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Progression of Addictive Behaviors

Some people are still not convinced that they may have a problem.  “I am not as bad as______” or “I only drink on the weekends.”  The point is not how bad someone else is, or how often you are engaging in the behavior. The point is that you are experiencing problems...

Understanding Your Temperament and Preferences

Now that you have learned about your “issues” and have started to develop an action plan, let’s help you learn more about yourself as an individual, so you can make your plan even more successful.  In order to live mindfully and purposefully,  you need to consider how...

Addiction: Consequences of Addictive Behaviors

Not everyone is in a bad place when they start using. Some people use drugs, gamble or engage in other behaviors recreationally.  As the “happy chemicals” in your brain got used up, and other coping skills became overwhelmed, the addictive behaviors were used to help...

Addiction: Reasons People Use

Addictive substances and behaviors cause a release of pleasure chemicals that temporarily numb or distract from current feelings of depression, anger, anxiety or physical pain.  It is one way people survive unbearable pain, until they learn what is causing it and...

Do I have An Addiction

Defining the Problem Addiction a way of escaping.  Some common forms of escape include alcohol, drugs, sex, creating chaos or drama, gambling, gaming, shopping, exercise and eating. You can be addicted to any of these, or you may just use them to occasionally escape. ...

Who Develops Addictions

While we do not yet understand why some people develop addictions and others do not, we have identified several risk factors.    That is, if you have these risk factors, you may be more vulnerable to developing an addiction.  Among them are genetics, an unstable...