Giving Into Peer Pressure Predicts Adult Health
Since I was a child, I was told not to give in to peer pressure. Now, research shows giving into peer pressure could have health benefits. New research suggests that “following the pack” in adolescence has unexpected health benefits that carry into early adulthood. The research revealed that forming and maintaining peer relationships in adolescence . . . . Continue Reading
Friendship Helps Us Escape Depression
Sometimes the old sayings are true: “Water seeks its own level” or “misery loves company” may have some realistic effect on our lives and our relationships. We do have a tendency to surround ourselves with like-minded people, and some of us are easily influenced by the emotions of others. But, is depression contagious? Sometimes when . . . . Continue Reading
6 of the Most Disliked Personalities
Nobody’s perfect, and sometimes we judge people based off of the things that make the least sense. Other times we get to know someone a little, and realize their personality (or lack thereof) does not mesh very well with our own. It seems statistically everybody loves optimists, nobody dislikes narcissists, and we all have some . . . . Continue Reading
52 Resolutions You Should Be Making
Rather than the traditional resolution list of fad diets, breaking habits and promises that usually gets broken, I decided to create a list of new things to try—things that can be crossed off (or added to) as the year goes on. There’s one for each week of the year—most are free and all are easily . . . . Continue Reading
7 Earmarks of a Healthy, Lasting Relationship
By Cheryl Steinberg People who are in healthy relationships understand that, at the heart of it, there is mutual respect and love. That is, respect and love for self, each other, and for the relationship. But there are other facets of healthy, long-lasting relationships. Now, that isn’t to say that healthy relationships are completely . . . . Continue Reading
Touch-Screens Training Our Minds with Our Thumbs
It’s been brought to the forefront before, the dependent nature developed through constant smartphone and social media usage, but it’s also come to light that using touch-screens has a way of actually re-shaping the way our brain works, and continually using our thumbs may re-shape our minds. The flexibility of the human brain and how . . . . Continue Reading
The Role of Family Therapy in Substance Abuse Treatment
Family therapy recognizes that the dynamics of a family need to be addressed when one of its members is in need of treatment, such as for mental illness or substance abuse – or both. Family therapy may also be called couple and family therapy, marriage and family therapy, family systems therapy, and family counseling. It’s . . . . Continue Reading
Seeking Smartphone Addiction Solutions
Most people would be reluctant to compare their smartphone with a narcotic, but several studies including one on texting while driving have done exactly that, by weighing the symptoms of drug addiction to the use of smartphones. The idea of smartphone addiction has become so real that these studies have even inspired products based off . . . . Continue Reading
5 Ways to Deal with Difficult People in Recovery
Sometimes the recovery community has people who are less than friendly, and sometimes ‘normal’ people find it hard to be civil, and situations become stressful. As individuals in recovery we need to be mindful of the fact that not everyone is living the program we are living, and not everyone practices the principles we practice. . . . . Continue Reading
What NOT to Say to an Alcoholic
It’s true, alcoholism is a disease that affects everyone around the alcoholic – not just the alcoholic, herself; that’s why it’s referred to as a ‘family disease.’ And, as such, the loved ones of the person who drinks – those affected – feel it’s their place to say something about it by confronting the alcoholic . . . . Continue Reading