About food addiction
Parenting approaches can have a big impact when you’re supporting a child or teen through recovery, whether it’s from trauma, addiction, anxiety, or other tough patches. The two styles that get talked about a lot are gentle parenting and permissive parenting. The tricky part is, these two sound pretty similar on the surface but work … Read more
If you’ve ever felt like therapy isn’t really working in the way you hoped, you’re definitely not alone. It can be tough to keep showing up to appointments and working through difficult emotions, only to feel stuck or discouraged. I’ve experienced these frustrations myself and learned that when therapy doesn’t lead to the changes you … Read more
Emotion regulation is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotional experiences in healthy and adaptive ways. It is a critical psychological skill that influences how individuals respond to stress, disappointment, fear, anger, sadness, and other challenging emotions. In the context of addiction, difficulties with emotion regulation often contribute to the initiation, continuation, and recurrence … Read more
Addiction is more than repeated substance use or compulsive behavior—it is driven by powerful patterns in the brain that become stronger over time. One of the most helpful ways to understand these patterns is through the habit loop, a cycle consisting of a cue (trigger), routine (behavior), and reward. A stressful event, emotional discomfort, or … Read more
The Dunning-Kruger effect, a psychological phenomenon where people with limited knowledge or experience overestimate their abilities, can have a significant impact on addiction recovery. In the context of addiction, individuals may feel confident about their progress early on and believe they no longer need professional support, even though they have not fully overcome the challenges … Read more
Family plays a central role in the recovery process, often serving as one of the most immediate and influential support systems for individuals overcoming addiction. The way family members communicate, respond to stress, and provide support can significantly impact whether a person maintains recovery or experiences relapse. Relapse is not simply a single event but … Read more
Having a college student return home for the summer is an exciting opportunity for families to reconnect, but it also brings a period of adjustment. During the school year, students often develop greater independence, establish their own routines, and learn to make decisions on their own. At the same time, parents become accustomed to a … Read more
Behavioral therapies are a fundamental component of addiction treatment, focusing on the connection between thoughts, emotions, and actions that contribute to substance use. Unlike approaches that rely solely on medication, behavioral therapies aim to help individuals recognize harmful patterns, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and build the skills needed for long-term recovery. Addiction is not only … Read more
The mission of the Betty Ford Center, now part of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care that helps individuals, families, and communities overcome substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. Founded on the belief that addiction is a chronic but treatable medical condition, the organization strives to reduce stigma, promote … Read more
Finding the right therapist is an important step in addiction recovery and mental health treatment. While research consistently shows that a therapist’s clinical expertise, empathy, and ability to build a strong therapeutic relationship are the most important factors in successful treatment, some individuals may feel more comfortable working with a therapist of a particular gender. … Read more