When you have low self-esteem, you have a negative view of yourself. However, your negative thoughts are your own perception of yourself. It’s not what others see and it does not reflect your actual worth.

A Recovering Alcoholic Reacts to Marijuana Legalization My state just legalized recreational marijuana. What does this mean for me as a person in addiction recovery? My initial thought is, it doesn't mean much. As a rule, I practice abstinence from drugs that are mind-altering. For me, this includes alcohol, marijuana, all illegal substances, benzodiazepines and prescription painkillers.

In the realm of reality television and social media, people on shows about plastic surgery and ways to change your body have become royalty. People have a genuine interest in following the lives of absolute strangers just to imagine how it would feel to have their skin sculpted into anything they wish. You’ve seen shows and read articles about people getting surgery to look like Barbie dolls or celebrities. Not only is it frightening to get that much surgery, it is sad that people don’t feel comfortable enough in their own skin and appreciate who they are.

Fear never wrote a symphony or poem, negotiated a peace treaty, or cured a disease. Fear never pulled a family out of poverty or a country out of bigotry. Fear never saved a marriage or a business. Courage did that. Faith did that. People who refused to consult or cower to their timidities did that. But fear itself? Fear herds us into a prison and slams the doors. Wouldn’t it be great to walk out? ~ Max Lucado Fear Revealed What is your biggest fear? What feeds your fears? Does fear stifle your thinking? Can you imagine a life with no fear? Do have faith?

October 29, 2012, it was the perfect storm. Hurricane Sandy was coming from the south. High winds and heavy rain tormented the east coast. My 15-year-old son, Bob, was spiraling towards the psychiatric hospital with suicidal ideation. I knew about the hurricane. However, I had little appreciation of the deadly depression developing in my son's brain.

On Monday, I was told that my kitty – one of my best friends – has less than a month to live thanks to a tumor in his belly. He went from a clean bill of health in September to now, soon-to-be euthanized, in November. I’m gutted; I’m grieving; and because I have bipolar disorder, I have extra problems to worry about.

One of depression's main symptoms is feeling alone, like no one in the world could possibly understand your situation, your pain, or your experience. You feel cut off from other people, like there's a glass wall between you and the rest of the world. The feeling of being alone can can make you want to isolate yourself from friends, family, and other people who care about us. Isolation feeds depression.

Is it okay to take prescription pain medication when you're a recovering alcoholic or addict? Does getting sober mean you can never take a drug of any kind for the rest of your life?

We all know that being a youth can be a rewarding journey with growth and plenty to learn, however, it can also be a very difficult and confusing time. It can mean being a bully or being the brunt of bullying at school and it can also spell doom and gloom for many youth that feel they do not fit in due to having a mental illness. Through these difficult times, can you imagine also having to deal with a mental health condition, which brings on mental health stigma?

Anxiety can be overwhelming, impacting us in every way imaginable – physically, emotionally, cognitively, and socially. It can range from mild to debilitating, and no matter to what degree we experience anxiety, it affects the quality of our lives. Happily, there are many things that can be done to treat anxiety. One way is through anxiety medication (but medication is not for everyone). There are so many different types of anxiety medication available; though, just contemplating whether or not to try antianxiety medication can itself be anxiety-provoking (list of anxiety medications). It's an individual decision that can only be made with a doctor. Here are some important things to consider as you talk to your doctor about anxiety medication.