Addiction begins with the hope that something ‘out there’ can instantly fill up the emptiness inside.” – Jean Kilbourne Do you think addiction can’t happen to your child? As a substance abuse counselor, I have seen many individuals from “good homes” with “good parents” who started down a bad path with drugs/alcohol during their teen years.…
Whether you’re new to recovery or have been clean and sober for several years, the holidays can present a challenge to your previous addictions. Even those who feel they have the issue conquered can still experience flare-ups due to the celebratory intensity of the season. Tips for maintaining your sobriety during this season: Prepare ahead of…
Do you (or a friend) need a support group to help with struggles related to substance abuse? A 12-step meeting may be the perfect answer! The term “12-step meeting” refers to a group of people from the community (peers, not professionals) who meet together to support one another as each person recovers from addictions. The…
Have you wondered when, and how, to discuss the topic of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco with your kids? Perhaps you’ve seen the devastation of substance abuse in families close to you and hope to keep this problem from entering your own doorstep. Benjamin Franklin is known to have said, “An ounce of prevention is worth…
Lorraine Looney, LMSW, shares practical insights for how to encourage a friend or family member struggling with addiction.
As soon as John walked into my office, I knew he was suffering. He was in his mid-40’s, a former EMT, yet as he sat down he looked anything but strong and alert. He was sweating bullets on a cool Fall day, doubled over with pain and nausea, and could barely speak to answer the…
One thing that I’ve noticed repeatedly in conversations with both clients and friends is people saying how stressed-out they are right now! We are running in so many different directions each day and trying to keep up with more to-dos than ever before. The results are feelings of stress, pressure, helplessness, or failure. If you…
If you are the parent of a teen, you’ve probably heard the word “vaping,” but do you really know what comes along with this trendy addiction? It can be tricky to sort through the myths to get to the truth behind this latest craze of teens and young adults. The new ciggie First, it’s important to…
Stress has become commonplace in our households over the past month or so, even for those who typically function in a relaxed manner. When life sends us into a whirlwind, how do you deal with those aggravations? There is a myriad of ways—both good and bad. People with addictive-ridden lifestyles often use substances to “cope”…
Meet one of our fabulous counselors—Lorraine Looney, LMSW. Lorraine joined the BabbCenter for Counseling team at the end of 2017. She provides counseling for children, adolescents, adults and families with a focus on substance abuse and co-occurring disorders as well as depression and anxiety, stress management, and grief counseling. Q. Where did you go to school? A. Boston University. I loved…