When a friend or loved one with a drinking problem enters into recovery, naturally we want to do everything in our power to support her path to wellness. But at the same time, we recognize the situation is fluid and we know that the person we care about is facing a long road back to …
Aerobic exercise may provide more than just physical benefit to drinkers. A recent study, published in September, shows that exercise may also help mitigate the damaging effects of alcohol on a drinker’s brain. Scientists have known for years that alcohol causes vital tissues in the brain to deteriorate, leading to a host of cognitive issues. …
Exercise May Help Repair Brain Damaged by Alcohol Read More »
It doesn’t matter if you’ve struggled with alcoholism yourself or if someone close to you has abused it, you understand the challenges of becoming and staying sober. But what happens when another addiction takes the place of drinking? Instead of reaching for beer or vodka, or even a drug, the alcoholic reaches for a box …
Trading Alcoholism for Sugar Addiction: Here’s the Not-So-Sweet Truth Read More »
Heavy drinkers cost the U.S. economy about $746 per person for a total of $223.5 billion in 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That cost includes healthcare bills, loss of productivity at work, property damage and court fees. The CDC study calls alcohol’s economic toll “substantial” and “striking,” but also “largely …
Growing up in a family affected by alcoholism or addiction—or any other situation that prevents adults from being able to parent effectively—leaves a legacy borne by the next generation. Kids grow up bringing their hurts, fears and addiction-infused ideas about the world, relationships and emotions into adulthood with them. There are many excellent resources for …
Does Imposter Syndrome Plague Adult Children of Alcoholics? Read More »
Let’s start off with full disclosure: I am a psychotherapist and have worked in addiction and mental health settings for a couple of decades. I am no stranger to identifying and naming alcoholism when I see it, which does not exactly make me popular at cocktail parties or family gatherings. Sometimes, however, being able to …
Blood-alcohol content, or blood-alcohol concentration (BAC), is a way of measuring a person’s level of alcohol intoxication. The measure refers to the percentage of alcohol in a person’s blood compared to the total volume of blood. For example, a BAC of 0.08 (which is the legal driving limit for most states in the U.S.) means …
Are You Legally Drunk? What You Need to Know About Blood-Alcohol Content Read More »
If you are a heavy social drinker on the weekends, and maybe some weeknights, you are probably accustomed to waking to the feelings of a hangover – the dry mouth, the aching head, the spinning room. Does this mean that you have a problem? How do you know if you have crossed the line from …
Are You a Harmless Binger or a Functional Alcoholic? Read More »
As awareness about the depredations of substance abuse grows, we might expect that the rates of drug addiction and alcoholism would be falling concordantly. But while this has been happening with a few illegal drugs, it has not been happening with alcohol, which is by far the most frequently abused mind-altering intoxicant.
Recent research findings are showing promising results for people who have damaged their brains by drinking too much. The research was inspired by other studies that found aerobic exercise could have a positive impact on the brains of people as they age. Some of the damage caused by drinking is similar to the damage that …
Exercise May Reverse Brain Damage in Heavy Drinkers, Study Finds Read More »