Narcissism is a personality disorder defined in the DSM-5 as an impaired sense of self and ability to relate to others. A narcissistic personality disorder comes with several toxic traits that can damage your relationships with others, driving them away and leaving you feeling lonely and depressed. You might also be more vulnerable to self-medicating with drugs and alcohol to cope with complex emotions. What are some signs of a narcissist? Narcissistic Traits While mental health professionals have not identified one specific cause of narcissism, it often traces back to childhood trauma and family dysfunction. Since other mental health disorders have [...]

Many people associate New Year’s Eve with drinking and partying, but if you’re in recovery, you can still ring in 2022 without compromising any of the progress you have made. Keep your health and happiness at the top of your priority list as the calendar turns to a brand-new year. Here are our favorite sober New Year’s Eve ideas in the Orange County area, plus some tips for an at-home celebration. 1. Attend a Virtual Group Meeting The holidays can be a test of your commitment to sobriety, especially if you struggle with seasonal depression or find yourself unable to avoid [...]

Addiction puts a significant strain on any relationship. No matter how much you love and trust someone, challenges like secrecy, manipulation, dishonesty, denial and resentment can begin to take their toll on your well-being as their illness worsens. You may feel a sense of relief when your loved one agrees to enter a substance abuse treatment program, but it does not mean they will come out of rehab cured of all their issues. They’ll still have lots of work ahead to address the harm done during their active addiction, and you will need to prepare to deal with the damage to [...]

The emotional pain, distress and intrusive memories associated with trauma can be disruptive and leave people desperately seeking an escape. Unfortunately, the outlets many trauma sufferers choose are maladaptive coping mechanisms like substance abuse or self-harm, leading to increasingly severe mental and physical health issues. Brainspotting is a therapeutic method shown to have success in helping identify and heal trauma and negativity, among other mental health disorders. What is the science behind brainspotting, and how could it benefit you? How Does Brainspotting for Trauma Work? Psychotherapist Dr. David Grand developed brainspotting in 2003, after developing a hypothesis that the direction of [...]

Everyone occasionally struggles with a bad mood or a day where nothing seems to go right, but being depressed is like having a dark cloud follow you around wherever you go. Depression can take various forms and strike without warning, even if you are typically an optimistic person. Depression symptoms can be simultaneously mental and physical, manifesting in persistent feelings of sadness and worthlessness with fatigue, body aches and thoughts of self-harm. These symptoms often magnify and feed on each other, progressively increasing in severity. How can you spot signs of depression in your daily life? 1. Ongoing Feelings of Worthlessness [...]

Quitting drinking is a significant milestone, but it is only one part of the journey toward healing from an alcohol use disorder and regaining your mental, physical and spiritual health. While you can be proud of yourself for sustaining a prolonged period of sobriety, your accomplishment does not equal recovery if you are still exhibiting many of the self-destructive tendencies of active addiction. One obstacle standing between you and your goal of remaining alcohol-free is called “dry drunk syndrome.” This phrase originates from the Alcoholics Anonymous program. It refers to someone who has quit drinking, but who is still grappling with [...]

September is National Recovery Month, a celebration of the people who have achieved freedom from substance use disorders and the myriad paths they have taken to get there. Though addiction and its associated mental health issues are highly treatable, many women struggle for years without asking for help, while others never seek assistance at all. Educating yourself on the current research surrounding women and addiction recovery can help you decide how, where and when to pursue your new, sober lifestyle. Unique Treatment Barriers Facing Women Sadly, women who need substance abuse treatment might be less likely than men to receive the [...]

Even if you had a relatively complication-free pregnancy and delivery, it’s natural for every new parent to worry about their baby’s health and well-being. However, if your feelings of impending dread have become all-consuming and are starting to interfere with your sleep or other daily activities, you may have postpartum anxiety. Learn more about this condition and how it can affect your relationship with your newborn child. About PPA While having a baby can be joyous and exciting, many new moms experience the “baby blues” caused by a sudden drop in hormone levels. While your doctor likely prepared you for this, [...]

From groceries to utilities to health care, we must all spend money on specific things that improve our quality of life. Because the things we buy every day help fuel our local and national economies and create new jobs, politicians have historically issued stimulus checks to millions of Americans to help pull the nation out of various financial crises. Elected officials repeat the message that shopping is a civic responsibility, and advertisers reinforce a refrain that buying their products will solve your problems. Consumerism is a quintessentially American way to prove your self-worth and keep up with the Joneses. As a [...]

Do you approach new situations enthusiastically and with few reservations, or do you tend to take a more cautious approach? Are you excited about going to social gatherings, or does the idea of attending a party or networking event make your stomach clench and your heart race? If you have a personality disorder, your answers to these questions probably go beyond the traditional extrovert/introvert binary. For example, avoidant personality disorder can have severe ramifications for your career, your relationships and your self-confidence. Avoidant Personality Disorder vs. Shyness While avoidant personality disorder shares some character traits with shyness and social anxiety, the [...]