Strive to be the Best Articles>Early RecoveryBy The Ranch TNJanuary 14, 2013“Always be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of someone else.” – Judy Garland, iconic American singer and actress who struggled with lifelong addiction, finally succumbing to an accidental overdose of barbiturates at age 47 (1922-1969)
Chronic Worry Increases Risk For PTSD Articles>Trauma and PTSDBy The Ranch TNJanuary 11, 2013Nail-biting may not only increase a person’s risk of falling prey to illness from bacteria, but new research indicates that those who worry incessantly may also be more at risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition related to anxiety disorder. People with PTSD have either been a victim of or witness… Details
Reduce Your Anxiety with 4 Practical Steps Articles>Recovery at The RanchBy The Ranch TNJanuary 10, 2013Anxiety is about more than just worry. It’s an emotional burden and psychiatric disorder that can paralyze us into frustration, irritability, or inaction. There’s a physical element to anxiety as well. Anxiety triggers the release of stress hormones, like cortisol, which have an impact on the way your body functions. Emotions like dread, unease, or… Details
Progress Not Perfection Articles>Recovery at The RanchBy The Ranch TNJanuary 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 Issues Articles>Dual DiagnosisBy The Ranch TNJanuary 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 Them Articles>Recovery at The RanchBy The Ranch TNJanuary 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 Abuse Articles>Dual DiagnosisBy The Ranch TNJanuary 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 Overview Articles>Recovery at The RanchBy The Ranch TNJanuary 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 & Writing Articles>Recovery at The RanchBy The Ranch TNJanuary 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 Veterans Articles>Addiction TreatmentBy The Ranch TNJanuary 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.
