Which Came First, Depression or Alcoholism?Articles>Addiction ResearchBy The RanchOctober 20, 2014In our society, it is commonly accepted for people to turn to alcohol when they are feeling down. In the movies and on TV, the hero or heroine is often portrayed drowning his or her sorrows at the local bar after losing a job, getting a divorce or experiencing another major disappointment.
Finding Self-Confidence After Sex AddictionArticles>Recovery at The RanchBy The RanchOctober 18, 2014Jacob likes to say that his father was the only person in his family allowed to express emotion, although the only emotion he expressed was anger. If the paperboy missed the driveway, his father raged. If the pasta was overcooked, rage. If Jacob stuttered while trying to answer his father’s demanding questions, more rage. Rage… Details
Eating Disorder Patients Turn to Internet for Empathy, SupportArticles>Eating DisordersBy The RanchOctober 17, 2014Teens are living more of their lives on the Internet. A teen struggling with an eating disorder may seek out websites with information about the disorder and end up connecting with commenters discussion forum members. While the teen may feel validated by the experiences of others online, they will not receive in-person support the same… Details
Female Sex Addicts: Using Sex for Power and ControlArticles>Sex AddictionBy The RanchOctober 16, 2014The second episode of the new thriller “Those Who Kill,” starring Chloë Sevigny as Catherine Jenson, peeled back a layer on the character behind this aggressive young homicide detective. We learned in the first episode that she is a woman who experienced abuse at the hands of her stepfather, a judge, and who is driven… Details
ADHD and Bipolar Disorder Present Mental ChallengesArticles>Mental HealthBy The RanchOctober 14, 2014The ability to think about multiple concepts at the same time is impaired in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and markedly worse in patients with comorbid bipolar disorder. New research suggests inflexible thinking in those with ADHD may be entirely due to the bipolar disorder.
Opening Doors Once Closed by PTSD StigmaArticles>Trauma and PTSDBy The RanchOctober 13, 2014Nearly 24 million people will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point during their lifetime, and only half will seek treatment. Some hope that the nightmares, anxieties and other symptoms will dissolve on their own. Others fear that if family or employers knew of their mental stress they would be viewed unfavorably.
Breakthrough Study Links Anorexia to Problems Metabolizing CholesterolArticles>Eating DisordersBy The RanchOctober 12, 2014Anorexia nervosa is difficult to predict and, if left untreated, potentially life-threatening. How the eating disorder develops is poorly understood, though genetics has long been thought to be a factor. A novel new study has narrowed down a gene connected to cholesterol metabolism as possibly playing a large part.
Topiramate Reduces PTSD Symptoms, Alcohol Cravings, Study FindsArticles>Addiction TreatmentBy The RanchOctober 11, 2014Topiramate (Topamax) is a medication that, while originally intended for use as a seizure treatment, now sometimes plays a role in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (alcoholism and/or alcohol abuse). Significant numbers of the people affected by this disorder also have diagnosable cases of the mental health condition PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). In a… Details
Process Addictions: When a Substance Isn’t the ProblemArticles>Addiction ResearchBy The RanchOctober 10, 2014By Edie Weinstein, LSW @EdieWeinstein1 Workaholism and perfectionism are considered process addictions. Although it might be difficult to imagine, they are every bit as insidious and at times intractable as substance addictions and can also carry dire consequences. Although they’re both legal and in most cases socially acceptable, the dynamics can be a doorway to… Details
Addiction in the ElderlyArticles>Drug AddictionBy The RanchOctober 9, 2014When most people think of an alcoholic or drug addict, they probably don’t think of an elderly person. The term “alcoholic” typically calls to mind a skid row bum sipping from a brown paper bag under a bridge or on a park bench, or a middle-aged person staggering out of a bar. The term “drug… Details
