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According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), an estimated 54 million people have used medications for non-medical reasons at least once in their lifetime. Drug misuse varies among age, gender, and other factors, but a likely cause of this is easy access. If you are concerned about prescription drug misuse in your home, there are several preventative measures that you can take:

There’s no question that our diet influences not only our physical wellbeing, but our mental health as well. Research has shown that eating lots of fried foods from fast food restaurants has been linked to anxiety and depression, in addition to weight gain. When it comes to recovery, the food we eat is important because it is what fuels us while we are getting back into clarity and making room for learning and growth. Sugar has been an important topic for discussion because many people who recover from addiction crave sweets. Healthline, a website that provides information on all things health-related, has noted several reasons why too much sugar is bad for you: 1) it can damage your teeth, 2) it can damage your liver, 3) it can cause insulin resistance and lead to Type 1 diabetes, 4) it can progress to Type 2 diabetes, 5) it can lead to cancer, 6) it can promote weight gain because it doesn’t hold nutritional value or give a “full” effect, 7) it can be highly addictive because of the rush of dopamine it gives, 8) it can lead to obesity, 9) it raises your cholesterol levels, and more. As you can see, there are several health consequences that eating too much sugar can cause on your body. Dr. Zachary Bloomgarden, a professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City told Live Science Magazine, “Sugar is bad for you because it has calories, and because if you have diabetes or a diabetes-related condition – let’s say high blood fat levels – then having sugar will increase your blood sugar and your triglycerides, which is a risk factor for heart disease”. This doesn’t mean that if you don’t have a diabetes-related condition that you can never eat sugar, however. A little bit every now and then should be fine, but you will want to speak with a doctor to get exact directions that fit your health situation. If you’re in recovery, consider speaking with a nutritional therapist so that you can have more control over your diet. What you eat holds great weight to how your mind and body function throughout the day and, when it comes to recovery, you want them to be working optimally.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), borderline personality disorder (BPD) is “a condition characterized by difficulties regulating emotion”. Individuals with this disorder feel emotions intensely and may experience impulsivity, poor self-image, stormy relationships and intense responses to stressors. Unfortunately, due to misunderstanding, stigma surrounding people with BPD further perpetuate negativity towards the disorder. NAMI states that even some mental health professionals hold stereotypes, imposing a “limit” on the number of patients they are “willing” to see or even refusing to see someone with BPD altogether. Societal stereotypes on BPD can make it difficult for those with the disorder to feel included, and many may struggle with self-image and self-love because of these negative views. The following are common stereotypes of BPD:

Relationships are one of the most important aspects of life because they bring us love, joy, and meaning. Whether you’ve been with someone special for a few months or a few years, the way you and your partner manage your relationship sets the stage for how your life will play out. The Huffington Post states that while most people have the belief that “the one” is out there for them, the reality is that any relationship is hard work and we can’t depend on another person for our happiness. Even then, two people must work hard to make a relationship flourish. The following are some key principles of a successful relationship:

You may think that uploading a simple picture on Instagram or posting a quote on Facebook is harmless, and sometimes it is. What you post on social media says a lot about who you are and how you want the world to view you. Phone and social media addiction has been a hot topic lately, and a 2014 study published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking confirms that prolonged social media use could be linked with depression. Researchers are starting to piece together an algorithm designed to track users who could be struggling with depression and anxiety. Computer programmer and internet entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg stated recently, “…there have been terribly tragic events – like suicides, some live streamed – that perhaps could have been prevented if someone had realized what was happening and reported them sooner”.   According to BBC, studies have found that if you have depression, you are more likely to have pictures that are featured bluer, greyer, darker, and with fewer faces on Instagram. Researchers from Harvard University and the University of Vermont employed these techniques while analyzing almost 44,000 Instagram posts. The results of their study correctly identified 70% of all users with depression, meaning a new pathway towards providing support. A tool called “AnalyzeWords” allows you type in your Twitter handle to assess emotional and thinking styles. While this is a more basic function, researchers are looking into this more to see how tools can be used to help people get support when they need it. The study conducted by Harvard and Vermont researchers also examined almost 280,000 tweets and found that signals of depression include increased use of “negative” words such as “no”, “never”, “prison”, or “murder”, and a decrease in use of “positive” words such as “happy”, “beach”, and “photo”. With these levels of technology analysis, researchers are looking to branch out into areas such as motherhood to determine if prenatal anxiety and/or depression. Many do consider these tactics to be invasive – if someone posts information on social media, should their information be automatically available for analysis? The key concern should be to provide support to those who need it. If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, addiction, etc., reach out for help today. There are many people who can give you the resources you need to lead a happier life.

According to Psychology Today, our choice of careers reflects our personality – vocational theorist John Holland believes that our career reflects highs and lows of 6 different personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. They state that if we are able to find a career that matches well with our personality, we have reached “congruence”. Several sources are questioning the personality traits of those in the entertainment industry. What is it about them that makes actors so successful? A study co-authored by actor Mark Davidson and led by psychologist Adrian Furnham from the University College of London found that “both male and female actors scored significantly higher than non-actors on antisocial, narcissism, histrionic, borderline and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders”. The research study involved 214 actors and compared their personality traits to non-actors. Traits such as being attention-seeking, unstable, self-loving and impulsive arose from the findings. Furthermore, male actors were found to have more dependent and avoidant personality traits as well. Does this mean actors have “bad” personalities? Not hardly. The study further noted that qualities found in actors benefit them for their career – for example, narcissistic traits give actors the confidence to get followers on social media and gain traction in the public eye. Obsessive-compulsive traits may help them reach deadlines and memorize scripts. Impulsivity means that a person may risk a lot for a role or opportunity, but they could also gain a lot because of those risks. It’s a common stereotype that narcissism is negative, but narcissism runs on a spectrum and it only because harmful if it’s involving apathy regarding other’s safety, health, happiness, etc. A healthy form of narcissism is what helps us succeed in job interviews, dress well for social occasions, etc. One shortcoming of the study could be due to the fact that the actors self-reported their emotions for analysis. Actors are in the realm of expression and interpretation, which could mean they may have connected deeper with what is considered more “negative” traits than “positive” ones. There are a number of reasons why actors may experience more traits related to personality disorders than others. What’s most important, however, is that no matter who you are, you seek help if it’s needed. There are many resources available to ensure you develop the tools you need to lead a happy life.

Racing heart. Feeling weak. A deep sense of terror, and you’re having breathing difficulties. These are just a few clear symptoms of have a panic attack -  they’re not fun by any means, but they are manageable. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America states that anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness, with panic attacks being a likely scenario for many. If you’ve never had a panic attack before, or you think you may have had one, here is a short excerpt from an experience someone shared on Buzzfeed: “It feels as if the world is rushing at me. Noises become very pronounced and it makes my head swim. Sometimes I can find it difficult to focus, sometimes I feel disoriented. My heart rate soars and I become very aware of my breathing”. Panic attacks may vary slightly from person to person, but the underlying feelings of fear are there. You may have experienced racing thoughts while you’re hyperventilating, and while it may seem like the end of the world, it’s not. In reality, panic attacks do not last as long as people think they do. Some individuals have random panic attacks but can continue to live their lives normally afterwards – if you’ve had at least 2 panic attacks and you’ve made changes to your lifestyle in attempts to avoid experiencing them again, you may have panic disorder. If you’re in the midst of a panic attack, there are several steps you take to find some relief. Everyday Health states that recognizing moments where we are allowing ourselves to spiral due to catastrophic thinking is a great first step to taking control over the situation. Once we’ve recognized where we’re at with this, we can practice a few simple things:

Yoga is becoming more mainstream than ever before – a new study estimates that over 36 million Americans are utilizing yoga now, compared to 20.4 million people engaging in it in 2012. Harvard Medical School notes the various benefits that yoga can bring: improved cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, balance, improved overall quality of life, reduction in stress, anxiety, and pain, and much more. With the rise of yoga, more techniques are being used than ever before. See if you can recognize any of these:

The dictionary defines tough love as “promotion of a person’s welfare, especially that of [a person with an addiction], child, or criminal, by enforcing certain constraints on them or requiring them to take responsibility for their actions”. When it comes to parenting, you may have used some tough love. According to Very Well Family Magazine, tough love can be effective if it doesn’t involve:

Whether you’ve been together for a few months or a few years, relationship distress can occur at any time. Perhaps you and your significant other have tried talking out your concerns, and you just haven’t come to a resolution. Maybe you have been silently resenting your partner, and so you haven’t spoken with them about what’s causing you pain. No matter the circumstance, your relationship may be in danger if any of the following is happening:

“There is no health without mental health”. – World Health Organization A 2017 study conducted by researchers from the United Kingdom found that mental health and physical health are cross-affected by both direct and indirect factors. The study suggested that for example, lifestyle choices and social interaction did impact both mental and physical health, and exercise proved to be incredibly important for both aspects. It seems that if we want to live a most healthy and happy life, we must maintain both mental and physical health. How is this so? Let’s explore. The Mental Health Foundation states that poor physical health can lead to an increased risk of developing mental health problems, just as a poor mental health state can negatively impact physical health. For example, a person with depression has a 67% increased risk for death from heart disease or from cancer. This is believed to occur because a person with depression is less likely to receive the routine healthcare they need to ensure their physical well-being. Similarly, adequate exercise is needed to maintain mental health. When you exercise, you release and uptake feel-good chemicals, called endorphins, in your brain. Previous studies have shown that even small 10-minute bursts of exercise can increase your mental alertness, energy, and positive mood overall. As Psych Central emphasizes, anyone with a physical disease is likely to feel more psychological distress than someone who doesn’t, and those with poor mental health may experience more physical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, colorectal cancer, back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple sclerosis, etc. Since mental and physical health are so intricately connected, many people are utilizing holistic methods of treatment. Holistic practices can be beneficial because they consider the whole person – their mind, body, and spirit – in treating them. Holistic practices may be used in conjunction with traditional medical practices, but what’s most important is that you seek treatment and begin recovery as soon as possible. If you are currently experiencing poor mental or physical health, begin taking steps towards your well-being today. Stretch, go for walks, eat healthily, get plenty of sleep, associate yourself with loving and supportive people, practice healthy self-soothing exercises such as reading a good book or taking a hot shower to relax, and more. Starting these steps today could mean a healthier you in the future.

The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) claims that nearly 30 million people experience an eating disorder each year; they can affect anyone of any age and are very serious – even life threatening. If you have an eating disorder, note that with the proper support and treatment, recovery is possible. You may be feeling skeptical about seeking treatment, but many people have gone through it and have succeeded. Of course, there are going to be some challenges along the way, but that’s what will make your recovery most worthwhile. Many people have reported recovery as being a series of ups and downs, with both good moments and bad ones. One person explained this on The Mighty by stating, “Some days recovery feels easy. I feel good in my body and I don’t obsessively think about calories or how big my thighs might be getting. These days are wonderful and carefree, and they make coping with the hard times feel a little bit easier. I know I’m always going to have days that aren’t so great, days when I struggle to feed myself and use my mindfulness in a positive way. What matters is getting through these rough patches and not succumbing to them”. What comes with the ups and downs of recovery are, at times, relapses. Relapses occur when you temporarily retreat to old habits of behavior associated with your eating disorder; most people associate relapses with failure, but they are truly moments of learning and growth. Relapses are quite normal. As one writer explained his story on the Huffington Post, he said, “While in recovery, I have gained weight and lost weight, relapsed and gained weight, relapsed, gained weight, thought about losing weight, etc.” Recovery involves learning some healthy tools that you can use to cope with negative thoughts and feelings. For example, you may learn more about meditation and mindfulness, distractions such as reading a good book or going to the movies, self-soothing activities such as taking a hot bath or going for a walk, journaling, and more. By speaking with a therapist, you will get the chance to uncover some of the feelings you haven’t tended to over the years. You’ll be able to work through those issues at your own pace and will have a support team to work with you along the way.