With the holidays now in full swing, so is the stress that comes with it! Entertaining guests, financial constraints, social obligations, spending more money than your comfortable with, and feelings of loneliness can make the holiday season more of an anxiety-whirlwind than a jolly and enjoyable affair. The holiday season undoubtedly has an impact on [...]
A new study shows a bidirectional relationship between COVID-19 diagnosis and the risk of developing a psychological illness In a cohort study recently published in Lancet Psychiatry, researchers set out to determine whether a COVID-19 diagnosis increased the risk of diagnosis with subsequent psychiatric illness (primarily anxiety, depression, dementia, and insomnia) in weeks shortly thereafter. [...]
Loneliness During a Pandemic Over the past few months, we've heard the term 'social distancing' and the importance of keeping a 6-foot distance from others, to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus. Many of us have practiced social distancing to keep ourselves, our families, and others safe. Some have had to adhere to social [...]
There is no denying that we are living through an extremely challenging time in the midst of COVID-19. There are limits on socializing, activities, work, etc in addition to the normal everyday stressors. People are trying to embrace the ambiguity of it, but honestly... It seems like most people are struggling emotionally, psychologically, financially, just [...]
Sobriety is an ongoing process that requires a daily commitment to recovery goals. Those in recovery know that it is essential to have a strong support system to maintain sobriety. This is especially true for those who are in early recovery. Other factors that help individuals in recovery include having daily structure and positive routines. [...]
Recently, I read a quote that said, "You wake up to fight the same demons that left you so exhausted the day before. That's bravery!" I felt inspired by that and thought.. Jeez, I wonder how many other people believe fighting our 'demons' is brave work. Now, I'm sure we've all heard people refer to [...]
When it feels like life has become unmanageable and you are powerless to make any meaningful changes in your life it may be time to seek therapy. Therapy is a great way to get in touch with your feelings and your authentic self. When your life is out of control, therapy can be the way [...]
Staying sober can be especially difficult around the holiday season when there are so many events and parties. These kinds of situations can cause stress, triggering thoughts or urges to use substances. Sobriety becomes even more challenging when drugs or alcohol are present at these events. Getting through the holiday season may seem daunting, but [...]
Have any of you ever felt anxious about a schedule that you created? Or found yourself rushing around with a sense of emergency thinking when nothing was even extremely pressing? That sounds like the self-imposed rush, also known as the hustle for worthiness! We often fall into this phenomenon when we are trying to keep [...]
Addiction can result from and bring forth emotions and thoughts that are difficult to deal with. These emotions can drive an addict to behave in ways they later regret. It can be challenging to figure out how to act in opposite ways that have more positive outcomes. A question I often ask my own clients [...]