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In a world where every time you go shopping you see “Positive Vibes Only” slathered on a t-shirt or coffee mug, toxic positivity is rampant. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing and this is truly the case with toxic positivity. Understanding what toxic positivity means will help you to be aware when you or others are contributing to this mindset that aims to downplay an individual's feelings and experiences.

One of the organs that is most affected by drug and/or alcohol abuse is the liver. After years of excessive drinking or abusing drugs, the liver has had to work relentlessly to rid the body of these toxic substances and may have suffered permanent effects from this abuse. The liver is an incredibly important organ as it helps our bodies metabolize fats, filter the blood from our digestive tract, and is our main detoxifying organ. It is always encouraged to have your doctor check your liver if you have substance use in your past or present to know if you have a form of liver disease. Regardless of the disease state of your liver, you can always include foods in your diet that promote the health of your liver.

If you aren’t yet familiar with the term hygge, then listen up because it can make a difference in your recovery journey or improve your mental health. Hygge is a Danish word that doesn’t have an exact English translation but is meant to evoke sentiments of coziness, well-being, and contentment with life. Understanding how you can bring hygge into your life and home can help just about anyone bring more feelings of comfort and well-being into their life. It can do even more for someone in recovery by making their home environment more conducive to healing and similarly, for those who struggle with poor mental health, it is an effective way to boost mood and overall happiness.

It’s almost been a year since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. When the first lockdown began, it sparked a lot of changes in our lives. Suddenly, we were wearing masks to run our errands, working from home, and fighting over the last roll of toilet paper at the grocery store. Staying in became the norm, and our favorite businesses were closing down, some of them permanently. On top of it all, we were worried about the health of ourselves and our loved ones, with no idea how long this stressful situation would last. With all the worry, fear and uncertainty the coronavirus brought with it, a lot of people started drinking more to try and cope. In fact, this is a pretty common response to catastrophic or traumatic events like a pandemic, war or natural disaster. After 9/11, there was an immediate and lasting increase in alcohol use among Manhattanites, with similar patterns seen in the South after Hurricane Katrina. It’s not surprising, since rises in problematic drinking are associated with increased stress and anxiety, which we are seeing again with COVID-19. But unlike other traumatic events, COVID-19 is still happening. It isn’t a single moment in time that, when it’s over, we can try to process and put behind us — it's this long, drawn-out episode that we still have to deal with on a daily basis. Although lockdown has ended and a vaccine has been developed, most of us are finding that “getting back to normal” is still a long way off. So we’re also seeing increased drinking due to the ongoing effects of social isolation, job insecurity, financial strain and health worries. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Increased drinking and relapse have been common throughout the pandemic, but there are ways you can curb your alcohol consumption and learn how to cope with the stress in a healthier way. The first step is reaching out for help. If you’re already in recovery or part of a 12-step program, connect with your peers to talk about the problems you’re facing. You don’t have to go through this alone, and most programs offer online support groups that you can log in to from the comfort of your home. Or, if you need to get out of the house, check to see if in-person meetings are available in your area — some groups are gathering face-to-face again, following social distancing guidelines and mask-wearing mandates to keep participants safe. If you’re not in a treatment program but want to get help for your drinking, don’t hesitate to reach out and make that first phone call. Treatment centers like Avalon Malibu have remained open with new policies in place to ensure the health and well-being of patients during COVID-19. It’s also important to recognize harmful drinking patterns. Most people are surprised to hear that consuming four or five drinks within two hours constitutes binge drinking. When you’re feeling bored and stuck at home, it’s really easy to hit this threshold. But by learning how much is too much, paying attention to the amount you drink and setting a safe limit for yourself, you can become more conscious of your drinking habits and whether or not you need to cut down. Of course, for those with addiction issues, this is easier said than done. That’s where step one comes in again — reach out for help when you need it, and reinforce healthy coping strategies with guidance from your peers, recovery team and support groups. A relapse doesn’t mean failure, especially during stressful times like the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s essential to regain a foothold in your recovery and utilize the support that’s available to you. Don’t ignore mental health symptoms. You might be feeling more stressed, anxious and depressed than usual during the pandemic, and if ignored, these emotions can trigger a relapse or lead to problematic drinking. Now is the time to prioritize your mental health and address any symptoms you may be feeling, lest they continue to brew beneath the surface and stir up a crisis. To meet the growing need for mental health support, many mental health providers have made their services more accessible than ever with virtual care options and same-day appointments for mental health screening, therapy, counseling, medication management and more. When it comes to maintaining your recovery, this is a crucial step that shouldn’t be overlooked. Your mental, physical and emotional health are all connected, and neglecting one can have a huge impact on your general well-being. Navigating the pandemic has been difficult for all of us, and there’s no shame in reaching out for help when you need it — prioritizing your mental health now will make a difference in the long run.

You can feel helpless watching a loved one struggle with an addiction or poor mental health as they refuse to seek the proper help. It’s easy to get caught up in wanting to try to fix their problems yourself instead of letting them realize on their own they have a problem and that they need help properly addressing it. This may be especially hard to stand by when that person seems like they are self-destructing. However, there’s only so much you can do for someone who doesn’t want help, so realize you can not kill yourself in the process of trying to help them. Not knowing what the right steps to take in a situation where someone refuses help can be helped by following these tips.

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.