A marathon session of watching your favorite TV show sounds harmless enough. Thanks to on-demand viewing and online streaming, it’s easy to catch up on several episodes or even a whole season at a time. But binge-consuming anything — whether it’s TV, booze or food — may be a sign that something is missing in …
As an active addict or alcoholic, you avoided experiencing a lot of emotions. You found that you were much more comfortable if you felt numb. In sobriety, you find that sooner or later you have to feel your feelings. You have to face things that make you uncomfortable, and you have to experience emotions without …
Around one in five Americans experience extreme stress, and stress has been closely linked to addiction in a multitude of studies. Stress Awareness Month aims to shine the spotlight on stress, to help us all think about ways to reduce our stress and, in the process, to help us move away from poor coping mechanisms …
Being a workaholic is something that some people might joke about. Addiction researchers take it seriously, though. Being addicted to work is a real thing and it can be a real problem for some people.
Having the serious talks with your kids isn’t easy. Talking to your teen about sex, peer pressure, drugs, drinking and other issues can be awkward and many parents avoid it. But as daunting as the task may be, do not skip these conversations. Teens whose parents talk to them about drinking are much more likely to be …
Parents have a powerful influence on their children’s choices, setting the tone for values and behavior. How can a concerned parent help prevent substance abuse and/or help kids in addiction recovery? The National Institutes of Health offers suggestions including early awareness and intervention, family bonding, and supervision of children’s activities.
Substance addiction is a well-established concept long recognized by mental health professionals, researchers and the general public. Behavioral addiction is a form of recently acknowledged, non-substance-based addiction that has a strong scientific foundation but relatively little recognition in society as a whole. In a study published in November 2014 in the journal Addictive Behaviors, a …
Public Blames Personality Defects for Behavioral Addictions Read More »
One of the most widely repeated pieces of advice on dealing with addiction in a loved one is that “tough love” is the best approach. He or she has to hit “rock bottom,” you’re told, and when that happens, there will be a tremendous transformation. The son or daughter who once wanted nothing but to …
Using Phrases Like ‘Rock Bottom’ Is Easy; Living With Them Is Hard Read More »
Is your mind overactive with “the grass is greener” thinking? Do you sigh in frustration that you aren’t living the life you imagined? Are you immersed in thoughts such as: “What if I hadn’t married my spouse and there’s someone better for me?” “If only I were thinner, prettier, better educated, healthier, or wealthier, I …
“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” — Hal Borland