Addiction | Substance Use Disorders | Treatment
Understanding the Disease of Addiction Before “That” Drink
Understanding the disease of addiction before “that” drink. Where am I coming from? I was reading a recent post, “Repeat Drunk Driver Accused in MLB Player’s Death,” reporting on the tragic death of a young, promising baseball player and two others at the hands of a repeat DUI offender, and was taken by Lou C’s…
Read MorePowerless Over Alcohol
Powerless over alcohol … For those who are not familiar with 12-step programs (such as AA or AlAnon), the first step is to admit you are powerless over alcohol. I recall reading and hearing this and thinking “they” were nuts. How could anyone be powerless over alcohol? And, how could a person who is not…
Read MoreHelping the Alcoholic in Recovery, Understanding the Brain
Perhaps the most important thing for helping the alcoholic in recovery is to understand the brain disease of addiction. Why is this important? Often when an alcoholic begins recovery (whether that be entering a treatment program, attending AA meetings, engaging in therapy or …), the tendency is for the family members to carry on in…
Read MoreRethinking Drinking
Rethinking drinking is an important concept to talk about. Why? Because we often think of drinking as either normal or alcoholic, yet there is a middle stage stage not fully understand, and it’s alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse is what causes the chemical and structural changes in the brain that in turn make a person more…
Read MoreWhat To Do When You’re Concerned About a Loved One’s Drinking
What can you do when you’re concerned about a loved one’s drinking ? are there signs you should look for? is there really anything you can do? It generally starts out as a feeling — a nagging feeling — a sense that a loved one’s drinking (whether it’s a spouse, parent, child, friend or sibling)…
Read MoreIs Addiction a Disease?
Is addiction a disease? “No way,” claim most people. “Cancer is a disease. All they need to do is put down the bottle or stop taking the drugs they’re abuse.” I was participating in a forum discussion recently on this question, “Is addiction a disease?” I was moved to comment because so many of the…
Read MoreRecovering From a Disease in Anonymity
Recovering From a Disease in Anonymity – important to so many but detrimental to so many others. Is there a balance? Can it be both ways? Think about it…if your loved one had cancer, both your loved one and you and the rest of your family would be surrounded by supportive friends and family. Your…
Read MoreWhat Were You Thinking?
What were you thinking? How many of us have asked (okay, sometimes yelled) at our teen, “What were you thinking?” after another of their “stupid stunts?” That’s just the problem, they’re not thinking! Not only that – they can’t – or at least not the way an adult might. Thanks to new brain imaging technologies,…
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