5 Approaches That Work in Relapse Prevention Relapse rates for addiction are notoriously high, falling between 40 and 60 percent according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The relapse rate is even higher among young adults, particularly those who began using drugs in early adolescence, have weak social support networks, abuse multiple drugs, or have co-occurring mental health disorders. These[…]
Author Archives: Dr. Sadaqat ali
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Dec
Dec
Eight Basic Emotions That Underlie Eight Psychological Disorder Clusters I have written in past about the basic structure of emotions and identified eight basic emotions- four of them paired together viz. Fear-Disgust; Sadness-Anger; Joy- Love/Attentiveness and Interest-surprise. I have also tried to carve psychopathology at its joints, and come up with a psychological disorders taxonomy that places all major psychological disorders[…]
27
Dec
Dec
Preventing Addiction Through Conscious Parenting Parenting offers a powerful opportunity to shape a child’s future, steering them away from addiction. Recognizing how parenting choices influence a child’s emotional health is key to breaking the cycle of addiction. The Role of Parents in Shaping Futures Most parents do not deliberately harm their children, but certain unconscious[…]
23
Dec
Dec
Out-of-control-shopping i Primarily Driven By Poor Credit Card Management Did you know that approximately 10 percent of adults in western countries are believed to have a compulsive spending disorder? Their spending habits lead them to lose control over their buying behavior, and this trend is on the rise. Interestingly, these shopaholics are addicted to buying[…]
23
Dec
Dec
Drug, Alcohol, & Behavioral Addictions Have One Thing in Common: Compulsion I said I’d use the next few posts to share what I learned at a recent conference on behavioral addictions. I should emphasize that the conference, held in Budapest, was billed as the First International Conference on Behavioral Addictions. The idea that gambling, hypersexualized behavior, eating[…]
22
Dec
Dec
When working on self-improvement, setbacks can often feel like failures. Whether it’s indulging in a late-night fast-food craving or struggling to quit smoking despite several tries, setbacks can be discouraging. However, they’re not the end of the road. Instead, they’re an essential part of the process. Research shows that each failed attempt can increase your[…]
22
Dec
Dec
When Should Addicts Be Protected by Disability Laws? The question of whether addiction is a disability or simply unacceptable behavior is complex. This topic involves legal, ethical, and societal considerations that need thorough exploration. A real-life example from Oregon illustrates this. Back in 2011, a police officer lost his job after driving under the influence[…]
22
Dec
Dec
Understanding How The Brain Heals Creates New Treatment Options For Addicts We used to think that the brain, once damaged, could not repair itself. Breakthroughs in neuroscience have shown that this is not true. Though individual neurons might be damaged beyond repair, the brain attempts to heal itself when damaged by making new connections or new neural[…]
22
Dec
Dec
The Loss of Spirituality Makes It Doubly Hard to Recover From Workaholism When work becomes the “sacred cow,” personal and often professional values change. Faith often weakens because little energy is left over to pursue and find the spiritual side of life. For those who have lost their spirituality, or never had it, this is a[…]
20
Dec
Dec
Anxiety can stem from many sources: relationship problems, work stress, or even health concerns. Though medications are commonly used, there are alternative methods that can effectively alleviate anxiety. In this article, we explore four case studies highlighting treatments that focus on action and understanding, helping individuals break free from the grip of anxious thoughts. Case[…]