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5 Types of Addiction: Causes, Signs, and Symptoms

5 Types of Addiction: Causes, Signs, and Symptoms

Addiction comes in many forms, so much so that some of them even manage to slip their way into the mainstream. Addictions to things such as caffeine and fast food often go unnoticed or get excused as the consequence of a busy lifestyle. While those things are generally harmless, some of the same thoughts and feelings that contribute to forming...[ read more ]

5 Realities of Substance Abuse and Addiction in Louisiana

Across the country, deaths from drug overdoses have gone up significantly over the last few years. From 2017 to 2019, deaths per 100,000 people from drug overdoses have increased  by over 4, from 15.0 to 19.2. Louisiana certainly hasn’t been immune to the upswing, as deaths in Louisiana related to drug use have reached 21.3 people per 100,000 as of...[ read more ]

Do addicts have a choice?

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has re-defined what it means to have an addiction. "At its core, addiction isn't just a social problem or a moral problem or a criminal problem. It's a brain problem whose behaviors manifest in all these other areas," said Dr. Michael Miller, past president of ASAM who oversaw the development of the new...[ read more ]

My spouse is addicted to pornography or sex

Help for addiction to pornography is available in Pineville, Louisiana and Alexandria, Louisiana.

If your spouse is addicted to pornography or to sex, help is available. Have you noticed behaviors of addiction in your spouse? You may have noticed that your spouse's changed behavior is negatively affecting your relationship, and may even be causing trouble outside of your home. If your spouse has an addiction to sex or pornography, please call now or fill out...[ read more ]

Is technology addictive?

What do video games, chocolate fudge brownies, and cigarettes have in common? Thanks to the "happy" hormone dopamine, they all have a certain addictive quality to them. The link between chemistry and addiction Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that signals to your brain when a goal is accomplished. According to this Guardian article, we learn to anticipate a reward in response to an...[ read more ]

Do you think you may be struggling with sex addiction?

Are you beginning to feel like your sexual activity is taking over your life? If you're engaging in sexual behavior that feels compulsive and harmful, then there is a strong likelihood that you are experiencing some form of sexual addiction. What exactly is sex addiction? Sex addiction is an intimacy disorder, characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors of a...[ read more ]

How to help your loved one with addiction

[caption id="attachment_1474" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Supporting a loved one with addiction can be a difficult balance to maintain.[/caption] When a loved one is struggling with addiction, it can take an intense toll on your emotions. Juggling feelings of anger, pain, love, and resentment can be confusing and isolating. One of your greatest challenges may be understanding what your loved one is...[ read more ]

Sexual addiction now recognized as mental disorder by the WHO

Sexual addiction has been a recognized problem for a long time. In contrast to a normal, healthy sex drive, sexual addiction feels compulsory and beyond one's control. It can negatively interfere with productivity, intimacy, and self-worth. Like other addictions, such as drug addiction or gambling, sex addiction can quickly take over and destroy one's life. This past month, the The World...[ read more ]

Common myths about addiction

After decades of fighting the war on drugs, the sad truth is that the addiction crisis in America is as bad as it has ever been. Indeed, the Trump administration has acknowledged this by officially declaring the opioid epidemic to be a 'national crisis'. In order to make real headway, though, it's necessary to take the right approach and dispel common...[ read more ]

Internal Family Systems: Understanding the internal battle at the heart of addiction

Understanding the motivations that lie behind any form of addiction – whether it be to drugs, alcohol, sexual behavior or anything else – often appears impossible to the addict's friends or family and even to the addict himself. How can someone who wants to stop doing something so badly keep doing it over and over again? The cycle of withdrawal and relapse...[ read more ]