Blog Archive
In today's hyperconnected world, video games stand as a ubiquitous form of entertainment, offering immersive experiences and social connectivity. However, the allure of gaming often transcends leisure, leading to the pervasive issue of video game addiction. This addiction disrupts lives, affecting mental health, education and careers, social interactions, and overall...
In the rapidly evolving landscape of financial technology, cryptocurrencies have emerged as both a revolutionary investment opportunity and, for some, a perilous path towards addiction. The allure of quick gains, decentralized markets, and the promise of financial independence can lead individuals down a dangerous road of compulsive behavior. In this...
In today's digital age, social media platforms have become an integral part of our lives, especially for the younger generation. While these platforms offer various benefits such as staying connected with friends and accessing information, they also come with a set of challenges, particularly when it comes to the mental...
Alcohol use is ingrained in our society, and as such is often extremely challenging to stay away from. Family gatherings, business lunches, a casual get together with friends – you name it, and alcohol is often involved. Despite such challenges, the journey towards sobriety is possible and often life-changing. Alcohol...
In today's digital age, video games have become an integral part of many individuals' lives, including adolescents and young adults. While gaming can offer entertainment, cognitive benefits, and social interactions, excessive and compulsive gaming can lead to addiction and host of behavioral and emotional problems. As a concerned parent, it...
Alcohol addiction is a complex and pervasive issue that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Achieving lasting recovery requires a comprehensive and multifaceted approach that goes beyond traditional therapies. Nutrition, an often overlooked and underutilized component of addiction recovery, has been increasingly recognized as playing a crucial role in the healing...
The allure of day trading, with its promises of financial freedom and quick gains, can lead individuals down a treacherous path. What may start as a harmless hobby can escalate into a full-blown addiction that not only affects the trader but also has profound consequences on their loved ones. Whether...
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming various industries, and one area where it shows immense promise is addiction recovery. Addiction is a complex and challenging issue that affects millions of people worldwide. However, with AI, innovative approaches can be utilized to help individuals heal from addiction and move forward to live...
Alcohol consumption is an acceptable, prevalent, and even encouraged social activity, often enjoyed responsibly by millions of individuals around the world. However, for some, the line between moderate and excessive drinking can become blurred, leading to an alcohol problem. Recognizing the signs that you or a loved one may be...
In a world where social drinking has become an integral part of society, the decision to stop drinking alcohol may seem impossible. For even the most casual social drinker, stopping alcohol completely can be difficult. For individuals who consume alcohol regularly or have an alcohol addiction, quitting alcohol may feel hopeless. ...
There are approximately 4.3 billion active social media users around the world, which represents about 55% of the global population. In the United States, it is estimated that up to 95% of teens and over 70% of adults are using social media. While social media can be a valuable tool...
Sports betting has become increasingly popular in recent years as a result of easy online access via sports betting platforms coupled with the legalization of sports betting in many states. While the vast majority of individuals will gamble on sports games responsibly, a small number will develop problems around sports...
Alcohol is a widely used psychoactive substance that can have a significant impact on mental health. While many people consume alcohol socially and in moderation without any adverse effects, excessive or prolonged drinking can lead to a variety of mental health issues. Additionally, alcohol misuse can exacerbate pre-existing mental health...
Day trading and investing in assets such as stocks, Forex, cryptocurrency and other such financial instruments continues to grow exceedingly popular among retail investors. While day trading among the average retail investor can be an enjoyable recreational activity and source of revenue, some individuals spend an exorbitant amount of time,...
Many adolescents and young adults enjoy video games as a recreational activity, but a select few develop a problem with video games, which can ultimately lead to a video game addiction. Approximately 15% of gamers have compulsive gaming issues, and up to 4% of gamers become pathologically addicted to playing...
As cryptocurrency continues to gain mainstream adoption and attraction, more and more retail investors are taking part in investing and/or trading cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum and other alt-coins. While most cryptocurrency traders invest responsibly and without severe incident beyond financial loss, others have fallen prey to having a problematic relationship...
Dry January has become a growing trend over the years. As a way to jump start health goals in the new year, individuals take up the challenge of abstaining from alcohol for the month of January. Many acknowledge the great benefits alcohol abstention can have not only on physical health,...
Staying sober at any given time of year can be difficult, and the holiday season may make it all the more challenging. Although the holidays can be a joyous time of year, it can also be trigger-filled and relapse-prone. The holidays are full of alcohol-fueled parties and get-togethers, potentially toxic...
It seems that every year video gaming becomes increasingly popular, with an estimated 3.2 billion video gamers reported worldwide in 2021. Contrary to popular belief, the bulk of gamers are not children and adolescents, the average gamer is actually 33 years-old. Also contrary to popular belief, gaming can be surprisingly...
Cryptocurrency is known for its volatility, and this week proved to be no exception. Bitcoin, which was already down approximately 75% from its 2021 highs, dropped an additional 25% in two days earlier this week to the lowest price investors have seen since November of 2020. Many altcoins made far...
Whether you are an occasional consumer of alcohol, a daily heavy drinker, or fall somewhere in-between, you should be concerned about the impact that alcohol is having on your physical health. The effects of alcohol on health range on a spectrum from mild to severe, but recent research suggests that...
When most people think of investing in risk assets such as equities, Forex, cryptocurrencies, or other markets, they generally think monetarily – financial gain versus financial loss. While investing in or trading financial instruments does have a direct impact on your net worth, there are other consequences as well. Investing...
There was once a time when the only individuals who day traded were those who worked for large financial institutions, brokerages, or trading houses. Today, with the rise of online trading platforms, day trading has become increasingly popular among retail investors. Online exchanges and mobile trading apps have made trading...
While most individuals can invest in cryptocurrencies without significant distress or detriment to their mental health, a select sum will fall victim to compulsive or pathological cryptocurrency trading and cryptocurrency addiction. A compulsive, pathological or addicted crypto trader is someone who is unable to resist the urge to trade, even...
Seeing a loved one struggle with an addiction to alcohol is extremely challenging, emotional, and painful. Many are left feeling isolated, helpless, hopeless, and confused; full of questions about what they can do to help their loved one overcome their alcohol problem and get sober, or questions about if they...
Playing video games is one of the most popular leisure activities in the world. While most individuals who play video games will do so in moderation and without consequence, it should be no surprise that in today’s vastly accelerating digital age video game addiction is on the rise. Studies estimate...
It’s not uncommon for individuals who once struggled with alcohol to turn to food in recovery, especially sugary foods. There are psychological and physiological reasons as to why this occurs. Excessive eating and poor nutrition in recovery can lead individuals to experience a host of physical health issues, including weight...
2022 is here, and technology companies are racing to develop a new digital world – the Metaverse. While the technology of the Metaverse has existed for quite some time, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, the infrastructure and platforms for widespread use are still in its infancy and visionaries...
For most adults, moderate or social alcohol use is not problematic, however, approximately 18 million American adults have an alcohol addiction, or what is medically termed as an Alcohol Use Disorder. Far more experience binge drinking or other forms of excessive, irresponsible, or problematic alcohol use. While severe alcohol abuse...
Bitcoin. Ethereum. Cardano. Binance Coin. Shiba Inu. Dogecoin. These are just a handful of cryptocurrencies among thousands that individuals can invest in. Trading cryptocurrency can be exciting, thrilling and gripping due to high volatility. While cryptocurrency can make for a great investment for some, it can also very easily spiral...
You may have heard of the term “holistic treatment” in the field of addiction recovery, but what exactly is it and who can benefit from such treatments? The medical definition of holistic treatment is an approach that treats the whole person, not just a symptom of a disease. Holistic addiction...
This week the Wall Street Journal released an investigative report about Meta after uncovering leaked internal documents reflecting the impact of social media on its users. What may be most surprising about the report is not so much the impact that social media has on its users, but rather the...
Did you know that alcohol is one of the deadliest substances when compared to other drugs? Every year in the United States nearly 100,000 individuals die due to alcohol-related causes, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the country in an average year behind smoking tobacco and...
It is estimated that 1 in 10 individuals experience an alcohol or drug addiction at some point in their life. When other addictions such as gambling addiction, technology addiction, food addiction, or other common forms of addiction are taken into account the statistic of those suffering from an addiction increases...
Cryptocurrency addiction is often thought of as a personal problem, but it can also cause significant distress to those around them. Cryptocurrency addictions can have a severe impact on family, friends, colleagues and others in a variety of ways. As such, addiction is often called a family disease by those...
Technology addictions, also commonly known as digital addictions or internet addictions, are often overlooked due to the acceptance that society has placed on using digital devices. Technology addictions often go unnoticed by loved ones because the addicted individual may appear as though they are tending to something important such as...
While the opioid epidemic continues to surge in the United States, an alcohol epidemic is all too often overlooked. This is perhaps most notably due to the legalization and social acceptance of alcohol in our society, even when alcohol is responsible for approximately 100,000 deaths in the United States every...
Whether it’s a stock, a cryptocurrency, foreign currency, derivatives, or any other financial investment, the goal is to buy low and sell high. Following Warren Buffet’s two rules of investing – Rule Number 1: Never lose money, and Rule Number 2: Never forget rule number 1. If you don’t sell...
TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook or whatever the platform is, social media connects us and offers a variety of benefits to our lives, but for certain users these platforms can also be highly addictive and dangerous. The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased technological use across the board, especially among children and...
Extreme euphoric highs, and devastatingly intense lows. These are one of the hallmarks of addiction, and one of the reasons why investing in and/or trading Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can be highly stimulating, mood altering, and addictive. Investing in and trading cryptocurrencies has become increasingly popular by retail investors over...
An unfortunate statistic: 40 to 60% of individuals new to recovery relapse within their first 30 days of leaving an inpatient treatment center, and up to 85% relapse within their first year. Oftentimes individuals in their initial months of recovery will resume their day-to-day lives that they lived prior to...
Finding an addiction therapist can be a confusing, burdensome and overwhelming process. Many individuals seeking recovery from addiction and their loved ones are left feeling lost, hopeless, helpless and isolated among a host of other negative emotions. During a time of crisis when one is seeking treatment for their addiction...
It is easy to conflate material wealth with mental wellbeing. There is a stereotype and stigma of being wealthy, that if you have wealth you should be happy and have nothing to worry about, but this myth is far from true. There is a hidden cost of affluence that surfaces...
On an annual basis approximately 14 million Americans are diagnosed with an Alcohol Use Disorder, and tens of millions more engage in binge drinking, problem drinking, and have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Of all the drugs that people abuse, alcohol is one of the most fatal. Approximately 100,000 Americans...
Day trading has become an increasingly popular activity for individuals to engage in as an additional or sole source of income, especially with the increase in free, accessible, and easy-to-use trading platforms. While day trading can be a great source of revenue that some even make a successful career from,...
Preventing an alcohol or drug relapse is at the core of one’s recovery from addiction. Unfortunately, relapse rates for individuals in recovery from alcohol and drug dependence are staggering. Up to 60% of individuals relapse on drugs and alcohol within their first 30 days of leaving an inpatient treatment center,...
Now more than ever, amidst remote learning, lockdowns and pandemic unpredictability, parents have growing concerns about their children’s mental health. Though data is still scarce, evidence thus far suggests a significant uptick in mental health and addiction related issues among all age groups, including teens. During this time, teens may...
Am I an alcoholic? Do I drink too much? Is my drinking out of hand? These are questions that people may ask themselves if they are unsure if they have a healthy relationship with alcohol. This question is more common than people may think, as the line between casual drinking...
Recovery from an addiction is much more than mere abstinence from a substance or a behavior. Abstinence can be, and usually is, a fundamental component of the addiction recovery process, but abstinence does not necessarily equate to recovery. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch...
In 2013 the American Psychiatric Association added Gambling Disorder to the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). In doing so, pathological gambling was recognized by mental health professionals as an addiction similar to an alcohol or drug addiction. Despite obvious differences, primarily one being...
Money can’t buy happiness, and it certainly can’t ward off mental health or addiction related issues. Despite the privileged life lived by children of wealth, they also face many obstacles and difficulties. Although they are often set-up for success with a platinum spoon in hand, they are also set-up to...
Coaches were once only known in the field of sports, but now there is a coach for nearly everything and anything - business, career, relationships, divorce, health and wellness, travel, general life coaching, and quite possibly anything you could imagine. Coaching has also become popular in the field of substance...
Family and friends often feel lost and alone when they discover that their loved one might have a drug or alcohol problem or suspect that they may be gambling excessively or engaged in various other potential addictions. In such cases, it is completely normal for family and friends to feel...
During a regular fall and winter season, approximately up to 10% of the US population is impacted by seasonal depression, also known as the seasonal blues, winter depression, or more officially as Seasonal Affective Disorder. This winter season will be far from regular, as our lives have been significantly impacted...
COVID-19 drastically uprooted our lives, and continues to impact it in significant ways. Although the virus is still active without access to official therapeutics or vaccines, we have more or less learned to live with it. Wearing masks and social distancing has become the norm, and we have learned to regularly...
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day, a time to help raise awareness and understanding of mental health and suicide in efforts to help alleviate stigma, help those suffering with suicidal thoughts, educate individuals about warning signs of suicide, and make efforts in...
September is National Recovery Month, a time to help raise awareness and understanding of mental health and substance use disorders and to celebrate those in recovery from addiction. Approximately 22 million Americans struggle with addiction to alcohol and drugs on a daily basis, and another 100 million family members and...
What are a few ways alcoholism and addiction affects family members, loved ones and spouses? Alcoholism and addiction causes significant distress to all individuals who care for the addicted individual. Due to the impact of addiction on family relationships and dynamics, addiction is often called a “family disease” by...
Unfortunately relapse rates for individuals who enter recovery from a drug or alcohol addiction are quite high. Studies reflect that about 40-60% of individuals relapse within 30 days of leaving an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment center, and up to 85% relapse within the first year. It is important for...
When an individual is struggling with a substance use addiction it is extremely challenging for the entire family. There is often guilt, shame, sadness, anger, anxiety, among a host of other negative emotions. When the addicted individual is ready and willing to receive help it can be confusing and overwhelming. ...
Wealthy individuals have a unique set of challenges when it comes to mental health and addiction. Emotional and behavioral issues can linger much longer for wealthy individuals before one is willing to receive psychological help for a variety of reasons. High-net-worth individuals also are faced with a variety of barriers...
Suffering from depression, anxiety, alcoholism or drug addiction, and other mental health issues can feel like being stuck in a giant deep hole that is impossible to climb out of. This is in part because mental health issues and addiction are often cyclical in nature, meaning that the symptoms of...
We frequently hear about the opioid epidemic, but rarely do we hear about the alcohol epidemic. While alcohol is legal and socially acceptable, and while most individuals can drink alcohol privately or socially without consequence, alcohol leads to millions of individuals abusing it, becoming dependent to it, having medical issues...
As the world continues to navigate through COVID-19 and what may lie ahead, businesses across industries, large and small, are going through a crisis of their own. In addition to surviving this economic downturn, strategizing a new way of business, and reinventing themselves, businesses of all sorts have their work...
This past week, a research study conducted by the Well Being Trust, a national foundation with a mission to advance mental health in America, has estimated that as many as 75,000 Americans could die from mental health related issues that stem from the coronavirus pandemic. The research study used projected...
COVID-19 is causing significant problems and disruption to virtually all areas of our lives. It is impacting our physical health, our financial health, our relational health, our spiritual health, our mental health and every which way in-between. As the majority of the world is currently enduring social distancing, telemedicine (or...
On a normal day, we spend a substantial amount of time in our homes. From getting ready in the morning to relaxing after a long day of work, our home is a safe place. With the recent quarantines, we are now confined to this space. For those dealing with...
COVID-19 has led to significant problems all across the globe and is impacting our lives in many different ways. While most people are currently focused on fighting this global health pandemic and are concerned with their physical hygiene, it is also important to focus on one’s mental hygiene. If we...
High-functioning alcoholics are individuals who are able to maintain their careers, relationships, and other obligations while displaying signs of alcoholism. The same is true of high-functioning addicts or individuals who may suffer from high-functioning depression, anxiety or other mental health issues. Such individuals are able to maintain their day-to-day lives,...
The Corona Virus Disease pandemic (COVID-19) is causing unwanted and unneeded stress, grief and anxiety for many people. Individuals around the world are concerned about their own physical health and the health of their loved ones, navigating life isolated at home, homeschooling, financial concerns, and much more. This worry has...
As many of us are increasingly isolated from others and separated from the world outside of our apartments or homes due to the Coronoa Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, our mental health may suffer. Many are facing growing worry, stress, sadness, and loneliness all due to fears of becoming ill...
The entire world is facing new challenges as we battle the Coronoa Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, relationally, and every which way in-between. From a psychological standpoint, this pandemic has contributed to mental health stressors for many individuals such as worry, stress, sadness, and substance abuse...
Opioids, especially the misuse of opioids – including prescription pain killers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl – has caused an epidemic in the United States. Every day there are approximately 128 opioid deaths due to overdose in the US - every single day. Unfortunately, newfound studies have found...
Sobriety can undoubtedly help your health, but can it help you in business? Business is often about relationships, relationships are often about socializing, and socializing is often about drinking alcohol. Skipping social aspects of business that involve alcohol or being the sober person at business functions can mean missing out...
eSports, also known as ‘electronic sports,’ is the world of organized competitive video gaming. While many who are unfamiliar with eSports may conjure up an image of middle- or high-school children playing video games on their parent’s couch, eSports has become a 17 billion-dollar industry with professional leagues and professional...
Whether traveling for business or for pleasure, maintaining wellness while traveling can be challenging, especially for those in recovery from a mental health issue or an addiction related issue. Whether new to recovery or not, being out of one’s comfort zone while traveling comes with its own host of triggers...
The stock market and our moods are interconnected in an interesting way. The stock market affects how investors feel, and in turn their feelings affect the markets. In this way, the relationship between our mood and the stock market are a bidirectional one. In fact, money and mood, and subsequently...
Therapeutic Coaching is a unique and innovative method of helping individuals recover from a variety of issues including mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders; substance addictions such as to alcohol, opiates, Adderall or other drugs as well as to food; behavioral addictions such as to...
Executives and other such high-ranking business and political leaders face a unique set of challenges when it comes to addressing their own mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or other such mental illness, as well as substance abuse and other addictions. When untreated, such individuals can not...
Just eighteen days ago many of us made New Year’s resolutions for 2020, and some of us even made long-term resolutions for the decade ahead of us. Unfortunately, various statistics reflect that less than 25% of people stay committed to their resolutions past the end of January, and only about...
Mental health and addiction related issues are often accompanied by a sense of hopelessness. Hopelessness ensues when the individual feels stuck in the state they are in, especially after failed attempts to get well. Individuals in such a state of mind feel stuck in a deep and dark hole that...
Feeling depressed, or down, or sad, or having a case of the blues is a normal part of life that everyone goes through. It could be situational due to death of a loved one or ending a relationship, or it could be emotional due to letting yourself down, others letting...
An average individual will spend 1/3 of their life working. For executives, entrepreneurs and other such individuals who do not work a standard 9 to 5, the amount of time spent on business related tasks is often much, much more. As a result of living in a society that values...
Children bring a lot of joy to our lives, but being a parent also comes with its own set of added stress to an already stressful world. Due to the obligations, love, and commitment that we have as parents it is easy to put our children first while our own...
Physical activity triggers a biological cascade of occurrences that results in many physical and mental health benefits. Research suggests that exercise is an effective treatment for mental health issues such as depression or anxiety, and can serve as a fundamental component to one’s recovery from addiction. Studies show that individuals...
Addictions (Substance Use Disorders) are extremely powerful. So much so that even after years or decades of abstinence and recovery, an individual can still experience strong cravings, and be vulnerable to relapse. Neuroimaging has allowed researches to investigate the acute and long-term effects of addiction on the brain. The majority...
People often ask how to tell if they or a loved one has a problem with alcohol. Well, for starters, if one is asking this question, there is probably a problem. Your average social drinker or your average “I enjoy a glass of wine with dinner” drinker usually does not...
Studies show that 20-57% of individuals do not return to therapy after their initial appointment. There are various reasons for this, and for premature dropout rate in general. Sometimes dropping out of therapy is a reflection of the therapist, other times it is due to the individual receiving therapy, and...
Are you an introvert or an extrovert? There is nothing wrong with being either. One of the key differences between introverts and extroverts is that introverts become tired when they are around other people and are able to regain energy when they are alone. Extroverts, on the other hand, become...
People enter therapy for a variety of reasons, be it a mental health issue such as depression or anxiety, a behavioral issue such as alcoholism or overeating, or a general life issue such as marriage problems or feeling stuck. For most people, therapy is not a first-choice solution when problems...
When most people think of nutrition they think in terms of their physical health, but nutrition is also a fundamental component of one’s mental health as well. A healthy mind and body are essential elements in coping with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, as well as with...