The Social Distancing Mandate As a country, we’ve been mandated to practice social distancing. Social distancing means avoiding group gatherings, crowded retail stores, playdates, gyms, church, and any other situation where close contact to other people might increase the spread of disease. The Arizona government recently implemented many social distancing actions to ensure public safety....Read More

When people struggle with trauma, they often strive to project an aspect of normalcy. If they haven’t sought professional treatment to remedy the effects of trauma, or the therapeutic approach wasn’t successful, they frequently revert to other coping mechanisms to shield themselves. Coping Mechanisms Unfortunately, not all coping mechanisms are healthy, and some will compound...Read More

Parenting Parenting is a subject often fraught with insecurities, doubts, guilt, and unsolicited advice. Most people wonder if they’re doing it “right”—even though each family dynamic is different. For example, here are some top articles on Parents.com: “Thoughts We’ve All Had While Reading Parenting Message Boards” “It’s Impossible to Give Each of Your Kids Your...Read More

When you go through trauma or addiction, different relationships in your life often experience changes. In some respects, this might be a good cleansing opportunity to release people who are negative influences and who don’t respect your healthy choices. Emotional Intelligence On the other hand, you might have some individuals who supported you through every...Read More

The roots of trauma run deep. On the surface, you may think you’re handling everything just fine, but if there’s unresolved or unaddressed trauma, it’s crucial to recognize how it affects your entire being—mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. In addition, researchers acknowledge that substance abuse is often both a symptom of prior trauma and a...Read More

Collective Differences No matter how hard we try to make all aspects of life equal, there are clear differences between those who identify as male and those who identify as female–not just individual differences but collective ones, based on some biological factors but mostly on societal perceptions. These differences are notable in many areas, including...Read More

Food addiction is a genuine concern for many people, and like many process addictions, this compulsive condition is representative of more serious issues that need to be addressed. Highs and Cravings Individuals who struggle with food addiction often eat to excess and crave foods high in artificial sweeteners, fat, salt, sugar, or a combination of...Read More

Do resolutions work? The short answer is not usually. The long answer has more to do with understanding how we form habits and what motivates us to replace old habits with more progressive expressions of intent. The practice of setting New Year’s resolutions is connected to the belief that entering a new year is like...Read More

Breaking the Mold While advertising campaigns and the media often portray the holiday season in the same merry ways every year, sometimes people in recovery feel there are more complications than joys during this time. They might find it challenging to talk with relatives about where they are in sobriety, or struggle with a sense...Read More

A Connection Many people who experience anxiety are also challenged by substance abuse. Additionally, researchers have reason to believe that anxiety—and other mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—contribute to the reasons why someone may become addicted to alcohol or drugs. It’s critical for healthcare providers, rehabilitation professionals, loved ones,...Read More