Education Archives - Page 78 of 82

Dec302015Jan272016

Alcoholism – What You Need to Know

Articles, Education, Understanding Addiction

When considering whether or not you have a problem with alcohol, consider the definition of alcoholism. Alcoholism is considered when having difficulty controlling one’s drinking, constantly thinking about consuming alcohol, continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems in one’s life, needing to increase one’s consumption of alcohol in order to feel the same effects, or experiencing withdrawal symptoms when drinking has ceased.

How do you know if you might be drinking too much?

Consider these signs if think you or a loved one might have a problem with alcohol indulgence:

Unable to limit the consumption of alcohol
Spending an exaggerated amount of time boozing
Unable to complete prior obligations
Cutting back on previous activities in order to consume alcohol or needing more swigs in order to have the same effect.
A strong need to hit the bottle and the inability to limit oneself when drinking alcohol
Not being able to stop oneself after beginning drinking or blacking out from drinking too much
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop drinking is also a sign to consider. An example may be experiencing shaking when trying to stop drinking or when you haven’t had a drink for an extended period of time.

The above are all signs that one might experience when their drinking habits become a problem.

What puts one at risk for developing an addiction to alcohol?

Consistently drinking over time. A family history of drunkenness. If someone in the family has had problems with drinking alcohol, it increases the risk of another family member developing an alcohol addiction. Also, having friends close to you who drink alcohol regularly can increase the risk of alcohol dependence. Drinking alcohol regularly with friends often increases the amount and frequency one consumes alcohol, which increases the likelihood to develop a drinking problem as well. Furthermore, there are genetic links to alcoholism. Moreover, using alcohol over time can change the biology of the brain. Alcohol stimulates the pleasure senses in the brain and over time the pleasure pathways can change creating more and more need to consume alcohol.

What effects can alcohol intoxication have on one’s life?

When one drinks, he or she has a higher likelihood of being in a car crash, especially while drinking and driving. A drop in performance in work or school can also be related to alcoholism. One who drinks regularly is also at an increased risk for legal trouble. Furthermore, those who become intoxicated are more likely to engage in risky behaviors. One could also develop liver disease, high blood pressure, sexual complications, pregnancy complications, neurological issues and even cancer. Family stress and other family issues are also often present when a family member has a drinking problem.

When can you tell if you need to seek help?

If any of the above information pertains to you or someone you know, even if they do not seem related to drinking dependence, please consider speaking to a professional. Consider your drinking habits and consider your overall health, including your physical and mental health. If you are feeling depressed, anxious or ashamed, it may be time to seek professional help. If drinking is affecting your health, either physically or mentally, seek professional counsel. If your obsession with alcohol is getting in the way of your everyday life or if family and friends are complaining about your misuse of alcohol, consider seeking professional help as well. Furthermore, if your alcohol misuse is getting in the way of your relationships, you may be abusing alcohol and need to seek help for this problem. If consuming alcohol is getting in the way of your work, it may also be time to seek aid from a professional.

What if you think you or a loved one has the symptoms of alcoholism?

Treatment is available. Outpatient counselling is an option for some, but a drug rehabilitation center is appropriate for others. Outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation centers can also help with co-existing mental health problems in addition to aiding you in the recovery of your alcohol problem. Aftercare programs are also important in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle following the initial help you receive. Spirituality is also often an important component to treating alcoholism as many believe this is strongly related to the recovery process. It also may be necessary to change other aspects of your life in order to change your drinking habits as well, such as finding new ways to do things that do not involve the need for alcohol. Treatment is easier for some and harder for others, but seeking help is the first step in the recovery process.

Aug132015Jan272016

Seven Ways Culture Contributes to Addiction

Articles, Education

Seven-Ways-Culture-Contributes-to-Addiction If individual responsibility has any meaning, then a person suffering from addiction bears responsibility for his or her recovery, once the opportunity for recovery is presented. However, we are all products of our respective cultures, and there is a fair argument that culture can be a contributor to the dynamics of addiction.

To anyone who says, “Well, drug use is an individual problem; most people either choose not to start or find a way to moderate their use,” we could point out that there are cultures where addiction is unknown, and others where it is minimal. Similarly, there are cultures that have an extremely high incidence of alcoholism and addiction. A clear example would be Native Americans, who did not exhibit a particular tendency toward alcohol or substance abuse when their primary challenges were dealing with survival in nature and the occasional skirmish with rival tribes. Once European culture encroached on the land and relentlessly marginalized Native Americans, the stresses imposed on the culture expressed themselves in—among other things—a predisposition for alcohol and substance abuse. One Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) article states that a “crucial individual motive is that drunkenness can provide short-cut gratification by providing fantasy solutions to culture-bound problems.”

There are a number of ways in which culture contributes to addiction. These include the following:

Peer pressure to conform among adolescents
Stressors in the social environment of adolescents
Popular culture and its promotion of alcohol as glamorous
Advertising and its promotion of alcohol use
Advertising by the pharmaceutical industry and its promotion of the idea that drugs are a cure-all for all manner of psychic symptoms, especially depression and anxiety
The criminalization of drug use, such that drug users, once involved with the criminal justice system, become labeled and marginalized, usually becoming exactly what the system ostensibly wants to prevent.
Treatment availability – A culture’s ongoing preference for treating addiction as a problem of criminal behavior rather than as a public health issue determines that individuals needing medical help are instead locked up. In terms of cost as well as effectiveness, treatment offers tremendous benefits over incarceration, which tends to reinforce, rather than reduce, tendencies toward further substance abuse and consequent criminal behavior.

If you, or someone you care about, needs help for a drug or alcohol addiction,
contact us at 1-888-457-3518 US, 0-808-120-3633 UK or 1-800-990-523 AU.
We’re here to help you take that first important step.

Mar032015Jan272016

Perfectionism Hinders Recovery Process

Articles, Education

Perfectionism-Hinders-Recovery-Process One common thread among alcoholics, addicts and their loved ones is the presence of perfectionism. Those who are addicted to alcohol or drugs often seek to be perfect – or at least look perfect on the outside – in order to cover up the inadequacy they feel inside. They may present themselves with an attitude of bravado or self-importance, particularly in the early stages of their addiction when they may have periods of seeming to manage their alcohol or drugs. Meanwhile, their family members and loved ones try to appear perfect in order to cover up the problem. If they look good on the outside, then perhaps no one will notice their lives are falling apart. They also may strive for perfectionism in a vain attempt to hold themselves up as a beacon for the addict or alcoholic. No matter what the motive, perfection is impossible. It can create havoc with recovery. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hillary-rettig/perfectionism-and-addicti_b_396056.html

Expectations Open Door To Resentment

Expectations are an aspect of perfectionism – expectations of oneself and of others. If an alcoholic or addict expects perfect performance at work, perfect relationships and perfect social connections, it opens the door to resentment. Setting excessively high standards by some internal measuring stick sets the stage for consolation in alcohol or drugs when the standards are not met. Expectations also create a critical attitude. When people are caught up in the behavior of others, it becomes easy to place blame and to avoid looking at one’s own patterns of drinking and drug use. It also can provide an excuse for relapse. http://blogs.psychcentral.com/addiction-recovery/2012/04/perfectionism-addiction/

Treatment Offers Realistic Feedback

Addiction treatment can provide a solution for stepping out of the cycle of perfectionism and substance use. With the help of therapy and recovery groups, alcoholics, addicts and their families begin to develop a more realistic way to deal with life. They learn to let go of perfectionism.

Feb242015Jan272016

Managing Anxiety in Recovery

Articles, Education, Understanding Addiction

Managing-Anxiety-in-Recovery Many people in substance recovery arrive with another condition such as anxiety. There is plenty of evidence from treating substance abusers who also have a mental disorder and the attitude is that both of these will be treated successfully. Research shows that “combining treatment medications with behavioral therapy is the best way to ensure success for most patients. Treatment approaches must be tailored to each patient’s drug and drug-related medical, psychiatric, and social problems.” Don’t think you are the only one to have another condition. It is very common.

The medications prescribed to treat your anxiety have a relaxing effect on your physiology. and Research says that the most common reasons for relapse are stress and being around illegal drugs or alcohol. The medications you will be prescribed in recovery are designed to interfere with your cravings. And you will need to be alert to avoid returning to places where drugs may be present. Changing the people and places from your using days is usually suggested. Counseling and learning new life skills to handle stress will help you recover from your anxiety.

Withdrawal from certain illegal drugs can cause anxiety, this is treatable and temporary. Certain prescriptions are intended to reduce the anxiety, making it more comfortable to stop the addiction and focus on recovery. The disruptive effects on your brain can often be reversed and you will return to a productive and useful life.

Because addiction can affect so many aspects of a person’s life, treatment must address the needs of the whole person to be successful. The top recovery programs use a blend of 12-steps, medical specialists, and counselors for the psychological needs of their clients. Even The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous says seeking outside help is not only suggested but often necessary. A.A. offers fellowship who shares the same disease but members are not medical professionals. Listen to your doctors for advice designed to complement your substance addiction recovery. We wish you healing for your mind, body, and spirit.

Feb192015Oct222019

How the 12 Steps Help Manage Stress

Articles, Education, Understanding Addiction

How-the-12-Steps-Help-Manage-Stress Research shows that people often use alcohol and drugs for stress management. But most researchers also agree that these substances may actually induce stress rather than relieve it. So it’s important that individuals who have made the decision to stop drinking replace alcohol and drugs with more effective ways to manage stress. The 12 Steps, though not specifically designed as a stress management tool, use many of the techniques suggested by experts to deal with stress. For instance:

Numerous scientific studies have shown the positive effects of prayer and meditation on stress; as a result, health care practitioners often suggest prayer and meditation as a stress management strategy. The 12 Steps suggest the use of prayer and meditation as a means to sobriety. Though the writers of the 12 Steps weren’t aware of any science behind prayer and meditation at the time, they knew enough to include them at the heart of recovery.
Social support networks are known to relieve stress and promote mental health. While the 12 Steps do not explicitly mention group support as a way to stop drinking, they are written from a group perspective, using “we” and “our” in language, and they are recited at 12-Step meetings to provide common purpose, mutual understanding and a sense of community. The feeling of security that comes from group support can help manage the stress of being alone in the challenges of recovery.
Most individuals come to the 12 Steps with wreckage like financial debt, destroyed relationships and broken promises. The Steps help relieve the stress of a traumatic history by suggesting a complete inventory of one’s misbehavior, and amends to offended parties. By dealing with a troubled past, hope begins to take the place of stress, and individuals can start anew.