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Category Archives: Addiction
Some Things You May Not Know About Substance Abuse, Part 18: While you’ve been collecting key chains at your NA meeting, your addiction has been doing pushups in the dark
So, you’ve stopped drinking or drugging. The addiction seems to have gone away. Has it, really? Addiction takes cover sometimes when it feels threatened. It’ll hide in the bushes and come roaring out when you least suspect it. Make no … Continue reading
Some Things You May Not Know About Substance Abuse, Part 17: Recovery is easier than you think
All this reading about substance abuse and recovery may have given you the wrong impression. You may think that it’s hard to stop using drugs. Maybe it is, but nearly everyone who has experienced both addiction and recovery say the … Continue reading
Some Things You May Not Know About Substance Abuse, Part 16: You don’t have to use drugs to use drugs
A recovering alcoholic goes to a party in which there’s alcohol being poured. He’s determined to stay sober, but he doesn’t want to stop going to parties. All his friends are going to be there. They’ll be watching the big … Continue reading
Some Things You May Not Know About Substance Abuse, Part 14: Help is Closer Than You Think
It is a whole lot easier to get substances that will addict you than it is to get into treatment for addiction. In many localities, there are drug dealers at every corner, but to get to a clinic, you have … Continue reading
Posted in Addiction
Tagged AA, Addiction, Higher Power, NA, Substance Abuse, Substance dependence
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Some Things You May Not Know About Substance Abuse, Part 13: Even if you’re not ready to quit, you can get ready to quit
Even if you’re not ready to quit, you can get ready to quit Get some paper and a pen. Put it by the substance you are thinking of quitting. Even if you are not ready to quit yet, do this … Continue reading
Posted in Addiction
Tagged Addiction, Smoking cessation, Substance Abuse, Substance dependence
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Some Things You May Not Know About Substance Abuse, Part 12: It works best to change many things at once, rather than one thing at a time
It works best to change many things at once, rather than one thing at a time Anyone attempting to break a habit can learn a lot from marketers. They’re the experts at getting you to change. They love it when … Continue reading
Posted in Addiction
Tagged Addiction, mental health, Substance Abuse, Substance dependence
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Some Things You May Not Know About Substance Abuse, Part 11: Often Drugs Work Too Well
Often Drugs Work Too Well You’ve told your doctor you are anxious or in pain. You got a prescription for Atavan, Klonopin, Valium, or Xanax, if it was anxiety; if it was pain, you might’ve gotten a script for a … Continue reading
Some Things You May Not Know About Substance Abuse, Part 10: Staying clean is not enough. We must also develop a personally meaningful life
Staying clean is not enough. We must also develop a personally meaningful life When you are thoroughly caught up in addiction, your priorities are clear; the drug comes first. Everything is done or not done in service of the drug. … Continue reading
Posted in Addiction
Tagged Addiction, Meaning of life, mental health, psychotherapy, Substance Abuse, Substance dependence
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Some Things You May Not Know About Substance Abuse, Part 9: It’s all like a walk in the woods
It’s all like a walk in the woods To understand the brain and how it works in addiction and recovery, remember the last time you took a walk in the woods. You probably walked on a path. It’s easier that … Continue reading
Posted in Addiction
Tagged Addiction, Brain, mental health, psychotherapy, Substance Abuse, Substance dependence
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Some Things You May Not Know About Substance Abuse, Part 8: Positive reinforcement is not enough to motivate a person to stop using
Positive reinforcement is not enough to motivate a person to stop using drugs You’re a good parent, a loving spouse, a decent boss, a fair judge, a caring therapist. You took psychology in college. You learned that positive reinforcement is … Continue reading
Posted in Addiction, Relationships
Tagged Addiction, Behavior, Drug, Love, Marriage, mental health, Motivation, psychotherapy, Reinforcement, Relationships, Substance dependence
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Some Things You May Not Know About Substance Abuse, Part 7: In the beginning of recovery, it doesn’t matter if you are self motivated. It just matters that you have motivation
In the beginning of recovery, it doesn’t matter if you are self motivated. It just matters that you have motivation Most people believe that internal or self motivation is the best kind of motivation and that people who are motivated … Continue reading
Posted in Addiction
Tagged Addiction, Drug, Love, Marriage, mental health, Motivation, psychotherapy, Relationships, Substance Abuse, Substance dependence
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Some Things You May Not Know About Substance Abuse, Part 6: Drugs turn a person into an addict, then the addict turns everything else into a drug
Drugs turn a person into an addict, then the addict turns everything else into a drug If you are addicted, even if you stop using the substance that changed you, you will look for other things (other substances, sex, shopping, … Continue reading
Madness 101 