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Yoga has become such a popular practice in the United States, and for good reason – did you know that yoga can increase your flexibility, improve your muscle strength and tone, improve your respiration and energy, assist with weight loss, improve your cardio health, help your body better protect itself from injuries, and much more?! Yoga is more than getting comfy in yoga pants (although who doesn’t love those?) – it’s also about finding connection between your mind, body, and spirit. If you’re relatively new to yoga, this is an amazing journey you’re about to embark on. As with any worthwhile journey, however, you want to be sure that you understand the basics of safety so that you can prevent yourself from any injuries while you’re practicing. According to a 2016 study published in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, approximately 29,590 yoga-related injuries were found in hospital emergency rooms between 2001-2014; most of these injuries were related to populations aged 65 years of age and older, but the fact still remains: no matter who you are, safety is a necessity. Take into consideration the following 5 ways that you could injure yourself doing this practice, and watch out for them:

When the word “narcissism” comes to play in conversations, most people immediately think of someone who acts self-entitled, unempathetic, and manipulative. While this can be one type of narcissism, what many people don’t realize is that narcissism is a spectrum - and there are healthy levels of it, too. In fact, we all need healthy levels of narcissism in order to dress nicely, feel confident during a job interview, and more. It’s only when levels of narcissism reach the upper part of the spectrum that is becomes narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and even then, a person isn’t considered “bad” – recovery is possible, which can make symptoms more manageable. A 2018 study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences found that narcissism is actually associated with “mental toughness”, which was found to be linked to academic achievement and overall long-term success. Implications from the study are that those with higher levels of narcissism may have a higher sense of self-worth – making them more motivated, driven, and assertive in life. Business Insider concurs with this evidence, stating that healthy amount of narcissism can lead to greater life satisfaction, stronger relationships, and less social anxiety. In a nutshell, healthy doses of narcissism add to your life – not detract from it. What happens when too much narcissism gets involved? NPD is often divided into two distinct types: grandiose and vulnerable NPD. Grandiose NPD typically is characterized with the descriptions listed at the beginning: an over-inflated sense of self, only conversing with those one deems “special” or “intelligent” or “successful” enough, and lack of empathy all contribute to this type of NPD. Vulnerable NPD, on the other hand, involves extreme sensitivity, preoccupation with rejection and abandonment, and over-compensation for low self-esteem. The next time you hear the term “narcissistic” consider the context and decide for yourself if it makes sense. Is this someone who truly shows signs of NPD, or do they show healthy levels of confidence? If you feel you may have NPD, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today to learn more about treatment options – it’s never too late to seek help.

Previous research has shown that when mental illness is involved in romantic relationships, one partner may need to take on an additional role of support while the other attempts to manage their symptoms. Mental illness affects around 450 million people all over the world (that’s 1 in 4 people), according to the World Health Organization (WHO) – making it extremely common for couples to experience mental illness by either one partner or both. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) highlights the benefit of open communication in a relationship – if you feel safe and comfortable, telling your significant other about your disorder can help both of you work together to move forward. Talk to them when you’re ready. Ultimately, it’s important that you work together for compassion, love, respect, and support. Couple’s therapy provides a safe, structured environment with which to talk about issues that may be difficult to discuss or understand. If you and your partner are open to couple’s therapy, there are many benefits you could each get from this experience:

Our society is certainly one that embraces medication, and it makes sense – if we can take something that will immediately (or very quickly) attenuate our symptoms, why wouldn’t we? The biggest concern with relying on medication for minor ailments too heavily is that it can lead to dependency, such as what is found with the opioid epidemic. Medication can certainly be beneficial, but it’s best to consider what natural, holistic approaches you can take to minor issues such as stress headaches. Pressure points are derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine and have been used for thousands of years to help soothe a variety of ailments. Pressure points are sensitive areas of the body (such as in the hands, elbows, and feet) that can respond very well to pressure that would often be used in massage.

The following is an excerpt from a personal story shared on the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) regarding panic disorder: “I thought I was going crazy, I thought I was dying and had no one I could talk to that understood. It got so bad that at one point I started a new job and had difficulty driving to work. I couldn’t get there without having a panic attack.” Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder, and affects about 4.7% of adults in the United States at some point in their lives. The following are true symptoms of panic disorder:

Dual diagnosis, also known as comorbidity (or co-occurring disorder), is experienced by approximately 7.9 million people each year, according to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. If you have a dual diagnosis, it’s important that you seek out a reputable treatment center that specializes in this – if not, your recovery could be comprised, as programs that do not specialize in this may only treat one disorder or another, which could potentially exacerbate your symptoms. Dual diagnoses can involve a variety of symptoms which can make it difficult to actively participate in life activities relating to school, work, family life, social events, and more. Bipolar disorder and ADHD in particular present unique challenges to daily functioning, making it imperative that you seek help from a reputable treatment center. Bipolar disorder (BPD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are both often misdiagnosed or go untreated; bipolar disorder often involves symptoms of mania and/or depression, and ADHD symptoms of aggression, excitability, hyperactivity, impulsivity, absent-mindedness, and more. A 2015 review published in Current Psychiatry Reports emphasizes BPD and ADHD can present mood fluctuations, irritability, and uneven academic performances in young children, with adults experiencing much of these issues as well. Treatment for both disorders often involves several components:

Whether you’re seeking recovery for a mental illness or an addiction, your condition may not always be as straight-forward as it seems. For instance, many people have been diagnosed with a mental illness and, while they understand the “label” of their experiences (for example: depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc.), they may not fully comprehend what their mental illness entails, how it affects their daily life, how their past experiences have contributed to their condition, and what steps they need to take moving forward to better manage their symptoms. Psychoeducation is a combination of psychotherapy and education - an intervention used to provide specific information related to the concern of the client. Reputable treatment centers utilize psychoeducation to inform individuals, families, and groups. Family members have been shown to greatly benefit from psychoeducation interventions; the American Psychological Association (APA) states that family members can help reduce patient relapse rates by adhering to what their loved one needs most – these families often do not know what their loved one truly needs until they obtain more information from a psychoeducation intervention. A research review published in the journal Evidence-Based Adjunctive Treatments highlights 4 main components of psychoeducation:

Note: If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Your life matters. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that approximately 1 person dies by suicide every 40 seconds, with 78% of suicides occurring in low and middle-income countries around the world. The United States has seen an increase of 30% in suicides from 1999 to 2010, and it’s considering the leading cause of death in the U.S. Suicide is an incredibly important topic to discuss because of not only its effects on millions of people around the world, but because of the tools, resources, and support that can be used to prevent it as well. Life gets busy, but that shouldn’t mean that we close our eyes, ears, and heart to those around us. Suicide doesn’t always emerge from the form of depression; sometimes it’s in the wink of an eye, behind a person’s smile, or amidst someone walking. It easily disguises itself to those who fail to truly see and listen – but that doesn’t mean that we can’t become more open to the subtle signs:

Note: If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Your life matters. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year, nearly 1 million people die by suicide, which is equal to 1 in every 100,000 people. While many people don’t realize it, media does play a key role in the way suicide is perceived, discussed, and thought about. For example, shows like “13 Reasons Why” received a lot of backlash from the mental health community because the storyline of the show seemed to almost “glamorize” suicide – no preventative measures were provided until viewers spoke up. There are many ways in which media doesn’t take the right stance on suicide prevention:

Therapeutic relationships are similar to other professional relationships in that it takes time for both parties to come to an understanding of one another. At first, you may have an idealistic view of your therapist – but these perceptions may fluctuate over time as you move forward with therapy. Sometimes it’s a clash between preferred approaches in therapy, and other times it’s based on perceived dissimilarities. Either way, it’s important that you give your therapist a fair shot at working with you because, just like any collaboration, it takes time to develop a solid understanding – unless, of course, unrealistic or inappropriate situations are taking place – always keep your safety number one. If there are very clear, distinct differences that are going to have a major impact on your success in recovery (for example, if you believe wholeheartedly that addiction is a disease but your therapist explicitly states on their information pages and handouts that addiction is a personal choice) there’s a likely chance that this professional relationship will not work well together. There are four main phases of therapy:

Note: If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Your life matters. Death by suicide has been rising dramatically all over the United States; according to the National Public Radio (NPR), approximately 45,000 lives were taken in 2016 by suicide. More celebrities and high-profile individuals are losing their lives, including fashion designer Kate Spade, chef, author, and host Anthony Bourdain, Alan O’Neill, Verne Troyer from Austin Powers, and more solely in 2018, as stated by U.S. Magazine. Suicide is devastating and effects everyone – friends, family, coworkers, and more, as the entire world suffers with each life that is lost. By recognizing the signs that someone may need help, you could save a life. Recognizing that someone may be having suicidal thoughts can be difficult because you may really have to pay attention to subtle cues. If you notice that your loved one is doing any of the following, these could be warning signs that they need immediate help:

It’s normal to feel worried about relapse – in the addiction and mental illness recovery realm, many people fear relapse because it is seen as this horrible sign of failure, even though it isn’t. In fact, many recovery experts say that temporary relapses provide individuals with clues as to what’s working and what’s not; in this way, you can discover whether or not certain components of your treatment program need to be altered or emphasized more effectively. Relapse occurs for about 40-60% of those in addiction recovery, according to a study highlighted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The American Psychological Association (APA) notes that for those in mental illness recovery, 48% of people relapse if they do not have family involvement, whereas 28% of people relapse if their family is involved in their recovery journey. As you can see, relapse occurs quite often. There are a variety of steps that are taken to help individuals avoid this, however; relapse prevention treatment programs provide specific tools and resources to assist clients in identifying triggers when they arise, and an action plan to enact when they feel they’re high-risk. Most often, it really is about finding the people, places, thoughts, and situations that cause you to want to use or spiral; a 2015 study published in the journal of Qualitative Health Research involved focus groups with women in treatment for substance dependence to find the factors that both enabled and impeded their recovery. Results from the study showed that both adding supportive people to their recovery networks and avoiding or distancing oneself from those who were not conducive to their recovery proved crucial to their success. Psychiatrist Dr. Chad Coren stated on the The Fix, ““Any high-risk situation or stressor that sparks off a thought, feeling, or action to use drugs or alcohol. This spark, which is experienced as a temptation to use, is called a 'craving' or 'urge.' Triggers lead to cravings, and urges to use.” Rather than fearing relapse - which can produce feelings of anxiety, ultimately perpetuating the very outcome you’re trying to avoid - focus on your healing. Your recovery. Your action plan for when tricky situations arise. Work closely with your healthcare team if you are a reputable treatment center – they are meant to provide you with support during this time. Recovery is possible – you can do this. Don’t give up on yourself.