High-functioning alcoholism is as serious as other types of alcoholism, and sometimes even more so. It’s challenging to convince a high-functioning alcoholic to get help because they usually don’t think they have a problem. A classic alcoholic sees the physical and situational impact of alcohol abuse. Their problems are more obvious. There are clear-cut reasons […]
Being married to an addict feels like a betrayal. Drugs and alcohol are their priority, not you and your family. You may have tried everything you can think of to help your addicted spouse. It’s not working. You’re starting to accept you can’t beg, cry, scream or coddle them into sobriety. Here’s what you can
10 Things to Do When You’re Married to an Addict Read More »
No one gets sober with the intention of relapsing, but it happens. In fact, it happens quite a lot. Addiction relapse rates hover between 40% and 60%. Try not to beat yourself up. While you shouldn’t diminish the significance of a drug relapse, it’s what you do next that’s most important.I Relapsed. Now What?Few things
Does Drug Relapse Mean I Need to Go Back to Treatment? Read More »
Allison came to a support group meeting desperately seeking insight into how to save her marriage. Her husband of 10 years had developed a drug addiction after extended use of opioid pain medicine. She knew his behavior had changed, but she was in denial for many months. Her husband was becoming more moody and withdrawn,
Pain management treatment has come a long way over the last couple of decades. When I first started practicing medicine in the late 1990s, if a patient had a back injury, you’d write them a prescription for 30-40 tabs of Vicodin or Percocet and have them take it every six hours. It was all about
Hypnosis is a state of human consciousness involving heightened, focused attention, reduced peripheral awareness and an enhanced capacity to respond to suggestion.
People who experience unbearable trauma as children often dissociate from the experience―both in the moment and as they grow―because the pain of the experience runs deep. Unless they have therapeutic help or a supportive caregiver who can guide them through it, they tend to store trauma away and may even pretend it never happened.
Is Dissociation Healthy for People With Addiction? Read More »
Twelve-step alternatives are just as effective as the 12 Steps, according to a recent study by the Alcohol Research Group. The study looked at over 600 people’s support group involvement and substance use over 12 months. We need more research to make any definitive claims about alternatives to AA and similar groups. But I’m not
The use of hypnoanalgesia (the use of hypnotic suggestion to alleviate pain) can be traced back to the 15th century, although the first clinically detailed literature on hypnosis for pain is attributed to the famous Spanish physician, Santiago Ramón y Cajal.
By Jack Gilbert, LCSW, Clinical Director at The Ranch PA It’s very common for your life and needs to be off balance when you love someone with an addiction. This can lead to high levels of emotional and physical stress and put you at risk for developing your own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual problems.
