The Realities of Compassion Fatigue
There are times when caring can feel exhausting. This experience does not mean that someone is insensitive, but rather that they feel burned out emotionally. It can be difficult to cope with compassion fatigue, especially in the wake of Covid. Staying Sensitive During Global Disaster The 2020 global pandemic uprooted the lives of every person […]
Waiting It Out Until Spring: Holding Onto Hope When Things Are Hard
For many, winter tends to be the most challenging time of year. The days are shorter, and it’s unbearably cold. The wind feels like it rips straight through to the bone. It can feel downright miserable. This tends to be more noticeable after the holidays when there isn’t anything to distract from those winter winds. […]
Why Is Comedy So Effective in Improving Mental Health in Recovery?
Whether you’re a comedian or you love watching stand-up specials, laughing about life difficulties can raise the mood. Many recommend watching something funny when you are feeling down. Here’s why laughing out loud lifts your mood and how it can help with long-term recovery. What Laughing Does to the Brain The brain releases pleasure chemicals […]
Self Love Is the Most Powerful Form of Love
If you are recovering from or are in treatment for addiction, you might not have had the most positive sense of self. Focusing on yourself, your happiness, and your well-being over others might feel foreign or even wrong. There might be parts of you that feel like you don’t deserve to prioritize your needs or […]
You Might Be Practicing Self Harm and Not Know It
Self-harm comes in many forms, but others might not know they are hurting themselves as a way to cope with difficult mental disorder symptoms. Since self-harm tends to be a taboo topic, many might not know that their behaviors are hurting more than helping. Substance use is sometimes a form of self-harm on its own, […]
The Pressure to Be Stronger, Better, and Faster: Athletes and Substance Use Disorder
With the Winter Olympics on the way, the headlines can often be filled with athletes suspended for substance use. Performance-enhancing drugs aren’t uncommon in sports programs, but not every program tests for substances. Let’s take a look at the phenomenon of athletes and substance use disorder and how you can help your clients in the […]
What Is Relationship Addiction?
If you have a history of addiction, you might want to look at how you relate to others. Relationship addiction is common in many interpersonal relationships with those who aren’t great at setting boundaries or respecting their personal needs over others. Codependent relationships can lead to dangerous behaviors like enabling and taking on more than […]
Institutional Racism and It’s Affects on Mental Health and Addiction
America has a dark history regarding the lives and treatment of persons of color. Racism and oppression can affect the mental health of a person of color, and historically policies have negatively impacted the quality of living for many people of color, especially black Americans. In honor of Black History month, we will talk about […]
How Can I Help My Friend Who Seems to Be Struggling?
It might be difficult to tell if your friend is experiencing mental health or addiction issues in the era of continued social distancing. Isolation is common during covid, meaning life or death for someone hiding a severe addiction or mental health disorder. While it’s easier to tell if someone has an addiction if you are […]
Why Does Jaywalker Focus So Heavily on the First Step?
Our programming at Jaywalker focuses closely on the first step of the 12-Step philosophy through written step one work. The first step, “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable,” becomes a crucial part of treatment because many live their lives in denial of the severity of their situation. […]
