Why Me? Four Ways Spirituality Can Help You Cope with Difficult Experiences
Why Me? Four Ways Spirituality Can Help You Cope with Difficult Experiences People have always sought answers to the unexplained. From our earliest days humanity has searched for a deeper meaning to existence, especially in the face of unbearable conditions and experiences. Despite the long-running rift between science and spirituality, new research suggests that […]
How to Talk to Someone Recovering from Addiction
How to Talk to Someone Recovering from Addiction It can be hard to know what to say when someone we care for is in crisis. It can feel safer to simply do nothing in order to avoid the messy feelings and uncomfortable communication many associate with difficult events in their lives. But what your […]
Signs of Overdependence on the Internet and Social Media
Signs of Over dependence on the Internet and Social Media The Internet provides a constant, ever-changing source of information and entertainment. It is accessible from most smartphones, tablets, laptops, many gaming systems and desktop computers. Email, blogs, social networks, instant messaging, and message boards allow for both public and anonymous communication about any topic. Young children […]
How to Tell if Someone Is Hiding a Drinking Problem
How to Tell if Someone Is Hiding a Drinking Problem Your friend, colleague, partner, or child doesn’t seem quite right. You wonder if drinking is to blame. You have some cause for concern, some lingering suspicions – an empty vodka bottle found in the closet four months ago or liquor missing from the cabinet – […]
A Stroll in Nature Improves Mental Health
A Stroll in Nature Improves Mental Health Before I earned my graduate degrees and changed my career to focus on addiction treatment and recovery, I worked for the Girl Scouts. I absolutely loved my work, especially in my last years with the organization, during which among other things, I oversaw Girl Scout camp. As a […]
“Be Courteous with Fireworks” Signs for Combat Vets: Do They Help?
“Be Courteous with Fireworks” Signs for Combat Vets: Do They Help? We’re coming up on the Fourth of July, the day on which we celebrate our nation’s independence from England. Fireworks, both at community shows and outside private homes, are a long-standing traditional way of marking this important day in our nation’s history. However, not […]
The Truth about Pain Relief
The Truth about Pain Relief At addiction treatment centers across the nation, more and more individuals are being seen for opioid addiction. Opioids are pain medications including morphine, codeine, oxycodone, methadone, fentanyl or hydrocodone. These pain-killing drugs are addictive and even when prescribed correctly, can be dangerous. It is recommended that opioid therapy should be […]
The Relationship Between Substance Abuse, Insomnia and Suicidal Thoughts
The Relationship Between Substance Abuse, Insomnia and Suicidal Thoughts Accruing evidence indicates that insomnia is prevalent and persistent in early recovery from substance use disorders and may predict relapse. As such, insomnia treatment after abstinence represents an important area for intervention and treatment. According to Dr. Nicholas Rosenlicht of University of San Francisco: “Treating sleep […]
The Amazing Benefit of Animals on Health
The Amazing Benefit of Animals on Health Pet therapy is a broad term that includes animal-assisted therapy and other animal-assisted activities. Animal-assisted therapy is a growing field that uses dogs or other animals to help people recover from or better cope with health problems, such as heart disease, cancer and mental health disorders. Animal-assisted activities, […]
“Magic Mushrooms” Might Be More Magic than We First Thought
“Magic Mushrooms” Might Be More Magic than We First Thought In 1960, two promising young psychologists at Harvard, Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert, began to explore the effects of psychotropic substances on the human mind. They believed that psilocybin, the active chemical in “magic” mushrooms, had the power to change people’s brains for the better. They […]