Nail-biting may not only increase a person’s risk of falling prey to illness from bacteria, but new research indicates that those who worry incessantly may also be more at risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition related to anxiety disorder. People with PTSD have either been a victim of or witness …
The Twelve Step program of recovery encourages members to aim for progress, not perfection. But addicts are commonly a perfectionistic bunch. Any hint of failure or setback shuts us down completely. Fear of failure paralyzes us from even getting started. The founders of the Alcoholics Anonymous program understood this. And thus we have this directive …
For people who have experienced a deeply traumatic event in their lives, the link to abuse is more frequent. Whether it is child abuse or war, drugs and alcohol are a likely go-to “solution” for these victims. They’ll take drugs and drink to ease that pain, help them sleep, ease the anxiety and escape the …
PTSD and Substance Abuse are Commonly Shared Issues Read More »
“If you have built castles in the air, you work need not be lost, that is where they should be. Now put the foundation under them.” – Henry David Thoreau, American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, best-known as the author of Walden (1817-1862)
From the wasting body of a woman with anorexia to the ruptured stomach of a high school wrestler with bulimia, eating disorders have a profound effect on the 5 to 10 million Americans who struggle with them [1]. In some cases, living with an eating disorder is complicated by another mental health condition: substance abuse. …
A quick stroll down the supplement aisle in any health food store or vitamin shop reveals a vast number of products and many grandiose claims. DHEA, SAM-e, 5HTP, vitamins, minerals, amino acids…they are worth taking, but what do they do?
The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, when applied to the recovering anorexic, bulimic, or compulsive overeater, lead the addict out of addiction and into a new life of sanity and recovery. In themselves, the steps are a complete program and solution for food-related diseases and disorders. The “Tools of Recovery” build upon the steps, implementing …
Illegal substances are often used as a way to self-medicate against the stresses of daily life. For some segments of the population, the stress of daily life is anything but normal. For those who serve in the military, for instance, deployment can introduce extended periods of high risk for physical injury and emotional trauma.
