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Self-compassion is intricately connected to our sense of individual well-being. It is essential in learning how to care for and understand ourselves — rather than remaining judgemental and highly critical. Self-compassion is the medicine that allows us to create a nourishing, loving relationship with ourselves that fuels our growth and prosperity. This way of relating to yourself may feel strange, especially if it is something you have never done before. However, there are simple steps you can take to begin cultivating a more self-compassionate relationship with yourself today.

Do you have a loved one who is struggling with anxiety and are unsure how to help them? What anxiety feels like, and the impact it can have on a relationship is different for everyone. How best to support someone struggling with anxiety depends on the individual, but there are general ways you can help your loved one.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition in which individuals experience obsessive thoughts that are intrusive in nature.  They can lead to the urge to perform repetitive and compulsive behaviors. We often hear about certain types of OCD — such as the fear of germs and contamination, or the need for everything to be in perfect symmetry — but these are just a couple of the vast subtypes of OCD.

Living with anxiety can cause physical and emotional discomfort. The combination of uncontrollable thoughts, intense worry, and physical symptoms — like a fast heartbeat or dizziness — can create even more stress for those struggling with anxiety disorders. If you have experienced anxiety for any length of time, it can be hard to remember a period when you were not consumed by it. You may want to run away from the feelings it produces and pretend as though it does not exist. Although running away from the discomfort of anxiety may seem like the best solution, it is what causes anxiety to continue. Remember that whatever we resist persists. To free yourself from the grips of anxiety, you must lean into the discomfort instead of resisting it. Although this may sound scary, embracing the feelings we are experiencing teaches us that they cannot hurt us. How do you lean in when you want to lean out?

Learning to create balance in your life can be overwhelming, and you may find yourself getting stuck during the process. It may feel like you are constantly trying to get a sense of balance and simplicity into your life, yet never fully achieving it.

How does change affect you? Does it give you a sense of excitement, wonder, and curiosity? Or does it cause anxiety and dread? For most people, uncertainty breeds a sense of discomfort and can lead to feelings of fear and doubt. Although it can be uncomfortable, uncertainty is a constant in life, and there are ways you can feel safe while facing it.

A binge eating disorder is a complex disorder with a number of mental and physical detriments. However, despite the hurdles that it can present, binge eating disorders are common and can affect anyone. While one’s eating habits may be the main focus of one’s concern when coping with the various effects these disorders can present each day, binge eating still has its roots in complex psychological needs that are just as important to address as one’s dieting habits.

You have probably had a blackout if you have ever had to ask yourself, "What happened last night?" after drinking or trying to put the night together with a hazy recall.

Long-term alcohol usage and binge drinking can cause long-term deficits and effects on brain function similar to malnutrition. Binge drinkers or heavy drinkers may neglect their health and make poor dietary choices such as not eating enough or only eating foods low in nutritional value. This can cause Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, also known as “wet brain.”

Addiction and mental health recovery are not unchanging, narrow paths. Rather, the journey is filled with highs and lows, each of which can feel empowering or detrimental. Lending support to a loved one can make a huge difference in ensuring that their recovery is progressing despite these fluctuations. However, if these lower points in recovery feel exceptionally debilitating, it can indicate a crisis. Understanding what constitutes a crisis, how it differs from experiencing a low point, and how to help a loved one navigate this tumultuous time can be vital in developing an effective course of action.

It is quite common for loved ones to feel the need to provide support during the recovery process. While many inquiries and remarks are helpful, others might harm the rehabilitation process. Although you are concerned for that person, you should avoid questions that may reopen an injury that is still healing.

Overcoming addiction is a complicated internal battle that requires great emotional fortitude to effectively address. However, even the act of confronting one’s deeper feelings and behaviors can be an incredibly difficult barrier to overcome. Presenting those in recovery with an outside perspective of their thoughts, feelings, and actions can add the perspective needed to strengthen one’s understanding of their own situation, creating effective and personal recovery routes. Psychodrama is one option to explore these perspectives, and its implementation can help each individual confront their own emotions and behaviors all while learning about peers, deepening trust, and developing meaningful relationships with those on a similar journey.