There are many types of mindfulness practice. Some are meditative and draw on traditional practices such as transcendental meditation, Zen Buddhist meditation, yogic meditation, and the walking meditation popularized by the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh. Some types of mindfulness practices are task-oriented and rooted in daily life. Mindfulness teachers urge their students to instill …
The diverse symptoms of borderline personality disorder make it unlikely that doctors will establish a simple method of measuring the outcomes of treatments for the disorder, according to new findings published by a group of American researchers.
Addiction is not the worst possible consequence of substance abuse. If you risk abusing drugs or alcohol, you risk your life. A fatal overdose is always a possibility for anyone choosing to misuse drugs and alcohol. The biggest risk is to combine alcohol with drugs. Mixing substances is always dangerous, but certain combinations are riskier …
As an active addict or alcoholic, you avoided experiencing a lot of emotions. You found that you were much more comfortable if you felt numb. In sobriety, you find that sooner or later you have to feel your feelings. You have to face things that make you uncomfortable, and you have to experience emotions without …
You may be familiar with a Boy Scout rule that encourages cleaning up after yourself: “Leave the campground better than you found it.” This isn’t always easy in practice, especially for those whose behaviors in the throes of addiction left chaos and damage in their wake. To begin anew, taking inventory can be an enlightening …
Taking Inventory of the Relationships in Your Life Read More »
People suffering from sexual addiction will go to great lengths to hide their behaviors, but you can spot signs that something is wrong if you know what to look for. In many cases, the secrecy and withdrawn behavior that is necessary for someone with sex addiction to hide his activities can be a clue that …
Approximately 10 percent of people suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after experiencing a severe trauma, while others go on to experience varying levels of emotional stress. Around one-third of those who develop PTSD will have symptoms for the rest of their lifetimes, while others are able to recover fully from a severely traumatic event …
Why Are Some People More Resilient After Psychological Trauma? Read More »
Sometimes the best advice we could receive is the advice we’d give others. That’s why the guidance in the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and its offshoot support groups could be just as helpful for therapists as it is for their patients.
Sometimes we’re our own worst enemies. Even worse, we aren’t always willing to acknowledge the damage we cause to our own well-being. For example, imagine a man whose upbringing was overshadowed by a parent’s alcoholism. He determined he wouldn’t fall into the same addictive patterns, yet he thinks nothing of drinking daily as an adult. …
Why We Hurt Ourselves and Others — and How to Stop Read More »
Gambling is a habit that can ruin your life. For most people who gamble, the activity is just a hobby or an occasional form of entertainment. If you have a tendency to be impulsive, seek risks and become addicted, you may find that gambling becomes a bad habit you can’t stop. Before long you find …
Take These Steps to Beat Your Gambling Addiction Read More »