How to Stop Gambling

How to Stop Gambling

You start off thinking it's just a game, a form of casual entertainment. The allure isn't just about winning money—it's about the thrill, the suspense, and that intoxicating blend of hope and fear. But soon, it becomes more than just an occasional indulgence. Those...

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What Gambling Addiction Feels Like

What Gambling Addiction Feels Like

As an addiction counselor, I've spent countless hours talking to people about gambling addiction. Although each individual's journey with addiction is unique, colored by personal experiences, triggers, and challenges. The account provided here depicts the lived...

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Why We Buy Things We Don’t Need

Why We Buy Things We Don’t Need

Imagine for a moment, you're standing in the center of a luxurious shopping mall, your arms heavy with shopping bags brimming with the latest fashion, cutting-edge tech gadgets, and high-end accessories. Every shiny object you possess promises happiness, each one a...

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A Compassionate Approach to Addiction Treatment

A Compassionate Approach to Addiction Treatment

The lens through which we view human nature significantly impacts how we approach societal challenges, including addiction. These perspectives, shaped by various cultural, philosophical, and psychological frameworks, can range from viewing human nature as...

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Why Do Good People Do Bad Things

Why Do Good People Do Bad Things

The question of human nature, whether fundamentally good or bad, has preoccupied philosophers, theologians, and scientists for centuries. The implications of this question are profound, shaping our understanding of morality, society, and the self. This article embarks...

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Why I Believe People Are Inherently Good

Why I Believe People Are Inherently Good

Human nature, a subject of deep fascination and intense study throughout the history of human thought, encompasses a spectrum of views about what fundamentally drives human behavior. While some argue that humans are inherently selfish or aggressive, others present a...

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How to Help Someone With an Addiction

How to Help Someone With an Addiction

Trying to help someone battling an addiction can be like watching them caught in a storm, tossed about by waves of denial, self-destruction, and pain. You want to reach out, to bring them back to the shore. But the storm is strong, and your own heart aches with fear...

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How to Practice Positive Self-Talk

How to Practice Positive Self-Talk

Have you ever experienced that persistent internal chatter that seems to focus on every mistake, magnify every flaw, and predict every impending failure? This is the voice of negative self-talk, an insidious inner critic that resides within us, coloring our perception...

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What is Self-Acceptance?

What is Self-Acceptance?

You wake up, look in the mirror and there it is—your toughest critic, your constant companion, the one person who seems to hold you to the highest standards—yourself. This is an all too familiar scene, isn't it? The pointed glare, the sigh of disappointment, the...

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A Critique of Individual Pathology

A Critique of Individual Pathology

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, more commonly known as the DSM, has been the gold standard for the classification and diagnosis of mental disorders for over half a century. Published by the American Psychiatric Association, the DSM is widely...

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What is Intrinsic Motivation?

What is Intrinsic Motivation?

Motivation can be broadly defined as the psychological process that arouses, directs, and maintains behavior towards achieving a specific goal. It is the force that prompts individuals to act in a certain way or at least develop an inclination for specific behavior....

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The Paradox of Self Acceptance

The Paradox of Self Acceptance

You're sitting there, feeling the weight of the world pressing heavily on your shoulders. It's another day, and once again, you find yourself in the midst of an internal war. On one side, there's the compelling, seemingly inescapable allure of your addiction; on the...

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Signs of Codependency

Signs of Codependency

You wake up every morning with a heavy feeling in your chest, knowing that your day will be filled with the constant need to cater to the wants and needs of others. You've always been a caring person, but lately, it seems as though your own well-being has taken a...

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How to Cope with Nicotine Withdrawal

How to Cope with Nicotine Withdrawal

You've finally made the decision to break free from the clutches of nicotine addiction. You're eager to embrace a healthier lifestyle, but suddenly, it hits you like a wave - nicotine withdrawal. You feel irritable and anxious, your hands are trembling, and you're...

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Building a Healthy Support System in Recovery

Building a Healthy Support System in Recovery

As you find yourself sinking deeper into the grips of addiction, the world around you seems to shrink. What was once a vibrant and bustling life is replaced by a numbing sense of isolation. You feel trapped in a cycle of substance use, trying to fill the void that...

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10 Alternatives to 12-Step Programs

10 Alternatives to 12-Step Programs

You've made a courageous decision to seek help for your addiction, but you're not quite sure if the traditional 12-step program is the right fit for you. Perhaps it's the spiritual aspect, the focus on a higher power, or simply the structure of the program that...

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My Approach to Counselling

My Approach to Counselling

Living with addiction can feel like a constant battle where you're always on the losing side. You may have tried to gain control over your addiction, only to find yourself slipping back into old patterns and habits. The experience can leave you feeling overwhelmed,...

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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Addiction

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Addiction

In recent years, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has emerged as a promising and empirically supported approach to treating addiction. Developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Steven C. Hayes, ACT is a mindfulness-based, behavioral therapy that emphasizes...

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What is Motivational Enhancement Therapy?

What is Motivational Enhancement Therapy?

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) is a client-centered, evidence-based therapeutic approach designed to enhance an individual's intrinsic motivation for change. Focused primarily on the treatment of substance use disorders, MET has also proven effective in...

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Overcoming Resentment in Recovery

Overcoming Resentment in Recovery

As you enter the early stages of addiction recovery, you may find yourself confronting an unexpected and powerful emotion: resentment. It's as if a storm has been brewing inside you, fueled by past hurts, betrayals, and perceived injustices. The weight of this emotion...

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The Importance of Values in Recovery

The Importance of Values in Recovery

As you find yourself sinking into the abyss of addiction, it can start to feel as if nothing truly matters anymore. This overwhelming apathy can consume every aspect of your life, making it difficult to find meaning or purpose. In severe addiction, this sense of...

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What is Moderation Management?

What is Moderation Management?

Moderation Management (MM) is a behavioral change program and support network that offers an alternative approach to alcohol and substance use treatment. Unlike traditional abstinence-based methods, MM focuses on helping individuals develop healthier habits by...

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What is Harm Reduction?

What is Harm Reduction?

Harm reduction is a public health philosophy and practice aimed at reducing the negative consequences of drug use and other risky behaviors. Its primary focus is on promoting the well-being and dignity of individuals engaged in these behaviors, rather than solely...

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Abstinence vs. Moderation

Abstinence vs. Moderation

You find yourself once again caught in the familiar tug-of-war between desire and self-control. Each time you give in to the temptation of that addictive substance or behavior, the initial surge of pleasure is quickly overshadowed by a lingering sense of guilt and...

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The Insidious Nature of Mild Addiction

The Insidious Nature of Mild Addiction

You come home after a long day at work, feeling the familiar urge to unwind with a drink. It's become part of your daily routine, and it feels like a harmless way to relax. You have a successful career, a loving family, and a stable social life. In many ways, it seems...

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Dealing with Shame in Addiction Recovery

Dealing with Shame in Addiction Recovery

As you begin your addiction recovery journey, you'll likely encounter a familiar yet unwelcome companion: shame. The experience of shame in addiction recovery is like a shadow that lingers over you, often leaving you feeling vulnerable and exposed. It's like you're...

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What is Addiction? (in simple words)

What is Addiction? (in simple words)

Have you ever tried searching for a straightforward, easy-to-understand explanation of addiction, only to find yourself drowning in a sea of technical jargon and complex terminology? You're not alone. Addiction is a multifaceted and often misunderstood subject,...

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Common Rationalizations for Addiction

Common Rationalizations for Addiction

As you find yourself feeling tense, stressed, and overwhelmed after a long, exhausting day, your thoughts begin to drift towards that familiar, enticing escape. A voice in the back of your mind keeps urging you to indulge in that one thing that promises relief,...

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What is High Functioning Addiction?

What is High Functioning Addiction?

Imagine a successful individual with a thriving career, a loving family, and an active social life. From the outside, their life appears picture-perfect. But what if, behind closed doors, they're secretly battling an addiction? This is the reality for many persons...

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The Experience of High Functioning Addiction

The Experience of High Functioning Addiction

As you wake up each morning, you feel the familiar weight of exhaustion pressing down on you. Despite the outward success you've managed to maintain - the high-powered job, the beautiful family, the lovely home - your body and mind bear the hidden burden of your...

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How Addiction Affects the Family

How Addiction Affects the Family

Imagine a stone being thrown into a still pond, creating ripples that spread outward, impacting everything in their path. Similarly, addiction is a powerful force that reverberates through the lives of not only those who suffer from it, but also their families and...

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The 5 Stages of Change in Recovery

The 5 Stages of Change in Recovery

Recovery is a journey that many individuals undergo as they work to overcome addiction, mental health issues, or other life challenges. This journey is not necessarily linear and involves a series of stages and personal transformations. The five stages of change...

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The Experience of Addiction and Recovery

The Experience of Addiction and Recovery

It begins as a thrilling adventure, an escape from reality or a means to cope with pain, stress, or loneliness. At first, it seems like a friend, a companion who takes away the weight of the world and makes everything feel lighter, more bearable. It gives you moments...

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The Four C’s of Addiction

The Four C’s of Addiction

Addiction is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that can manifest in various forms. The consequences of addiction are far-reaching, impacting not only the individuals struggling with addiction but also their families and communities. The Four C's of addiction -...

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How Does Addiction Start?

How Does Addiction Start?

As an addiction counselor, I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact that addiction can have on the lives of those it touches, as well as the challenges that individuals face on their journey towards recovery. This article aims to shed light on the intricate...

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How Does Gambling Affect Relationships?

How Does Gambling Affect Relationships?

Gambling, a popular form of entertainment for many, can provide an adrenaline rush and, for some, a temporary escape from everyday life. However, when gambling becomes an addiction, it can have devastating consequences on relationships. Gambling addiction can strain...

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Two Types of Gambling Addiction: Action vs Escape

Two Types of Gambling Addiction: Action vs Escape

Gambling addiction, an often overlooked and misunderstood affliction, continues to impact millions of lives worldwide. At its core, gambling addiction is the uncontrollable urge to continue gambling despite the negative consequences it may bring to one's life. As the...

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Signs of Gambling Addiction

Signs of Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction, also known as gambling disorder, is a behavioral addiction characterized by a persistent and escalating pattern of gambling behavior despite negative consequences (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). It is a growing public health concern, with...

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Why is Gambling so Addictive?

Why is Gambling so Addictive?

Gambling has been a popular form of entertainment throughout human history. Whether it involves playing cards, betting on horse races, or trying one's luck on slot machines, the thrill of taking risks and the possibility of winning big lures millions of people...

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What are the Models of Addiction?

What are the Models of Addiction?

Various models have been proposed over the years to explain the nature of addiction and offer a framework for addressing it. This article aims to provide an overview of the six main models of addiction, including the Moral, Disease, Psychological, Social,...

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Addiction as a Social Problem

Addiction as a Social Problem

When it comes to addiction, we are often inclined to point fingers at the individual, labeling them as weak-willed, irresponsible, or morally flawed. This tendency to view addiction as a purely personal problem not only oversimplifies a complex issue but also...

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Addiction Does Not Define You

Addiction Does Not Define You

In the depths of addiction, an all-consuming darkness can takes hold, leaving individuals feeling trapped in a cycle of shame, guilt, and worthlessness. With every failed attempt to break free, the weight of this emotional burden grows heavier, casting a shadow over...

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10 Myths About Addiction

10 Myths About Addiction

As an addiction counselor, I've heard many myths about addiction. These myths lead to misunderstanding and stigma, often clouding our collective perception and creating barriers for those in need of help. In this article, I aim to debunk some of the most common and...

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What Causes Addiction?

What Causes Addiction?

Addiction is a pervasive and complex issue that affects millions of people worldwide, causing a significant impact on individuals, families, and society as a whole. It is critical to understand the factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of...

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Coping with Boredom in Addiction Recovery

Coping with Boredom in Addiction Recovery

So you've made the courageous decision to take control of your life by committing to addiction recovery. You've embraced a healthier lifestyle, severed ties with toxic influences, and started to rediscover your true self. But amidst this newfound clarity, a quiet yet...

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How to Stop Gambling Forever

How to Stop Gambling Forever

Gambling addiction is a complex and often misunderstood issue that affects millions of individuals and their families around the world. The rush of excitement, the escapism, and chasing the win can lead to a devastating cycle of dependency and despair. It can leave...

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Is Narcissism an Addiction?

Is Narcissism an Addiction?

Narcissism, a term rooted in Greek mythology and popularized by Sigmund Freud, refers to a personality trait characterized by a heightened sense of self-importance, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. While everyone exhibits some degree of...

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Motivation to stop drinking

Motivation to stop drinking

Are you exhausted from the relentless cycle of alcohol-fueled nights that morph into groggy mornings filled with regret? Do you long for the days when life was vibrant and fulfilling without the haze of inebriation? You're standing on the precipice of change,...

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How to Prevent a Relapse

How to Prevent a Relapse

Recovery from addiction is often described as a lifelong journey, with ups and downs, twists and turns, and unexpected obstacles along the way. One of the most critical challenges faced by individuals in recovery is the risk of relapse. Relapse refers to the return to...

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How to Help Someone with a Gambling Addiction

How to Help Someone with a Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction is a behavioral disorder characterized by the uncontrollable urge to gamble despite the negative consequences it may bring to the individual's life. This addiction can have a profound impact on relationships, finances, and mental well-being. Support...

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Staying Motivated in Recovery

Staying Motivated in Recovery

Recovering from addiction is a challenging and lifelong journey. Maintaining motivation throughout the process is crucial to achieving long-term sobriety and leading a healthy, fulfilling life. The purpose of this article is to provide practical tips and actionable...

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Coping Skills for Addiction

Coping Skills for Addiction

Recovery from addiction is a complex and challenging process that requires commitment, patience, and a variety of coping strategies. Emotional regulation plays a critical role in this journey as it helps individuals navigate through the ups and downs of recovery,...

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Motivation to Stop Gambling

Motivation to Stop Gambling

It starts with a single bet—a flicker of anticipation and the irresistible allure of potential winnings. The world fades away as the adrenaline courses through your veins, electrifying every sense, drowning out the chaos of daily life. Whether it's the seductive spin...

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Early Warning Signs of Addiction

Early Warning Signs of Addiction

Addiction is a complex, chronic, and relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug or alcohol use, loss of control over substance use, and continued use despite negative consequences (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The importance of early detection...

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Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms and Timeline

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms and Timeline

As a chemical dependency counselor in a detox facility, I assisted many clients in withdrawal from alcohol and other substances. Although many people underestimate it, alcohol is one of the most dangerous substances to withdrawal from, leading to several risky...

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How to Cope with Cravings

How to Cope with Cravings

As an addiction counselor, I've worked with many clients who struggle with cravings during their recovery journey. Cravings are intense urges to use substances or engage in addictive behaviors that can be triggered by environmental cues, emotional stress, and physical...

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How to Stop Gambling Addiction

How to Stop Gambling Addiction

As a Certified Gambling Counsellor, I've worked with many persons struggling to stop a gambling addiction. Although this form of addiction functions similarly to drugs and alcohol, there are some unique things to consider when trying to stop gambling. Gambling...

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How To Change Your Life

How To Change Your Life

Do you want to change your life for the better but don’t know where to start? Each year, many people intend to make important changes in their lives but don’t start because of fear. Instead, they continue going down the same uninspiring path, feeling stuck and…

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How to Stop Online Gambling

How to Stop Online Gambling

If you are trying to stop online gambling, you are not alone. Over the last couple of years, there has been an explosion of online gambling. As shared in my article on online gambling addiction, this trend has accelerated riskier gambling since it’s constantly...

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Procrastination Is Not Laziness

Procrastination Is Not Laziness

Many people blame themselves for being lazy or not having enough willpower to complete the important things they want to do. Popular self-help messages further reinforce this perspective on procrastination, merely telling people to try harder…

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How Addiction Counseling Works

How Addiction Counseling Works

As an addiction counselor, I specialize in human motivation. Although every form of counseling needs to consider the role of motivation, it is especially relevant when dealing with addiction. If you struggle with addiction, you may find yourself…

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Why Willpower is Overrated

Why Willpower is Overrated

Willpower is overrated. I know this sounds controversial, but it is something I’ve been thinking about quite a bit for the past decade. As an addiction counselor, former personal trainer, and avid writer on the topic of motivation…

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How to Stop an Addiction

How to Stop an Addiction

As an addiction counselor, I’ve spent a lot of time helping people stop an addiction. Although everyone’s recovery is unique, I’ve seen some common themes regarding what allows people to gain freedom from addiction….

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How To Motivate Someone

How To Motivate Someone

Trying to motivate someone can be frustrating. If you’ve tried to encourage someone through incentives, punishment, or advice, you may have noticed how these methods often don’t work…

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How to Find Motivation

How to Find Motivation

For many people, it’s challenging to find motivation. After a long day, it’s hard to find the energy to go to the gym, study, cook, or clean. Or maybe you’re looking to start that hobby you’ve been putting…

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3 Simple Steps to Stop Overthinking

3 Simple Steps to Stop Overthinking

If you’re struggling with overthinking, it might be difficult to focus on things that matter. Getting caught up in habitual patterns of worrying, you’re stuck in your head rather than living in the present…

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How to Stop Overthinking and Start Living

How to Stop Overthinking and Start Living

Do you find yourself constantly overthinking? Does life feel overwhelming? You may struggle with constant thoughts of “what if…” keeping you up at night. Mentally preparing yourself for the worst-case…

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Are You Addicted to Overthinking?

Are You Addicted to Overthinking?

Many people struggle with repetitive thoughts racing through their head, beginning with the phrase, “what if…”. What if I can’t handle all of this? What If I fail? What if I’m not enough? Whatever…

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How To Heal Your Relationship With Food

How To Heal Your Relationship With Food

If you have a love-hate relationship with food, you may find yourself constantly thinking about it, depriving yourself of it, or compensating for foods you’ve eaten. Like the cycle of an abusive…

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The Myth of the Addictive Personality

The Myth of the Addictive Personality

Regardless of their personality, addiction can affect anyone. Although specific personality characteristics can be correlated with certain types of addiction, the idea of a single…

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Underlying Causes of Addiction

Underlying Causes of Addiction

The underlying causes of addiction include trauma, unmet needs, or other emotionally painful experiences resulting in the desire to cope in the short-term through substances or behaviors that mask the pain…

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What Drives Addiction?

What Drives Addiction?

Addiction is driven by neurological changes related to dopamine, the reward center, and the self-regulatory center in the brain. This produces a learned pattern of coping with underlying pain or unmet needs…

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7 Ways to Stop Gambling and Save Money

7 Ways to Stop Gambling and Save Money

Let go of common gambling fallacies, decide if gambling is really worth it, self-exclude or use a gambling blocker, replace gambling with other activities, identify your gambling triggers…

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16 Reasons Being Sober Is Worth It

16 Reasons Being Sober Is Worth It

Being sober is worth it because you can live a life of meaning and purpose, you feel healthier and more vital, you’re thriving rather than just coping with life, and you’re no longer living…

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Helping a Son With an Addiction

Helping a Son With an Addiction

If your son is struggling with an addiction, how can you help? Don’t blame yourself, set personal boundaries, engage in helpful communication, find a counselor or support group. Each of these strategies will help you be the most helpful version of yourself… 

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How To Do Motivational Interviewing

How To Do Motivational Interviewing

Engage them through reflective listening, focus on the main issue they are facing, evoke their reasons for change, and collaborate on a plan for change. In this article, I delve into each of these four processes of motivational interviewing, translating…

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What are the Root Causes of Addiction?

What are the Root Causes of Addiction?

Underlying root causes of addiction include trauma, pain, and unmet needs such as purpose, belonging, and self-esteem, which may be amplified by family and genetic factors. Let’s dig into the research and unpack each of these underlying causes…

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How Does Stigma Affect Mental Health?

How Does Stigma Affect Mental Health?

Stigma affects mental health by inflicting further harm on already vulnerable populations. A person may internalize a stigmatizing label, causing further isolation, distrust, and low self-esteem, resulting in increased anxiety or depression. Anxiety is the fight or flight…

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8 Types of Denial in Addiction

8 Types of Denial in Addiction

Some of the most common types of denial consist of the following: minimization, optimism bias, avoidance, control fallacies, mental filtering, normalizing, just-world Fallacy, and externalizing responsibility. Each of these are types of cognitive distortions, logical fallacies, or defense mechanisms…

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12 Early Warning Signs of a Relapse

12 Early Warning Signs of a Relapse

Early warning signs of a relapse consist of isolating oneself, becoming irritable and reactive, becoming dishonest and deceptive, worrying about other people, overconfidence in one’s recovery, shifting back into unhelpful networks, feeling…

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What Does Opioid Withdrawal Feel Like?

What Does Opioid Withdrawal Feel Like?

Opioid withdrawals are so painful because of the rebound effect. Since opioids reduce one’s ability to feel pain, stopping an opioid once dependent causes the opposite effect, producing severe pain. The rebound effect is a phenomenon that can be applied to…

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What Are Some Addictive Behaviors?

What Are Some Addictive Behaviors?

Addictive behaviors operate similar to addictive substances, causing craving, loss of control, and continued use despite negative consequences. Addictions are ways of coping with difficult underlying thoughts or feelings in the short-term…

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Can You Be Addicted to a Person?

Can You Be Addicted to a Person?

You can be addicted to a person. This is also referred to as relationship addiction, love addiction, or codependency. Each of these consists of seeking external validation to compensate for low self-esteem. Let’s take a closer look at this often overlooked…

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When Does Helping Become Enabling?

When Does Helping Become Enabling?

Helping becomes enabling when you diminish someone else’s responsibility by not allowing them to experience the natural consequences of their behavior. Helping allows someone to gain further responsibility, whereas enabling takes away…

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The Benefits of Meditation for Addiction

The Benefits of Meditation for Addiction

Meditation can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and improve emotional regulation, leading to improved coping skills for persons with addiction. This allows for increased behavioral control and spiritual development. Let’s take a look at the science…

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Why Crystal Meth Is So Dangerous

Why Crystal Meth Is So Dangerous

Crystal meth provides a dopamine spike more powerful than any other drug. This initially makes a person feel invincible, seducing them into centering their life around the drug, leading to extreme paranoia, hallucinations, and an inability to function in day-to-day life…

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A Powerful Story of Addiction and Recovery

A Powerful Story of Addiction and Recovery

On the go? Listen to the audio version of the article here: In my previous article, What Does Addiction Feel Like, I shared Stephanie's experience of addiction. Here, I want to share her story of recovery. Her recovery was a six-year process. She spent two years...

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What Does Addiction Feel Like?

What Does Addiction Feel Like?

Addiction feels like a chaotic loss of control, a sense of being worthless, hopeless, isolated, and lost, all while having an intense craving, and only feeling fleeting pleasure. To help understand this feeling in more depth, I interviewed a fellow addiction advocate who is in recovery from an addiction…

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How Does Motivational Interviewing Work?

How Does Motivational Interviewing Work?

Motivational interviewing works by supporting a client’s sense of intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, and a sense of empathic connection to the counselor. Each of these factors leads to increased motivation to change. Let’s take a look at each of these areas…

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What Causes People to Change?

What Causes People to Change?

People change when motivated by a sense of independence, a sense of competence, and a sense of connection to others. These motivations can be sparked in moments of extreme frustration when a person realizes their current approach is no longer working. This answer is based on the empirically…

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The Meaning of the Serenity Prayer

The Meaning of the Serenity Prayer

The Serenity Prayer means letting go of situations beyond your control and taking action toward things within your control. It also means being able to know when things are within your control and when things are beyond your control. Let’s take a look at the Serenity Prayer…

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When Does Something Become an Addiction?

When Does Something Become an Addiction?

Something becomes an addiction if it begins to have significant harmful impacts on other areas of your life. In addition, the individual experiences craving, loss of control over the substance or behavior, and is unable to stop despite these harms… 

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The Only Way Out Is Through

The Only Way Out Is Through

“The only way out is through,” means facing the pain of a situation head-on rather than avoidance through distractions, including alcohol, drugs, or other behaviors such as gambling, gaming, and work. Let’s look at how this is currently playing out and how we can use…

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The Impact of Isolation on Addiction

The Impact of Isolation on Addiction

Isolation increases the risk of addiction among individuals using a substance or behavior to cope with the loneliness, boredom, or loss of purpose due to isolation.  It is important to note that isolation and loneliness are not synonymous. You can be living in…

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Is Worrying Helpful?

Is Worrying Helpful?

Worrying can be helpful or harmful, depending on the type of worry. It is helpful when focused on practical short-term actions, but it is harmful when focused on abstract ideas about the future that lead to repetitive thoughts and inaction. Let’s take a closer look at what this means…

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How Gambling Addiction Works

How Gambling Addiction Works

Gambling addiction works by hijacking the brain’s learning mechanism through random rewards. This means you feel rewarded often enough to keep going, despite increasing losses. The idea of missing a potential win keeps the person focused on trying to get the money back…

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Are You Addicted to Your Phone?

Are You Addicted to Your Phone?

On the go? Listen to the audio version of the article here: As smartphones take over the world, you may find yourself asking, "am I addicted to my phone?" Whenever I tell someone I treat internet addiction, they commonly mention how often young people are using their...

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Why Are Video Games Addictive?

Why Are Video Games Addictive?

Although every case is unique, there are general patterns that can help explain why video games are addictive. Video games are addictive because they help meet our basic psychological need for a sense of freedom, purpose/progress, and social connection…

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