Entries by Saltworks

Live From Your Values, Not Your Emotions to Battle Addiction

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Addicts pay attention to their feelings more than their values. If an addict can slow down and not make the impulsive choice in the moment then they have a chance to reflect on their values (what the cars about most) then they have a chance to not take the next fix but instead Make a […]

Mindfulness and the Power of the Present

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I cannot stress loudly or strongly enough that learning to live mindfully in the moment and in touch with your body are key steps toward true mental health. Mental conditions such as depression,  anxiety, OCD, ADD, and others all share an underdeveloped ability to live in the present. When recovering from these conditions, if you […]

A Different Description or Definition of Addiction

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A wise friend once said this about her experience with drug addiction: “When I got into drugs I wanted to use them (I was young and liked to party) … then when I finally no longer wanted to use the drugs I was hooked and I couldn’t stop using them.” What an accurate description of […]

Controlling Behavior

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When anxiety leads you to get overly obsessed with controlling outcomes in your life (specifically ones that in reality you can’t control) then you can be sure you are out of “flow” and out of the moment and you are in the dangerous emotional state of over controlling your life . (This idea comes fro […]

Breathe

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We all need to breathe with awareness more every day. When you feel stress, take a moment to notice your breathing. Notice what happens in your body as your breathe in and breathe out. Gently bringing yourself back to the breath will ground you back to your body. This is basic mindfulness. Try it. It […]

the emotional brain vs the logical brain

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A big part of mental health is the ability to move fluidly between the emotional and the logical. Tor example, in my marriage that means being able to go from an argument, where I may feel triggered or angry or perhaps misunderstood …..  AND THEN ….. calm myself down and think logically. The logical thinking […]

Trick yourself into a better mood

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We all get moody and have bad days. Try this for a mood booster: when you feel a negative emotion or thought pattern hit you take a five minute break and write down 20 things in your life that you are grateful for. Be specific. You will be surprised at the upward bump you will […]

Victim Thinking

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No matter what the situation, today if I believe down deep that I am a helpless victim then I am in dangerous emotional territory. Although we all feel victimized at times (and in reality there is great pain out there caused by other’s actions) it is a powerful emotional position to shun “victim-hood” and to […]