Healing from Addiction

Therapy

Motivational Interviewing Versus Motivational Speaking

Timmen L. Cermak MD on May 8, 2024

Motivational interviewing is a powerful method for engaging people in therapy, but clinicians too often resort to motivational speaking, which can activate defensiveness.

Motivational interviewing is a powerful method for engaging people in therapy, but clinicians too often resort to motivational speaking, which can activate defensiveness.

Cannabis

Practical Advice on How To Quit Cannabis

Timmen L. Cermak MD on April 16, 2024

A few months of abstinence is the only way to know if cannabis is impacting your life. But quitting, even briefly, is difficult for some people. Here is some practical advice.

A few months of abstinence is the only way to know if cannabis is impacting your life. But quitting, even briefly, is difficult for some people. Here is some practical advice.

Psychopharmacology

Semaglutide (Ozempic) May Help Reduce Cannabis Use

Timmen L. Cermak MD on March 28, 2024

Recovery from cannabis use disorder can be challenging. Ozempic may help, a new report hints.

Recovery from cannabis use disorder can be challenging. Ozempic may help, a new report hints.

Cannabis

The High Rate of Dependence Among Medical Cannabis Users

Timmen L. Cermak MD on March 26, 2024

New studies show the risk of cannabis use disorder is the same for medicinal and recreational cannabis users. How would the brain know the difference?

New studies show the risk of cannabis use disorder is the same for medicinal and recreational cannabis users. How would the brain know the difference?

CBD

Delta-8 Use Among Adolescents: New Report

Timmen L. Cermak MD on March 22, 2024

Delta-8 is legal under federal law because it is derived from hemp CBD, but its effects are similar to marijuana's THC.

Delta-8 is legal under federal law because it is derived from hemp CBD, but its effects are similar to marijuana's THC.

Mental Health Stigma

Mocking Disabilities Creates Stigma

Timmen L. Cermak MD on March 19, 2024

Family dynamics around addiction illustrate how grievances stem from false hopes that have been lost.

Family dynamics around addiction illustrate how grievances stem from false hopes that have been lost.

Cannabis

Cannabis Use Disorder Rising, Especially Among Mentally Ill

Timmen L. Cermak MD on January 4, 2024

The rate of Cannabis Use Disorder is increasing as cannabis becomes more available, but it is rising most rapidly among the mentally ill.

The rate of Cannabis Use Disorder is increasing as cannabis becomes more available, but it is rising most rapidly among the mentally ill.

Addiction

Recovery From a Family Member’s Addiction

Timmen L. Cermak MD on December 19, 2023

You can focus on your own recovery for contentment and happiness, even if your family members have substance abuse disorders.

You can focus on your own recovery for contentment and happiness, even if your family members have substance abuse disorders.

Addiction

Toxic Masculinity, Feminine Power, Addiction, and Recovery

Timmen L. Cermak MD on December 14, 2023

Addiction creates isolation as people aggressively defend against needing abstinence. Recovery requires our feminine power of connection.

Addiction creates isolation as people aggressively defend against needing abstinence. Recovery requires our feminine power of connection.

Cannabis

Lord Shiva and Cannabis: Destroyer and Creator

Timmen L. Cermak MD on December 6, 2023

Why is the Hindu god Shiva, Lord of Destruction and Creation, intimately associated with cannabis? My lifelong study of cannabis science offers an explanation.

Why is the Hindu god Shiva, Lord of Destruction and Creation, intimately associated with cannabis? My lifelong study of cannabis science offers an explanation.

A unique study shows that the legalization of dried cannabis flowers (marijuana) does not increase hospitalization, but full commercialization does, especially for psychosis.

Spirituality

Reflections on Online Psychic Services

Timmen L. Cermak MD on October 30, 2023

Online psychic services raise important questions. What psychological needs drive people to the occult? Alan Watts and Carl Jung provide some answers.

Online psychic services raise important questions. What psychological needs drive people to the occult? Alan Watts and Carl Jung provide some answers.

Wisdom

True Grit vs. Powerlessness

Timmen L. Cermak MD on October 26, 2023

Grit is a virtue until it interferes with the ability to recognize the reality of personal limitations.

Grit is a virtue until it interferes with the ability to recognize the reality of personal limitations.

Addiction

How Acceptance Resolves Many Problems

Timmen L. Cermak MD on October 24, 2023

Acceptance resolves many challenges, but exactly what is acceptance? And how is it achieved?

Acceptance resolves many challenges, but exactly what is acceptance? And how is it achieved?

Gratitude

Practicing an Attitude of Gratitude

Timmen L. Cermak MD on October 19, 2023

Practicing gratitude involves awareness of receiving and reciprocal giving.

Practicing gratitude involves awareness of receiving and reciprocal giving.

Therapy

Good Psychotherapy Requires Clear Understanding of Addiction

Timmen L. Cermak MD on October 13, 2023

Patients' substance use often blocks psychotherapy. Therapists who understand the psychological depth of A.A.'s Twelve Steps can adapt this blueprint into their work.

Patients' substance use often blocks psychotherapy. Therapists who understand the psychological depth of A.A.'s Twelve Steps can adapt this blueprint into their work.

Addiction

A.A.’s Step 12: Expanding Integrity and Reaching Back

Timmen L. Cermak MD on October 10, 2023

No one stays sober without profound changes in their personality, and carefully working A.A.'s 12 steps can accomplish this. Step 12 reaches back to those still suffering.

No one stays sober without profound changes in their personality, and carefully working A.A.'s 12 steps can accomplish this. Step 12 reaches back to those still suffering.

Spirituality

A.A.’s Step 11: Plumbing the Depths of Spiritual Recovery

Timmen L. Cermak MD on October 6, 2023

Recovery from addiction contains many paradoxes, and nurturing a spiritual life helps in the acceptance of mystery.

Recovery from addiction contains many paradoxes, and nurturing a spiritual life helps in the acceptance of mystery.

Addiction

A.A.’s Step 10: A Way of Life

Timmen L. Cermak MD on October 5, 2023

The benefits of recovery fade when people stop paying attention to the steps. A daily habit of taking inventory and promptly making amends is a way of life that sustains recovery.

The benefits of recovery fade when people stop paying attention to the steps. A daily habit of taking inventory and promptly making amends is a way of life that sustains recovery.

Addiction

A.A.’s Steps Eight and Nine: Acts of Integrity

Timmen L. Cermak MD on October 3, 2023

A.A.'s steps eight and nine require changes in behavior built on the first seven steps. Making amends strengthens a person's basic integrity and removes the burden of shame.

A.A.'s steps eight and nine require changes in behavior built on the first seven steps. Making amends strengthens a person's basic integrity and removes the burden of shame.