Recent Posts

Inspiration Over Happiness

The pursuit of happiness appears as a cultural mandate. It helps to pause and consider what it is, and whether there is an alternative that allows for living on life's terms.

The pursuit of happiness appears as a cultural mandate. It helps to pause and consider what it is, and whether there is an alternative that allows for living on life's terms.

When Roles Swamp Our Identities

We run the risk of losing ourselves to the roles we play in life. We take them to be all-defining, which is a form of self-deception aided and abetted by others.

We run the risk of losing ourselves to the roles we play in life. We take them to be all-defining, which is a form of self-deception aided and abetted by others.

Grief Without Closure Still Needs Tending

Ambiguous loss is a unique form of loss that society creates no container for, to the detriment of those who experience it. Creating a ritual can help enormously.

Ambiguous loss is a unique form of loss that society creates no container for, to the detriment of those who experience it. Creating a ritual can help enormously.

Emergence of Late-Onset Drinking Problems in Adults Over 50

After 50, drinking problems can quietly emerge for the first time or return after years of control. Retirement, empty nests, and caregiving stress are often the hidden triggers.

After 50, drinking problems can quietly emerge for the first time or return after years of control. Retirement, empty nests, and caregiving stress are often the hidden triggers.

Want to Challenge How Much You Drink?

Should therapists assess for alcohol use differently now that it has become increasingly clear that alcohol may be far more harmful than previously believed?

Should therapists assess for alcohol use differently now that it has become increasingly clear that alcohol may be far more harmful than previously believed?

What Happened to Church Bingo and the State Lottery?

Church and local bingo, followed by State lotteries, defined gambling and funded education. Now, digital betting, mobile apps, and instant payouts dominate -Will States suffer?

Church and local bingo, followed by State lotteries, defined gambling and funded education. Now, digital betting, mobile apps, and instant payouts dominate -Will States suffer?

The Science of Breath Rewiring Stress via Hormone Regulation

Research shows how breathing can impact the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems to destress and increase happiness.

Research shows how breathing can impact the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems to destress and increase happiness.

Why Some Balk at Surrendering in Recovery from Addiction

The concept of surrendering in addiction recovery is contentious. An alternative is renouncing, which can be empowering and liberating.

The concept of surrendering in addiction recovery is contentious. An alternative is renouncing, which can be empowering and liberating.

Why We Do What We Do

We all have some emotional threads that act like an undertow pulling us in certain directions, shaping our decisions. Here are seven of the most common ones.

We all have some emotional threads that act like an undertow pulling us in certain directions, shaping our decisions. Here are seven of the most common ones.

How Online Gambling Hijacks an Element of Play: Anticipation

Online gambling mobilizes anticipation to activate the reward circuits in vulnerable players.

Online gambling mobilizes anticipation to activate the reward circuits in vulnerable players.

What’s Up with Molly (MDMA) After the Executive Order?

The FDA still requires convincing safety and efficacy data on psychedelic agents, including MDMA, before approval. The VA and DoD are expected to expand clinical trials.

The FDA still requires convincing safety and efficacy data on psychedelic agents, including MDMA, before approval. The VA and DoD are expected to expand clinical trials.

Psilocybin for Cocaine Use Disorder

At long last, there may be a treatment for cocaine addiction—psilocybin. Apparently, psilocybin briefly disrupts and allows the brain to reset so therapy can penetrate and stick.

At long last, there may be a treatment for cocaine addiction—psilocybin. Apparently, psilocybin briefly disrupts and allows the brain to reset so therapy can penetrate and stick.

Stuck in Unhealthy Patterns?

Human life is organized in patterns. Addiction comprises multiple and overlapping patterns. Recovery involves creating new ones.

Human life is organized in patterns. Addiction comprises multiple and overlapping patterns. Recovery involves creating new ones.

Polysubstance Use Defines Substance Disorders Now

Most people do not use one drug, but many. SUDs often involve different substances, but the underlying problem is really one disease with multiple manifestations.

Most people do not use one drug, but many. SUDs often involve different substances, but the underlying problem is really one disease with multiple manifestations.

Neuromodulation Addiction Treatments Move Home

Experts are already treating addicted people with at-home neuromodulation devices to control cravings, and the future is bright for such aids for people with substance use disorders.

Experts are already treating addicted people with at-home neuromodulation devices to control cravings, and the future is bright for such aids for people with substance use disorders.

Can Patients Access Their Psychotherapy Notes?

A patient is anxious about what his therapist truly thinks about him. Does the patient have a right to review the therapist’s private notes that contain clinical impressions?

A patient is anxious about what his therapist truly thinks about him. Does the patient have a right to review the therapist’s private notes that contain clinical impressions?

Self-Doubt Corrodes Self-Respect

Self-doubt tends to spread like wildfire. People struggling with addiction or living with trauma know this well. The challenge is to tip the balance towards self-respect.

Self-doubt tends to spread like wildfire. People struggling with addiction or living with trauma know this well. The challenge is to tip the balance towards self-respect.

Medications for Methamphetamine Use Disorder

Several million people are addicted to methamphetamines and also use tobacco, cannabis, alcohol, benzos, and opioids. Treatment is challenging. Mirtazapine could help.

Several million people are addicted to methamphetamines and also use tobacco, cannabis, alcohol, benzos, and opioids. Treatment is challenging. Mirtazapine could help.

Confidence or Narcissism?

In the modern world, threats are on the rise. One consequence is a rise in narcissism, often misconstrued as strength and confidence. It actually has more to do with weakness.

In the modern world, threats are on the rise. One consequence is a rise in narcissism, often misconstrued as strength and confidence. It actually has more to do with weakness.

Seven Challenges in Early Recovery From Addiction

While there are many externally imposed obstacles early in recovery, some of the biggest come from within us.

While there are many externally imposed obstacles early in recovery, some of the biggest come from within us.

The Truth About ADHD and Dopamine

Despite what you may have seen on social media, a "dopamine detox" won't fix your ADHD—and it could even make it worse. Here's how to unravel the myth from reality and find strategies that will actually help.

Despite what you may have seen on social media, a "dopamine detox" won't fix your ADHD—and it could even make it worse. Here's how to unravel the myth from reality and find strategies that will actually help.

Cannabis Vaping: Safer Than Smoking…or Just Newer?

Is vaping weed healthier than smoking it? We unpack some benefits, the known harms, and a few unsettling questions sitting just beyond the boundaries of the current research.

Is vaping weed healthier than smoking it? We unpack some benefits, the known harms, and a few unsettling questions sitting just beyond the boundaries of the current research.

Can Ibogaine Help Substance Abuse, TBI, and PTSD?

A powerful psychedelic plant medicine is gaining federal and state backing, and it may offer hope to those who suffer from PTSD or addictions.

A powerful psychedelic plant medicine is gaining federal and state backing, and it may offer hope to those who suffer from PTSD or addictions.

Junk Culture: Why We Crave Its Offerings

Are we addicted to the emotional jolts our consumerist society provides?

Are we addicted to the emotional jolts our consumerist society provides?

People-Pleasers Lose Themselves to Others

People-pleasing is a bad habit, which is like a fold in a piece of paper. People-pleasers are origami masters.

People-pleasing is a bad habit, which is like a fold in a piece of paper. People-pleasers are origami masters.

Wastewater Analyses for Real-Time Changes in Substance Use

Wastewater analysis can detect drugs in real time, allowing experts to inform emergency and other health providers and warn residents of new drug threats.

Wastewater analysis can detect drugs in real time, allowing experts to inform emergency and other health providers and warn residents of new drug threats.

Ibogaine: A Psychedelic Solution to the Opioid Epidemic?

President Trump signs a monumental executive order fast-tracking psychedelics for mental health treatment, and ibogaine is repeatedly highlighted. What is ibogaine?

President Trump signs a monumental executive order fast-tracking psychedelics for mental health treatment, and ibogaine is repeatedly highlighted. What is ibogaine?

Why Are We So Dependent on Social Media?

Why do social media platforms have such a hold on so many? Apart from “addictive” design features, a place to look is in the identity needs we are trying to meet.

Why do social media platforms have such a hold on so many? Apart from “addictive” design features, a place to look is in the identity needs we are trying to meet.

Have You Ever Met an Emotional Gangster?

Emotional gangsters can successfully engage in emotional extorting, embezzling, bribing, and loan sharking. Here's how they do it.

Emotional gangsters can successfully engage in emotional extorting, embezzling, bribing, and loan sharking. Here's how they do it.

What Old Psychology Can Teach Us About New Betting

Psychology explains why so many smart people become hooked on betting.

Psychology explains why so many smart people become hooked on betting.