Depression and the Connection to Substance Abuse

July 29, 2015

Depression and the connection to substance abuse: Understanding the two conditions

Depression and the Connection to Substance Abuse are realistically dangerous in any human life

We are at it again and this is because of the ever increasing concerns raised across the globe about the significance of depression and the connection to substance abuse. Professionals at the home of experts (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) are very concern at the effects of clinical depression and how it can take a toll on the body, mind and spirit causing physical health problems as well as a profound sense of hopelessness and despair. This is one health element that can ruin a whole society if not addressed in good time. And because of the increasing demand for health information about this two unique problems, we are going to be discussing this topic yet again to further give insight of the precautions that you can take to be safe of this devastating health condition.

According to doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) a veteran expert in addiction and also the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, the effects of depression can be felt primarily on a physical level in the form of sleeplessness, weight changes, inactivity and substance abuse. Doctor Akoury is confirming that from the available statistics it is true that the problem of alcohol consumption and drug abuse are more common with depressed individuals than in the general population. Besides that we can further make some confirmations from different bodies who are researching on the possible links between depression and addiction, like for instance according to QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, men diagnosed with major depression are nearly three times more likely to develop a dependence on alcohol, while women with depression are over four times more likely to become alcohol-dependent.

Depressive disorders affect the health and productivity of the general population as well as the life of the individual. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that major depressive disorder affects almost 7 percent of American adults and that is almost 15 million people, while dysthymic disorder affects 1.5 percent, and yet again the World Health Organization has also noted that depression is one of the leading causes of disability around the globe further giving us more reason to act swiftly. The expert’s at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury are reporting that if not addressed promptly, substance abuse can worsen the course of depressive disorder by increasing the risk of outcomes such as:

Drug or alcohol addiction
Psychiatric hospitalization
Suicide attempts
Accidental or intentional overdose

Individuals who are diagnosed with depression and a substance use disorder are more likely to drop out of conventional substance abuse treatment programs before they finish rehab. They are also more likely to relapse once they start a treatment program. Therefore it is important that the treatment for these co-occurring disorders should be done effectively and must target both conditions in order for the patient to achieve long-lasting recovery.

Depression and the connection to substance abuse: Recognizing depressive disorders

When dealing with situations like the two before us, it is very important that we are well informed of each of them so that we are able to make a distinction. Therefore the question that follows would be “how can you distinguish between depression as a psychiatric disorder and the blue moods that we all experience at times?” This is very necessary because with clinical depression, the severity of these moods is more intense, and symptoms last for longer periods of time. In order to meet the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder, the individual must experience at least five symptoms of depression for two or more weeks. The following are some of the typical depressive symptoms to watch over:

A predominantly low mood on most days of the week
Lack of interest in favorite activities
Physical exhaustion
Sleeping too much or too little
Unwanted weight loss or gain
Sluggish thinking or movements
Dwindling to focus on important tasks
Contemplations of death or suicide
Feelings of guilt, hopelessness or worthlessness

Dysthymic disorder, a milder form of depression, is characterized by less severe symptoms persisting for two years or more. People with dysthymic disorder may seem chronically unhappy, irritable or sullen. While the symptoms of this disorder may be less noticeable than major depression, however the effects can persist for years. One of the major challenges about this situation is that many individuals who are struggling with dysthymic are actually not aware that they have a psychiatric disorder. It is therefore important to note that when faces with such circumstances, then only a qualified professional either a clinician, a doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist can make an official diagnosis of major depressive disorder. However, by learning to recognize the symptoms of this debilitating condition, you and your loved ones can prevent serious consequences like self-isolation, addiction and suicide. We understand that some of these problems may not go down well with many of us and that is why we are open always to offer our professional help to all members of the public of all walks of life. You can call doctor Akoury on Tel: 843 213 1480 to schedule for an appointment with her for a more consultative season and have all your concerns addressed professionally.

Depression and the Connection to Substance Abuse: How does depression begin?

It is common knowledge that ignorant is a very costly affair meaning that in our case study we must get all the information we need about depression and addiction for us to be able to understand and make the right decision. While addressing the question “how does depression begin?” Doctor Akoury registered that depressive disorders can arise from a number of different sources or from a combination of factors. And the following are some of the most common contributing causes for your consumption:

Stressful situations that aren’t easily resolved, such as divorce, the death of a loved one, or a serious injury or illness
Physical health problems, such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, cancer, or alcoholism
A genetic predisposition to depression, or depressive moods in close family members
An imbalance of chemicals that regulate mood and energy levels, such as serotonin, dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
Structural abnormalities in the areas of the brain that regulate mood and memory

Finally imaging studies have shown that depression is linked to specific regions of the brain, and that these areas appear to be different in people with depressive disorders. Harvard Medical School points out that the hippocampus amygdala and thalamus may be smaller or function less efficiently in people with depression. We will however continue with this theory of Harvard Medical School in our subsequent discussions but in the meantime, if you or any one you know is struggling with depression or substance abuse, then it is important for you to seek for immediate help from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center today without delay.

Depression and the Connection to Substance Abuse: Understanding the two conditions

The best Tools of drug addiction Recovery

July 5, 2015

The best tools of drug addiction recovery: Sticking to the rules of recovery

The best Tools of drug addiction Recovery will be very instrumental in helping you leave behind you your old life and introduce you into a productive new one.

How well do you know your environment? Is your environment working in your favor concerning the well-being of your life health and family? Sometimes we go through a lot of challenges not because of anything we cannot handle, but just because of where we stay and the people we keep as friends. Currently the world is chocking with drug addiction and both the young and the old, men and women are all vulnerable to this problem of addiction in equal measure. What can we do to escape the wrath of substance abuse? We spoke to doctor Dalal Akoury the MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center about the magnitude of this problem and she is going to be very instrumental to us in this discussion helping us bring certain facts to perspective. Doctor Akoury says that to be on top of drug addiction, you must first desire to have the best tools of drug addiction recovery. In her view this is a war and like any other battle you don’t go to the battle field with your bear hands. Therefore when it comes to addiction you don’t recover from it by stopping using a given substance, but by creating a new life where it will become easier not to continue using the substance you have been using and others. If this is not done (creating a new life), then all the factors that brought you to your addiction will eventually catch up with you again irrespective the time lapse.

Having said that says doctor Akoury, you need not to crack your mind over what to change and how to go about it, because for sure you don’t have to change everything in your life because you want to kick out an addiction from your environment. Nonetheless, there are a few things and behaviors that have been getting you into trouble, and they will continue to get you into trouble until you let them go. Those are the culprits which must go because the more you try holding onto your old life in recovery the less well you will do in the recovery process. It will interest you to note that some of these things that you need to let go are not difficult after all. The following are some of the most common things that must be eliminated in order to achieve recovery:

The best Tools of drug addiction Recovery: Avoid High-Risk Situations

Some common high-risk situations are described by the acronym, HALT: that is H-hungry, A-angry, L-lonely and T-tired. Therefore ask yourself some of these questions:

How do you feel at the end of the day? – if someone was to ask you how you feel in the evening, you would mostly take it normal and probably just like a form of greetings, but when it comes to addiction, this feeling is loaded with so much that you need to let go. Hunger, anger, loneliness and being tired are common triggers of various forms of addiction. They often come in very simple and unsuspicious ways like you’re probably hungry because you haven’t eaten well. You’re probably angry because you’ve had a tough day at work or a tough commute home. You may feel lonely because you’re isolated by the people you call your friends. Remember that you really don’t have to be physically alone to feel lonely. And all these happenings make you feel tired. When the day is over and you carry with you these loads of hunger, anger, loneliness and tiredness, then it is at this point when you will be most vulnerable relapse because the triggers for craving are strongest at the end of the day. Besides that the following are also other common ways of identifying high-risk situations which needs to be avoided:

People. By this I mean those individuals whom you use to drink or smoke with or who are related to your addiction. People who you have conflicts with, and who make you want to get back to the old habits. People who you celebrate with by using drugs. People who encourage you to use drugs either directly or indirectly. They are risky situations which must be eliminated.
Places. Avoid places where you use to drink or where you get your drugs or alcohol.
Things. Things that remind you of your past habits.

How can you avoid high-risk situations? – Doctor Akoury says that these situations may be very difficult to avoid more so those that are not known to you. Therefore it would be wise to list them down and get to familiarize with them daily so that you are not caught off guard. With this information, you will be able to prevent any developing craving at the onset before it become too huge to avoid. And in all this take good care of yourself by feeding well on healthy food whenever you feel hungry and not necessarily breakfast, lunch and dinner. That doesn’t mean that you should not take the three triangular meals, but eat even before lunch time if hunger strike only ensures that you take smaller portions. This way you will not feel hungry at the end of the day.

Avoid your drinking friends, your favorite bar, and having alcohol in the house. Avoid people who you used cocaine with, driving by your dealer’s neighborhood, and cocaine paraphernalia. Remember that recovery is not all about one big change. It’s about lots of little changes. Avoiding those high-risk situations helps you create a new life where it’s easier to not use.

Make a list of your high-risk situations – Addiction is sneaky and pooling together is the only remedy that works. You may not be able to see everything by yourself. As a matter of fact sometimes of these high-risk situations may be hidden for you and you won’t just see them unless somebody points them for you. Therefore before you are cornered it is important that you learn on how to look and identify them. You can do this by making a list of your high-risk situations and keep it with you all the time. Go over the list with someone in recovery so that they can spot any situations that you might have missed. This is very important because by engaging someone else, you are actually saying I need help and so this person will be able to stand with you in this journey all the way. Remember the wise saying that together we stand divided we fall. Having said that it is also very important that besides support from family and friends are good but they may not be enough to have the problem sorted out and when this time comes, the intervention of the experts will be very necessary. That is when you need to consult with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center for professional assistance. Up on scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury, she will handle your problem in the most professional manner that will deliver your life back and live it to the fullest.

The best Tools of drug addiction Recovery: Sticking to the rules of Recovery

Complications of stress and anxiety on addiction

June 24, 2015

Complications of stress and anxiety on addiction: The revelation of threats of addictive life

Complications of stress and anxiety on addiction. This can cause a lot of damage to ones health if help is not sought for in good time

In life there are certain things that are inevitable and in one way or the other they will always be with us. Some of these are beneficial yet some are harmful. Stress is one such things that we can avoid in life at the same time we can’t also avoid being anxious. There are things that will happen in our life time that will keep us stressful or anxious. When these two conditions happens to us when we have intoxicated our bodies with substances of abuse then the magnitude of the problem even becomes very much pronounced. This pronouncement is what we want to address in this article under the topic “complications of stress and anxiety on addiction.” And to help us understand this we are going to be consulting with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center which is one of the leading pioneers in natural and holistic addiction treatment in our time.

It may interest you to know that this facility was founded by doctor Dalal Akoury a decision she made primarily to give her contribution in the transformation of each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power, something which when discovered, is very instrumental in defeating the scourge of addiction. In this noble task doctor Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. As we get into the discussion, this is an opportunity you have to make a difference in your life. With experts like doctor Akoury, you should not struggle any more with addiction. Call (843 213 1480) today to schedule for an appointment with her to begin the journey of reclaiming your life back. And now to the discussion of the day the complications of stress and anxiety on addiction, we have very many possible complications as follows.

Complications of stress and anxiety on addiction: Possible Complications

Ideally in the ancient times, the emerging changes in the physical response to stress were for sure an essential adaptation for meeting natural threats. This according to experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center has not changed even in the current modern world. In fact to day the stress response can be an asset for raising levels of performance particularly during certain critical events like sporting activities, an important meeting, or in situations where there is actual danger or a crisis. In other words when stress in put under good control, well managed and not to the other way round, some results can be realized like the once mention.

However if stress becomes persistent and the victims of stress become unable to manage it to the point of reducing us to low-level in our undertakings, then all the parts of the body’s stress apparatus including the brain, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and muscles become chronically over-activated or under-activated and that is a bad signal for any one’s health says doctor Akoury. In fact with such chronic stress the victim is likely to suffer severely from array of physical or psychological complications over time. And remember that acute stress can also be harmful in certain situations, particularly in individuals with pre-existing heart conditions.

Complications of stress and anxiety on addiction: Creating the atmosphere for Education for all

The decision made by doctor Akoury to create this facility is one that needs to be emulated across the board if we have to defeat and kick out this problem from our societies. The good news is that this facility is not only addressing the issues of the direct victims of substance abuse, but also even to the professionals who are attending to the patients suffering from drug misuse. Like for instance, currently AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, one of the leading pioneers in natural and holistic addiction treatment, will be conducting the first ever educational functional and integrative addiction conference for professionals including doctors, counselors, nurses and addiction therapists. The conference is schedule for August 23-25 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and it is a must attend conference for those professionals who would want to move their career to the next level. Remember that this new frontier in Addiction Medicine will be conducted not just by any professionals but by the most influential group of leading visionaries’ professionals with high expertise and specializing in the latest advances in natural and integrative addiction medicine. This conference is taking place under the theme “The Future of Integrative Addiction”. You are welcome and for more information you can login to www.integrativeaddiction2015.com or email sharon@integrativeaddiction2015.com.

Complications of stress and anxiety on addiction: Psychological Effects of Stress

Doctor Akoury says that the reason why we often fail to manage stress effectively is because of the close association stress has with depression and anxiety. And in fact this has been confirmed in the findings of some studies that suggest that the inability to adapt to stress is associated with the onset of depression or anxiety. Further to that some evidence also suggests that the repeated release of stress hormones produces hyperactivity in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system, and this causes disruptions in the normal levels of serotonin which is the brain chemical that is critical for feelings of well-being.

Psychologically some people will appear to be more vulnerable or at greater risk for an overactive HPA system under stress, including those with personality traits that cause perfectionism. And on a more obvious level for your consumption about stress is that, stress reduces the quality of one’s life by affecting or causing an injustice to the feelings of pleasure and accomplishment. Besides that, statistics has it that nearly all perfect and stable relationships are often threatened in times of stress. This is even more aggravated where the victims are also abusing drugs and alcohol. It is therefore only fair that we all seek for lasting solutions to this problem by consulting with the experts from time to time. Doctor Akoury is very much available and more than willing to help you professionally if only you could schedule for that appointment with her today.

Complications of stress and anxiety on addiction: The revelation of threats of addictive life

Benefits of Oxytocin

May 1, 2015

The Benefit of Oxytocin the Cuddle Hormone in Anxiety

Oxytocin is a popular hormone. This it owes to its pleasurable feelings and good effects that it has physiologically or physically on both men and women. The effects of oxytocin on behavior and feelings of humans originate from the brain. The oxytocin hormone is produced by the hypothalamus after which it is transferred into the pituitary glands from where it is released into the bloodstream. The oxytocin hormone has its receptors in all the body parts. According to the American Psychological Association, levels of the oxytocin hormone tend to be higher during both stressful and socially bonding experiences,

“It’s like a hormone of attachment, you might say,” said Carol Rinkleib Ellison, a clinical psychologist in private practice in Loomis, California and former assistant clinical psychiatry professor at the University of California, San Francisco. “It creates feelings of calm and closeness.”

However, this hormone has more to offer than previously known in the past it was only associated with breastfeeding and childbirth but now researchers are waking up to the realization that this hormone has far more benefits than was known in the past. Even today there is a lot of research being done to unearth the benefits of oxytocin hormone. “We’re just learning more about it now,” Ellison confirms.

In the past oxytocin was once thought to be a hormone only associated with women where it was charged with the responsibility of setting up uterine contractions during labor and squeezing the uterus empty after birth. But now there is enough evidence that this hormone has effects on both men and women. Most of oxytocin is often released during orgasm in both sexes. This hormone is what enables the mother to love her new born child and also helps her in upbringing this child in love and care for all years to follow after the birth of the child.

Oxytocin and Anxiety

Oxytocin, the love hormone has since got linked to treatment of anxiety disorders. I suppose you know the conventional approaches to treatment of anxiety disorders; it involves use of antidepressants like Prozac and tranquilizers such as valium, medications that do not really work to achieve healing but rather aims at momentary relief from these disorders. But here seems to be an array of hope for those suffering from anxiety disorders. According to a research that was done by a former NARSAD grantee and members of an international research team, there is progress in understanding a new potential medical treatment for anxiety, which affects approximately 40 million American adults and many other people in different parts of the world.

This team of researchers looked at the anxiety-reducing effects of oxytocin. Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter also known as the “love hormone” or ‘the cuddle hormone’ for its ability to reduce stress and promote pro-social behaviors such as trust, empathy, and openness to social risk. The cuddle hormone has now been shown to make the amygdala less reactive to pictures of threatening or fearful faces. Past researches had identified the amygdala as a crucial brain area for emotional processing.

Oxytocin has influence on amygdala

The report of this research was published in the Neuropsychopharmacology on August 6th. The researchers expanded on previous work that had been able to show that oxytocin had remarkable influence on the amygdala. The research team was led by Stephanie M. Gorka, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois. Pradeep Nathan, Ph.D., of Cambridge University (formally Monash University), recipient of a 2007 NARSAD Independent Investigator grant was also part of this study. The team examined how oxytocin affects connections between the amygdala and other parts of the brain in people with anxiety disorder.

They observed that as study participants viewed fearful faces, brain scans with functional MRI showed that the amygdala communicated significantly less with other parts of the brain in those with generalized social anxiety, compared to those not diagnosed with anxiety disorder. The less connected the amygdala was to other brain regions, the higher the anxious participants’ baseline stress levels were. Importantly, oxytocin reversed those trends by increasing amygdala connectivity in anxiety patients, while decreasing amygdala connectivity in everyone else.

From the findings of this study, it can be seen that oxytocin can have specific effects in people with anxiety through its influence on the amygdala. More broadly, the fact that oxytocin had opposite effects in the two participant groups indicates that the neurotransmitter’s success in reducing stress and promoting social behavior depends on individual brain characteristics, which differ between those with anxiety and those without the disorder. Thus, while oxytocin continues to show promise as a potential treatment for anxiety, it may not promote positive social behaviors in everyone but still it is a choice worth trying.

However, the findings of this research are preliminary and therefore to better assess how presumed changes in the brain influence actual experiences of anxiety, there is need for further research preferably on a larger scope to test oxytocin on more people with and without anxiety disorders.

Lastly, anxiety disorders are present, they have become a part of our lives but they really do not benefit us; they hurt us. You therefore must seek treatment whenever you fall victim. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) an expert in integrative and regenerative medicine will be able to help. Visit us at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The Benefit of Oxytocin the Cuddle Hormone in Anxiety

Natural Remedies for Insomnia Caused By Addiction

March 18, 2015

Use of Chamomile, HOPS, Passion Flower, Valerian Roots, Californian Poppy for Insomnia Caused By Addiction

According to National Sleep Foundation, insomnia is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, even when a person has the chance to do so. People with insomnia can feel dissatisfied with their sleep and usually experience the symptoms of poor sleep that may deter them from enjoying healthy lifestyles. This disease can affect people of all ages but adults are the major victims.

This foundation further stresses that, sleep is essential for a person’s health and wellbeing. But still there are millions of people who do not get enough sleep and many suffer from lack of sleep. NSF conducted survey between 1999-2004 that revealed that at least 40 million Americans suffer from over 70 different sleep disorders and 60 percent of adults report having sleep problems a few nights a week or more. Most of those with these problems go undiagnosed and untreated. In addition, more than 40 percent of adults experience daytime sleepiness severe enough to interfere with their daily activities at least a few days each month – with 20 percent reporting problem sleepiness a few days a week or more. Furthermore, 69 percent of children experience one or more sleep problems a few nights or more during a week.

insomnia

However insomnia can also be caused by addiction. And so far it is one of the serious symptoms of addiction. Drugs of abuse for example alcohol has been shown to interfere with normal sleep patterns since they disrupt particular neurotransmitters in the brain which control or regulate sleep. When these neurotransmitters are disrupted, disturbances can result. Small amounts of alcohol can cause early sedation or sleepiness, and is often used as a sedative. However, the use of alcohol as an effective sedative can be extremely misleading because the side effects that can result are usually even more harmful and detrimental to the natural sleep cycle. For instance, due to the natural elimination of alcohol from the body, arousal and sleep fragmentation can occur and the second half of the sleep period can be drastically interrupted. This is due to the fact that, although alcohol will cause sedation, it will also decrease rapid eye movement sleep in the first half of the night resulting in the rebound of rapid eye movement sleep later in the night. Here are some of the natural ways through which addiction induced insomnia can be treated.

Passion flower

Passion flower is a good remedy for sleep disorders that had been previously got approved in the U.S as an over the counter sedative and sleep aid. However by this time its safety and effectiveness had not been approved and it was consequentially taken off market. This product can be used alone or in combination with other herbs to help cure insomnia that is induced by drug addiction. Some researchers opined that when passion flower tea is taken an hour before going to bed it may help to improve the quality of sleep. However there is still need for evidence to show it does all these effectively.

California poppy- also known as Eschscholzia californica, California poppy is a good remedy for sleep disorders. It works as a sedative and is known to promote sleep. Currently it can be found in different herbal remedies sold in the U.S for cure of insomnia, as relaxants and therapies for anxiety. Owing to its mild sedative and analgesic properties, it can be given safely to children. Clinical and laboratory work on California poppy has clearly demonstrated the plant’s sedative and anti-anxiety properties. It has also been shown to improve both sleep latency and quality. You can use it solely or in combination with other herbs to help cure insomnia.

Hops – scientifically its known as Humulus lupulus

The use of Hops dates back to early 1900s when Eclectic physicians used it as a sedative specifically for insomnia due to worry or nerve. This herb that is used as a major flavoring component of beer has been used for a long time to cure insomnia, nervousness, and restlessness. Hops pillows are sometimes used for mild insomnia. Having been used successfully in the past, trying it won’t hurt you.

Chamomile: is scientifically known as Anthemis nobilis. This herb has been used as sedative for a long time and can be safely used with children as well as adults. In South America, Europe and Mexico chamomile tea is a common beverage that is honored for its effectiveness in curing such conditions as irritability, restlessness and insomnia both in children and adults. What’s more? Its oil can also be used in bathing waters to help soothe nerves. Its oil can also be used for massage. Chamomile is still one of the sought after sedatives with proven effectiveness.

Valerian: is scientifically known as Valeriana officinalis. This is a common herb in the U.S where it is used widely for cure of insomnia restlessness and nervousness. This herb can reduce the time people take before falling asleep and is known to shorten sleep latency. When used it reduces chances of a person waking up in the night. As a herbal sedative, valerian has many benefits yet no known side effects that synthetic sedatives are loathed for. It can be used in combination with Hops, California poppy and chamomile among others.

These herbs are an excellent way to help you fight insomnia naturally. We at AWAREmed health and wellness center are dedicated to finding the best natural solutions to health problems. You can visit us at Myrtle Beach South Carolina where you will be attended to by Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) who has vast experience in integrative medicine for lifestyle diseases.

Use of Chamomile, HOPS, Passion Flower, Valerian Roots, Californian Poppy for Insomnia Caused By Addiction

Tag Archives: Anxiety disorder