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“Pure” obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health condition that can severely impact a person's capacity to function. They can become entrapped by difficult emotions or uncertainties. This article will explain what it is like to have pure OCD and how specialized therapy can help those with this disorder.

Shifting from residential treatment to “everyday” life after getting sober can be one of the most challenging aspects of recovery. While life transitions can often bring a newfound sense of freedom, it often also involves feeling off-balance, anxious, and hesitant to embrace change.

One of the most powerful gifts you can give yourself and your mental health is self-compassion. Often, when it comes to creating change in your life, you might think you should start with self-judgment to reveal what needs to change. The opposite is true. When you can see yourself through the lens of self-compassion, you can also give yourself permission to change and grow.

There are moments in recovery from substance use and mental illness where you may feel stuck in the progress you are making. Perhaps it seems as if your recovery has regressed, like you have hit a wall, or you have simply plateaued. It is important to remember that although sometimes it is hard to move forward, you are never really stuck.

Social skills help facilitate successful interactions in familiar and unfamiliar settings. By communicating and expressing themselves, individuals are able to make friends, network with like-minded people, and excel in their careers. On the other hand, some people find social situations very difficult to navigate. They may lack sufficient interpersonal skills and frequently run into problems. A mental disorder or developmental condition may be hampering their abilities. Group therapies and activities offered at treatment facilities like Avalon Malibu provide a comfortable space to develop social skills while dealing with other concerns.

Anxiety is a mental health condition that impacts 40 million adults in the United States each year. This number is staggering, and it still likely under-represents how many individuals have anxiety disorders due to the stigma around mental illness. The way anxiety manifests looks different for each person, and there are both obvious and subtle symptoms of anxiety that can be used to recognize it.

Change of any kind can be challenging. With change can come feelings of ambivalence, excitement, and fear. While there may be joy in the freedom that can come with recovery from substance use and mental illness, you might also feel the fear of uncertainty. Since change can be overwhelming, it is important to see change as a continual process, not a destination, and take it one step at a time.

Have you ever had a belief about yourself that limits you in some way? Limiting beliefs are ways of thinking that hold you back in some area of your life. Identifying what your limiting beliefs are, questioning them, and rewiring your thought patterns to believe the opposite can help you reach your goals and desires.

The burdens of life are often easier to bear when a person has a solid familial unit. Each member helps in a way specific to the individual. Those lacking these meaningful connections may feel like something is always missing in their life. They may struggle to keep friends or pursue goals because of a poor self-image. Dysfunctional family dynamics can be attributed to several unhealthy patterns that develop over time. This article will discuss nine ways to deal with challenges at home and the benefits of integrating these methods with individual and family therapy.

In seasons of life where you are not feeling confident, it can feel like you will never be able to access a sense of confidence in yourself. However, confidence and self-esteem are like a muscle and there are practices that can help you build them.

Exercise has many benefits not only for your physical health but mental health as well. Yet, beginning new habits, such as a fitness routine, can be easier said than done. It can be hard to find a routine that is not only sustainable but also adds joy to your life. Making fitness work for you, rather than against you, can make all the difference in gaining all the mental and physical benefits you can from an exercise regimen.

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment and being aware of what is going on both within you and around you. This can be a difficult and daunting practice to cultivate, as being mindful asks you to slow down and learn to accept rather than resist your present experience. Below are three simple ways you can start incorporating mindfulness into your everyday life.