If a woman, a singing sensation, like Amy Winehouse, surrounded by her manager, family, doctors, and bodyguard could be victim to the destruction of addiction… what hope do we have? Writer Sarah Walker describes the wrenching experience of watching a beloved sister deal with a series of drug addictions. Standing by while a friend, a… Read more »
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“Pain in this life is not avoidable, but the pain we create avoiding pain is avoidable.” ~R.D. Laing Millions of people turn to addiction for escape only to find it a prison. One of the reasons an addiction is such an effective trap is that it’s constructed on contradiction. The lows chase the highs, the… Read more »
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While the term “love addiction” may be controversial among mental health professionals, having an overwhelming or obsessive compulsion toward love or a loved one is not uncommon. Love addictions are formed as a defense against psychological pain. Love addicts have a fantasy of being rescued by their loved one and often believe that this one… Read more »
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Box-sets are a 21st Century phenomenon. It started with DVD’s and now, with our lightning-speed internet connections, we can stream hours of movies and TV shows whenever and wherever we want. As Bim Adewunmi puts it in her article on the New Statesman, ‘There is no joy quite like that which is to be found… Read more »
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Watch an exerpt from PsychAlive’s exclusive interview with Dr. James Garbarino. Dr. James Garbarino talks about how predicting behavior in others is advantageous – and how irrational behavior can be hard to respond to. Dr. James Garbarino: I think whether it’s children or dogs, predictability generally is an asset in people’s relationships. That people can… Read more »
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Like most process addictions, compulsive spending and shopping serves an unconscious purpose. The purpose is typically specific to each individual and while out of one’s awareness, a yearning seeks to be filled. This is where the process of shopping and spending come into play. Assessing the behaviors, intentions, and emotions underlying compulsive spending and shopping… Read more »
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The tabloids and reality TV shows documenting the erratic, out-of-control behaviors associated with drinking and drugging may be giving us a skewed image of what constitutes addiction. You don’t have to off-road into a Beverly Hills boutique or engage in raging encounters to qualify as being an addict. Understanding whether you may have an addiction… Read more »
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