This is the first in a two-part series. In many addiction recovery programs, regular physical exercise is considered to be a top line behavior. Extensive research in exercise physiology demonstrates that exercise helps alleviate stress, increases a sense of well-being and boosts self-confidence. In recent years, addiction treatment centers, addiction therapists and addiction experts have …
An alcohol-dependent individual’s thyroid health appears to have an impact on his or her tendency to crave alcohol and may also serve as an early warning sign for future alcohol-related issues, research suggests. Thyroid Gland and Thyroid Hormones The thyroid gland sits at the base of the neck between the trachea (i.e., windpipe) and the …
Thyroid Health Affects Alcohol Cravings, Study Finds Read More »
Schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are well-known psychiatric conditions that typically make profound changes in the behaviors of affected individuals. Current evidence indicates that the two conditions appear together in the same people much more often than random chance would permit. In a new study, published in 2013 in the journal CNS Spectrums, a multinational …
New Information on Overlapping Cases of Schizophrenia and OCD Read More »
In the weeks before Easter, we’re assailed with special deals and reminders to buy candy for the holiday. But what can parents do if they want something healthier for their kids – something that’s still fun? We asked Dr. Keith Kantor, a leading nutritionist and author of The Green Box League of Nutritious Justice, for …
As the song goes, “We all need somebody to lean on.” This is especially true when it comes to recovery. You cannot go it alone. Beating addiction is one of the most important things you will ever do for yourself and your family in your lifetime. But once you place yourself on the path of …
One thing that happens when you enter recovery—at least one thing that happened to me—is that you finally meet people who’ve been through what you’ve been through. The specific details and contours of their experiences might not be identical, but the internal experiences are often so startlingly similar that when you sit in a meeting, …
Love Addiction: The Folly of Assigning Magical Qualities to Others Read More »
The synthetic cannabinoid CHMINACA has been appearing on the island of Jersey in the English Channel, and authorities have issued stark warnings about its dangers. Many forms of synthetic marijuana, including CHMINACA, have been banned in the U.S. and other countries around the world, but the relative ease of creating new strains means that governments …
New Synthetic Marijuana Among ‘Most Dangerous’ Compounds Read More »
Being a workaholic is something that some people might joke about. Addiction researchers take it seriously, though. Being addicted to work is a real thing and it can be a real problem for some people.
Alcohol binging (i.e., binge drinking) and heavy alcohol intake are the two drinking behaviors most firmly linked to short- and long-term exposure to serious, potentially deadly alcohol-related harm. For this reason, public health officials consider tracking the extent of these behaviors as a critical step in estimating nationwide risks from alcohol consumption. In September 2014, …
How Many Americans Binge on Alcohol or Drink Heavily? Read More »
Weight and weight loss can be extremely difficult to navigate for someone who has suffered with an eating disorder in the past. For many people, the recovery process involves avoiding scales altogether, and with them any numbers concerned with weight loss and weight management, such as calorie counting. However, sometimes people with a history of …
Perils of Losing Weight When You’ve Had an Eating Disorder Read More »