Cigarette smoking was a commonplace activity midway through the previous century. Smoking was cool, sexy, made additionally enticing by its presence in blockbuster movies and popular television shows. It took decades for science to catch up with culture. Not until 1966 did the federal government place a label on cigarette packages, warning of their danger. … Read More
An estimated 88,000 people (approximately 62,000 men and 26,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Accidents and illnesses such as pancreatitis, cancer, heart disease and cirrhosis of the liver account for many of these deaths. Another lesser-known cause is suicide; the risk … Read More
The illusion of perfectibility is hard to escape. The message “be better,” “do more,” “you’re not good enough,” is littered across the advertising landscape, and in our fast-paced modern world, the competition to be busy and never content with who you are and what you have is ubiquitous. The idea that one must keep pursuing … Read More
Denial is one of the biggest challenges to overcome in early recovery. But once the decision is made to face, head on, the enemy that is the eating disorder or addiction, the path forward becomes clearer, though not always easier. Once there is admission that we no longer want to struggle with the illness and … Read More
Life is full of good gifts: things to be enjoyed, experiences to be had, pleasures to be tasted, sense to be stimulated. But, our desire for and experience of good things can be twisted, distorted, perverted by a combination of genetic predispositions and external triggers. Enjoyment can become obsession, indulgence can become addiction, stimulation can … Read More
