Articles by Bill Urell on ArticleSnatch.com

Getting into Alcohol Recovery

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

There are many individuals that develop an issue with alcohol addiction. People who suffer with an addiction in the area of alcohol develop the addiction for many different reasons. Alcohol can serve as short term mental and physical relief for numerous individuals. As alcoholism progresses, the amount of alcohol that an individual is able to tolerate becomes greater. The body of an individual that is suffering from alcohol addiction may feel as if it requires the drinks in order to function properly. This can lead to craving even more alcohol without any increase in effect.This ends up leaving the addicted alcoholic feeling as if they have no control over the situation. Once an individual starts to experience the many negative consequences, both mentally and physically, with consuming alcohol, they may make the choice to get into alcohol treatment. There are many different treatment methods that are used to treat this devastating disease. Each method is generally suited to meet the needs of an individual. There is no one standard treatment method that is effective for all individuals that suffer from the trying and complicated disease of alcoholism. **End Summary** Topics: alcohol recovery]]> alcoholism]]> alcohol addiction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Addiction Recovery Help Guide, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery.The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug addiction treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

Crossing The Line From Cocaine Use Into Cocaine Addiction

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Is cocaine addiction a possibility in a loved one's or your own life? Cocaine use can be an extremely difficult thing to handle and if you have become involved in its use, it can be a hard thing to know if the line between casual use and addiction to cocaine is being crossed. No matter what the reason, it is important for you to understands the risks and dangers of cocaine addiction. Addiction is often defined as the need to frequently use increased doses of the drug, despite the physical and psychological harm that it does. The compulsion to use the drug is so strong that the addict will commonly give up their personal relationships and their value system in order to support it. There are many factors which might influence a person to become addicted to cocaine. First, cocaine is a chemical that is easy to become addicted to; like any other stimulant, it affects the neurochemistry of the brain. Second, some people are more prone to become addicted than others. If one or both of your parents was particularly susceptible to cocaine, there is an increased likelihood that you are susceptible as well. **End Summary** Topics: cocaine addiction]]> addiction]]> cocaine use]]> cocaine]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Addiction Recovery Help Guide, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery.The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug addiction treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

Worried About A Loved One's Drug or Alcohol Use? Some Common Addiction Signs

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Are you seeing posible addiction signs in a loved one's behavior or habits? Do you suspect that you might be seeing the signs and symptoms of drug addiction or alcohol abuse? There are many things that, on their own, might be quite innocent, but when seen together in stark black and white may point to a problem with drug use. Does your loved one seem listless and apathetic? Do things that once excited him now bore him? If a person is on opioids, there is a good chance that the drug is creating this behavior. This is especially an alarming issue if you find that the change has happened suddenly. While a tapering off of interest over time is one thing, a sudden drop of things that were previously important is cause for concern. Lying and deceptive behavior are other signs that drug or alcohol abuse might be an issue. Whether your loved one is a child, a teenager or an adult, if you've noticed strange negative behavior, it might be time for you to consider the cause. **End Summary** Topics: addiction sign]]> addiction]]> drug addiction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Addiction Recovery Help Guide, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery.The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug addiction treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

The Hidden Dangers Of Prescription Pill Addiction

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Prescription pill addiction is not what first comes to mind when many people think of drug addiction; they tend to think more of addictions to alcohol or illegal drugs. Most people do not think about the possibility of an addiction to a prescription drug; however, prescription pill addiction is becoming more and more common in the United States. Believe it or not, illegal drug usage among teenagers is actually on the decline, but on the negative side, prescription pill addiction is on the rise among out teenagers today. Since this is becoming a growing problem it is important that people become more aware of this type of addiction so they can spot it in friends or family members. In some cases people end up being addicted to prescription drugs unknowingly as their body becomes more and more dependent on the drug. On the other hand, some teenagers and even adults actually seek out prescription drugs because of the great feelings they get when they take them. In fact, there is actually quite a market for prescription pills on the street, with pills like Vicodin selling for up to $10 for one pill, or oxycodone for $20-$50/pill. **End Summary** Topics: prescription pill addiction]]> pill addiction]]> addiction]]> drug addiction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Addiction Recovery Help Guide, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery.The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug addiction treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

7 Great Tips To Help You In Early Drug Addiction Recovery

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

There is probably nothing more dismal to a recovering drug addict then the fact that they are going through a process which seems like it takes forever! If you have just gotten out of an addiction center or other drug and alcohol rehab center, chances are that you experienced one-on-one counseling, group therapy, as well as a variety of other experiences. Those are the experiences, though, that you should continue throughout your addiction and recovery process. Here are some things that are most strongly suggested, in order to continue to be the recovering drug or alcohol addict that you are today. 1. Continue Counseling- the best thing that you could do for yourself is to continue counseling outside of the addiction center. Your therapists and counselors will be the main ones to keep you right on track in your recovery efforts! 2. Remember Time - After you have gotten out of the addiction and recovery center you may be frustrated with the thoughts of alcohol or drugs that are plaguing your mind. **End Summary** Topics: addiction]]> addiction recovery]]> drug addiction recovery]]> drug addiction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Addiction Recovery Help Guide, Over 100 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery.The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug addiction treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

Types of Addiction Treatment

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

When it comes to addiction treatment, there are numerous options available. One of the main approaches to treating drug addiction includes using different methods of behavior therapy. Some drug addiction specialists promote the use of various types of medications. In many cases, having a unique blend of behavior therapy and medication therapy can be quite effective. Most professionals implement a drug addiction treatment based on the standard principles of treatment. These principles help to outline important considerations when it comes to deciding on the best method of treatment. Here, we will introduce you to the basic principles of addiction treatment for drug addictions. 1. The first principle of treatment for various types of drug addictions is based on the fact that there is no universal treatment for drug use. Drug addiction treatment should be tailored to suit the individual needs of the patient and not be too generalized. 2. The second principle of treatment in drug addictions is that these methods should be available at all times. When a person decides to cease the use of drugs and seek treatment, it is important that resources are available, or that moment may be lost and the individual may continue using. 3. **End Summary** Topics: addiction treatment]]> addiction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Addiction Recovery Help Guide, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery .The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug addiction treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

Are You A Victim Of Dysfunctional Relationships? 9 Warning Signs

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Dysfunctional relationships are relationships that create more emotional turmoil than satisfaction. Relationships are part of the human experience. But what happens if one or both partners have never been involved in a happy relationship, or had one modeled for them as a child? Chances are they will participate in a dysfunctional relationship. A dysfunctional or an about-to-be dysfunctional relationship always has warning signs. These must be identified and confronted in a timely fashion to prevent complete disintegration of he relationship. Here is a list of some warning signs of dysfunctional relationships: 1. Addictive/obsessive attitude: When one of the partners develops addictive or obsessive attitude and all the time seems overly focused on themselves or the other, it is time to reevaluate your relationship because this is the beginning of dysfunctional. You 'lose yourself' in the chaos. 2. Imbalance of power: You always feel that you are working much harder than your partner at making the relationship work. When your partner seems to make no effort at that, your relationship is probably going dysfunctional. Relationships are supposed to be a 50/50 partnership. **End Summary** Topics: dysfunctional relationships]]> bad relationships]]> relationships]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery.The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug addiction treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

Are You Enabling Addiction In The One You Love? The Role of Enabler

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Unfortunately, many times, a loved one actually is enabling addiction through their well intentioned desire to help the addict or alcoholic. How does this occur? Consider the role of the addict; their intention is to continue the using behavior at all costs. What better way to continue that use than to enlist someone to 'help' him. Without the enabler, the addict would have to start facing consequences of his actions, and that might interfere with use continued use. The well intentioned enabler, out of love for the addict will 'protect' him from consequences and himself. I watched an episode of the TV show "Intervention" where a mother gave her son, living at home, in his mid twenties money for Heroin, drove him downtown to buy the drugs and back home so he could use 'safely'. She was afraid he might have uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms or get hurt in a dangerous part of town. That was one of the more dramatic examples of addiction enabling I have seen. Are you lying, making excuses, and creating alibis for your loved one? These are signs that you may have crossed the line from helping into enabling addiction. **End Summary** Topics: enabler]]> enabling addiction]]> addiction]]> addiction treatment]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery.The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug addiction treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

Achieving Happy Relationships: 5 Ingredients For The Mix

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

It is proven in the field of medicine that tender loving care can heal minor illnesses such as colds or fever. TLC can be attributed to love and it can also be directly relative to harmonious and happy relationships. Happy and meaningful relationships, may it be with friends or family or may it be platonic, romantic, etc. can really have a direct impact to your health. One proven study from University of Virginia revealed that women whose husbands are emotionally involved in the relationships have happier marriages. It has also been found out that women craved more affection, time and understanding from their husbands than tangible things. Another study from Cornell University showed that those who are in committed and romantic relationships are happier than those who are not. We are not dealing solely with romantic relationships. They are only one of the numerous kinds of relationships which can make people happy. Happy relationships are the product of a person's state of mind. You may be into a relationship, but you can choose to be, or not to be happy. Here are some ingredients needed to be incorporated into happy relationships: 1. Have a positive attitude! **End Summary** Topics: happy relationships]]> healthy spiritual life]]> romantic relationships]]> relationships]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery .The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug addiction treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

10 Tips for Handling Grief

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The tragic loss of a loved one, the death of a spouse, the break up of a long and fruitful marriage life is full of chances for grief, and can easily be wasted on grieving. Grief is certainly a reality that we must all face, but when we go beyond facing it when we sink deeper and deeper into it, we tend to lose sight of other things in life that are more important. We may neglect people who are close to us, alive, and who still need our love. We may drag ourselves to work, there to do nothing but sit and stare out into space all day. We may be wasting away without knowing it, and only because we did not know how to handle grief in the first place. Grief is not easy to handle: the long road to recovery is often winding, and can sometimes lead you back to where you started if you are not careful, or if you are too intent on forgetting the cause of your grief. **End Summary** Topics: effects of grief]]> grief]]> grieving]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in in addiction recovery.The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug addiction treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

Alcohol Abuse Or Alcoholism, Are You Crossing The Line?

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Alcohol abuse can be a tricky term to use, considering that 'abuse' can have different meanings to different people. However, it is often understood as referring to the excessive use of alcohol, and causing problems or negative consequences. While it may not automatically mean addiction to alcohol, alcohol abuse remains as one of the topmost public health concerns facing our society today and is in fact, the most common substance that often causes chemical dependencey. Is it alcohol abuse or alcoholism? Can you have an alcohol problem is still not be labeled as an alcoholic? Some experts say yes, alcohol abuse can occur without a person actually becoming an alcoholic. In alcohol abuse, the intake of alcohol can occur often and in big quantities but may not often result to alcohol dependency. Alcoholism, on the other hand, is characterized by physical and psychological dependence, the lack of control over the frequency and amount of drinking, along with the strong craving to drink. Alcoholism is also marked with tolerance, a state where the amount of alcohol needed by the body to get the feeling of 'high' continually increases. Alcoholism is also chronic and may exhibit certain withdrawal symptoms. **End Summary** Topics: alcohol abuse]]> alcoholism]]> alcohol abuse treatment]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery .The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug addiction treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

How Do Addictive Behaviors Begin And What Is The Cause?

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

How addictive behaviors begin has sparked many different opinions among experts. The general conclusion has always found a variety of possible answers. It is agreed that there is not one singular component that can be attributed to the beginning of addiction. Most individuals have their own explanations for why they have become dependent on something though sometimes the cause is never known nor understood. How Do Addictions Begin? Many activities that lead to addiction and can be triggered by something as simple as a social event; this may be trying indulging in alcohol, the first experiment with pot, a one night stand, or any of the other chemicals, substances or activities that people tend to become addicted to. One may become physically or psychologically dependent on a prescribed drug that was initially given for legitimate reasons, such as pain management. They may be scared of the withdrawal process or coping with everyday life without it. These fears are common when peolple believe the pain of being without the drug is worse than the misery they are in now. Peer pressure and experimentation explain why many people try substances for the first time. **End Summary** Topics: addiction]]> addictive behaviors]]> addiction recovery]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery .The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug addiction treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

What is the Grieving Process?

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Death is inevitable and is part of the life process. And no matter how we look at it, its one event that nobody ever looks forward to. It is just too painful, too permanent, too traumatic. But then, when death strikes in a family, the loved ones have no choice but to deal with it. No matter how painful, the step-by-step process of healing is gone through, and we learn to live our normal lives again, like it or not. As we said, grieving is a process. It is a normal and natural reaction to a loss or death of a loved one. Grief is an adaptive mechanism that is essential even in the loss of something (an idea or a dream) besides the life of a loved one. Grief is necessarily a part of adjusting to a new situation and has several components. The grieving process is a succession or series of reactions that overlap and replace one another. It is possible that a person may feel the manifestations of different stages at one time. The first stage is shock and numbness. The very first reaction is that of disbelief. **End Summary** Topics: grieving]]> grief]]> grief process]]> grieving process]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery .The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug addiction treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

A Relationship Killer: Not Setting Boundaries

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Every relationship has to have boundaries, and this can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Contrary to the popular belief of most hopeless romantics, relationships are not "partners meet and live happily ever after" types of affairs. Real relationships are composed of two individuals with often differing mindsets, outlooks, and interests working together and compromising with respect. The real key to making a relationship work, especially between disparate individuals, is compromise. One of the biggest keys to successful compromise is knowing which things NOT to do or say to make your partner transform from a caring companion into a dueling partner. To successfully negotiate these often landmine filled fields is a harrowing experience UNLESS you and your partner set boundaries early on in your relationship. This seems to be a simple thing to do, yet it can lead to all sorts of problems on it's own. The first thing to do is to sit down with your partner and discuss the things that some people refer to as "hot buttons". Tell your partner clearly what your buttons are, and listen closely to what your partner has to say. Pay very, very close attention. **End Summary** Topics: relationships]]> boundaries for relationships]]> tips for relationships]]> boundaries]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in better relationships .The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug rehab . He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

10 Simple Steps To Meet And Gain New Friends

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Perhaps you've just moved to a new town and you don't know where to go to meet new friends. You want to gain new friends but are afraid to be turned down. There is a force within you that's pulling you to strike up a coversation with the person sitting next to you. You just can't think of a topic to start a conversation or worse, you just cannot talk! These are just few of the situations that you can encounter in trying to meet new friends. Although it may seem simple for some to gain new friends because they are just naturals at connecting, there are also those who are timid and are not comfortable meeting new people. There are simple tips that you can follow to gain new acquaintances and eventually, friends. Listed below are 10 tips to meet and gain new friends: 1. First and foremost, you should evaluate yourself. Examine the types of people you want as friends. Decide if you want to be join people with the same hobby, taste, age or gender as yours. Another strategy is to search out people with diverse intersts who can introduce you to new things. 2. **End Summary** Topics: making friends]]> friendships]]> tips for making friends]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in positive relationships .The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading residential treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Join our growing community. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

Is Alcohol Considered A Drug?

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Alcohol is often mentioned in one breath with drugs, especially when the subject is abuse or addiction. More often, alcohol is referred to as a separate substance and in fact, its abuse is often discussed separately from that of drugs. But can alcohol be considered a drug? Drug defined If a textbook definition is used, a drug may be defined as a substance that has an effect on living cells and their function and is also used for medical purposes for the diagnosis, prevention and cure of disorders and diseases. As such, alcohol may not be considered as a drug since it is not used directly to effect a cure. However, it is also a substance that can have similar effects to drugs to disinfect, act as an analgesic, a tranquilizer or rarely, a stimulant. The link between alcohol and drugs Alcohol is said to possibly be a contributor to health as some are some drugs, but alcohol, like some drugs can be addictive. When used in moderate amounts, alcohol has been said to improve cardiovascular health. However, health experts discourage non-drinkers to start drinking alcohol for the sole reason of benefiting the heart. **End Summary** Topics: alcoholism]]> alcohol abuse]]> alcohol as a drug]]> alcohol addiction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery .The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug addiction treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

Anger Management: 10 Action Steps To Safely Process Anger

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Managing anger is actually not as complex as it may first seem. The first steps are to identify and acknowledge your own anger and then try to find the reason or cause of why are you angry. Emotions should not be suppressed. Repressing them only makes them rear their ugly heads in the long run, usually in a misdirected, explosive way. Expressing one's anger is important, one only needs to do so in a manner that is appropriate and does not cause any one else, or even one's self, harm. The following are anger management tips to keep you and those around you emotionally and physically safe. 1. Buy yourself some time before reacting. There may be instances where you realize that your outbursts of anger are having a negative effect on your friends, family and work colleagues, it is important therefore to take a little time out. If you find your anger is boiling up and will explode any minute, count from one to ten. This helps prior to actually leaving or reacting to the current angry situation at hand. 2. Do a physical activity. Move a muscle, change a thought. **End Summary** Topics: anger]]> anger management]]> anger management tips]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 88 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery .The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading residential treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Join our growing community. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

Improve Your Memory: 10 Quick And Easy Tips

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

You don't have to stay stuck with a poor memory. Here are 10 quick and easy tips to help improve your memory. There are many songs, poems, and stories written about the difficulty associated with forgetting the past, a lost love, or a broken heart. Finding things hard to forget, however, is not so much a problem as remembering things that should not be forgotten. Whether you are looking for a blouse you wanted to buy, or the keys to your car, forgetfulness can often be annoying. Forgetfulness, however, is only temporary, and can be made milder by a few techniques in mnemonics. If you are constantly forgetting where you left your wallet or purse, where your car is parked, or even where you are, then you may want to pay attention to these tips to improve your memory. 1. Do not self-diagnose your lack of memory skills as a disease, or as something that will lead to Alzheimer's. This state of mind may make you resigned to the fact that you are forgetful; it will also make you complacent, and unwilling to take up techniques to improve your memory. **End Summary** Topics: mnemonics]]> improve memory]]> tips to improve memory]]> memory improvement]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 88 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery .The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading residential treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Join our growing community. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

Dealing with Stress: 10 Winning Tactics

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Whether you are a mother struggling to make ends meet, a student hoping to maintain a decent grade point average, or a CEO working to keep a company afloat, stress will be a part of your life. Stress, indeed, is common to anyone who has to meet certain requirements to succeed. This universality of stress, however, comes at a large price. Stress can often increase your chances of getting ill, manifesting the signs of aging early, and even dying of a heart attack. Stress, although common, is not unavoidable. If you wish to cope with stress better, there is hope for you. Here are ten stress busting tips that can apply to you, whether you're at the top of the company, or at the bottom of the heap. 1. Early morning snoozes can actually make you more tired. Have you ever hit the snooze button on the alarm clock at least a dozen times in the start of your day, vowing to sleep for five more minutes only? This technique of sleeping briefly will not give you more energy, but will actually make you drowsier. **End Summary** Topics: stress]]> stress management]]> tips for stress management]]> stress management tips]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Pick up your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 88 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery .The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading residential treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Join our growing community. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/

Loneliness: 10 Help Strategies Anyone Can Use

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Next to love, loneliness is probably the second most popular feeling that has inspired a million writers, artists and songwriters to create their masterpieces. Rosetti painted it through the face of his beloved, Van Gogh became a genius because of it and Poe became its poster boy. Yet, loneliness for all its superficial romanticism, is one of the most destructive of human feelings. Here are some ways on how to deal with it and find a happier, more meaningful and enjoyable life: 1. Embrace change. Change occurs in all of our lives and it is this fact that triggers many incidents of loneliness. Simple acts of moving to a new city or of changing jobs or life events like a divorce or separation can cause an overwhelming feeling that you have no one at your side but put it this way. New cities, environments and status give way to new opportunities you can explore. Your new home may provide you an opportunity for further study, your new job can be your stepping stone to a better career and your new status may just help you improve yourself better. The possibilities are endless both ways; **End Summary** Topics: lonliness]]> lonliness tips]]> overcoming lonliness]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Free 88 page Resource Rolodex . Pick up tips and tricks to help and enhance your life. Join our growing community. The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug treatment center . He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Visit us at: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com

Ten Tips for Easing Depression

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Depression can be brought about by many factors: winter weather can trick the mind into believing that thoughts and emotions should be as gray and dull as the world. The death of a loved one can erase hope and quickly turn happiness into despair. The break up of a relationship, the dissolution of a family, the loss of one's job - the list of causes is endless, and the list of repercussions is as equally infinite. Depression can tax both on the mind and body. Constantly dark thoughts have driven people to despair, self-mutilation or even suicide. Deep, bottled-up emotions can lessen one's appetite, or raise it considerably, causing extremely high changes in weight. Inner rage and anger can raise blood pressure, causing body organs to function improperly, or even leading to greater chances of a heart attack. If you are suffering from depression, you may be subscribed antidepressant medication. This medication, however, can work only with the proper environment and mindset. You may need to modify your outlook or channel your energy into other activities that can help you ease your depression. To turn your blue day into a red letter one, take note of these ten depression-easing tips. **End Summary** Topics: depression]]> preventing depression]]> addiction depression]]> depression tips]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Tell your story! Pick up tips and tricks to help depression recovery and enhance your life free of addictions. Join our growing community. The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug treatment center . He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Visit us at: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com

10 Sure Fire Tips for Happier Relationships

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0400

No one is meant to be alone. No, I'm not talking about some cosmic pre-destined great one true love and all that baloney. I'm talking about regular, human relationships. We have family, we have friends, we have neighbors and workmates that we see every day. In the course of all that social interaction, however, there are always bound to be 'troublesome' moments of confrontation, pain, aggravation, and heartache. Here are ten tips you can take to help you do your part to smooth things over in the way you deal with other people, as well as help the people you know deal with each other. 1) Be sensitive to other people's feelings - empathy is definitely not overrated. Most of the problems with relationships are emotional in nature. Being sensitive to the needs and feelings of other people around you will cause a marked improvement in your dealings with them. Knowing when you're stepping on someone's toes, or when a friend is "not in the mood" will keep you from the dreaded foot-in-mouth disease. 2) Keep an open mind - no one likes shallow, narrow minded people. Keep an open mind with regards to the points of view of others. **End Summary** Topics: relationships]]> healthy relationships]]> tips for relationships]]> relationship tips]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Tell your story! Pick up tips and tricks to help improve relationships and enhance your life free of addictions. Join our growing community. The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug treatment center . He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Visit us at: http://www.addictionrecoverybasics.com/

What Is A Dry Drunk?

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0400

What is a dry drunk, and the 'dry drunk syndrome'? as it is sometimes called? It can best be described as someone who fits one of two conditions. The first is someone who has given up drinking and drugging and not made any internal or emotional changes, they stay the same but the substance use has stopped. Or in the second case what was once someone abstinent and on a progressive path of recovery has slowly returned to chaotic and unrealistic thinking. Being active in your addiction sets up many trains of thought, attitudes, feelings, and actions that are problematic. Simply removing the alcohol or drugs without changing these underlying factors will produce a dry drunk syndrome. The dry drunk really refers to a condition and not the person. It is important to recognize a reversion back to our old ways of thinking and acting, or lack of progress in moving forward in recovery. The dry drunk can be a precursor to the beginnings of relapse, the AA Big Book describes this condition as being "restless, irritable, and discontented". This set of attitudes can apply to anyone who is chemically dependent, or even those were not. **End Summary** Topics: dry drunk]]> relapse]]> relapse prevention]]> alchoholism]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Tell your story! Pick up tips and tricks to help in addiction recovery and enhance your life free of addictions. Join our growing community. The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug treatment center . He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Visit us at: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com

10 Ways to Ease Anxiety And Reduce Stress

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Anxiety attacks aren't always composed of sudden, debilitating bouts of depression, melancholia, and worry like some people would have us think. As a matter of fact, anxiety and stress is at it's most troubling when it creeps up on us slowly, in the course of our daily lives. Instead of being a hammer blow of fear and stress, the most telling forms of anxiety are more like sand caught between the gears of a machine, that wear away at it gradually until it stalls or falls apart. To that end, dealing with anxiety is best done BEFORE the breakdown. For people who are already in the heavier stages of anxiety, it's best to seek professional counseling. However, for most of us, it's not too late to do something personally to relieve our stressors before they get more serious. Here are ten tips to take that can help you in that direction. 1) Concentrate on the Solution, Not the Problem - Most people's anxieties come from thinking so much about what's going wrong that they lose track of what they can do to set it right. **End Summary** Topics: stress]]> stress reduction]]> anxiety]]> reduce anxiety]]> tips for stress]]> tips for anxiety]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Tell your story! Pick up tips and tricks to help with stress reduction and enhance your life free of undue worries. Join our growing community. The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug rehab . He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Visit us at: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com

5 Phases Of Recovery

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Here one way to look at phases of recovery, milestones to mark your progress. Addiction recovery can be thought of as moving through these five phases: 1. Admission of a problem This is the key starting point. If there is no addiction problem then there certainly is no need for a solution to addiction. There is a certain logic to that. What would prevent someone from admitting they have an addiction problem? Well, how about memory distortion caused by their chemical dependency. There is a jazzy phrase called 'euphoric recall' which is the tendency to only remember the good times and positive experiences of using. That is half of the equation, at the same time we are suppressing or refusing to remember the far more numerous times where indulging in the addiction has caused pain and embarrassment. Another block to admitting the problem is our distorted defense mechanisms, such as minimizing, rationalizing and good old fashioned denial. If we get to the point that we acknowledge there is a problem and want to do something about it now, we can move on to the next phase of recovery which is compliance. 2. **End Summary** Topics: addiction recovery]]> phases of recovery]]> recovery]]> addiction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Tell your story! Pick up tips and tricks to help in addiction recovery and enhance your life free of addictions. Join our growing community. The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug treatment center . He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Visit us at: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com