Author: Brook McKenzie, LCDC

5 Anger Management Techniques Everyone Can Use

5 Anger Management Techniques Everyone Can Use

Anger is a natural and normal emotion that can help us identify underlying issues and indicate an opportunity for problem resolution.  Just like pain, anger is a signal to take better care of yourself. While becoming angry in response to a confrontational person or unfair situation every once in a

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Common Issues Faced by Adult Children of Someone with an Addiction

Common Issues Faced by Adult Children of Someone with an Addiction

Substance abuse affects everyone that loves someone with an addiction. It can be difficult, painful, and frustrating to watch a friend, sibling, or partner fall into the cycle of addiction, knowing that they must make the choice for themselves to seek treatment. For the children of people with addictions, however,

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Finding Purpose May Be the Key to Happiness

Finding Purpose May Be the Key to Happiness

We all dedicate a large majority of our lives striving towards happiness.  We may try to find it through money and material wealth, service to others, love and companionship, or professional success and power.  We sometimes turn to artificial means to generate something close to the experience of happiness by

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When You Are in Recovery and Your Partner Still Drinks

Making the decision to seek treatment for alcohol addiction usually comes after a long string of embarrassing incidents, health issues, problems with job performance, and tension within relationships. Many intimate partner relationships involve a great deal of alcohol use. Couples often get to know each other over drinks when they

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Working Out Your Mind

Working Out Your Mind

Experts are beginning to postulate that the concept of working out your mind may soon be considered as important and commonplace as working out your body.  Most people already know the benefits of physical exercise for health and wellbeing, and there are entire industries built around physical fitness. While the

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Incarceration vs. Treatment: Criminalizing Addiction

Incarceration vs. Treatment: Criminalizing Addiction

America imprisons its citizens at a startling rate and often for non-violent crimes.  With the most incarcerated individuals per capita of any country in the world, and an epidemic of prison over-crowding, there is a growing call for the release of non-violent drug offenders.  Prisons are not equipped to provide

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Improving Self-Esteem During Recovery

Improving Self-Esteem During Recovery

Self-esteem refers to an individual’s confidence in their own abilities as well as their sense of self-worth.  Low self-esteem can affect every aspect of a person’s life, from their relationships to their professional success.  Research has proven a connection between low self-esteem and substance abuse, which may be better described

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Willpower and the Brain

Willpower and the Brain

If you have ever tried to quit a behavior that was negatively impacting your life, or create a positive new behavior that changes your routine, only to slip back into old habits within weeks, days, or even hours, you may have blamed your failure on a lack of willpower.  Willpower

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Benefits of Attending Al-Anon Meetings

Family members of those struggling with alcohol use disorder are often advised to attend Al-Anon meetings while their loved one is seeking treatment for addiction.  You may be wondering if this kind of in-depth participation is necessary, or how Al-Anon can help you and your family. While the benefits of

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The Neuroscience of Spirituality

The Neuroscience of Spirituality

If there comes a time in your life when you are facing mental illness or addiction, you may be prompted by loved ones, as well as professionals, to seek solace in spirituality.  The definition of a spiritual experience varies greatly for different individuals and may include spending time in nature,

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