Understanding Addiction: Why It's So Hard to Break Free ?

When we talk about addiction, why is it so difficult to get free of it? Most people can drink socially, can drink on a weekend, but some just feel the need to keep on drinking until they're out of control, drunk, and unconscious.   What's the reason for that?

Imagine you're in a group of 5. Everyone's drinking, and you're in that group. Very likely you'll start drinking too. There are some people who, no matter how much they drink, will never become addicted. They'll drink on the weekends, and on the other 5 days of the week they're the ideal worker, husband, father, and family man. Alcohol just doesn't touch them. There is a large cohort of people who are genetically predisposed to addiction, though. If they try to do the same thing, they'll have problems. They'll drink on the weekends, and on the other 5 days they'll be suffering from cravings for alcohol. They'll be restless. They'll be plagued by the desire for alcohol, which will be completely disruptive to their studies, their work, and their family life. The only thing they'll be thinking about is when they're going to get their next drink, how they're going to get their next drink. Over time, they'll lose their job. Their marriages will break down. They'll be estranged from their family. Their children will suffer. That's another factor in the mix: you've got the genetic vulnerability, you've got the underlying mental health issues, and you've got being in the wrong company. The final one is that a lot of people get lost. They don't have a purpose. They don't have a direction. They don't know what they're going to do with their life. That's confusion. Once you have a goal, once you have motivation, once you know you're working for something bigger than yourself, then you can say no to the temptation of addiction because you know there's a higher purpose in life for you than just wasting your time.

PTSD- Trauma's Lingering Aftermath of a 9/11 Survivor

Many times, when we experience a life-threatening situation or a severe trauma, the suffering does not end with the trauma. The sequel of the trauma lingers for months and years. Around 15% of the people who survived the attack at the World Trade Center developed something called post-traumatic stress syndrome. One of the survivors who came to me for treatment narrated her story to me about how she survived the attack at the Twin Towers, but after she survived, she felt sad and depressed. She had nightmares of the traumatic event. She had flashbacks. She could not stay in New York City because it started reminding her of all the bad memories related to the trauma. Many of her friends and colleagues were in the Twin Towers, and they died. Over time, her mental health became worse, and she had to leave New York City. 

She got psychotherapy. She got counseling. When she came to me, she was still feeling depressive symptoms. She still had sleep issues and still has nightmares. I worked with her and adjusted some of the medication; she felt a little better. But the bigger point that I want to make is that trauma can have a long-term sequence. Many people who suffer from mental, emotional, sexual, or physical trauma can continue to suffer even after the trauma ends. Many evidence-based treatments are available for trauma; cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-focused psychotherapy, and EMDR therapy can all help. For severe traumatic symptoms, medications are beneficial. Depending on severity, medications like prazosin can be used for nightmares and sleep problems associated with the trauma. And if there are depressive symptoms associated with the trauma, antidepressants can help too. If you or your loved one has experienced severe trauma, do not hesitate to seek out help.

How to turn Pessimism into Optimism & Build a Positive Mindset

Over time, as we grow up, we get hurt, cheated, and betrayed; bad things happen, and people disappoint us.  Over time, we become cynical, judgmental, and pessimistic. So here are 2 exercises you can do to build a positive mindset and shift your thinking from pessimism to optimism. Every night before you go to sleep, try to think of one good thing that happened in your life that day. It is like recounting your gratitude. Whatever positive thing happened that day, try to think about it. It is best to write it down in what we call a gratitude journal. If you cannot think of anything positive that happened that day, think about something that happened yesterday or the day before. The goal is to build a habit of thinking about positive things, and your last thought before bed can also influence your unconscious thoughts and belief patterns.

9/11 Survivor's Miraculous Escape

 

9/11 Survivor's Miraculous Escape

A few years ago, a patient came to me who was one of the survivors of the 911 attack on the Twin Towers. She shared her story with me. Sue was working in the South Tower. She could see smoke coming from the North Tower through her window. Then she heard the blast.

She felt the building shake. She got scared. She got up from her desk, and she started to leave. She went to the stairs, and then she heard the announcement, which said, "Everybody, please go back to your desk. Remain in your office. Do not leave. This building is safe." But somehow she felt uneasy. She felt unsafe. She ignored the warning, and she started galloping down the stairs.  She was overweight. She was middle-aged. She had back pain, knee pain, but she did not stop.

She kept on climbing down the stairs one at a time. Sue told me that there was some voice, something deep inside her, that told her to leave the building, not to stay there anymore. In the middle, she met someone else who told her, "You go back to your office space. The building is safe. Do not try to come down." There was a lot of confusion. After the North Tower was hit, a Port Authority official told everyone not to leave the South Tower because they feared that if everyone started leaving and went down, debris from the North Tower would fall on them and hurt them.

Some went back, but she did not. She kept persevering. She kept taking the stairs one at a time, and when she came out into the open, she saw the sky. When she looked back, she saw that the South Tower, where she was working, had also been hit. Black smoke was coming out of the South Tower.  She kept moving as far as she could, running away from the building. This is one of the stories that moved me deeply.  Let me know in your comments below what you think happened. Was it divine providence, coincidence, or mere luck?

Alcohol Related Brain Damage Can reverse with Abstinence

 

Alcohol exposure during adolescence can harm developing brains. However, the brain's neuroplasticity allows it to heal. Abstinence can help damaged parts regrow. #BrainHealth #Neuroplasticity #AlcoholAwareness #BrainDevelopment

The human brain continues to grow from adolescence into the 30s. Any alcohol exposure, even in small amounts, during these formative years of brain development can negatively affect the brain. The human brain is also neuroplastic, and it can heal itself like any other part of the body. If someone is drinking alcohol daily and they stop drinking and go into abstinence, then some of the brain damage related to the alcohol can reverse. During abstinence, the brain can regrow the parts that were lost or damaged due to alcohol consumption.

About Panchajnaya Paul, MD Atlanta Evening Psychiatry

 Are you seeking support for mental health or psychiatric care? My name is Dr. Panchajanya Paul, and I welcome you to Atlanta Evening Psychiatry. I am triple board-certified in child psychiatry, adult psychiatry, and holistic medicine. 

 

I completed my fellowship training at Emory University and was recognized as a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. With more than 15 years of experience, I have treated over 10,000 patients with conditions including ADHD, major depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorders, sleep disorders, bipolar disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia, addiction, and trauma. I am also the author of two books: Sleep Coaching and Stress Rescue.

 

We are proud to be one of Georgia’s highest-reviewed psychiatry practices, with more than 500 five-star reviews on Google, Zocdoc, and WebMD. In 2026, our practice was ranked the No.1 psychiatric practice in Atlanta by BusinessRates.com. Patients value our compassionate, individualized care and holistic approach, which integrates thorough medication management with supplements, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes. 

 

At Atlanta Evening Psychiatry, we provide comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and medication management for children, adolescents, adults, and seniors, treating a wide range of mental health conditions. We are currently accepting new patients and can often schedule same-day or next-day appointments. We accept most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, and offer both in-person and telehealth visits. Evening and Saturday online appointments are also available for your convenience.

 

 To schedule an appointment, please call or text 678-851-3512 or email info@hpsych.org.

 

Atlanta Evening Psychiatry Panchajanya Paul Overview

Are you seeking support for mental health concerns? My name is Dr. Panch Paul, and I welcome you to Atlanta Evening Psychiatry. I am a double-board-certified child and adult psychiatrist trained at Emory University and a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. With over 15 years of experience, I have authored two books, Sleep Coaching and Stress Rescue. 

We provide comprehensive psychiatric medication management for children, adolescents, and adults, addressing conditions such as ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar, Psychosis, Trauma, and Addiction. Our personalized treatment plans include medication, supplements, problem-solving therapy, exercise, nutrition, and sleep. 

We are proud to be one of Georgia’s top-rated psychiatry practices, with over 500 five-star reviews on Google, Zocdoc, and WebMD. Patients appreciate our compassionate, individualized care. We accept most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, and offer both in-person and telehealth appointments. Evening and Saturday video appointments are available to accommodate your schedule. 

We are currently accepting new patients and can often provide same-day or next-day appointments. To schedule, please call or text 678-851-3512 or email info@hpsych.org.