4 Negative Emotions That Can Hurt Your Sobriety Staying SoberBy Promises AustinMay 21, 2015As an active addict or alcoholic, you avoided experiencing a lot of emotions. You found that you were much more comfortable if you felt numb. In sobriety, you find that sooner or later you have to feel your feelings. You have to face things that make you uncomfortable, and you have to experience emotions without…
Taking Inventory of the Relationships in Your Life Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinMay 21, 2015You may be familiar with a Boy Scout rule that encourages cleaning up after yourself: “Leave the campground better than you found it.” This isn’t always easy in practice, especially for those whose behaviors in the throes of addiction left chaos and damage in their wake. To begin anew, taking inventory can be an enlightening…
Why Are Some People More Resilient After Psychological Trauma? PTSD & TraumaBy Promises AustinMay 20, 2015Approximately 10 percent of people suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after experiencing a severe trauma, while others go on to experience varying levels of emotional stress. Around one-third of those who develop PTSD will have symptoms for the rest of their lifetimes, while others are able to recover fully from a severely traumatic event…
Why We Hurt Ourselves and Others — and How to Stop Mental HealthBy Promises AustinMay 16, 2015Sometimes we’re our own worst enemies. Even worse, we aren’t always willing to acknowledge the damage we cause to our own well-being. For example, imagine a man whose upbringing was overshadowed by a parent’s alcoholism. He determined he wouldn’t fall into the same addictive patterns, yet he thinks nothing of drinking daily as an adult.…
What Are the Best Treatments for Amphetamine Overdoses? MethBy Promises AustinMay 14, 2015A team of American researchers has identified several treatments that can help people recover from various symptoms of an amphetamine overdose or an overdose triggered by an amphetamine-related substance. Amphetamines are powerful stimulants that can produce a range of serious, severe or life-threatening symptoms related to the onset of an overdose. In a study review…
Control vs. Surrender in the Face of Life Change Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinMay 13, 2015“Change is inevitable, change is constant.” — Benjamin Disraeli Humans never stop changing — which means we never stop coping with change. From the moment we’re born, we must learn to adapt to our environment in order to live and thrive, often without even being conscious of this instinct. By the time we’re old enough…
Brain Shrinkage Seen in Women With Late-Stage Bipolar Disorder BipolarBy Promises AustinMay 12, 2015Recent findings from a team of American researchers point toward a telltale shrinkage in brain size in women who have late-stage bipolar I disorder. Current evidence indicates that the effects of various bipolar illnesses can grow substantially worse over time, and researchers note clear differences between early-stage cases of these illnesses and late-stage cases. In…
What to Do While Your Spouse Is in Rehab Addiction Treatment, Drug Addiction, Family Resources, Mental Health, Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinMay 12, 2015While your spouse is in rehab for addiction, you may feel helpless and lost, unsure of what to do to help him or yourself. Instead of stewing in sorrow, self-pity or guilt, take action and take steps to heal and to be prepared for his return after rehab. Addiction doesn’t just affect the addict. It…
The Mindful Path to Addiction Recovery RecoveryBy Promises AustinMay 11, 2015The mindfulness movement has its roots in Eastern philosophies and meditation techniques such as those found in Tibetan Buddhism, Indian yoga and Chinese Taoism. The common thread connecting these philosophies is the idea of slowing down, focusing on the breath, the present moment, and directing one’s attention to the immediate experience of life. The goal…
Five Reasons Not to Fall in Love in Rehab Addiction TreatmentBy Promises AustinMay 9, 2015Going to rehab for addiction is an important step in learning to live a sober life, one that is satisfying and full without drugs or alcohol. In rehab you will learn how to let go of your addiction, how to dig deep inside and find your motivations for abusing substances and how to move past…
