Died by Suicide – Language Matters

Suicide Prevention

It is died by suicide. Not committed suicide. This distinction matters, and it personally matters to me. I had a relative who died by suicide. “The phrase ‘committed suicide’” …ignores the fact that suicide is often the consequence of an unaddressed illness (like depression, trauma or another mental health issue). It should be regarded in…

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Shame | Darlene Lancer Shares Her Shame Experience

Shame. Shame like that which surrounds all concerned when substance use or mental health disorders are part of a family’s dynamic. “It lurks in the unconscious, undermines self-esteem, and creates anxiety and havoc in our lives. The magnitude of feeling different, inadequate, or inferior can be unbearable. It’s the feeling of being a bad, unworthy person,”…

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Cognitive Distortions – When Reality Isn’t What You Think | Darlene Lancer, JD, MFT

Darlene Lancer, JD, MFT, explains cognitive distortions.

Cognitive distortions, like overgeneralizing, labeling, self-criticism, and black-and-white/all-or-nothing thinking, can “skew your perceptions” and may be caused by “the anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or perfectionism that often accompany codependency.” Darlene Lancer, a frequent guest blogger on BreakingTheCycles.com, helps readers understand cognitive distortions, how they harm us, and what a person can do to stop or…

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CoOccurring Disorders | Anger | Addiction | Recovery Connection

CoOccurring Disorders and the anger, addiction, and recovery connection is important to understand when assessing how best to help someone treat their addiction and succeed in long-term recovery. Today’s guest author, Joe Koelzer, delves into the complexities of this connection in his article shared below. Joe holds a Masters Degree in Spiritual Psychology from the…

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Depression | What to Do When You’ve Tried Everything?

Depression can be overwhelming and suggesting to a person who is clinically depressed that they need to get out of bed and do something is, well…, insane. It cannot work because depression (major depression) is a brain disease. By its simplest definition, a disease is something that changes cells in a negative way. Depression changes…

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New Years’ Resolutions – 5 Tips on How to Keep Them

New Years’ Resolutions – we often make them but within weeks are having a hard time following through. Darlene Lancer shares 5 tips for keeping yours this year, but first, a bit about Darlene. Darlene Lancer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and author of How To Speak Your Mind – Become Assertive and…

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Christmas Blues? 9 Tips to Cope with Holiday Depression

Depression, sadness, holiday blues? Sometimes these feelings creep up around this time of year. Darlene Lancer shares some of the common causes along with tips for coping, but first, a bit about Darlene. Darlene Lancer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and author of How To Speak Your Mind – Become Assertive and Set…

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