Awe Walks for Mental Health
I am a self-described, often awestruck, nature nerd. I have written about the joys of Michigan winter in late February (when most Michiganders are tolerating the dreary days until spring). Other topics I have covered are finding joy during the pandemic, how a $75 blowup kayak can change your life, and the mental health benefit […]
Vacations Without Alcohol – Our Favorite Dry Destinations
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and it is also the time of year when we begin to think about our summer vacation. For those who are new to recovery, the thoughts of summer vacation without alcohol can be stressful. No glass of wine on the plane to “calm the nerves?” No sunset umbrella cocktail in […]
Glimmers – the Antidote to Triggers
I had a friend say to me this weekend, “Everything is hard.” We were talking about technology (the ever-changing virtual landscape triggers her anxiety), but it could apply to almost any subject in the year 2024. There is a reason why 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness. As a person in […]
Looking Forward to Spring Mental Health (10 Ideas to Anticipate)
I am preparing for the family egg hunt next weekend. An extravaganza that accumulates new participants each year. It means dragging bins of plastic eggs from the attic, buying candy and trinkets, and planning brunch. Looking forward to the gathering of family and friends, children running on the grass, and the inevitable sighting of the […]
12 Hopeful Ideas to Improve Your Mental Health 2024
During the holidays and beyond, we posted 12 articles with hopeful ideas to improve your mental health. We are heading into February with 2024 firmly under our belts. It seems like a good time to recap those 12 ideas while we still feel the newness of the New Year (and while our resolutions are […]
A Few of Our Favorite Things to Maintain Recovery
Mocktails at parties and awe walks on beaches, family dinners where nobody preaches, 12-step meetings when traveling – these are a few of our favorite things. (Sung to the tune of My Favorite Things with apologies to Rodgers and Hammerstein.) We are in the thick of Spirit Week at Sanford Behavioral Health, and we have […]
Wintertime Mental Health Bonus – Best of Excursions
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we embrace winter with robust excursions in nature. In fact, it is a part of our evidence-based practices to get outside and experience a Michigan winter in all its splendor. Yes, it can be gloomy and cold. And we are well aware of seasonal affective disorder and the depression that can […]
5 Ways to Beat the End of Summer Blues
Michiganders feel a hint of melancholy during the Labor Day holiday each year. This is when we dry dock the boats, close up cabins, and buy back-to-school supplies. It is also the last big blowout of the summer, and picnics, waterskiing, tubing, hiking, and camping excursions abound. But for those in recovery, looking ahead to […]
Happy Trails – 5 Favorite Michigan Excursions
At Sanford Behavioral Health, excursions are opportunities for our clients to experience real life in the safety of treatment. Excursions provide authentic opportunities to unpack feelings and triggers. They also rekindle or develop new interests that help make long-term recovery manageable and fun. Happy Trails We recommend walking excursions while in treatment and long-term recovery. With […]
5 Recovery Ideas for the Sunday Scaries
The Sunday Scaries are the feelings of dread that occur before heading back to responsibilities like work, childcare, or school. Studies show that 80% of Americans experience anxiety on Sunday afternoons when looming duties remind us that Monday is just a sleep away. Speaking of sleep, 79% of Americans say they have more difficulty falling […]
