Why Is Narcissism Toxic in Relationships?

Relationships / Matthew Beck B.A, M.A, LMFT

More and more people have started noticing and paying attention to a mental condition known as narcissism or narcissistic personality disorder. Unlike depression or compulsive disorders, narcissism is a more complicated package of causes, effects, and symptoms. Some people with narcissistic traits can behave very charmingly or even charismatically in front of the public, but [...]

Why Is Narcissism Toxic in Relationships? Read More »

Why Do Women Face More Stigma for Substance Addiction?

Alcohol Addiction / Matthew Beck B.A, M.A, LMFT

Stigma is the disapproval or even discrimination against people based on perceived social characteristics. It is singling out a subgroup of society and distinguishing them from other members of society in a negative light. Across cultures, women have been subjected to many forms of stigma. A mental health condition or substance addiction may become an

Why Do Women Face More Stigma for Substance Addiction? Read More »

Alcohol Addiction / Matthew Beck B.A, M.A, LMFT

Addiction is a disease of the brain much the way that any other disease affects your brain or body. Like most diseases that progress gradually, relapse also happens in stages. Many health professionals now recognize that a stage of mental relapse always precedes the actual behavior of re-using drugs and alcohol. There are some good

Good Habits That Prevent You From Relapse Read More »

man in gray suit jacket holding white ceramic mug during family dinner

Mental Health / Matthew Beck B.A, M.A, LMFT

Does the holiday season tend to bring you extra stress rather than joy? Do you fear emotional triggers during family reunions because of some strained relationships? Maybe you find this year’s holiday expectations particularly challenging if you have just entered early sobriety. The holidays might present many festive opportunities for drinking or peer pressures to

Family Dynamics and Triggers During the Holidays Read More »

Health and Wellness / Matthew Beck B.A, M.A, LMFT

Have you struggled with feelings of isolation during recovery? Are you hoping to re-enter society after a long journey to sobriety? Do you want to re-connect with others and even to give back to the community? Everyone needs a strong local community to thrive, and recovering individuals especially need to be surrounded by support. Some

The Benefits of Community Service for Long-term Recovery Read More »

Mental Health / Matthew Beck B.A, M.A, LMFT

Mental health challenges are worsening in workplaces, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Take depression for example. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that depression causes 200 million lost workdays each year, costing employers a total of between 17 and 44 billion dollars. Unfortunately, the prevalence of mental health problems is underrepresented because of

How Do You Communicate Mental Health Needs in the Workplace? Read More »

Relationships / Matthew Beck B.A, M.A, LMFT

Substance addiction and toxic relationships are often inter-linked. Some people get into the habit of using drugs and alcohol because of someone close to them, whether they are a romantic partner, a family member or a close friend who uses or drinks. In these instances, two kinds of addictions often co-occur: the addiction to drugs

Overcoming Toxicity in Relationships Read More »

Relationships / Matthew Beck B.A, M.A, LMFT

Among the many causes that lead to addiction, bereavement and grief are not the most common, but they certainly are worth knowing about. Grief is a natural response to the pain caused by bereavement. Because grief tends to linger, people who are grieving might be tempted to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. If you are

The Relationship Between Bereavement and Addiction Read More »

Alcohol Addiction / Matthew Beck B.A, M.A, LMFT

Did you know that emotional healing is a big part of recovery from addiction? Medical professionals have sought out many ways to facilitate the restoration of healthy emotional expression. One of these approaches is art therapy. The use of art therapy as a supplementary intervention strategy has been used effectively in the treatments of cancer, mental

The Benefits of Art Therapy for Recovery Read More »

Relationships / Matthew Beck B.A, M.A, LMFT

Are you a parent who is in recovery from addiction? Parenting, even without the addition of substance abuse recovery, can be challenging. You must attend to your child’s basic needs and routines; you must make sure that they are meeting developmental milestones; you also want to see them growing academically and thriving socially. It takes

Recovery and Coping Strategies for Parenting Read More »