Grief stigma makes you feel even worse about your pain, and happens with substance abuse more than you think. Stigma about a grief reaction is not something that typically occurs when there is death of a loved […]

Remember the game telephone we played as kids? One child whispered a secret to the next, then that child whispered what he or she heard to the next. By the end of the game, the original secret was hilariously […]

Yesterday, a teacher working in our local prevention program told us teen drinking is considered cool at school. How can teens turn down a drink when everyone else seems to be drinking? We’re glad you asked.

The […]

Who doesn’t play the blaming others game? We live in a culture that focuses on blame and victimization. Dr. Caroline Myss, author of Creation of Health, refers to this as an attitude of “woundology” where our emp […]

In relationships and recovery, we talk about boundaries a lot. Boundaries show other people the behaviors we will and will not tolerate. You can fill in your own blanks: I will not let others ……Yell at me, lie […]

Family roles are established early, and negative conditioning can last a lifetime. There is a lot of information regarding dysfunctional families and the unhealthy roles that are played in this kind of family […]

Parents everywhere are worried about teen substance use, but there are proven ways to help your child make healthy choices and stay on track throughout their childhood and teenage years. You may feel helpless […]

While the current DSM-5 focuses on the level of substance use disorders as mild, moderate, and severe, it can still be valuable to look at  alcohol and drug use in these three categories: use, misuse, and […]

What are the traits of narcissism? We hear the term a lot, and awareness of narcissism is growing. But what traits constitutes a true narcissist? Is being selfish narcissistic? Is a lack of kindness narcissistic? […]

Where there are enmeshed relationships, especially in families experiencing substance or behavior use disorders, there is going to be codependency relapse. Melody Beattie bestselling author of  Beyond Co […]

Seven types of mental illness contribute to the rising suicide rates that are so much in the news these days. For millions of people who use substances, to feel better, mental illness is also the underlying cause […]

We read so much about boundaries and how important they are, but what exactly are healthy boundaries? A boundary is a setting that you place on yourself and others to keep you safe and healthy. Boundaries exist in […]

Depression support for loved ones and friends can be challenging. What should you say to show you care? There are various types of depressive disorders, from a minor, short-termed depression to an overwhelming, […]

What are the traits of functional families? We’re glad you asked. According to family experts Friel and Friel, authors of Adult Children, The Secrets of Dysfunctional Families, healthy functional families have […]

Is addiction a disease? It depends on who you ask. Classifying addiction as a disease is most prevalent and most accurate. Yet this still remains controversial as so many are hurt by someone else’s addiction. Here […]

The 5 phases of compulsive spending take you through the highs of an actual addiction. And if you’re a compulsive spender, you’re not alone on this rollercoaster ride. The 5 phases of compulsive spending are what […]

Compulsive spending is not what happens when people indulge for occasions like birthdays, Christmas or other holidays. Problem spending is something that occurs year round. Relentless, buying with no real need or […]

If you are a compulsive spender, you know the highs and lows that accompany the 5 phases of spending: anticipation, preparation, shopping, spending, remorse.  You also know which phases are the most fun, and […]

Some people grow up feeling good and strong, while others carry the burden of damaging shame that persists no matter how much love they receive or great their achievements later in life. There is a difference […]

The denial cycle has a special meaning for families coping with substance use. We all have denial in our lives. denial is a way to help us to cope with overwhelming problems, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. At […]