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A woman explained her experience with dissociative amnesia on CBS News. Here is a clip from her story: “When I woke up the next morning, I sat up and I didn’t recognize the room. I didn’t recognize the bag that was sitting on the chair, or the clothes that were lying over the chair. I didn’t recognize myself in the mirror. I didn’t know my name.” Dissociative amnesia is a form of dissociative identity disorder; it is characterized by the inability to recall pieces of information that cannot be explained by another illness or general forgetfulness. Psychology Today notes that the disorder can involve a person forgetting their own name and address, to forgetting family members, friends, coworkers, and events throughout one’s life. Moments of not remembering can last from a few minutes to several years. In addition, a person with this disorder may not remember certain bits of information or they may not remember some information altogether. Healthy Place argues that this disorder is most often due to long-term childhood trauma related to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Other events of extreme stress, such as a natural disaster or an accident, may also trigger this disorder. If you have been experiencing this, seeking treatment is a great first step. In the meantime, there are a few coping strategies you can use to begin taking steps towards your recovery:

High drug prices are affecting everyone, hospitals included. Pharmacies, whether located within the hospital or privately, often supply drug products for administration in hospitals or the health care system overall. The problem that many hospitals all over the U.S. are experiencing is the high cost of these products – leaving many hospital staff members to scrounge for alternatives to keep the costs down. According to ABC News, many hospitals are now taking action to combat these high prices: they are working to create their own generic drug company. Rural hospitals are facing numerous risks by running out of stock on their medications, simply because they are so expensive. When this happens, patients are often left with sub-par medications or at risk for not having any at all. The National Public Radio covered a story that involved hospital pharmacist Mandy Langston, who has expressed her concern for providing sufficient medications to patients. It was stated that when it came time for her to restock the medication Activase last year, it was so expensive that she left a reorder unfilled for more than a week, anxiously keeping only one dose on hand in case it was needed. She stated, “If we don’t keep this drug [in stock], people will die.” The non-for-profit drug company that is being created will be supported by four main hospitals: Intermountain Health, Ascension, Trinity Health, and SSM Health, along with the VA health system. Together, these hospitals total more than 450 hospitals and many other health facilities, according to ABC News. Representative Gerry Connolly entered a conversation with Valeant Interim CEO Howard Schiller regarding the decisions many hospitals have made. He stated, “Given the choice between higher prices and risking the health of their patients…you’re forcing hospitals to choose…almost holding the patients as hostages.” Hospitals are struggling in the United States, and this action is a clear indication of that. The argument is that if hospitals utilize their own generic form of drugs, higher prices could be given to the patients time in the hospital to make up for those costs. We will see as this comes more into fruition how this new company’s actions will change the climate for drug production within the healthcare system.

Everyone falls off the beaten path from time to time, and recovery is no exception. Most of the “down” moments in recovery give you a chance to identify what you need to change and what you need to continue emphasizing in your recovery. Unless there are major concerns that you have about the treatment center you’re in, you’re likely letting your fears get in the way of your success. Consider these common fears:

A woman explained her story with sex addiction on Health.com. Here is an excerpt from her story: “I had long affairs. I wanted sex, but I also wanted somebody’s soul, in this really ego-driven way. My life was a constant juggling act of at least two men, making sure they didn’t find out about each other. I was unfaithful to every boyfriend I ever had.” Addiction affects nearly every aspect of a person’s life; obsessive thoughts and patterns of behavior can lead a person to think, feel, and act in ways that serve only the benefit of their craving. The National Council on Sexual Addiction Compulsivity estimates that 18-24 million people in the United States struggle with sex addiction. The following are common symptoms of this unofficial psychiatric diagnoses:

Having a personality disorder can be challenging, especially if you haven’t been diagnosed. Many symptoms of personality disorders affect every aspect of someone’s life, and eventually cause trouble in these areas, causing the person to seek a diagnosis. For example, someone with a personality disorder may experience paranoia, extreme emotional swings, unstable self-image, unstable relationships with others, impulsive or destructive behaviors, and more. Personality disorders cannot be cured, but they are treatable. The Personality Disorders Awareness Network (PDAN) outlines several effective treatments that have been used to help lessen the severity of symptoms found in a personality disorder:

Addiction impacts not just the person who was directly affected, but friends and family as well. Unfortunately, with sobriety comes learning of the ways we have hurt our loved ones, and this can be painful to grasp. Resentment and regret can seep into our loved ones, with some seeming to no longer wish the best for us. If initial family or friends’ reactions are ones of negativity and/or disheartening behavior, give them time. If serious relationship damage occurred prior to you seek treatment, a lot of anger and guilt could still be at bay. Your loved ones may need to know you’re serious, and you must show this through your words, actions, and as time goes on. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) notes that family therapy can become indispensable in situations like these. Family therapy aims to hear how addiction has impacted everyone, allowing everyone to feel heard. Through this, each person can work individually and together in therapy to rid of negative thought patterns and habits while replacing them with more hope and positivity. The more your family and friends learn about addiction and how it affects a person’s brain, the more they should be able to look at the situation more objectively. However, this does not mean that the pain will completely disappear, at least not for a while.    A mother explained her pain from hearing about her children’s’ struggle with addiction on CNN, “It’s like having someone punch you in the stomach…You’re never the same from the second you find out [about a loved one’s struggle with addiction]…It’s the hardest thing in the world.” CNN notes that many loved ones blame themselves, as they believe there was something else they should have done to stop their loved one. Yet others may feel anger from being lied to, cheated on, stolen from, and more. It’s important to remember, however, that the family dynamic can change over time with the help of a family therapist. The most important thing you can do for yourself and your family is to focus on your recovery.

Here is an excerpt of a story that a woman shared about her recovery on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services website: “As much as it pains me to admit, I let that foundation slip away and relapsed with nearly three years clean. Due to [the drug’s] availability and relatively low price, I used heroin this time, and jumped straight into using it intravenously…I was able to stop using after four days. It was incredibly discouraging having to change my clean date, but I didn’t give up.” Compared to popular belief, relapse is a common component of recovery. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) states that approximately 90% of those with alcoholism are likely to experience at least 1 relapse over the course of a 4-year period following treatment; those who do not seek treatment are less likely to achieve a 3-year remission, thus having higher chances of relapse. However, relapse should be considered a normal part of recovery and should not be considered a sign of failure or weakness. Whether you are in recovery for an addiction or mental illness, relapse can happen with either one and there are many reasons why a relapse may take place. Psychology Today states the following as triggers that could lead to relapse:

Previous research has shown that engagement in activities can benefit one’s recovery; meaningful activities, as stated in a 2009 study published in the Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, are typically expressed as “pursuits that allow a person to grow in connection, confidence, and contribution through development of skills, education, vocation, or relationships.” Games during recovery can be a great way to connect with others, focus on living in the present moment, and rationalize steps towards becoming a better version of ourselves. The following are some excellent games that can be played that incorporate all these things:

A National Health Interview Survey conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) discovered last year that 18 million Americans practiced meditation, and this is no surprise, as the benefits are bountiful. Meditation has been shown to reduce stress, increase concentration, encourage a healthy lifestyle, increase self-awareness and happiness, increase acceptance, slow aging and more, according to the Huffington Post. The practice consists of focusing the mind on a thought, object, or activity to achieve mental clarity and emotional calmness. The Scientific American states that meditating regularly can change the way different regions of the brain communicate with one another – MRI scans have shown that, after an 8-week course on mindfulness practice, the brain’s “fight or flight” region, the amygdala, appears to shrink. This primal region of the brain is associated with feelings of fear and anxiety, and typically becomes active as a response to stress. Furthermore, as the amygdala shrinks, the pre-frontal cortex, associated with awareness, concentration, and decision making, becomes thicker. Thus, a person who practices mindfulness and meditation often is more easily able to accept things as they come and live in the present moment. It is also stated that the amygdala’s connection to the rest of the brain becomes weaker with more meditation practice. People have reported feeling less pain from meditating, and research hints that it’s because individuals are able to separate the anterior cingulate cortex – associated with the unpleasant feelings of pain – with the prefrontal cortex, instead of allowing them to interact with one another. It’s clear to see that the benefits of meditation and mindfulness aren’t just happening outside the body. Fleur Carter explained her story with mindfulness on the website, Mind Body Green. She stated: “I felt agitated, unsettled, and completely overwhelmed, yet I had no idea why…And so I did, diligently each day I’d sit for 15 minutes and practice smiling from the inside out. I generated thoughts of loving kindness from my heart and allowed the feelings to permeate through my body…After a week, I had already noticed a shift in my state of mind: I was not as agitated and the feeling of overwhelm was slowly melting away…I would finally follow my dreams and let go of the life I had carved out for myself that was filled with other people’s ideals and a huge list of ‘shoulds’”.

There are a variety of reasons why someone may make impulsive decisions; risky choices may be related to theft, drunk driving, violence, sexual promiscuity, vandalism, substance abuse, and more. Actions towards these things can cause a person to lose family, friends, security from a job, housing, health, money, etc. The FBI states that approximately 1,197,704 violent crimes were committed in 2015; another 2015 study conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) estimates that 15.1 million adults age 18 or older have an alcohol use disorder – and these are just a couple of the activities listed above. What, then, factors into someone making impulsive, risky decisions? Much of research has paired the discussion of impulsivity and riskiness with personality – so far there are studies that have explored neuroticism, extraversion, venturesome-ness, and psychoticism. As it comes to personality traits, researchers have theorized several things:

Whether you’ve just recently started seeing a therapist or have been seeing one for awhile, much of the success that you and your therapist reach in your sessions is based on how open and vulnerable you allow yourself to be with them. Most people do not disclose enough information to their therapist; Common reasons for this are due to feelings of pain and embarrassment surrounding the information, not realizing the importance of telling the information, fear of therapist’s judgment, fear of being reported, not having enough trust with their therapist yet, and more. Honesty is important in the client-therapist relationship because you won’t be able to get anywhere meaningful without it. Being open with your therapist means:

As stated on "Tell Your Story," an Australian website that allows people to express themselves, a man described his experience with an addiction. Here is an excerpt from his story: “Throughout my twenties and like many others I know, I worked hard during the week at my job, paid my rent and bills, went shopping, dined at restaurants and then on weekends partied with my friends using coke, speed, and amphetamines. I never felt out of control or felt it was an issue…3 years ago I met my partner…on one of these occasions, my partner came home and said his mate didn’t have any [speed] so he gave him some ice instead. He produced a glass pipe and taught me how to smoke it…Needless to say, it wasn’t long before we were both hooked…Our priorities shifted from creating a loving and happy home for the kids, to shoplifting their school lunch snacks to save money for our own needs.” As the above story illustrates, addiction can cause people to neglect the very goals, dreams, and wishes they once had. A 2013 study conducted by researchers from Seattle Pacific University titled “The Experience of Addiction as Told by the Addicted: Incorporating Biological Understandings into Self-Story” found that participants expressed several personal views on addiction, with one perspective being called “Pedal to the Metal”. Participants with this view expressed addiction as a sabotage of the mind – one participant stated, “We forget…we forget even a month ago how bad alcohol had affected us, how we get sick, how we become homeless, how we lose all the money…” This perspective holds some truth, as addiction changes the chemicals in the brain which causes a person to think, perceive, and act in ways that are different from before. When a person abuses substances, the brain receives an influx of dopamine, the “feel good” chemical”, and eventually comes to rely on this large amount of dopamine to feel happy and relaxed on a typical day. A person who experiences this will go to great lengths, even if it sometimes means losing much of what they love, to fulfill what their body “needs”.