One of my pet hates in experimental study is researchers suggesting that one can generalise findings from a non-clinical group of participants in a particular study to a clinical group, not in the study. For example, most studies in Psychology and in Neuroscience are conducted on very well […]
In various blogs we have suggested that one of the main aspects of addictive behaviours is to act as the result of distress-based impulsivity or negative urgency. Here we explore in more details what we mean by that term negative urgency. Here we borrow from one article (1) […]
We recently blogged on how alcoholics, and children of alcoholics, have difficulty with recognizing and differentiating external signs of emotions such as facial emotional expressions, now we will consider increasing evidence that alcoholics have difficulties with identifying and differentiating internal emotional states also. Both these areas of research point […]
A neural basis of so-called Alcoholic Denial? by alcoholicsguide Clinicians and treatment providers working with addicted individuals often talk about addicts denying their condition at least part of the time. Although denial has often been conceptualised within a psycho-analytic framework as being a defense mechanism guarding against anxiety some research suggests […]
The idea that abstinence will automatically also decrease alcohol-related intrusive thoughts has been dismissed by research and vast anecdotal evidence. Practically all therapies for alcoholism e.g AA, SMART and so on suggest that urges create automatic thoughts about drinking. This has been demonstrated in research that distress automatically […]
In our previous blog on we looked at automatic physiological response to cues that alcoholics appear to experience. These habitual responses are well explained by reinforcement, conditioning or neurobiological models of addiction. However, do these neurobiological models predict relapse in abstinent alcoholics and addicts? Factors in relapse Cues, […]
In the first of a three part series of blogs we discuss “what is craving?” and consider whether the emotional dysregulation we consider to be at the heart of alcoholism and addiction also plays a role in both craving and relapse. We start this series by considering the neurobiological accounts […]
Euphoria re-experienced not simply recalled. It appears that negative affect (emotions, mood, anxiety) can automatically prompt thoughts of alcohol or drugs (1) and that the neural circuitries of affect, reward, memory and attention are taken over or ‘hijacked’ in the addiction cycle and often prompted into activation by […]
Most alcoholics have difficulties with emotional and stress regulation.
An alternative definition of Addiction? Before we discuss the enormous contributions made by neurobiological ‘conditioning’ theories of addiction we will discuss alternatives to these theories of addiction. Interestingly, the theories we posit here, which are based on the role of emotional dysregulation in addiction and alcoholism build on […]
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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
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Life, Sober
Inside The Alcoholic Brain 
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