The Legacy of Loss and Grief

“Grief is like the ocean, it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All one can do is learn to swim” - Vicki Harrison “Grief is like the ocean, it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All one can do is learn to swim” - Vicki Harrison Loss and grief are two inescapable emotions that humans must experience at some point in their lives. The ability to cope with these emotions varies in accordance with the different stages of a person’s life. Read More

Military PTSD: Finding Hope in the Nightmares

Written by a former active-duty military personnel, currently employed at Gentle Path at The Meadows. In a world that is constantly in strife and war, we as a nation call upon the select few that have dedicated their lives in service to our country—the protectors of… Read More

7 Habits You’ll Notice the Happiest People Practicing

By Marcel Schwantes It’s easy to get bogged down by the negative instead of the positive in any situation. Many people strive for happiness in their careers, relationships, and personal goals, but most people don’t choose to be happy in their everyday lives. A common misconception is that the… Read More

The Long-Term Impact of Deep Stress on Children

Everyone understands stress. We work too hard, play too hard, and get little to no sleep. We’ve got too many balls in the air and ignore self-care, resulting in deep stress. As a result, everything suffers—our mood, health, and work. Minor problems feel more significant, and our reactions to anything… Read More

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for PTSD in Veterans

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has invested heavily in the dissemination of prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy (1), yet 30-50% of veterans participating in these therapies fail to show clinically significant improvements. Evidence suggests that mindfulness-based stress reduction, an intervention that teaches individuals to focus on… Read More

Cannabis Use on Cognitive Functioning

During the past few decades, there have been a lot of changes in the way people perceive cannabis in the United States. Decriminalization, medical dispensaries, and even legalization of marijuana in several states have resulted in a more relaxed view toward cannabis use. However, it’s very important to note that cannabis use has been shown to impair cognitive functions on a number of levels, leaving users with both acute and long-term effects. Read More

How Is Your Inner Child Today?

By Nancy Minister, Therapist, Rio Retreat Center at The Meadows If you’ve ever done work at The Meadows — either in an inpatient program or our Survivors I Workshop — you’ve likely had some experience getting in touch with your inner child. So, how is that young part… Read More

Facing Codependency and Depression

Codependency is an emotional disorder that causes people to ignore their own needs while constantly fulfilling the needs of others. Someone struggling with codependence may forfeit his or her own well-being and values in the pursuit of assisting someone else. It’s not surprising that this disorder would often coexist alongside… Read More

Major Depression Rates Surge

Major depression cases in America are climbing rapidly, according to a study of medical claims by the health insurance group, Blue Cross Blue Shield. Read More

Confessions of a (Mostly) Reformed Perfectionist

By: Tracy Harder, MSC, LAC, Survivors Workshop Facilitator Do you remember the one question you missed on that fourth-grade science test that kept you from scoring 100 percent? Or the word you missed in every spelling bee you were in? I do. In fact, I am very clear about the… Read More