I’m Freaking Out . . . Now What?
One major reason people start and continue using substances (or engaging in other compulsive behaviors like shopping, gambling, etc.) is that they are “mood altering.” At least initially, most substances have a euphoric effect that can shift negative mood states like loneliness, sadness, anger, confusion, anxiety or boredom. Substances can also make difficult situations feel […]
Are You Eating In The Dark?
Eating food isn’t as easy as it may seem. Sure, you’ve been doing it all your life, but how often are you really paying attention to what you eat? Do you have any idea how many calories you are consuming? Could you estimate your fiber intake? Or your sugar or caffeine intake? Maybe you are […]
What’s the first step of habit change? Going off autopilot!
Changing behavior requires self-awareness. Changing a well-worn habit in particular requires that you move it from “automatic” to “conscious” so that you can make other behavioral choices. For example, if you don’t even notice that you are reaching for a cigarette as you get into your car, how are you ever going to decide to […]
Confrontation: The Biggest Motivation Killer
Excerpt from “Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change”. The following segment is from our book and outlines all the reasons why confrontation as a strategy is typically far from effective. It also describes strategies that are more effective when you want to encourage change in your loved one. Confrontation: The Biggest Motivation Killer The […]
Motivation Myths and the Truth about Change
Motivation & Change, two words that are inextricably linked. Can you really make significant changes in behavior without motivation? Does it ever feel like you are really motivated to “do something” (stop using drugs, lose 10 pounds, change careers) but you just can’t seem to get started? Sometimes change happens due to external factors which influence […]
How Much Exercise Do You REALLY Need?
Sue Parsley Wellness Director @ CMC:Berkshires At the start of every year (resolution season), gyms get busier and more people begin to focus on themselves and their health once again. Resolutions are a wonderful way to start, but how much exercise does a personally really need and why? While there are many variables, that can […]
An Important Conversation about Addiction
The New York Times article (A Different Path to Fighting Addiction, published July 3, 2014) discussing CMC and our book Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change has generated so much important commentary. We are grateful to have the opportunity to start a conversation about all the options available to people who struggle […]
Going off Autopilot to make Behavioral Changes
Do you ever start the day with good intentions to change a bad habit, “today is the day I quit smoking,” and by the end of the day feel frustrated because you found yourself with a cigarette in your hand without even realizing it? Does it mean you were not serious in the first place…that […]
What’s In A Name?
What’s in a name? Sure, by any other name a rose may smell so sweet, but by any other name would an “addict” feel so stigmatized? Were Shakespeare alive today I would ask that he reconsider his stance. With the gradual pace of change in addiction treatment highlighted by the continued advancement and implementation of […]
Coping Skills Help Make Behavior Change Last
Making a change in your life is a pretty big deal. If you’ve move into the action stage of change, we’d first like to first offer you a huge congratulations! This is a bold move, and one that deserves a lot of praise! Next we’d like to offer you some helpful tips to help make […]
