Is Anxiety Holding You Captive? AnxietyBy Promises AustinFebruary 11, 2016You receive a memo from your supervisor that you’re to update a group of managers on a project, and you have only a few days to prepare. The thought of standing before the group makes your head spin, your heart beat out a staccato rhythm and your palms sweat. You want to a dive under…
When Depression Strikes During Addiction Recovery RecoveryBy Promises AustinFebruary 2, 2016Surviving recovery from addiction and avoiding relapse is tough, but it becomes even more difficult if you experience symptoms of depression. Addiction or substance abuse commonly occurs with depression. In fact, up to 40 percent of people with a substance use disorder also struggle with a mood disorder, which can include depression. Know the signs…
How to Make a Plan for Life After Rehab RecoveryBy Promises AustinJanuary 28, 2016Life after rehab is fraught with risk, but it can also be a joyful time of new beginnings. To avoid the negative outcomes, like relapsing, and to fully embrace your new life of sobriety, it’s important to make a plan. Perhaps the most dangerous way to approach recovery is to wing it. With a formal…
This Is What an Addiction Epidemic Looks Like Drug Addiction InfoBy Promises AustinJanuary 26, 2016If you have any doubt that addiction is spreading like a plague across the nation, check out the statistical storyboard created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and shared below. It’s a sobering assortment of interactive bar graphs, charts and maps that tracks the changes in drug overdose deaths from 2002 to 2014…
7 Drug and Alcohol Myths & Facts–Don’t Be Fooled! Alcohol AbuseBy Promises AustinJanuary 26, 2016Do you believe any of these drug and alcohol myths? Chances are high you do. Some substance abuse myths are more destructive than others, though. Test yourself and see what you know. Here are seven of the most common myths surrounding drug and alcohol abuse: “Marijuana is not addictive.” A wealth of research shows that…
After Rehab, Michael Phelps Says ‘Anything Is Possible’ RecoveryBy Promises AustinJanuary 18, 2016In the fall of 2014, the winningest athlete in Olympic history didn’t want to be alive anymore. Michael Phelps had just been arrested for DUI and he was “in really a dark place,” he said. The swimmer’s blood-alcohol level was at 0.14. With Phelps’ weight at the time at about 225, he would have had…
How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinJanuary 12, 2016Imagine constantly being afraid you’ll be discovered as a fraud even though others see you as a success. That’s the root of a condition called imposter syndrome. It affects men and women from all walks of life. In fact, if you experience it, you’re in famous company. Award-winning actor Michelle Pfeiffer has been quoted as…
Adderall Graduates From Study Drug to Workplace Drug Prescription DrugsBy Promises AustinJanuary 11, 2016Adderall is now finding its way into the hands of non-ADHD-suffering workers, who are using the ADHD drug as a “productivity-enhancer” to help them get ahead in their careers. The drug was previously known to be abused as a “study drug” by college students, but it only takes so long for those students to graduate…
Why You Can’t Let Go of a Rocky Romance Mental HealthBy Promises AustinJanuary 7, 2016If you could have one thing in the world, it would probably be a satisfying, loving relationship. You would like to bond with another human being on a deep level, to be completely loved, understood and connected. You would like to be able to trust one special person and count on him or her to…
The Link Between Substance Abuse and a Bad Diet Personal 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…