Category: Australia

Hi, I’m the 21^st Century & I’m addicted to Facebook

New data published by researchers at the California State University, USA suggests Facebook addiction affects the brain in a similar way to cocaine or gambling addiction.

The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Psychological Reports: Disability and Trauma, claims the brain of a human who constantly uses Facebook reacts similarly to that of an individual with a dependence on gambling or cocaine.

The researchers asked 20 university undergraduates to complete an online questionnaire and an image response analysis, to examine the symptoms similar to addiction experienced by Facebook users, including feelings of withdrawal and anxiety.

The withdrawal and anxiety side-effects experienced by regular Facebook users were similar to those experienced by individuals with a gambling or substance addiction. Although these side-effects or markers for addiction did not negatively hinder individuals in the same manner as gambling or substance abuse, the researchers cited their concern over the participants responding faster to Facebook images than road signs.

In an online article published by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the study’s co-author, Professor Ofir Turel, USA said, “This is scary when you think about it, since it means that users might respond to a Facebook message on their mobile device before reacting to traffic conditions if they are using technology while on the road.” 

Since its introduction in 2004, Facebook has witnessed staggering growth, with approximately 1.55 billion people now using Facebook worldwide. Previous research links Facebook use with anxiety, depression and reduced social skills, which should prompt Facebook users to measure their level of addiction to ensure their protection from associated health risks.

So how do you measure your addiction to Facebook?

In 2012, researchers from the University of Bergen, Norway developed the ‘Bergen Scale’ tool to measure humans’ addiction to Facebook, allowing people to measure how each statement applies to themselves on a scale of frequency (1) very rarely to (5) very often. The scale is based on the following criteria:

1. Time thinking and planning Facebook use;
2. The desire or urge to increase Facebook use;
3. Using Facebook to forget about personal problems;
4. History of failure to withdraw from Facebook;
5. Feeling of restlessness or anxiety if prohibited from using Facebook; and
6. The negative affects of Facebook use on your job/studies.

The tool clearly highlights the severity of one’s Facebook addiction, and allows the individual to create a plan of action to beat their obsession.

With social media becoming one of our leading sources of communication in the 21^st century, people are encouraged to develop strategies to monitor and manage their use of the medium, in order to avoid the development of a dependence and associated psychological problems. It’s all about learning to manage and monitor one’s Facebook use.

Should you wish to learn more about how to beat your addiction, head to https://www.dararehab.com/ or call a DARA Thailand therapist today on +661 800 011 193.

Alcohol prevention should start early in life.

At young age, you can begin talking about preventing alcoholism. At this time, you can also begin to talk to children about living a healthy lifestyle. Talk to them about making healthy life choices. Teach them to choose to eat healthy, cross the street safely or other ways to live healthy. These concepts begin to set the stage for healthy living and build a foundation to talk about consuming alcohol. You can also teach a child about taking responsibility for himself at this age. Teaching your child to stay away from hazardous materials inside the home, such as household cleaning products, paint or other hazardous materials, help instill the dangers of of unhealthy choices. Furthermore, help them deal with stress appropriately, so they will be less likely to use alcohol to cope in the future. A foundation for alcohol prevention can be established as young as two years old.

Around the age of five, children become more curious and begin asking more questions, and their ability to comprehend increases as well. Even at this young age, you can speak to them about the factual information as well as the consequences that correspond with using alcohol. They also are beginning to be able to understand the consequences of others who use alcohol. It is also important to continue to teach them proper ways to relieve stress, so they are have appropriate methods to deal with their stress in the future as opposed to turning to alcohol.  Also, at this age, you can begin to teach them about removing themselves from situations that make them feel uncomfortable. By teaching them this mechanism, it will help them be able to leave situations involving alcohol easier in the future. Keep your children away from activities that promote alcohol use and help them get involved with activities that promote a healthy lifestyle as well. These activities will help your child develop prevention methods at a young age.

Starting at about age of nine, children begin learning new things about life. Even in childhood, it is important to set rules and boundaries for youngsters, which also includes setting rules about alcohol usage. It is also important to build up a preteen’s self-esteem. This age can be tough and confusing, so the more you can build up their self-esteem, the healthier and happier they will feel about themselves and the less likely they will be to turn to alcohol in the coming years. Continue to teach your child the facts about alcohol. Trying to scare them into not using alcohol typically proves ineffective. Knowing the facts helps them make educated decisions rather than basing decisions off of fear. Furthermore, be involved in your preteen’s life. Get to know their friends and where they are hanging out. Make sure their friends are giving them the same messages about alcohol as you. It is important to be involved in your child’s life at this time.

At age thirteen, the dawn of the teenage year, it is important to aid youth in making positive decisions about their life. It is also important to keep your eyes open at this age for warning signs of alcohol use. The onset of alcohol use typically begins during the teenage years, so it is important to talk to your young one about alcohol usage, but, make sure to talk factually and not judgmentally in order to maintain their respect and trust.

Around sixteen, when youngsters start driving, it becomes much harder to prevent alcohol usage because they have gained more independence. However, at this stage, you can talk more directly about alcohol use with them. You can also use everyday encounters, such as movies and news reports to talk to your child about alcohol usage. If you see examples of alcohol use in any of these forums, use them as an opportunity to discuss the topic with your adolescent.  If it is too hard for your child to talk to you about the pressures of alcohol use, encourage her to find another adult whom she feels comfortable talking with about these topics. Talk openly with your child about alcohol and it’s consequences, but, if she is uncomfortable talking with you, find someone she can talk to about this topic.

After you child turns nineteen and becomes an adult, it is much harder for you to influence his choices in life. However,if you talk to them before this age, research shows he will be less likely to develop a drinking problem in college. However, at this age, it is also important to keep open communication with your child. If you lovingly communicate with your child at this age, he will likely come to you when he is dealing with an issue, which might include pressures to use alcohol. Remember to allow your young adult to make his own decisions while keeping the lines of communication open, so he will feel comfortable coming to you when he is dealing with a problem.

As with children, the best way to prevent alcohol use in adults is by conversing about the topic. Talking about alcohol prevention at any age is the most effective ways to prevent alcohol abuse. Listening when others are talking about their struggles with alcohol is another effective way to prevent alcohol abuse. Being a good example for your friends, family and children is an additional way to help others avoid alcohol use. If you do not use them, others will have a greater chance of abstaining from them while they are around you too. Having good relationships, open communication and listening are all great ways to help friends, family members and your children refrain from using alcohol.

The best approach to prevent alcohol addiction is to not use alcohol, but these other tips should aid prevention as well.

Why do we reach for and continue to take some drugs and not others?

Have you ever wondered why some people become addicted to some drugs and not others? I have. From my experiences over the years it became clear that there were underlying issues associated to the choice of drug used. After the initial sorting through the compost of fears, life experiences and reaction patterns, identifying the underlying reason can still be difficult to recognize. Usually it started as a way to avoid or hide from a difficult life experience because there was no one around to turn to for help.

Waiting until is person is ready to explore the question about why they reached for a drug and take responsibility to heal themselves is critical. And I have found when working in a counselling or meditation therapy setting being direct with a question about the first drug used and the issue it relates to can cut through most illusions and create a pathway that assists the healing/counselling/reeducation process. So I invite you to consider the following listed information –

Alcohol abuse comes from attempting to deal with issues related to sex and violence and is one of the most difficult of the moveable dependencies to deal with because of its long historical use and acceptance in Western society.

Nicotine is generally used when there is an underlying fear of responsibility that is masked as anger. It provides the body with a false sense of security.

Those who reach for Marijuana are not able to let go of a specific past trauma in their life and often claim that by using this drug they gain intuitional insights but these are random and confusing so accuracy of such perceptions is always suspect.

Heroin use stems from low self-worth and underlying issues of self-nurturing which has causal roots in what nurturing means to them which leads back to relationships with women and ultimately the mother.

Methadone use grounds the person and gives respite from the experience of extreme emotional see-sawing and provides time for a person to re-order their lives and time for the mind to bring their Will into play.  But it is only a stopgap method.

People who are drawn to Cocaine are usually naturally clairvoyant and not able to cope with what they experience. Their first experience will have usually occurred at a very early age. If asked, they often clearly remember this.

People attracted to use Speed mistake intense reactions for passion and go through life with little respect for time, spiritual values and not working through and emotionally valuing experiences; and therefore try to avoid sadness.

Ecstasy use is about avoidance, lack of self-acceptance, generational anger , not wanting to  individualize – a Peter Pan complex It seriously damages the sense of containment of the self. The personality contracts, though the user advocates that the reverse occurs. All physical senses are compressed into one consciousness level and the sense of self is usually expressed in terms of the group identity.

The appeal of LSD may be to experience hallucinations but pride and ego are the main issues to be addressed. Concepts of karma and past lives are usually required to be understood, for in severe damage, the person may be attempting to re-live a past life.

A person abusing Morphine attempts to address feelings of mortification and the feeling that one has ‘stood still in their life’. The person usually does not understand that standing still is a time to review one’s life, and in this situation related to a greater understanding of social responsibilities of parenting.

Mushrooms users tend to daydream and fantasize of what might be, rather than work with the availability of choices and paths open to them in the present. A mental repression/depression occurs as a result of their reactions to harsh verbal criticisms experienced and internalized.

Valium has sometimes a short term purpose to initially assist in dealing with extreme stress until other coping and management strategies are put in place. If no other coping and management strategies are put in place dependency can result. Emotional reactions are minimized and their sense of purpose and fulfilment of life becomes hidden to them.

Please note healing from the damage done by drug use is always possible and one should never give up hope.