MIND OVER WHAT’S THE MATTER – Dec. 2, 2023 – The impressive findings from this innovative study have real practical value in anyone’s life, even if you do not have diagnosed depression. If all it takes is 10 minutes of daydreaming about something good that’s happened to you to induce brighter thoughts about yourself and the future, why not give it a try? The next time you find your thoughts looming toward life’s less cheerful side, stop in your tracks. Take a breather and let your mind wander toward the times when things went well. They don’t have to…
Author: Leonard Buschel
THAT’S NOT GOOD – Dec. 6, 2023 – Eating high-fat foods during periods of mental stress attenuated cerebral oxygenation in the pre-frontal cortex, resulting in a depletion of oxygen delivery (39% reduction in oxygenated hemoglobin) compared to consuming a low-fat meal. “When we get stressed, different things happen in the body: our heart rate and blood pressure go up, our blood vessels dilate, and blood flow to the brain increases,” said Rosalind Baynham, from the University of Birmingham. “We also know that the elasticity of our blood vessels – which is a measure of vascular function – declines following mental…
STILL INCLUDES SEX – Dec. 6, 2023 – Nothing about this night out is unusual. Well… except, maybe one thing. That margarita I’m clutching? It’s alcohol-free. The bottles I’m surrounded by? Each one of them, from the ‘absinthe’ to the ‘whisky’, is as well. The entire bar is. The DJ has been sober for the past five years and hosts wild parties, within that very basement, where inhibitions are lowered, yes, but not by any liquid or powder. We’re living in the era of ‘dry’ partying. Supposedly the soberest generation in recent history, we are either staying home or,…
MAKING A LIVING KILLING – Dec. 7, 2023 – Texas-based pain management specialist Oscar Lightner, MD, has been sentenced to seven years in prison over his role in the operation of a pill mill clinic that unlawfully prescribed over 600,000 opioid pills in exchange for cash. Dr. Lightner and his stepson Andres Martinez Jr. operated pain clinic Jomori Health and Wellness in Houston. Dr. Lightner allegedly prescribed his patients dangerous combinations of controlled substances — including hydrocodone, carisoprodol and alprazolam — without a legitimate medical purpose in exchange for cash payments ranging from $250 to $500. Mr. Martinez, who…
GREAT RECOVERY – Dec. 7, 2023 – “I’m proud of the choices that I’ve made and the changes I’ve made to live a life today that will never look like that mess,” Sheen expressed to a news publication of the former shell of a human being he once was. “That was some alien version of myself.” “Next month I’ll be six years sober,” Sheen delightfully shared. “I have a very consistent lifestyle now. It’s all about single dad stuff, and raising my 14-year-old twin boys, Max and Bob.” The 58-year-old shares his sons with his ex-wife Brooke Mueller, 46,…
“The one who plants trees, knowing that he/she will never sit under their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” – Rabindranath Tagore, 1861-1841
BEWARE FALSE GODS APPEARING CHILLED – Nov. 28, 2023 – The holidays are a relapse gauntlet for someone who struggles with alcohol, even for us California sober types. And lately that’s especially the case for women. Compounding the problem, the recently sober run this bottled-in-bond obstacle course while facing increased isolation as support networks and therapists head out of town themselves. Like every dry drunk, I’ve been told the key to getting through the minefield with your chip intact is to have a plan and stick to it. Plenty of mental health and addiction experts have offered their tip…
START TODAY – Dec. 2023 – In this article, we will break down the science behind THC detox, making it simple and easy to understand. You’ll learn why detoxing from THC is crucial for certain situations and how you can do it effectively. This may seem obvious, but stopping cannabis use is the first and most crucial step to detoxing from THC. When you stop consuming cannabis, you give your body a chance to start breaking down the stored THC without adding more to it. This is the natural and safest way to detox, although it may take more…
VIDEO – FAME IS A DRUG TOO – Dec. 1, 2023 – In his upcoming memoir, Reality Check: Making the Best of The Situation, the 41-year-old talks candidly about how his $500,000 addiction controlled his life, and led him down a path of self-destruction that saw him smuggling drugs across the world. He continued: ‘I smuggled shit in a fat burner bottle so it looked like I was taking a fat burner the whole season, when in fact I was taking my own mixture of Oxy 40 and 50’s, ‘I was never nearly caught on set because I knew that…
VIDEO – AND IT WAS TIME TO QUIT – Nov. 28, 2023 – There was a long romantic period where I wrote a lot. I was very creative. Alcohol had that effect on me at that point in time, and then it didn’t. We were in the bars four or five nights a week and everything was nuts. So I thought ‘well, (when) I get off the road, this problem will solve itself.’ If I changed my schedule, then that should fix that.” The main source of income for musicians can often be touring, and the act of traveling…
SHOCKING VIDEO – MUST WATCH – Nov. 25, 2023 – A billion-dollar rehab industry is accused of making money off addiction. Brokers get kickbacks to lure drug addicts to certain treatment centers. WATCH@NewsNationNow
VIDEO – DO MUCH HARM – Nov. 28, 2023 – Korrianne Lundstrom talks about her experience on her visit to Dr. John Gayden’s Indialantic office and the strength of Oxycodone he prescribed. WATCH@FloridaToday
PLAYING FOR LIFE – Nov. 27, 2023 – As we grow older, I have learned we are no longer that well-oiled machine. We creak and groan a bit and it is not uncommon for activity levels to change. More of our time may become centered around family, career, and other obligations. However, making time for regular physical activity provides immense benefits for both physical and mental health. One sport that is exploding in popularity among older adults is pickleball. This racket sport combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong into a fun, social game accessible for all ages…
NOT EASY? – Dec. 1, 2023 – And the words are: mindful acceptance/commitment. Okay, maybe that’s three words, or two with a slash. Either way, mindful acceptance/commitment is a proven and potent tool for changing habits. Even if you have a history of finding it difficult to incorporate new changes into your lifestyle—whether related to diet, exercise or increasing your social network—you’ll be glad to discover this path to making behavioral change stick!!! Old Mechanical-Replacement Model of Change Did you ever leave the doctor’s office with a prescription for a pill that was supposed to fix your problem. If…
STICK TO THE KIT KATS – Nov. 30, 2023 – The Nov. 21 warning tells consumers not to buy or ingest Neptune’s Fix, a brand of tiapentine that sells 10-milliliter bottles and pills and is sold in gas stations, smoke shops, and convenience stores across the country. Although online dosing instructions say to use a few drops of the liquid, some users take the entire bottle in one shot. FDA has received severe adverse event reports after use of Neptune‘s Fix products, including seizures and loss of consciousness leading to hospitalization. Consumers who experience a bad reaction to any tianeptine…
GIVING BACK TO KIDS & PARENTS – Nov. 29, 2023 – During an OKC Thunder home game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Ginger Allen was brought onto the court and identified as the Teacher of the Game. Ginger said starting a sober living facility has always been on her and her husband’s hearts, especially since Allen’s father started the state’s largest sober living organization. “I consider it to be all about building relationships,” Allen said. “That’s what I love about my job as a kindergarten teacher. I am from day one building relationships. As teachers, that’s what we do, and…
NO SOLUTION? – Nov. 29, 2023 – Banks refuse to lend to a local business based on the state of San Francisco. Owner Mark Sackett said his venue, which is also an antique store, is being auctioned off because he can’t get a mortgage refinance. The business is also next to a drug rehab center where people regularly smoke fentanyl outside. The owner purchased the building in 2004 for over $1.5 million, but was forced to auction it off due to an existing $2.5 million mortgage. Up to 30 lenders have rejected mortgage refinancing Washington Examiner reported, meaning a…
REALLY, A MENTAL ILLNESS? – Dec. 1, 2023 – Substance use stimulates profound changes within the brain—it alters the operation of neurotransmitters by interfering with the way neurons send, receive, and process signals. Substance use stimulates surges of dopamine and serotonin, mimicking reward and causing the brain to associate consumption with positive emotional and physiological sensations. The brain comes to crave this activation of its reward system, initiating a vicious cycle of seeking and consuming more substances. In the case of addiction, this cycle isn’t vulnerable to fears of its relational consequences, nor the negative impact substance use has…
OR DID HE? – Nov. 29, 2023 – Melissa Etheridge has opened up about coping with her son’s death. The Grammy winning singer, 62, lost her oldest son, Beckett Cypher, at 21 in 2020 from causes related to opioid addiction. In May 2020, Etheridge said on social media, “Today I joined the hundreds of thousands of families who have lost loved ones to opioid addiction. He will be missed by those who loved him, his family and friends. My heart is broken. I am grateful for those who have reached out with condolences and I Feel their love and…
WILLIAM BURROUGHS – Nov. 19, 2023 – In recent years, the opioid epidemic has surged to alarming proportions, casting a shadow over communities worldwide. This crisis, fueled by an increase in the prescription of opioid medications and the illicit use of drugs like heroin, has led to a staggering rise in addiction, overdoses, and fatalities. The ramifications of the epidemic extend beyond the individual, tearing at the fabric of families, overwhelming health care systems, and straining social services. Amidst this dire landscape, understanding the neural mechanisms underpinning opioid addiction is not just a scientific pursuit but a pressing necessity. In…
VIDEO – MUSICAL INTERLUDE – Dec. 3, 2023 – Kelly Clarkson sings… WATCH@YouTube
CHRISTMAS IS COMING – Dec. 1, 2023 – Holiday shopping driving you crazy? It’s not easy trying to find the right gift for every one! It’s also harder this year because so many shops have closed due to the pandemic – or they have raised their prices due to the recession! Which means it feels harder than ever to find thoughtful, useful, and beautifully wrapped gifts your friends and family will cherish from you – without breaking the bank! No need to worry – we’ve got your back! At Trending Daily Gadget, our editors have dug into the deepest parts…
DRUG LAWS? – Dec. 1, 2023 – The number of deaths relating to use of synthetic opioids like nitazene, fentanyl, and xylazine are on the rise — here’s what you need to know. Nitazene is a synthetic opioid similar to fentanyl, a drug responsible for tens of thousands of drug deaths per year in the USA. Unlike natural opioids like heroin, which is derived from poppy seeds, synthetic opioids like nitazene are made in labs, using a range of different chemicals. They’re also known to be much more potent than natural opioids like morphine and heroin and therefore are much…
JUST FOR STARTERS – Nov. 30, 2023 – Vaping a nicotine pod can provide more of the addictive substance than smoking a pack of cigarettes. Anyone vaping a nicotine-laced pod of Juul will be taking in 30 milligrams. “Nicotine addiction is one of the hardest addictions to break,” she said, urging diners to become informed about the tobacco quitline, which helps set a nicotine addict up with nicotine replacement therapy. Gigliotti discussed tobacco use and vaping prevention in youth. LGRC provides services to adults affected by alcohol or drug use, problem gambling, or mental illness, she said. They aim to…
AUDIO – WRITE ON! – Nov. 30, 2023 – The Writers in Treatment organization will present Emmy-nominated actor and environmental activist Ed Begley Jr the Experience, Strength, and Hope Award at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, on the evening of Wednesday, December 6. This award is given every year to an individual who has written a memoir about their road to recovery from addiction Lillian Vasquez speaks with Ed Begley Jr. about this honor and about his memoir, To the Temple of Tranquility and Step On It, in which he shares stories of his life, including his adventures…
A STAR WAS REBORN – Nov. 28, 2023 – Robert Downey Jr., born on April 4, 1965, in Manhattan, New York City, comes from a family with deep ties to the entertainment industry. His father, Robert Downey Sr., was a filmmaker, while his mother, Elsie Ann Ford, was an actress. Downey Jr. also has a sister named Allyson. At the age of 10, he acted in his first film, “Pound,” directed by his father. His career faced challenges due to personal issues and struggles with substance abuse. Robert Downey Jr. has had a tumultuous personal life, marked by struggles with…
PERFECT DEFINITION – Nov. 23, 2023 – Overdoses, addiction, and recovery are all things that happen throughout the year, but during the holidays many are faced with a make-or-break decision. Many times, it reveals how addiction and heartache take no days off. For the past few years, thousands have gathered around the table. However, inside the Covington house in Murfreesboro, there is always something that doesn’t feel quite right. “That one missing, it’s an interruption of everything,” Anglea Covington said as tears started to gather in her hands. For Covington, that one missing piece was lost four years ago. …
WHO ISN’T? – Nov. 29, 2023 – Wellington mayor Tory Whanau has admitted she has a drinking problem after another incident of drunken behaviour in public. The admission follows questions by RNZ about what happened at an inner-city bar two weekends ago. In a written statement to RNZ, the mayor said she had a problem with alcohol. She said that, to her “great embarrassment and shame”, her drunkenness seemed to have been recorded. Whanau said she sought counsel from friends, family and colleagues and has since sought professional help. “I am not a career politician, and leadership positions in public…
MORE THAN MEDS – Nov. 28, 2023 – In psychoanalysis, little importance was given to diagnosis, unlike the medical tradition. Diagnoses were ‘labels,’ mere shorthand categories for communication. They weren’t ‘real’ and they didn’t represent ‘diseases.’ All psychopathology was about unconscious emotional conflicts, mainly dating to childhood; if the conflicts were normal or mild, they produced ‘neuroses’; if they were severe, they produced ‘psychoses.’ That was the extent of psychoanalytic nosology. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) organized the first two editions of DSM mainly for administrative purposes. Those who ran mental hospitals needed to label the reasons patients were treated.…
AUDIO – WWJD? – Nov. 30, 2023 – Almost one-third of adults in the U.S. say they, or someone in their family, have been addicted to opioids. Often, families have been encouraged to use a “tough love” approach with their loved ones, but a growing number of health care professionals are starting to rethink this. Instead, they want to more intentionally include families and friends in the recovery process. WBUR’s Deborah Becker joins The Common to share the story of Ken Feldstein, an addiction councilor who said he “landed on love” in supporting his own son, Brendan, through his…