Addictions | Psych Central

Teen Drinking: Limits vs. Punishment

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

According to the National Institute of Health, drinking -- the drug of choice among youth -- plays a major role in death from injuries, and injuries are the leading cause of death for ...

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Does Your Teenager Want To Get Caught?

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Travis was 15. He’d always been a good kid – no trouble, unlike his brothers. His parents saw him as the perfect child. That’s ...

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Purge: Rehab Diaries

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

In our society, eating disorders are mostly misunderstood and glamorized. We’re told that everyone with an eating disorder is skin and bones. That just by looking at someone we can easily spot the starvation, the ...

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Is Alcohol Spoiling Your Romance?

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

When I first talk to people about couples therapy, I usually ask: "Do you drink alcohol? Does your partner?" and if so, "How much?" I also ask whether they use other mind-altering drugs and intoxicants. ...

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Voluntary Madness: My Year Lost and Found in the Loony Bin

Monday, April 6th, 2009

Voluntary Madness: My Year Lost and Found in the Loony Bin By Norah Vincent New York: Viking, December 2008 Hardcover, 283 pages $25.95 Immersion journalism, as it’s called, can be kind of fun on a limited basis. In my days ...

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Are We Slaves to Hedonic Hunger?

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009

Psychologists looking for new ways to describe and explain eating behavior have come up with a novel phrase, "hedonic hunger." Dr. Michael R. Lowe and colleagues at Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pa., describe the phenomenon as ...

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Quit Smoking and Sticking with It

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

Beating an addiction to nicotine takes a lot of willpower and determination. You should feel great about yourself for making it so far. Now's the time to focus on sticking with it. Keeping Your Guard Up Your ...

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What to Do If You Slip When You Quit Smoking

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

Don't be discouraged if you slip up and smoke one or two cigarettes. It's not a lost cause. One cigarette is better than an entire pack. But that doesn't mean you can safely smoke every ...

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Managing Your Smoking Cravings

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

What can you do when you really have an urge or craving for a cigarette? One thing to keep in mind is that these urges to smoke will come and go. Try to wait ...

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Steps to Take on Your Quit Smoking Day

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

Today's the day you start your smoke-free life! Remind your family and friends that today is your quit date. Ask them to support you during the first few days and weeks. They can help you ...

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Medications to Help with Smoking Withdrawal

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

When you quit smoking, you may feel strange at first. You may feel dull, tense, and not yourself. These are signs that your body is getting used to life without nicotine. It usually only lasts ...

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Preparing to Quit Smoking

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

Just thinking about quitting may make you anxious. But your chances will be better if you get ready first. Quitting works best when you're prepared. Before you quit, START by taking these five important steps:...

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Why is Quitting Smoking Difficult?

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

Many ex-smokers say quitting was the hardest thing they ever did. Do you feel hooked? You're probably addicted to nicotine. Nicotine is in all tobacco products. It makes you feel calm and satisfied. At the ...

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Second and Third-Hand Smoke

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

Second-hand smoke can cause cancer in nonsmokers. It can also cause breathing problems and heart disease. People who breathe secondhand smoke get colds and flu more easily. And they often die younger than those who ...

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Why Should I Quit Smoking?

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

One of the most important parts of learning to quit smoking is understanding your motivations for wanting to quit. Wanting to quit for someone else is a sure indicator of likely failure -- successful quitters ...

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