Process Addictions: When a Substance Isn’t the Problem Articles>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 Elderly Articles>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
Hurdles to Treatment for Female Sex Addicts Articles>Sex AddictionBy The RanchOctober 8, 2014If you are a woman reading this article, it is likely that you have found yourself in treatment and are now seeking strategies for coping with sexual addiction. It is also likely that you entered treatment not for sexual addiction but for disordered eating or perhaps substance use. Along the way you may have uncovered… Details
The Link Between PTSD and Alcoholism Articles>Trauma and PTSDBy The RanchOctober 7, 2014Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a serious mental illness that typically develops after a traumatic or terrifying event. Much attention has been brought to the disease by the fact that many military men and women returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have struggled with PTSD. These people, and others with the disorder, are also more… Details
Managing PTSD Symptoms While on the Job Articles>Trauma and PTSDBy The RanchSeptember 29, 2014People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be bothered by intrusive thoughts about their trauma, experience flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping because of nightmares or become hyper-vigilant so they’re not caught unawares again. These symptoms can make daily life a tremendous challenge. Consider how difficult it could be to make it through a simple workday when… Details
Women and Sex Addiction: Building Strength Through Friendship Articles>Sex AddictionBy The RanchSeptember 28, 2014Almost three years ago, I walked into my first Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) meeting. I wasn’t sure yet if the 12 steps were for me (I couldn’t conceive of a Higher Power, much less one that might be interested in helping me out), but I had absolutely no doubt that, if these groups… Details
Yes, Marijuana Really Can Be Addictive Articles>Drug AddictionBy The RanchSeptember 27, 2014Marijuana has a puzzling reputation. Many people believe that recreational marijuana use should be legalized, and that medical marijuana should have widespread availability. Yet marijuana remains illegal in most countries, including the United States, and the idea of legalization has many firm opponents.
PTSD and Moral Injury Articles>Trauma and PTSDBy The RanchSeptember 26, 2014Moral injury is a term mental health professionals use to describe involvement in or exposure to events that violate a person’s preexisting code of moral conduct. Current evidence indicates that the presence of moral injury can potentially increase the chances that a person will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the aftermath of a seriously… Details
The Link Between Sexual Shame and Addiction and Why It Should Be Addressed Articles>Sex AddictionBy The RanchSeptember 25, 2014As sex addiction expert and author Robert Weiss argues in PsychCentral, the connection between addiction and shame is well established. Those prone to addiction often feel ashamed of themselves; it’s an inward-facing criticism with the potential to lead to problems such as anxiety and depression, which in turn creates a desire to escape through the… Details
The Seasons of Eating Disorders Articles>Eating DisordersBy The RanchSeptember 25, 2014Eating disorders are certainly not seasonal illnesses. People who suffer from these disorders do not have symptoms just a few months a year, like those who suffer from hay fever or another seasonal allergy. Nevertheless, there are times of year that are particularly sensitive or challenging for people with eating disorders, or with problematic eating… Details
