The credo of the first step universally used in Alcoholics Anonymous groups across the world involves the merciful act of concession. There is a sense of guilt, but if the act of admitting you have a problem is entirely sincere, a heavy burden is lifted. The Power of Humility There is one great thing about that crucial step that all alcoholics…
The easiest way to define addiction is to describe it as an intense psychological and physical craving for something and continuing its use despite severe consequences in one’s health, relationships, career, and quality of life. How does addiction take control of the brain? Substance addiction completely changes the brain and how it functions. It changes the way your brain understands pleasure…
It’s important to understand the differences and similarities between alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse in order to receive the right kind of treatment. The two, though similar in some ways, are quite different and require two different approaches to recovery. The major difference between Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse An alcoholic is a person who suffers from a physical dependency and…
The question has been asked over and over again: is work taking over your life? Many men have answered in the affirmative but have continued to work long hours, morning noon and night. As they became over-burdened and overwhelmed by a range of work-related issues that caused them to stay on late rather than make their way to their homes, their…
The famous 12 Step addiction recovery program was made popular by Alcoholics Anonymous, a group designed to help alcoholics into recovery. It has indeed helped thousands of people worldwide and continues to do so with the following process: Step 1 Admitting the Problem- The most difficult step for most addicts, admitting that you have an addiction, is the first and most…
I spent the majority of my life running away from the truth; Putting on a smile, smooth talking my way out of each problem that presented itself acting however I needed to for the approval of others, or to fulfill my own selfish motives. I had no clue who I was or who I was ever supposed to be, but I…
The path to recovery from drug or alcohol addiction is not easy. Amidst the cravings and awkward relationships, you may find yourself asking why you continue to put yourself through the difficulties involved in getting sober. Quitting starts to look easy. To get past that block, you need to remind yourself of your motivation for seeking recovery in the first place….
When you’re suffering from depression, it can be hard to find the energy to keep up any kind of fitness routine. However, persistence in performing regular workouts does take care of the body. It has been proven that exercise can help ease the symptoms of depression. What Effect Does Exercise Have on Depression?Broadly speaking, exercise has an overwhelmingly positive effect on…
Recovering from addiction is a difficult and strenuous time for anyone involved. The people in your life are going to want to see you do well and conquer addiction, but it may be hard to get them to trust you again. Most people need time to feel you out to see for themselves if you have truly changed before they let…
There are quite a few deterrents that hold people back from seeking treatment for addiction. One of the biggest is the often high monetary cost of rehab. And while that obstacle is usually not as large as it seems—there are a lot of treatment options, and not all of them cost the same—it’s important to remember that continuing your drug abuse…
Relapse can be experienced like this: a momentary relief followed by a devastating emotional blow. All that hard work, it seems, for nothing.Ever created a project on your computer only to have it fry on you, its contents gone forever? It was going along so well, you think. Why didn’t I take the necessary precautions to protect it?Most people, at that…
Detox was hell. Rehab tested every ounce of willpower in your blood. You’d think that recovery alone would be the ultimate triumph: you’ve finally achieved sobriety. You’re ready to lead a healthy, productive life. Haunting Past Then come the questions, the stares, the rumors. People might know you were a drug abuser. You want to embrace your future, you want people…
Legal Drug Addiction Millions of Americans use tobacco and alcohol on a regular, and sometimes excessive, basis. It’s easy to fall into drug abuse when the drug is legal, readily available, and use is actually socially and culturally encouraged. Add up all the addicts of illegal drugs in the US, and the figure doesn’t even come close to the number of…
12-Step-Programs 12-step-programs are wildly popular among a high percentage of recovering individuals, not just in the United States, but around the world. Good reasons stand for this regard. The fellowship, the community, the inspirational text of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, and most importantly, the hope. When our human strength just doesn’t seem to be enough to counteract the influence…
Many people understand horseback riding as a calming, therapeutic exercise. This isn’t so far off. It even has a name: equine assisted psychotherapy, or equine therapy. People around the world use this therapy. Initially, people used it to help patients recover from traumatic injuries. Later on, in the last two decades, equine therapy branched off into the field of psychology, and…
Understanding the emotional pathways of the brain—where they criss-cross and where they clash—is key to identifying and developing more effective treatments for mental health. Depression and anxiety, two of the most prevalent emotional disorders in the world, often manifest alongside one another. For some, that’s surprising: the former, we associate with a lethargic energy; the latter, typically a more hyper one….
Surveys show that men cheat on their romantic partners twice as often as women—and for different reasons. Research hasn’t yielded much shocking new information, but it has given credibility to a few popular ideas: Men are more likely to report sexual reasons for their infidelity, especially in long-term relationships. For example, being dissatisfied with frequency of sex, or his excitement during…
Maintaining sobriety after completing treatment can feel like walking up a down escalator. No matter what kind of encouraging words friends and family offer, temptations to take a break and stop walking will arise. Hopelessness and Addiction The hopelessness feels real. To learn to live with addiction, you’ll want to create ways to move through dark times which help you trust…
The painkiller Percocet is highly addictive. If you’re looking for help to quit using the drug, here are some tips and general information.Percocet is the brand name for the combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen, used to treat moderate to severe pain. Oxycodone, the opiate analgesic of the drug, which is what makes it so addictive. So, if you’ve become addicted, how…
Having someone in your life struggle with an addiction is challenging to deal with. You may want to help them, but how do you know when you’re helping instead of hurting? Enabling behavior can easily be mistaken as helpful behavior. We’ll explain why in this article.Enabling an addict is defined as any actions that make it easier for the person to…
Poppy flower > opium > morphine > heroin . . . aka H, smack, boy, horse, brown, black, tar . . . Whatever name you call it, this opioid is highly addictive, illegal, and used by millions of addicts around the world. Heroin is derived from the poppy flower through a series of refinement processes until the final product is ready…