Many adults struggle with mental illness in the workplace but are not sure how to share this with their bosses. Mental health issues still come with stigma and challenges associated with sharing it widely with family and loved ones. When it comes to sharing the struggle, there are some tips to make it a more smooth dialogue with a boss.
A loved one can struggle with both mental health issues and addiction at the same time. This is known as a co-occurring disorder. There are many reasons a loved one will refuse treatment or support. Having bipolar disorder causes depression and mania. Without properly managed psychologically or psychiatric care, they are not likely to trust or be willing to open up to treatment for the condition. Getting help for them can be a challenge, but is not impossible with the right tools.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) can be a tough diagnosis to have for people who struggle with the symptoms. They often turn to drugs or alcohol as a means of coping. People with BPD have a perceived rejection or failure that triggers lasting states of depression, anger, or anxiety. They may be difficult to be around, especially if they struggle with addiction on top of this mental health disorder. It is difficult to notice this in the self or a loved one. The best way to cope is to find support from professionals who understand and can offer guidance on living with the diagnosis and working to become stronger every day.
Winter is tough for many people, for many reasons. Those in recovery from addiction can feel like it is a difficult season to navigate. ‘Winter blues’ is used to describe a mild form of the seasonal affective disorder that occurs during winter months. Some people experience fatigue, drowsiness, withdrawal from others, and irritability. Many people experience winter blues that make them feel trapped. Addiction recovery intensifies this sometimes, which may trigger a relapse. It is important to find support and healing for the winter blues in recovery.
Panic attacks can be disconcerting when they pop up. They might feel like a person is dying and cannot breathe. To get past this, it takes some positive thinking, strategy, and strong psychotherapy to support a person getting through the irrational thoughts that cause stress. The aim is to prevent excessive up-regulation where the sympathetic nervous system pushes a person into a state of panic. If fully activated, this system can override the sympathetic system and stop it from getting too panicked. Learn more about how to navigate panic attacks and find some support.
Healing from addiction is not easy. The journey is filled with challenges. Even when a person is mentally positive, they might need an extra boost to get some support. Getting outdoors has some benefits. Nature is a great way to experience peace and calming after a challenging day or just to get outside. The mental health benefits are being touted right now as a way to get people off screens into nature, spending time outdoors, and thinking more positively about what they want for their recovery. Find out why and how nature works in this way and ways to tap into it for yourself.
Relapse is not inevitable but it does happen to many people. Knowing what to do when it happens can help you get on track in recovery. Substance use disorder is a chronic disease, so it has to be managed on a daily basis. Triggers, cravings, and other things will set it off and the brain will want to gravitate towards those things. Don’t get too comfortable in sobriety or let healthy routines slip away. Find some support from family and know you’re not alone.
An intervention is a daunting task. Finding the right treatment center to care for a loved one with addiction can feel overwhelming. There are places that treat drug addiction and work with interventionists, but certified interventionists are all over the place and are easier to find online than ever. It is not always advisable to try and go it alone without professional support. This can lead to challenges with a loved one responding well to the intervention.
New year, new you, or so they say. It is hard to feel renewed in your mind, body, and spirit when you are in recovery. Everything is shifting, moving, and growing. Healthy boundaries are one of the hardest things to learn in recovery. It is necessary to deal with learning them to avoid getting hurt (or hurting others) but learning how to do it takes time. Try these tips on for size when thinking about creating healthy boundaries.
Staying healthy in recovery may seem like a difficult task. It is challenging to think about staying healthy when recovery keeps you busy enough, going to meetings, and keeping up with sobriety goals. A key thing to remember in recovery is that overall health matters to your state of mind and physical health, as well. The better you feel, the better the recovery will feel. Getting sick is no fun but there are some tricks to staying on the healthy track as colder months approach that may support overall wellness.