Alcohol’s Effect on the Immune System Alcohol AbuseBy PromisesJanuary 11, 2013Heavy use of alcohol is known to cause such ailments as liver damage and heart problems, but now researchers have found that it can damage the very system that keeps bodies safe from illness and disease. Each time an individual drinks enough to get drunk, they are lowering their body’s defenses against illness, preventing nutrients… Details
Fighting Relapse Triggers After Drug Rehab Relapse PreventionBy PromisesJanuary 10, 2013Keeping hold of the sobriety earned through drug rehab is an ongoing challenge. At every turn, it seems, newly sober individuals are confronted with potential triggers leading back into drug use and addiction. Yet, just because those triggers exist does not mean that yielding to them is a foregone conclusion. Realizing what the most common… Details
Nobody Plans to Be an Addict: Rediscovering Dreams Unfulfilled and Finding the Courage to Move On RecoveryBy PromisesJanuary 9, 2013For human beings, dreaming of a brighter future is as natural as breathing, eating, and sleeping. We all have ambitions and personal missions, things we are determined to accomplish and absolutely convinced we will accomplish if only we are given the opportunity. Our dreams are chicken soup for the soul, keeping us motivated and optimistic… Details
What Contributes to Your Success? Personal ResourcesBy PromisesJanuary 7, 2013“Ask yourself the secret of your success. Listen to your answer, and practice it.” – Richard Bach, American writer (born 1936) When we hear the word “success,” we may have a mental picture of someone who has it made, someone who realizes his or her dreams without having to go through a whole lot of… Details
How do You Know if You Have the Wrong AA or NA Sponsor? The Top Ten Warning Signs RecoveryBy PromisesJanuary 5, 2013For drug addicts and alcoholics who are new to recovery and the peer support group experience, finding a good sponsor can mean the difference between success and failure. In some extreme circumstances, it can even mean the difference between life and death. That might sound overly dramatic. But addiction is a life-threatening illness, and the… Details
Perfectionism and Substance Abuse: Exploring the Hidden Connection Drug Addiction InfoBy PromisesJanuary 4, 2013It is hardly controversial to suggest that there are buried conflicts and past traumas that play a role in the onset and the continuation of drug and alcohol abuse. But some of the hidden reasons that underlie addiction often escape detection because no one is actually looking for them, usually because the connection is unsuspected.… Details
Poly-addiction and the Problem of Switching Addictions Drug Addiction InfoBy PromisesJanuary 3, 2013“Polysubstance dependence” is listed as a substance disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV-TR (DSM-IV-TR) published in 2000, the latest revision of the manual used by mental health professionals to diagnose and treat mental health illnesses. Polysubstance dependence is diagnosed when a person meets the criteria for dependence on a group of… Details
Know Who You Are…And Don’t Compromise Yourself Personal ResourcesBy PromisesJanuary 2, 2013“Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got.” – Janis Joplin, American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer, and music arranger, died from an overdose of heroin, possibly combined with the effects of alcohol (1943-1970) It is almost impossible to be able to really see ourselves in an honest light if we are unable or unwilling to… Details
Protecting Relationships from the Strain of Depression DepressionBy PromisesJanuary 2, 2013According to statistics, nearly 15 million adults in the U.S. struggle with depression. While that number alone is staggering, it doesn’t even tell us half the story when it comes to the condition’s actual impact. You see, the depression that directly afflicts millions also has a significant effect on those around them – their spouses,… Details
Dealing with the Stigma of Mental Illness – Do’s and Don’ts Mental HealthBy PromisesDecember 31, 2012Living with a psychiatric disorder is challenging enough; interacting with people who are fearful or hold negative views of mental illness can make life even more difficult. If you’ve been diagnosed with a mental health condition, you may find that it impacts the way others interact with you due to the stigma often associated with… Details
