Friday, September 28, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Silent Killer: Emphysema
Silent Killer: Emphysema
By Peter Ville
Drowning in air? A paradox? Not really, with lungs filled with large pockets of air, its victims must gasp for life-giving oxygen. This is because waste air is not easily removed from the lungs allowing oxygen-rich air to replace it. More feared by cigarette smokers than lung cancer, Emphysema is yet little understood today. Its is one of the most destructive, yet least publicized lung diseases. This may be due in part to the fact that there have not been any dramatic treatment or prevention breakthroughs in man’s fight against emphysema.
Although cigarette smoking plays a key role in most cases of emphysema, Scientist have no idea what actually causes the majority of human cases. It is known, however, that smoking makes the condition much worse and speeds up the lung’s destruction.
Once the condition develops, it continues to worsen until there is permanent lung damage. By the time emphysema is detected, considerable damage has already occurred. For reasons not clearly understood, the walls of alveoli. The lung’s tiny air sacs, begin to disappear. Several sacs join together forming larger spaces, the alveoli walls lose their flexibility, and air is trapped.
As the damaged progresses, the lungs have greater difficulty in transferring oxygen to the blood and removing carbon dioxide from it. Once established, the disease cannot be reversed. Breathing becomes increasingly difficult and victim’s physical strength ebbs away. Death from emphysema has been described as slow drowning. Eventually exchange of air in the lungs becomes impossible and the sufferer suffocates.
There is also a rare inherited form of emphysema. In this form persons usually become ill at an early age in their 30s or 40s whereas classical emphysema victims are stricken at much older age, sometime in the late 60s or later. In the inherited form of disease, the effects are much more significant because it greatly restricts the victim’s life at a time when he would normally be very active. Because it is irreversible, the outlook for emphysema victims is not good.
Since it is sometimes possible to slow the spread of emphysema, it is important to detect it early, before much damage occurs. The breathing restriction imposed by the disease will likewise be minimized.
Until more about preventing emphysema is understood, everyone should be alert to the symptoms. Primarily excess sputum and shortness of breath. This is not normal and should be reported to your physician and above all, quit smoking or better yet, don’t start.
By Peter Ville
Drowning in air? A paradox? Not really, with lungs filled with large pockets of air, its victims must gasp for life-giving oxygen. This is because waste air is not easily removed from the lungs allowing oxygen-rich air to replace it. More feared by cigarette smokers than lung cancer, Emphysema is yet little understood today. Its is one of the most destructive, yet least publicized lung diseases. This may be due in part to the fact that there have not been any dramatic treatment or prevention breakthroughs in man’s fight against emphysema.
Although cigarette smoking plays a key role in most cases of emphysema, Scientist have no idea what actually causes the majority of human cases. It is known, however, that smoking makes the condition much worse and speeds up the lung’s destruction.
Once the condition develops, it continues to worsen until there is permanent lung damage. By the time emphysema is detected, considerable damage has already occurred. For reasons not clearly understood, the walls of alveoli. The lung’s tiny air sacs, begin to disappear. Several sacs join together forming larger spaces, the alveoli walls lose their flexibility, and air is trapped.
As the damaged progresses, the lungs have greater difficulty in transferring oxygen to the blood and removing carbon dioxide from it. Once established, the disease cannot be reversed. Breathing becomes increasingly difficult and victim’s physical strength ebbs away. Death from emphysema has been described as slow drowning. Eventually exchange of air in the lungs becomes impossible and the sufferer suffocates.
There is also a rare inherited form of emphysema. In this form persons usually become ill at an early age in their 30s or 40s whereas classical emphysema victims are stricken at much older age, sometime in the late 60s or later. In the inherited form of disease, the effects are much more significant because it greatly restricts the victim’s life at a time when he would normally be very active. Because it is irreversible, the outlook for emphysema victims is not good.
Since it is sometimes possible to slow the spread of emphysema, it is important to detect it early, before much damage occurs. The breathing restriction imposed by the disease will likewise be minimized.
Until more about preventing emphysema is understood, everyone should be alert to the symptoms. Primarily excess sputum and shortness of breath. This is not normal and should be reported to your physician and above all, quit smoking or better yet, don’t start.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Life Threatening Illness: 5 Steps to Reignite the Burning Flame of Hope that Lies Within You
Life Threatening Illness: 5 Steps to Reignite the Burning Flame of Hope that Lies Within You
By Larry Smith
Do you dread the thought of waking up to live another day in pain and misery?
Do you feel thoroughly defeated, abandoned and without hope?
Do you feel like no one, not your doctor, not your family, not your best friend, truly understands what you are going through?
If you conscientiously and faithfully follow these five steps you can absolutely and confidently turn tragedy into triumph!
1. Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst and Expect the Unexpected:
Good things will happen if you expect them to happen. A positive attitude attracts positive energy and optimistic people. Likewise, a negative attitude attracts negative energy and pessimistic people. However you should always plan for the possibility of adverse events. If they do happen you will be ready for them. By expecting the unexpected, you will always be prepared!
2. You Don’t Have to do it Alone:
It is practically impossible to recover from a life threatening illness all by yourself. As human beings, we need each other to survive. If you surround yourself with a strong support network, you will always have somebody there for you in times of need. There will be plenty of “low” times in your recovery and you must learn how to handle these tough situations. Ask for help! You don’t have to do it alone
3. Use Your Resources:
Who is going to help you recover from your life threatening illness? There are many health care professionals who can help you. Don’t limit yourself to what your insurance covers. Any treatment that helps you recover from a life threatening illness is well worth the out of pocket expense! Here is a small list of health care options that you should consider:
• Medical Care
• Chiropractic Care
• Massage Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Acupuncture
• Naturopathy
• Herbalists
• Occupational Therapy
• Psychotherapy and Counseling
• Pastoral Counseling
• Nutritional Counseling
• Alternative Cancer therapies
• Holistic Healers
• Homeopathic Healing
4. Acceptance:
If you are having a difficult time accepting your current circumstances, you are not alone. Read the following statement over and over until you “get it.”
“Unless I accept life completely on life’s terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and my attitudes. "(AA Big Book 3rd ed. P. 449)
5. One Step at a Time One Day at a Time
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. (Confucius)
If you are recovering from the devastating effects of a life threatening illness, it is very easy to become overwhelmed each and every day. Nobody is asking you to climb a mountain today. Just take action by taking 1 small, simple step forward.
There is meaning in your suffering.
If you hang in there long enough, you will experience a peace and joy that transcends all understanding. Wait for the miracle to happen…
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” (Dr. Elisabeth Kubler- Ross)
Dr. Larry Smith Chiropractor and Author of:
Embrace the Journey of Recovery: From Tragedy to Triumph! and co-author of:
Inside the Minds: The Art and Science of Sports Medicine
Embrace the Journey of Recovery will passionately reignite your spirit and teach you how to confront, conquer and powerfully triumph over any life threatening illness! Experience the remarkable story of two courageous yet ordinary individuals and their astonishing recoveries from heartbreaking tragedy. The message is simple. They transformed their lives and you can too!
By Larry Smith
Do you dread the thought of waking up to live another day in pain and misery?
Do you feel thoroughly defeated, abandoned and without hope?
Do you feel like no one, not your doctor, not your family, not your best friend, truly understands what you are going through?
If you conscientiously and faithfully follow these five steps you can absolutely and confidently turn tragedy into triumph!
1. Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst and Expect the Unexpected:
Good things will happen if you expect them to happen. A positive attitude attracts positive energy and optimistic people. Likewise, a negative attitude attracts negative energy and pessimistic people. However you should always plan for the possibility of adverse events. If they do happen you will be ready for them. By expecting the unexpected, you will always be prepared!
2. You Don’t Have to do it Alone:
It is practically impossible to recover from a life threatening illness all by yourself. As human beings, we need each other to survive. If you surround yourself with a strong support network, you will always have somebody there for you in times of need. There will be plenty of “low” times in your recovery and you must learn how to handle these tough situations. Ask for help! You don’t have to do it alone
3. Use Your Resources:
Who is going to help you recover from your life threatening illness? There are many health care professionals who can help you. Don’t limit yourself to what your insurance covers. Any treatment that helps you recover from a life threatening illness is well worth the out of pocket expense! Here is a small list of health care options that you should consider:
• Medical Care
• Chiropractic Care
• Massage Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Acupuncture
• Naturopathy
• Herbalists
• Occupational Therapy
• Psychotherapy and Counseling
• Pastoral Counseling
• Nutritional Counseling
• Alternative Cancer therapies
• Holistic Healers
• Homeopathic Healing
4. Acceptance:
If you are having a difficult time accepting your current circumstances, you are not alone. Read the following statement over and over until you “get it.”
“Unless I accept life completely on life’s terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and my attitudes. "(AA Big Book 3rd ed. P. 449)
5. One Step at a Time One Day at a Time
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. (Confucius)
If you are recovering from the devastating effects of a life threatening illness, it is very easy to become overwhelmed each and every day. Nobody is asking you to climb a mountain today. Just take action by taking 1 small, simple step forward.
There is meaning in your suffering.
If you hang in there long enough, you will experience a peace and joy that transcends all understanding. Wait for the miracle to happen…
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” (Dr. Elisabeth Kubler- Ross)
Dr. Larry Smith Chiropractor and Author of:
Embrace the Journey of Recovery: From Tragedy to Triumph! and co-author of:
Inside the Minds: The Art and Science of Sports Medicine
Embrace the Journey of Recovery will passionately reignite your spirit and teach you how to confront, conquer and powerfully triumph over any life threatening illness! Experience the remarkable story of two courageous yet ordinary individuals and their astonishing recoveries from heartbreaking tragedy. The message is simple. They transformed their lives and you can too!
Addiction Recovery: Five Ways You can Fight the Addiction Stigma and Regain Control of Your Life:
Addiction Recovery: Five Ways You can Fight the Addiction Stigma and Regain Control of Your Life:
By Larry Smith
Many people who suffer from addiction (chemical dependency) continue to believe it is dishonorable to be addicted. They attempt to conceal, minimize or deny it. It is quite apparent that people suffering from mental illness and addiction fight not only the disease but the stigma attached to the disease.
Denial to admit the severity of the problem and fear of social embarrassment are two major reasons for not seeking help with alcohol and drug addiction. It seems that the majority of the general public believes that addiction is caused, at least in part, by moral weakness.
Here are 5 simple steps you can take to fight the addiction stigma and regain control of your life:
1. The truth lay in the Facts; Not Public Opinion
The American Medical Association has recognized alcoholism as a disease since 1956. Whether or not society thinks it is a disease or not, alcohol abuse causes over 100,000 deaths in the United States and Canada each year. (A conservative estimate to say the least) “It is time for people in recovery to help change the way society views addiction. Let them know that addiction is a disease and that treatment works.” (William C. Moyers)
2. Acceptance
Acceptance is the decisive key to help you fight the stigma of addiction. Read over the following quotes and put them into practice immediately!
Accepting does not necessarily mean 'liking,' 'enjoying,' or 'condoning.' I can accept what is—and be determined to evolve from there. It is not acceptance but denial that leaves me stuck." (Nathaniel Branden, American psychologist)
When you're a beautiful person on the inside, there is nothing in the world that can change that about you. Jealousy is the result of one's lack of self-confidence, self-worth, and self-acceptance. The Lesson: If you can't accept yourself, then certainly no one else will.” (Sasha Azevedo)
3. Read Stories of Hope and triumph over adversity
It is an absolutely powerful experience to observe somebody with a similar affliction triumph over adversity and turn tragedy into triumph. There are countless examples of persons recovering from addiction that are now hailed and proclaimed as heroes. Keep your mind, body and spirit focused on what is possible. Do whatever it takes to keep moving forward by taking action. Read stories of hope and triumph over adversity on a regular basis and reignite the burning spirit of hope that lays within you!
4. Help Others:
Every single person on this planet has challenges. Each one of us has the potential to help another person with his challenges. It is an absolute gift to know that your actions have helped somebody else face and overcome a challenge. The greatest gift you can give another person suffering from addiction is to share your experience, strength and hope. By helping others, you not only help them but you also help yourself.
5. Count Your Blessings
“I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street;
I met a man who had no feet.” (Ancient Persian Saying)
Can you recall a horrendous experience that helped you to develop new skills or abilities? Perhaps the horrendous experience pushed you to develop the incredible resources and powers that were lying dormant and untapped within you.
I recently heard the story of a courageous man recovering from addiction who was also challenged with a speech impediment (stuttering). He was very grateful to be clean and sober but still humiliated to speak in public. His deep sense of gratitude for what he already had allowed him to overcome his speaking challenge! Today, he speaks in front of thousands of people on a regular basis with only a slight stammer.
There is without exception somebody else who has bigger problems than you. Be vigilant and take stock of what you have on a daily basis. Be grateful for what you have and you will be given more. However, if you are not grateful for what you already have, it shall be taken away from you.
Overcoming addiction is not an easy process. However, it is possible to recover from addiction by applying the above principles to your daily life. Be grateful for what you have and take action now!
By Larry Smith
Many people who suffer from addiction (chemical dependency) continue to believe it is dishonorable to be addicted. They attempt to conceal, minimize or deny it. It is quite apparent that people suffering from mental illness and addiction fight not only the disease but the stigma attached to the disease.
Denial to admit the severity of the problem and fear of social embarrassment are two major reasons for not seeking help with alcohol and drug addiction. It seems that the majority of the general public believes that addiction is caused, at least in part, by moral weakness.
Here are 5 simple steps you can take to fight the addiction stigma and regain control of your life:
1. The truth lay in the Facts; Not Public Opinion
The American Medical Association has recognized alcoholism as a disease since 1956. Whether or not society thinks it is a disease or not, alcohol abuse causes over 100,000 deaths in the United States and Canada each year. (A conservative estimate to say the least) “It is time for people in recovery to help change the way society views addiction. Let them know that addiction is a disease and that treatment works.” (William C. Moyers)
2. Acceptance
Acceptance is the decisive key to help you fight the stigma of addiction. Read over the following quotes and put them into practice immediately!
Accepting does not necessarily mean 'liking,' 'enjoying,' or 'condoning.' I can accept what is—and be determined to evolve from there. It is not acceptance but denial that leaves me stuck." (Nathaniel Branden, American psychologist)
When you're a beautiful person on the inside, there is nothing in the world that can change that about you. Jealousy is the result of one's lack of self-confidence, self-worth, and self-acceptance. The Lesson: If you can't accept yourself, then certainly no one else will.” (Sasha Azevedo)
3. Read Stories of Hope and triumph over adversity
It is an absolutely powerful experience to observe somebody with a similar affliction triumph over adversity and turn tragedy into triumph. There are countless examples of persons recovering from addiction that are now hailed and proclaimed as heroes. Keep your mind, body and spirit focused on what is possible. Do whatever it takes to keep moving forward by taking action. Read stories of hope and triumph over adversity on a regular basis and reignite the burning spirit of hope that lays within you!
4. Help Others:
Every single person on this planet has challenges. Each one of us has the potential to help another person with his challenges. It is an absolute gift to know that your actions have helped somebody else face and overcome a challenge. The greatest gift you can give another person suffering from addiction is to share your experience, strength and hope. By helping others, you not only help them but you also help yourself.
5. Count Your Blessings
“I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street;
I met a man who had no feet.” (Ancient Persian Saying)
Can you recall a horrendous experience that helped you to develop new skills or abilities? Perhaps the horrendous experience pushed you to develop the incredible resources and powers that were lying dormant and untapped within you.
I recently heard the story of a courageous man recovering from addiction who was also challenged with a speech impediment (stuttering). He was very grateful to be clean and sober but still humiliated to speak in public. His deep sense of gratitude for what he already had allowed him to overcome his speaking challenge! Today, he speaks in front of thousands of people on a regular basis with only a slight stammer.
There is without exception somebody else who has bigger problems than you. Be vigilant and take stock of what you have on a daily basis. Be grateful for what you have and you will be given more. However, if you are not grateful for what you already have, it shall be taken away from you.
Overcoming addiction is not an easy process. However, it is possible to recover from addiction by applying the above principles to your daily life. Be grateful for what you have and take action now!
Addiction Treatment: Seven Steps to a Powerful Support Network
Addiction Treatment: Seven Steps to a Powerful Support Network
By Larry Smith
If you are recovering from addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling or sex it is imperative to develop a strong support network. A support network may consists of (but is not limited to) your health professionals, sponsor, family members, 12 step group and spiritual advisor. Here are 7 tips to get you started on your healing journey.
1. Make sure your Health Professionals are Knowledgeable about Addiction
Is your primary care provider trained in addiction medicine? Does he treat many people for addiction related health concerns? Unfortunately it is still quite common for a well intentioned practitioner to prescribe mood altering chemicals and narcotics to an addicted person. Remember that there are usually several other effective and safer treatment options. Ask your doctor how he will treat you if you present with severe pain, anxiety and other such conditions.
2. Make sure Family Members are Supportive but not Enabling
It is crucial that your family understands and supports your aftercare plan. An aftercare plan is a list of tasks performed on a daily basis to help you recover from your addiction. Appropriate family support includes anything that will help you follow your aftercare plan. Your family should encourage you to attend your meetings, call your sponsor, eat healthy and exercise. However, it is not their responsibility to cover up for your mistakes, omissions or absence from meetings. They have every right to and should point out and call you on inappropriate behavior. Remember that your goal is to develop a new life with healthy practices to replace your old addictive behaviors.
3. Choose your Sponsor Carefully
A good sponsor is worth his or her weight in gold. You are going to have many low points and dilemmas in your early recovery. There is no way around it. A good sponsor will help you though these rough periods by drawing upon the experiences of his own recovery. How long has your sponsor been addiction free? Does he lead a healthy and balanced life? Are you compatible? Both the sponsor and sponsee should have a clear understanding of what they expect from each other right from the beginning.
There is an old saying from an AA sponsor that says it all.
“Don’t take that 1st drink and I promise I’ll stay with you to hell and back. But don’t bother calling me when your drunk and you can go to hell alone.”
4. Try Several Support Group Meetings
Twelve step meetings and support group meetings range in value from poor to excellent. The only way you can truly find out is by attending and experiencing a wide array of meetings. Twelve step meetings such as AA, NA and GA have various formats and are usually run by a volunteer chairperson. It is important that you consider such factors as meeting size, time and location. However, it is more important to evaluate how the meeting “feels.” Was there an opportunity for you to share your comments and concerns? Was there good chemistry? Did you feel connected? Was there adequate time to socialize before and after the meeting? Finding the right support group meetings is essential in developing a strong support network.
5. Have Patience and Tolerance
Remember that you are embarking upon a very long and difficult journey. Recovery from addiction is not easy and requires tremendous patience and tolerance. Attempt to be gentle with yourself and with your friends in recovery. The true joy of recovery is in the fellowship and camaraderie. Be honest, be a friend and be committed to your recovery. Nobody ever said it would be easy.
6. Seek out those who are Successful in their own Addiction Recovery
Always be respectful of each person in your recovery circle, but try to hang around with the winners. Who is talking the talk and walking the walk? Find out what the winners do to keep addiction free. They will be more than happy to share their successes and their challenges.
7. You Cannot Do It On Your Own:
It is true that you are 100% responsible for your own recovery. However, it is absolutely futile to attempt to recover on your own. I have read a few alternate addiction recovery programs who take tremendous pride in “bashing” the 12 step movement. They claim that meetings and a belief in a higher power are disempowering and promote an unhealthy and unnecessary dependence on a group.
Have you ever listened to the most successful athletes in the world accepting an award for outstanding achievement?
They always thank their coach, teammates, trainers, God, doctors and family! Their success was due to a total team effort. If the most successful athletes in the world need support, do you think it is possible to recover from addiction all by yourself?
Recovering from the disease of addiction is a monumental task that requires time, persistence and determination. Success does not come overnight but by taking small steps forward on a daily basis. Remember that you do not have to do it alone. Help is just a phone call or a meeting away. Use your resources wisely and develop a solid Support network.
Dr. Larry Smith Chiropractor and Author of:
Embrace the Journey of Recovery: From Tragedy to Triumph! and co-author of:
Inside the Minds: The Art and Science of Sports Medicine
Embrace the Journey of Recovery will passionately reignite your spirit and teach you how to confront, conquer and powerfully triumph over any life threatening illness! Experience the remarkable story of two courageous yet ordinary individuals and their astonishing recoveries from heartbreaking tragedy. The message is simple. They transformed their lives and you can too!
By Larry Smith
If you are recovering from addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling or sex it is imperative to develop a strong support network. A support network may consists of (but is not limited to) your health professionals, sponsor, family members, 12 step group and spiritual advisor. Here are 7 tips to get you started on your healing journey.
1. Make sure your Health Professionals are Knowledgeable about Addiction
Is your primary care provider trained in addiction medicine? Does he treat many people for addiction related health concerns? Unfortunately it is still quite common for a well intentioned practitioner to prescribe mood altering chemicals and narcotics to an addicted person. Remember that there are usually several other effective and safer treatment options. Ask your doctor how he will treat you if you present with severe pain, anxiety and other such conditions.
2. Make sure Family Members are Supportive but not Enabling
It is crucial that your family understands and supports your aftercare plan. An aftercare plan is a list of tasks performed on a daily basis to help you recover from your addiction. Appropriate family support includes anything that will help you follow your aftercare plan. Your family should encourage you to attend your meetings, call your sponsor, eat healthy and exercise. However, it is not their responsibility to cover up for your mistakes, omissions or absence from meetings. They have every right to and should point out and call you on inappropriate behavior. Remember that your goal is to develop a new life with healthy practices to replace your old addictive behaviors.
3. Choose your Sponsor Carefully
A good sponsor is worth his or her weight in gold. You are going to have many low points and dilemmas in your early recovery. There is no way around it. A good sponsor will help you though these rough periods by drawing upon the experiences of his own recovery. How long has your sponsor been addiction free? Does he lead a healthy and balanced life? Are you compatible? Both the sponsor and sponsee should have a clear understanding of what they expect from each other right from the beginning.
There is an old saying from an AA sponsor that says it all.
“Don’t take that 1st drink and I promise I’ll stay with you to hell and back. But don’t bother calling me when your drunk and you can go to hell alone.”
4. Try Several Support Group Meetings
Twelve step meetings and support group meetings range in value from poor to excellent. The only way you can truly find out is by attending and experiencing a wide array of meetings. Twelve step meetings such as AA, NA and GA have various formats and are usually run by a volunteer chairperson. It is important that you consider such factors as meeting size, time and location. However, it is more important to evaluate how the meeting “feels.” Was there an opportunity for you to share your comments and concerns? Was there good chemistry? Did you feel connected? Was there adequate time to socialize before and after the meeting? Finding the right support group meetings is essential in developing a strong support network.
5. Have Patience and Tolerance
Remember that you are embarking upon a very long and difficult journey. Recovery from addiction is not easy and requires tremendous patience and tolerance. Attempt to be gentle with yourself and with your friends in recovery. The true joy of recovery is in the fellowship and camaraderie. Be honest, be a friend and be committed to your recovery. Nobody ever said it would be easy.
6. Seek out those who are Successful in their own Addiction Recovery
Always be respectful of each person in your recovery circle, but try to hang around with the winners. Who is talking the talk and walking the walk? Find out what the winners do to keep addiction free. They will be more than happy to share their successes and their challenges.
7. You Cannot Do It On Your Own:
It is true that you are 100% responsible for your own recovery. However, it is absolutely futile to attempt to recover on your own. I have read a few alternate addiction recovery programs who take tremendous pride in “bashing” the 12 step movement. They claim that meetings and a belief in a higher power are disempowering and promote an unhealthy and unnecessary dependence on a group.
Have you ever listened to the most successful athletes in the world accepting an award for outstanding achievement?
They always thank their coach, teammates, trainers, God, doctors and family! Their success was due to a total team effort. If the most successful athletes in the world need support, do you think it is possible to recover from addiction all by yourself?
Recovering from the disease of addiction is a monumental task that requires time, persistence and determination. Success does not come overnight but by taking small steps forward on a daily basis. Remember that you do not have to do it alone. Help is just a phone call or a meeting away. Use your resources wisely and develop a solid Support network.
Dr. Larry Smith Chiropractor and Author of:
Embrace the Journey of Recovery: From Tragedy to Triumph! and co-author of:
Inside the Minds: The Art and Science of Sports Medicine
Embrace the Journey of Recovery will passionately reignite your spirit and teach you how to confront, conquer and powerfully triumph over any life threatening illness! Experience the remarkable story of two courageous yet ordinary individuals and their astonishing recoveries from heartbreaking tragedy. The message is simple. They transformed their lives and you can too!
Alcoholism Recovery: 12 Steps to Stay Sober Over the Christmas Holidays:
Alcoholism Recovery: 12 Steps to Stay Sober Over the Christmas Holidays:
By Larry Smith
One of the most difficult times of the year for those recovering from alcoholism is the Christmas holidays. If you find yourself struggling during the Christmas season, please remember that you are not alone. Help is only a phone call or a meeting away! Here are some helpful and practical tips to keep you from taking that first drink.
1. Plan Each and Every Day of Your Holiday
Plan to spend the majority of your time with friends and family who are supportive of your recovery. If you are required to be present for a social gathering where alcohol is being served, bring a fellow AA member with you. Plan fun events and outings to replace your old drinking rituals.
2. Find an “Alkathon” in Your Area
During the Christmas season, some AA groups hold a marathon of meetings called an “Alkathon.” It is a time when the members of Alcoholics Anonymous gather together to celebrate their recovery from alcohol addiction. Many AA groups have meetings on the hour every hour to share their experience, strength and hope. If you are a member of the fellowship or think that you might have a problem with alcohol, you are welcome to attend. Check the local papers for an “Alkathon” in your area.
3. Ask for Support from Your Family and Friends
Those who are truly supportive of your recovery will be happy to help you throughout the holidays. Be up front and tell them your concerns.
4. Have a List of at Least Ten People you can call if you feel the Urge to Drink
Make a list and check it twice. Carry your cell phone and your list of names at all times. The urge to drink is very powerful and can happen at any time.
5. Don’t Forget about Regular Exercise
Regular exercise is an essential component of any balanced recovery program. If you have extra time on your hands, it is a great idea to get out and exercise. Examples include running, skating, cross country skiing, stretching, yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates or water aerobics. Instead of napping on the couch after dinner, go for a walk around the block.
6. Stay Away from Slippery Places
There is absolutely no reason to ever check out your former favorite drinking establishments. It is very likely that your old drinking buddies are still there and are still telling the same old stories.
7. Create New Traditions to replace your Old Drinking Patterns
Try something totally different during the holidays. Buy a new board game; take the family on a sleigh ride; prepare a family power point presentation. Use you imagination, be creative and have fun.
8. Write out a Daily Gratitude List
The quickest cure to get you out of the holiday blues is by counting your blessings. Be grateful for what you have by writing out a gratitude list every morning. Don’t stop writing until you have at least 10 items on your list.
9. Volunteer your Services to a Charitable Organization
There are many people in your community who are homeless and hungry. Why not volunteer to work at a soup kitchen or at a special Christmas dinner for those less fortunate than you? You will be helping not only the needy but yourself!
10. Write a Letter to yourself. How I Stayed Sober over Christmas.
The act of writing your ideas on paper is very powerful. Write down all the activities and events that will help you have healthy happy sober Christmas. Now take action on them and make this letter come true!
11. Avoid H.A.L.T.
H.A.L.T. stands for:
• Hungry
• Angry
• Lonely
• Tired
There are very simple solutions for all of the above items. If you are hungry, get something to eat. If you are angry, talk to somebody about it. If you are lonely, go to a meeting or call a friend. If you are tired, get a good night’s sleep.
12. Live One Day at a time and Enjoy your Sobriety!
Stay in the moment. Have present time consciousness. Be in the now. These are all different ways of telling you to live 1 day at a time. Never mind about what happened or what could happen. Enjoy today. Live today. Celebrate your sobriety!
If you follow these simple steps, it is totally feasible to stay sober over the Christmas Holidays. Take action now! Print out this article and plan a Happy and Healthy holiday season.
By Larry Smith
One of the most difficult times of the year for those recovering from alcoholism is the Christmas holidays. If you find yourself struggling during the Christmas season, please remember that you are not alone. Help is only a phone call or a meeting away! Here are some helpful and practical tips to keep you from taking that first drink.
1. Plan Each and Every Day of Your Holiday
Plan to spend the majority of your time with friends and family who are supportive of your recovery. If you are required to be present for a social gathering where alcohol is being served, bring a fellow AA member with you. Plan fun events and outings to replace your old drinking rituals.
2. Find an “Alkathon” in Your Area
During the Christmas season, some AA groups hold a marathon of meetings called an “Alkathon.” It is a time when the members of Alcoholics Anonymous gather together to celebrate their recovery from alcohol addiction. Many AA groups have meetings on the hour every hour to share their experience, strength and hope. If you are a member of the fellowship or think that you might have a problem with alcohol, you are welcome to attend. Check the local papers for an “Alkathon” in your area.
3. Ask for Support from Your Family and Friends
Those who are truly supportive of your recovery will be happy to help you throughout the holidays. Be up front and tell them your concerns.
4. Have a List of at Least Ten People you can call if you feel the Urge to Drink
Make a list and check it twice. Carry your cell phone and your list of names at all times. The urge to drink is very powerful and can happen at any time.
5. Don’t Forget about Regular Exercise
Regular exercise is an essential component of any balanced recovery program. If you have extra time on your hands, it is a great idea to get out and exercise. Examples include running, skating, cross country skiing, stretching, yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates or water aerobics. Instead of napping on the couch after dinner, go for a walk around the block.
6. Stay Away from Slippery Places
There is absolutely no reason to ever check out your former favorite drinking establishments. It is very likely that your old drinking buddies are still there and are still telling the same old stories.
7. Create New Traditions to replace your Old Drinking Patterns
Try something totally different during the holidays. Buy a new board game; take the family on a sleigh ride; prepare a family power point presentation. Use you imagination, be creative and have fun.
8. Write out a Daily Gratitude List
The quickest cure to get you out of the holiday blues is by counting your blessings. Be grateful for what you have by writing out a gratitude list every morning. Don’t stop writing until you have at least 10 items on your list.
9. Volunteer your Services to a Charitable Organization
There are many people in your community who are homeless and hungry. Why not volunteer to work at a soup kitchen or at a special Christmas dinner for those less fortunate than you? You will be helping not only the needy but yourself!
10. Write a Letter to yourself. How I Stayed Sober over Christmas.
The act of writing your ideas on paper is very powerful. Write down all the activities and events that will help you have healthy happy sober Christmas. Now take action on them and make this letter come true!
11. Avoid H.A.L.T.
H.A.L.T. stands for:
• Hungry
• Angry
• Lonely
• Tired
There are very simple solutions for all of the above items. If you are hungry, get something to eat. If you are angry, talk to somebody about it. If you are lonely, go to a meeting or call a friend. If you are tired, get a good night’s sleep.
12. Live One Day at a time and Enjoy your Sobriety!
Stay in the moment. Have present time consciousness. Be in the now. These are all different ways of telling you to live 1 day at a time. Never mind about what happened or what could happen. Enjoy today. Live today. Celebrate your sobriety!
If you follow these simple steps, it is totally feasible to stay sober over the Christmas Holidays. Take action now! Print out this article and plan a Happy and Healthy holiday season.
How To Help Yourself Find Freedom from Alcoholism and/or Drug Addiction
How To Help Yourself Find Freedom from Alcoholism and/or Drug Addiction
By Carl-Peter Lehmann
What is the Secret Formula to recover and free yourself from alcoholism or drug addiction?
In fact it's not really a secret at all. You've simply forgotten. And that is to remember WHO YOU REALLY ARE.
And who might that be?
That you are first and foremost a spirit (soul, call it what you like) being who has chosen a human experience to further your spiritual development and evolution.
And as a spirit being, your essence is pure love, light and freedom. You just have to look at a newborn baby to get a sense of that.
Problem is, the human experience does everything but help you remember that. The collective consciousness of society as a whole breeds fear and doubt - and together with being conditioned to think and act like everyone around you; you therefore forget your true nature.
So what's this got to do with Alcoholism and Drug Addiction?
Living in a 3-dimensional reality, i.e. body, mind and spirit, all this fear and doubt which you inevitably adopt as your own, means that instead of these 3 dimensions of yourself combining to radiate wholeness, you begin to reflect dis-ease.
This dis-ease may begin to manifest subtly as a form of stress or disharmony, but pretty soon if these warning signs aren't addressed, it will turn into full blown illnesses, which can be anything from cancers to heart attacks to alcoholism, drug addiction, or even combinations of these.
So the secret to overcoming these isn't to look for the latest in medical technology as your saviour (of course this shouldn't be totally ignored and still has a very important role to play), but to remember your true nature, your very essence, and realign with that.
You read stories all the time from people who have overcome the worst illnesses like cancer, where they haven't been given a chance to live by those in the know in the medical profession, to having completely healed themselves totally naturally. (Two great and well-known books to read by people who have done this are You Can Heal Your Life – Louise Hay and The Journey – Brandon Bays.)
Because by again making whole what you've temporarily 'broken' and getting body, mind and spirit in alignment again, will mean that any form of dis-ease simply won't be able to survive in your body. You will radiate your essence – love, light and freedom – and alcoholism, drug addiction or any other form of dis-ease will be banished from your body forever.
(Now I know there are many of you who will reject what I'm saying because it has no scientific basis and it doesn't make sense to your rational, thinking mind. That's fine. I'm not trying to prove a point or win any arguments. Choose to believe what you will.)
I also don't buy into the belief that many alcoholics and addicts in recovery choose to adopt, which is you always will be an addict or alcoholic and are thus only ever in recovery from your addiction.
Look, if that's an attitude that works for you, that's fine. Because ultimately use what works.
But for me that's an attitude that comes from fear, and since I don't believe fear is our true nature, I choose to believe differently. I believe our true nature is love and thus our aim should be to free ourselves from all dis-ease, including alcoholism and drug addiction.
Of course that isn't easy, but that's the work we were put here to do. That's our purpose, to remember who we really are and reconnect with our true essence. There are many people who have done it in the past like Jesus and Buddha – and there are many less well-known people who continue to do so today. Should we not aspire to be like them? Jesus put it beautifully – 'What I can do, you can do – and more.'
So on a practical level how can you begin doing that?
See your body as a temple and stop polluting it with all the crap you consume on a daily basis – obviously drugs and alcohol is a good place to startJ, but you can take that much further to include processed, dead, non-natural/non-chemicalized foods.
Try eating mostly raw, live organic foods and liquids for a month. See how you feel? I promise you, you'll feel like a totally brand, new person. Sure, have an 'off' day once a week, but stick to eating that way for the rest of the month. You won't look back, I guarantee you. Oh, and some form of exercise once in a while like a brisk walk won't hurt either.
To harmonize your mind, revamp your thinking. Begin to train your mind and watch your thoughts rather than have them run around on you like scattered machine gun bullets. Is this easy? Absolutely not! But changing your thinking so that the majority of your thoughts begin to reflect peace and harmony rather than fear and doubt is probably the hardest, yet most rewarding job you'll have while you're alive. Remember, I've said this before – your outer world is simply a reflection of your inner world.
To make this easier and to harmonize mind and spirit, begin to practice meditation. Practising the art of meditation is the biggest gift you can ever give yourself and is the secret to lasting happiness, peace and harmony. It will help you break through years of negative conditioning, and lousy thinking habits, but more importantly help you get back and reconnect with your true, loving essence - and with a bit of luck you may even reach full enlightenment like a Jesus or Buddha J
Alcoholism and Drug Addiction aren't part of the real you. Dedicate yourself to leaving them behind you for good. For me, they were a blessing because they forced me to re-look at myself and helped me reconnect with my true nature. Maybe they can do the same for you.
By Carl-Peter Lehmann
What is the Secret Formula to recover and free yourself from alcoholism or drug addiction?
In fact it's not really a secret at all. You've simply forgotten. And that is to remember WHO YOU REALLY ARE.
And who might that be?
That you are first and foremost a spirit (soul, call it what you like) being who has chosen a human experience to further your spiritual development and evolution.
And as a spirit being, your essence is pure love, light and freedom. You just have to look at a newborn baby to get a sense of that.
Problem is, the human experience does everything but help you remember that. The collective consciousness of society as a whole breeds fear and doubt - and together with being conditioned to think and act like everyone around you; you therefore forget your true nature.
So what's this got to do with Alcoholism and Drug Addiction?
Living in a 3-dimensional reality, i.e. body, mind and spirit, all this fear and doubt which you inevitably adopt as your own, means that instead of these 3 dimensions of yourself combining to radiate wholeness, you begin to reflect dis-ease.
This dis-ease may begin to manifest subtly as a form of stress or disharmony, but pretty soon if these warning signs aren't addressed, it will turn into full blown illnesses, which can be anything from cancers to heart attacks to alcoholism, drug addiction, or even combinations of these.
So the secret to overcoming these isn't to look for the latest in medical technology as your saviour (of course this shouldn't be totally ignored and still has a very important role to play), but to remember your true nature, your very essence, and realign with that.
You read stories all the time from people who have overcome the worst illnesses like cancer, where they haven't been given a chance to live by those in the know in the medical profession, to having completely healed themselves totally naturally. (Two great and well-known books to read by people who have done this are You Can Heal Your Life – Louise Hay and The Journey – Brandon Bays.)
Because by again making whole what you've temporarily 'broken' and getting body, mind and spirit in alignment again, will mean that any form of dis-ease simply won't be able to survive in your body. You will radiate your essence – love, light and freedom – and alcoholism, drug addiction or any other form of dis-ease will be banished from your body forever.
(Now I know there are many of you who will reject what I'm saying because it has no scientific basis and it doesn't make sense to your rational, thinking mind. That's fine. I'm not trying to prove a point or win any arguments. Choose to believe what you will.)
I also don't buy into the belief that many alcoholics and addicts in recovery choose to adopt, which is you always will be an addict or alcoholic and are thus only ever in recovery from your addiction.
Look, if that's an attitude that works for you, that's fine. Because ultimately use what works.
But for me that's an attitude that comes from fear, and since I don't believe fear is our true nature, I choose to believe differently. I believe our true nature is love and thus our aim should be to free ourselves from all dis-ease, including alcoholism and drug addiction.
Of course that isn't easy, but that's the work we were put here to do. That's our purpose, to remember who we really are and reconnect with our true essence. There are many people who have done it in the past like Jesus and Buddha – and there are many less well-known people who continue to do so today. Should we not aspire to be like them? Jesus put it beautifully – 'What I can do, you can do – and more.'
So on a practical level how can you begin doing that?
See your body as a temple and stop polluting it with all the crap you consume on a daily basis – obviously drugs and alcohol is a good place to startJ, but you can take that much further to include processed, dead, non-natural/non-chemicalized foods.
Try eating mostly raw, live organic foods and liquids for a month. See how you feel? I promise you, you'll feel like a totally brand, new person. Sure, have an 'off' day once a week, but stick to eating that way for the rest of the month. You won't look back, I guarantee you. Oh, and some form of exercise once in a while like a brisk walk won't hurt either.
To harmonize your mind, revamp your thinking. Begin to train your mind and watch your thoughts rather than have them run around on you like scattered machine gun bullets. Is this easy? Absolutely not! But changing your thinking so that the majority of your thoughts begin to reflect peace and harmony rather than fear and doubt is probably the hardest, yet most rewarding job you'll have while you're alive. Remember, I've said this before – your outer world is simply a reflection of your inner world.
To make this easier and to harmonize mind and spirit, begin to practice meditation. Practising the art of meditation is the biggest gift you can ever give yourself and is the secret to lasting happiness, peace and harmony. It will help you break through years of negative conditioning, and lousy thinking habits, but more importantly help you get back and reconnect with your true, loving essence - and with a bit of luck you may even reach full enlightenment like a Jesus or Buddha J
Alcoholism and Drug Addiction aren't part of the real you. Dedicate yourself to leaving them behind you for good. For me, they were a blessing because they forced me to re-look at myself and helped me reconnect with my true nature. Maybe they can do the same for you.
Addictions - Behavioral Factors
Addictions - Behavioral Factors
By Michael Russell
Traditionally the term 'addiction' has been used to indicate repeated and continuous use of a substance leading to physiological dependence, regardless of the social, financial and health costs; the definition of addicts was earlier restricted to people who were helplessly dependent on substances such as nicotine, alcohol, heroin or other drugs. Recently however, medical researchers and psychologists have come round to the view that addiction need not be limited to substances but can also include activities. This kind of addiction is also called behavioral or process addiction.
Medical researchers believe that behavioral dependencies can be classified as addictions because these exhibit the same core components that identify chemical or substance abuse. These core identifiers are mood modifications, tolerance, withdrawal and relapse. Behavioral addictions bring on mood changes by creating an exhilarated feeling or a 'high'; the tolerance factor means that the amount of time spent in the indulgence has to continually increases in order to result in mood modification; the withdrawal syndrome refers to the extremely negative physical and emotional reactions displayed by the addict when the behavior is discontinued; and, finally, the relapse symptom indicates the addict's failure to reduce or stop indulging in the activity.
Research has now established that in a substance addiction, what the body gets addicted to is not the abused chemical as much as the neurochemistry that the addiction triggers. In fact, the actual triggers of addictive disease are the modifications created in the body's neurochemistry by the abused substance and this is true of behavioral addictions as well. The expanded definition of addiction is based on the observation that when the addict indulges in an addiction, the brain is basically seeking a 'reward' and this reward can be a chemical substance or an experience. The need to repeatedly go through the experience results in the person becoming trapped in compulsive behavior
Behavioral addiction includes indulgence in gambling, shopping, sex, internet, television or even food. All these activities are part of life and do not have any negative impact in the normal course. For example an occasional visit to a casino cannot cause any harm, except maybe the loss of some money; but if a person engages in casino or online gambling very often and does so at the cost of his regular work, then there is definitely cause for concern. When such a person is unable to desist from gambling, despite knowing fully well that the habit can ruin his life, he is a behavioral addict. Television can be another source of addiction, making a person a couch potato, to the neglect of all other routine activities. Very often such a person knows that his indulgence is misplaced, wants to quit, but is unable to do so; in some cases, the television addict is just flipping channels and not watching anything in particular, but cannot bring himself to switch off and leave. It is this utter helplessness that is most characteristic of behavioral addiction. Other activities such as work, shopping, eating and sex, which are all necessary for a healthy life, take on the characteristics of addiction if indulged in excessively and without control; terms such as 'workaholic' and 'shopaholic' in fact are used to indicate such addictions. All these addictions ruin not only personal health or finances, but also have very adverse impacts on family, social and professional life.
The latest entrant to join this club is cyber-addiction or addiction to the internet, which is now affecting people of all ages. The internet has opened up such a vast, apparently infinite, virtual world that people are getting lost in its maze. Apart from addictive games and competitions, cyber world can also satisfy most of the other addictions online, be it gambling, shopping, television, sex or even work. Internet addiction at home and at the workplace is fast becoming a source of worry for families and employers. In addition to impairing vision and posture, internet indulgence can result in isolation and reclusive behavior and indications are that with the increased reach of technology, this addiction will affect more and more people in the times to come.
By Michael Russell
Traditionally the term 'addiction' has been used to indicate repeated and continuous use of a substance leading to physiological dependence, regardless of the social, financial and health costs; the definition of addicts was earlier restricted to people who were helplessly dependent on substances such as nicotine, alcohol, heroin or other drugs. Recently however, medical researchers and psychologists have come round to the view that addiction need not be limited to substances but can also include activities. This kind of addiction is also called behavioral or process addiction.
Medical researchers believe that behavioral dependencies can be classified as addictions because these exhibit the same core components that identify chemical or substance abuse. These core identifiers are mood modifications, tolerance, withdrawal and relapse. Behavioral addictions bring on mood changes by creating an exhilarated feeling or a 'high'; the tolerance factor means that the amount of time spent in the indulgence has to continually increases in order to result in mood modification; the withdrawal syndrome refers to the extremely negative physical and emotional reactions displayed by the addict when the behavior is discontinued; and, finally, the relapse symptom indicates the addict's failure to reduce or stop indulging in the activity.
Research has now established that in a substance addiction, what the body gets addicted to is not the abused chemical as much as the neurochemistry that the addiction triggers. In fact, the actual triggers of addictive disease are the modifications created in the body's neurochemistry by the abused substance and this is true of behavioral addictions as well. The expanded definition of addiction is based on the observation that when the addict indulges in an addiction, the brain is basically seeking a 'reward' and this reward can be a chemical substance or an experience. The need to repeatedly go through the experience results in the person becoming trapped in compulsive behavior
Behavioral addiction includes indulgence in gambling, shopping, sex, internet, television or even food. All these activities are part of life and do not have any negative impact in the normal course. For example an occasional visit to a casino cannot cause any harm, except maybe the loss of some money; but if a person engages in casino or online gambling very often and does so at the cost of his regular work, then there is definitely cause for concern. When such a person is unable to desist from gambling, despite knowing fully well that the habit can ruin his life, he is a behavioral addict. Television can be another source of addiction, making a person a couch potato, to the neglect of all other routine activities. Very often such a person knows that his indulgence is misplaced, wants to quit, but is unable to do so; in some cases, the television addict is just flipping channels and not watching anything in particular, but cannot bring himself to switch off and leave. It is this utter helplessness that is most characteristic of behavioral addiction. Other activities such as work, shopping, eating and sex, which are all necessary for a healthy life, take on the characteristics of addiction if indulged in excessively and without control; terms such as 'workaholic' and 'shopaholic' in fact are used to indicate such addictions. All these addictions ruin not only personal health or finances, but also have very adverse impacts on family, social and professional life.
The latest entrant to join this club is cyber-addiction or addiction to the internet, which is now affecting people of all ages. The internet has opened up such a vast, apparently infinite, virtual world that people are getting lost in its maze. Apart from addictive games and competitions, cyber world can also satisfy most of the other addictions online, be it gambling, shopping, television, sex or even work. Internet addiction at home and at the workplace is fast becoming a source of worry for families and employers. In addition to impairing vision and posture, internet indulgence can result in isolation and reclusive behavior and indications are that with the increased reach of technology, this addiction will affect more and more people in the times to come.
Develop a New Habit
Develop a New Habit
By Steven Aitchison
Research shows that it takes 21 days to develop a habit. That's 21 days of going to the gym every day or exercising in some way every day, 21 days to meditation, 21 days to eat healthily, 21 days doing, 21 days of anything. When you want to start a habit, don't tell yourself you are doing it for life, tell yourself (your conscious brain) that you are going to try it for 21 days. For example if you want to start the habit of meditating tell your conscious self that you are trying it for 21 days. Now, when you have completed this for 21 days your conscious mind has the choice of stopping it or carrying on, or so it thinks. Your neural pathways have formed already and you will more than likely continue with your new habit, you will have seen the benefits along the way your unconscious will want to continue if it has been beneficial.
This can also work when trying to break a habit, however research has shown that the neural pathways to any habit could be lifelong and a cue or a trigger can cause us to start back up an old habit, like smoking.
This is not a bad thing; we just have to be aware of our thoughts when we have given up a habit such as smoking.
When starting or breaking any habit we tend to tell our conscious mind we are going to change and it's for life. Your conscious mind will just say is that right? I'm in charge here, I'll decide' so there will be a battle between your two sides of your conscious mind.
If you tell your mind you want to try something for 21 days it won't be so unwilling to co-operate. This might sound a little strange when I say talking to your conscious' as it is your conscious talking to your conscious. We all know we have conversations with ourselves, should I go to the pub should I not, should I go to the gym should I not. There are a hundred conversations we have with ourselves everyday.
When we want to start something or give up something, smoking for example, you might normally say to yourself right that's it I'm giving up for good'. Immediately your brain kicks in and says no smoking for life, and then it starts to think of all the situations it likes a good cigarette in; first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee, going out for a drink at night, at work when you're a bit stressed, just after sex etc. Your brain thinks 'lack of' instead of the benefits of. It can't really think as clearly about the benefits because it hasn't yet had the benefits of giving up smoking but it knows the supposed pleasures that smoking brings.
So what habits can we start for 21 days?
I have made a list for myself that I am in the middle of doing;
* Give up sweets for 21 days
* Meditate for 21 days
* Write in the blog every day for 21 days
* Get up before 6am every day (I've actually made this a habit now)
* Drink a vegetable juice for 21 days
This is just a small list of the things I am doing. Feel free to share you 21 day new habits.
By Steven Aitchison
Research shows that it takes 21 days to develop a habit. That's 21 days of going to the gym every day or exercising in some way every day, 21 days to meditation, 21 days to eat healthily, 21 days doing, 21 days of anything. When you want to start a habit, don't tell yourself you are doing it for life, tell yourself (your conscious brain) that you are going to try it for 21 days. For example if you want to start the habit of meditating tell your conscious self that you are trying it for 21 days. Now, when you have completed this for 21 days your conscious mind has the choice of stopping it or carrying on, or so it thinks. Your neural pathways have formed already and you will more than likely continue with your new habit, you will have seen the benefits along the way your unconscious will want to continue if it has been beneficial.
This can also work when trying to break a habit, however research has shown that the neural pathways to any habit could be lifelong and a cue or a trigger can cause us to start back up an old habit, like smoking.
This is not a bad thing; we just have to be aware of our thoughts when we have given up a habit such as smoking.
When starting or breaking any habit we tend to tell our conscious mind we are going to change and it's for life. Your conscious mind will just say is that right? I'm in charge here, I'll decide' so there will be a battle between your two sides of your conscious mind.
If you tell your mind you want to try something for 21 days it won't be so unwilling to co-operate. This might sound a little strange when I say talking to your conscious' as it is your conscious talking to your conscious. We all know we have conversations with ourselves, should I go to the pub should I not, should I go to the gym should I not. There are a hundred conversations we have with ourselves everyday.
When we want to start something or give up something, smoking for example, you might normally say to yourself right that's it I'm giving up for good'. Immediately your brain kicks in and says no smoking for life, and then it starts to think of all the situations it likes a good cigarette in; first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee, going out for a drink at night, at work when you're a bit stressed, just after sex etc. Your brain thinks 'lack of' instead of the benefits of. It can't really think as clearly about the benefits because it hasn't yet had the benefits of giving up smoking but it knows the supposed pleasures that smoking brings.
So what habits can we start for 21 days?
I have made a list for myself that I am in the middle of doing;
* Give up sweets for 21 days
* Meditate for 21 days
* Write in the blog every day for 21 days
* Get up before 6am every day (I've actually made this a habit now)
* Drink a vegetable juice for 21 days
This is just a small list of the things I am doing. Feel free to share you 21 day new habits.
How to Break a Bad Habit: 5 Powerful Tips
How to Break a Bad Habit: 5 Powerful Tips
By James Malone
How to break a bad habit is a topic that puzzles many people. Very often we persist in behaviors that can have negative and sometimes life-threatening consequences, yet like the Energizer Bunny, you just keep on going and going and going….
For starters, it is helpful to consider what is meant by habit. Our friend Webster defines it as “a customary behavior pattern.” What is also known is that thought, feeling and action can be broken down into two broad categories, conscious and subconscious.
The conscious mind refers to the part of the self that is critical and analytical; it thinks and it reasons. This is the part of the self that recognizes that whatever rewards or satisfaction are being derived from the problem behavior are outweighed by its consequences.
Your subconscious mind refers to the part of the self that is habitual and automatic, it does not think or reason it simply responds in the way that it has been conditioned to do. Most habits are benign and even useful like brushing your teeth, automatically using a turn signal when driving and so on. Yet habits can also be horribly destructive such as in the case of those persons who continue to use alcohol and drugs in a destructive fashion even when the negative results are obvious.
So is there anything that can be done? Sometimes it is necessary to get outside help, especially if the situation poses an imminent health and safety. Yet whether you get professional assistance or not, here a five tips you may find helpful.
Expect it to feel strange at first when you stop. Try this experiment. Lace your fingers together and notice which thumb rests on top-the right or left one. Now separate them and intentionally re-clasp with the opposite thumb on top. Feels strange, right? Any change good or bad will feel awkward at first-it usually takes about a month for it to feel normal for you.
Get past the notion of helplessness. It is a popular view that many problem behaviors are lifelong and uncontrollable, yet the science behind this notion is poor at best. Quite a few people for example, drink alcohol heavily during their college years and then go on to discontinue this unhealthy behavior as the responsibilities of work and family take on more prominent roles. Believe it or not the most successful method of getting past a problem behavior is simply deciding to stop. Expect to evolve.
See the behavior in the total context of your life. Remember the Rolling Stones song about “I can’t get no, SATISFACTION!” Is it that you are an “addict” or that you are simply unhappy with your life in general? Public health data tells us that while 10% of doctors and lawyers smoke, over 60% of waitresses are smokers. The former group probably tends to find life more satisfying than the latter. What active steps would you have to take to improve your personal, professional and spiritual life? The drinking/smoking/drugging/overeating is certainly not getting the job done!
Intentionally remove the cues of the old behavior. Although we scarcely recognize it, most of our actions follow a predictable sequence of events, where a stimulus provokes an unconscious reaction. Do you drink to excess with a certain group of people? Stop hanging out with them!
Remember you are worth it! You may feel ashamed of yourself because of your past behaviors. This can set a trap where you don’t feel worthy of a better life, which in turn causes you to dull this pain with the habit that has complicated your existence. Consider accepting this idea. You are worthwhile simply because you were born a child to human parents. There has never been anyone quite like you in the past, nor will there be another person exactly like you in the future. There is a reason that you are here right now-find it.
Could you use some extra help in taking back control of your life? Want to give that bad habit of yours the bum's rush? The Power of Positive Habits is like having your own personal guide to the powers of the inner mind-sort of like a Sherpa of the Subconscious!
By James Malone
How to break a bad habit is a topic that puzzles many people. Very often we persist in behaviors that can have negative and sometimes life-threatening consequences, yet like the Energizer Bunny, you just keep on going and going and going….
For starters, it is helpful to consider what is meant by habit. Our friend Webster defines it as “a customary behavior pattern.” What is also known is that thought, feeling and action can be broken down into two broad categories, conscious and subconscious.
The conscious mind refers to the part of the self that is critical and analytical; it thinks and it reasons. This is the part of the self that recognizes that whatever rewards or satisfaction are being derived from the problem behavior are outweighed by its consequences.
Your subconscious mind refers to the part of the self that is habitual and automatic, it does not think or reason it simply responds in the way that it has been conditioned to do. Most habits are benign and even useful like brushing your teeth, automatically using a turn signal when driving and so on. Yet habits can also be horribly destructive such as in the case of those persons who continue to use alcohol and drugs in a destructive fashion even when the negative results are obvious.
So is there anything that can be done? Sometimes it is necessary to get outside help, especially if the situation poses an imminent health and safety. Yet whether you get professional assistance or not, here a five tips you may find helpful.
Expect it to feel strange at first when you stop. Try this experiment. Lace your fingers together and notice which thumb rests on top-the right or left one. Now separate them and intentionally re-clasp with the opposite thumb on top. Feels strange, right? Any change good or bad will feel awkward at first-it usually takes about a month for it to feel normal for you.
Get past the notion of helplessness. It is a popular view that many problem behaviors are lifelong and uncontrollable, yet the science behind this notion is poor at best. Quite a few people for example, drink alcohol heavily during their college years and then go on to discontinue this unhealthy behavior as the responsibilities of work and family take on more prominent roles. Believe it or not the most successful method of getting past a problem behavior is simply deciding to stop. Expect to evolve.
See the behavior in the total context of your life. Remember the Rolling Stones song about “I can’t get no, SATISFACTION!” Is it that you are an “addict” or that you are simply unhappy with your life in general? Public health data tells us that while 10% of doctors and lawyers smoke, over 60% of waitresses are smokers. The former group probably tends to find life more satisfying than the latter. What active steps would you have to take to improve your personal, professional and spiritual life? The drinking/smoking/drugging/overeating is certainly not getting the job done!
Intentionally remove the cues of the old behavior. Although we scarcely recognize it, most of our actions follow a predictable sequence of events, where a stimulus provokes an unconscious reaction. Do you drink to excess with a certain group of people? Stop hanging out with them!
Remember you are worth it! You may feel ashamed of yourself because of your past behaviors. This can set a trap where you don’t feel worthy of a better life, which in turn causes you to dull this pain with the habit that has complicated your existence. Consider accepting this idea. You are worthwhile simply because you were born a child to human parents. There has never been anyone quite like you in the past, nor will there be another person exactly like you in the future. There is a reason that you are here right now-find it.
Could you use some extra help in taking back control of your life? Want to give that bad habit of yours the bum's rush? The Power of Positive Habits is like having your own personal guide to the powers of the inner mind-sort of like a Sherpa of the Subconscious!
Addiction Treatment: Is Drug Addiction Easier To Treat Than Alcoholism?
Addiction Treatment: Is Drug Addiction Easier To Treat Than Alcoholism?
By Jonathan Huttner
While many people still try and define addicts as different from alcoholics, the fact of the matter is that the definition of addiction or alcoholism is almost identical. The main difference is that one is liquid in nature, while the other can take on a variety of forms. The overall effects of addiction or alcoholism are exactly the same.
Drug Addiction Treatment Versus Alcoholism Treatment
Since the medical profession has come to see drug addiction and alcoholism as primarily the same disease, there is little difference in drug addiction or alcoholism treatment. While it is true that different medications may be used in a drug rehab, addiction treatment center or alcohol treatment program while the patient is in detox, addiction treatment philosophy or alcohol treatment philosophy are primarily the same.
The most significant difference does not lie in addiction treatment or alcohol treatment, but is found in the addict’s or alcoholic’s perception of the other. The “pure alcoholic” views the addict as a criminal and state they can not relate to their lifestyle or why they would even take drugs, while the addict views the alcoholic as their worst nightmare. The irony is that the behavior and thinking that accompanies their journey through addiction or alcoholism is identical. Whether in addiction treatment or alcoholism treatment, denial, resentment, dishonesty, shame, compulsive behavior, low self esteem and failed relationships all accompany people recovering from addiction or alcoholism.
There are several valuable sources of information alcoholism and drug addiction treatment available on the web. At the National Institute on Drug Abuse you can find information for professionals, for teachers, for the general public and, most importantly, for parents. At RecoveryConnection.org you will find information on treatment options as well as help to find an alcohol and drug rehab facility. Remember that if you or someone you know need immediate assistance, RecoveryConnection.org also offers a helpline 24/7 through their toll-free number: 1(800)993-3869. Don’t hesitate to call for help for an alcoholic or drug addict, you may be saving a life.
By Jonathan Huttner
While many people still try and define addicts as different from alcoholics, the fact of the matter is that the definition of addiction or alcoholism is almost identical. The main difference is that one is liquid in nature, while the other can take on a variety of forms. The overall effects of addiction or alcoholism are exactly the same.
Drug Addiction Treatment Versus Alcoholism Treatment
Since the medical profession has come to see drug addiction and alcoholism as primarily the same disease, there is little difference in drug addiction or alcoholism treatment. While it is true that different medications may be used in a drug rehab, addiction treatment center or alcohol treatment program while the patient is in detox, addiction treatment philosophy or alcohol treatment philosophy are primarily the same.
The most significant difference does not lie in addiction treatment or alcohol treatment, but is found in the addict’s or alcoholic’s perception of the other. The “pure alcoholic” views the addict as a criminal and state they can not relate to their lifestyle or why they would even take drugs, while the addict views the alcoholic as their worst nightmare. The irony is that the behavior and thinking that accompanies their journey through addiction or alcoholism is identical. Whether in addiction treatment or alcoholism treatment, denial, resentment, dishonesty, shame, compulsive behavior, low self esteem and failed relationships all accompany people recovering from addiction or alcoholism.
There are several valuable sources of information alcoholism and drug addiction treatment available on the web. At the National Institute on Drug Abuse you can find information for professionals, for teachers, for the general public and, most importantly, for parents. At RecoveryConnection.org you will find information on treatment options as well as help to find an alcohol and drug rehab facility. Remember that if you or someone you know need immediate assistance, RecoveryConnection.org also offers a helpline 24/7 through their toll-free number: 1(800)993-3869. Don’t hesitate to call for help for an alcoholic or drug addict, you may be saving a life.
Gay Addiction Treatment vs. Heterosexual Addiction Treatment
Gay Addiction Treatment vs. Heterosexual Addiction Treatment
By Jonathan Huttner
Gay Addiction Treatment Program: It’s about Time As addiction treatment programs have sprung up across the country, there has been a focus on many different substance abuse populations. We have numerous eating disorder programs for women, countless drug rehab programs for men, sex addiction and sexual trauma programs for both men and women, but what about the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population? Where do they seek drug/alcohol treatment? Why are they continually expected to fit into the same “addiction treatment model” (heterosexual) that resembles the life model which created so much shame for them. Some would suggest they fit into a same-sex addiction treatment center, which is generally nothing more than a set up for relapse.
Drug Rehab Focus to Be Population Specific One of the major goals of any drug rehab is to create and environment where a patient can feel comfortable enough to be honest, can be treated with respect, dignity and not feel judged. Right or wrong, good or bad, history shows us that the gay and lesbian population is one that through the years has been criticized, ridiculed and misunderstood by the majority in the heterosexual community, the same community that makes up the majority of the population in an addiction treatment program. For this reason alone, the gay and lesbian population needs to have therapists that understand their specific needs, an environment that will affirm them as people and support them as they share their secrets of shame, humiliation and anger.
Addiction Treatment vs. the Real World Philosophically, a person’s last day in drug rehab, should resemble their first day in the real world. A person does not stay in a drug rehab program forever. That being said, an addiction treatment program does not have to be completely “gay friendly” to be effective treatment for a gay person. While, specific clinical activities, groups, lectures etc. need to be gay specific in order to create a safe space for them to communicate, it is also their responsibility to learn how to communicate effectively and live in the heterosexual world without turning to drugs or alcohol. As such, there is no better place to begin this transition than in the addiction treatment program, where a person can receive ongoing support from their therapist and peers.
RecoveryConnection.org offers additional information on gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender GLBT addiction treatment programs. You may also visit LakeviewHealth.com, an alcohol and drug rehab facility that offers a specialized addiction treatment for gays and lesbians. Alternatively, you can call 800-511-9225 for assistance.
Jonathan Huttner is one of the the principals at Lakeview Health Systems, an addiction treatment, alcohol and drug rehab facility.
Addiction treatment information and free live help 24/7 is being provided online at RecoveryConnection.org.
By Jonathan Huttner
Gay Addiction Treatment Program: It’s about Time As addiction treatment programs have sprung up across the country, there has been a focus on many different substance abuse populations. We have numerous eating disorder programs for women, countless drug rehab programs for men, sex addiction and sexual trauma programs for both men and women, but what about the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population? Where do they seek drug/alcohol treatment? Why are they continually expected to fit into the same “addiction treatment model” (heterosexual) that resembles the life model which created so much shame for them. Some would suggest they fit into a same-sex addiction treatment center, which is generally nothing more than a set up for relapse.
Drug Rehab Focus to Be Population Specific One of the major goals of any drug rehab is to create and environment where a patient can feel comfortable enough to be honest, can be treated with respect, dignity and not feel judged. Right or wrong, good or bad, history shows us that the gay and lesbian population is one that through the years has been criticized, ridiculed and misunderstood by the majority in the heterosexual community, the same community that makes up the majority of the population in an addiction treatment program. For this reason alone, the gay and lesbian population needs to have therapists that understand their specific needs, an environment that will affirm them as people and support them as they share their secrets of shame, humiliation and anger.
Addiction Treatment vs. the Real World Philosophically, a person’s last day in drug rehab, should resemble their first day in the real world. A person does not stay in a drug rehab program forever. That being said, an addiction treatment program does not have to be completely “gay friendly” to be effective treatment for a gay person. While, specific clinical activities, groups, lectures etc. need to be gay specific in order to create a safe space for them to communicate, it is also their responsibility to learn how to communicate effectively and live in the heterosexual world without turning to drugs or alcohol. As such, there is no better place to begin this transition than in the addiction treatment program, where a person can receive ongoing support from their therapist and peers.
RecoveryConnection.org offers additional information on gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender GLBT addiction treatment programs. You may also visit LakeviewHealth.com, an alcohol and drug rehab facility that offers a specialized addiction treatment for gays and lesbians. Alternatively, you can call 800-511-9225 for assistance.
Jonathan Huttner is one of the the principals at Lakeview Health Systems, an addiction treatment, alcohol and drug rehab facility.
Addiction treatment information and free live help 24/7 is being provided online at RecoveryConnection.org.
Addiction Recovery: Ten Simple Steps to a Strong Aftercare Plan
Addiction Recovery: Ten Simple Steps to a Strong Aftercare Plan
By Larry Smith
In the last article, I discussed why it is imperative to have an aftercare plan to help you recover from addiction. So, what needs to be included in your aftercare plan?
My friend Donny has graciously given me permission to reprint his aftercare plan. He has over seven years of sobriety to his credit and still follows this plan to this very date.
1. I will attend 3 AA meetings each week.
How many 12 step meetings do you think you require? If you are unsure, ask your sponsor. In early sobriety, it is often necessary to attend meetings on a daily basis.
2. I will call my sponsor once a week.
Remember your sponsor is your mentor. He has experienced the agony, obstacles and unexpected twists and turns in his own recovery. Call him often and tell him honestly how you are feeling and the problems you are facing. The chances are very likely that he has experienced the same thing and can offer help.
3. I will attend the aftercare program from my treatment centre each Tuesday.
If your treatment centre does not offer any such program, seek out a 12 step study group or equivalent.
4. I will make 3 phone calls a week to recovery people.
It is extremely important to keep in contact with your recovery peers. You are helping each other keep clean and sober. You need to keep reminding each other to keep on working your program. You are going to have plenty of bad days, but always remember that you don’t have to suffer alone! Pick up the phone even if it weighs a thousand pounds!
5. I will eat 3 meals a day
Daily nutrition is part of your overall recovery program. Unless you are properly nourished, it is impossible to think or act properly. At the very least, make sure that you eat 3 meals a day.
6. I will read my meditation book on a daily basis.
You have to feed your mind and your spirit as well as your body. A great way to feed your mind and spirit is by reading a short passage from one of the many inspirational daily meditation books that are available. It is a great way to start your day.
7. I will make my bed daily to remind myself that I am in recovery
Pick a simple daily task such as making your bed to remind yourself that you are in recovery. Simple daily reminders are essential and will help strengthen your recovery program.
8. I will exercise 3-4 times per week.
Recovery from addiction involves the mind, body and spirit. Physical fitness plays a huge role in the recovery from addiction but it is often minimized and deemed as unimportant. Regular exercise releases “endorphins” the body’s natural feel good biochemical compounds. Make sure that you exercise regularly and that it is in balance with rest of your recovery program.
9. I will spend 20 minutes a day quietly in meditation.
Life can often become overwhelming and stressful. An effective way to help calm your stressed body is by sitting quietly or meditating for 20 – 30 minutes daily. There are numerous ways to meditate. “Google” meditation and find a way that works for you.
10. I will read my aftercare plan daily each morning to make sure I am following it.
Be accountable to following your aftercare plan. The easiest way is by making a check list and examining it daily.
If you sincerely desire long-term sobriety, it is crucial that you follow through with your aftercare plan.
Live a life of freedom and love.
Do it now!
Dr. Larry Smith Chiropractor and Author of:
Embrace the Journey of Recovery: From Tragedy to Triumph!
Embrace the Journey of Recovery will passionately reignite your spirit and teach you how to confront, conquer and powerfully triumph over any life threatening illness! Experience the remarkable story of two courageous yet ordinary individuals and their astonishing recoveries from heartbreaking tragedy. The message is simple. They transformed their lives and you can too!
By Larry Smith
In the last article, I discussed why it is imperative to have an aftercare plan to help you recover from addiction. So, what needs to be included in your aftercare plan?
My friend Donny has graciously given me permission to reprint his aftercare plan. He has over seven years of sobriety to his credit and still follows this plan to this very date.
1. I will attend 3 AA meetings each week.
How many 12 step meetings do you think you require? If you are unsure, ask your sponsor. In early sobriety, it is often necessary to attend meetings on a daily basis.
2. I will call my sponsor once a week.
Remember your sponsor is your mentor. He has experienced the agony, obstacles and unexpected twists and turns in his own recovery. Call him often and tell him honestly how you are feeling and the problems you are facing. The chances are very likely that he has experienced the same thing and can offer help.
3. I will attend the aftercare program from my treatment centre each Tuesday.
If your treatment centre does not offer any such program, seek out a 12 step study group or equivalent.
4. I will make 3 phone calls a week to recovery people.
It is extremely important to keep in contact with your recovery peers. You are helping each other keep clean and sober. You need to keep reminding each other to keep on working your program. You are going to have plenty of bad days, but always remember that you don’t have to suffer alone! Pick up the phone even if it weighs a thousand pounds!
5. I will eat 3 meals a day
Daily nutrition is part of your overall recovery program. Unless you are properly nourished, it is impossible to think or act properly. At the very least, make sure that you eat 3 meals a day.
6. I will read my meditation book on a daily basis.
You have to feed your mind and your spirit as well as your body. A great way to feed your mind and spirit is by reading a short passage from one of the many inspirational daily meditation books that are available. It is a great way to start your day.
7. I will make my bed daily to remind myself that I am in recovery
Pick a simple daily task such as making your bed to remind yourself that you are in recovery. Simple daily reminders are essential and will help strengthen your recovery program.
8. I will exercise 3-4 times per week.
Recovery from addiction involves the mind, body and spirit. Physical fitness plays a huge role in the recovery from addiction but it is often minimized and deemed as unimportant. Regular exercise releases “endorphins” the body’s natural feel good biochemical compounds. Make sure that you exercise regularly and that it is in balance with rest of your recovery program.
9. I will spend 20 minutes a day quietly in meditation.
Life can often become overwhelming and stressful. An effective way to help calm your stressed body is by sitting quietly or meditating for 20 – 30 minutes daily. There are numerous ways to meditate. “Google” meditation and find a way that works for you.
10. I will read my aftercare plan daily each morning to make sure I am following it.
Be accountable to following your aftercare plan. The easiest way is by making a check list and examining it daily.
If you sincerely desire long-term sobriety, it is crucial that you follow through with your aftercare plan.
Live a life of freedom and love.
Do it now!
Dr. Larry Smith Chiropractor and Author of:
Embrace the Journey of Recovery: From Tragedy to Triumph!
Embrace the Journey of Recovery will passionately reignite your spirit and teach you how to confront, conquer and powerfully triumph over any life threatening illness! Experience the remarkable story of two courageous yet ordinary individuals and their astonishing recoveries from heartbreaking tragedy. The message is simple. They transformed their lives and you can too!
Addiction Recovery: Top 5 Reasons Why You Need an Aftercare Plan
Addiction Recovery: Top 5 Reasons Why You Need an Aftercare Plan
By Larry Smith
If you have a desire to recover from the disease of addiction, you must take certain steps to increase your chances of long-term recovery. Residential treatment is a great place to start you on your road to recovery. Program lengths may vary from 30 days to several months. If you have just returned home from a treatment centre, it is imperative that you have an after care plan and follow it 100%. Below are the top 5 reasons why you must follow your after care plan:
1. You are 100% responsible for your own recovery -- Nobody else can do it for you!
You have the ultimate responsibility of staying clean and sober. Since it is your responsibility, the best way to ensure long-term success is to have an after care plan. An after care plan is a series of tasks you must complete each day to increase your chances of long term sobriety. Some examples of aftercare tasks include going to meetings, calling your sponsor and performing exercise regularly.
2. New behaviors, attitudes and skills require practice
The skills, knowledge and attitudes learned at your residential treatment program are still somewhat new to you. If have learned how to share your feeling with others and ask for help, it is important for you to keep on practicing these skills. Do you know of any professional athletes who do not practice skills in between games and in the off season? Keep practicing the skills, attitudes and knowledge you acquired at the treatment centre and make that part of your after care plan.
3. Old behaviors will quickly return unless you have new behaviors to replace them
Have you been visiting the local bar or liquor store after work on a regular basis for the past 30 years? If so, it is an excellent idea to plan another healthy activity to take its place. Try walking in the park, going to the gym or visiting a friend in recovery instead. Old habits do not die easily or quickly. Draw up a list of the rituals you had when you were actively addicted. Replace the unhealthy old behaviors with healthier new behaviors. Be creative, have fun and ask for help from your recovery friends.
4. You are setting a good example for your peers and for society
It is an absolute gift to be able to recover from the life threatening illness of addiction. If your peers see you working hard on your recovery program, they can use that as an example to work hard on their recovery programs. If the people in your community see you as an active healthy person, it demonstrates that there is plenty of hope for those still suffering! If you want to set a good example for your peers and for society, you must follow a regimented and thoughtful aftercare plan.
5. Your disease will always be waiting for you
The only possible chance you have of remaining clean and sober is through consistent practice of healthy habits. Don’t be tempted to check out your former bar to see how the old gang is doing. Do you really think that anybody who walks into a brothel in the red light district is remotely interested in learning how to dance? Do most people who go to the bar sip on a soft drink all night? Remember that your disease is always waiting for you. Don’t let the door open even a crack.
Although there are countless other reasons that can be added, those are my top 5 reasons why you need an aftercare plan. If you honestly follow your after care plan to the best of your ability, your chances of recovery will increase dramatically. It has often been said that “the worst day in sobriety is still much better than the best day of addiction.”
By Larry Smith
If you have a desire to recover from the disease of addiction, you must take certain steps to increase your chances of long-term recovery. Residential treatment is a great place to start you on your road to recovery. Program lengths may vary from 30 days to several months. If you have just returned home from a treatment centre, it is imperative that you have an after care plan and follow it 100%. Below are the top 5 reasons why you must follow your after care plan:
1. You are 100% responsible for your own recovery -- Nobody else can do it for you!
You have the ultimate responsibility of staying clean and sober. Since it is your responsibility, the best way to ensure long-term success is to have an after care plan. An after care plan is a series of tasks you must complete each day to increase your chances of long term sobriety. Some examples of aftercare tasks include going to meetings, calling your sponsor and performing exercise regularly.
2. New behaviors, attitudes and skills require practice
The skills, knowledge and attitudes learned at your residential treatment program are still somewhat new to you. If have learned how to share your feeling with others and ask for help, it is important for you to keep on practicing these skills. Do you know of any professional athletes who do not practice skills in between games and in the off season? Keep practicing the skills, attitudes and knowledge you acquired at the treatment centre and make that part of your after care plan.
3. Old behaviors will quickly return unless you have new behaviors to replace them
Have you been visiting the local bar or liquor store after work on a regular basis for the past 30 years? If so, it is an excellent idea to plan another healthy activity to take its place. Try walking in the park, going to the gym or visiting a friend in recovery instead. Old habits do not die easily or quickly. Draw up a list of the rituals you had when you were actively addicted. Replace the unhealthy old behaviors with healthier new behaviors. Be creative, have fun and ask for help from your recovery friends.
4. You are setting a good example for your peers and for society
It is an absolute gift to be able to recover from the life threatening illness of addiction. If your peers see you working hard on your recovery program, they can use that as an example to work hard on their recovery programs. If the people in your community see you as an active healthy person, it demonstrates that there is plenty of hope for those still suffering! If you want to set a good example for your peers and for society, you must follow a regimented and thoughtful aftercare plan.
5. Your disease will always be waiting for you
The only possible chance you have of remaining clean and sober is through consistent practice of healthy habits. Don’t be tempted to check out your former bar to see how the old gang is doing. Do you really think that anybody who walks into a brothel in the red light district is remotely interested in learning how to dance? Do most people who go to the bar sip on a soft drink all night? Remember that your disease is always waiting for you. Don’t let the door open even a crack.
Although there are countless other reasons that can be added, those are my top 5 reasons why you need an aftercare plan. If you honestly follow your after care plan to the best of your ability, your chances of recovery will increase dramatically. It has often been said that “the worst day in sobriety is still much better than the best day of addiction.”
Addiction - Definition, Cause and Effects
Addiction - Definition, Cause and Effects
By Tywford Lamai
Everybody has heard about the word addiction. But what exactly is addiction? Well, allow me to give you a minor definition:
Addiction is a habitual repetition of excessive behavior that a person is unable or unwilling to stop, despite its harmful consequences. People can be physically addicted to a drug, meaning they may suffer ill physical effects if they stop taking the drug. They also can be psychologically addicted to drugs, gambling, or other behaviors, meaning they feel overwhelmingly deprived if they attempt to stop.
People who are addicted to something constantly feel the need to “feed” that addiction. Most often than not, this condition sneaks up on them thereby blinding them to the reality that they have a problem and deceiving them into believing that the “problem” is with others. Addiction and Abuse differ in that Abuse is to hurt or injure by maltreatment, or to misuse the power accompanying an office or position. Abuse does not necessarily involve mistreatment of others. Drug dependence, alcoholism, and misuse of anabolic steroids are examples of self-abuse. But a person can abuse drugs and yet not be addicted to drugs.
Where addiction is concerned, there are two prevalent issues in determining it. These are: Physical dependency and tolerance. Mostly, people who are addicted end up injuring themselves or hurting the people they love the most. And even though addiction may be hard to prevail over, once a person begins to notice addiction as a problem, they should seek addiction treatment or alcoholism therapy.
Teenagers who party all night and in the mean time absorb themselves in taking drugs and alcohol for extra fun, often dominate the movies and big screen. More often than not other teenagers view this as the “in thing”. While movies do their part to depict the gruesome angle to alcohol and drug addiction, the heroes and heroines still end up being enchanting and perfect in nature and this only ends up eclipsing the ugly side to addiction. While the big screen is for entertainment reasons only, there is nothing distantly funny about the truth of alcohol abuse or drug addiction. Suffice it to say that life in a rehab centre can be a dreadful.
Drugs and alcohol can be addictive. Records reveal to us that the younger you are the more susceptible to addiction you are. Addiction frequently runs in families. Messing around with drugs and alcohol is a great risk – a “risky risk” if you like - the stake being your life, future, and personality.
People frequently disguise their drinking or rebuff the fact that they have addiction issues. Signs of possible problems with alcoholism include having friends and people close to them beginning to express concern about their drug/alcohol intake, their becoming aggravated when people comment on their drinking, their feeling of guilt about too much alcohol intake and thinking that they should moderate it but finding themselves unable to, or their needing a morning drink to calm their nerves or alleviate a hangover.
Conversely, reliance on drugs often begins with the abuse of officially authorized drugs like prescription drugs and inhalants. Inhalants are legal substances that become illegal when used in a way that results in a person becoming stoned. Inhalants also comprise of acetone, cleaning fluids, gasoline, butane, and aerosol cleaners. Though legal to sell these substances are not controlled substances and since they are comparatively cheap when compared with drugs and are easily obtainable, they can be abused without necessary restrictions.
People struggling with addiction ought to work hard at resolving them, and with the encouragement of friends and family members they are capable of pulling through on their own. Nonetheless they mostly cannot stop drinking or abusing drugs by sheer strength of will alone. Most of them require external assistance; more often than not this assistance comes from Alcohol Rehab or Drug Rehab. Alcoholism and addiction treatment may need medically controlled detoxification to circumvent acute withdrawal symptoms such as seizures and convulsions. As soon as they stabilized, they need aid in resolving psychological issues connected with their drinking or drug problems.
By Tywford Lamai
Everybody has heard about the word addiction. But what exactly is addiction? Well, allow me to give you a minor definition:
Addiction is a habitual repetition of excessive behavior that a person is unable or unwilling to stop, despite its harmful consequences. People can be physically addicted to a drug, meaning they may suffer ill physical effects if they stop taking the drug. They also can be psychologically addicted to drugs, gambling, or other behaviors, meaning they feel overwhelmingly deprived if they attempt to stop.
People who are addicted to something constantly feel the need to “feed” that addiction. Most often than not, this condition sneaks up on them thereby blinding them to the reality that they have a problem and deceiving them into believing that the “problem” is with others. Addiction and Abuse differ in that Abuse is to hurt or injure by maltreatment, or to misuse the power accompanying an office or position. Abuse does not necessarily involve mistreatment of others. Drug dependence, alcoholism, and misuse of anabolic steroids are examples of self-abuse. But a person can abuse drugs and yet not be addicted to drugs.
Where addiction is concerned, there are two prevalent issues in determining it. These are: Physical dependency and tolerance. Mostly, people who are addicted end up injuring themselves or hurting the people they love the most. And even though addiction may be hard to prevail over, once a person begins to notice addiction as a problem, they should seek addiction treatment or alcoholism therapy.
Teenagers who party all night and in the mean time absorb themselves in taking drugs and alcohol for extra fun, often dominate the movies and big screen. More often than not other teenagers view this as the “in thing”. While movies do their part to depict the gruesome angle to alcohol and drug addiction, the heroes and heroines still end up being enchanting and perfect in nature and this only ends up eclipsing the ugly side to addiction. While the big screen is for entertainment reasons only, there is nothing distantly funny about the truth of alcohol abuse or drug addiction. Suffice it to say that life in a rehab centre can be a dreadful.
Drugs and alcohol can be addictive. Records reveal to us that the younger you are the more susceptible to addiction you are. Addiction frequently runs in families. Messing around with drugs and alcohol is a great risk – a “risky risk” if you like - the stake being your life, future, and personality.
People frequently disguise their drinking or rebuff the fact that they have addiction issues. Signs of possible problems with alcoholism include having friends and people close to them beginning to express concern about their drug/alcohol intake, their becoming aggravated when people comment on their drinking, their feeling of guilt about too much alcohol intake and thinking that they should moderate it but finding themselves unable to, or their needing a morning drink to calm their nerves or alleviate a hangover.
Conversely, reliance on drugs often begins with the abuse of officially authorized drugs like prescription drugs and inhalants. Inhalants are legal substances that become illegal when used in a way that results in a person becoming stoned. Inhalants also comprise of acetone, cleaning fluids, gasoline, butane, and aerosol cleaners. Though legal to sell these substances are not controlled substances and since they are comparatively cheap when compared with drugs and are easily obtainable, they can be abused without necessary restrictions.
People struggling with addiction ought to work hard at resolving them, and with the encouragement of friends and family members they are capable of pulling through on their own. Nonetheless they mostly cannot stop drinking or abusing drugs by sheer strength of will alone. Most of them require external assistance; more often than not this assistance comes from Alcohol Rehab or Drug Rehab. Alcoholism and addiction treatment may need medically controlled detoxification to circumvent acute withdrawal symptoms such as seizures and convulsions. As soon as they stabilized, they need aid in resolving psychological issues connected with their drinking or drug problems.
A Straight-Up Guide On Alcohol Problems And Treatment
A Straight-Up Guide On Alcohol Problems And Treatment
By John Wellington
Alcoholism is not a problem that is exclusive to adults. Many teenagers find themselves addicted to alcohol even though the legal drinking age is twenty one. The pressure to fit in with others and the pressure to be popular among peers may play a significant role in drug and alcohol ill treatment among this population. Eventually, many of these youth need to seek some sort of alcohol treatment to deal with the problem.
A significant number of adolescents between the ages of twelve and twenty are affected by alcohol abuse. When children this young begin abusing the substance there is a greater risk of developing a serious dependence that requires some kind of interference and alcohol treatment to break the destructive pattern.
The problem can have serious effects on the adolescent’s development and future activities. The teen may find him self unable to function at school and he may have difficulty succeeding in his academic studies. It is crucial to identify and find alcohol treatment as soon as a problem is recognized.
Since the reasons behind substance abuse in teens are different than it is in adults, it is necessary to approach the adolescent differently. The reasons stem from different causes in teens than adults. Adults usually are trying to escape problems or reduce pressure and anxiety. Teens are usually driven to drink through peer pressure. Alcohol treatment for teens is different than it is for adults because of the differing causes and developmental stages.
Alcohol treatment for teenagers should be age appropriate and it should involve other family members as well. The family history of possible substance abuse may play a significant role in the cause of the abuse. The teen needs to consider his family history with the condition and the family needs to work together to achieve success.
Sometime alcohol treatment for teens requires a stay at a treatment facility. This is required for the most severe cases. The success of the program turning point on the individual’s promise to his own improvement. Professionals work with the teen around the clock to help him through the disaster.
Self help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Al Anon and Alateen are very practical options for a teenager who needs alcohol treatment. The self help groups are valuable because it gives the teens an opportunity to look up to positive role models and it serves as a kind of support community. Hopefully, with early interference, the teens can find a new outlook on their problems.
By John Wellington
Alcoholism is not a problem that is exclusive to adults. Many teenagers find themselves addicted to alcohol even though the legal drinking age is twenty one. The pressure to fit in with others and the pressure to be popular among peers may play a significant role in drug and alcohol ill treatment among this population. Eventually, many of these youth need to seek some sort of alcohol treatment to deal with the problem.
A significant number of adolescents between the ages of twelve and twenty are affected by alcohol abuse. When children this young begin abusing the substance there is a greater risk of developing a serious dependence that requires some kind of interference and alcohol treatment to break the destructive pattern.
The problem can have serious effects on the adolescent’s development and future activities. The teen may find him self unable to function at school and he may have difficulty succeeding in his academic studies. It is crucial to identify and find alcohol treatment as soon as a problem is recognized.
Since the reasons behind substance abuse in teens are different than it is in adults, it is necessary to approach the adolescent differently. The reasons stem from different causes in teens than adults. Adults usually are trying to escape problems or reduce pressure and anxiety. Teens are usually driven to drink through peer pressure. Alcohol treatment for teens is different than it is for adults because of the differing causes and developmental stages.
Alcohol treatment for teenagers should be age appropriate and it should involve other family members as well. The family history of possible substance abuse may play a significant role in the cause of the abuse. The teen needs to consider his family history with the condition and the family needs to work together to achieve success.
Sometime alcohol treatment for teens requires a stay at a treatment facility. This is required for the most severe cases. The success of the program turning point on the individual’s promise to his own improvement. Professionals work with the teen around the clock to help him through the disaster.
Self help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Al Anon and Alateen are very practical options for a teenager who needs alcohol treatment. The self help groups are valuable because it gives the teens an opportunity to look up to positive role models and it serves as a kind of support community. Hopefully, with early interference, the teens can find a new outlook on their problems.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Spans the Full Gamut of Addiction, Psychological and Societal Methodologies
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Spans the Full Gamut of Addiction, Psychological and Societal Methodologies
By Robin Mackey
Dual diagnosis treatment spans the full gamut of addiction, psychological and societal methodologies. The term dual diagnosis can be misleading since someone may have more then one addiction or mental health problem. About 70 percent of people with drug and alcohol addictions may suffer from dual diagnosis. Statistics in the United States, such as 22.2 million persons (9.1 percent of the population) in 2005 who have substance dependence or abuse show the magnitude and commonality of the problem. Equivalent populations include ten percent of the United States population that are foreign born, ten percent of the worlds’ population that lives in coastal areas that may sink as the oceans rise. Ninety countries have more than 10 percent of their population in areas of high mortality risk from two or more hazards (drought, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides), and more than 10 percent of children that do not survive their first year of life in Ethiopia. While immigration, climate change, natural disasters and third world starvation, disease and civil war are daily headlines, dual diagnosis is not found in the lexicon of our day-to-day colloquy. This is quite interesting considering that the cost of substance abuse exceeds 500 billion dollars in the United States and Americans’ cultural taboos generally stop them from discussing the very common link between substance abuse and mental illness. Maybe we should rethink our standards of decorum and social embarrassment so that we may become informed as a people, to remove the stigmas of substance abuse and mental illness. Then those with these very common problems may address their plight as casually as we do with immigration, climate change, natural disasters, third world starvation, disease and civil war.
Dual diagnosis treatment is initially looked at by asking the question, which came first, the chicken or the egg or which came first, the substance abuse or the mental illness. This intellectual dalliance should be left to the professionals since there may be multiple addictions and multiple mental illnesses to address and treat.
The question becomes moot since social alcohol or drug use (even small amounts for some people) may lead to psychiatric symptoms, or pre-existing mental health problems may lead to increased drug and alcohol use. To complicate matters withdrawal or detoxification may lead to psychological or psychiatric symptoms. Sometimes intoxication may result in short-term behavioral or psychological problems that disappear with the intoxication affects.
Since so many substances are abused and there are many mental illnesses, the professional uses an array of tools in the process of recovery, such as, psycho-education lectures, groups, and individual sessions to educate the dual diagnosis patient about the medical and psychological aspects of his/her dual diagnosis. There should be expert pharmacotherapy if medications are prescribed so that only the most effective medications offering the greatest benefit and the least side effects should be used.12-Step programs are provided according to their specific needs. Relapse prevention programs are specifically designed for ongoing recovery of the dual diagnosis patient. Dual diagnosis patients are encouraged to invite their family members to participate in a family program. These programs should be the staple of the dual diagnosis treatment plan.
To enhance and reach more specific areas, adjunct groups that focus therapeutic work on specific areas of concern to the dual diagnosis treatment of the patient, such as , cocaine/heroin addiction, eating disorders, stop smoking, grief and trauma, healthy sexuality, compulsive gambling and womens', and mens' groups should be included. Integrative therapies may include acupuncture, and massage. Other lesser known therapies include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) which uses eight distinct steps the client focuses on a visual image related to the negative memory and the therapist assists by directing eye movements for 20 to 30 seconds. Therapists will often use auditory tones, tapping, and other types of tactile stimulation. Also somatic psychotherapy, which assists in the learning and understanding of the relationships between sensation, emotion, illness and thought and how this impacts on our sense of wellness and well being. Contact us today to find out more about substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment programs.
Transitions Recovery is a nationally accredited, state-licensed drug and alcohol rehabilitation service provider with drug treatment and alcohol addiction treatment facilities based in North Miami Beach, Florida. Download our Program Brochure.
By Robin Mackey
Dual diagnosis treatment spans the full gamut of addiction, psychological and societal methodologies. The term dual diagnosis can be misleading since someone may have more then one addiction or mental health problem. About 70 percent of people with drug and alcohol addictions may suffer from dual diagnosis. Statistics in the United States, such as 22.2 million persons (9.1 percent of the population) in 2005 who have substance dependence or abuse show the magnitude and commonality of the problem. Equivalent populations include ten percent of the United States population that are foreign born, ten percent of the worlds’ population that lives in coastal areas that may sink as the oceans rise. Ninety countries have more than 10 percent of their population in areas of high mortality risk from two or more hazards (drought, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides), and more than 10 percent of children that do not survive their first year of life in Ethiopia. While immigration, climate change, natural disasters and third world starvation, disease and civil war are daily headlines, dual diagnosis is not found in the lexicon of our day-to-day colloquy. This is quite interesting considering that the cost of substance abuse exceeds 500 billion dollars in the United States and Americans’ cultural taboos generally stop them from discussing the very common link between substance abuse and mental illness. Maybe we should rethink our standards of decorum and social embarrassment so that we may become informed as a people, to remove the stigmas of substance abuse and mental illness. Then those with these very common problems may address their plight as casually as we do with immigration, climate change, natural disasters, third world starvation, disease and civil war.
Dual diagnosis treatment is initially looked at by asking the question, which came first, the chicken or the egg or which came first, the substance abuse or the mental illness. This intellectual dalliance should be left to the professionals since there may be multiple addictions and multiple mental illnesses to address and treat.
The question becomes moot since social alcohol or drug use (even small amounts for some people) may lead to psychiatric symptoms, or pre-existing mental health problems may lead to increased drug and alcohol use. To complicate matters withdrawal or detoxification may lead to psychological or psychiatric symptoms. Sometimes intoxication may result in short-term behavioral or psychological problems that disappear with the intoxication affects.
Since so many substances are abused and there are many mental illnesses, the professional uses an array of tools in the process of recovery, such as, psycho-education lectures, groups, and individual sessions to educate the dual diagnosis patient about the medical and psychological aspects of his/her dual diagnosis. There should be expert pharmacotherapy if medications are prescribed so that only the most effective medications offering the greatest benefit and the least side effects should be used.12-Step programs are provided according to their specific needs. Relapse prevention programs are specifically designed for ongoing recovery of the dual diagnosis patient. Dual diagnosis patients are encouraged to invite their family members to participate in a family program. These programs should be the staple of the dual diagnosis treatment plan.
To enhance and reach more specific areas, adjunct groups that focus therapeutic work on specific areas of concern to the dual diagnosis treatment of the patient, such as , cocaine/heroin addiction, eating disorders, stop smoking, grief and trauma, healthy sexuality, compulsive gambling and womens', and mens' groups should be included. Integrative therapies may include acupuncture, and massage. Other lesser known therapies include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) which uses eight distinct steps the client focuses on a visual image related to the negative memory and the therapist assists by directing eye movements for 20 to 30 seconds. Therapists will often use auditory tones, tapping, and other types of tactile stimulation. Also somatic psychotherapy, which assists in the learning and understanding of the relationships between sensation, emotion, illness and thought and how this impacts on our sense of wellness and well being. Contact us today to find out more about substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment programs.
Transitions Recovery is a nationally accredited, state-licensed drug and alcohol rehabilitation service provider with drug treatment and alcohol addiction treatment facilities based in North Miami Beach, Florida. Download our Program Brochure.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Health Risks In Alcohol Abuse
Drinking alcoholic beverages during social functions is a common practice among adults. Occasional drinking poses no treat to health but sometimes the occasional social drinking can progress over time into alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse has varied effects on our bodies and chronic drinking can pose major health risks.
Alcohol affects the brain and the nervous system by slowing down the drinker's reactions and making him feel tranquilized and relaxed. Alcohol dulls the brain. When someone takes alcohol, his inhibitions are lowered making him more aggressive and hostile. When taken in higher dosage, alcohol can cause mental block out, impairing the person's concentration and ability to judge situations properly. This will also create distorted coordination and emotional reactions.
The liver is one of the primary targets of chronic alcohol abuse. Alcoholic hepatitis results when the liver cells are damaged due to recent heavy drinking. On the other hand, liver cirrhosis is a result of a long-term excessive alcohol use wherein large areas of the liver are destroyed or scarred. Damage to the liver may become extremely serious and life threatening.
The blood vessels found in the skin surface usually widen as a result of alcohol intake because of the alcohol's vasodilator properties. This is the reason why the skin of heavy drinkers appears flushed. Chronic alcohol abuse results in the inability of the blood vessels to shrink back to normal giving the person a permanent reddish look.
Cardiomyopathy is a major health risk alcohol abusers are likely to suffer. Long-term alcohol use creates damage and weakens the heart's muscular tissue resulting in heart failure. Anemia and bleeding disorders can also result from chronic alcohol abuse.
Peptic ulcer disease is likely to develop in heavy drinkers. Alcohol can irritate the stomach lining and prolonged use can cause chronic stomach problems including peptic ulcers.
Alcohol has taken and affected so many lives. This is one of the major causes of traffic fatalities in the U.S. When a person's coordination and judgment are impaired by alcohol, his capacity to drive a motor vehicle is lessened as well. Often, a person under the influence of alcohol believes that he still has the capacity to drive and this sometimes results in vehicular accidents that are fatal. Other types of accidents resulting from the participants being alcohol intoxicated may be fires resulting in injuries and loss of lives, boating accidents, water sports and snowmobiling.
A man's ability to procreate is usually affected by alcohol abuse. The nerves that control erection and ejaculation are dulled by alcohol resulting in impotence. In women on the other hand, chronic alcohol use results in a loss of sexual appetite. Furthermore, alcohol intake during pregnancy can prove harmful and may result in fetal alcohol syndrome - the leading cause of mental retardation. Other ill effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy are low birth weight, slow development and learning problems.
Therefore, alcohol abuse is not only a social deterrent but its accompanying health risks are reasons enough for an alcohol abuser to seek immediate rehabilitation and treatment before everything is lost.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Addictions
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Alcohol affects the brain and the nervous system by slowing down the drinker's reactions and making him feel tranquilized and relaxed. Alcohol dulls the brain. When someone takes alcohol, his inhibitions are lowered making him more aggressive and hostile. When taken in higher dosage, alcohol can cause mental block out, impairing the person's concentration and ability to judge situations properly. This will also create distorted coordination and emotional reactions.
The liver is one of the primary targets of chronic alcohol abuse. Alcoholic hepatitis results when the liver cells are damaged due to recent heavy drinking. On the other hand, liver cirrhosis is a result of a long-term excessive alcohol use wherein large areas of the liver are destroyed or scarred. Damage to the liver may become extremely serious and life threatening.
The blood vessels found in the skin surface usually widen as a result of alcohol intake because of the alcohol's vasodilator properties. This is the reason why the skin of heavy drinkers appears flushed. Chronic alcohol abuse results in the inability of the blood vessels to shrink back to normal giving the person a permanent reddish look.
Cardiomyopathy is a major health risk alcohol abusers are likely to suffer. Long-term alcohol use creates damage and weakens the heart's muscular tissue resulting in heart failure. Anemia and bleeding disorders can also result from chronic alcohol abuse.
Peptic ulcer disease is likely to develop in heavy drinkers. Alcohol can irritate the stomach lining and prolonged use can cause chronic stomach problems including peptic ulcers.
Alcohol has taken and affected so many lives. This is one of the major causes of traffic fatalities in the U.S. When a person's coordination and judgment are impaired by alcohol, his capacity to drive a motor vehicle is lessened as well. Often, a person under the influence of alcohol believes that he still has the capacity to drive and this sometimes results in vehicular accidents that are fatal. Other types of accidents resulting from the participants being alcohol intoxicated may be fires resulting in injuries and loss of lives, boating accidents, water sports and snowmobiling.
A man's ability to procreate is usually affected by alcohol abuse. The nerves that control erection and ejaculation are dulled by alcohol resulting in impotence. In women on the other hand, chronic alcohol use results in a loss of sexual appetite. Furthermore, alcohol intake during pregnancy can prove harmful and may result in fetal alcohol syndrome - the leading cause of mental retardation. Other ill effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy are low birth weight, slow development and learning problems.
Therefore, alcohol abuse is not only a social deterrent but its accompanying health risks are reasons enough for an alcohol abuser to seek immediate rehabilitation and treatment before everything is lost.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Addictions
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Link Exchange Directory for the Professional SEO
Quality directory of webmasters actively seeking link exchange. Improve your search engine rankings and link popularity the easy way. Work clever not hard.
Quality directory of webmasters actively seeking link exchange. Improve your search engine rankings and link popularity the easy way. Work clever not hard.
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