The Clear Horizon

From oblivion of alcoholism into the light of sobriety

health

  • Anxiety, ADHD, alcohol, the prefrontal cortex, learning and the lizard Mode

    Are you familiar with the lizard mode? It is a concept introduced by one of my anti-aggression-coaches. No, not because I was aggressive, but it was a seminar about how to deal with aggressive behavior in youths. It is basically saying that once you are emotionally activated in such a way that all your rationale… Read more

  • Is catastrophising anxiety hyperfocus?

    Yes – and no. Catastrophising itself is not like a hyperfocus (to me). But what results as a means to counter or stop the vicious circle of catastrophic whirlwinds in my head is quite like it. Let me explain. Working with clients that suffer from either an addiction or a compulsive disorder/panic attacks/anxiety disorder or… Read more

  • Next up: Impulse Control

    Ah, yes. Impulse control. One of the functions that I can rely on worst in my neurodivergence. There are a lot of issues where this is a severe obstacle in my daily life and routines. And most of it is due to the lack of dopamine and noradrenaline when you mist need it. Then overwhelm… Read more

  • What if (a) I had no ADHD, (b) could rid myself of symptoms or (c) never had known about it?

    Long question, short answers? Possibly, since I want to start writing on a daily basis again. Not to build up reach, but to better sort out my ADHD and the correlation with substance abuse. So, let’s get into it. (a) Well, this one is obviously the most hard to answer and theoretical question at first… Read more

  • Figuring out motivation depletion and what helps – a deep dive (Kind of).

    I think I had been on this path earlier. But I also have written earlier, that I sometimes take up loose ends and closed cases, because the actual need may come to it or I have new insights. And since my ADHD brain is too impatient to roam through all my old posts, this is… Read more

  • Immersive Reading (or listening) experience

    Literature and philosophy in itself bear a lot of power to change. Likewise does exercising. Interestingly, I found a very immersive way of incorporating one way with the other to really get a full bodily appreciation of read passages from an audio book. The reason this is so meaningful is that the insights and memories… Read more

  • No alcohol doesn‘t help. But alcohol would only make it worse

    First off, let’s identify a couple of statuses (do you write it that way?) about emotional balance: #1: In times of emotional balance, or if my basic mood has a quiet tone, there is nothing that would want me to think about having a drop of alcohol. It has become an automatism not to drink… Read more

  • When is one brand good and another bad? And what does identity have to do with it?

    We all need to relate to something. But the thing is, everyone has their own way to relate to something, right? I used to love Glen*** Scotch Single Malt (which, sometimes, I miss dearly). But why is that? Why do I still miss the taste and feel of a Glen*** Scotch Single Malt with a… Read more

  • Defeating self expectations, or self defeating expectations?

    Here we go again. Seeing the logo of my podcast host service alone pushes up stress levels. Why is that so? Well, it’s all about motivation and in turn over exaggerated expectations generated by it. The problem arising is a recurring pattern in ADHD, enough to make a Cosmic Horror short story out of (and… Read more

  • Learning to love the Moment

    What’s keeping me sane, my self efficacy up and my soul stable? Correct. Good emotions and enough dopamine in a smooth and even distribution. Well, that’s the base line scenario to keep me in a mentally stable state. But, how to achieve it, broken down in terms of dealing with yesterday, today and tomorrow –… Read more