One of the issues that makes addiction more complex than some other chronic diseases is the potential for addiction to more than one substance or behavior at one time or for two addictions to play off of each other in dangerous ways. Such connections are common with addictions to gambling and alcohol. These ... Read More
Kristina Robb-Dover
Kristina Robb-Dover
Kristina Robb-Dover is an Atlanta-based writer, editor, and author of two books with publishing houses. She has degrees from Yale College and Princeton Theological Seminary.
Step 2 of AA: What 12-Step Programs Mean by “A Higher Power”
The 12 steps to recovery are one of the most successful tools used today to help people overcome alcohol and drug addiction. Each step defines a task or requirement for a person with an addiction that they need to work through to change their outlook on using and to empower them to maintain sobriety. Step 2 of ... Read More
A Thousand Cuts: Self-Harm’s Temptations and How to Address Them
Self-mutilation, or self-injury, is defined as any type of injury a person creates without any intention of suicide. Deliberately harming your body like this can create an emotional release for some people. Most people who cut or burn themselves do so not because they want to kill themselves but as a way of managing ... Read More
Vicious Cycle: How Drug Abuse Turns to Dealing
Drug addiction often starts slowly, with a little sampling at a party or prescription use that spirals out of control. For those who enjoy the initial rush, use may increase, spreading from getting high solely at parties or during nights out to daily doses, perhaps at night to unwind or in the morning to get going. ... Read More
Help! I’m Addicted to Shopping: Compulsive Buying and You
Can shopping become an addiction? Shopping without the ability to stop can be a form of addiction. Compulsive buying disorder is a disease. For some people, it begins as a need to have the latest item or fashion accessory. Over time, indulging in those items creates a positive feeling and compels a person to continue ... Read More
Neurorehab for Peak Performance: An Alternative to Nootropics?
Imagine what could happen if your brain was working at its highest, most efficient level. If you were a musician, you could compose your best work and play it with confidence. If you were an executive, you could make financial decisions with clarity. While this may seem like wishful thinking, it is possible to improve ... Read More
Is Addiction a Mental Illness?
It’s a question many people have asked, and most don’t understand: Are drug and alcohol addictions a mental illness? In some cases, addiction can be considered a mental illness. However, because of the physical components of addiction, it can never just be called a mental health disorder. Nevertheless, it’s a disorder ... Read More
Stranger in the Mirror: An Introduction to Dissociative Identity Disorder
We've all seen a movie or read a book where the villain is portrayed as having more than one personality — they can be sweet as pie one moment and turn around and murder their entire family the next, only to deny any knowledge of the crime. This type of inaccurate and sensationalized portrayal of dissociative identity ... Read More
