Are the Holidays Hurting Your Mental Health?

Elements | November 13, 2012

If you listen to the media, the holidays are a set-up for stress, depression and even suicide. But is it true? Could the "most wonderful time of the year" be damaging to your mental health?

For some, the holidays are undoubtedly a difficult time. Expectations run high and often go unfulfilled; tough economic times put a damper on the good cheer; and family rifts and personal losses complicate even the happiest celebrations. But for the average person, the media hype is largely over-exaggerated.

Continue reading to learn ways to safeguard your sanity...

Sex and the General: A Small Drop in a Much Larger Bucket

The current drama now playing out in the media related to General David Petraeus' affair is without question the tip of the iceberg in relation to a concern that is both under-recognized and misunderstood by military leaders and the general public.

While the majority of our military demonstrate great respect for their role and fully understand what it means to represent our nation at home and abroad, there are more than a few troubled soldiers, sailors, and enlisted officers who regularly engage in problem sexual behavior both on and off duty - an issue that profoundly affects the morality, dignity, and long-term health of our armed forces.

Read more by sex addiction expert Robert Weiss on Huffington Post...

Lighten Up: Look At Recovery With a Dash of Humor

Promises | November 1, 2012

If you're among the millions of Americans who have already completed treatment for substance abuse and are now in the early stages of recovery, you may also be familiar with the kind of anxiousness and downright fear that often accompanies the first few months of sobriety. Now is an excellent time to lighten up.

Let's take a look at recovery with a dash of humor and see where that gets us...

PTSD Differences Among Men and Women

The Ranch | October 26, 2012

Men and women are different. A few decades ago, that idea made the cover of major news magazines. But researchers are frequently confronted with differences between the sexes. A recent study on the mental health condition known as Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggests that gender differences may play a role in who is most vulnerable to developing the condition.

Read more...

Yes, We Can Reduce Incidence of Suicide

Reducing suicide mortality rates will happen primarily through raising awareness - not only among potentially suicidal individuals, but among their friends and family, educators, employers, the medical community, and the public at large. What everyone needs to understand, first and foremost, about suicide is that a suicidal state of mind is temporary. There are ways to recognize when an individual may be feeling suicidal, and there are ways to effectively help such an individual pass through the darkness that makes a person want to end his or her life.

Learn how to recognize the warning signs in a Huffington Post blog by our CEO, Dr. David Sack...

Addiction Peeks in Unpleasant Weather

The Recovery Place | November 8, 2012

It is not uncommon to feel a little damper in your mood or feel the occasional episode of cabin fever during the long winter months, but for people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) these feelings become so overwhelming that they hinder the individual from functioning normally. A scary fact is that with SAD's close association to depression, many individuals have also tried to self-medicate themselves by abusing drugs or alcohol in order to dull or forget about their pain.

Read more...

Does Willpower Play a Role in Addiction Recovery?

If addiction is a chronic brain disease and not a matter of willpower, why do the work to get better? Isn't it pointless? Not so. Addicts start getting better when they take responsibility for their own sobriety. As anyone who has tried to strong-arm themselves into recovery knows, willpower alone is rarely enough to overcome addiction. Most addicts, at some point, want to quit.

Read more on Psychology Today...