Does Talk Therapy Work for Everyone in Addiction Recovery?RecoveryBy Promises AustinFebruary 22, 2017By Jana Albright, MA, CATC-IV, Primary Therapist at Promises Malibu Many addiction treatment programs emphasize talk therapy as a method for helping clients through the treatment process. Does talk therapy work for everyone? It depends, because every person who enters a drug treatment program arrives with their own complex and unique personal history, issues and… Details
6 Tips to Help Ensure a Sober St. Patrick’s DayStaying SoberBy Promises AustinFebruary 22, 2017By Matthew Goldenberg, D.O. Board Certified Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry Associate Medical Director, Promises Professionals Treatment Program Many people in the U.S., Irish-American or otherwise, have only a vague notion of what the St. Patrick’s Day holiday represents, beyond the connection to alcohol. While the root of the holiday is paying homage to St. Patrick… Details
5 Self-Care Habits for Family Members of AddictsFamily ResourcesBy Promises AustinFebruary 19, 2017There are more than 23 million Americans struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, and millions more with compulsive behaviors such as gambling, gaming and sex addiction. Struggling along with them are the millions of people who love them. Partners, parents, children, close relatives and friends deal every day with the same problem as the addict,… Details
Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Borderline Personality DisorderBorderline PersonalityBy Promises AustinFebruary 18, 2017Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe mental health condition marked by symptoms such as highly unstable moods and lack of a consistent or stable self-image. People affected by the condition also frequently have additional serious mental health challenges. One of the forms of psychotherapy commonly used to help individuals with BPD is dialectical behavior… Details
Can You Die From Delirium Tremens?Alcohol AbuseBy Promises AustinFebruary 18, 2017Many people who are addicted to alcohol, and wish to stop drinking, feel they can do so “cold turkey” and on their own. However, about one half of all people who have an alcohol dependency suffer from alcohol withdrawal syndrome when they stop drinking. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome can be very dangerous if not monitored by… Details
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Anxiety DisordersAnxietyBy Promises AustinFebruary 17, 2017As a strategy for transcendence rather than coping, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an intriguing option for many people suffering from mental health disorders. Therapists who specialize in ACT believe we all have the potential to live a full and rich life, and that our encounters with depression, anxiety, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic… Details
What Do You Mean I Can Never Drink Again?Alcohol AbuseBy Promises AustinFebruary 16, 2017When you have had one too many disastrous experiences under the influence of alcohol, you realize that it’s time to stop drinking. You may talk to people who are in recovery and realize that the cornerstone of Alcoholics Anonymous is abstinence. You panic. You probably don’t want to stop drinking permanently. You just want to… Details
What Are the Long-Term Effects of an Alcohol Overdose in Teens?Teen IssuesBy Promises AustinFebruary 16, 2017An alcohol overdose (i.e., alcohol poisoning) occurs when you consume alcohol at a rate fast enough to severely suppress normal activity in the body’s central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Every year, tens of thousands of teenagers throughout America expose themselves to an overdose risk by participating in a dangerous practice called binge drinking.… Details
Triggers and Effects of Anxiety During DetoxDrug & Alcohol DetoxBy Promises AustinFebruary 16, 2017After prolonged alcohol use, anxiety can exacerbate unpleasant alcohol detoxification symptoms. While some people turn to alcohol for help with pre-existing anxiety problems, other people develop anxiety disorders due to alcohol use and abuse. Learn how to recognize anxiety, identify anxiety triggers and manage anxiety during the difficult detox period. Recognizing Anxiety Anxiety presents differently… Details
Why Xanax Abuse Is on the RisePrescription DrugsBy Promises AustinFebruary 15, 2017Recent reports from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) show that there has been an increase in Xanax abuse in recent years. There are a number of reasons this is happening. Here’s what to look out for. Xanax Abuse From 2005 to 2011, the number of emergency… Details