Although this blog is directed at teens, I don’t imagine too many of them will actually read it. So, I am going to attempt to reach the parents and hope that some of the information is passed on to their teens to prevent Teen Dating Violence. As this is the month to generate such information, I am inspired by an article I read which started by saying, “Just say no.” This is reminiscent of Nancy Reagan a number of years ago whose theme song was, “Just say no to drugs.” This type of gratuitous advice will have the same dismal impact. Who will … [Read more...]
Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
You know that book Men are from Mars Women are from Venus. Sometimes I honestly believe it's true especially when it comes to the blame game in relationships. So, my wife and I were sort of wrestling and it all seemed like fun. I must have gotten carried away and hurt her. I wasn’t trying to but it just sort of happened. I suppose being a man carries that extra responsibility of being bigger and stronger. I was pretty sure it wasn’t because of trying to win and losing sight of the idea of having fun or forgetting we can hurt people too easily … [Read more...]
Co-occurring Disorders
Co-occurring Disorders Summary Many, if not most, people who are addicted to alcohol or other drugs suffer from another mental health disorder at some point. People with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders must be treated for both disorders at the same time to improve the likelihood of recovery. People with addictions often suffer from other mental health disorders. Some with untreated mental health problems start using alcohol or drugs as a way to self-medicate. Conversely, there are cases where an individual begins to … [Read more...]
Part 2: A story about untreated ADD and ADHD
As I mentioned in Part 1, living with untreated ADD is hard on not just you but others close to you as well. I was telling you of my friend who attended a clinic in Washington State and was diagnosed with ADHD. It was suggested that he seek counseling to assist him in rehabilitating himself. Back home, he went to a counselor every two weeks for a couple of years. Then the counselor took four months off. My friend was nearly beside myself; what would he do now? Eventually, my friend saw another counselor and he began by giving advice how to … [Read more...]
Types of ADD: A story about untreated ADD and ADHD Part 1
I’ll tell you a story about a friend of mine – and I can assure you it is not me. The resemblance and similar age to me are purely a coincidence. My friend was about fifty-nine years old when he was diagnosed with ADHD. The first ADD-related book he read was “Healing ADD by Daniel Amen”. He was reading it to learn how to help his son who struggled with ADD problems. The son never really got to the addiction stage like his dad but really liked video games and found it was a good place to go when the pressure got to be a little much. My … [Read more...]
What are the long-term effects of untreated ADD?
Does someone you know and love exhibit the following behaviors? Short attention span. Distractibility. Disorganization. Procrastination. Saying or doing things without thinking them through. These are all symptoms or early warning signs of ADD / ADHD, and if left untreated, or improperly treated, can lead to more problems. Some also believe ADD is a children’s problem and we outgrow it as adults. ADD contributes to school problems, marital problems, workplace problems, and many more areas. It’s not just about misbehaving or … [Read more...]