Mar 22, 2012

Dr. Mate explains the excitement of addiction

Addiction is one of the most perplexing and challenging of human habits. Why do some people become addicted to drugs, to alcohol, to gambling, to sexual activity, to tobacco, to overspending? And why is it that we seek such destructive ways to comfort ourselves?

And why is it so difficult to stop these habits, even as they threaten our health, jeopardize our relationships and corrode our spirits?

For more than 10 years Gabor Mate, M.D., was been the staff physician at the Portland Hotel, a residence and harm reduction facility in Vancouver, British Columbia. His patients are challenged by life-threatening drug addictions, mental illness, Hepatitis C or HIV -- and in many cases all four. In this video, he shares how the brain develops and why and how the drugs of abuse offer so much vitality and excitement, even to our detriment.Countering prevailing notions of addiction as either a genetic disease or an individual moral failure, Mat̩ presents an eloquent case that addiction Рall addiction Рis in fact a case of human development gone askew, the importance of a non-stressed nurturing parent and the reality of trans-generational trauma.


Watch his lecture here; it is long but fascinating:

Mar 14, 2012

Options to medications for attention deficit & hyperactivity

Alternative treatments are no longer on the fringe.

I've been preaching non-drug options for children who have problems with attention and hyperactivity for years, so I'm really glad to see the brand new book, Non-Drug Treatments for ADHD: New Options for Kids, Adults, and Clinicians by Richard P. Brown and Patricia L. Gerbarg, plus information on  diet, vitamins, and nutrients as well as mind-body practices.

Drawing on stories and anecdotes from their own clinical practice, these two physicians address the questions that are particularly important to those dealing with ADHD. Early chapters provide information about diagnostic issues and the scientific foundation for understanding the known causes of ADHD, as well as how different treatments may work and why. Multiple contributing causes of ADHD exist—genetic, nutritional, chemical, psychological, trauma-based, and environmental—and the authors explain how treatments need to be strategically combined and tailored to patients’ unique needs and sensitivities.

Later chapters present integrative strategies that combine the best practices of psychological treatments with herbs, nutrients, cognitive enhancers, mind–body practices, and brain stimulation. Throughout, the authors draw on the work of talented clinicians, yoga therapists, and teachers who have found creative, effective approaches to helping their clients who struggle with attentional problems. 

Book excerpt here

Audio discussion about essential concepts regarding the effects of stress, and methods to reduce stress with authors here.

Mar 13, 2012

Complex systems: we are all connected

Ecologist Eric Berlow doesn't feel overwhelmed when faced with complex systems. He knows that more information can lead to a better, simpler solution. He illustrates the tips and tricks for breaking down big issues, which is applicable not only to U.S. strategy in Afghanistan (in this video) but it is also information that can apply to most "complicated" ideas -- including the way that we are interconnected.