Military Kids and Prescription Drugs

Use of prescription drugs by military kids is on the rise, particularly since the war escalated in Afghanistan. The situation seems to bring home very forcefully a point of difference between mainstream use of medications to resolve what are seen as mental disorders, and the benefits that holistic counseling can bring to the distressed mind.  Facts reported by Army News, early 2011, reveal that in 2009 over 300,000...

Blame It On The Voices: Answers to Addiction.

In seeking answers to addiction, we can often blame it on the voices in our head. Some of us grow up with families and communities that are not supportive of our need to have freedom of expression and physical activity. Our ways are constrained, from the moment of birth, into predetermined activity. We are expected to act this way, and that, not expected to deviate. If we want to do or be something different, voices...

Answers: Meditation and Relaxation

For any kind of physical or emotional pain, for substance abuse, and addictions, the benefits of meditation practice and relaxation have been known about for centuries. There are many types of meditation, which involves a cutting off from the mundane world into a state of deep relaxation.  Anyone who takes up the practice of meditation will find that unless one is deep in sleep, and effectively unconscious,...

Management of Anger – Addiction Recovery.

Dealing with issues about management of anger is important in the context of addiction recovery.  Many people with compulsive, addictive tendencies often express feelings of anger, that is, when they are not otherwise feeling depressed or anxious. Substance abuse is a means of suppressing feelings of anxiety, depression and anger.  Expressing the emotion of anger is in our society, as with expressions of grief,...

Running and Cocaine: Benefits of Exercise.

Recent scientific studies have shown that some of the benefits of exercise such as running in marathon trials can include reduced dependency on cocaine.  Running has long been known for the benefits of exercise but it also has capacity to stress the body. Marathon and long distance runners often talk about running through the “pain barrier”, and achieving the runner’s “high”. The body responds to...