The Link Between Substance Abuse and a Bad DietPersonal ResourcesBy Promises AustinDecember 31, 2015An unhealthy diet or substance abuse problem can quickly derail one’s well-being. But few people understand the relationship between the two. To gain some insight into how a bad diet and substance abuse relate to each other, I spoke with Keith Kantor, PhD, and expert in nutritional science and naturopathic medicine. Dr. Kantor, who frequently…
Combination Treatment Holds Promise for Borderline Personality DisorderBorderline PersonalityBy Promises AustinDecember 23, 2015A study published in the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics shows that a combination of individualized therapy and good psychiatric management may improve treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD). The study was led by Ueli Kramer, Ph.D., a visiting professor at the University of Windsor and a researcher/clinician at the hospital of the University of Lausanne.…
5 Dangerous Side Effects of MollyOther AddictionsBy Promises AustinDecember 19, 2015‘Molly’ is a popular club drug. It’s the crystal or powder form of MDMA, the main ingredient in ecstasy. Ecstasy or ‘Es’ comes in pill form and may be cut with harmful chemicals or other drugs such as amphetamine (‘speed’). Molly, however, is meant to be pure MDMA. People selling and taking Molly may believe…
Extreme Sexual Preferences Do Not Always Equal Sex AddictionSex AddictionBy Promises AustinDecember 16, 2015An escalation from “regular” sex to more extreme sexual activities is a well-recognized symptom of sex addiction. People with this addiction need to keep pushing the boundaries of sexual behavior in order to achieve the same level of excitement and satisfaction that they used to achieve without those activities. However, this does not mean that…
Think This, Not That: How to Use CBT to Manage StressTherapiesBy Promises AustinDecember 15, 2015Our minds can greatly help or hinder our ability to cope with stress. And it turns out that managing stress well relies heavily on the way we think when we’re under pressure. The wrong thoughts — what psychologists call “thought distortions,” or errors in how we mentally process reality — can increase stress levels and…
4 Reasons to Change Your SponsorRecoveryBy Promises AustinDecember 11, 2015One of the first things you have to do when you are newly sober is to choose a sponsor. A sponsor is often your closest friend or mentor in Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. He or she is the person you are most likely to turn to in order to ask questions or share your…
How to Strengthen Your Resiliency MusclesPersonal ResourcesBy Promises AustinDecember 9, 2015What is it that makes one person who has experienced abuse and trauma sink into despair while others rise above seemingly unfathomable depths to triumph? Samantha Pellicciotti is just such a resilient thriver. Her story could’ve turned out entirely differently. Born to parents whose addictions led them to neglect her needs, endangering her life and…
Monitoring Emotional Triggers to Help Prevent RelapseRelapse PreventionBy Promises AustinDecember 3, 2015You know the feeling: Your gut clenches, your thoughts race, and you feel a cold sweat all over your body. You’ve been here before — too many times, in fact. Your typical response is to head straight for your drug of choice. Stopping the knee-jerk reaction to use may seem impossible, but there are things…
Stressed, Depressed Veterinarians Fall Prey to AddictionAddiction - ProfessionalsBy Promises AustinNovember 30, 2015For Cathy Johnson-Delaney, the drug of choice was sevoflurane. Twice in June 2013, employees at her Kirkland, Washington, animal clinic witnessed Johnson-Delaney, a veterinarian of more than 30 years, inhaling the sweet-smelling anesthetic through a mask in the operating room.
Clinicians of Varying Backgrounds Can Successfully Deliver Prolonged Exposure TherapyTherapiesBy Promises AustinNovember 24, 2015While professional experience has some impact on the course of prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD, all well-trained practitioners can effectively administer this form of treatment, according to recent findings from a team of American researchers. A form of change-oriented psychotherapy called prolonged exposure therapy (PE therapy) has verified usefulness as a treatment for people affected…
