Objective Binge Eating Vs. Subjective Binge EatingArticles>Eating DisordersBy The RanchJanuary 12, 2014Binge eating is a behavior that occurs when people eat unusually large amounts of food in a relatively short period of time. This behavior plays a central role in two officially diagnosable eating disorders, called bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. Some affected individuals truly consume excessive amounts of calories, and therefore participate in something called… Details
Internet-Based Relapse Prevention Works in People with AnorexiaArticles>Eating DisordersBy The RanchJanuary 9, 2014Anorexia nervosa is a severe eating disorder that deeply alters the relationship with body weight and food consumption in affected individuals. People with the disorder have significantly increased risks of dying prematurely, even when they initially respond well to treatment and at least partially regain their health. According to the results of a new study… Details
When Addictions Overlap: The Fuzzy Boundaries between Love, Sex and Relationship AddictionArticles>Sex AddictionBy The RanchJanuary 6, 2014Addictions and people rarely follow textbook examples. In reality, people are a mix of instincts and urges born of unique hurts, experiences, backgrounds and genetic predispositions. It should not be surprising that there would be frequent overlap among addictions, especially in the categories of love, sex and relationships, which are so tightly and often inextricably… Details
Motherhood and Mental Illness: Be Willing to Reach Out for HelpArticles>Mental HealthBy The RanchJanuary 3, 2014To meet Allie, you’d never guess what happened in 2009. She’s tall and slender, demure and intelligent. She has a sweet nature and is genuinely interested in people and animals. A little bit shy, she can easily be brought out of her shell when asked about her fossil collection or any discussion about travel. She… Details
Sobriety and New Year’s ResolutionsArticles>Early RecoveryBy The RanchDecember 26, 2013It is probably not surprising that so many people decide to pursue sobriety around the winter holidays, mainly because this time of year signals both an ending an a new beginning. Nothing is more indicative of a fresh start than New Year’s, so making a resolution to quit drinking, using drugs, and/or engaging in addictive… Details
Study Takes New Look at Alcohol and DepressionArticles>Dual DiagnosisBy The RanchDecember 19, 2013The link between alcohol and depression has long been known, but there has been much disagreement about whether alcoholism causes depression or vice-versa. The relationship between the two is alluded to by several facts, including that around one third of people who suffer from major depression also have a problem with alcoholism and that teens… Details
Gaming Addicted Children at Higher Risk of Mental Health IssuesArticlesBy The RanchDecember 16, 2013More than 200 million Americans play video games, accounting for over two-thirds of the population, with around 3 percent of these playing at a “pathological” level. Leftover stereotypes would have you believe that these are largely “geeky,” socially-inept teenage boys, but in fact, 47 percent of gamers are women and the most frequent game purchasers… Details
The “Recovery Value” of Guilt, Shame, and Remorse (Part Two)Articles>Early RecoveryBy The RanchDecember 14, 2013As written in part one of this blog, many addicts feel as if they are flawed in some deeply meaningful way and therefore doomed to a life of misery, isolation, and regrettable behaviors. These addicts, usually with histories of childhood abuse and neglect, feel as if they themselves are the problem, as if they are… Details
The “Recovery Value” of Guilt, Shame, and Remorse (Part One)Articles>Early RecoveryBy The RanchDecember 9, 2013Many addicts feel as if they are the problem, as if they are flawed in some deeply meaningful way and therefore doomed to a life of misery, isolation, and regrettable behaviors. Oftentimes addicts in recovery need a great deal of time before they can even begin to understand that they are not inherently defective, that… Details
How To Work Step TwelveArticles>Early RecoveryBy The RanchNovember 5, 2013Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. The first thing to do when you approach step twelve is to recognize the first portion of step’s language: having had a spiritual awaking as the… Details
