If you’re reading this, you may already feel that addiction and mental health struggles are deeply connected. It’s completely natural to feel uncertain about the connection between these two issues, but I want to reassure you you’re not alone. At Safe Harbor Treatment Center in Mission Viejo, we’ve worked with many individuals who realize that … Read more
Millions of Americans are affected by mental illness every year. Since 1949, Mental Health America has led the observance of Mental Health Awareness Month in May as an effort to spread the word and provide resources to those impacted by mental illness. Mental Health in America According to MentalHealth.gov, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, … Read more
Mental health and substance addiction often go hand in hand. According to the Journal of American Medical Association, 50% of individuals with a severe mental health condition also have a co-occurring substance abuse disorder. Those suffering from mental health illnesses are more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol in an effort to self-medicate. Comparatively, those … Read more
Introduction Do you know the origins of the term narcissistic personality disorder? The character Narcissus from Greek mythology is the basis for the term narcissism. Previously known as Narcissists, people with Narcissistic personality disorder have preoccupations with themselves and their outward appearances. They also are fixated on how others perceive them. Greek Mythology In ancient … Read more
Daily life often seems to challenge us with an endless stream of stressors. At times, stress can lead us to take action in a positive direction for ourselves. But, often, our biological stress response takes over in a way that hurts us rather than helps us. Luckily, we can take conscious control over parts of … Read more
The origins of mantras date back 3,500 years when they were first written in Vedic Sanskrit in India. Yogis have long found mantras useful as therapeutic meditation tools through their practice of chanting or reciting certain sounds, syllables, and phrases. To yogic practitioners, the sounds uttered hold immense spiritual meaning and purpose. While whole collections … Read more
Breakfast has long been touted as the most important meal of the day. Despite the value we place on breakfast, the most common food items are cereal, pastries, bagels, and pancakes. What if eating these high sugar foods set us up for lower moods and increased risk for mental and physical health complications? What would … Read more
We have heard time and again that simple practices like meditation and mindfulness can profoundly affect our mood. However, when we are frustrated, agitated or distracted, meditation can feel like trying to drive with a tire stuck in the mud. How are we supposed to just magically calm down and slow our thoughts when our … Read more
When we think of therapy, most of us envision the traditional setting with a client relaxed on a couch in the psychologist’s office, talking through their behavioral or emotional troubles. On the other hand, art therapy offers a means of profoundly personal expression beyond the limitations of language. Through mindful, creative expression, art therapy can … Read more
What is Trauma? The experience of trauma can vary significantly from individual to individual, especially considering the prevalence of different kinds of trauma. However, at its core, trauma results from the experience of distressing events that deliver an overload of stress that an individual is not able to cope with, creating the potential for long-term … Read more
