Alumni
Healing from Self-Medication
Are you concerned that your teen is using drugs or alcohol to self-medicate? Self-medication is more common among teens than most realize with nearly 46 percent of adolescents reporting self-medication habits. It is a normal response to seek relief from pain and how people choose to self-medicate varies widely. Self-medication can take the form of intense exercise,…
Read MoreRocking Your Choices
Let’s face it, we all make poor choices sometimes. But we also all make really good choices, too. Then there are all of those choices in between that are really “meh.” As you look at your choices, having gone through treatment for mental health or substance use issues, you may want to evaluate where your…
Read MoreWinning the Battle Against Meth
Methamphetamine is one of the most addictive drugs commonly used for recreational use. It is easy to ingest, it is easier to access now with a resurgence in supply, and yet it is also one of the hardest to recover from. Not only are the withdrawals and cravings brutal, but there can be lasting damage…
Read MoreMaking Social Anxiety a Thing of the Past
You may still have flashbacks of all of the times leading up to treatment where you experienced social anxiety. That time that you stayed home from the school dance because you couldn’t even cope with the people, the dancing, or any of it. That time when you failed that test because your mind went completely…
Read MoreRemembering Therapy
As you went through treatment, you also worked hard in your therapy. Within therapy, you were given tools and taught skills to cope with things, not only in your past, but now and beyond. You found what worked for you, you healed, and you stepped back out into the real world. No matter how long…
Read MoreProtecting Yourself from Relapse
After spending all of that effort in treatment, the last thing you want now is to relapse. But that is so much easier said than done. If you have used substances for any length of time, it can be very difficult to maintain sobriety. There are going to be times of stress, old friends who…
Read MoreConquering School with Confidence
Getting back into school after having mental health and/or substance use issues can be a difficult time. However, the best part about having completed your treatment is that you have new skills and habits to help you be even more successful. You have also learned to communicate better, which includes advocating for yourself and your…
Read MoreLiving Creatively
Treatment for mental health and substance use issues can be challenging, but you finished that, and you are growing stronger every day. Maybe you are even ready to tackle some new challenges, or to pick up some of the pieces where you left off before your treatment. One of the areas that can help you…
Read MoreStay Strong: 7 Ways To Maintain Mental Strength After Treatment
Once your teen completes mental health or substance use treatment such as an intensive outpatient program or short-term residential treatment, it’s important that they maintain the mental strength they’ve built up so they can continue their healing process. To help them along, share this blog post, which has seven tips for the next phase of…
Read MoreBeing Social Media Vigilant
After treatment for mental health and/or substance use, you learned a lot about self-care, therapy skills to help you manage your stress and emotions, and about being vigilant in those things to protect you from relapse. You can also protect yourself by being vigilant in your social media use. By keeping yourself safe, monitoring how…
Read MoreKeeping Strong Ties to Family
Life can be lonely when you are trying to make it on your own. Life is even more lonely when you are trying to manage mental health issues on your own. Having found treatment for your mental health and/or substance use issues, you know how important it is to have a strong support network. At…
Read MoreMarijuana is Legal, but is it Safe for Me?
With all of the conversations around the legalization of marijuana, one of the things that get overlooked is, although it is legal, it is still only legal for those who are over the age of 21. Too many adolescents assume that if it is legal for adults, then it is okay for them, also. However,…
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