Wets: Angel Dust Making a ComebackDrug Addiction InfoBy Promises AustinSeptember 24, 2013The 1970s saw the rise in the use of PCP (Phencyclidine), or “angel dust,’’ as well as its eventual decline. While the drug provided the desirable high, the paranoia, frightening hallucinations and violent side effects kept it from becoming a mainstream high. Years later, cocaine and crack took over as the drugs of choice among… Details
An Interview with Jay Plotkin, Admissions DirectorStaff StoriesBy Promises AustinSeptember 20, 2013When people prepare for their first day of drug or alcohol rehab, they are usually filled with uncertainty. “What should I bring?” “What will the process be like?” Admissions Director Jay Plotkin answers all of these questions but reassures clients, “All you need is a suitcase of willingness and you’ll be just fine. Give us… Details
Excessive Drinking Costs Each American $746Alcohol AbuseBy Promises AustinSeptember 18, 2013Heavy 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… Details
Change Your Inner Narrator, Change Your LifePersonal 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… Details
Does Imposter Syndrome Plague Adult Children of Alcoholics?Alcohol AbuseBy Promises AustinSeptember 17, 2013Growing 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… Details
A New Way to Understand Depression in MenDepressionBy Promises AustinSeptember 17, 2013Pop quiz: What are the three most common symptoms of depression? If you said any of the following: sadness or a low mood, tearfulness, appetite changes, and either insomnia or excessive sleeping, you would be right on target. Or would you? Up until very recently, the medical definition of depression stressed exactly those symptoms as… Details
FDA Says Antidepressant Works on Hot FlashesMental Health - WomenBy Promises AustinSeptember 12, 2013It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke—women have been on the receiving end of jokes and quips about menopause in all its hot-flashing, mood-roller-coastering, sleep-destroying glory for decades—and now antidepressants can be prescribed for some of these symptoms. I can hear women all over the United States uttering their most sarcastic “really?” and… Details
Misread Hunger Signals May Cause Eating Disorders, Landmark Study FindsEating DisordersBy Promises AustinSeptember 10, 2013Anorexia and bulimia are the two most well known eating disorders in the U.S., and until 2013 they were the only two eating disorders recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. For a long time, doctors and researchers have tried—with only partial success—to uncover the underlying causes for the onset of anorexic and bulimic eating behaviors.… Details
Tips for Living With Obsessive-Compulsive DisorderPersonal ResourcesBy Promises AustinSeptember 4, 2013Obsessive-compulsive disorder (often referred to as simply OCD) is a complex and challenging mental health condition that impacts millions of people. Symptoms that typically begin in childhood or adolescence will often plague an individual throughout his or her lifetime, especially if the disorder is never treated. Even with proper treatment, the nagging symptoms of OCD… Details
Don’t Be Defined by Your IllnessPersonal ResourcesBy Promises AustinSeptember 4, 2013Has your search for feeling better reached the level of obsession? The more you acknowledge that there is a part of you that is OK, the more you can feel OK and just relax. Depression, anxiety, personality disorders–for many women, we manage our symptoms while we manage a busy family life. Feeling bad (and “bad”… Details
