<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Better Relationships &#187; ADDICTIONS</title>
	<atom:link href="https://www.better-relationships.com/category/addictions/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>https://www.better-relationships.com</link>
	<description>Marriage &#38; Couples Counseling, Psychotherapy, Premarital Counseling</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 21 Mar 2023 23:20:05 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.18</generator>
	<item>
		<title>Worry, Worry</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/worry-worry/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/worry-worry/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2020 22:24:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ADDICTIONS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ARGUMENTS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COMMITMENT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COMMUNICATION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DEPRESSION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to manage worry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[OCD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PTSD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[worry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4394</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. It’s a good thing that almost all of us worry. Think of worry as a built-in alarm device. When it is used wisely, it alerts us to danger and prompts us to navigate our way through a maze of solutions to life’s various problems. We need to think through our options when we are faced with problems, weighing the benefits and pitfalls of each alternative, and then come up with the best solution. From there we take action which, we hope, solves the problem. Worry is helpful when it is used at the right time and at the right level for resolving our difficulties. Like many things in life, however, too little worry, or too much of it, can be harmful. Too Little Too little worry can result in impulsive decisions which may result in unfortunate consequences. Indeed, some people are high risk-takers who may not worry enough about problems – they may win, but just as often, they lose. Others avoid worry through substance abuse or other addictive behaviors and then lack the motivation and insight to deal realistically with life’s expected problems. Similarly, a laid-back, come-what-may approach, while it has some merits, sometimes suggests passivity and a lack of ability to participate in the complexities of life&#8217;s experiences. Too Much As we all know, some people worry too much. Rather than solving a problem, too much worry becomes the problem. Not only does excessive worry create personal suffering, but it also affects the people around the worrier. Worry is a fairly common, but potentially serious, condition. The stress which accompanies worry can have serious physical implications, including an increased risk for blood pressure, heart ailments and immune system deficiencies. Worrying About Things We Can’t Control Most people who worry excessively are well aware of their tendencies, although some simply view it as their normal state of affairs. (Indeed, some people like to worry because they feel that their mind [&#8230;]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.better-relationships.com/worry-worry/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Staying Healthy at Work</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/staying-healthy-at-work-2/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/staying-healthy-at-work-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Aug 2019 05:00:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ADDICTIONS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COMMUNICATION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DEPRESSION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[burnout]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[job burnoout]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[job loyalty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[work-life balance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[workaholic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[workplace]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4336</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Are You Working Hard or Hardly Working? (Or Both?) The atmosphere of the workplace has changed dramatically in recent times. Ever since the exploitative practices of the industrial revolution were removed through legislation, work has been defined as a place where a person could find fulfillment through a job which was rewarding and paid a fair wage. But this definition has reverted in recent years to one in which the needs of the employee have become less important. Finding personal fulfillment through our work has become more of a challenge. Progressive occupational stress leading to job burnout has become a painful reality for many people. This is especially true during times of high unemployment – when the workers who are still employed are expected to carry the load of those who are no longer with the company. The incidence of job burnout becomes increasingly widespread as corporations merge and the interests of the stockholders come to predominate business policies jobs are eliminated or combined because of technological innovation more production moved overseas where labor costs are cheaper downsizing becomes more frequent (where the worker is expected to do more work for less money) automation displaces production employees layoffs occur with alarming frequency. Many people are working longer hours and taking on more responsibilities just to “stay in place.” It seems to be a fading memory when one income could support a family, now it usually takes two – and this has a major impact on the dynamics of raising a family and interpersonal relationships. As a result of these changes in the workplace, stress has increased dramatically for some workers. Job stress is the result of overload on our senses and our inability to complete tasks. We are presented with more demands, information, stimuli, and intensity than we can take in and process. The end result of prolonged exposure to this stress is job burnout. We progressively shut down under the demands placed on us from the outside world. When we have difficulty in setting priorities and putting our lives into balance, we are more prone to suffer from burnout. [&#8230;]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.better-relationships.com/staying-healthy-at-work-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Eating Disorders</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/eating-disorders/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/eating-disorders/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jul 2019 23:02:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ADDICTIONS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BODY IMAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DEPRESSION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recovery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WEIGHT MANAGEMENT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anorexia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[appetite]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[binge eating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bulimia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[emotional eating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[healthy eating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[over eating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[purging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[starvation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weight loss]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4317</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[An Eating Disorder Is a Very Serious Problem That Demands Immediate Attention The Chinese used to bind the feet of women to make them smaller. So tiny and fragile were their feet, in fact, that some women were left essentially crippled, barely able to walk. To the Chinese, this was a sign of beauty and social status. But to us it seems a cruel and bizarre practice. The irony is that we in present-day American society do something just as cruel, just as bizarre as the Chinese did. We tend to see the thin, emaciated, malnourished female as beautiful. If your body has &#8220;the look,&#8221; you are seen as healthier, younger, better able to wear the right clothes, and you will gain social approval more readily. This definition of beauty is linked to our society’s emphasis on youth – younger women tend to be thinner than those who are older. In contemporary America, thin women are hired for jobs more frequently than heavier women, and they are married sooner &#8230; to wealthier men. Many of us hate the bodies we were born with and will agree to any number of procedures to change the shape of our bodies, including starvation diets and surgeries which suck the fat out of certain areas of our bodies (and then we go on to plump up our lips!). Is the Chinese practice of binding feet any more bizarre than what we do? (Whatever happened to the notion that good exercise, healthy nutrition, and genuine liking of ourselves and our bodies, whatever their shape, might be the best way to live?) In truth, our preoccupation with extreme thinness is just a passing social fad. A century ago in America the plump look was in. And, hopefully, our preoccupation with thinness may continue to change over the years. Some models these days are older and a bit heavier than they were in years past. And there is a trend in the fashion world to emphasize the healthy body and healthy living rather than placing a premium on the emaciated look. Unfortunately, the value placed on the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.better-relationships.com/eating-disorders/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Why Self Care is So Important When Overcoming Addiction</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/why-self-care-is-so-important-when-overcoming-addiction/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/why-self-care-is-so-important-when-overcoming-addiction/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jul 2018 02:25:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ADDICTIONS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recovery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[addiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forgiveness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loneliness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[overcoming addicition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recovering from addiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recovery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self care]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4160</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Addiction is more than an annoyance or inconvenience. It sucks the life out of you and leaves you feeling drained. When trying to overcome an addiction this fact is even more exacerbated. That’s why self-care is so important for your recovery. Get Back to Basics When addiction has you in its grasps even the basics of self-care often get left behind. That’s because you are so focused on either being high or getting high. There’s just not much time left over to take care of yourself. For example, you may neglect such things as: Bathing and grooming Doing laundry Cleaning and maintaining your home If this sounds like you, it’s time to get back into a routine. Even something as basic as taking a shower and wash your hair thoroughly will be restorative. Do the basics you need to do in order to feel “normal” again. Make Sure You Get Enough Sleep For the addicted, sleep patterns get usually turned upside down. Your brain becomes hyper-focused on drugs or alcohol instead of sleep. Indeed, some drink just to be able to fall asleep at night. As part of your self-care routine create a sleep routine that includes: Going to bed at a reasonable hour consistently each night Setting the temperature in the bedroom at a level that is neither too hot or cold Removing any TV’s or other electronics from the bedroom Not checking your phone close to bedtime (in fact, just leave it outside the bedroom) Avoiding the use of caffeine or nicotine before bedtime Your body actually needs sleep in order to repair itself. If you are in recovery, this is especially important. Ensure You are Eating a Healthy Diet Nutrition is another important component of addiction recovery. Just like with sleep, your body needs to be able to repair itself from the damage caused by addiction. If you are putting junk food into your body, then it will have a harder time healing itself. Instead, make better food choices. For example, consider foods such as nutritious fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains. Try cooking for yourself. Cooking is [&#8230;]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.better-relationships.com/why-self-care-is-so-important-when-overcoming-addiction/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Overcoming Addiction – 6 Ways to Help Your Partner</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/overcoming-addiction-6-ways-to-help-your-partner/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/overcoming-addiction-6-ways-to-help-your-partner/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2018 22:34:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ADDICTIONS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ACA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[addicition support groups]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[addict]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[addiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Al-Anon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alateen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alcoholics Anonymous]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recovery]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4046</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Drugs, alcohol, porn, food, gambling—addictions run the gamut. And unless you suffer from one, it can be difficult to know what you’re up against. Use these five strategies to help your partner get their life back on track: 1. Acknowledge the Problem and Encourage Them to Get Help Many people are nervous to broach the subject of addiction with their loved ones, but it’s important to remember that you could very well be saving their life. When you do talk to your partner, make sure you’re coming from a loving place of concern, not a place of judgment. The first step in treating an addiction is identifying it. Early detection can make it easier to stop unhealthy behaviors before the addiction takes control. At the first sign of a problem, mention your concern to your partner. Communicating about what you see them doing can help both of you determine if their addictive behavior is their way of coping with a temporary problem you&#8217;re not aware of; or help them realize that they&#8217;re in danger of becoming an addict, or it can help them admit that they are in fact addicted. Remember, any step you take towards early detection is never a waste of time. Even if you&#8217;re wrong, you&#8217;re demonstrating to your partner how much you care about them and it&#8217;s unlikely that your partner will be angry. Before talking with your partner, it will be very helpful if you learn about addition treatment facilities and therapists who specialize in treating addiction in your area. Your partner will probably already feel scared and alone in their struggle so it will be helpful if you have a strategy in mind when you first talk with them. Don’t be discouraged if you learn that your partner has struggled with their addiction for longer than you thought &#8211; it’s never too late to begin helping somebody. 2. Be Understanding Each of us has our own flaws, problems, and struggles. Nobody is perfect. But unfortunately, this is the battle that your partner has to fight, alone. Research your partner’s addiction so you know what [&#8230;]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.better-relationships.com/overcoming-addiction-6-ways-to-help-your-partner/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hooked on Porn? 3 Ways Porn Addiction Affects Your Relationship</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/hooked-on-porn-3-ways-porn-addiction-affects-your-relationship/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/hooked-on-porn-3-ways-porn-addiction-affects-your-relationship/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Feb 2018 01:17:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ADDICTIONS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[INFIDELITY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Porn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIP THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[emotional affair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[infidelity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Porn Addiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sex]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3907</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Porn has become a household subject within the past few decades. While most people aren’t sitting around the dinner table discussing it in detail, we are more aware of its existence now than ever. In fact, many people have invited porn into their lives “just for fun.” Maybe you thought viewing a little action to “spice” up your own libido wouldn’t hurt anything. Now, you’re hooked. You can’t get enough. When you first started watching porn you may not have intended for this to happen. As life plays out, though, it’s easy to see that porn is anything but harmless to a romantic relationship. Ways Porn Addiction Affects Your Relationship 1. Decreases Sexual Satisfaction It may seem like an oxymoron to say that porn decreases sexual satisfaction. This is a reality for porn viewers, though. It may even be a reality for you. For example, watching porn can quickly alter your expectation of sex. Meaning, you don’t think or feel about sex the way that you once did. Your partner used to turn you on, but now arousal is difficult for you. Furthermore, porn viewers learn to expect something new each time. It could be a new scenario, new characters, or new angle. Your partner can start to seem boring to you because he or she isn’t anything “new.” Sadly, your partner may feel cheated by the fact that you choose to view porn over making love to him or her. This feeling of betrayal can quickly pull the two of you apart. If you don’t address the issue, then the gaping distance in your relationship will progressively grow larger and larger. This leads us to the next problem. 2. Decreases Intimacy Many people use intimacy and sex interchangeably. They aren’t the same, though. While intimacy can be sex and sex can be intimacy, it’s not automatic. Sex is, however, one of the deepest forms of intimacy. This notion is what porn twists. In short, when you make love you make love to a person. When you watch porn you watch sex organs. Porn has diminished both men and women [&#8230;]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.better-relationships.com/hooked-on-porn-3-ways-porn-addiction-affects-your-relationship/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Relationship Addiction</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/relationship-addiction/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/relationship-addiction/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2016 20:46:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ADDICTIONS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[addiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[boundaries in relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[falling in love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[love addict]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3275</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The experience of falling in love is one of life’s joys. It brings feelings of delight, passion, connection and hope for a happy future. It can lead to a lifetime of loving contentment. For some people, the “high” that comes from this experience is so compelling that they use it to fill the gaps in their lives, much as they might use a drug. Being in love, for them, can resemble an addiction and dealing with this effectively usually requires help form a professional therapist. Symptoms of Relationship Addiction: Premature Bonding Relationship addicts, also known as love addicts, have an overwhelming need to bond with someone. This goes beyond a healthy need to connect with others. Unfortunately, this need for an instant attachment tends to overwhelm other people and pushes them away. And it leads to poor decisions by the addict about whom to let into one’s life. Excessive Fantasies Throughout the course of a relationship, the addict spends a great deal of time thinking about the other person and fantasizing about how perfect things will be. If the relationship ends, the fantasy about getting together again may continue. While a healthy love relationship also involves fantasies, addictive fantasies have an obsessive quality about them. These fantasies tend to take over one’s day. The need to fantasize takes priority over socializing with others, work, taking care of normal daily routines &#8211; and at the extreme fantasies can become expectations that must come true. The Need for Excitement Addicts generally crave getting “high”. Relationship addicts see an ordinary relationship as boring because it lacks a sense of constant excitement. So relating for the addict involves creating drama. They might pick fights just to experience a rush of excitement. An ordinary argument becomes a war. They see reality in terms of their own needs, so they easily read between the lines – “No matter what she says, I know she really loves me.” A love addict doesn’t understand that a normal relationship involves a series of highs and lows and that in real life the lows do not mean that the relationship [&#8230;]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.better-relationships.com/relationship-addiction/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Dealing with Relapse</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/dealing-with-relapse/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/dealing-with-relapse/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Sep 2016 22:21:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ADDICTIONS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3095</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you have relapsed back into an old self-defeating behavior, there are two things you need to remember. First, whatever you accomplished in terms of lifestyle changes before you relapsed are still an important part of your future success.  Second, your relapse is also a part of your success. You do not have to start all over again. You have already made gains which are still valuable but you do need to make changes in order to continue succeeding. It is also important to understand that a relapse is not a failure. In fact, relapsing may well be a necessary part of the change process for some people. A relapse allows the person to re-examine his or her original motives for engaging in problematic behavior. Some of the strategies for maintaining the change process may need to be revisited and perhaps modified. A relapse gives the person a good opportunity to compare their new lifestyle with the old one and to make a renewed commitment to follow through with the changes. Some people relapse and then guilt or embarrassment takes hold. They become demoralized and feel that the struggle is not worth continuing. It is not helpful to engage in all-or-nothing thinking when a relapse occurs &#8211; that is, you are not either a success or a failure. It is important for you to understand that only about (20) % of people who try to make a life change actually succeed on their first try. It is unrealistic to think that you’ll get it right the first time around. If a relapse does occur (and we of course try to avoid a relapse, but we are all human), it is the perfect time for you to see a professional therapist for individual therapy or couples counseling so that you can work through the reasons why you went back to the old behavior. You may find that you were still vulnerable to some of the old triggers that set off the negative behavior. When you work with a therapist, new ways can be devised to deal with these triggers. Or you [&#8230;]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.better-relationships.com/dealing-with-relapse/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
