What can we learn from mindful meditation? Mindful meditation in addiction treatment is the practice of being “in the moment,” and it is much more than just simple relaxation. Practicing mindfulness is about increasing your self-awareness by observing your thoughts, attitudes, emotions, and environment without attaching...
Individuals in recovery face a special challenge when they feel ready to re-enter the workforce. In Strengthening Professional Identity: Challenges of the Addictions Treatment Workforce, a 2006 report prepared by Abt Associates, Inc., based on stakeholder meetings convened by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment...
Origin of the Disease Model of Addiction The term “Disease Model of Addiction” was coined more than 50 years after the American Medical Association (AMA) first deemed alcoholism as an illness in 1956. No longer considered as just a behavioral problem, addiction is now defined as...
Are you too young to be forgetful about certain things that only older adults worry about? You walk into a room and immediately forget what you were looking for. You’re out with friends or at the grocery store, only to realize that you forgot your...
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines addiction as “a complex condition, a brain disease manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences.” By definition, addiction is a relationship formed between an individual and a substance rather than a human being with another human. When individuals...
The emergence of the opioid epidemic has made it challenging for patients who legitimately struggle with chronic pain stemming from nerve damage, unhealed injuries, multiple surgeries, weight problems and other health ailments. As doctors prescribe less opioids, patients who need pain killers are left in...
[blockquote text="“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates" show_quote_icon="no" border_color="#f9d97a"] The concept of “food is medicine” has been linked with fewer visits to the emergency room as more individuals received nutrition support from federal programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance...
The Pursuit of Pleasure in American Society Drug and alcohol addiction doesn’t always stem from anguish and painful experiences. We just want to be happy. In fact, the pursuit of happiness is one of our unalienable rights as human beings, as is oft quoted from the...
Forty is the new 30 and 30 is the new 20. This is the sign of the times which marks our desire to stay young forever and also reflects an overall slower emotional growth (emotional immaturity) for multiple generations. Since it’s becoming more socially acceptable...
Still feeling exhausted after 8 hours of sleep? Don’t drink alcohol. While wine may be a popular sleep aid for many, alcohol works contrary to popular belief. The buzz that kicks in after a few drinks may make your head drop with drowsiness, giving you...
