The holidays can be a difficult time for many people, bringing forth feelings of stress, loneliness, grief, depression, and other unwanted emotions. For those in addiction recovery, these types of feelings, along with the social triggers present at holiday gatherings, can make the holidays a particularly challenging time. 

So, how can you protect your sobriety during the holidays? Here are some tips that can help. 

15-20% of adolescents, and 6% of adults, worldwide engage in nonsuicidal self-injury. Find out the who, what, when, where and why behind NSSI.

The holidays can be stressful even in the best of times - with crowds, family tensions, hosting responsibilities, and the social pressure and economic strain of gift giving. And, of course, this year we have COVID-19 to contend with!

While “stress-free” may not be an attainable goal this year, our holidays can still be merry and bright by managing our expectations and stress throughout the holiday season. 

"Someone once asked me, 'How can kids have problems, they have nothing to worry about?' Obviously this kid did. And you know he isn’t the first I’ve seen nor will he be the last to act in such a desperate manner."

Allan Braaten, Psychotherapist and Clinical Director of High Country Behavioral Health in Thermopolis, WY, shares a deeply moving account of answering the call of child abuse and neglect, in which a 10- year old child attempted suicide. 

While some welcome the fall season with dreams of pumpkin spice lattes, cozy sweaters and growing excitement for upcoming holidays with family and friends, others respond to the change in season in quite a different manner… with mood changes and depression symptoms that are so severe and oppressive that it can force them into “hibernation” until spring. For these individuals, the fall and winter seasons trigger a type of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Dr. Erin Fortin, Ph.D., Psychologist and Clinical Therapist at High Country Behavioral Health, shares insight into the risks and warning signs associated with adolescent suicide and the necessity to be hypervigilant during this vulnerable period of your child's life.

With our current economy in the United States, and particularly in the Rocky Mountain Region, job losses are high - not only due to COVID, but also from the decline in the oil, gas and coal industries. For those people experiencing these job losses, financial and emotional worries can increase exponentially, creating a higher risk for suicidal thoughts and actions.

COVID-19 has burdened us with many personal challenges - from paranoia and fear of contagion, loneliness and depression brought on by social isolation, to anxiety over disruptions in routine, changes in employment and/or financial status, and overall uncertainty about the future. These factors and more, have led many Americans to reach for a drink to “take the edge off” of reality. But does alcohol really “take the edge off” … and at what cost?

Learning to manage the amount of time and energy that you devote to priorities in your life can help you avoid worry, stress and many sleepless nights. Our Chief Operations Officer, Jared Bingham, shares his story about how he learned to manage his level of concern through life on the farm.  

If you are fighting a personal battle with depression and haven’t achieved success with traditional medication treatment, you are not alone. In fact, over 5 million adults in the United States are treated for depression and unable to find relief with antidepressant medication, while others may experience improvement but find the side effects of the medication intolerable.