Addiction | Substance Use Disorders | Treatment
10 Reasons a Person Develops an Unhealthy Drinking Pattern
One of the biggest stumbling block for people to get around is the notion of drinking as either “normal” or “alcoholic.” For those who struggle with their drinking, fear of the label, “alcoholic,” or disbelief of the “alcoholism is a disease” concept or simply not understanding what it takes to lose control of one’s drinking,…
Read MoreDo You Have to Hit Bottom to Get Help for Alcoholism?
Does a person have to hit bottom to get help for alcoholism or …? A reader recently commented on one of my blog posts stating she agreed that alcoholism is a non-choice but questioned whether the disease is to blame for a person not getting help. I thought it was an excellent question as it also…
Read MoreLGBT Pride Movement – Lessons for the Addiction Recovery Movement?
This week-end, I am moved to ask, “Are there lessons for the Addiction Recovery Movement to be learned from the LGBT Pride Movement?” I ask because I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and this week-end is Pride Week-end. City Hall is lit up in pride colors. The annual Pink Triangle installation took place on…
Read MoreGet Ready, Get Set – Recovery Month 2014
The 25th Recovery Month celebration is just around the corner, and September will be here in no time. Why should we ALL care? Because 23 million people are living in Recovery – something of which most people are not aware. Because 23 million more struggle with the chronic, often relapsing brain disease of addiction of…
Read MoreAddiction in Family Owned Businesses
Addiction in family owned businesses can wreck havoc far and wide, affecting employees, other family members, vendors, customers, advisory professionals and of course, the financial health of the business, itself. Today’s guest post by internationally recognized family business expert, Don Schwerzler, covers this topic. Don has been studying and advising family business entrepreneurs for more…
Read MoreNutrition and Addiction Recovery
Nutrition and long-term addiction recovery go hand-in-hand. Why? Because nutrition and brain health go hand-in-hand. The brain needs two “things” to function properly – glucose (blood sugar) and oxygen. It gets its glucose from the foods we eat. Unfortunately (or fortunately) it cannot store glucose, so it needs a steady supply and the best supply comes…
Read MoreJust for Today – Step Away From the FEAR
FEAR. Gripping, crippling, crushing FEAR. “What if he doesn’t….” “What if she does….” “How can I….” “Maybe if I….” “I should have….” “I’ll never…” “If he doesn’t….” These are the phrases that come tumbling out when loved ones of people who struggle with the brain disease of alcoholism or drug addiction call me. I can…
Read MoreCo-occurring Disorders Require Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment
What happens when co-occurring disorders treatment doesn’t happen? Consider the following exchange I had with one of my clients, a 45-year old male who had been ticketed for a DUI. His wife was threatening legal separation. He was worried about losing his license, which would cost him his job. The DUI had prompted him to complete…
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