Addiction can be deadly and can have very detrimental effects on one’s life. What if a brain implant could help to eradicate the disease? According to Dr. Casey Halpern, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the Stanford University Medical Center, a brain implant might be the answer for those challenged with destructive impulsive behaviors, such as using drugs or drinking addictively, and symptoms of depression. While observing mice that gorged themselves on food, Halpern and his colleagues noticed a pattern of electrical activity that occurred before these mice ate. This electrical activity acted as an anticipatory reaction right before the overindulgence.
 
So how would the implant work?
 
The implant would be placed in the nucleus accumbens, where a 10-second shock would occur. What researchers found was that this drastically reduced the later food intake.
 
What about humans?
 
To answer this question, researchers observed a man who already had a brain implant to control his OCD behaviors. They observed the same electrical activity occurring in his brain as they did in mice. These researchers hope that we will one day find a cure for those dealing with similar challenges.

If you or a loved one is challenged by addiction and/or mental health challenges such as depression/anxiety, contact one of our experts at SHAW Center for Healing today for a free 15-minute consultation. #SHAWesome 

To read the full article, check it out here: https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/scientists-say-brain-implant-may-be-key-beating-addiction-ncna835051

Recovery is very possible for all of us, but we have to remember that our addiction still lives with us even when we get sober. We live with past mistakes, the knowledge that we could always slip if we let up on our program of recovery, and secrets that some may never understand. According to thefix.com, there are five traits that people in recovery share:

1. Feelings of judgment. Setting yourself apart as an addict sometimes comes with judgment from others. The stigma towards addicts is very alive and many people subscribe to the ideas it carries.
2. Worrying about relapse. This disease of addiction can crop back up at anytime. Many of us in recovery carry that fear with us even years after our sober date.
3. You miss the addiction. While addiction is awful and can destroy our lives, sometimes we miss the comfortable numb is provides us. In sobriety we get to navigate feelings, sometimes for the first time, and it can be scary for some of us.
4. You are sorry. No matter how much time you have or the amends you have made, guilt still exists at times for the things we have done. Here, self-forgiveness is important and a crucial step to being fully recovered.
5. You have pride of your recovery. Those in recovery have beaten a formidable beast, one that many can’t conquer.  If the stigma weren’t so harsh, we might share this accomplishment more freely. It really is an accomplishment to be proud!

Recovery is possible for all of us. Let our experts at SHAW Center for Healing guide you to recovery today.
 
To read the full article, check it out here: https://www.thefix.com/5-secrets-someone-recovery

With opiate usage on the rise, so is the death toll from opiate overdoses. According to a recent article in scientificamerican.com, the rate of deaths between 2015 and 2016 has doubled contributing to 63,000 deaths in 2016.
 
How are these opiates causing overdose and death?
 
Once a person intakes the substance, the drug binds to opiate receptors in the brain. This not only causes feelings of euphoria, but it also causes respiratory problems. The result? Respiratory depression and choking to death. The sedating effects in the brain decrease the rate of breathing resulting in lack of oxygen being brought into the body.
 
How can death be prevented?
 
There is a life-saving drug called Naloxone that can be used when overdose occurs. This drug binds to the same receptors as the opiate and it blocks their effects. Due to the fast nature that synthetic opiates work in the body, Naloxone must used quickly and in high doses in order to counteract the opiates taken and prevent death. While Naloxone can successfully block the opiate absorption, it often sends one into immediate withdrawal, potentially causing the person to vomit and subsequently choke and die if not cared for appropriately. 

If you or a loved one is struggling with opiate addiction, our recovery experts at SHAW Center for Healing can help. Call us today for a free consultation.

To read the full article, check it out here:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-opioids-kill/

Recent research spearheaded by the Dutch has now established a correlation between early signs of mental health disorders and later substance abuse problems. Looking at young people dealing with anxiety, depression, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), these researchers found a significantly higher rate of drug, alcohol, and nicotine use later in life. Researchers hypothesized this use was a means to self-medicate these pre-existing disorders.
 
Annabeth Groenman, Ph.D., from the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands, says, “Although the link between ADHD and later substance-related disorders was well established, literature did not show such a clear link between other childhood disorders and later substance-related disorders. I feel that with this study we identify a vulnerable group in society and show that those with problems in childhood can grow up to become troubled adults.”
 
Coming from a generous sample size of 762,187 case studies, researchers hope that finding this relationship between early mental disorders and substance abuse later in life will allow for preventative measures to be employed.
 
Groenman also remarks, “Now that we know that this group of youngsters is particularly at risk, we can work together with clinicians, government and relevant organizations to reduce the number of substance-related disorders in later life and hopefully reduce debilitating consequences later in life.”
 
To read more about this research, click here:
https://www.drugaddictionnow.com/2017/07/12/children-with-mental-health-disorders-found-to-be-at-high-risk-of-adult-addiction/2/
 
Is sex addiction, drug addiction, anxiety, trauma, or multiple addictions preventing you or a loved one from living an amazing life? Recovery IS possible. Begin healing today by contacting us for a free 15-minute consultation. 

​In order to build intimacy and connection, we have to be able to trust.  Trust is one of those huge, often abstract concepts.  Has anyone ever been told “I can’t trust you”, but feeling sort of clueless on how to regain that trust?  On the other hand, have you been betrayed in the past, you want to learn how to trust again, but you just don’t know where to begin? Most importantly, have you relapsed or fallen and feel lost on how to trust yourself again?
 
I wanted to share this exercise that I came across in my work with Brene´ Brown and the Rising Strong Process.  I have been working through it with many of my clients and they have found it helpful to pinpoint how to gain/build trust.  It helps us to understand the different elements that make up trust.  We are able to assess which areas we do really well with and which areas we could use some growth.  This exercise works really well when looking to strengthen others trust in us, our ability to trust others and most importantly…self trust. 
 
Using the acronym BRAVING, examine each of the areas below to identify strengths and opportunities for growth to build more trust in your life:
 
B- Boundaries: You respect my boundaries, and when you’re not clear about what’s okay and not okay, you ask.  You’re willing to say no and you ask for what you need.
 
R- Reliability: You do what you say you’ll do.  This means staying aware of your competencies and limitations so you don’t overpromise and are able to deliver on commitments and balance competing priorities.
 
A- Accountability: You own your own mistakes, apologize, and make amends.  You don’t blame others for your mistakes and when you need to hold others accountable you do so honestly and with respect.
 
V- Vault: You don’t share information or experiences that are not yours to share.  I need to know that my confidences are kept, and that you’re not sharing with me any information about other people that should be confidential. 
 
I- Integrity: You choose courage over comfort.  You choose what is right over what is fun, fast or easy.  And you choose to practice your values rather than simply professing them.
 
N- Nonjudgmental: I can ask for what I need, and you can ask for what you need.  We can talk about how we feel without judgment. 
 
G- Generosity:  You extend the most generous interpretation possible to the intentions, words and actions of others. 
 
 
Braving Rumbling with Trust- Copyright 2015 by Brene Brown, LLC

The DeTUR model for Desensitizing Triggers and Urges addresses addictions and dysfunctional/unwanted behaviors. Successful results have been found across the spectrum of addictions and unwanted behaviors such as:

• Smoking
• Overeating
• Urges for specific foods or drinks such as coffee or diet coke
• Nail biting
• Hair pulling (trichotillomania)
• Addictions to sex, gambling, shoplifting
• Anger outbursts
• Addictions to drugs and alcohol
• Sex addiction

Rather than focusing on trauma, this new approach helps you move towards a more positive, attractive, achievable, and compelling goal of coping and function.

With the DeTUR model, we begin with comprehensive goal setting and treatment planning. Using eye movements and a mix of eclectic techniques, we will help you to reprocess the way your brain creates urges and triggers. This reprocessing occurs out of a conscious level of awareness. (Read more about EMDR).

I often see clients surprisingly report that at the end of the day they had not engaged in the negative behavior, or had - but not as often- , or had noticed urges to engage and could not set them aside. What is even more awesome is, at times, they actually reported an aversion when they thought about partaking in the unwanted behavior such as smoking, drinking coffee, or biting their nails.

I have seen this work really well for clients in the past few weeks to decrease urges related to sexual addiction, smoking, alcohol abuse, and afternoon chocolate cravings. Feel free to email or give me a call if you would like more information on this new treatment.

Have a great week!