Why Do I Need to Exercise? Exercise is everywhere around you whether you see your neighbor going for a run in your neighborhood, your siblings doing chores, a sports game at the park, or any other repetitive full body movements. Finding ways to bring exercise into your life will give you more energy throughout the...Read More

OCD and Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder is having intense moments of energy, activity, and mood whereas Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is having unwanted thoughts, ideas, or sensations. According to the Journal of Affective Disorders study, more than 20% who have bipolar disorder have signs of OCD. It is important to have both of these disorders treated...Read More

Depression and Anger Depression is a mental illness that can cause someone not to enjoy the things they used to enjoy, suicidal thoughts, low levels of mood, and unexplained aches and pain. Another symptom, according to a study done in 1998 by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, is that two-thirds with depression have anger...Read More

Why is Hookah Bad For Your Health? Hookahs are water pipes for smoking made by tobacco. There are many flavors like chocolate, mint, cherry, apple, licorice, coconut, watermelon, and cappuccino. According to Action on Smoking and Health, in 2012 and 2013, 12% of adults use hookahs in the UK and 1% frequently use them. The...Read More

Why Are 12 Step Programs Good for Recovery? Alcoholics Anonymous is an international fellowship for men and women who have drinking problems that was founded in 1935. There is no age or education requirement to join these fellowships and there are over two million members worldwide. Narcotics Anonymous was founded in 1953 to help those...Read More

Love, Sex, and Codependence There are differences between love, sex, and codependence.  Love is an emotional state of mind often difficult to describe yet many people experience this emotion.  Love can be felt toward people, animals, art, music, and a number of other experiences.  Sex is personal intimacy between two people for which a strong...Read More

The Start of an Addiction You may find yourself asking why did I become addicted to drugs or alcohol.  You might also think about what could have been different prior to becoming addicted.  There are no hard and fast rules regarding why one becomes an addict but there are similarities in how an addiction starts....Read More

Step 10: What It Means Step 10 is one of 12 steps outlined in the principles of any 12-step program.  Step 10 states that we need to continue to take personal inventory and when we are wrong, promptly admit it.  This sounds like a straightforward step; however, what does it mean. In recovery, we need...Read More

What is Affect? Affect refers to how we express emotions on the outside.  This can be a smile, a laugh, a stare, or your tone of voice.  Affect is our facial expressions or movements that can specify emotions.  We might use affect to interpret what other people are feeling.  In recovery, you might hear someone...Read More

Recovery as a Lifelong Process The recovery process typically begins with a short-term stay in rehab that can last from a few days to a few weeks.  Once that has ended, the recovering addict will enter the lifelong recovery process.  This is the point of recovery where an individual enters their life again.  Many in...Read More