Trauma: How to Move Beyond Survival Mode PTSD & TraumaBy Promises AustinJanuary 8, 2015Truly traumatic events put our brains and bodies in survival mode. It is an automatic response to something traumatic and life-threatening. The problem is that many people who have experienced trauma continue to live in survival mode. They may think they have overcome the trauma, but the brain is still operating on that base level…
Why the Culture of Shaming Must End Mental HealthBy Promises AustinJanuary 8, 2015Unless you don’t use social media, you have seen the many ‘shaming’ memes and pictures across all social platforms. These are the posts that shame someone doing something considered wrong or someone who has certain unacceptable attributes. Sometimes the shaming is funny and largely innocent, such as when pet owners shame their naughty dogs with…
What Is the Overlap Between Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphic Disorder? Eating DisordersBy Promises AustinJanuary 8, 2015Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition that causes affected individuals to negatively focus their attention on minor or nonexistent “flaws” in their physical appearance. The American Psychiatric Association classifies the condition as a close relative of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People affected by eating disorders also commonly have fixations regarding their appearance, but…
Internet Addiction Linked to Other Mental Health Problems Other AddictionsBy Promises AustinJanuary 2, 2015Internet addiction is an unofficially defined condition centered on dysfunctional use of the Internet while doing such things as browsing or playing games. The American Psychiatric Association is currently reviewing the evidence required to fully establish the criteria for this condition. Research indicates that substantial numbers of people potentially affected by Internet addiction also have…
Facing Fears in Addiction Recovery Addiction Treatment, Drug Addiction, Mental Health, Personal Resources, Recovery, Relapse PreventionBy Promises AustinJanuary 2, 2015Getting sober can be a scary experience. In order to live a life that doesn’t include drugs or alcohol, you have to give up the substances that have been giving you at least some degree of relief from the uncomfortable feelings that often happen in life. You may also have to give up habits, such…
Letting Go of Old Ideas in Addiction Recovery RecoveryBy Promises AustinJanuary 1, 2015As an alcoholic or addict, you probably know that your own choices and thinking got you in a lot of trouble and, eventually, to the halls of Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. Recovering from active addiction requires changing the unhealthy thoughts that led you to drink, drug and make other bad choices. It requires that…
Living on the Border of Alcoholism Alcohol AbuseBy Promises AustinDecember 30, 2014According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) 17.6 Americans abuse alcohol, making it the most oft used addictive substance in the nation. But what’s the dividing line between alcoholism and not-quite alcoholism? The number of folks living on the edges of alcoholism could be staggering. The NCADD defines alcoholism by the…
Post-Traumatic Growth: Healing From PTSD PTSD & TraumaBy Promises AustinDecember 30, 2014Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been part of the therapeutic lexicon since the 1980s, when PTSD was added to the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a response to the biological, psychological, and social impact of catastrophic events such as war, rape, natural disasters and surviving prisoner-of-war or concentration…
Tips on How to Deal with an Alcoholic Family Member During the Holidays Alcohol AbuseBy Promises AustinDecember 27, 2014The holidays are a wonderful opportunity to get together and catch up with family and friends that you may not have seen in a while. However, the stress of preparing holiday dinners, buying gifts and decorating your home are likely to leave you yearning for a quiet, peaceful family gathering.
Dual Diagnosis: PTSD and Substance Abuse PTSD & TraumaBy Promises AustinDecember 26, 2014After a break-in and assault, a young woman self-medicates with prescription drugs. But not even the increasingly large amounts of narcotics can ease her anxiety. Sidney had been like most of the young women attending her prestigious women’s college; she was wide-eyed, eager and intellectually curious. Her parents described her as someone who “lit up…
