Category: Blog

People who have been diagnosed with autism disorder often struggle with the complexities of social interaction.

That’s because social skills develop intuitively for most people, but that’s not the case for those with autism.

However, even for someone with autism, there are ways to better manage social interactions and learn these skills.

Social Issues and Autism Disorder

Autism disorder is a developmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to interact with other people. These issues begin when still an infant and can last throughout one’s life.

Some of the ways these problems manifest themselves are, for example:

• Not making eye contact or looking at faces
• Unable to turn towards sounds
• Not answering to their name
• Can’t respond well towards other’s emotions
• Not interested in simple games

As these children grow older, social dynamics become more complicated. There is a whole unwritten rule book for how to interact with other people. Unfortunately, those with autism never got that book. Instead, they have to work harder to understand these interactions.

What strategies are available to help them learn these rules and improve their social skills?

Strategy #1: Practicing

One way to help children with autism disorders to better understand social interactions is practicing. You and your child can pretend-play social situations that they may encounter. It will help your child rehearses what they should do and how to respond.

For example, if they are at school, how they should address their teacher. As your child practices, you can coach them on what they did right and how to improve their interactions.

Strategy #2: Technology

One way technology can help children with autism learn social skills is through videos. These introduce characters and social situations that the characters must navigate. To learn, your child watches the characters and how they cope with these situations. You can watch these videos with your child and ask them how these relate to their own life (making friends, looking at people when talking, etc.).

Another area where technology is helping those with autism is the use of tablets. For example:

• Some people with autism don’t speak
• A tablet can aid in communication, especially when stressed
• It is easier to use pictures and images on a tablet
• The touch interface is more helpful than typing or writing
• Technology can help with sequencing problems

Of course, your child or teen will need to be coached as to how to use this technology. However, young people are very comfortable with digital technology. Thus, it can be easier for them to integrate these tools into their lives.

Strategy #3: Providing the Dialogue

A third strategy for helping those with autism disorder is having pre-made responses for social situations. The child either memorizes or has on hand a card that reminds them to ask a question. For example, “How are you doing today?”

For many with autism starting a conversation can be a daunting task. That’s why having pre-made questions can be so helpful for getting the ball rolling. As they develop mastery of these questions, they eventually won’t need the cards anymore.

What Should I Do If My Child Is Still Struggling Despite My Help?

If your child is still struggling with mastering social interactions consider having them work with a trained coach. A coach will be able to help guide them to better understand these social situations, teach them more strategies for managing the situations, and provide access to the necessary tools. This can add extra support as your child navigates this process.

Additionally, consider seeing a counselor for yourself. Seeing your child struggle is never easy. That’s why having someone with whom you can talk to about these things is so helpful. It will put you in a better place to support your child.

One of the problems with beating addiction is that it can be a lonely experience.

Often those struggling with addiction feel isolated and cut-off from others who could help.

If this sounds like you, it is important that you reach out to get help with addiction.

Why? Consider five reasons.

Reason #1: You Can’t Do It Alone

Let’s face it, it is almost impossible to beat addiction alone. Occasionally, you hear of someone who has quit “cold turkey.” However, if you dig deeper, they probably have had help with addiction. This could have been a supportive spouse or parent that encouraged them to get treatment.

So, if you want to quit, find someone who cares about you and that you can lean on. This could be a spouse, a parent, a sibling, or an understanding friend.

Reason #2: A Support Group Can Provide Non-Judgmental Advice

Don’t ignore the importance of having a support group of peers available for help. Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous have been shown to be very useful for people with addiction issues. This is because these people understand what it is like to have an addiction and won’t judge you for it.

They are also examples that it is possible to overcome an addiction and be substance-free. A simple check online can help you to find a support group in your area.

There is another advantage of a support group. These programs often provide structure that you can use as you start your recovery. For instance, AA/NA groups use a 12-step model. This can be beneficial as it provides a roadmap through the recovery process. Plus, the other group members will be in different stages of recovery and can provide advice.

Reason #3: You Need Professional Help with Addiction

Along with peer support, it is important to have professional help with addiction. Addiction often involves other issues that keep you from being substance-free.

For instance, along with having an addiction problem, there may also be a mental health diagnosis. A common one is depression. Another problem is that often years of addiction have caused rifts in personal relationships. Therefore, a counselor trained in addiction treatment can help with these serious problems.

Reason #4: You Need to Get Your Life Back on Track

Oftentimes, people who have an extensive substance-abuse history need to get their life back on track. Even if on the surface they seem functional, under the surface there can be real chaos. When getting help with addiction consider reaching out to a life coach or mentor.

They can be helpful with:

• Getting your living space organized
• Applying for a job
• Straightening-out health insurance issues

Don’t forget, if you have been battling addiction for a long period of time, most likely other areas of your life need help, too. A coach who understands these complex issues can be very helpful with solving these problems.

Reason #5: You Have a Need for Companionship

Sometimes it is just nice to spend time with other people and not have to be focused on your problems. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to have some fun, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your recovery, of course.

Plus, it can help you to redirect some of that mental energy towards something that is more productive, such as:

• Rediscovering a hobby or finding a new one
• Playing on a recreational team
• Joining a book club
• Playing board games

Not sure where to find these groups? A simple online search of your community may surprise you with what’s available.

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When it comes to substance abuse, it is important to acknowledge you need help with addiction. Whether that help comes from informal sources such as friends and family or support groups and counseling, you need help. Remember, it is OK to ask for help, and there are many people out there willing to provide it.

When you struggle with depression and anxiety, it can be hard getting through the day—let alone the week.

However, that doesn’t mean you should let depression and anxiety win.

Of course, fighting them won’t be easy, but it is important.

Fighting Depression and Anxiety: Reasons to Keep Going

Remember Who Matters Most

One reason you should never let depression and anxiety win is remembering who is most important to you, such as friends, family members, your spouse, and your children.

Think about it, what would their lives be like if you let depression and anxiety win?

It would not be for the better, that’s for sure.

Remembering that you have others who love and support you can be very reassuring when fighting depression and anxiety. If you need a reminder, keep photos of family members and friends easily accessible.

Do the Things You Enjoy

Another reason to keep fighting depression and anxiety is that it will help you continue to do the things you enjoy. If you are struggling with these emotional/mental issues, you may have already stopped doing the activities you love. Yet, you have to try to remember that pursuing your interests can be a step towards recovery as well.

That includes simple pleasures and activities such as:

• Reading for pleasure
• Working on your car
• Participating in sports
• Spending time outdoors
• Creating art
• Honing your craft

When you do the things you love to do, they help you to feel connected and engaged. This allows you to get out of the funk of depression and anxiety and allows you to enjoy life.

Fighting Depression and Anxiety: Focus On the Right Things

Your Dreams

Have you ever thought of traveling abroad? Or is your dream to one day open a business?

Has depression and anxiety been a roadblock towards achieving those dreams?

Whatever they are, your dreams and life goals are worth fighting for. Having reminders of those dreams—such as a postcard of a travel destination on the refrigerator—can be handy in that fight. So, while you are fighting depression and anxiety, don’t let your future goals fall by the wayside.

Your Family

Are you the major breadwinner in your family? Do you have children who are relying on you to make ends meet?

Your family can be a great resource to help keep you grounded when you feel depressed or anxious. Although family and children can sometimes be a source of stress and anxiety, they can also be a source of inspiration.

Again, having reminders of your family around you when at work or away from the home can be helpful. It will allow you to put things into perspective when you need them.

Yourself

So often depression and anxiety is a reminder of how you are unworthy. It can cause you to retreat from life, making you feel that you are somehow undeserving.

Yet, the opposite is true!

You are a human being who deserves to be happy and feel fulfilled.

Granted, life takes us in unexpected directions, but that doesn’t mean that you ought to let depression and anxiety win. Rather, it is a reminder that even the most successful people have setbacks. Ask yourself, “How can I learn from this situation and move forward instead of letting depression and anxiety hold me back?

How to Keep Fighting Depression and Anxiety

There are several ways that you can keep fighting depression and anxiety.

For example:

1. Leading a healthy lifestyle that includes nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness activities
2. Surrounding yourself with a community of support that can include friends, family, and other social networks

True, fighting depression and anxiety can sometimes seem impossible. Yet, it doesn’t have to be.

Remember that your life has value and meaning. Everyone has their struggle from time-to-time, but that does not mean depression and anxiety will automatically win. Heading the above-mentioned reminder, you can beat it!

Some of the most popular New Year’s resolutions that people make each year include eating healthy, losing weight, quitting smoking and going to the gym. Unfortunately, the majority of people will lose interest or determination and do not meet those goals. In fact, research shows that only about eight percent of individuals will actually stick to their New Year’s resolutions and make them work for the year.Some of the most popular New Year’s resolutions that people make each year include eating healthy, losing weight, quitting smoking and going to the gym. Unfortunately, the majority of people will lose interest or determination and do not meet those goals. In fact, research shows that only about eight percent of individuals will actually stick to their New Year’s resolutions and make them work for the year.

The main reason resolutions may not come to fruition is due to the fact that they do not focus on the right things. You simply cannot make your exercise more if your mind isn’t focused on habits to complete this. Instead of focusing solely on exercising more, you need to put your focus on commitment and building mental strength to make decisions to exercise – even when you’d rather rest or spend time checking social media at a coffee shop.

The key to self-discipline, grit, delayed gratification, and perseverance is developing your mental muscles. Regardless of your goals, you will only be able to succeed if you work to develop changes in your thinking as well as your habits.

We know that this takes effort and practice. Here are a few tips to help develop that mental strength you need to accomplish those big resolutions this year:

Tip #1: Practice Self-Compassion.

The way your mind thinks directly impacts how you behave and how you feel. You are only holding yourself back when you call yourself names, beat yourself up when mistakes are made, and criticize your performance.

Many find that they are their own worst enemy when trying to accomplish a goal. Rather than focusing on mistakes or failures, focus on developing a more compassionate and kinder internal dialogue. What does that mean? Try talking to yourself as you would when trying to encourage a good friend. Rather than saying “I can’t believe I let myself eat that donut! It just looked so good in the break room. I’m never going to be able to do this!” Find a way to encourage yourself and search for a positive lesson. “Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, but I CAN do this. I just need to remember to avoid the donut box when I go to the break room.” By allowing yourself some compassion, you will become far more motivated to develop a long-term change.

Tip #2: Become More Aware of Your Feelings.

Your emotions have a strong influence over interpreting events and making decisions. Anxiety has the ability to cause you to avoid certain risks while sadness can cause you to settle for less than what you normally would.

Take a little bit of time out of each day to think about your feelings. Label each emotion and acknowledge your feelings from different areas of your life. You need to be aware of the fact that your feelings will spill from one area of your life to another. Feelings aren’t clean-cut; however, you can use logic to work through your emotions if you make an effort to acknowlege them.

Tip #3: Spend a Minimum of 15 Minutes Per Day for Reflection.

Life is busy. With so much going on in your life, it is incredibly easy to get caught up in all the busyness and forget to take time to think. When you don’t make an effort to take quiet time for yourself, how can you make sure that you are in line with your short and long-term goals?

Make sure that you set aside at least 15 minutes every single day to reflect on how things are going in your life. If you aren’t sure what to reflect on during this time. Start by thinking about how your day has gone and how you can ensure tomorrow is better. This doesn’t mean look over your agenda for the next day. Instead, take the time to think about went well and what could have been better. Consider ways you can improve those things for the next day and make a mental plan to do so. This quiet reflection time each day can be instrumental in meeting your resolutions.

Tip #4: Establish a Weekly Goal.

At the beginning of each week, establish a weekly goal and write it down. Keep these goals small but challenging. Put it somewhere that you can see it throughout the week. Research has shown that writing down your goals increases your odds of success by 42 percent.

To increase your chances of success even more, get specific about your goals by adding when and where you hope to complete each goal. For example, rather than saying “I will exercise three times this week”, add specific details by saying: “I will go the gym after work on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.” Vague or generalized goals are unhelpful as they do not provide direction. By adding specifics, you essentially define not only what you hope to accomplish but how you plan to do so.

Every single goal that you set will provide you with an opportunity to strengthen your mental strength. Then, with each success, you will build your confidence and motivation to continue in your journey to meet your New Year’s resolutions.

Tip #5: Identify Three Things You’re Grateful for Each Day.

An effective and simple way to improve mental health and strength is practicing gratitude exercises. There are many studies that indicate that maintaining a grateful mindset can result in a wide variety tangible benefits including reduced psychological distress and improved sleep.

A great way to do this is by keeping a gratitude journal. The practice of journaling can be particularly effective and therapeutic for those working to achieve a difficult goal. Studies have shown that people with a grateful mindset lead to more resilience in the midst of difficult situations. Each day, take a few minutes to write down at least three different things for which you are grateful. This will essentially train your brain to more instinctively identify things that are good in your life. At the same time, this can also help you to proactively defend yourself against negative mindsets, such as self-pity, which can often adversely affect your mental health and strength.

Build Up Your Mental Strength Year-Round

Keep in mind that building mental muscle is more than simply setting a goal in January. It is about improving yourself a little more each day.

Remember to pace yourself. Attempting to tackle too many goals at one time can end up causing more stress. Instead, identify one change that you really want to make and start with that. For example, maybe you will want to start with the gratitude journal and writing down what you’re thankful for each day in January. Then, starting in February, you can begin committing to a time each day for reflection. Over time, you will see that as you build more mental strength, various other life goals become much easier to achieve naturally.

If you would like to talk to someone about your state of mind or would like to discuss more ways to improve mental strength, please don’t hesitate to call and talk to our staff at Luminous Counseling. We are here for you!

Have you ever attended a holiday gathering and noticed that one friend or family member who might be enjoying the egg nog a bit more than everyone else? Perhaps, they are putting a little too much effort into the “drink” in “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry”, and you’ve questioned whether it’s something more than holiday cheer? If so, you aren’t alone. The holidays may provide many opportunities to spend time celebrating the season with loved ones, but it can also provide an opportunity or catalyst to behaviors you might not otherwise see in friends or family.

Stress. Anxiety. Depression. Financial pressures. Each of these factors (among many others) are often major pressures during the holidays. These things can be difficult for many to process but adding the increased access to alcohol at holiday parties or gatherings can be a trigger to those struggling with an alcohol use disorder. They can be especially difficult for those in recovery trying to maintain sobriety.

During the holiday season, there are many factors that can contribute to  certain expectations that people need to meet socially, which can create higher levels of anxiety for some. For example, at holiday events, people tend to feel they need to perform at certain levels in family environments. Many feel that they must display that they’re good family members and, in some cases, impress other members in the family with some level of success. Other people may feel they are expected to summarize their entire lives for certain relatives but may or may not be proud of recent successes or failures. These things can contribute to feelings of stress or anxiety leading up to these events. As a result, some may self-medicate using alcohol.

So, if you find yourself wondering whether or not your Uncle Jim’s enjoyment of the holiday punch is more than just holiday cheer, here are a few signs that may indicate an alcohol use disorder.

5 Signs That May Indicate Alcohol Addiction

1. Tolerance for Alcohol –Did they need to drink more than they did previously to feel their desired effect? Are you noticing that the usual number of drinks they have are simply having less of an effect than usual?
2. Driving Under the Influence – Are you or a loved one trying to drive a vehicle while intoxicated? Engaging in such risky behavior is a definite sign of an alcohol use disorder.
3. Frequent Drinking to Deal with Stress – Do they often insist they need a drink in order to overcome holiday-related stress or difficult circumstances? Are you noticing they are drinking more frequently than is good for them? Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that generally accepted limits for women should not exceed eight alcoholic drinks per week and men should not exceed 15 per week.
4. Putting Relationships and Employment at Risk – Are their family and friends asking them to drink less? Have you noticed a significant other is upset, aggravated or angry with them due to their drinking? Are friends avoiding them because of their drunken behavior? Are they missing meetings, showing up late to work, or not showing up to work at all due to drinking?
5. Frequently, Excessively Drinking at Holiday Gatherings – This tends to be where social pressures can bring someone “down” and where an increased access to alcohol results in more drinking. Did they mention they were looking forward to the alcoholic beverages at a specific gathering because they don’t want to go but have to be there? Did they indicate they weren’t going to drink but later indulge in alcoholic beverages because others are drinking and are encouraging them to do the same?

If you think that you or a loved one exhibit any of the aforementioned addictive behaviors, please give Luminous Counseling a call and speak to one of our professionals. We can help.

You probably have a general idea of what depression looks like, such as feeling down.

However, you may not know the many other different symptoms of depression and how they manifest themselves.

Being aware of these symptoms is helpful when you’re concerned about whether you or someone you know has depression.

Common Symptoms of Depression

It’s helpful to review what are most commonly considered depression symptoms. These include:

• Feeling sad or hopeless
• Lacking interest in activities that you once enjoyed
• Blaming yourself or feeling worthless

In the most extreme cases, thoughts of death, suicide, or attempting to carry out suicide occur. If this is the case for you, make sure to get professional help right away.

Otherwise, keep reading to learn more about less known depression symptoms.

Sleep Problems

One of the many different symptoms of depression includes sleep problems. This includes sleeping too much, not getting enough sleep, or an inability to sleep restfully throughout the night.

People who have insomnia have a much higher risk of developing depression. This makes sense, as humans need sleep to recharge. When you don’t get enough sleep it can negatively affect your brain. That means your ability to cope with difficult emotions, such as depression, only gets worse.

Anger

Another symptom that you don’t always associate with depression is anger. The stereotype of a depressed person is someone who is despondent or sad. They are in a more passive role.

Yet, anger is the complete opposite of passivity. So why get angry?

One explanation is that when depressed you have a lot of negative feelings and thoughts towards yourself. These thoughts only exacerbate already existing shame that you already carry. In turn, this fosters anger toward yourself.

Change of Appetite

You might not have realized it, but changes in your appetite is another of the various different symptoms of depression.

Loss of appetite is not unheard of with depression. This is because when depressed you lose the motivation to want to eat. On the other hand, depression can also drive you to overeat. In this way, you use food as a way to cope with the negative feelings and emotions associated with depression.

Paying attention to any changes in your eating habits is a clue that something is off.

Inability to Think

When depressed you also struggle with not being able to think clearly. You may walk around as if you are in a fog, and it becomes difficult to make decisions.

This is a big problem, as the inability to think makes it harder to make good choices that are healthy. Instead of using positive ways to cope with depression (exercise, talking to someone, etc.), you may use negative choices such as substance abuse.

Plus, the fog created by depression hinders your ability to find a clear solution to the problem.

Physical Problems

You may not realize it, but your headache or back pain can also be one of the countless different symptoms of depression.

Unexplained physical problems are actually caused by depression. They can throw you off track from the source of the issue. And they also make your situation worse because you are in pain.

Getting a Diagnosis

Clearly, different symptoms of depression manifest themselves in distinct ways. Some are obvious, but others are less so. If you’re concerned that either yourself or someone you know is exhibiting these symptoms, don’t try to address the issue alone.

Note that just because you know the different symptoms of depression does not mean that you can make a diagnosis. Only a medical professional can make a comprehensive diagnosis.

However, if you suspect that you or someone you’re close to suffers from depression, it’s time to get professional help. That way you can assure that you or they will be getting on the path towards recovery soon.

Are you struggling with depression, and it’s affecting your marriage?

Have you considered couples counseling for depression and marriage?

Counseling can be very useful for couples who need help navigating the fog of depression and want to focus back on their marriage.

How Depression and Marriage Are Linked

There are several ways in which depression negatively impacts a marriage. These include:

• Less or no communication between each other
• Harder to enjoy touching moments together
• Lack of desire or difficulty with intimacy
• Periods of gloom where you feel sad and cry
• Feelings of hopelessness

Additionally, many try to “cope” with depression in their own way by using alcohol or drugs. Of course, substance abuse is going to have a very negative impact on any marriage and only amplifies the depression.

That’s why it is important for couples to get counseling together, as this is not a one-sided problem. Rather, it is an issue that affects both partners.

Consider three ways couples counseling helps when you’re depressed.

1. Providing a Safe Place to Talk

Even though the challenges of mental health issues have become more well-known, there is still much stigma towards those struggling with depression. These can hinder you from getting the help that you need.

For example, some of the obstacles include:

• Thinking that you are somehow weak or incapable
• Believing that it is just your problem and that you should be able to “deal with it”
• Being embarrassed when you show depression symptoms such as sobbing or anger
• Not feeling that anyone understand you and what you are going through, even your partner

That’s why therapy is so valuable. During a couples counseling session, your therapist will be able to create an environment where you can feel free to talk and not be judged. This is very helpful for your relationship, as you no longer have to hide your feelings from your partner or pretend that everything is OK when it isn’t.

2. Understanding Your Actions

Have you caught yourself snapping at your spouse, or distancing yourself and pulling away? Your partner may not understand why you are doing these things and, therefore, become confused, even angry.

In couples counseling, you and your mate can learn how these and other actions are not really about your partner. They are about your depression. When you understand why you do these things you can make sure that they don’t happen again in the future. This helps you to avoid causing more damage to your marriage.

3. Getting to the Root of the Problem

When looking back over your life, does it seem as if you have frequently felt down or sad for extended periods of time? It may be that you have had depression longer than you realize. That means that your depression and marriage probably have overlapped each other.

Therapy allows you to get to the root of why you have been depressed. There could be several reasons, for example:

• There may be a family history of depression or mental illness
• You’ve been exposed to a traumatic event multiple events during your childhood
• You recently experienced a trauma or loss that has triggered the depression

When you attend couples counseling for depression and marriage, both you and your spouse can get to the root as to what’s going on. That way, you can move forward and tackle depression head-on as a couple.

Clearly, depression doesn’t just affect you. It impacts everyone around you, especially your life partner. By seeking out couples counseling for depression and marriage simultaneously, both you and your mate can be working on these issues together. As a team, you can lift the fog of depression and instead focus on the things and people that really mean the most to you.

Addiction is a terrible disease that can tear families apart.

Are you worried about your loved one and think they need help for addiction issues?

Of course, you want to help, but it is important to know what you can and can’t do for your loved one when it comes to their addiction.

What You CAN’T Do For Your Loved One

1. Do the Work for Them

As much as you would like to, you simply can’t do the work for them. A big part of the recovery process is acknowledging one’s role in the addiction and how their actions have affected others.

It would be so nice to just wave a magic wand and, presto, your loved one is cured of their addiction. However, the reality is that it takes a lot of work every day to recover from addiction.

2. Have High Expectations

This may be hard to read, but if your family member has an addiction problem you can’t hold them to high expectations, at least at first. Part of the recovery process includes relapsing.

If your hope is that they will not take another drink again or use drugs, then you are only setting yourself up for failure. Now, this does not mean your loved one doesn’t want to stay sober, it’s just really hard.

Life throws all kinds of curve balls that cause stress, like for example:

• Losing your job
• The breakup of a romantic relationship
• Medical problems
• The loss of a friend or family member.

Life’s challenges can be even more stressful when getting help for addiction. If you believe that your family member won’t be tempted to use again, you would be mistaken.

3. Expect Their Old Self to Return

It is tempting to say to yourself, “If she stopped using, she’d be her old self again.” We want our family member to be happy, healthy, and OK. Seeing your loved one in the throes of addiction is hard when you remember what they were like before they started using.

You can hope for the best, but remember that addiction, along with all of the negative experiences that can occur, it can have a profound impact. Anyone who has lived through that will certainly see changes in their personality and outlook on life.

4. Guilt Trip Them

If only your loved one could understand how much they have hurt you, then they will get help for addiction! Although we would like to believe this to be true, the reality is much different.

It may be that your family member already has feelings of guilt, shame, and anger towards themselves and their actions. The problem is that as long as they are still using and addicted it is impossible for them to translate those feelings into real action. They may be able to stay clean for a day or two, maybe even a week. Yet, without professional help, your loved one will slip up and use again.

What You CAN Do For Your Loved One

Know What’s in Your Control

Knowing what is in your control applies not just to addicts but their family members as well.

Some things you can control are, for example:

• Keep the lines of communication open to your loved one
• Hold boundaries so that you don’t enable
• Make sure the other members of your family are safe
• Be open with each other about how your loved one’s behavior is affecting the family
• Provide encouragement if your loved one decides to go to rehab or make changes in their life
• If they want to come over to your home insist that they are sober and do not bring any paraphernalia
• Continue to love your family member

It’s hard for a family to watch a loved one descend into addiction. That’s why it is important to know what you can and can’t do. You can provide the help for addiction that your loved one needs, but remember that you can’t force them to accept it.

Addiction is a terrible disease, yet not always an obvious one.

At least, this can be true for the person who is struggling with substance abuse.

What started out as a simple and perhaps carefree recreational use has now become a serious problem that has a dangerous impact on your life.

What may signal that you have taken it too far?

Signs Your Substance Use is More Than Recreational

1. Increasing quantity

When you first indulged in the occasional glass of wine at a party or beer after work, it was easy to categorize it as recreational use. You were just unwinding after a long day at work and wanting to socialize, right? Plus, the alcohol helped you to relax.

Now, you drink much more, perhaps even daily. In fact, you drink so much that you pass out or “black out.” Binge drinking is part of your life.

According to the U.S. Government defines binge drinking as:

• Having five or more drinks for women or four for women
• Those drinks occurring within the same general time frame
• Having at least 1-5 days per month of consuming that much alcohol

Keep in mind that these changes in drinking patterns can happen over long periods of time and, therefore, not be strikingly obvious.

2. Spending a lot of money on substances

Another sign that your recreational use has morphed into substance abuse is how you spend your money.

At first, it wasn’t a problem, but over time a greater portion of your paycheck is going to substance use. This can be especially true if you are using hard drugs, which can drain your finances as you get more of the drug you “need.”

In fact, you may have found yourself committing crimes so that you can have the money to get drugs or alcohol.

3. Risky behavior

Committing crimes, such as stealing, is just one of many risky behaviors that indicate you have an addiction.

Others may be:

• Driving while under the influence
• Using needles for injectable drugs
• Making rash decisions

The result of these actions is that you put your life, and the lives of others, at risk. This includes even family and friends.

4. Hurting those you love

You don’t realize it in the moment, but your actions are hurting those who care for you. Their safety can even be in jeopardy if you are driving a car or get into a physical argument with them. Or, you choose to steal money or valuables from them in order to obtain drugs or alcohol.

All of these actions create fear, mistrust, and anger. In turn, this damages your relationships and can cause you to become isolated from those you love.

5. Putting your children at risk

If you have children, your substance abuse can be particularly damaging to them. Addiction can bring on or exacerbate preexisting mental health problems, and often it is the children that bear the brunt of unchecked emotions.

Ultimately they can be removed from the home if it is deemed an unsafe environment for them.

6. Your primary focus changes

As you slip from recreational use to addiction your priorities change. Whereas before you had hobbies and interests, now your one consuming focus is to obtain more drugs or alcohol.

Think about it for a moment. Wasn’t there a time when you enjoyed playing a sport, engaging in a craft, playing a musical instrument, or having some kind of passion in your life? What happened?

7. You can’t live without the substance

Perhaps the greatest sign of addiction is when you decide that substance becomes something you can’t live without. If you don’t or can’t use, you don’t feel “normal.”

Yet, there was a time when you were normal but not using. Doesn’t that make a red flag go up in your mind?

Sadly, substance abuse is a problem that affects millions of Americans. However, the journey from recreational use to full-on substance abuse is not always obvious or dramatic. It can take time, even a lifetime, to realize what’s happening. Yet, when you do make sure to get the help you need.

Addiction is something that has been rampaging through the country lately. You or someone you love has probably been touched by addiction. With the opioid addiction reaching new heights across the country, it is important to know when to seek help. If you are interested in recovering in a successful and healthy manner from addiction, then Luminous Counseling can be a resource for someone who wants to better his or her life. Addiction takes a long time to manage and it can take a few times before you finally find the right path for you. Addiction is not something that can be cured; however, it can be managed when you know the healthy steps to take.

Tips For Dealing With Addiction In A Healthy Manner

We will be going over suggestions on how you can deal with addiction in a healthy manner. Addiction is a slippery slope that may seem as if you will never come out on the other side. In reality, with hard work and the experience of a professional at our counseling center, you will be able to overcome your addiction and get on the successful road to recovery.

Change Your Environment

The first healthy tip you can do for addiction is to change your environment. Your environment is one of the best ways to slip back into bad habits. Even if you do not feel like you can change your environment for various reasons, you can take the initiative to surround yourself with people who are positive, hobbies that do not have anything to do with your addiction, and activities that allow you to focus on something besides your dependency. Instead of hanging around old hangouts, try to invest time in new activities such as cultural events, stimulating mind and body exercises, and find hobbies you are interested in.

Take One Day At A Time

Addiction is a long recovery that will not happen overnight. You are not going to wake up one day and be completely cured of your addiction. Recovering from addiction is a process. It is a way for you to erase old habits and urges from your body by learning ways to deal with what triggers you. You will find healthy ways to deal with negative thoughts and feelings instead of automatically turning to something that eases you.

Change Your Friends

Similar to your environment, you should change your friends. Even if the friends you had while you were entrenched in your addiction were your best ones, that does not mean they are looking out for your best interests. They may put you in a situation that can enable your addiction and jeopardize your road to recovery. It will take some time, but eventually, you will find friends who want you to be healthy and will not enable you.

Start Exercising

Exercise is a fantastic way to get your mind off your addiction. Exercise will make you feel better, ease your mind, and it will give you something to concentrate on. Exercise has worked for a lot of people who have suffered from addiction. It gives you the chance to focus on making your body healthier and you have a specific goal to work toward. Exercise is perfect for mental, physical, and emotional strength.

Talk To Someone

Lastly, when you are recovering from any addiction, you should take the time to talk to someone. At Luminous Counseling, we can help you focus on recovering from addiction with our addiction counseling service. Talking to someone will allow you to figure out triggers and how to get on a successful path of recovery.