Addiction, Happiness, and Retraining the Brain Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinOctober 2, 2014By Jeanene Swanson When it comes to addiction recovery, maintaining sobriety is a balancing act of grit, perseverance and hope. While these things aren’t easy to come by, they can all be achieved through a process of retraining the brain. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to rewire itself. In addiction, more than one area of…
Sleep Is a Necessity, Not a Luxury Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinSeptember 13, 2014It couldn’t come at a better time, a nationwide campaign, “Sleep Well, Be Well,” to get out the facts about the importance of a good night’s sleep. Millions of sleep-deprived Americans can relate to the issue of not getting enough sleep. But many are unaware of just how critically important sleep is to our overall…
Questions About Drug Addiction? Government Website Has Answers Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinSeptember 7, 2014For those struggling to recognize and understand drug addiction, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) provides a basic introduction. It explains what addiction is, the changes that occur in the brain that lead to addiction, and reasons why some people are particularly vulnerable to addiction. Drug addiction is like many other compulsive behaviors. For…
Stop Playing the Addiction Blame Game Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinAugust 27, 2014Addicts often blame everyone but themselves. To admit having a problem and then taking responsibility for it are both very difficult to do. The truth is that attitude is very important when it comes to addiction recovery and blaming external sources for problems is counterproductive to successful sobriety. Blame never leads to real change. It…
10 Ways to Deal with Persistent Loneliness Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinAugust 26, 2014We all experience loneliness from time to time. Some is situational, as in we may be separated from loved ones and family members for a short period due to business, travel, school or other circumstances. Some loneliness is nearly inescapable, like the unbearable sadness and loneliness we feel after a loved one dies. While loneliness…
Introduction to Self-Guided Mindful Relaxation Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinJuly 28, 2014Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), first pioneered by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979, is quickly becoming standard practice in addiction recovery programs across the U.S. Initially adapted from Buddhist and yogic meditation and relaxation techniques to support standard psychotherapy as a way to combat and control stress, it’s not hard to connect the dots and understand…
10 Quick and Easy Mood Boosters Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinJune 16, 2014When it comes to getting happier, little things mean a lot. The mood pick-me-ups below are quick, easy and drug-free. They might not solve every problem in your life, but they can help keep a bad moment from turning into a lousy day, and that can put you in a better frame of mind for…
How to Recognize and Reduce Your Addiction Risk? Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinMarch 5, 2014Everyone is predisposed to certain things. For example, some individuals have a melancholy temperament, making them more vulnerable to depression than their more naturally upbeat peers. Another example is those who tend to be “high strung,” making it more difficult to stay calm under stress and keep anxiety at bay. Unfortunately, there are many individuals…
Learning to Call Myself an Addict Was Freedom Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinOctober 2, 2013It’s not so bad, being an addict. And for those of us who fit that description, most have discovered that the biggest hurdle to jump is neither the actual quitting, nor the emotional and physical withdrawal symptoms. It is making the pure and honest admission that you have become what you feared, and if you…
Change Your Inner Narrator, Change Your Life Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinSeptember 18, 2013A week after her latest breakup with a guy who has done this to her before, more than once, Chloe is still crying. She’s inconsolable. On the first day she was in absolute denial, begging him to tell her “why” and she’s still asking the same questions, though he won’t take her calls. She stayed…
