recovery
Your illness does not define you. It's your resolve to recover that does.
Forevermore Abstinent...
So I bet you're asking yourself right now, 'What does a bunch of birds (above) have to do with sobriety?' The answer to this conundrum would be, absolutely nothing- on the surface that is. But in reality, recovering addicts are much like a flock of birds insomuch as they tend to congregate in places to talk about their respective addictions. That's about where the comparison ends from the birds' perspective anyway. I mean it's not like these birds are discussing what they did to make an ass of themselves last night, or how many of their bird friends they pissed off or made uncomfortable because of their use of illegal narcotics or perfectly legal alcohol...the birds have better things to do I'm sure. Nests to build, eggs to warm and the like...
By Joseph Willson6 years ago in Psyche
I Too Am the Face of Addiction
I’ve never met a person struggling with substance abuse that wasn’t fighting it in some way. Addiction is a destructive illness that divorces parts of the brain from itself and suspends the sufferer in a constant state of self-battle, like a person continuously drowning who can reach the surface just long enough to elongate the suffering and glimpse redemption yet never fully break free. It shouldn’t be a surprise that the suicide rate among those with this terrible affliction is so high. You can only go through this mental abuse for so long before you reach a breaking point. It doesn’t matter how strong you are. Torture breaks everyone eventually.
By J. Shifman6 years ago in Psyche
The First Word
I have considered myself a writer since I was a teen and could string together words that sounded deep. I have talked about writing a book most of my adult life. I have come up with interesting titles. I have thought about the content. I have sat in front of my computer for hours staring at it hoping that the words will form. I am a fraud. I am not a writer. I have no degree in literature or journalism. I have never written a single word that a career as a freelance writer could be built upon.
By Jessica Harrison6 years ago in Psyche
6 Reasons Trauma Survivors Should Journal
The Whats and Whys of Journals Journals are one of the first things mentioned on the list of self-help tips and tricks for trauma survivors who are working on healing. Most therapists recommend journals as part of the treatment plan, often giving homework in this regard.
By Surviving Childhood Trauma6 years ago in Psyche
My life was changed in a day
On Monday 13th May 2019 I was a normal 18 year old student, went out clubbing that night like every other week. On the tuesday I woke up with a splitting headache, I thought it was just a hangover. it was a really sunny day and my friends and I decided to go get a meal deal and sit outside and then head to the library. I found it hard to concentrate and ended up leaving the library as the lights were affecting my vision and my headache was horrendous.
By Isobel Ford6 years ago in Psyche
Society's Impact on Body Image
How often do you scroll through Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, or any other social media platform, and see beautiful women, gorgeous men, and individuals that appear absolutely perfect? For me, it’s daily. As a freelancer and lover of social media, I use my platforms often, and I’ve grown tired of the unrealistic standards society has created. This image that everyone has a perfect life, a rocking body, and a mountain of money is a lie. No one is perfect, not even that Instagram influencer model with the perfect tan, beautiful house, and travel history one dreams of -- she has struggles, worries, and dreams she wishes to achieve just like you and me.
By Shaley Speaks6 years ago in Psyche
Swimsuits and Lingerie for Mental Health Awareness
Last year I had the absolute pleasure of being part of the UK Calendar Girls competition, rasing funds for Mental Health Awareness and The Chestnut Appeal for Prostate Cancer, two charities I find particularly important in our current times. My gorgeous and always supportive husband Stephen drove me to the photoshoot and later on did all he could do so I got a lot of visibility, furthering my modelling career at the same time as promoting the two charities. It was overall a hugely enjoyable and worthwhile experience!
By Sandra Tena6 years ago in Psyche
Broken and Rebuilt
It didn't start out the way it ended, in the beginning it was a good relationship but slowly things went south over the course of years. In 2014 is when it began to fall apart. Our workplace shut down for a remodel so we were relocated to another store an hour and half away. We worked the same shift, so it was easier on the both of us. This is when it became apparent I wasn't as important as I thought. While he ate out at restaurants with his crew, I wasn't eating or if I did it was the cheapest I could get. I would dig for change in the car sometimes just to get something to make it through the day.
By Lisa Staires6 years ago in Psyche
Willpower is a concept designed to demonstrate we will fail
I have worked with behavioral change models, hypnosis, meditation, and performance improvement for over twenty five years. I’ve become increasingly skeptical about the concept of willpower, and concerned by the marketed self-help obsession that surrounds it. It's always in the media how you might be broken and how you can pay for a product, service, or experience to get you on the path to being better. What I am sharing here is the accumulation of many years of thought, research, and exploration on this topic.
By Joseph Crown6 years ago in Psyche
