Helper’s High: How Doing Good Can Make You Feel Good Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinOctober 18, 2014By Edie Weinstein, LSW @EdieWeinstein1 “Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty.” — Ann Herbert The term “random acts of kindness” has long been part of the vernacular. For some people, it may take the form of paying the toll for the person behind you on the turnpike. For others, it could… Details
Insomnia and Bipolar Disorder: What You Can Do BipolarBy Promises AustinOctober 16, 2014Just about everyone at some point has had the experience of being unable to turn off their mind and fall asleep at night. But for the person with bipolar disorder, racing thoughts are a regular symptom of the illness and the inability to get to sleep or remain asleep can become a real impediment to… Details
Cocaine Adulteration and Risks for Dangerous Infection CocaineBy Promises AustinOctober 13, 2014Manufacturers of the illegal street drug cocaine commonly cheapen or adulterate their products with other substances in order to save money and make their drug supplies go farther. Since roughly 2003, one of the substances most frequently added to cocaine has been levamisole, a medication banned from human use in the United States. Cocaine users… Details
Healing Complex Trauma for Addiction Recovery RecoveryBy Promises AustinOctober 8, 2014A young woman with self-described ‘commitment phobia’ turns to substances to numb the pain of a troubled childhood. A young woman drives into therapy. Aamori complains to her therapist that all of her relationships end just after the one-year mark, just as things begin to get serious. The reason, she explains, is that she gets… Details
When Does Exercise Become an Addiction? Other AddictionsBy Promises AustinOctober 2, 2014Exercise should be a part of a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise helps you to control your weight and reduce your risk of developing certain diseases and chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. It helps improve your mood, gives you energy, helps you sleep and just makes you feel good in general. One of… Details
Addiction, Happiness, and Retraining the Brain Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinOctober 2, 2014By Jeanene Swanson When it comes to addiction recovery, maintaining sobriety is a balancing act of grit, perseverance and hope. While these things aren’t easy to come by, they can all be achieved through a process of retraining the brain. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to rewire itself. In addiction, more than one area of… Details
Rave Parties and the Abuse of Club Drugs Drug Addiction InfoBy Promises AustinSeptember 27, 2014Once found primarily in large metropolitan areas, rave parties are making their way into more rural settings. Increasingly, parents need to understand what is meant by the term and what happens at the parties once kids get there. A rave is a techno party where the music, strobe lighting and partying last into the wee… Details
Family History of Bipolar Disorder May Make the Illness More Severe BipolarBy Promises AustinSeptember 25, 2014Parents can pass along physical characteristics and even mannerisms to their offspring. Unfortunately, they can also pass along genes for illnesses like diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Researchers recently investigated how family history impacts bipolar disorder. Through the STEP-BP (Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder) study researchers found that a family history of mania… Details
6 Reasons Synthetic Marijuana Is More Toxic Than Pot MarijuanaBy Promises AustinSeptember 25, 2014Synthetic marijuana is one of the best-known “designer drugs” on the market, and despite legal efforts to curb its use, it’s still a big public health problem. The dirty secret about synthetic marijuana (otherwise known as Spice, K2, Yucatan Fire, JWH-018 and other names) is that it’s nothing like marijuana. With symptoms ranging from agitation… Details
Computer-Based Behavioral Therapy Shows Promise for Addiction Treatment Addiction TreatmentBy Promises AustinSeptember 23, 2014It’s a sad fact that many people in need of substance abuse treatment do not receive it. However, the Affordable Care Act is expected to lead to a significant increase in the number of people receiving treatment for substance abuse disorders, and a new piece of research has potentially found a useful tool for meeting… Details
