Dr Neill Neill
We meet people everyday who have recovered or are in recovery from a major life changing event. Some deem themselves as survivors, and some just positively live their lives looking forward to the future (a thriver). What are the differences between a thriver, a survivor and a person in recovery?
A thriver is someone who grows vigorously, flourishes, or realizes goals despite circumstances. Thrivers are active agents in creating their futures. They look forward to an ever better future. They have a knowing that when setbacks come, they will land on their feet.
A "survivor," in contrast, is someone whose identity incorporates a past wound such as sexual abuse, torture, cancer or some other horrible condition.
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Filed under Addiction Recovery, Addiction Rehab by Dr. Neill Neill
Dr. Neill Neill
Pop psychology has worked its way into our culture. If a man makes a mistake, its OK to blame it on something he ate or an addiction he has. Has pop psychology made it so people no longer have to accept responsibility for their own actions? Is pop psychology making us a society of victims?
More on Moral Evasion through Pop Psychology
Tags: addiction, alcohol, alcohol blackout, alcoholic, alcoholism, cultural values, functioning alcoholic, moral evasion, moral values, pop psychology, psychology, victims
Filed under Blog by Dr. Neill Neill
Dr. Neill Neill
It is the beginning of the holiday season. While a time of joy for many, it can also be a dangerous time for alcoholics. Learn how to avoid alcohol abuse over the holidays…
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Dr. Neill Neill
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that many people have suffered from at one time or another. If untreated, PTSD can lead people to indulging in addictive behaviors. For example, someone who was once a casual drinker may now have increased his alcohol consumption.
We hear all the time about soldiers coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Exposed to the horror of actual or threatened death or serious injury, they re-experience the trauma through not being able to stop thinking about it, flashbacks, nightmares or intense body reactions to certain situations. They report feeling numb, not interested in anything, depressed and having no sense of future. Symptoms may include difficulty sleeping, irritability and always being on guard. Many military and ex-military self-medicate with alcohol or other drugs and become addicted.
More on A Primer on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD - and Self-Medication with Alcohol
Tags: addictive, alcohol, alcohol consumption, anxiety, depression, functioning alcoholics, post traumatic stress, post traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, trauma, veterans
The following is an interview I participated in on IdeaMarketers.com for National Recovery Month.
September is National Recovery Month. A month dedicated to the message that recovery from alcohol or drug abuse is possible. There are many people who live with the secret that they have an alcoholic in their family. These same people struggle with questions on what they can do to help their partner and family.
In recognition of National Recovery Month, Dr. Neill Neill has submitted his responses to common questions partners may have in regard to an alcohol problem in their family. Dr. Neill Neill is an
alcoholism expert. He is a psychologist, columnist and author, who maintains an active psychology and life-coaching practice in Qualicum Beach, BC, Canada. He is consulting psychologist to a private addiction rehab facility for men. A significant part of Dr. Neill’s practice is with individuals and families touched by alcohol and drug abuse.
Question: You use the term "functioning alcoholic." What does that term mean, and how does a "functioning alcoholic" differ from an "alcoholic?"
More on National Recovery Month: Is There Help for My Alcoholic Partner?
