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Recovery, whether from mental illness or addiction, is challenging. You’re letting go of everything you thought you knew about your life and embracing the change that is necessary to become a better version of yourself. There are many factors that can add benefit to one’s recovery: social support, engagement in treatment, utilization of tools learned in therapy, and more. Positive empathy, also known as the ability to share, celebrate, and enjoy others’ positive emotions, is a phenomenon that has been shown to bolster individual well-being. By engaging in positive empathy, you not only strengthen your relationships with others, but you feel more positive and hopeful for yourself.

As one of the most popular psychiatric, sedative-hypnotic prescription drugs in the United States, Valium, also generically known as diazepam, has been used for the treatment of anxiety, seizures, muscle spasms, symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, and more. A member of the drug classified benzodiazepine family, Valium works to “numb” the central nervous system. It has become used recreationally to give users a euphoric, calm “high” feeling. However, the drug itself can be very addictive and has been known to produce very painful withdrawal effects. The following are some of the most common side effects associated with this drug for short-term use:

Depression can be debilitating at times; feelings of hopelessness, extreme fatigue, and lack of motivation can negatively affect everyday life. If you’ve been struggling with depression, you may find it difficult to even get out of bed every morning. In turn, you may believe that staying inside, missing out on events you used to enjoy, and withdrawing to yourself is what’s best for you. Despite your beliefs, the opposite is true – when it comes to depression, you really need to surround yourself with people who love and support you as well as engage in activities to get you involved in life. One of the best ways to do this is through exercise. A 2014 piece published in the interdisciplinary journal “Disability and Rehabilitation” emphasized that exercise can provide several benefits, including:

According to USA Today, singer Mariah Carey recently disclosed to the public that she has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a disorder which causes shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out daily functions. The disorder typically consists of symptoms stemming from mania or depression; mania is characterized as having feelings of being “on top of the world” and having a lot of energy without the need for much sleep, while depressive episodes involve much fatigue and feelings of hopelessness. While celebrities have become more open about their mental health, Mariah Carey is one that hopes to pave a path for more openness and understanding. In 2001, it was told by People Magazine that Mariah Carey first received her diagnosis in 2001 after being hospitalized for having a physical and mental breakdown. The superstar stated that she didn’t want to believe it at first, and that she had a hard couple of years leading up to the diagnosis. She explained, “Until recently I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me. It was too heavy a burden to carry and I simply couldn’t do that anymore.” Mariah Carey explained that she has been diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, which means that she often experiences depressive phases as well as hypomania, which is less severe than manic episodes but may still involve irritability, restlessness, and hyperactivity. She expressed that her medication is helping her find balance, but that her periods of mania before she was diagnosed were considered by her to be a sleeping disorder. She stated, “…It wasn’t normal insomnia and I wasn’t lying awake counting sheep. I was working and working and working…Eventually I would just hit a wall.” Carey’s ex-husband, Nick Cannon, has expressed his pride in how far she has come as she continues to find strength despite her struggles. He explained that Mariah has found dignity and grace even amongst paparazzi and being a focal point to the public eye. It’s clear to see that celebrities experience mental illness, too – what other celebrities have been diagnosed with BPD? Demi Lovato, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Carrie Fisher are just a few who have also sought recovery after being diagnosed.

According to a study supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 30%-40% of men and 27%-34% of women who have perpetrated violence against their partners were drinking at the time of the event. The World Health Organization (WHO) refers to intimate partner violence (IPV) as, “any behavior in an intimate relationship that causes physical, psychological, or sexual harm to those in that relationship.” Physical aggression may involve slapping, hitting, kicking, and beating. Psychological harm may involve intimidation, humiliation, isolation, and more, and sexual harm includes forced sexual intercourse or other controlling behaviors. When alcohol is involved to intimate partner violence, the risks of physical, mental, and emotional issues become even more elevated. Excessive alcohol consumption serves as a major contributor to IPV, as alcohol directly affects cognitive and physical functioning, reduces self-control, and makes individuals less capable of settling disputes with others in a safe and reasonable way. There are many indirect consequences of alcoholism as well, including: financial hardships, marital problems, job performance issues, family concerns, health issues and more. Children who witness alcoholism and IPV are prone to experience more depression, anxiety, aggression, and higher risk of substance abuse problems later than children who do not. There are a variety of factors that can influence alcohol-IPV situations:

One of the most challenging aspects of mental disorders is the official diagnosis; a healthcare professional can easily mistake one disorder for another and for a variety of reasons. As emphasized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), bipolar disorder (BPD) is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed mental health conditions. An estimated 2-6% of the population has BPD, but there are many reasons why it gets misdiagnosed:

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) involves an over-inflated sense of self, a lack of empathy for other people, and a general sense of self-importance. There are two branches that have been accepted with NPD: grandiose and vulnerable. Grandiose NPD is the most commonly known type and involves having a very high sense of self-esteem with a demand for respect and adoration. Many people with NPD are viewed as being “cold”, with a barrier placed around them from others. One less known type of NPD, vulnerable NPD, is a little less known but is still as important. Vulnerable NPD often goes undiscussed because it is the more “quiet” of the two; people with this disorder are unlike their grandiose counterparts as they may come off as shyer or more reserved. Individuals with vulnerable NPD are often highly sensitive to others’ criticisms and emotional reactions but may be burdened by persistent feelings of loneliness. If you have vulnerable NPD, you may tend to act disinterested, bored, condescending, or judgmental around others to get them to engage with you without you having to speak with them directly. While you may have an inflated sense of self-importance, this high self-esteem can easily come crashing down in moments where you experience the loss of a job, a poor performance evaluation at work, etc. Social media is often a big platform for those with this type of disorder, as they display their lives through tools such as Facebook or Instagram. Those with vulnerable NPD often behave as though they’re underappreciated or underrated, despite their achievements and recognitions. In addition, passive aggressiveness is common in those with vulnerable NPD, as they may ignore a person as a form of punishment for not doing what they wanted that person to do. If you’ve been diagnosed with vulnerable NPD, you may blame others’ shortcomings, justify your actions even if others view them as disconcerting, and distance yourself from others based on the belief that they are not good enough. Treatment for vulnerable NPD is available, and may include medication and psychotherapy, also known as “talk therapy”. If you relate to the above symptoms, speak with a licensed professional today to potentially obtain a diagnosis.

Mental illness is a serious topic that, while more open for discussion now, is still negatively perceived by many due to perpetuated stigmas. With stigma comes a sense of distance, a sense of separation – labels of “the other” emerge and it becomes easy to feel hatred, disgust, or hostility towards those with mental illness because terrifyingly, people no longer feel connected as a human race. Storytelling has been shown to be a direct link to connection, as the expression of stories are something that everyone can connect with. The emotions underlying stories – sadness, happiness, sense of loss, hopelessness, joy, and more – serve as a thread that binds through each human being. If you’re considering sharing your own story of mental illness with others, there are many benefits to doing this:

Bipolar disorder (BD) is often recognized by intense mood swings of either mania or depression; approximately 5.7 million Americans experience BD each year. Although mania and depression can be a part of BD, the disorder is much more complex than that and can involve a variety of other symptoms that may not easily be recognized. If symptoms of the disorder go missed, treatment may not be sought – which can cause further distress in a person’s life. BD can affect nearly every aspect of daily living, including work, school, family, and social functions. By noticing some subtle signs of BD, you or a loved one can get diagnosed early, making symptoms much more manageable. See if you can recognize the following signs:

Painting. Singing. Drawing. Writing. Decorating. Composing. Playing. Dancing. Designing. No matter which form of creativity you’re interested in, all of these activities and more can have a profound, positive influence on your mental illness recovery. How so? Being creative means that you get to express yourself in a whole new dimension – there are no right or wrongs, no criticisms, no limits, and no audiences (if you don’t want there to be). Even if you don’t consider yourself a creativity person, engaging in creativity can help you spark more ideas, thus leading you to further insights and solutions to issues you may not even have considered. If creative activities (such as acting) are done in a group setting, this could also be a great way for you to connect with others and build your social support network. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health emphasized a few (but not all) benefits of various creative activities:

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental illness categorized as having difficulty regulating emotions, difficulty controlling behaviors, and holding an unstable sense of self. People with BPD often experience emotions intensely and for extended periods of time, making it rather difficult for them to return to a foundational baseline after a particularly upsetting event. If you have BPD, you may experience symptoms of insecurity, impulsivity, feelings of worthlessness, and more, which can greatly affect your daily life. Unfortunately, there is much stigma associated with BPD, and between these and the symptoms experienced with the disorder, individuals with BPD are prone to self-injury and suicidal behaviors. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which has been used to help treat those with BPD. The primary goal of DBT is to transform negative thinking and destructive thought patterns into more positive outcomes, such as building skills to better regulate emotions, reduce stress and anxiety, build self-management skills, control destructive habits, and more. Despite all of these wonderful outcomes, how does DBT address suicidal thoughts and behaviors specifically? One study sought to explore this very question. A 2015 study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry analyzed the results of 99 women who were diagnosed with BPD and had previously had 2 suicide attempts and/or acts of self-injury within the past 5 years, attempts within the past 8 weeks before the study was conducted, and a suicide attempt within the past year. Participants were placed in either a standard DBT treatment program, a DBT skills training program, or a DBT individual therapy program. Results from the study indicated that while DBT is an effective form of support for those with BPD who are struggling with self-injury and/or suicidal behaviors, DBT skills training may lend itself the most to outcomes related to this area of concern. What skills are taught in DBT skills training? The following are just a few:

Problem drinking is an unfortunate yet common occurrence in U.S. families today. Previous research has shown that parental problem drinking can cause problems in their marriage, home life, work productivity, social life, and more. However, it’s more than just the parent who is affected by this; problem drinking can significantly impact children in the family as well as the significant other. If you have a loved one who is struggling with alcohol, it’s important for them to seek treatment for both their safety and their families’. Research has shown that parents who engage in problem drinking are at higher risk for abusing their children due to lowered inhibitions, sharpened aggressive feelings, decreased frontal lobe functioning (which is responsible for helping a person deal with unexpected situation), and more. Children are also at risk for developing depression, anxiety, problems with cognitive and verbal skills, and developing substance abuse problems later on in life. A 2016 study titled “Parental Problem Drinking and Adolescent Externalizing Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Family Functioning” involved the analysis of surveys completed by both parents and adolescents from across the country. Problem drinking, adolescent-parent communication, binge drinking, drug use, rule-breaking, and aggression were all measured in the survey responses. The study’s results showed the maternal (mother’s) problem drinking was related to increased drug use of adolescent girls in the family and increased alcohol use of adolescent boys. Paternal (father’s) problem drinking was shown to decreased family cohesion as well as decreased adolescent-parent communication. The study also found that decreased adolescent-mother communication was correlated to high aggressive behavior for adolescent boys. As one could predict, results from the study indicated that parental problem drinking led to adolescent rule-breaking and aggressive behavior. Thus, parental problem drinking can disrupt an entire family’s balance. If you are a parent who has been struggling with alcoholism. Seek the help you need today. Recovery is possible, and it could significantly change your family’s health and well-being for the better. Addiction has the propensity to destroy families; don’t let this happen to yours.