Author: bkellaway

Addiction Recovery Bulletin

SOUL DAMAGE –  

March 31, 2024 – “We’ve never seen anything like this. There’s massive evidence of harm,” Jonathan Haidt says. “It happened in many countries at the same time, at a specific point in time: the moment when teens traded their flip phones for smartphones. It’s as if you had a murder, and all eyewitnesses point to this suspect.

In his latest book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, out now, Haidt examines the connection between this “great rewiring,” in which we’ve traded kids’ play time for phone time, and the decline in teen mental health. Haidt talked with PEOPLE for a story in this week’s.

Imagine there was suddenly a toy introduced which would cause children to get less sleep, less exercise, spend less time with other children. It would make them incredibly self-conscious, and it would lower their self-esteem and cause depression and anxiety. That would be horrible?

CONTINUE@People

The post Smartphones Are Hurting Our Kids appeared first on Addiction/Recovery eBulletin.

Addiction Recovery Bulletin

BRAINS AND FINESSE –

March 30, 2024 – She has been famous, and sober – and married to Tony Baines – for exactly half her life.

‘I was always told when I got to 40, I wouldn’t care about other people’s opinions,’ she says. ‘I’d think when I got to 50 I’d know true freedom. Traditionally the age when women had to retire is 60. That doesn’t fit me, either.’ Now she is 60, and I tell her she looks youthful. ‘Botox and fillers!’, she replies with a shriek, raising her chin to show the bruise. ‘Take a good look! I don’t want to say, “Oh, it’s just from drinking lots of water and staying out of the sun.” I really wish I hadn’t been so programmed – women must be agreeable, young-looking, well dressed, fragrant. I wish that wasn’t so deep in me but it’s there.’

And, because Keyes is on a journey of self-exploration, in fiction and in life, she says, ‘I acknowledge it, I forgive myself for it, because I didn’t programme myself this way. But I do look forward to a time when it won’t be there.’ 

CONTINUE@DailyMail

The post Marian Keyes on How The Best-loved Novelist Beat Alcoholism appeared first on Addiction/Recovery eBulletin.

Addiction Recovery Bulletin

OR IS IT? –

March 29, 2024  – A quick search for sober motivation will send you off on a stream of brightly coloured listicles that advise making plans that don’t involve alcohol, spending time with friends who support your choices, trying new things (like mocktails!) and going for a walk to combat alcohol cravings. (photo: Author Ashe Davenport)

The posts are often accompanied by a white-toothed influencer who is standing on a mountain in a bikini.

The internet paints a picture of sobriety that has been smoothed around the edges, with an occasional snag of vulnerability; a woman pushing her toddler on a swing with the caption “I was buzzed on vodka here”; a word tile that reads: “I realised that inebriated women are easier to control.” The darkness creeps in, but then it’s back to normal programming; memes and hashtags and journalling at sunrise.

 stopped drinking three months ago under the illusion that it would be as simple as buying leggings with the offer code sobergalclub. But I have not yet enjoyed better sleep or higher productivity. I do not look back at my years of drug and alcohol use “with zero regrets”, as one influencer who had been 30 days sober mused. I have infinite regrets. My cup runneth over. 

CONTINUE @TheGuardian

The post I Stopped Drinking for Three Months and It’s Not as Simple as the Internet Says appeared first on Addiction/Recovery eBulletin.

Addiction Recovery Bulletin

IT’S ALL IN THE GAME –  

March 31, 2024 – Gaby, who first found fame in 1992 on The Big Breakfast, revealed last year that she completely cut alcohol out of her life – and she has never looked back. It’s been over six years now since Gaby has drank alcohol, and she never sees herself hitting the booze again.

However, the star, 59, has kept a rather low-profile when it comes to her personal life. Earlier this month, Gaby has in for Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2 after the breakfast presenter revealed her break from the show. Zoe, 53, took some time off after her mum was diagnosed with cancer and thanked longtime pal Gaby for taking the reins in her absence. 

Alongside a picture of her mum Julia in hospital and surrounded by her loved ones, the star wrote: “Heartbreakingly our beautiful Mama Julia has been diagnosed with Cancer. As many of you know from experience, these are extremely tough times. mum is being incredibly brave. My brother Jamie and I are completely in awe of the brilliant Doctors, Nurses and support teams looking after mum. Thank you.”

CONTINUE@Mirror

The post Sunday Brunch Star Gaby Roslin’s Whirlwind Romance – Grief and Sobriety appeared first on Addiction/Recovery eBulletin.

Addiction Recovery Bulletin

WITH AN EYE TOWARDS THE HOLE –

April 3, 2024 – “Golf is important to me and not important to me at the same time,” Kim said. “I’ve had some very dark moments. I’ve had some very low moments. I felt very alone, even when there’s a million people around. ” When you’re 24 or 25, even 30 years old, you don’t realize the snakes that are living under your roof. But through the grace of God, I’m here. I’m able to tell my story, hopefully inspire other people.

“I have an interesting relationship with golf,” Kim said. “I don’t think I ever loved it. What’s very weird to me is I’m falling in love with the game. That’s such a weird spot for me because golf was filled with pressure. Golf was filled with lots of different emotions for me.

“I’m prepared more than ever for success,” he later added. “I don’t think in my first career I was because I didn’t know what to expect. It was my mistakes that are the reason that I fell down into this deep hole. Having better people around this time around definitely helps.”

CONTINUE@GolfDigest

The post Anthony Kim Details Issues With Addiction and ‘Scam Artists’ appeared first on Addiction/Recovery eBulletin.

Addiction Recovery Bulletin

WORTH DISCUSSING –

March 29, 2024 – After struggling with alcoholism for two years, Aaron thought that trying out kratom as an alternative to drinking – as suggested by the ad he saw on Instagram – seemed like a good idea. “When I tried kratom, it was like it boosted my mood. It made me feel happier and it also took away some internal pain,” Aaron said. “The reason why I wanted to escape reality is because, if you are in addiction, for years on end, you hurt a lot of people, you make a lot of mistakes, you do things you wish you never did.” 

Originating from a tree native to Southeast Asia, kratom has varying uses in socioreligious ceremonies, and for medical purposes to combat fatigue, increase energy and treat drug dependency, according to a 2015 article by BioMed Research International. 

Kratom products include powders, pills, leaves and extracts. 

CONTINUE@HeraldReview

The post Former Users and Experts Debate Kratom appeared first on Addiction/Recovery eBulletin.

Addiction Recovery Bulletin

ONE YEAR AT A TIME –  

April 2, 2024 – She is about to celebrate one year of sobriety. The 29-year-old reality star has been turning to a string of healthy activities in recent months and revealed that Wednesday (03.04.24) will mark the first anniversary of the day she stopped drinking alcohol. The ‘Vanderpump Rules’ star – who spent some time in a rehabilitation clinic for the sake of her mental health just before going sober – is hoping to share what she has learned about herself amid the health kick and wants to make sure that her fans can “relate” to her through her new podcast ‘Rachel Goes Rogue’ after cutting down on her social media usage.

She added: “[I avoid doom scrolling] except for a select few that are a little bit more biased towards my side, because I like to at least know that my voice is being heard.

“Just sharing what I’ve learned about myself through this journey. And hopefully helping other people who have been through abusive relationships, toxic friend groups, that can relate to what I’m talking about. I feel like [the podcast] given me my power back. And I just feel empowered doing it.”

During her time on the hit reality show, Rachel left her co-star and BFF Ariana Madix, devastated after it was revealed she had been carrying on an affair with Ariana’s boyfriend Tom Sandoval, 40, for several months. 

CONTINUE@Celebretainment

The post Rachel Leviss: ‘I’m Really proud of how far I’ve come!’ appeared first on Addiction/Recovery eBulletin.

Addiction Recovery Bulletin

WE’RE ALL ONE –

April 2, 2024 – The rapper sat for an interview and revealed that he abused drugs for seven years. He said he started taking drugs in 2017. Takura said he ended up going to drug rehab this year. Check on your friends. Mental health is something that is real, but it seems like if you are a man, how can you feel all those things going on until it is too late so check on your loved ones.”

CONTINUE@iHarare

The post Rapper Takura Reveals His 7-Year Battle Against Drugs appeared first on Addiction/Recovery eBulletin.

Addiction Recovery Bulletin

THEY LOOK SO HAPPY…AND INSANE –  

March 30, 2024 – What the author is implying is that we parents need to start acting differently. Our kids’ reliance on mobile devices to pass the time starts long before high school, and it coalesces into an unshakeable habit under our watch — or, rather, while our gaze is averted and we’re looking at our phones. What Haidt doesn’t say is that parents can’t change their kids’ relationships with their phones and tablets without also addressing their own. Criticizing parents is very treacherous for any public figure, so it’s understandable that Haidt would avoid doing so.

People with very strong opinions about parenting are usually pushing a skewed ideological agenda and are best ignored. A “screen-free childhood”? Sounds precious. No thanks! Haidt may be an over-50 white guy, but he is not making an ideological argument in this book. His suggestions are realistic, and his argument is not shrill. We’re beyond moral panic. I know many children who are absolutely addicted to their mobile devices, whether we’re talking about a Nintendo Switch, a phone, or an iPad. This circumstance is normal now — so normal, in fact, that you’d be rude and tasteless to remark on it. Our social norms have been very quickly reshaped around this behavior. Kids who aren’t on iPads at the restaurant are the ones who get remarked on, not those who are.

CONTINUE@TheCut

The post Who Do You Blame When Kids Are Addicted to Their iPhones? appeared first on Addiction/Recovery eBulletin.

Addiction Recovery Bulletin

TELEVISION MATTERS –

April 2, 2024 – “What you can expect is watching what happens when a sober George tries to maintain his sobriety, what that does to the family dynamic, what that means to his daughter’s relationship with him, how that trickles down to all of us,” said Selenis Leyva, who plays George’s ex-wife, Rosie.

Stand-up comedian and actor George Lopez stars in “Lopez vs. Lopez” with his real-life daughter, Mayan. They play fictionalized characters of themselves, with a cast that includes Leyva, Matt Shively (Mayan’s live-in boyfriend) and Al Madrigal (George’s employee Oscar). 

Season one also featured Cheech Marin as a recurring character, and guest appearances by Rita Moreno, Harvey Guillén, Danny Trejo, Tommy Chong and Snoop Dogg, among other stars. 

Leyva said that it’s important to put the prime-time spotlight on a Latino family to show mainstream viewers how they have many things in common and also to represent the diversity of America.

CONTINUE@NBCNews

The post George Lopez Tackles Sobriety in ‘Lopez vs. Lopez’  appeared first on Addiction/Recovery eBulletin.