Carl is a soft-spoken screenwriter who grew up in an impoverished, alcoholic home. For most of his adult life, Carl has turned to alcohol to cope with grinding depression and a gnawing sense of not being good enough. One night after a weekend of drinking, Carl had a blackout. He awoke in his car with …
Therapists who treat addiction and co-occurring mental conditions have many weapons in their arsenal: psychotherapy, 12-step strategies, experiential exercises, education, medications and perhaps one more: Mother Nature. In a novel experiment, researchers at Stanford University in California randomly assigned 38 people to take a 90-minute walk in either a natural or urban setting, then assessed …
For Lessons in Recovery, Take a Walk on the Wild Side Read More »
We’re told we need to love ourselves. We are told we need to have a healthy sense of self-esteem. But after years of addiction, rebelling against God and making havoc of our lives and relationships, it’s hard to feel anything other than a deep sense of self-hatred and shame. However, this kind of outlook doesn’t …
Depression comes in many forms and levels of severity. Everyone has a different way of showing it. For some people, it creeps up on them slowly and over a long span of time, which would make it more difficult to detect outward changes.
Considering a geographical move isn’t an uncommon strategy for those of us who are in recovery for addiction problems. Many of us experience the urge to pull up roots and start over in a new neighborhood, a new city, a new state or maybe even a new country. We feel sure that all we need …
Addiction Recovery and Geographical Cures: Escapism Isn’t the Solution Read More »
Smoking is traditionally tolerated in rehab and early recovery. The prevailing idea has been that if someone can give up drugs or alcohol, she should at least be allowed to smoke. That cigarette may be the only thing keeping her from relapsing, or so the story goes. The truth about smoking in recovery tells a …
According to new research published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, a pattern of methamphetamine or amphetamine abuse/addiction can seriously increase the risks for the onset of Parkinson’s disease, an incurable, degenerative neurological disorder that ultimately produces debilitating changes in the ability to control muscle movement. Amphetamine and methamphetamine are two powerful, chemically-related stimulant …
Meth, Amphetamine Addiction Greatly Increases Risk for Parkinson’s Disease Read More »
“Skip, skip, skip to my Lou. Skip to my Lou, my darling.” This song evokes my childhood. I remember dancing to its lively tune. Most children skip spontaneously and without abandon. But then they’re told — explicitly or otherwise — to grow up, settle down and curb their enthusiasm. Kids lose a bit of their …
Stress is natural, and in many ways it can be good. When you’re feeling unmotivated, the stress of a deadline can help you get things done. When you’re in a dangerous situation, stress helps to get you ready to run or fight back with the “fight or flight” response. On the other hand, stress can …
The Important Role Stress Plays in Addiction and Recovery Read More »
The presence of alexithymia (a poor ability to identify emotions or tell the difference between various emotional states) may help predict a reduced quality of life in people affected by alcoholism, according to new findings from a multinational team of researchers.
