Carl Hart: Rats Given Sweets, Playmates CAN Turn Backs on Cocaine CocaineBy Promises AustinOctober 15, 2013Research conducted by a Columbia University psychologist is turning stereotypes about drug addicts on their heads. Carl Hart, an associate professor of psychology, has been researching drug addiction for years with the hopes of learning the truths about drugs, drug abuse and addiction. His ideas about addicts, backed by research, have been published in a…
For Insomnia, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy As Effective as Medication TherapiesBy Promises AustinOctober 12, 2013Insomnia is a condition characterized by problems such as difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep and (in most cases) unrestful sleep that fails to sufficiently refresh the body and mind. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) classifies insomnia as an independent mental health issue in a category known as sleep-wake disorders, and it also appears as…
Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder – A New Mental Health Diagnosis Sex AddictionBy Promises AustinOctober 10, 2013Female sexual interest/arousal disorder is a mental health condition first defined in May 2013 in the new fifth edition of the reference guide called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM. It replaces two other conditions, called female hypoactive sexual desire disorder and female sexual arousal disorder, listed in the now obsolete…
Warning Signs Your Teen May Be Bulimic Teen IssuesBy Promises AustinOctober 10, 2013You’ve already sensed that something is not right with your teenager. Maybe she’s become touchy or defensive about her eating habits. Perhaps he’s starting to develop an obsession with maintaining his weight for the wrestling team. Parenting is always hard; however, it can be even tougher when you sense a problem, like an eating disorder,…
Five Signs That You’re Addicted to Shopping Process AddictionsBy Promises AustinOctober 10, 2013The source may not be entirely scientific, but a recent survey of Americans shows that we may be succumbing to addictive behaviors when it comes to shopping. A shopping addiction, sometimes called compulsive shopping, is not quite the same as a chemical addiction to a drug or alcohol, but the results can still be devastating.…
Drug Use Surges Among Baby Boomers Senior IssuesBy Promises AustinOctober 8, 2013Addiction rehab centers across the U.S. are seeing more of an older demographic than your typical troubled teen or young adult: baby boomers. According to a new government study, addiction rates among baby boomers are on the rise. Substance addiction among men and women in their 50s and 60s comes with its own set of…
Learning to Call Myself an Addict Was Freedom Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinOctober 2, 2013It’s not so bad, being an addict. And for those of us who fit that description, most have discovered that the biggest hurdle to jump is neither the actual quitting, nor the emotional and physical withdrawal symptoms. It is making the pure and honest admission that you have become what you feared, and if you…
Underneath the Narcissism: Shame Is Ugly Face Behind the Mask Mental HealthBy Promises AustinOctober 1, 2013Although Eric and Christine had been married 12 years, their lives never felt settled or comfortable. Eric could be incredibly charming and was a man of fantastic charisma; indeed these traits were the very things that had originally attracted Christine and swept her off her feet. But behind closed doors, he could be an entirely…
Proven Mood Boosters If You’re Over 50 and Feeling Blue Senior IssuesBy Promises AustinSeptember 30, 2013It’s not uncommon for depression to develop (or recur if you have a history) later in life. This can be due to a variety of reasons – both psychological (e.g. suddenly coping with an empty nest) and physiological (e.g. age-related health issues, menopause). Symptoms of depression can range from mild to severe. They may include…
Treatment-Resistant Depression: When Your Loved One Still Hurts DepressionBy Promises AustinSeptember 25, 2013For some people, receiving the diagnosis of depression is akin to receiving nearly any other diagnosis at the doctor’s office: the doc gives you the news, hands you a prescription, and your job is simply to do as he or she says and get better. In a certain percentage of cases of depression, this is…
