Why Sleep Is Important to Recovery RecoveryBy Promises AustinSeptember 26, 2015Making the commitment to do something proactive to overcome drug and alcohol addiction is an excellent first step, one that’s crucial to learning how to live a healthy and happy life without the crutch of addictive substances. But the road to recovery is often fraught with unexpected turns, not the least of which is attempting… Details
Digital Addiction: This Is Your Brain Online Other AddictionsBy Promises AustinSeptember 26, 2015“Digital” addictions—to things like the Internet, video games, social media and smartphones or other technology—are increasingly common but widely misunderstood. Despite not yet being recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the DSM), experts are increasingly warning of the risks of various types of technology addiction. The claim that things like the… Details
How to Find a Solution for Almost Any Problem Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinSeptember 25, 2015Try as we might, some problems are so vexing and difficult that it seems impossible to arrive at any sort of workable solution. This is not an unusual situation for anyone in today’s stress-filled society, but it can be even more frustrating for those who are in recovery. When faced with simultaneous, and often conflicting,… Details
The Healing Power of Love and Compassion Mental HealthBy Promises AustinSeptember 24, 2015During her keynote presentation at the Freud Meets Buddha conference, the wise and witty Joan Borysenko, PhD, shared the following poem, written by Sufi poet Hafiz in the 1300s and translated by Daniel Ladinsky: The Subject Tonight is Love The subject tonight is Love And for tomorrow night as well, As a matter of fact… Details
Mindful Walking: Take a ‘Walkabout’ in Recovery RecoveryBy Promises AustinSeptember 24, 2015Mindful walking was introduced to the Western world by the Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese writer and teacher who first brought his unique brand of Buddhism, known as mindfulness, to the U.S. in the early 1960s. Hanh defines mindfulness as “our ability to be aware of what is going on both inside us… Details
How to Drop the Curtain on Drama in Your Life Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinSeptember 18, 2015“When you are not honoring the present moment by allowing it to be, you are creating drama.” — Eckhart Tolle Chaos and drama: Some people thrive on them, seemingly on a mission to find ways to stir them up lest life become boring. Drama shows up in many situations. It can appear as a couple… Details
Attachment Styles of Sex and Love Addicts Sex AddictionBy Promises AustinSeptember 18, 2015People who grew up feeling securely attached to their caregivers tend to replicate that dynamic in their adult romantic relationships. They form secure bonds with partners. They tolerate the ebbs and flows inherent to long-term relationships. They trust that their significant other is not going to get the hell out of dodge after a difference… Details
Middle-Aged Women Most Frequent Victims of Depression DepressionBy Promises AustinSeptember 17, 2015The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has just confirmed what many already knew: women between the ages of 40 and 59 have higher rates of depression than any other subset of the population.
Researchers Identify Young People Most Likely to Abuse Prescription Drugs Prescription DrugsBy Promises AustinSeptember 17, 2015Young adult Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 are far more likely to abuse a prescription medication than older adults or younger teenagers. In addition to drug addiction, consequences of this abuse include non-fatal and fatal drug overdoses. In a study in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review, four U.S. institutions sought to… Details
How the Jewish High Holy Days Relate to Recovery RecoveryBy Promises AustinSeptember 14, 2015The High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are considered the most sacred on the Jewish calendar. The autumnal holidays signal a time of personal reflection and reconciliation of attitudes and behaviors that occurred in the previous 12 months. Prayer, fasting, asking for and offering forgiveness, as well as time in synagogue await… Details
