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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
There is no doubt that having a parent who has a problem with drug addiction or alcoholism has an impact on children. A parent who is severely addicted may expose his or her children to a wide range of negative experiences that can range from unpredictable mood swings to financial struggles to violence. Children may…
Narcissistic sex addicts like Mason74, who use grandiosity and a facade of self-confidence to present as though they are indestructible, are perhaps the most difficult to treat. Mason74 is charismatic, convicted and charming. He attends an online SSA (Sex Addicts Anonymous) meeting and when it’s his turn on the virtual floor, he starts out by…
A successful businesswoman constantly pursued other women for sex, but pushed them away when emotional bonding began to set in. Meika, a successful producer and TV writer, had always liked to joke that she was a world-renowned womanizer. Her predominantly heterosexual colleagues (though there were several openly gay folks in her industry) seemed to take…
Abusing drugs or alcohol does not necessarily cause domestic violence, but there is a strong correlation. For households with an addict, episodes of violence are far more likely. Every day can be a fearful game of waiting for the drug abuser or alcoholic to explode or lash out at a child or a spouse. Substance…
In 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, each of the 12 steps contains words such as “we,” “us” and “ourselves.” These words help to remind each individual in the program that recovery is not a solo journey and that together we can do what none of us can do alone. In order…
