Everyone has a basic understanding of genetic traits that are passed down through generations, from physical characteristics to medical genetic conditions. What many people may not realize is that trauma can also be genetically passed down through families. This is called generational trauma (or intergenerational trauma or transgenerational trauma). There is a relatively new field of study known as epigenetics, changes that occurred to the genome induced by environmental events, and which can genetically be passed down. Through the studying of epigenetics, they believe that trauma causes changes to an individual’s DNA, and that gene change is passed down to future generations. Because trauma affects genetic processes, this can lead to traumatic reactivity being heightened in their future generations.

One of the most effective methods of protecting your mental health is by learning how to identify and manage your emotional triggers. We all have instances where things people do, or say, that rub us the wrong way and leave us emotionally upset. Emotional triggers can be any experience, event, person, or action, basically anything that causes a reaction in mind or body. If you are experiencing daily emotional triggers, that can be very stressful and challenging to cope with. The key to protecting your mental health is learning how to identify your emotional triggers, and how to manage your response to those triggers.

When you have a loved one who is struggling with alcohol or substance use disorders, it is difficult to know how to properly help them. Many people make the mistake of enabling their loved one’s addiction rather than supporting them in their sobriety struggle. These are 5 signs that you may be enabling your loved one to continue their destructive behavior.

Many people struggling with alcohol or substance use issues may be considering seeking treatment but are often worried that it will impact their ability to work, or go to school, if they go to a residential treatment program. That is why Aspire Counseling Services offers an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) that allows teens and adults to maintain their work and school schedules while they receive treatment. The program is intended as a short-term program that allows patients to continue to work, be at home with family, and maintain much of their daily routine, while still receiving intensive and accountable treatment for substance use or mental health conditions.

For many people, holiday fun often includes alcohol. For those who are trying to avoid alcohol, this can create many challenges. However, a sober holiday season is anything but boring, you just need to plan some fun, sober activities, and invite your family and friends to have a great time with you. Think about all the fun that children have during the holidays that don’t include alcohol. Some of those activities are still great fun as adults, and there are many more things you can also do to liven up your holiday season. Here are 5 sober activities you can enjoy this holiday season.

If you have a family member struggling with alcohol or drug use, you may wonder what you can do to help them. There is a fine line between helping and enabling, and which path you choose can make all the difference when it comes to helping your loved one achieve sobriety.

A large part of what makes the holidays so challenging is the pressure they face during social engagements, whether it is direct social pressure of an individual offering you a drink or an opportunity to drink, or indirect social pressure of just being with others who are consuming drinks which can tempt you to drink yourself, even though no one offered you a drink. To manage those situations, a recovering alcoholic must prepare and develop skills to assist them.

The holidays can be a very happy time of year but can also be extremely stressful. Many look forward to the holiday socializing with friends and family, some whom they may not have seen in quite a while. However, for some, family dynamics can be challenging...