I was reading a health blog in one of the addiction forums the other day and the author was explaining some basic routines for staying healthy. “Exercise. Try to eat right. Do the best you can to take care of yourself, etc. And if you are a drinker or use drugs, try to stay healthy anyways”. He said something along those lines and even though I’ve given up … Read More

If You Drink or Do Drugs, at Least Enjoy Life! is a post from: Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction

Feel like You are Getting a Late Start Beating Depression or Recovering from Addiction? is a post from: Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction

While I only mention alcoholics in the title, the theory applies to addicts as well — as I believe they are one and the same anyhow. I began this as a response to an author who had said that addiction began as pure escapism from life. I ended up writing out my main message to those who suffer from addiction, and think perhaps some professionals may … Read More

Alcoholics Drink for a Reason That Likely Can Be Controlled is a post from: Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction

Addiction: it goes to the very root of the brain. is a post from: Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction

The key to long term success in recovery is beginning with a solid treatment program. It is critical that you develop a solid foundation from which you can start working to get better, and proper treatment is the only way to build that foundation. Simply detoxing to break the addiction cycle cannot substitute for a longer term treatment plan, and by just detoxing and then installing yourself in a sober living you are putting … Read More

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment – How to Find the “Right” Center is a post from: Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction

I wrote this in one of the attached comments on this blog but wanted to make sure other adoptees did not miss it, and I elaborated a bit:

I feel for you insofar as wanting to find out more about your biological … Read More

In Answer to an International Adoptee’s “How Did You Cope With Your Adoption?” is a post from: Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction

This is absolutely one of the best articles I have read about a young woman’s thought process about possibly being an alcoholic because she is not a daily drinker. She is a binge drinker, not bottoming out yet, and completely confused about how awful rehab might be, and asking “should I go to rehab?”  Especially enlightening are the comments people have made … Read More

SHOULD I GO TO REHAB? At 27, a Binge Drinker Asks About the Prospect of Rehab is a post from: Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction

I have been preaching for years now that I believe most people who are alcoholics began drinking (or drugging) to help kill the pain of a mood disorder. For whatever reason until today I had not known that there was empirical scientific data backing this notion up. Nobody really knows if you can be an alcoholic first, and then that triggers a long-term depressive episode, or visa versa. If you have an alcohol or drug … Read More

Gene Linked to Both Alcoholism and Depression is a post from: Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction

I have five rules I have developed over the years that help keep my depression at bay. If I break any one of the rules, I’m at risk of having a depressive episode — and for me there is nothing at all in life that is worse than one of these episodes or even compares to how low these put me on the mood scale. And, they have seemingly gotten deeper and more painful if … Read More

Five Ways I Deal with Depression is a post from: Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction

Stress Leads to Alcohol Abuse and in Turn Depression Makes You Feel Worse and Can Get Suicidal, Especially For Vets is a post from: Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction