Self Improvement Site
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
Addiction and Recovery Articles
Candace Plattor is The Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to "Addiction and Recovery". You can find complete information on Candace Plattor and her products by visiting Candace Plattor.
SelfGrowth.com Recommended Articles:
Coming Out of Our Comfort Zones: Recovery From Addiction - by Candace Plattor- Your Attitude to the Addicted Person - by (excertped from Chapter 8, 'When Someone You Love is Addicted to Alcohol or Drugs' www.yourselfhelpprocess.com/summaries8.htm )
The attitude 'I know best' is often a difficult one to overcome, simply because, it is obviously best for the addicted person to go in to recovery and you do know ...
Views: 2097 - 4 Proven Resources for Breaking a Substance Addiction - by Submitted on Jul 08, 2015 from Anica OaksAccording to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drug abuse rates declined by almost eight percent from 2002 to 2013. However, there is still a large treatment gap, which results in over 20 million Americans failing to receive needed substance abuse help. Below introduces four excellent ...
Views: 2096 - A.A. - How to Study, Understand & Take the 12 Steps - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2011 from Richard Burns, J.D. (pen name Dick B.),A.A.: How to Study, Understand, & Take the 12 Steps by Dick B. © 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved FIRST THINGS FIRST: The Bible; Dr. William D. Silkworth (“The little doctor who loved drunks”); William James (The Varieties of Religious Experience); Anne Smith (and her personal ...
Views: 2096(2 votes) - The Importance Of "Mother Tongue" Language In Gambling Recovery - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2008 from Shawn JordanWhen a person becomes ill as a result of gambling too much their mind has become of their own design, in a manner that causes their addictive process of thinking to be triggered by gambling or as a result of thinking about gambling. “Addiction” is often thought of in a negative context – ...
Views: 2095 - The Motivation to Change is Inside You: MET Therapy and How it Works - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2015 from Sarah Ann NiemannGrowing up you were probably told "you can do anything you want to do, as long as you set your mind on it," and as a kid you probably believed it, but being an adult is hard and you lose sight of that mantra, which was drilled into your head. Motivational Enhancement Therapy is there to ...
Views: 2095(2 votes) - The Nature of Addiction (Nicotine) - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2002 from Ian ClarkThe Nature of Addiction When you started smoking you will have been lulled in to a false sense of security, thinking you can give up whenever you want until you actually try to stop and can’t. Some people would have started smoking when they were young and most when they were teenagers. ...
Views: 2091(1 vote) - Alcoholism And Stopping Drinking - What Benefits Can You Expect Once You Quit Alcohol - by Submitted on May 04, 2011 from James FrithFor an alcoholic it is never easy trying to quit drink. Serious alcoholics will often face both physical and mental problems as they try to wean themselves off alcohol. While quitting may be hard, those who are successful will often find themselves overawed by the changes that occur in their ...
Views: 2087 - The Simple Things in Recovery From Addiction - by Submitted on Sep 30, 2011 from Ray BakerThose of us who no longer rely on alcohol and drugs to make us ‘feel ok’ know how important it is to keep our eyes on the ball. The consequences of complacency for people in recovery from addiction don’t bear thinking about and we know that staying ahead of the game is essential if relapse is to ...
Views: 2083 - How To Quit Taking Drugs - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2012 from Elizabeth Lucye RobillardHow To Come Off Drugs When younger, despite my 'Pollyanna' nature, I used to hang out with some crazy junkies, but never became a user of illicit drugs. The junkie-types were part of life in our town. I tried not to judge their motives due to some of my own family themselves suffering ...
Views: 2080(1 vote) - Developing Juicy Goals For Recovery - by Submitted on Jul 10, 2012 from Todd BranstonIt is likely there are a few things you’d like to accomplish in your sobriety. The reality is that the machinery that helps your goals manifest is the same no matter the subject, time-line, or importance. I would like to posit that in order to reach your goals there are specific ways of ...
Views: 2078(1 vote) - Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation: Science and Evidence - by Submitted on Jun 09, 2011 from Robert HomerIntroduction: Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) is a non-drug treatment used primarily for anxiety, depression, and insomnia. It can be used as a single modality, or in combination with psychotropic medications, psychotherpy, biofeedback, and other therapies. It essentially consists of ...
Views: 2076 - Scared To Take Chances? - by Submitted on Jul 16, 2008 from Keith BrayScared To Take Chances? Being afraid to try and fail was part of the turmoil I faced before making a decision to regain my life and recover from the demons. I get some great readings, and this one from Hazelden resonated! If you're never scared or embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take ...
Views: 2074 - What does it mean to fully recover from bulimia? - by Submitted on Aug 09, 2011 from Catherine LibertyToday I wanted to talk to you about something you’ve probably given a lot of thought to if you have bulimia or are currently in recovery from bulimia - What does it mean to be fully recovered? *When you think about recovery how does it look? *How is it different to your life ...
Views: 2069(2 votes) - Twelve Steps Based on Eastern Wisdom - by Submitted on May 25, 2006 from Richard Singer Jr.Step One We admitted that we were bound by the illusion of ego-created pleasures and that our life was full of suffering. Step one allows an individual to admit and recognize what is controlling his/her life. It is a chance for the person to become aware of the immense control that the ego ...
Views: 2068 - Do You Want to Stop Binge Eating? Read This - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2011 from Nina VBinge eating has been said to be one of the most widespread of all eating disorder, affecting 1 in 35 people, much more common that any of the other eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. The main problem with trying to stop binge eating is that many of those who are suffering are ashamed ...
Views: 2066(2 votes) - Exploring Step 2 of the 12 Steps: Hope is the place to be! - by Submitted on Jul 14, 2010 from Ned WickerWe all want and need to have hope. Hope gets us up in the morning and drives us to achieve what we otherwise would just dream about. Hope allows us to keep going when circumstances are dire and there doesn’t appear to be any opportunity of turning the tide. Hope is the expectation of something ...
Views: 2066 - How My GPS Reminded Me of Faith - by Submitted on Jul 19, 2012 from Debbi DickinsonGrand Dude and I are training for a fall marathon. We both have all the gadgets, shoes, etc. I have a GPS watch that I absolutely adore. It frees me from marked trails since it'll keep tabs of how far I've run. Last week I was on one of my long runs and about the last mile, the battery ...
Views: 2056 - EGO RUNNING WILD! - by Submitted on Jul 31, 2009 from Keith BrayEGO RUNNING WILD! Thought to Ponder . . .The ego seeks the destination; the soul seeks the journey What a deadly conflict I had going on for so many years, my ego searching for the destination and my forgotten soul seeking a journey! It made it hard to live in this skin of mine; seeking and ...
Views: 2054(1 vote) - "I'll Quit Tomorrow" - Dealing with Co-Existing "Addictions" - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2011 from Marty LernerCross addiction or multiple addictions are a fact of life inherent within the eating disordered community. Many of us come to the rooms of a 12-step program, treatment facility, or related support group intending to tackle our "primary problem" such as alcoholism, drug dependency, or an eating ...
Views: 2053(2 votes) - Dr. Romance on To Help An Addicted Friend - by Submitted on Oct 25, 2013 from Tina TessinaDr. Romance writes: I’ve been talking with clients a lot recently about what to do if someone you love or care for is self-destructing through addiction, or is making it difficult to be a friend because they’re out of control. We all have had some dramatic examples on television and in ...
Views: 2052 - Actors and Addiction - by Submitted on Mar 15, 2006 from Douglas EbyMany talented people sometimes use and abuse drugs and alcohol, and engage in other self-destructive habits to deal with painful inner or outer experiences. Best Actor Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman [“Capote”] admitted that earlier in his life he used “Anything I could get my hands on. I ...
Views: 2050 - Body Image, Body Dysmorphia and Eating Disorders - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2012 from Marty LernerI’ve always been fascinated by the “disconnect” between how I experienced [perceived] my speaking voice and how it sounded when I heard it from a recorded device. Likewise, there’s the discrepancy between several photographs of us, even taken at the same place and around the same time frame. How ...
Views: 2049(1 vote) - Alcohol Intervention: How to Avoid Tension - by Submitted on Apr 27, 2011 from M. CohanEvery family has a complex emotional history. When alcohol abuse is involved, that emotional history can be tinged with extra pain and bitterness, and these feelings are liable to rise to the surface in any confrontational situation. This is part of what makes an alcohol intervention so ...
Views: 2047(1 vote) - Is Sex Addiction Real? - by Submitted on May 30, 2011 from Ross Rosenberg, M.Ed. LCPC CADCUnlike for alcohol or drug addiction, there is no formal diagnosis for Sex Addiction in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Statistic Manual (DSM IV). According to Chester Schmidt, chair of the DSM-IV Sexual Disorder Work Group, there is “no scientific data to support a concept ...
Views: 2047(1 vote) - Court Ordered 12-Step Attendance is Illegal - by Submitted on Jul 15, 2009 from Tom HorvathThis article is not intended to convey legal advice, which can only be provided by an attorney licensed in your state. What follows is an addiction psychologist’s summary of a legal issue he has been following for over a decade. The “establishment” and “free exercise” clauses of the US ...
Views: 2043(1 vote) - Is my partner an alcoholic? - by Submitted on Jul 13, 2010 from John McMahonAre you one of many people who live with someone who drinks heavily? Do you wonder whether your partner is an alcoholic. Well you are certainly not alone. For many people living with problem drinkers means agony and confusion wondering whether their partner is actually an alcoholic or whether ...
Views: 2043 - Addressing the "Whole Picture" of Christian Recovery Today - by Submitted on Feb 15, 2011 from Richard Burns, J.D. (pen name Dick B.),To our friends: My son Ken just wrote a letter to two who inquired about our projects. Because his letter properly reflects what we hope to do with you and what we hope you will do, being thus informed, I have slightly edited it and am sending it along. God Bless, Dick ...
Views: 2042 - Five Steps to Choosing the Right Addiction Treatment Program - by Submitted on Sep 15, 2011 from Lisa EspichWhen you love somebody struggling with addiction, you pray for the day when he or she agrees to accept treatment. Maybe they reach 'rock bottom' and ask for help, but it's more likely that an ultimatum or plea from family and friends is what pushes them toward making the choice. Regardless of ...
Views: 2040(2 votes) - Work the Program - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2010 from Tim GrayI think one of the main reasons people relapse is they stop working their program of recovery. In my years as an addictions counselor I have heard it over and over again when I ask what led up to a relapse…”I quit working the program.” There are many ways you can quit working the program. ...
Views: 2040(2 votes) - What Do You Do and When - by Submitted on Nov 17, 2012 from Christopher LowryWhen you have a suspicion your teen is doing drugs, what do you do? First, learn as much as you can. Check out all of SelfGrowth.com for information on drug and alcohol use by teens. Know that there is help available for you and your child. In most communities, you can get help from your ...
Views: 2039(3 votes) - Life after Drugs: A Life worth Living - by Submitted on Mar 14, 2013 from Tom DiffenderferIn the article Relax and Recover Part 1, I whole heartedly endorsed the 12 step programs of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. And I think that deserves repeating. Both the Big book of AA and the basic text of NA outline a clear path to recovery that has helped millions of people ...
Views: 2038(3 votes) - The Stages Of Alcoholism - by Submitted on May 13, 2008 from Scott MoagaCould you recognize the stages of alcoholism in yourself, your friends, or your family members? If you are concerned that someone you know has an alcohol problem, then just knowing the four alcoholism stages could enable you to help that person quit drinking, and may even help you save their ...
Views: 2037 - How the New Definition of Addiction Corrects Long-Standing Misconceptions - by Submitted on Sep 15, 2011 from Dr. David SackFor decades, many people have gotten the wrong idea about addiction. Even as scientific research piled up supporting the theory that addiction is a brain disease, misunderstandings about addiction have persisted. In August 2011, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) took an ...
Views: 2033 - Supporting your Partner in Addiction Recovery - by Submitted on Nov 16, 2009 from Rodney StrangeIf your spouse is entering recovery, you still have a tough road ahead you. The recovery process can be just as difficult for the spouse as for the addict. Your responsibilities may seem overwhelming, and your partner may even demand more than you can give. In any case, the most important thing ...
Views: 2027(3 votes) - How to Stop Smoking Cigarettes: The Most Promising Methods - by Submitted on Feb 27, 2012 from Michael WestbrookHow to Stop Smoking Cigarettes You CAN quit smoking Understanding how to stop smoking cigarettes may be an overwhelming task. It seems that every internet search you make you see another strong guarantee of guaranteed techniques to help you learn how to stop smoking cigarettes. Even though ...
Views: 2025(1 vote) - Avoid These Mistakes to Stop Binge Eating - by Submitted on Mar 04, 2011 from Nina VIt is often reported that approximately one of 3 women who seek either weight loss or eating disorder treatment experience binge eating disorder. This is a an estimate and could possibly be even higher due to the secrecy and shame that usually comes with the disorder. Finding help to stop binge ...
Views: 2024(1 vote) - Treating Eating Disorders: The First Assumption - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2012 from Marty LernerLet’s be clear from the get go, when it comes to getting help for an eating disorder there are a couple of assumptions to consider. Let’s look at a one of these and consider if this might “ring true” for you. When it comes to best place to get help, people differ with respect to their own ...
Views: 2024(1 vote) - Addiction and Recovery: Why Don't They Just Quit? - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2011 from Peggy FergusonFamily members are often stymied about how their alcoholic/addicted family member can continue to drink or use in the face of overwhelming evidence that the chemical is destroying their lives. “Why don’t they just quit?” is a question that could rightfully top the list of “FAQs by Family ...
Views: 2020(2 votes) - Over-the-Counter Abuse - Beware! - by Submitted on Oct 26, 2010 from Dr. Mark AgrestiNot too long ago, four local elementary school children ended up on respirators in the ICU after they each took 20 Coricidin tablets to get high. It was a good 36 hours before they were out of the woods. What started out to be an afternoon of fun, turned out to be a life-and-death struggle for ...
Views: 2019(1 vote) - Massage Therapy and Improving Mental Health - by Submitted on Nov 18, 2011 from Unknown UnknownWhen you hear the term “addiction”, you might think of drugs, extreme sports participation, Fanatics of sports teams, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, egocentric disorders (narcissism, etc), or stalking behaviors. Chemical imbalances attribute a large portion of the root of mental diseases that ...
Views: 2018(1 vote) - 5 Worst Mistakes Recovering Addicts Make - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2012 from Beth Burgess1. Trying to control your alcohol or drug intake - If you're really an addict and not someone who has made a lifestyle choice, then controlling your use of alcohol or drugs is completely impossible. Some addicts try, and fail, at this for many years until they finally realise it can't be done. ...
Views: 2014(1 vote) - The Source Of Addiction - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2011 from Adam BenedettoAddiction comes from a place of wanting, of needing something to fulfill and replace part of one’s life. It can be seen as an escape, but the real need is much more. What is missing that needs to be replaced? What part of life is empty and aching for fulfillment? It is a place that may be ...
Views: 2014(2 votes) - CHOICE-Cleaned Up, Locked Up, Covered Up or Broken Up - by Submitted on Jul 24, 2009 from Keith BrayCHOICE-CLEANED (sobered) UP, LOCKED UP, COVERED UP or Broken Up I don't know when I first heard this, but since I have chosen a process of life recovery and the coaching profession, the truth of this "choice" has become very real. I hope that those of you who have taken the time to read this ...
Views: 2007(1 vote) - Dental Problems with Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating Disorders - by Submitted on Dec 14, 2015 from Marty LernerAlthough eating disorders are often accompanied by a variety of physical and emotional complications, perhaps the most painful are those leading to severe dental problems. To be sure, there is some overlap with respect to the specific impact each type of eating disorder has on our teeth and ...
Views: 2002(1 vote) - ***When are you old enough to have people stop telling you how to live your life? - by Submitted on Aug 25, 2011 from Dr. Neill NeillFirst off, let me be clear I am not talking about living outside society’s rules and expectations. If you shoplift, run a grow-op, drink and drive, smoke in the presence of others or abuse your family, there will always be people telling you how to live; there is no age limit… Growing ...
Views: 1999(2 votes) - Controlling The Desire To Steal - by Submitted on May 25, 2012 from Ari NovickWhen therapists and researchers look into why people steal, aside from absolutely needing something to survive, the most common answer seems to “I don’t know”. Sometimes the individual started stealing at a young age to impress friends or maybe just for the thrill of getting away with it. ...
Views: 1999(1 vote) - Sexual Addiction: Are You a Sex Addict? Part 2 - by Submitted on Apr 27, 2009 from Peggy FergusonSexual addiction is a dysfunctional pattern of compulsive sexual behavior that continues even after the addict knows that it is causing major problems in their life. The sex addicts has a compulsion to engage in the problem behavior despite the fact that it has become emotionally dissatisfying ...
Views: 1996(1 vote) - Not a Perfect Ten? Stop Beating Yourself Up Now! - by Submitted on Mar 08, 2011 from Beverley GlazerNot a perfect ten? Don’t beat yourself up. Being perfect is an impossible goal. Humans can never be perfect but there's nothing wrong with self improvement. We all have things that we would like to change about ourselves. However, in the quest for perfection we can get blindsided by our ...
Views: 1984(4 votes) - How Does Drug Rehabilitation Centers Work? - by Submitted on May 16, 2016 from Amy RothermelYou hear a different story from every recovering addict who has been through drug rehabilitation, because there is no one-size-fits-all solution to addition. Every person's path is different. However, there is a structured system for rehab that can provide anyone with valuable guidance. These ...
Views: 1982 - Are You Suffering from Someone Else's Sexual Addiction? - Part 4 - by Submitted on Jul 23, 2009 from Peggy FergusonAre you angry, depressed, confused, and constantly trying to figure out what your spouse is up to? If you are spinning your wheels, trying to strategize and find solutions for your spouse and your relationship before you have actually identified the problem, keep reading. Family members can ...
Views: 1977