Some Unsettling Statistics The coronavirus has meant that anxiety is on the rise. And when anxiety is increasing, so, too, do prescriptions for anxiety-relieving drugs. This is an unsettling thought, considering a recent article from Psychology Today. The piece cites a report by the US National Center for Health Studies as well as the National…
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A Hidden Scourge Popular perception dictates that eating disorders are a condition exclusive to females. However, those of us who work in eating disorder treatment know better. While eating disorders are more common in women and girls, one in three people who suffer from them are male. Furthermore, the problem seems to be getting worse.…
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A Word About Trauma The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines trauma as an event involving exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violation. The exposed individual must directly experience the event or witness it firsthand, learn that it occurred to a close family member or friend, or experience repeated…
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In addition to being a product of genetics and environment, addiction is a matter of brain chemistry. Actually, the three are closely interrelated. Drugs of abuse are powerful, mind-altering substances that can disrupt the brain’s reward system and adversely affect natural chemical levels. Meanwhile, scientists estimate that genetic influences account for 40 to 60 percent…
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A Zen Parable Working in treatment, I often happily receive calls from family or friends with questions regarding recovery. I’m always grateful for the opportunity to shed light on the subjects of addiction, eating disorders, and the road to a new life. During a recent phone call from a long-time friend, I couldn’t help but…
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The Most Common Eating Disorder in the United States Thanks in part to celebrities like Zayn Malik and Demi Lovato having the courage to talk about their struggles, people are starting to have open conversations about eating disorders. And anorexia and bulimia nervosa are the two conditions you hear about most often in these conversations.…
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What is Codependency? Codependency is a behavioral condition that results in destructive, one-sided relationships. Some people also refer to it as “relationship addiction” and it often moves through the generations of a family. However, unlike substance addictions, codependency does not have a genetic component. It is a learned behavior, resulting from the dynamics of a…
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Taking a Closer Look A couple of weeks ago in our blog on emotional regulation, we mentioned dialectical behavior therapy and its excellent results in the treatment of borderline personality, substance abuse, and eating disorders. Judging from the number of questions we received about it, it seems quite a few of you would like to…
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Suffering in Silence Traditional concepts of masculinity include stoicism and an aversion to showing weakness. Unfortunately, these notions are one of the prime barriers to the treatment of co-occurring disorders in men. For example, a man may feel he should be able to beat his anxiety disorder on his own, turn to alcohol to self-medicate,…
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Overwhelming Emotions and Maladaptive Strategies In these blogs, you’ve heard us speak often about things like triggers and coping skills. For those of you who don’t know, “triggers” are those events, places, objects that spark a serious emotional reaction. To folks in substance abuse recovery, that could be the sight of a syringe or driving…
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