Everyone experiences the occasional intrusive worry, but for someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder, these thoughts can take over their daily routines and responsibilities. For example, if you have OCD, you may feel compelled to turn around several times on the way to work to check that you remembered to turn...
Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step recovery groups have helped millions of people achieve lasting freedom from drug and alcohol use and other self-destructive behaviors. If you’re an AA veteran, what tactics can you take to pay it forward to people who are experiencing the benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous and...
Setting New Year’s resolutions is an annual tradition for many people worldwide. However, while it’s easy to create goals, it’s more challenging to make new habits stick for the long term. If you don’t set specific, realistically attainable resolutions, you could be positioning yourself to kick off 2021 feeling...
If you return to substance use after a prolonged period of abstinence, you have experienced a relapse. Though relapses are most common in the early stages of recovery, they can happen to people with years of sobriety under their belts, due to the way alcohol and drug use alters...
While depression and suicide are tragically widespread problems in America, men tend to act on their suicidal ideas more often than women do. According to statistics from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, men are 3.5 times more likely than women to end their lives. What should you understand about...
While overnight fame and fortune is an ideal, it’s vanishingly rare for anyone to achieve this feat in reality. Thousands of people throughout history could attest to the fact that the path to success isn’t always linear. For example, while we now celebrate Thomas Edison’s many brilliant innovations, we...
Holiday festivities, especially Christmas and New Year’s Eve, tend to emphasize drinking and drug use. Many people believe the myth that they’ll have more fun if they’re intoxicated, glossing over all the adverse effects like driving under the influence and waking up with a hangover. However, sober holidays can...
If your son’s relationship with alcohol is ruining his life, but he remains stubbornly in denial about the extent of his problems, an alcohol intervention can be one of the most successful ways to convince him to enter an accredited treatment program. An intervention is a carefully planned meeting...
Addiction is a complex disease, and many factors combine to lead someone down the path to a substance use disorder. Of these, personality is one of the most significant. For example, an impulsive person who craves novel experiences might be more likely to experiment with drugs. Meanwhile, someone who...
Many of us haven’t seen our extended family since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ordinarily, Thanksgiving may present the ideal opportunity to visit with your parents, grandparents and other loved ones while sharing a communal meal. However, how safe is it to have a large family get-together during...
Choosing to pursue therapy is a significant decision that could help you resolve challenges, answer tough questions and improve your life in various ways. However, not every therapist is the right fit for your needs. With so many choices available, how do you find a counselor who meets you...
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a cascade of changes in our daily lives, affecting everything from how and where we work to what we can safely do. Escalating rates of unemployment, homelessness, illness and death – coupled with fraying social norms and ongoing uncertainty – have created continually elevated...
