Shame Shame, as the conductor of the affective orchestra in humans, is a powerful, elusive and tricky emotion that can protect or destroy the organism – depending on the circumstances. Often referred to as the pathological affect of abandonment, indignity, alienation and failure, the healthy function of shame, which is to protect and motivate the […]
Stress Management
Managing stress effectively is an important part of maintaining overall wellness. Stress management skills do not come automatically; they must be learned and practiced. They are necessary to a successful recovery. Everybody experiences some stress in their lives. Some stress is positive and helps us stay healthy and feel active, but when stress becomes a […]
Denial Ain’t a River in Egypt.
Denial is the PRIMARY psychological symptom of addiction. It is an automatic and unconscious component of addictions. Addicts are often the last to recognize their disease, pursuing their addictions into the gates of insanity, the collapse of health and ultimately death. Sadly, many addicts continue to act out on their addictions while their world collapses […]
Manipulation & Other Unhealthy Behaviors
To understand the disease of addiction it is important to understand the underlying causes of it, how it develops, what are the symptoms & the behaviors that accompany it. Many of us feel confused when dealing with substance abuse issues. There are usually more questions than answers, and no matter how long we think about […]
When Drug Use Becomes a Problem?
It becomes a problem when a person experiences one or more of these instances: when use of a drug results in negative consequences ( physical, mental, social, emotional, legal, economic or environmental consequences) when a person continues to use a drug despite negative consequences to him or herself or to other people such as family, […]
Process of Addiction
While it has been known to happen immediately, in most cases, addiction to a drug develops over time, and generally follows a specific chain of events. Here is an overview of the process of addiction: No Use —-> Experimentation —-> Use —-> Abuse —-> Dependence. “Experimentation” refers to the first few […]