Binge Eating Disorder Binge eating disorder or BED is an eating disorder that can be life-threatening but is also a disorder that can be treated.  BED is characterized by a person eating large quantities of food to the point of discomfort followed by purging to counter the binge eating episode.  It is the most common...Read More

What is Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar Disorder was once referred to as manic-depressive disorder.  The disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings of emotional highs (mania) and emotional lows (depression).  Individuals with bipolar disorder differ in how these highs and lows are experienced.  Approximately 2.6% of the U.S. population has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.  Bipolar...Read More

Love, Sex, and Codependence There are differences between love, sex, and codependence.  Love is an emotional state of mind often difficult to describe yet many people experience this emotion.  Love can be felt toward people, animals, art, music, and a number of other experiences.  Sex is personal intimacy between two people for which a strong...Read More

Why Can’t Some People Stop Gambling? From the outside looking in, many people might think that gambling can be stopped at any time.  For the problem gambler, this is not the case.  Problem gamblers spend huge amounts of money, sell everything they own, and destroy their life simply to stay in the game.  It is...Read More

Step 10: What It Means Step 10 is one of 12 steps outlined in the principles of any 12-step program.  Step 10 states that we need to continue to take personal inventory and when we are wrong, promptly admit it.  This sounds like a straightforward step; however, what does it mean. In recovery, we need...Read More

Sedatives and Stimulants A sedative-type drug includes alcohol, barbiturates, and non-barbiturate drugs known as benzodiazepines.  Sedatives depress the central nervous system and induce sleep.  A sedative can also provide relief from the symptoms of anxiety and tension.  Even with a regular dose, sedatives can cause slurring of speech and a staggered walk. Sedatives work by...Read More

What Are Refusal Skills? When working a program of recovery for alcohol-use disorders, there are situations when you might feel like you need some extra support.  Even those who are committed to not drinking can experience social pressure to drink.  Friends can make it somewhat difficult for you especially if they do not know you...Read More

How Do Phobias and Substance Abuse Relate? Phobias are irrational fears and can originate from a negative experience with an object, person, or event that is feared.  A phobia can lead to avoidance where the individual will go to great lengths to avoid the object, person, or event.  There are hundreds of phobias recognized by...Read More

Multiple Family Group Therapy The focus of most family therapy is to work on the family as a system of interdependent parts.  Each family member has a role and when there is an addict present in the family, most of the focus is directed toward the addict. The goal of family therapy when there is...Read More

Models of Addiction Intervention   There are different models of interventions that are used to help a person with an addiction. These models include the Johnson Model, the Invitational Model, and the Field Model. There are also interventions that a friend or family member can use to assist the addict in getting the help they...Read More