Focusing on ‘The Now’ in Addiction Recovery RecoveryBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 15, 2014By Sean P. Egen If you or someone you love is involved in the recovery process, you understand that one of the biggest challenges can be picturing a life free of the abused substance(s) or behavior. Not wrapping your mind around the concept of a simpler, more fulfilling life lived unburdened by the negative effects…
Will Robin Williams’ Tragic Death Save the Lives of Others? Addiction RecoveryBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 14, 2014The late Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams was among the most effective public figures at de-stigmatizing mental illness and addiction by baring his own lifelong struggles with both. Williams, whose confessional brand of stand-up comedy was a form of “sharing his story” by coating anguish with humor, was found dead at his home Aug.…
Naloxone Nasal Device New Way to Treat Heroin Overdose Addiction RecoveryBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 14, 2014The Food and Drug Administration has fast-tracked a nasal spray application of naloxone, a highly effective medicine that helps save the lives of addicts in the midst of a heroin overdose. Faced with an alarming rise in the abuse of opiates such as heroin and prescription painkillers, the FDA moved to accelerate the approval process of…
Men With Depression More Likely to Become Internet Addicts Mood DisordersBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 14, 2014Any psychiatric disorder is challenging enough, but there’s a single disorder that frequently makes the sufferer even more vulnerable to additional psychiatric problems. A new study from the McGill University Department of Psychiatry in Montreal, Canada, has found that people who have suffered from depression are more likely to develop an Internet addiction.
How Addiction Happens in the Brain AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 13, 2014Addiction specialists and researchers have long known that the process of substance addiction begins when the brain’s pleasure center repeatedly experiences an abnormal buildup of a chemical called dopamine. However, they have not understood why a chronic dopamine buildup produces such dramatic changes in brain function. In a study published in June 2014 in The…
Brain Imaging Sheds New Light on Bipolar Disorder in Children Mental HealthBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 12, 2014Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that can profoundly affect a person’s life at any age. According to the National Institutes of Health, the disorder affects around 5.7 million American adults, or 2.6 percent of our adult population. Globally, up to 4 percent of adults are affected. The illness is typically identified around age 25,…
Athletic Success Boosts Self-Esteem, But There’s a Hidden Danger Eating DisordersBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 11, 2014Numerous studies have shown that involvement with sports has protective benefits. Young people who participate in athletics often exhibit improved self-confidence, a more positive attitude and better overall health. Yet athletes also face a threefold greater risk for developing some form of eating disorder. Eating disorders often occur with or lead to depression. Researchers studied…
Marijuana Smokers Less Likely to Attend College Drug AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 8, 2014In the U.S., marijuana use is fairly common among teenagers and young adults in the typical college age range of 18 to 25. Unfortunately, intake of the drug is associated with a number of significant problems, including memory and concentration deficits, altered brain development and the onset of cannabis use disorder (cannabis abuse and/or cannabis…
Binge Drinking Increases Risk For Dangerously Irregular Heartbeat News and ResearchBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 7, 2014Binge drinking is a form of excessive, short-term alcohol intake known for its ability to significantly damage health and well-being in a number of ways. In a study published in July 2014 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, a team of Swedish researchers sought to determine if participation in this form of…
Music, Mindfulness and Recovery RecoveryBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 7, 2014By Angus Whyte In many 12-step addiction recovery programs, the practice of a musical instrument is considered to be a top-line behavior. In this article, I’ll discuss the relationship between music and mindfulness, and describe how I incorporate the mindful practice of guitar scales into my addiction recovery program.
