Treatment

In our world today, there lies plenty of uncertainty. No matter what location you are currently residing in, this time can feel very frightening. Mental health experts have reported possible increases in anxiety and depression during the Coronavirus pandemic, so it is imperative to be aware of any symptoms associated with these conditions. Fortunately, there are also some tips and tricks you can utilize to help during these periods of adversity. Symptoms to look out for include:

Right now is the best time to be living in society — a time where people can start to speak up against issues like abuse, toxic relationships, sexual harassment, discrimination, and gender inequality, to name a few. This time that allows for more personal expression has created a place where traditionally marginalized groups can speak out. Victims of abuse are now confronting their abusers. Mental health and substance use disorders are more understood. This freedom of speaking what is in your heart can be extremely helpful and beneficial. It can also lead to some intricate situations that leave you questioning how much you should reveal about yourself and how knowing about someone else's personal life can change your perspective about them. For most of us keeping a wall up around parts of ourselves, we don't want anyone to look at is pretty common. It is a way to protect ourselves and shield ourselves from possible "harm". This is also a form of trying to create boundaries. Some of us are more hyper-aware about raising those boundaries than others, which can also lead to discomfort and conflict because it is harder to keep others' revelations out than it is to keep our own within ourselves. When we think of the word boundary, we immediately go to a self-oriented concept like this is "my" boundary. What's also important to look at there is what you're willing to let in as well. In many healthy relationships — romantic or friendships — we gauge people's boundaries by making progress in the trust arena. Like when you first open up about something that may be uncomfortable to talk about. If the other person listening doesn't engage or say anything back, chances are, you would stop right there and not open up further. This "progress" can be hindered when the openness isn't reciprocated. It can feel as if you are not safe with that person. The problem also lies in the fact that we like telling others about ourselves. The Illinois State University conducted research where they put previously unacquainted participants together and instructed them to ask each other questions. In one group, people took turns and one person would speak for about ten minutes while the other person listened. Then they would switch roles. In the second group, individuals engaged in a reciprocal back and forth, responding to each other in the moment. In the reciprocal version, the subjects liked each other a lot more. When we start to get to know a person we find that what we are enjoying about it the most is when our idea of self-disclosure feels balanced. They are sharing with us as much or around as much as we are sharing with them. When someone goes on about themselves non stop it can be off-putting. On the other hand when someone won't talk about themselves at all, it can lead our thinking to question why they are reluctant to be open with us. Another negative encounter can occur when you are on a first date with someone new and they grill you with very personal questions about your life. This may even make you feel uncomfortable. People who score high in the personality trait of agreeableness are particularly susceptible to this type of boundary blindsiding. They are more likely to accept someone who overshares and reciprocates that response because they do not like conflict or don't like the other person to feel in the wrong. For people who have a hard time with this concept, it may be helpful to practice being a bit disagreeable. Allow those moments of awkward silence to linger. Decline to answer anything that may feel like a prying question. This is important because it does protect your privacy, but it enables you to get some important information about other people. "If their reaction is not particularly kind, that will teach you that this person may not be someone you can engage in tricky conversations with. If they sit there and validate what you are feeling or apologize, that means they are more willing to hear you out than to argue. In this manner, you are more likely to trust them. For example, friends who are interested in gossiping all the time or who ask you intimate, personal questions. It is best in the moments of discomfort to just say you don't want to talk about it because it is not your thing. Saying it that way allows for others to understand that there is no shame or blame, just you don't like talking about other people. If you apologize instead, it makes it awkward rather than being direct and bringing confidence into the picture. Another example can be if you are friends with people who at one point had a friendship or were in a romantic relationship and are not at odds. They may constantly bring the other up and feel like they have to unload all of this onto you because you understand. It is important to say that you care about them deeply, however, you don't want to be involved in hearing it any longer. When you say it in a certain way, it can be very beneficial for not only your well-being, but the other person's, as well.

Anxiety is a mental health disorder that affects millions of Americans every day. It affects young children up to grown adults. Anxiety can cause an individual to have problems in the workplace or prevent longevity in relationships. It is constant nervousness and worries that one experiences daily. Anxiety can affect a person in a very negative way. It can prevent them from engaging in daily routines that are necessary for normal function. Anxiety is much more than a feeling. It is a product of the body's fight or flight response, anxiety also involves a wide range of physical symptoms that include:

There are many pathways to getting sober. You may find that you are not interested in joining a specific 12-step fellowship in regards to getting sober and that is okay. It is an important fact to disclose, however, that you talk about what method is best in line with where you are at in your recovery goals. Some people get to a place where they realize their relationship with substances is causing problems and they want to change their behavior. Others have a strong faith and relationship with a higher power that has helped them realize they no longer want to use substances. Whatever the case may be 12 step recovery is not the only solution or pathway in staying sober.

A dependent personality disorder is characterized by the anxious feeling of being alone or the inability to be alone. Individuals who suffer from this disorder rely on other people for comfort, reassurance, advice, and support. Some people experience something similar, for example feelings of insecurity. However, the major difference is people suffering from DPD need constant reassurance to function. This disorder typically presents itself by showing symptoms of:

Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy where a group of individuals discusses their problems together under the care of a licensed professional. It is common to feel apprehensive at first when you are asked to get vulnerable and share with other people at this level. It can feel uncomfortable or there may exist fear that others won't understand. The common goal of group therapy is to identify patterns and behaviors concerning the problem. This is done with other individuals that suffer from the same problem. What this allows is complete acceptance of others and your dilemma. Groups provide support to the individual. When you experience a mental health issue it is common to feel like you are completely alone in feeling that way. Sometimes you are the only one in your family that may be struggling. If you suffer from substance use disorder it can feel like the world is against you. Other people who don't suffer from this may not understand completely although they want to help. When you are in a group therapy setting, other people with this common issue share about the difficulties and in that setting you won't feel alone. Feeling isolated in these disorders can be detrimental to the recovery process. Therefore, getting honest is key.

When some of us hear the word God, we immediately experience a split second of judgment. We either determine that the word is good or bad. For some of us it has to do with how we were raised. We may have been raised in a very religious household. This instilled some sort of fear or bad connotation when mentioning God. For others we went the other extreme. Nobody had told us what to believe and we were left searching and wondering a lot of the time. Sometimes we felt as if God abandoned us because the things we asked for wouldn't come true. Sometimes we felt we didn't deserve other things that occurred. There are also those who are in the middle and those who don't believe in God at all.

It is said that there are three parts to the recovery program. That is the recovery part, service aspect, and the unity portion of the program. These three parts of the program are what is said to be the "recipe" for success in long term sobriety. When you first get sober, the program of recovery itself can be confusing. If it is your first time trying to get sober you may be wondering to yourself what are the steps, or what does a sponsor do?

When a loved one or friend is battling addiction, it becomes very evident when everything they used to care about – work responsibilities, family obligations, relationships, and more – start being placed on the backburner. They probably don’t discuss personal matters with you nearly as much as they used to. They likely keep to themselves most of the time, and it’s clear to see that they’re not truly happy. This is because addiction truly isolates us – it forces us into these small boxes filled with obsessions of substance use, and it blocks out everything else that makes up a happy, healthy life.

Many people decide to complete an at-home detox or a “body cleanse” in an attempt to remedy their “problem” of eating too much unhealthy food or drinking too much alcohol. Detoxification is a process by which the body naturally dispels any toxic or unhealthy substances – but there are numerous companies that claim to help us “detox” through the use of specific diet ramifications and supplements, even when we don’t quite understand what they entail. Self-detoxing can be dangerous if it’s done the wrong way. Keep reading to learn how you can protect your body and detox in healthier ways.

A personality disorder is defined as a type of mental disorder in which a person has a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning, and behaving. Personality disorders can affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life – including their relationships. Dating someone with a personality disorder can be challenging, particularly those with dependent personality disorder (DPD). Common symptoms of DPD include low self-esteem, being “clingy,” difficulty making decisions on their own, a sincere hatred of being alone, a pattern of jumping from one relationship to the next, and the general instability that often comes with fear of abandonment. If you are in a relationship with someone who has DPD, it’s important to recognize the symptoms they may be experiencing and to learn how you can work with them through challenging situations.

Most of us know of someone with an addiction. Some of us have incredibly close relationships with these individuals, and it’s hard to see them struggle with substance abuse. Perhaps you’ve tried to confront your loved one many times, only to hear fake promises of treatment – and it hurts. As a family member, you want to do everything you can to help your loved one get to where they need to be. But if you’re not careful, you may end up depleting all of your own time, energy, and money, while having your heart broken in the process.