By Frank Sanchez, PhD, LMFT, Clinical Director, Promises Young Adults Program Maggie knew she needed help with her drug problem and advocated to be in rehab, but she was having extreme difficulty with her family members. There was a toxic relationship with her older sister. Her mother had severe mental health issues. Her father tried…
Details
What psychology is at play in the eating disorder anorexia nervosa? A new movie called “To the Bone” starring Lily Collins seems to support the theory, somewhat tangentially, that anorexia involves a psychology of wanting to feel in control and accepted. As the anorexic starves herself, she overcomes temptation and achieves rigid control over her…
Details
“I feel like I’m always making new friends or falling in love with a new guy, but then something goes really wrong in the relationship and they push me away. The people in my life are always either getting mad at me, breaking up with me or letting me down and I don’t know what…
Details
When an occasional glass of wine with dinner or a couple of beers over the weekend turn into a few drinks per day or the occasional drinking binge, it may be time to consider giving up alcohol … especially if you have been dealing with too many hangovers and your drinking is starting to affect…
Details
There are plenty of reasons to cut down on your drinking or give up alcohol — too many hangovers, a potential DUI and the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder loom large. Here is another one. Did you know that drinking alcohol can add years to your face and body? A new research study indicates that alcohol even ages you biologically at the cellular level
Details
Having a drink with friends after work, a glass of wine with dinner or a few beers over the weekend is, for most people, part of “normal” life. Sometimes, though, casual or social drinking can develop into “problematic” drinking where life doesn’t feel right unless alcohol is involved. And, it can be tricky to know…
Details
Going to rehab is a vital step to entering recovery and it helps to be prepared with inspiration and information. There are so many books on addiction yet the classics in this field are the ones people always return to for inspiration and understanding. Here are some of the drug addiction books that can help…
Details
By Jody Trager, PhD, Program Director at Promises Malibu Vista I’m lucky to live on the West Coast because every day I can drive to the ocean and watch the waves roll in before beginning my busy day. Studies show it’s healthy to be near the coast. It’s soothing and inspiring and I find it…
Details
“You can never be too rich or too thin” said Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor. “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels,” said Kate Moss, international supermodel. Such statements from iconic and famously slender women have become a kind of mantra for generations of women, who often develop low self-esteem and body image issues if…
Details
By Elizabeth Davies-Ulirsch, Primary Therapist at Promises Young Adult Program Alcohol abuse can slowly destroy relationships. It can erode even the most committed love, scar children and impact families for generations. If you suspect a problem with your spouse, it is important to know these alcoholism facts. Why People Drink There’s always a reason why…
Details