Part 1 This excellent review (1) covers many of the brain regions we have discussed as being implicated in all the addictive behaviours. We have previously suggested also that these brain regions are connected in impaired decision making deficits and that these deficits in decision making are […]
In Terms of Ego Defense Mechanisms This study (1) looked at the use of ego defense mechanisms in alcoholics and in addicts and found that alcoholics tend to use immature ego defense mechanism rather than the a mixture of immature and mature ego defense mechanisms addicts […]
Through various blog on this site we have suggested that trauma and adverse childhood experiences may have an effect on the ability of the brain to regulate emotion. We have even suggested that adverse childhood experiences and trauma may actually have a direct effect on the maturation […]
This is an appendum to yesterday’s blog – Ultimately, as this study (1) alludes to, there is a vital role for amygdaloid activity in both anxiety disorders and in alcoholism. It seems, however, to be suggesting that this amygdaloid hyperactivity is mainly prevalent in withdrawal and protracted abstinence. […]
Throughout this blogsite we have argued that addictive behaviours are rooted in inherent stress/emotion dysregulation and in emotion processing deficits such as alexithymia. These emotion processing deficits give rise to undifferentiated emotion states which are not utilised in reasonable prefrontal cortex based decision making but instead prompt more motoric […]
Attachment Style, Alexithymia, and Psychiatric Disorders in Alcoholic Inpatients This excellent article (1) presented the idea, formulated by Fonagy et al. (2002) that the way people’s attachment system is organized, corresponds both with their representational capacities and with their style of relating to others. They combine a measurement […]
Yesterday we looked a how low heart rate variability in alcoholics (active and in recovery) may influence self, emotion and stress regulation, and have a limited effect on impulsivity, and result in a “locked in” attention to alcohol-related cues, all of which have obvious consequences for relapse. Here […]
I remember when I was in the first days, weeks and months of early recovery I used to give myself such a hard time when my attention was drawn to some alcohol-related cue, like someone drinking ,or finding it difficult not dealing with some reminder of people places and […]
PART 2 HRV is directly connected to areas of the the brain implicated in stress and emotion regulation. If, via recovery practices, we can still our beating heart it will have neuroplastic effects on our brain and the regulation of emotion and stress. Equally if we meditate and […]
Part 1 Over this week leading up to my interview/podcast with sincerightnow http://www.sincerightnow.com/upcoming/ http://www.sincerightnow.com/pdcst/ I want to look at the “neuroscience of alcoholism and addiction from another angle. I want to look at the evident difficulties seen in alcoholics in terms of impaired self and emotion regulation by looking at […]
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Engaging the unconscious in everyday life with Chuck Bender
BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
It started when I gave up smoking and went from there!
mostly poetry, partly peculiar.
Mostly addiction and recovery stuff
Practical Lessons for Everyday Life
This blog is about my journey towards a life grounded in balance, gratitude, creativity, and love.
Get your head on straight
The Courage To Shift is my Life Coach business that focuses on moving the client from victim, to VICTOR, regardless of their personal goals! Is there anything in life that you would like more of?
never judge a girl by her weight
Heal the past. Free the present. Bless the future.
Espiritu en Fuego -- A Fiery Spirit Expressing Herself
Ditching the drink and waking up
Transmissions from the heart, because in the end, we're all just walking each other home.
Life, Sober
Inside The Alcoholic Brain 
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