A woman talks to her therapist and learns 8 ways to deal with a breakup in addiction recovery

8 Ways to Deal with a Breakup in Addiction Recovery

A breakup, or worse, a divorce is one of the most stressful challenges you can face in addiction recovery. A breakup might entail feelings of rejection, disappointment, bitterness, resentment, animosity, and grief. You may have to make significant changes in your life, such as finding somewhere else to live or reorganizing your social life. The… Continue Reading 8 Ways to Deal with a Breakup in Addiction Recovery

A patient tries to convince her patient that depression isn't all in her head

Depression Isn’t All in Your Head, Part 3: Changing Our Approach to Treatment

This is the third of three posts based on the work of writer Johann Hari, whose search for answers about his own depression led to his book Lost Causes: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression–and the Unexpected Solution. In the first part of this series, we looked at the problems with the serotonin model of… Continue Reading Depression Isn’t All in Your Head, Part 3: Changing Our Approach to Treatment

A woman wraps herself in a blanket and drinks hot cocoa as she thinks about 4 winter challenges for people recovering from addiction

4 Winter Challenges for People Recovering from Addiction

The holidays have come and gone, but depending on where you live, you may have three or four months of winter weather left. Winters can be hard for many people and that’s especially true if you are recovering from addiction or mental illness. Here are some common challenges winter poses to your recovery and how… Continue Reading 4 Winter Challenges for People Recovering from Addiction

An image of the brain reminds the viewer about how psychotherapy affects the brain

How Does Psychotherapy Affect the Brain?

Depression is the number one cause of disability worldwide, affecting more than 300 million people, according to the World Health Organization. Symptoms include prolonged sadness, irritability, sleep disturbance, anxiety, aches, pessimism, lack of motivation, and thoughts of death or suicide. Depression is typically treated with some combination of medication and psychotherapy. Studies have already found… Continue Reading How Does Psychotherapy Affect the Brain?

A woman hangs her head as she tries to fight the 4 lies people with addictions tell themselves

4 Lies People with Addictions Tell Themselves

Anyone who has had a loved one who struggles with substance use has probably been frustrated by that person’s evasiveness, stubbornness, and lying. Deception and secrecy are common characteristics of addiction, but people who struggle with addiction don’t just lie to others; they lie to themselves as well. Here are some common lies people with… Continue Reading 4 Lies People with Addictions Tell Themselves

A man leans against a windowsill and wonders how he can meet his psychological needs

Depression Isn’t All in Your Head, Part 2: Meeting Psychological Needs

This is the second of three posts based on the work of writer Johann Hari, whose search for answers about his own depression led to his book Lost Causes: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression–and the Unexpected Solution. In the first post in this series, we looked at some problems with the idea that depression… Continue Reading Depression Isn’t All in Your Head, Part 2: Meeting Psychological Needs

a doctor studies a medical interface and wonders does alcohol kill brain cells

Depression Isn’t All in Your Head, Part 1: Problems with the Standard Model

This is the first of three posts based on the work of writer Johann Hari, whose search for answers about his own depression led to his book Lost Causes: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression–and the Unexpected Solution. Most of us are familiar with the standard explanation for depression: depression is the result of a… Continue Reading Depression Isn’t All in Your Head, Part 1: Problems with the Standard Model

A man holds a woman's hand as he thinks about what to say to a loved one who has relapsed

What to Say to a Loved One Who has Relapsed?

Every year, about 20 million Americans struggle with some kind of substance use issue. For every one of these, there are many more spouses, siblings, parents, children, and friends whose lives are affected by a loved one’s addiction. All of these people feel a sense of cautious optimism whenever their loved one agrees to treatment… Continue Reading What to Say to a Loved One Who has Relapsed?