Amygdala Response Predicts PTSD Symptoms After Boston Bombings Articles>Trauma and PTSDBy The Ranch TNNovember 23, 2014Thanks to an in-progress study of Boston-area teenagers, a group of researchers had the unexpected opportunity to study how emotional responses predicted PTSD symptoms in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings.
Recognizing and Treating Bulimia Articles>Eating DisordersBy The Ranch TNNovember 21, 2014Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a recurring pattern of binge eating followed by either purging with laxatives, diuretics or self-induced vomiting, or through extreme dieting. It is a mental health disorder, meaning that recovery from the illness will require not only behavior modification but also a focus on improved emotional health.
Gamblers, Alcoholics Share Risk/Reward Brain Changes, Differ on Cost Assessment Articles>Mental HealthBy The Ranch TNNovember 21, 2014Addiction researchers have firmly established that some of the damaging brain changes found in people with non-substance-based behavioral addictions are roughly equivalent to the damaging changes found in the brains of people addicted to drugs, medications or alcohol. In a study published in 2014 in the journal Addiction Biology, a team of German researchers compared… Details
When Are Recovering Sex Addicts Ready for Relationships? Articles>Early RecoveryBy The Ranch TNNovember 19, 2014Sex addiction, at base, is an intimacy disorder. And “intimacy,” according to Linda Hatch, Ph.D., sex addiction expert and therapist, “is the ability to be real with another person.” This might seem like a simple thing, but any addict, not just those who experience sexual compulsion, is a person who struggles with being real, (i.e.,… Details
New Study Links Marijuana to Schizophrenia Articles>Addiction ResearchBy The Ranch TNNovember 16, 2014As two states have voted to legalize recreational marijuana, and several others will vote on legalization in upcoming elections, the federal government has been evaluating the information about the potential risks related to marijuana use. On June 5, 2014, members of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) published the results of their evaluation in… Details
Nurturing Touch as a Recovery Tool Articles>Early RecoveryBy The Ranch TNNovember 14, 2014Humans are hardwired to give and receive touch. As infants, it’s the way we explore the world around us. Even before we can see clearly, our skin — the largest organ in the body — is in contact with our environment. Newborn bodies respond to the temperature in the room, the texture of whatever is… Details
Brain Injury Increases PTSD Risk Articles>Trauma and PTSDBy The Ranch TNNovember 12, 2014The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are coming to an end, but, as family members of service men and women know, soldiers don’t always return home unchanged and unharmed, even when there is not a scratch to be seen. A recent study took a look at how receiving a traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects a… Details
Veterans and Addiction – A Forgotten Consequence of War Articles>Drug AddictionBy The Ranch TNNovember 11, 2014As Veterans Day rolls around, we all take a moment to pay our respects to those who’ve fought for our freedom in both historical and current conflicts, but it’s easy to forget that veterans can’t leave the horrors of war on the battlefield. Drugs have been a part of war for centuries, and although in… Details
The Challenge of Treating Chronic Pain in Sobriety Articles>Drug AddictionBy The Ranch TNNovember 8, 2014Treating chronic pain in sobriety can be a slippery slope in which you’re threatened by a double-edged sword. Living with constant pain hurts your quality of life, but giving in to taking narcotics may set you up for a relapse.
What Is Marijuana Wax? Articles>Drug AddictionBy The Ranch TNNovember 6, 2014Wax is the most potent form of cannabis available today. The drug first appeared in California but has rapidly spread across the country over the past decade. Named for its waxy consistency, marijuana wax is extremely concentrated and offers an intense high that can take even experienced users by surprise. While wax (or cannabis concentrate)… Details
