Category: Blog

The silver platters, the wicker cornucopia, and of course, the turkey itself—plenty of images spring to mind when thinking about the Thanksgiving holiday. But beneath the trappings and trimmings lies a not-so-pretty picture—intense feelings of anxiety, depression, stress.

Putting on a brave face for the family may seem like the natural solution. It’s worked for seasons past, so why change it this year? Why mess with what passes for success? 

Preserving the status quo of stoic silence may feel like the easiest option in the short term, but when you add up all the holidays and multiply by years, you realize it’s less of a sprint and more of a mental health marathon. 

Luminous Counseling offers sensible, effective mental health solutions that put you in charge of unwelcome thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By using a mixture of traditional talk and cutting-edge psychotherapy treatments, Luminous Counseling seats you at the head of your mental health table.

Stress Specialists

To some, the thought of a holiday season without stress seems downright laughable—doubly so if you plan on hosting the big meal. 

While stress is a natural reaction, and can be even be helpful at times, an abundance of uncontrollable stress can cause serious health issues. Fatigue, irritability, headaches, and the inability to focus are just a few symptoms of chronic stress. If left untreated, these symptoms could contribute to heart trouble and even lead to sudden death.

Luminous Counseling prides itself on a holistic and compassionate approach when treating chronic stress. By focusing on healthy and achievable coping mechanisms, professional counselors can help you devise a plan of empowerment. 

Crafting your personalized steam valve with Luminous Counseling puts healing in your hands and provides customized solutions for one-of-a-kind patients.

Defeating Depression

At Thanksgiving, the question sometimes goes around the table, “What are you thankful for?”  But if you suffer from depression, it can be hard to come up with a convincing answer. 

The pace and near-constant socializing of the holiday season can make us feel like we have something to hide. If you’re hiding symptoms of depression, staying with family can quickly turn into a performance without an intermission. 

Feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest, and persistent suicidal thoughts can all be indicators of a severe or worsening depression. While medication is the customary treatment, Luminous Counseling has another tool up its sleeve.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) retrains patterns of thought and action to produce healthier results. By working with a psychotherapist, patients are guided to identify and then modify any unhealthy coping mechanisms that result from unwanted thoughts or feelings. 

CBT sets definitive goals and assigns hands-on homework meant to get you thinking about how you think. Understanding the link between thought and action empowers you to make new decisions for yourself and gives you greater control over what once seemed uncontrollable.

CBT sessions are tailored for each patient—no two the same. So, if you’ve tried (and been let down by) other therapies before, CBT may be what you’re looking for. 

Turn Turkey Day Troubles into Triumph

The holidays don’t have to be a time of dread, secrecy, and unhealthy coping strategies. This season, be thankful for yourself and for the steps you took toward healing.

Luminous Counseling offers individual, couples, adult autism, and addiction therapies all specific to their patients’ needs. No cookie-cutter problems. No cookie-cutter solutions.

If you, or someone you know, struggles during the holiday season, visit Luminous Counseling’s website for more information or call 256-686-9195 today.

There’s a lot of information available (in books and on the internet) about depression and which symptoms to watch out for.

Of course, feeling sad and hopeless are some of the most common ones. Also, having a low mood in general. However, these only scratch the surface when it comes to symptoms related to depression.

In fact, there are several symptoms connected to depression than can be easily misunderstood for something else completely. Such as?

Let’s take a closer look at seven uncommon depression symptoms.

1. Trouble Focusing on Tasks

One overlooked symptom of depression may be when you struggle to focus on a task or project. Perhaps it feels as if your mind is somewhere else altogether. Or maybe you have trouble initiating a task and being able to give it the attention it deserves.

On first thought, to the untrained eye, it might appear that you have attention deficit disorder, or ADD. Yet, in reality, this could be one of the symptoms of depression.

2. Being a Pain in the Neck

Another uncommon symptom of depression is irritability. Have you ever been told that you’re really grumpy and hard to be around? Or do you know someone that always seems to be in a foul mood?

While that cause may be stress or personal issues, another reason can be depression. This is especially a problem for older men. What may seem like grumpiness or irritability is really a cover for deeper emotions connected to depression.

3. Difficulty Making a Choice

Indecisiveness is also a lesser-known depression symptom. That’s because when you have depression, your brain’s cognitive abilities are diminished.

Your mind is carrying this extra burden that impairs its ability to function effectively. Depression slows your thinking and processing. And, in turn, that makes it much more difficult to make decisions.

4. Change in Appetite

While not a very common symptom, appetite changes due to depression have understandable reasons.

On the one hand, you may feel less hungry and thus eat less food. A reason for this is that depressed people also report having less energy. Thus, cooking and preparing meals, especially healthy ones, can become more difficult. On the other hand, some people may eat more. Though, they often don’t do this to satisfy their hunger, but instead, they are fulfilling an emotional need.

5. Unexplained Physical Pain

One important depression symptom that often gets overlooked is any kind of unexplained physical pain. When you think of depression, you may imagine that it only affects the mind. Yet, the mind and the body are connected in ways that are not completely understood.

Often, emotional issues such as depression manifest themselves as body aches and pains. When you see a doctor, they might miss this link. That’s because they are usually just focused on the physical symptoms you are experiencing. Medication may alleviate the pain for a while, yet, the true cause remains untreated.

6. Sleep Problems

Oversleeping and under-sleeping are both misconstrued symptoms associated with depression. If you are consistently oversleeping, some may think that you’re simply lazy. And if you are not getting enough sleep, perhaps you are filling the time with watching TV, playing video games, etc.

In either case, on top of not truly feeling rested, you may feel judged for something that could be out of your control. And that certainly doesn’t help with solving your depression.

7. Poor Hygiene

Finally, poor hygiene is often one of those overlooked symptoms of depression. This too can be linked with having low energy, as well as a lack of interest in everyday activities.

With depression, even doing simple grooming tasks, such as showering, can seem very hard to accomplish. Unfortunately, that may also cause others who don’t understand what’s truly happening to you to judge you. From their point of view, you smell and have let yourself go.

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Clearly, uncommon depression symptoms can often cause people to misunderstand what you’re struggling with. All they see is what’s on the surface: the poor hygiene, the indecisiveness, the irritability, etc. However, what you are really struggling with may lie much deeper.

If you believe that you might have depression, don’t hesitate to contact us. We would like to help you get to the bottom of the matter and provide the support you need.

Even though the events surrounding your trauma may have happened a long time ago, the emotions are probably still very raw.

You can’t help but feel self-conscious about the shame and guilt you feel.

These emotions can be a real burden, especially if you have never had trauma therapy or are just starting. In fact, they can be so painful to consider that you do anything possible to get them out of your mind.

But this leads to negative consequences for you and really holds you back from finding any sort of peace of mind.

That’s why it’s important to know more about the relationship between yourself and these self-conscious emotions.

The Difference Between Guilt and Shame

First, you need to understand the difference between guilt and shame. Although they are often used interchangeably, they are actually very different emotions.

Guilt:

A negative emotion associated with something that you did which affected either yourself, someone else, or both. For example, you feel guilty that you lied to your partner about where you were last night.

Shame:

This is also a negative emotion but goes much deeper. With shame, you believe that there is something very wrong with you. It is a belief that you develop yourself or learn from someone else.

Using the example from above, you feel ashamed that you lied to people you care about, and you begin to believe that you are deeply flawed as a human being. Additionally, you’re convinced that you don’t deserve their love.

Shame and Guilt in Trauma

With trauma, shame and guilt can take on a whole new meaning. Consider how each connects to trauma or how they even contribute to creating more deeper-reaching problems.

Some examples:

• You feel guilty that you didn’t help that person you passed who was just in a car accident.
• Even though it’s been years since you served overseas, you still feel ashamed of things that you did during wartime.
• When you were little, your parents emotionally abused you. They would reinforce to you that you were “bad” or “dirty.” You carried these beliefs into your adulthood.
• It’s your first wedding anniversary, but you completely forgot about it. You feel guilty that you didn’t get your partner anything or had something special planned. However, you also feel ashamed, as this moment is another reminder about how flawed you are. This is a message that’s been reinforced from childhood when you were bullied in school.

See how shame, guilt, and trauma work together? You can feel shame or guilt separately about a single incident or event. Or you feel both at once, almost interchangeably.

The Effects of Shame and Guilt

For one, shame and guilt make it very difficult to even think about the memories associated with the trauma you experienced. You’d likely do anything to push them out of your mind. Sadly, this often leads to substance abuse problems, which only makes a bad situation worse.

Also, shame and guilt keep you frozen in place. That means, for example, that you may not want to try trauma recovery because of the fear it will open old emotional wounds. It’s just too much for you, so you push it to the side. The result is that you remain stuck in the past and are not able to fully live and enjoy your life in the present.

No matter which effect you’re experiencing, both keep you from forgiving yourself and healing. How can you find a way to resolve the issues and move on?

The Solution to Shame, Guilt, and Trauma

Shame and guilt connected to trauma create a burden that you can’t shake. In particular, shame causes you to question even your validity as a person. You feel unworthy, unaccepted, or simply “wrong.”

Yet it doesn’t have to be this way.

Trauma therapy can provide the solution you are looking for. A skilled trauma therapist will understand how all three of these issues are connected with one another. That at least makes it easier to talk to them, as they won’t judge you for having these feelings. They will also know specific techniques that will help to resolve the shame and guilt you feel. And, in time, you no longer have to feel them.

By participating in trauma therapy, you can learn to lift your burden, forgive yourself, and truly heal. I would be happy to support you on this journey. Please, contact us today.

It’s not easy being sober during the holidays.

For many, “Holiday Cheer” means drinking. Either it’s a glass of wine at dinner, a beer while watching the big game, or champagne at New Year’s. This landscape makes it challenging if you are in recovery.

On the one hand, you don’t want to compromise your recovery and slip back into old ways. However, you don’t want to be singled out or not fit into the party. You just want to relax, enjoy yourself and be with your friends and family.

And that’s exactly what you should do.

Here are five tips for celebrating the holidays sober.

1. Have Your Support System in Place

Have your support systems in place before the holiday season. Regardless of the time of year, it’s critical for anyone in recovery to have adequate support. Recovery isn’t something that you can or should do alone.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Have a sober buddy for holiday parties
• If you have a sponsor, such as through AA, have their number ready
• Go to your meetings

When you have people who are rooting for you and are in your corner, it makes things so much easier when you are in recovery.

2. Be the Designated Driver

One “out” that you can take advantage of is volunteering to be the designated driver. It takes some of the pressure off, as having a “DD” has become more normalized and accepted in our culture.

When you’re at a party, saying that you’re the “DD” doesn’t have to require any follow-up explanation. Everyone knows the role that you are fulfilling and you can move on in the conversation.

You can also go a step further by taking advantage of the classic acronym BYOB and “bring your own beverage.” What’s great about this option is that you are in control of what you are consuming. You are not relying on finding a non-alcoholic option when going out.

3. Host Your Own Event

Why not take control of things and host your own event? It could be a small, intimate get-together with a few friends who support your wishes. Maybe it’s watching the big game at home. Or doing something fun that doesn’t require alcohol.

For example:

• Playing a pickup game at the park
• Going for a hike
• Mini golf
• Running a 5K

These are just a few ideas, so if they don’t resonate with you that’s OK.

Think about what you enjoy doing. If your first thought is, “that won’t work without booze,” then stop yourself. Question whether or not alcohol is really necessary to have a good time.

4. Connect with Other Like-Minded People

Why not connect with other like-minded people who are also in recovery? It’s a great way to build a community of support while having fun without alcohol.

Nowadays there are many options available that don’t have to always involve going to a meeting in a church basement. For example, The Phoenix is a group that promotes both sobriety and being active. This includes rock climbing, weight training, running, road and mountain biking, and snow sports.

5. Living a Healthier Lifestyle

If you are at a party or other holiday function and someone asks if you’re drinking, you can just say, “I’m trying to be healthy.” It’s the truth. And you don’t have to go into the details about your sobriety if you don’t want to.

A rising trend in health and fitness is curtailing alcohol consumption. It’s also known as being “sober-curious.” Often this is to reduce caloric intake with the goal of losing weight or meeting a fitness goal.

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Today there are many options available for those who want to be sober during the holidays. Plus sober living is just more accepted these days. Try following the tips above. And remember, in the end, you don’t owe anyone an excuse for how you choose to live your life.

You know it’s time. After everything you’ve been through, the moment has come to get professional help for your addiction.

Yet, which kind of service is right for you?

After all, being stuck in a program that doesn’t meet your needs isn’t going to helpful.

Even though you know you need help, you don’t really want to be in an intensive inpatient program. Stepping away from your job, your life, and natural support systems isn’t a good idea for you.

That’s where an intensive outpatient program (IOP) comes in.

It’s a form of treatment that doesn’t require a residential stay to detox. People who attend an outpatient program can get the benefits of treatment while also working, attending school, and being with their family.

IOP can help you to get the benefit of an intensive addiction treatment program without having to put the rest of your life on hold.

The Benefits of an Intensive Outpatient Program

Attaining Structure

One important fact about an intensive outpatient program is that it provides much-needed structure and support. When you enter a program, there is a clear path towards completing treatment. Perhaps this means there is a certain time frame or a level system.

Additionally, you must show up for treatment more often than a non-intensive program. This usually means attending every day.

Yes, that is a big commitment, but it’s less restrictive than an inpatient program. To make it work, you could attend sessions before or after work or even on your lunch break. The idea is that you are actively participating in the program to get the most out of it.

Gaining New Support Systems

Another benefit of outpatient treatment is that you will have new support systems to assist in your recovery.

For example:

• Individual counseling sessions with a therapist
• Group therapy sessions facilitated by a counselor
• Support groups that have a moderator but not always a therapist
• Peer mentors who have been through recovery and understand where you’re coming from

Before, while ensnared in your addiction, you probably thought that you were all alone. Now, you have access to many more people, both professionals and fellow addicts in recovery, who can support you during this process.

Learning New Skills to Cope

Oftentimes people become caught up in addiction because they were struggling to cope with larger issues in their lives. In an intensive outpatient program, you have the chance to learn new skills that will allow you to cope with those feelings and emotions—but without the substances.

Such skills may include:

• Anger management
• Mindfulness programs
• Communication skills
• Utilizing your creativity

These might be formal classes or topics taught by the professionals in your program. Or the subject matter could come up in the discussion you have in support groups or individual therapy.

Connecting the Dots Between Addiction and Recovery

Another common issue for those in addiction recovery is that there are often mental health issues involved as well.

For example, you might be depressed, which spurs your desire to use substances to “numb” yourself. That way you don’t have to experience those feelings and they go away. Or perhaps you’ve experienced trauma in the past that has never been fully resolved. The result is that you struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and this too can be a reason why you use substances.

When participating in an IOP, you will have the chance to connect the dots between your addiction and underlying issues that affect your recovery in order to heal the real issues.

Receiving Medication Management and Drug Screenings

Finally, an intensive outpatient program can provide technical expertise for medication management and drug screenings.

That means, for instance, when you report to the program, you will receive the medication you need. Also, if you have a job or legal issues that require you to pass a drug screen, the program can provide the necessary testing.

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An intensive outpatient program (IOP) provides the structure of a formal treatment program while allowing you to also meet other needs in your life (work, school, family obligations). Even though the time spent in this type of program (90 days or so) isn’t that long, it has the potential to ensure you can live a better life.

If you would like more information about what to expect from an IOP or what the requirements are, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Your brain is swimming in chemicals. They are necessary, even critically important, for your brain and body to function properly.

Yet, what happens if you become stuck in substance abuse?

What happens to your brain then when you introduce new chemicals, especially powerful ones, into this chemical mix?

It turns out that the critical chemical makeup of your brain changes. That finely tuned balance winds up being flushed away, replaced by a single and domineering chemical. And that inevitably leads to addiction.

Let’s take a closer look at the science behind addiction.

When Your Brain Is in Tune

First, let’s consider what your brain looks like when everything is in tune chemically.

Your brain makes several chemicals naturally, which include:

• Serotonin
• Dopamine
• Glutamate
• Endorphins

These and other chemicals serve a very important purpose. They help neurotransmitters in the brain to send and receive information. And these signals tell the brain what to do.

For example, if you are eating your favorite food, endorphins are released. They help the neurotransmitters send signals to your brain that you are having a pleasurable experience.

Replacing One Chemical for Another

Now, consider what happens if you use power drugs to achieve a high.

This may include:

• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Fentanyl
• Amphetamines
• Opioids

These are very powerful drugs. When taken repeatedly, they actually replace the chemicals your brain produces naturally.

Think of your brain as a vat containing a lot of chemicals. Now, with drug use, the vat is emptied and replaced by these drugs. Eventually, the only way you feel anything is by putting the drugs into your system.

Additionally, the problem becomes that your brain also becomes reliant on these synthetic chemicals. This is not just for feeling the euphoria of the high, but it ultimately needs the drugs just to get through the day.

Why Addiction Is So Hard to Beat

This is the reason why it is so hard to beat an addiction. Your brain now craves that supercharged feeling of pleasure and reward. In fact, it becomes more and more difficult to feel any kind of pleasure or positive feeling without the substances. They become a crutch, handicapping your brain so that you now “need” those substances just to feel anything at all.

Moreover, your brain develops a tolerance over time for the drugs you are taking in. Thus, you must take more every time just to achieve the high that you originally experienced.

This relationship between the brain and drugs also explains the cravings you experience if you don’t use for a couple of days. You start to desire the drug more and more. In fact, it becomes the only thing that you can think of. Hence, you do things that you normally wouldn’t in order to achieve that high. This explains the desperate, bizarre, and even dangerous behaviors people engage in to reach that high once again.

Recovery and Addiction Treatment

It’s important to note that all this information is not meant to be discouraging. Nor should it be seen as casting judgment. Far from that, it is meant to inform you why your brain is acting the way it is. The reasons why you are stuck in addiction are based on science. Addiction is not due to a flaw in your character.

Yet, what to do now?

The good news is that with treatment it’s possible to recover from addiction. One component of recovery is medication because it can aide during the withdrawal period. It may seem distasteful to use more drugs to get off of drugs. However, these medications can help you to be more successful in getting sober.

The other component is addiction counseling. Both approaches used together can help you with finding recovery from substance abuse.

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The science of addiction tells us that the relationship between chemicals and the brain is finely balanced. When you wash away the chemicals your brain naturally produces, they are replaced by others that send your pleasure/reward system on overdrive.

Trying to break this cycle on your own isn’t easy. However, with addiction counseling and support you will have a better chance of breaking the substance abuse cycle. It would be my pleasure to help you get on the path to healing.

The conversation about trauma has grown and expanded greatly just in the last decade.

Now there are so many information sources and personal stories available online about not just experiencing trauma but overcoming it.

While it’s easy to focus on dramatic and tragic trauma stories, there is often a missing piece. Something that many people don’t associate with experiencing trauma—the shame and guilt that at times comes with it.

But why would anyone feel guilty or shameful of having gone through a traumatic event?

Understanding the roots of this shame and guilt and the lack of control associated with these issues is very important for trauma recovery. Moreover, knowing which therapeutic approaches can help will make it easier for you to cope and heal from trauma.

The Difference Between Shame and Guilt

Although the words “shame” and “guilt” are often used interchangeably, they are very different concepts. Guilt is the feeling you experience after doing something that you knew, either at the time or later, to be wrong.

For example, you have an argument with your partner and say very unkind words. Afterward, you feel guilty over what you did. Your guilt, then, becomes the motivation for you to apologize to your partner and make amends. Thus, guilt is externally driven.

Shame, on the other hand, is much different. It is a belief you have that something intrinsically is bad or wrong with you. Thus, shame is internally driven.

The difference between guilt and shame, therefore, is that one is an emotion while the other is a tragic misbelief about yourself. However, both can happen as a result of trauma.

Coping with Trauma-Related Shame and Guilt

Consider some of the therapeutic approaches available to treat trauma.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

The first therapeutic approach that you can use to cope with trauma is cognitive behavioral therapy. With CBT you and a therapist work together to uncover negative thinking patterns.

Once these patterns have been revealed, you work to, first, challenge and, then, change them. Talking to a therapist helps as you peel back layers that obscure negative thinking to get to the root of the issues.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Another proven therapeutic technique that can help you cope with trauma is EMDR therapy. With EMDR you focus on memories related to your trauma while, at the same time, your eyes are tracking an object back and forth.

It can be hard the first session or two, as you recall these painful memories of your trauma. However, in time, you will process feelings associated with these memories. Until, eventually, recalling the traumatic event no longer causes emotional distress.

Exposure Therapy

A final therapeutic approach for coping with trauma is exposure therapy. In exposure therapy, a therapist exposes you to stimuli that trigger a traumatic memory. For example, a veteran who was in combat might be exposed to the sounds of gunfire or an explosion. Then, they talk with the therapist about what they are feeling.

Exposure therapy has to be handled very carefully so as not to re-traumatize. The therapist has to determine if they can expose you to traumatic memories all at once or if it’s best that you gradually work up to the most severe trauma reminders. Whichever approach is best for you, exposure therapy helps you to gain control over the distress and fear you feel in connection with the event

Regaining Control over Trauma-Related Issues

If there is one particular word people most often link to trauma, it would probably be: control.

Trauma isn’t a choice. When you experience a traumatic event, you usually feel powerless to prevent it. This lack of control thus creates a strong desire to have control afterward. But often you’re stuck feeling that you have absolutely no power to effect change at all.

The techniques mentioned above help to flip that script. Now, with the help of a therapist, you do have the power to do something about how the trauma affected you. And that not only includes recurring distressing memories and fear but also relief from shame and guilt.

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The shame and guilt related to trauma create a very complicated picture. They burden you with a weight that can seem impossible to lift. Yet, there’s hope. You don’t have to experience shame or guilt anymore. By working with a therapist using specific therapeutic techniques, you can not only find relief but closure from trauma.

If you would like to explore which therapeutic methods can help you overcome trauma, please contact us today.

It’s unfortunate that so many military personnel struggle with PTSD and trauma related to their service.

At the same time, unlike in other times of our nation’s history, there is more understanding and support than ever for veterans who have experienced trauma and need help.

In fact, you might have already heard about one treatment, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and what it can do for someone suffering from PTSD. Yet, you may wonder whether EMDR can really help with addressing your or your loved one’s trauma symptoms.

It’s okay to be skeptical.

At the same time, though, why not consider some information on EMDR treatment.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR was pioneered in the 1980s by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D. The technique utilizes what’s called bilateral stimulation (usually moving the eyes back and forth). These movements are guided by the therapist in various ways while the client is talking with them about a target memory.

During the discussion, the patient may experience uncomfortable or distressing feelings or emotions. However, the idea is that these feelings get less severe throughout the sessions, until the memory no longer causes distress. At times, this can happen very quickly, within only a single session.

Thus, a person’s mind is able to heal itself from PTSD.

EMDR has been well researched, including in connection with military personnel suffering from war trauma. It is even discussed by the Veteran’s Administration on its website in various articles. Plus, Tricare covers EMDR treatment.

Still not completely convinced that EMDR can work for you or your loved one?

Let’s look at three of the major benefits of EMDR therapy.

1. Addresses Unwanted Thoughts

It’s not uncommon for people with PTSD to have unwanted and disturbing thoughts. These thoughts can hijack your brain, causing you to experience severe distress. And that can make it really hard to have any semblance of a “normal” life. You just know that those thoughts are always lingering in the back of your mind.

However, with EMDR treatments, distressing thoughts don’t have to be emotionally triggering for you anymore. Over time, they simply become just thoughts, without the extra emotional baggage associated with the memory. Once that happens, you can still have these thoughts, but you will be able to let them go and not become hyper-focused on them.

2. Alleviates Feeling Anxious

Oftentimes people with PTSD will have trouble with anxiety. They may always be on edge, trying to anticipate a potential danger or threat.

The reason for this is actually quite simple. Your brain is still locked in survival mode. It is trying to protect you by telling you that you are in a dangerous situation. Yet, it may have been years since the traumatic events occurred and you are no longer physically in danger anymore.

EMDR allows your brain to resolve this status of high alert and stand-down. The memories of the events become integrated into your thinking and are no longer considered threats. And this means that you don’t have to feel anxious anymore.

3. Allows for a More Restful Sleep

People with PTSD often struggle with sleep issues. They can’t fall asleep or stay asleep through the night. Instead, they often awaken in the middle of the night with nightmares.

In these dreams, they are transported back to the events that caused their trauma. They may wake up thinking they are back in the conflict. A veteran, for example, may yell “Get down!” or the names of deceased comrades.

As you can imagine (or perhaps know from your own experience), this not only takes a toll on a person’s mental health, but their family suffers as well. Through processing distressing memories, EMDR can alleviate nightmares and fear of going to sleep.

“Will EMDR Work Even Though I Can’t Talk about Classified Information?”

Yes, it will.

Remember, the point of EMDR is not to rehash every detail of a mission. It’s more effective with very specific instances.

For example, an IED explodes next to you or you witness a comrade be injured or even killed. That’s all a therapist needs to know to begin the EMDR process. You don’t have to say anything about who they are or any identifying information about them or your mission.

EMDR holds the potential for service members to get treatment for and resolve PTSD. It’s a proven technique that works. And, at the same time, they can honor their commitment to security and secrecy as well.

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If you would like to know more about EMDR therapy for PTSD, please contact us. I would like to help you or your loved one heal from their ongoing trauma.

When you struggle with addiction, it’s hard to see how it impacts not just your life but the people around you as well.

Your personal health is perhaps the most obvious, especially if you were healthy before the addiction. Moreover, career ambitions, personal finances, life-goals that you wanted to achieve, and even your lifespan are also affected by addiction.

However, the most lasting damage can be to your relationships, especially with your family, children, and your spouse.

If addiction is keeping you from building the life you want, consider these three tips to get started on the road to recovery.

1. Acknowledge That Your Addiction Is Real

The first tip for getting started towards building a life that you want is acknowledging that your addiction is real.

A very common trait in people with addictions is denial. That is, they excel at denying that there is a problem at all. And they easily blame other issues in their lives that certainly have played a role in them becoming addicted. However, at the root of the problem lies the denial that they are out of control.

For example, in your case, you may admit that you use drugs, but you might say that you can “handle it” or are “in control.” Is that truly so?

The term “functioning addict” is often used for someone who is addicted to substances, yet can still go to work or take care of their family. However, an addiction is still an addiction. Which is why the first tip is to acknowledge the reality of your situation.

2. Ask for Help

Second, you need to find the boldness to ask for help. Again, this can be very hard if you are caught in the throes of addiction. There can be many reasons why you may struggle with asking for help.

For example:

• Personal history of shunning help when offered
• Shame for the situation you are in
• Remorse over things that you have done because of your addiction
• Belief that you are somehow not “worth” receiving help

These are all roadblocks toward you being able to build the life you want.

It can be particularly hard asking for help from family or friends. Perhaps you could start with calling the National Drug Helpline at 1-888-633-3239. The advantage of this is that calling the helpline is more anonymous than talking to a family member or friend. Believe it or not, it can be easier to talk to a stranger about these problems than with the people who you know best.

3. Get Treatment for Your Addiction

Third, getting treatment for your addiction is an absolute must. Without a doubt, it is the best way possible to address your addiction. There are many ways you can receive treatment.

For instance:

• Working with a counselor or therapist who specializes in addiction treatment
• Enrolling in an addiction treatment program
• Participating in a support group that is meant for your particular addiction (drugs, alcohol, sex, etc.)

Why is treatment so important? Because in treatment you can make the connections with why you are addicted.

Also, you can learn specific tools for managing your addiction and cravings. Moreover, you will have a support system that is compassionate, caring, and able to acknowledge your feelings, emotions, and past experiences. In short, you won’t be judged. This helps tremendously with making progress.

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Addiction not only prevents you from having the life you want, but it also destroys everything good that now exists in your life. It makes it impossible for you to get where you want to be, unless you do something about it.

The above-mentioned three tips may sound simple, but at the same time, they can seem incredibly hard to carry out. However, all you have to do is to be willing to take a step forward. Acknowledge there is a problem, ask for help, and participate in addiction treatment.

If you would like help with addiction recovery and building the life you want, please contact us.

Have you been practicing self-medication in order to cope?

Do you think that it’s easier to reach for the can of beer or bottle of pills rather than really face your issues?

Self-medicating can have dangerous consequences including death.

Also, taking things into your own hands does not solve the real problem at all.

What is Self-Medication?

Self-medicating is when an individual uses substances such as drugs and alcohol for an emotional or psychological mental health problem.

You may have heard the phrase, “take the edge off,” when dealing with stress. People who use substances take this a thousand percent beyond that level by acting as their own physician through self-medicating.

Why Some Use Self-Medication

People self-medicate for several reasons, but perhaps the biggest reason is that it is the most convenient and that it works, in the short-term.

If you have been struggling with anxiety or a past trauma you may have developed a self-medicating practice that helps “numb” the emotions. Often, it is much easier to reach for the bottle to get a drink or even obtain marijuana than having to go through the process of seeing a clinician.

Now, this does not mean that people who self-medicate do not want help.

Other reasons for self-medicating include:

• History of alcohol or drug use personally
• Family history of substance use or abuse
• Learning from parents, siblings, or even peers that substances are an acceptable way of coping

Why Self-Medication Doesn’t Work

The reason why self-medicating is a short-term solution is because it only covers up the real problems that are going on, deep inside.

Of course, there are reasons why you may want to cover up these problems—they are scary, they are in dark places, and they are too painful. Yet, substance use does not work for the long haul. This is because you never really solve the problem (the anxiety, trauma, etc.). In actuality, you are making the problem much worse.

The Consequences of Self-Medication

The consequences of self-medication are quite dire. Long-term use of drugs and alcohol can change how your brain works, affect mood, and make it harder overall for you to cope adequately with mental health problems.

Additionally, you put yourself at risk for overdosing, which can cause death. People who use injectable drugs for self-medicating also put themselves in danger of developing HIV/AIDS.

Above all, when you self-medicate you are actually creating a vicious cycle that is hard to break free from.

For example, you may have memories from a traumatic event. Those memories create a stress reaction, heightening your levels of anxiety, sadness, even fear. To make those feelings go away, you drink alcohol until you “black out.” The short-term result is that you don’t have to feel that pain anymore. Yet, long-term you put your life at risk from excessive drinking.

After you wake up and become clear-headed, you will eventually relive those memories again. This, in turn, causes you to drink again, and the cycle continues. The real problem is never solved.

How to Address the Problem

There is a way to get better, to neither have to feel the hurt of those traumatic memories nor feel the need to use substances. It’s by seeking out professional help through a therapist that is trained in addiction counseling.

This is a multi-step process that involves:

1. Being able to stay sober
2. Once sober, starting to understand why you need to use
3. Beginning the process of healing

It should be understood that this is not an easy process at all. Yet, what is the alternative? Self-medication only leads you to a vicious cycle that keeps taking you round and round in circles without any solution.

Struggling with a mental health issue and addiction is very difficult. It takes a heavy toll. However, through counseling, you can begin to truly heal and address your mental health issue.