapist once a week and reviewing progress, making the decision to speak up more in group therapy, practicing the tools you’ve learned in therapy once a day, etc. Goals can serve as excellent reminders of how far you’ve come, where you’re at, and where you’d like to be in the future. You can track your goals by taking notes, writing them down on a calendar, keeping a diary, creating a progress chart, planning out the steps, selecting a timeframe, and more. Share your thoughts with your therapist so that you have another person to help keep you accountable.

If you’ve been struggling with addiction, you may be feeling guilt, shame, anger, hurt, sadness, and more. These feelings take place especially as we learn more about how we’ve hurt others, including ourselves. A reputable treatment center should be able to able to properly address these feelings of hurt and understand them, as well as what you need to do to move forward in your recovery. We all have a narrative for ourselves, and that narrative may change over time as we change and grow. You can still change your narrative from one of pain and addiction to one of growth and transformation. At an early age, we form both positive and negative ideas about ourselves, influenced by genetics, environment, past experiences, and society. These opinions form into a pattern of thoughts over time, creating our self-perception. Perhaps your stream of thoughts was filled with more love and positivity at first, but later filled with more hatred and negativity as you experienced painful events in life. This contributes to mental illness and addiction, and many people self-medicate with substances to cope with this stream of thoughts. The best part about rehabilitation is that you can work towards changing these thoughts. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy designed to help clients change older, negative thought patterns into newer, more positive and productive ones. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is another form of therapy that works to help clients change their narrative through accepting thoughts for what they are – thoughts. Mindfulness is yet another tool that you can use to build acceptance, forgiveness, and awareness in the present moment. To redefine your narrative, you must work on it every single day. You must practice the tools you learn in your treatment program and develop a support system that you can rely on. You must work hard, even if you don’t feel like it. Let your life be your narrative. Change your story by doing things differently. Take the steps you need to take to become a better version of yourself, leading you towards a happier, healthier life.