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Resentment may play an important role in fueling an addiction or as a potential trigger for relapse. It may have even been somebody’s resentments towards themselves or another that began their substance abuse as a way of numbing these negative emotions. Healing these deep-seated feelings of resentment is crucial because resentment can sneak up on you, fester and ultimately be a big roadblock to success in long-term sobriety. As difficult as it is to look at the resentment you hold and unpack it with honesty, it is worth the commitment to heal your past and free yourself from the grips of resentment.

Addiction can be an isolating and debilitating experience. However, it still affects the people in one’s life — friends, workplace peers and especially one’s own family.  While a person may want to address their struggle with an addiction to drugs or alcohol in a private setting, addiction will often have ramifications for their family and loved ones. It is important to acknowledge the familial element throughout addiction recovery to create a supportive healing environment, both inside and outside of the treatment facility. Addressing addiction as a family can bring about more in-depth understanding and support. It can also help each member move through their own experiences with addiction, whether they are coping with urges themselves or learning to forgive and support loved ones who are.

To feel a strong sense of health and well-being, you must take good care of both your physical and mental health. For instance, if a person is overwhelmed with stress and anxiety, it could be manifesting in uncomfortable, physical symptoms in the body. This link between mental and physical health goes both ways as one has a profound influence over the other, so if someone’s physical health is poor and they are experiencing chronic pain, then they should carefully examine the state of their mental and emotional health.

When you start a new life of sobriety, it’s important to practice healthier coping skills and discover new activities or habits that can fill your time other than your addiction. This may seem like a simple task at first, but what if you end up replacing your addiction with another one that’s just as harmful.

Valentine’s is portrayed as a day for celebrating love and happiness with your significant other, but it can bring up a mix of sad emotions for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Anticipating, identifying, and knowing how to cope with the feelings that surface will help you feel at peace and calm this Valentine’s Day. It’s common to experience feelings of grief, loss, or isolation after the loss of your loved one, but for someone with a preexisting mental health disorder or in recovery, it’s even more vital to be on top of these emotions so they don’t trigger any episodes or relapse.

A widely-held belief is that 12-Step programs are religious in nature, and if you are an atheist or agnostic who wishes to participate, then good luck. This is not the case and is a common misconception people have. An important distinction to make to understand the true intent behind 12-Step programs is realizing the difference between religious and spiritual.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a common approach to addressing a wide array of different therapeutic subjects. However, it is still important to understand what it is to make the most out of this approach and understand how it fits into an individual’s overall recovery goals. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help each person further understand their situation and inform how other practices help them overcome different obstacles like anxiety, depression and stress, and even addiction.

Mental health concerns have no age requirements. Over the past ten years, the number of mental health issues has been steadily growing in adolescents and young adults with social media notably being one culprit behind the uptick. Recent studies have discovered an increase in mood disorders amongst these younger age groups, with wealthy, young females one of the main groups afflicted.  Having open communication with your children about mental health is critical in detecting the signs of a mental health concern. Just speaking openly about mental health in general and creating strong and nurturing relationships with your children can make the difference to prevent extreme distress during traumatic times. By knowing how to navigate the delicate conversations surrounding mental health, you can help your children better understand and handle their feelings and emotions.

One of the most challenging parts of recovery is looking back and addressing past mistakes. Guilt and shame can be ever-present feelings through recovery, and reflecting on one’s lowest point can add more depression or anxiety into an already complicated process. However, it is important to acknowledge these past mistakes to begin moving through them and contextualizing what it means to see success.  Coping with one’s past may be one of the most difficult parts of recovery, and reconciling relationships and forgiving oneself can take a lot of time and effort. While difficult, it can also be one of the most potent and transformative parts of each person’s recovery story, and looking back is just the first step in learning to look forward to a brighter, sober future.

Choosing if you’re at the right place in life to date and potentially share the intimate details of your inner world with another person in a relationship is a big undertaking, but especially so for someone new to recovery. Depending on where you are on your journey, you may feel unsure if you are ready to put your newly sober self out there. When trying to decide if now is the best time to start dating again and still be successful in recovery, begin by asking yourself a few of these questions.

Recovery is a transformative experience where each person can set future goals and discover new practices that can lead to a new, sober lifestyle. However, recovery is challenging and requires a great deal of commitment.  Nothing about overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol is easy, and coping with the anxiety, depression, or withdrawal symptoms that accompany the process can add even more hurdles. Despite the difficulty, recovery is always possible. However, it demands that each individual be willing to commit themselves wholly to their transformation both inside and outside the recovery sphere.

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States, with teens and young adults being some of the main user groups. Young people are drawn to smoking pot for many reasons, including easy access, social pressure from peers, anxiety, depression, escaping stress, boredom, and self-medicating for sleep issues. Rarely do young people realize that marijuana use is not completely harmless or its potential for addiction.