Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Version 2.01

Can Stress Lead To Addiction: Five (5) Warning Signs

Do you have a glass of wine each evening to unwind??

Don’t worry not everybody who uses alcohol or even drugs becomes an addict or an alcoholic.

Many addiction experts agree: you have to have a specific genetic predisposition to become an addict.

However, stress can lead people to try substances that they otherwise wouldn?t. Many times people (with and without genetic predispositions for addiction), first pick up a drink or try a drug in response to a stressor. However, some people can drink frequently or even use some drugs and stop whenever they want! That’s because an addiction, including alcoholism, is not acquired according to most medical evidence you simply can’t catch alcoholism or addiction unless you have that genetic code.

According to current official descriptions, substance abuse is indicated by daily or weekly abuse (or other episodic abuse), without signs of changing tolerance or marked withdrawal symptoms. Addiction is indicated by having signs including increasing or decreasing tolerance to the substance as well as marked withdrawal symptoms.*

So how can you tell if stress might be leading you to abuse chemical substances and placing you on the path towards becoming addicted to alcohol or drugs? If you find yourself frequently or regularly:

Assess Yourself!

Richard Zwolinski, LMHC, CASAC is the author of Therapy Revolution: Find Help, Get Better, and Move On (Without Wasting Time or Money), and Therapy Soup. He is a nationally and internationally licensed psychotherapist and anxiety and addiction specialist with over 25 years experience. He is writing patient rights and therapist ethics regulations for New York State, serves on the Ethics Committee of the NY Licensed Mental Health Counselors Association, and volunteers with at-risk youth. Richard encourages everyone to stay emotionally, physically, and spiritually aware and healthy so they can live the happy, productive, meaningful lives they were meant to live.

Richard is our newest guest blogger and it’s with GREAT pleasure that I introduce to you someone I feel has so much to offer…

Richard Zwolinski, LMHC, CASAC

Mediterranean Diet Beats Depression

What many of us have known for years – that one of the causes of depression and anxiety is a poor quality diet – has now been scientifically proven.

Mediterranean diet beats depression

At least three scientific studies over the past year have shown that a good, so called “traditional” diet can REDUCE the risk of depression by up to 30%. On the other hand those who eat a “westernized” diet INCREASE their risk of depression by up to 50%.

These research papers show that individuals who follow a Mediterranean type diet have far lower incidences of depression than those who eat a typical western style diet.

A Mediterranean diet typically consists of whole grains, pulses, fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices, seafood and low levels of saturated fats.

A typical western diet, on the other hand, consists primarily of refined carbohydrates, sugar, high levels of animal-based saturated fats and very few fruit and vegetables.

Spices Stabilize Stress

A couple of years ago I started writing my third book on a health related topic. While carrying out research for the book, numerous references to scientific studies showing how important spices are in helping to prevent and treat a variety of diseases, kept turning up.The closer I looked into this subject the more I discovered how much research was being done into the therapeutic and preventive properties of spices.

That warm feeling you get after you have eaten a very spicy meal is not only a result of the heating effects of chilies and other spices. Apart from their delicious flavors and metabolism-boosting effects, all spices have extremely valuable health enhancing properties.

What has this got to do with stress you may ask?

HIV – Yes It Can

December 1, 2009 by Steven Diamond  
Filed under Daily Blog, Uncategorized

December 1st, is “World AIDS Day”.

Become aware. Because if you are sexually active at all, it CAN happen to you. Before we can stop any epidemic, we first have to recognize the magnitude of the disease. HIV is still a threat across the United States. And even though there are treatments to help people with HIV live longer than ever before, AIDS is still a significant health issue. Surprised?

Here are some other surprising facts:

Dr.Tess Hightower

November 11, 2009 by Steven Diamond  
Filed under Breaking News & Events, Uncategorized

Dr. Tess Hightower is a highly trained relationship therapist, experienced in assessing, diagnosing and treating individuals and couples. In working together she helps them to achieve more satisfying relationships, be they social friendships…

Tony Orlando – The Iraq War to Michael Jackson Episode #8

November 8, 2009 by Steven Diamond  
Filed under "Steven Diamond Live!", Podcasts

Grammy Nominated / 2 time People Choice award winning guest today has played to packed arenas and even for five US Presidents. His universal appeal has bridged many a generation gap. Tony was one of the first entertainers to be featured as a subject of VH1’s Behind the Music . The episode continues to be aired and received one of the network’s highest ratings for the series. He has a star on the Hollywood walk of fame. Tony and I will be discussing his recent trip to Iraq, what he saw and the lessons he learned from OUR troupes there now fighting for OUR freedom. He also speaks about his friendship with Michael Jackson having known him personally since Michael was 10 years old.

Tony Orlando – Podcast

November 5, 2009 by Steven Diamond  
Filed under Breaking News & Events

Appearing on this week’s radio broadcast –
NEWS UPDATE: I was informed that this was my highest rated broadcast EVER! Thank you for listening!
No entertainer can move and excite an audience like Tony Orlando. One of America’s most endearing and enduring stars, Tony and America recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of his hit recording of Tie A Yellow [...]

Improve Your Thinking Break-Through!

November 5, 2009 by Steven Diamond  
Filed under Daily Blog, Uncategorized

With all the stresses everyone is feeling these days it becomes even more important to take care of yourself.
Thinking clearly and being alert helps reduce stress. However, It’s hard to calm yourself when you are not thinking clearly…

Depression – Episode #6

November 3, 2009 by Steven Diamond  
Filed under "Steven Diamond Live!", Podcasts

Bonus Lost Episode –

This broadcast originally aired in 2004.

Depression is not something you can just “Snap out of”. It’s thought to be caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals, along with other life factors. Like any serious medical condition, depression needs to be treated. Or it gets worse.

The good news is that [...]

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