Addiction | Substance Use Disorders | Treatment
Does a Loved One Have to Hit Bottom?
Does a loved one have to “hit bottom” before they can successfully treat their alcoholism or other drug addiction? The short answer, “NO!” But before I continue, please know language to describe alcoholism or drug addiction has changed greatly in recent years, falling under the umbrella term, “substance use disorder.” Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are…
Read MoreResources for Parents of Children with Substance Use and Mental Disorders
Resources for parents of children with substance use and other mental disorders can be a huge help. Providing resources from a scientific, brain centered approach is even better. Why? Because substance use and other mental disorders change brain health and function. The brain is the organ that controls everything a person thinks, feels, says and…
Read More4 Things to Support Brain Health and Function for Recovery
Are you in recovery from from substance use / mental health / behavioral disorders? Are you trying to heal from the chronic stress-related impacts of secondhand drinking? All four of these conditions negatively affect the health and function of the brain. And it is our brain that controls everything we think, feel, say and do. There…
Read MoreAfter Years of Sobriety She|He Won’t Forgive or Forget
“After years of sobriety she [or he] still won’t forgive or forget! What can I do? I’m so tired of being the bad-guy!“ I’ve often heard this from people in recovery. They believe they’re doing “everything right.” They’ve made their amends and walked on eggshells and given in to their loved one time and again…
Read MoreWorkplace Costs of Secondhand Drinking
The workplace costs of secondhand drinking are significant to employees and to the company or agency’s bottom line. Secondhand drinking – the negative impacts of a person’s excessive drinking behaviors on others – directly affects nearly 80 million Americans. These are the husbands, wives, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, boyfriends, girlfriends and co-workers who repeatedly deal…
Read MoreDetach. Detach With Love. You’ve Got to Be Kidding!
Detach with love? You can’t be serious?! After ALL they’ve done to me — no way! I’ve been in so many situations where my heart goes out to the wives, husbands, children and parents of loved ones with alcohol or other drug use disorders (aka alcoholism or addiction) who are brand new to this journey…
Read MoreAlcohol By Volume (ABV) and “Proof” Explained
Alcohol By Volume (ABV) can be very difficult to determine. (Another term you often hear related to ABV is “proof.”) But it’s an important concept to understand in order to stay in control of one’s drinking, which is why I have updated my 2011 post on this topic. I’m updating this post because one of…
Read MoreFears for Children When Divorcing an Alcoholic
The thought of divorcing an alcoholic * is terrifying for so many reasons, but when one has children, it can be paralyzing. Time and again I receive phone calls and emails from spouses expressing fears like these: “I am terrified to divorce because my children aren’t safe with him/her they drink.” “He drinks and drives…
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