Understanding Substance/Medication-Induced Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorder Mental HealthBy PromisesSeptember 11, 2014Substance/medication induced obsessive-compulsive and related disorder is the lengthy, somewhat complicated name for a newly defined mental health condition that appears in DSM 5, the recently released fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. People with this condition have symptoms that closely resemble the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or any… Details
Alcohol Can Ruin Lives – Yours Included Alcohol AbuseBy PromisesSeptember 8, 2014When people think of dangerous drugs, they probably think of heroin, crack cocaine, crystal meth or strong painkillers like oxycodone. Because it’s legal, alcohol isn’t usually thought of as a substance with the potential to kill you or lead to chronic, irreversible health problems. Drinking is widely accepted as a rite of passage, something everyone… Details
Questions About Drug Addiction? Government Website Has Answers Personal ResourcesBy PromisesSeptember 7, 2014For those struggling to recognize and understand drug addiction, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) provides a basic introduction. It explains what addiction is, the changes that occur in the brain that lead to addiction, and reasons why some people are particularly vulnerable to addiction. Drug addiction is like many other compulsive behaviors. For… Details
Selective Eating Disorder: You Are What You Don’t Eat Eating DisordersBy PromisesSeptember 7, 2014The American Psychiatric Association’s latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which was published in May 2013, includes several disorders and syndromes that were not recognized as real mental illnesses in the past. One of these newly recognized conditions is avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder —which is more commonly known as… Details
Screening Questions Help Primary Care Physicians Detect Substance Abuse Drug Addiction InfoBy PromisesSeptember 4, 2014Primary care practitioners seldom encounter medical conditions they can’t identify. Backed by precise diagnostic tools such as X-ray machines, MRI scanners, computerized tomography and DNA testing, 21st century doctors, nurses and physician’s assistants are able to uncover a broad range of diseases, injuries, syndromes and conditions. But despite modern medicine’s many advances, detecting substance abuse… Details
Motivational Speaking as a Recovering Addict Drug Addiction InfoBy PromisesSeptember 1, 2014As an addict in recovery you have been through a major life struggle. You lived with your addiction. You forced yourself to realize the problem you had with drugs or alcohol. And finally you accepted offers of help and made it through a rehab program to get sober and learn how to stay sober. You… Details
Reasons to Volunteer During Recovery RecoveryBy PromisesSeptember 1, 2014Volunteering is a wonderful way to support your recovery from addiction. After completing an intensive program of addiction treatment you may feel invigorated and ready to take on the world. It could also be that you feel lost and unsure what to do next. Many people find themselves without purpose post-rehab. For a long time… Details
Improve Your Willpower to Avoid Relapse Relapse PreventionBy PromisesAugust 31, 2014As an addict in recovery you know that addiction is far more complicated than a failure of willpower. Drugs and alcohol cause chemical changes in your brain that encourage you to use them repeatedly. With more use come more alterations to the brain. These leave you nearly helpless in your attempts to stop using. However,… Details
How to Talk to Your Addicted Loved One Family ResourcesBy PromisesAugust 30, 2014If you have a loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, you know how challenging it is to talk to that person. When you try to confront him about his problem you may encounter any number of deflecting techniques: avoidance, anger, guilt, aggression or anything else that prevents you from having a serious… Details
To Tell or Not to Tell a Date About Your Borderline Personality Disorder Borderline PersonalityBy PromisesAugust 29, 2014When Calista’s friend recently set her up on a blind date, she prepared with the usual amount of nervousness and trepidation. Would he like her? Would she like him? If she did like him (and he liked her), how soon would be too soon to tell him about her mental illness? Calista has borderline personality… Details
