The Rehab Assumption

The days are slow — defined by an addiction, a compulsion that can’t be denied. You watch as a friend shapes himself to a drug, devotes every second to the pleasure of a high (and the crippling lows that always follow). He isn’t as he once was. He has instead… changed, has become a sad parody of himself. A substance defines him. A need controls him. And he refuses to admit it, is certain that he’s still the master of his own body, can return to normalcy if he chooses. He simply doesn’t choose to. He seems content instead to wallow in a disease of his own making.

And you… wait, sure that time will eventually reveal the truth. He’ll sink to depression, anxiety, self-loathing — and you’ll be ready, willing then to help.

You should instead, however, be willing now.

A myth shared among the masses is that addicts must be allowed to fall completely before they can understand the seriousness of their disease. No help should be offered. No attempts at intervention should be made. The lesson must instead be one of patience; and individuals must simply watch, allowing the decline to occur naturally.

This is a mistake.

An addiction must be combated as soon as it’s discovered. Don’t hesitate, thinking this is best for the user. It’s not. Instead it will only let him generate higher tolerances and far more devastating needs — making treatment less likely to succeed later on.

Make your presence known early. Demand that rehab programs be sought and that an effort be made to end the problem. Don’t allow an addiction to continue, certain it will cure itself. It won’t. You must instead fight it, forcing your loved ones to enter counseling and receive help. Without your insistence this will not be done.

Get involved to end addiction.

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The Common Causes: Substance Abuse

It’s an all too familiar concept — substance abuse. We recognize it as a concern, a reliance on tastes that shouldn’t even exist. Dependencies can form; health can suffer; and the result is the expected tragedy.

Too often, however, are the causes of that tragedy ignored: thought to be unavoidable, indeterminable. The truth is more certain, though.

Substance abuse — while not always able to be predicted — does often follow specific patterns. And, if these patterns are noted quickly, they can then be better defended against.

The roots of most problems occur in childhood:

One: Early Exposure. Behaviors are learned, understood as common through experience; and individuals who witness their families and friends sampling substances (whether drugs, alcohol, cigarettes or more) will consider the actions to be normal. It is estimated that those who are exposed to these patterns as children are over twice as likely to mimic them later in life — often before they even shed their teenage statuses.

Two: Unstable Environment. Chaos breeds a need to escape. A lack of control demands relief. And unhappy environments (caused by physical or verbal abuse, poverty, divorce, constant relocation or other factors) can cause substance dependency. Individuals who experience unstable home lives are 44 percent more likely to try some form of drugs.

Three: Apathetic Relationships. All children crave affection. They want their parents’ approval, seek to earn security. When it’s not given, however, they become willing to settle for any form of recognition — even anger. Substance abuse can begin as a cry for attention; and those who aren’t cared for will often turn to alcohol or harder drugs. It’s believed that 50 percent of teens will respond in this way.

Recognizing these causes is essential for all individuals. When they can be understood, they can be more effectively combated in adult years — and this can lead to a lessening of abuse and the eventual dependence it can inspire.

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The Adolescent Traits

An assumption of innocence, a trust in youth: substance abuse is an adult disease, it’s believed. Children aren’t to experience it. They’re instead to be immune — kept protected from the ravages of drugs and alcohol, unaware of what could await when their teenage monikers dissolves.

This is a certainty shared by most parents — and it’s sadly an incorrect one.

Substance abuse is not defined by age. It’s instead caused by a variety of traits: many of which can be predicted in early adolescence. When these traits are recognized they can then be prepared for:

One: Lack of Social Skills. Relationships must be forged in adolescence — this is, it’s understood, the only way to gain essential foundations. Children who lack the ability to interact with their peers, however, may find such foundations impossible to achieve… and may instead turn to drugs as an answer. Those who are unable to form normal friendships with others (exhibiting symptoms of undeveloped communication) are 50 percent more likely to become substance abusers.

Two: Attention Disabilities. Fickleness often defines teenagers. Their moods are fast and their patience is limited. Certain individuals offer extremes, however — through aggressive emotions and unpredictable behaviors, a total lack of focus. This often appears in the form of Attention Deficit Disorder (or similar problems) and can lead to impulsive decisions. These teens can rely on substances to calm their minds and cure their disabilities, even if only temporally. 44 percent of those with attention concerns are estimated to use drugs regularly.

Three: Poor Academic Performances. Education isn’t always an easy thing. Many students struggle with books and statistics, are unable to remember facts. They can’t excel as others do. They instead can offer only the most basic answers — and use substances as a way to compensate. Those who are not gifted academically may rely on drugs to gain a sense of control in their lives and generate confidence (even if it’s momentary). 21 percent of failing students sample substances often.

Note the possible causes of substance abuse to better defend against them — and tame the problem.

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Getting Back on Your Feet

If you have had what a lot of people would call a “life destroying” addiction, it may be a wonder that you are even here to be reading this article. But before you go doing some yoga to pat yourself on the back, keep in mind that just because you are winning the war against the physical aspect of your addiction, does not mean that you can simply sit back on your laurels and pretend that this is enough. You have got to be a contributing member of society, if you want to keep living in it. And the best way to do that is through getting educated, and getting yourself a profession. While you might not like it, there are definitely advantages to be had.

Getting your education is a labor of love. While you might not love many of the labors that you will be expected to do, you will probably end up loving where those labors will help you to end up. After all, there is more to a profession than just the Orwellian need to contribute. There is also the potential for a very tasty paycheck down the line. After all, you did not quit using just so you could go work at Mickey D’s, did you?

The hard part is, you are also going to have to join support groups, find new friends, and be truly honest with people. After all, if you continue to do the same old things, you are inevitably going to fall back into the same old life style as you had before. Join an “anonymous” group related to your vice of choice. Make some friends who do not use. And most importantly, rebuild on the relationships you have with your family. You never know — they might just take you back.

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The Holidays: Temptations for Relapse

The holidays pose a particular challenge for recovering addicts. No matter what substance they abused, the addict’s mantra of “one day at a time” is sorely tested around all the festivities, stresses and celebrations of the holidays. Rather than lock oneself away, learning how to deal with these occasions is an important part of the recovery process and how they can deal with the temptation to relapse.

Holiday parties are a time of particular joy and much alcohol. Drug addicts are encouraged to abstain from alcohol just as alcoholics are, but being around so much liberally flowing alcohol can be too much of a temptation for some. There is, however, power in words. Tell people who offer you drinks, “No thanks, I’m a recovering alcoholic.” They will respect your decision and applaud your strength. If sorely tempted, have somebody on standby that you can call for support.

The stresses of the holidays, financial, emotional or otherwise, are often too much for substance abusers to handle and relapses are a real concern. Recovering addicts need to change their lifestyle as much as anything else. Know the group of people attending parties; if these people are known drug users, just don’t go to the party if you don’t feel strong enough to turn them down.

No matter the addiction, recovering addicts rely on their support system more during the holidays than perhaps any other time of year. Explain to those closest to you exactly what you need from them and how they can help you. If you need extra help, consider talking to a trained therapist. Additionally, treatment centers like those at LaPalomaTreatment.com are there to help if you need support and many have a 24 hour hotline you can call if in need.

Don’t seclude yourself from the celebrations, just know in advance what you’ll have to deal with and go prepared, and call your support if needed.

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What is it like at a Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting?

ContentWhen an alcoholic comes to a place where he or she realizes that alcohol is ruining their life they may not know where to turn. A good place to start is alcoholics anonymous meetings. Most of the people who handle these meetings have been in the same situations. Some of these people have been alcoholics themselves and some have came from homes with an alcoholic. These people are there to share their experiences at the meetings.

The alcoholic will be meeting with others who are going through a similar situation. This could help bring motivation and help deal with his or her situation. Valuable tips can be learned from others because of the varying situations of each alcoholic. One thing good about this is nobody is there to judge because everyone is equal in trying to achieve the same goal. The goal of becoming free from alcohol.

A basket is usually passed around during the meetings to help cover the costs associated with holding these meetings. The people that hold these meetings are volunteers so there is no cost there. The meetings are held either open or closed. During open alcoholics anonymous meeting anyone can attend even family members. In a closed meeting only the alcoholic attends. There are also meetings that are open to a specific group such as women.

A meeting is usually conducted by saying a short prayer and then a moment of meditation. Usually a reading is done from the alcoholic’s anonymous handbook. After this a welcoming of the new members and visitors is given. This is also the time that anniversaries of sobriety are recognized. This will be followed by a member sharing some of their experiences. There could be someone speaking on an alcohol related topic. A prayer will usually conclude the meeting. The members are then free to socialize with other members.

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Alcohol- What are its Effects?

ContentThe effect that alcohol has on the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord) is a depressant, decreasing its activity and as a result reducing anxiety and tension. If alcohol is consumed in a moderate amount it may help a drinker relax and have confidence to socialize more easily. However, any feeling of elevated mental and physical performance is misleading. Tests have shown that even low levels of alcohol in the blood can slow a person’s reactions. The more alcohol that a person drinks the more their concentration and judgment are impaired. However, at this time the drinker’s confidence is increased which could lead to a potentially leathel combination while driving. If an excessive amount of alcohol has been drunk, poisoning or intoxication results, with effects ranging from euphoria to unconsciousness.

In addition to altering the mood and behavior, alcohol has various other effects on the body. As a result of peripheral vasodilation (widening of the small blood vessels), the face becomes flushed and the drinker feels warm, although a greater amount of the body heat is lost. Small amounts of alcohol increase the flow of the gastric juices and will stimulate the appetite and help digestion. Over a long period of time the stomach lining could become inflamed and cause ulcers on the lining. This could also cause hematemesis (vomiting of blood).

A habitual drinker will acquire a tolerance to alcohol. That means that they would have to gradually increase the amount consumed to obtain the same effects. The liver breaks down alcohol at a faster rate, requiring a greater intake to achieve the same blood level. At the same time, the nerve cells in the brain become less responsive to a given amount of alcohol. After many years of drinking an alcoholic will experience a reduced tolerance.

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What is the Reason Behind Substance Abuse?

ContentFull understanding of the reason why someone abused drugs and then becomes addicted is not understood. Some think that it is a social behavior problem but nobody knows for sure. The drug abuser is referred to as weak and unable to change their behavior. The whole concept of drug abuse may go much deeper than a moral or social issue. Why do people end up taking drugs? There are alot of underlying causes that need to be analyzed.

It has been rumored among abusers that drugs can boost the self esteem. Depending on what drug is taken will determine what feeling is induced. It may induce an ecstatic state followed by other emotions. The reaction to this will also be determined by the type of drug that has been taken. A popular stimulant like cocaine will boost a person’s self confidence and raise their energy levels. A type of opiate like heroin will enhance a person’s senses to response and bring contentment to them.

People often come to abuse drugs because of everyday problems in their lives that they are having trouble dealing with. They hope to take away the problems by taking drugs. Stress is one of the main reasons that people begin to start taking drugs. This is also one of the main reasons that someone who is a recovering alcoholic or addict goes back to drinking again.

A teenager is often the one that is perceived to be vulnerable to taking drugs. Even though this age group is at a great risk to be users the same is true for all age groups. People in all age groups are at risk to have the tendency to abuse even athletes and intellectuals. These people are often faced with stresses that they have trouble coping with so they turn to drugs for help. They will use this as a test for mental or physical performance improvement.

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Ways A Person Can Detox From Alcohol

ContentA medical treatment that is used to rid the body of alcohol is known as detoxification or alcohol detoxification. Within the first 48 hours of not drinking alcohol symptoms will start to appear. The severity of the symptoms will depend on the how serious the addiction is and also how long the person was addicted. Medications can be given by a doctor to help relieve the withdrawal symptoms. There are other ways in which the alcoholic can use to help make the detoxification process easier.

Keeping away from caffeine will help keep you sober if you are a regular drinker. The body can not handle the caffeine if there has been liver damage from alcohol. A study was done by physicians at a hospital in England that it takes twice as long for a person with alcoholic liver disease to process the caffeine than one that does not have alcoholic liver disease. Caffeine and sugar together will bring on anxiety and cause an urge to drink. It is not a good idea to use this as a cure for a hangover either.

Drink lots of water. Water is what helps the body. The body’s functions and immune system are in high demand during the alcohol detoxification process. It will help to strengthen the cells and remove any of the toxins from the body by drinking plenty of water each day. Drinking coffee or any other drink should not be used as a substitute for water.

In most health food stores you will find herbs or other supplements. Sometimes herbs can be just as powerful as drugs so keep that in mind when choosing them. During recovery time the body will be under extreme stress so try to make it as easy possible. It is a process of rebuilding and strenghtening.It will take a little time to get through the process and it will not be easy. However, it will definitely be worth the effort.

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The Causes of Alcohol Addiction

A dependence that is chronic and seeking compulsively to use alcohol is known as alcoholism. There have been studies that have shown 50% of the people that are age from 21 to 24 who have died in a traffic accident have drank alcohol before. The alcohol will have a significant effect on the brain and leads to bad judgment. One that has had to much alcohol will not be able to work as efficiently. A person’s reaction will not be responsible as they are when not intoxicated. When most alcoholics are going through withdrawal symptoms they will most likely end up in the emergency room because they are not able to deal with them.

Alcoholism does run in families according to research. However, it can also be related to one’s lifestyle which is the majority of the cause of alcoholism. There are several factors that may put a person at greater risk for developing alcoholism. These would be the friends that you surround yourself with, the amount of stress in your life, and the availability of alcohol. Just because one of the parents in a home is an alcoholic does not mean that their child will become one later. There are so many people out there that have a problem with alcohol even though nobody else in their family history has any problem at all.

One of the main symptoms of alcoholism is an urge to drink that is really strong. You will also see a physical dependence which will also see a separate set of symptoms. These would include nausea, shakes, and anxiety after drinking has ceased. Once drinking has started the alcoholic will have no control of being able to stop. Larger amounts of alcohol will be needed to make them high. All activities of any type will be neglected by the alcoholic.

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