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Disclose or not? The catch 22 of mental illness stigma
I want to share a recent post of mine from psychinaction because I think it applies to addiction as much as it does to other mental health issues: A report published by SAMHSA addresses the issue of self-disclosure regarding mental illness. Research has already shown that the more familiar people are with others who have…
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The cost of quitting alcohol and drug addiction – treatment tips for addicts
Many users are discouraged by the cost of drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs. The treatment programs that advertise, which are normally the only ones most people hear about (you know them: Passages, Promises, Betty Ford and more) may offer services that are worthwhile, but they may not and consumers have no way to evaluate…
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One day at a time, but not forever!!!
If you’ve ever gone to a 12-step meeting, you’ve heard the phrase “one day at a time,” so often as to make it a mantra. Personally, it always left me wanting more. Is “one day at a time” enough?! I think the notion is a correct one… when it comes to early recovery. However, once…
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Don’t walk this road alone – Tips for those still struggling
Trying to quit an addiction can be challenging for many reasons. One of the biggest problems, especially at first, is the faulty learning that has taken place while using (or engaging in addictive behavior). For this reason, finding a long term residential addiction treatment option is ideal for people with severe and long addiction problems.…
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Quitting smoking ‘on the spot’ is more likely to succeed than a quit attempt planned in advance
Two studies show smokers who make a sudden decision to quit smoking are more likely to be successful than smokers who plan their quit attempt in advance.
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Addiction during the holidays: Recovered or not, it’s important to be prepared
The holidays are a stressful time for everyone. Between gift-giving, travel, and keeping up with all parts of the ever-complicated modern family unit, nearly anyone can find themselves driven towards the nearest coping mechanism, whatever that may be. However, for recovering addicts, or those still struggling with an active addiction, the holidays can be a…
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Recovery from addiction: Stigma and many obstacles, but no excuses!
Many of the people in my life nowadays forget that I’m an ex-convict. Still, I get daily reminders that the “ex” part of convict doesn’t carry much weight. I also know that I have it easy because I have a Ph.D. after my name. For many others in recovery, things are even harder. Still, when…
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People, places, and things – How important are drug-related triggers for addiction relapse?
In cognitive behavioral therapy they’re a big part of the “Five W’s” = When, Where, Why, With, and What. In the various 12-step programs they’re simply referred to as “People, places, and things.” But no matter how you refer to them, drug-associated cues, or “triggers” as they are more commonly known, obviously play a big…
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About Alfred Adler – One psychoanalytic view of alcohol and drug addiction
In a previous post (see A Million Ways to Treat an Addict) I had mentioned that there are many ways to approach the treatment of addiction to drugs and alcohol. I mentioned methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and a growing number of medications (like Vivitrol) and possibly some preventative measures…