Progress Not PerfectionArticles>Recovery at The RanchBy The RanchJanuary 9, 2013The 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… Details
PTSD and Substance Abuse are Commonly Shared IssuesArticles>Dual DiagnosisBy The RanchJanuary 8, 2013For 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… Details
Dreams…And What to Do With ThemArticles>Recovery at The RanchBy The RanchJanuary 7, 2013“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)
Eating Disorders and Substance AbuseArticles>Dual DiagnosisBy The RanchJanuary 5, 2013From 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.… Details
Nutritional Supplements for Depression: A Brief OverviewArticles>Recovery at The RanchBy The RanchJanuary 4, 2013A 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 Tools of Recovery: Reading & WritingArticles>Recovery at The RanchBy The RanchJanuary 3, 2013The 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… Details
Substance Abuse Treatment For VeteransArticles>Addiction TreatmentBy The RanchJanuary 2, 2013Illegal 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.
Adventure – Is Within YouArticles>Recovery at The RanchBy The RanchDecember 31, 2012“Adventure is not outside man, it is within.” – George Eliot, the pseudonym of novelist, translator and religious writer Mary Ann Evans, one of the leading writers of the Victorian era (1819-1880)
The Powerful Role of Cognitive Thinking Errors in AddictionArticles>Addiction ResearchBy The RanchDecember 28, 2012How we look at events or situations plays a significant role in how we feel and behave. This is particularly true when it comes to alcohol and drug addiction. Consider the last time you got angry: Your negative feelings were likely triggered by a thought – e.g. “That driver shouldn’t have cut me off!” This… Details
Perceived Threat May Lead to PTSDArticles>Trauma and PTSDBy The RanchDecember 27, 2012Soldiers returning from deployment to a combat zone often experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can occur any time an individual is involved in or a witness to a disaster or tragedy. The experience can be anything from witnessing an assault to involvement in a car accident.
