Since AA began in 1935, 12-step programs have helped millions of people quit drugs and alcohol. AA was far better than the alternatives of the time, which were pretty much limited to jail or being committed to a psychiatric institution. Even now, when people decide drugs or alcohol are taking too great a toll on […]
Author Archives: Alta Loma
14
May
May
Addiction affects people of all ages. Although substance use most often initially becomes a problem between the ages of 18 and 25, you can develop a substance use disorder at any age or a substance use disorder you developed at a young age may continue for decades. Since addiction is a chronic, progressive disease, it […]
14
May
May
Rumination is a negative thought pattern where you keep thinking about bad things that happened in the past or bad things that might happen in the future. You might keep thinking about past mistakes, perhaps a time you did something embarrassing that you wish you could undo. You may replay arguments, thinking of things you […]
13
May
May
We often use “addiction” and “dependence” interchangeably to refer to a substance use disorder but they don’t quite mean the same thing. However, they are closely related and there is a large area of overlap. When we talk about “dependence,” “physical dependence,” or “chemical dependence,” it refers to the physiological ways your body adapts to […]
13
May
May
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, more than 18 percent of American adults, or about 40 million people, struggle with an anxiety disorder every year. Anxiety disorders include many conditions, such as social anxiety disorder, general anxiety disorder, panic disorder, OCD, PTSD, and phobias. There’s a good chance you or someone you […]
12
May
May
You often hear people say they’re depressed when they mean they’re sad. You might say you’re depressed after a bad day at work or after arguing with your partner. Sadness is also the primary characteristic most of us think of when we think of depression. To many people, depression is just deep, prolonged sadness. We […]
10
May
May
At least half of people with substance use disorders have a co-occurring mental health issue. Common dual diagnoses include depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, OCD, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and schizophrenia. For many of these, it’s clear that the mental health issue came first. Many have strong genetic components and symptoms of […]
09
May
May
Sometimes it’s hard to separate the legitimate concerns about social media from the hysteria. For example, there was a mild panic about social media addiction. While it’s true that social media platforms are designed to be as addictive as possible, most experts agree that comparing social media addiction to alcohol or opioid addiction is absurd. […]
09
May
May
Broadly speaking, an introvert is someone who gets energy from being alone while an extrovert is someone who gets energy from being around others. While no one is completely introverted or extroverted, the extroverts do seem to be in the majority. Somewhere between 50 and 74 percent of people are extroverts, while between 16 and […]
08
May
May
Many people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction have had a similar kind of dream. In the dream, they drink or use drugs, immediately feel remorse or disbelief, then wake up and feel relieved it was only a dream. People are understandably concerned about these dreams. Is it a sign of things to come? Is […]
