Underage smoking and the best quitting strategies

August 31, 2015

Underage smoking and the best quitting strategies: Why quitting smoking is not just an option but a must?

Underage smoking and the best quitting strategies. When teenagers begin to smoke this early, there will be greater consequences when they get old and that is why quitting is encouraged early.

Even though smoking is known the world over to be hazardous to human health, it is one of the most abused drugs after alcohol. The rate at which this killer substance is being used is worrying and this is further complicated by the fact that despites its effects on people’s health it is still a legally allowed substance for consumption. We are alarmed by significant increase of teen and children’s getting into the habit of smoking and that is what is forming the basis of our discussion in this article. Therefore with the help of experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury, we are going to focus our discussion on underage smoking and the best quitting strategies with a view of bringing this unhealthy behavior to manageable levels. Professionally doctor Dalal Akoury states categorically that the younger you start smoking, the more damage your body will suffer when you get older. With that naked fact in your mind we can now approach the discussion from a common footing and we want to encourage you to stay with us on the link to the completion of this worth discussion.

According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, if something is not done now, we may be breeding a generation of smokers and carriers of all health chronic complications that are associated with cigarette smoking. It is true that our young boys and girls are into smoking and this not good not just for our individual’s families but also the societies and the nations at large. Therefore we want to share with us some of the real and immediate benefits of quitting smoking and possible ways of helping yourself do it. Let us begin with the benefits:

Underage smoking and the best quitting strategies: Benefits of quitting smoking

Ordinarily smoking is very unhealthy and therefore the first benefit of quitting is regaining the good health. It therefore means that if you quit you’ll be healthier with a well-functioning respiratory system because smoking decreases your lung capacity.

There will be instant financial benefits in terms of savings realized from cigarette funds. Research has it that the average smoker spends a shocking £27.54 a week and £90,000 over their lifetime on cigarettes. If you were to use this as guideline, you can work out how much money you are saving by quitting smoking.

You’ll have a more rejuvenated skin complexion since all the chemicals in cigarettes restrict blood flow to your skin. Doctor Akoury says that smokers have more wrinkled and saggy faces by the time they’re in their mid-20s something that will not catch up with you.

Quitting impacts positively in the environment and by extension the earth at large. Remember that the deforestation due to tobacco production accounts for nearly 5% of overall deforestation in the developing world.

Someone who starts smoking at 15 is three times more likely to die from cancer than someone who starts smoking in their mid-20s. The younger you start smoking, the more damage there will be to your body as an adult.

Not smoking will make you instantly more attractive. Most people prefer kissing non-smokers. Try quitting and experience the compassionate love that you and your partner will have thereafter.

Underage smoking and the best quitting strategies: How best you can get through quitting

When we are addressing the problems of cigarette smoking, quitting is often the best option that experts will give. But the problem arose on the modalities of quitting and the hindrances of doing so. It all begins from being in denial to relapse after successful recovery. Nonetheless if you have made up your mind that you want to give it up, the question that follows would be “from where do you start?” you may want to consider the following:

The journey of quitting will not be an easy one and the kind of friends you keep will matter most. It is advisable to keep friends who are non-smokers and not your former colleagues in smoking.

It’s very hard to give up by willpower alone. Get all the help you can find: 12 to 18-year-olds get free nicotine replacement therapy (patches, sprays, gum) on the NHS. Ask your GP for help stopping smoking. They won’t be shocked that you’re a smoker.

Take note that all your smoking friends will not want to lose your friendship upon quitting, therefore you must be prepared for a few push and pull. It’s a good idea to have something ready to say when you’re offered a cigarette. You may want to consider the following few reasons even as you think of other better reasons to give on your own, like for instance you could respond by:

Smoking costs me (name a figure) annually. I’m giving up so I can buy myself a new mobile/driving lessons/a holiday.
I am not allowed to smoke in my work place and therefore quitting is the only option I have.
My boyfriend/girlfriend doesn’t like kissing a smoker. It’s true: two-thirds of teenagers say smoking reduces sexual attractiveness.
I’m taking my sport seriously and I need to give up if I want to be an athlete.

You must be ready to face all the challenges that will come in the first few days of your quitting. Initially coping will not be easy but progressively all your withdrawal symptoms should subside after the first four weeks. You could opt for using nicotine gum and patches (NRT) as tools of cope with cravings.

Worried about weight gain while you’re quitting? Load your bag up with low-calorie snacks, such as apple chips, carrot sticks, mints, popcorn or chewing gum, to get you through the cravings. Read more about how you can quit smoking without putting on weight.

Always relay on your family support. Having loved ones a round you at this time is very important in your recovery journey. Remember that letting them know your smoking problem will enable them find ways of helping you in quitting.

Do your best to stay away from alcohol, coffee, sugar and sweets while you quit. Studies have shown that these foods (especially the booze) can stimulate cigarette cravings.

Finally doctor Akoury sounds a warning that it will take about a month for the nicotine cravings to subside. Therefore it is important that you take it one day at a time and soon you’ll be smoke free for the rest of your life. Nonetheless if you face any challenges do not hesitate to calling doctor Dalal Akoury for further assistance.

Underage smoking and the best quitting strategies: Why quitting smoking is not just an option but a must?

Understanding nutrition in drug addiction recovery

August 30, 2015

Understanding nutrition in drug addiction recovery: Sustaining the fight of substance abuse

Understanding nutrition in drug addiction recovery will go along way in bringing the problem of addiction to manageable levels.

If you are one of the many individuals across the globe that is struggling with drug addiction and almost losing hope, this blog is for you and we are also very much available for you at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. This is a weight lose facility that was primarily established by doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) and one of the most respected addiction expert across the globe. For more than two decades now doctor Akoury and her team of experienced experts have been offering solutions to vary many people and they are not about to stop until this scourge is completely eradicated from our lives. Doctor Akoury acknowledges that there are very many ways of fighting this ware and one of them if through good feeding habit. This is what we want to discuss on this article under the topic of “the understanding nutrition in drug addiction recovery process” we therefore want to request you to stay on the link and get the best nutritional ways of eradicating the problems of addiction from your life and that of your loved ones.

If you have been with us on this link then you will agree with me that this is not the first time we are making comments about this mode of addiction treatment and for that reason, it has been known since time immemorial that individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) usually have significant vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This has cause a lot of investigations to be done by various experts in the past decade, more so to more so with a view of finding out the alterations in both neuro-circuitry and nutrition-related hormones in the SUD population to better understand eating behavior during drug use, recovery, and long-term abstinence. Doctor Dalal Akoury says that the connections between nutrition behavior and addiction recovery have important implications that are not frequently addressed in clinical practice.

Understanding nutrition in drug addiction recovery: Food Addiction

We all need food to keep the body moving. The energy we get for the food we eat enables the body to discharge its function optimally however highly palatable food can stimulate endogenous opioid release and trigger dopamine activity in the brain. And for a better understanding, palatable foods are those processed food that typically contains added sugars, salt, and fat. According to recent studies there is evidence that indicates that depict dopamine circuits as a major site of convergence where metabolic/hormonal and visceral sensory cues interact to regulate eating behavior by way of a “gut-brain dopamine axis.” Nonetheless in many cases, food addiction over the years has been associated with binge eating disorder as well as obesity. Given that weight gain following abstinence from drugs is a source of major personal suffering, there is a pressing need for a more detailed understanding of the effects of drug addiction on dietary intake and that is what with the help of experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center wants to highlight on as we progress into the discussion.

Understanding nutrition in drug addiction recovery: Disordered Eating

Drug abuse is a risk factor for eating disorders and from an expert point of view there is clear evidence that this is both influences genetically and environmentally. Doctor Akoury is reporting that it is very important to appreciate that when it comes to weight complications, even a remote history of SUD can negatively impact weight loss in adults and adolescents. Sobriety time has been positively associated with increased sugar use. Substance abuse linked to low distress tolerance can lead to excessive consumption of food. Like in one of the studies, it was established that nearly 40 percent of women in SUD treatment met criteria for an eating disorder most commonly binge eating disorder followed by bulimia nervosa. Men in SUD treatment reported bingeing and the use of food to satisfy drug cravings during the first six months, with weight concerns and distress about efforts to lose weight during months 7 through 36

Understanding nutrition in drug addiction recovery: Addiction and physical health

According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, the most substantial health burden arising from addiction normally lies not in the direct effects of intoxication but in the secondary effects on physical health. Doctor Akoury says that there are clear evidence supporting the fact that food and drugs are competing for overlapping reward mechanisms. It therefore means that when the immediate crisis of substance abuse has been resolved, there is a likely compensatory increased drive for food intake to achieve weight recovery and a likely overshoot, leading to increased adipose

Gluttonous food consumption may be due to “rebound appetite” in the wake of the hypothalamic suppression from drug use. Making healthy food choices after abstinence has been achieved may be very challenging. Sobriety is associated with new emotions, anxiety, and uncertainty. It is easy to seek a predictable and comforting response from food. This may lead to overeating, relapse, compromised quality of life, and the development of chronic disease. Besides all these it is equally important that we address the impact of caffeine and nicotine abuse because they are highly addictive substances that can perpetuate substance-seeking behavior. And along-side with that, the impact of stress and adequate sleep should also not be ignored, as they too can have profound effects on the endocrine and reward systems. Given that individuals with a history of SUD are at higher risk for developing food-intake-related dysfunction, there is a substantial need for nutrition interventions in addiction recovery, and very importantly the services of registered dietitian nutritionists will be very vital in the treatment process.

Finally, according to Anecdotal reports it was suggested that most treatment centers allow unlimited or excessive amounts of highly palatable foods to patients. However, while food restriction can lead to relapse, over-indulgence can perpetuate the cycle of addictive behavior and contribute significantly to healthcare burden. The best intervention appears to lie somewhere in between these extremes, which will require additional clinical expertise in treatment settings. The need for firm commitment to intervention protocols as well as ongoing supervision is warranted for successful program implementation in residential treatment facilities. Therefor if you or any of your loved ones is struggling with any form of addiction, our office is always open for you and you can walk in any time or call us on telephone number 843 213 1480 to schedule for an appointment with our team of experts and all your addictions concerns will be readily and professionally addressed.

Understanding nutrition in drug addiction recovery: Sustaining the fight of substance abuse

The effectiveness of proteins in addiction recovery

August 28, 2015

The effectiveness of proteins in addiction recovery: What unit of protein is adequate?

The effectiveness of proteins in addiction recovery is realistically working and any deficiency in protein must be avoided if we have to win in the fight against addiction

In one of the forums where I lecture people on the usefulness of nutrition in the sustainability of good health one of the listeners ask a very important question. She enquired the role of protein intake in the fight against drug addiction. Her concern raised a very healthy discussion and we want to share with you some of the effectiveness of protein in addiction recovery even as we progress in to the discussion. Ideally whenever protein is mentioned what come to your mind is body building and good health it is therefore no doubt that protein is a very essential dietary component for those recovering from addiction. According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury, when poor eating patterns is combined with the use of drugs and alcohol a lot of health complications follows suit including mental, social and physical damage. Doctor Akoury says that the knowledge of this negative impact of the addiction on individuals is very important besides taking time in the proper identification of the modalities of achieving optimal health in during the recovery process. It is from these understanding that we want to take time to look at the physical health problems that addiction creates in the body and how protein can be of help in correcting some of these issues.

The effectiveness of proteins in addiction recovery: The role of protein in the body

Proteins like we have already mention is one of six most essential food nutrients in food which is partially responsible for the structure of all cells, tissues and organs in the body. They are broken down into amino acids, which help in the process of replacing and regenerating all cells. Experts are all in agreement that protein plays a vital role in sustaining life. And this brings us to the next vital question which is “where exactly do we find this valuable nutrient from?” Even though this list may not be exhaustive, the following are some of the great sources of protein you can rely on for your nutrition:

Meat including all the poultry, red meat, and seafood
Legumes both dry beans and peas
Eggs
Dairy products including milk, cheese and yogurt
Soy and tofu
Nuts and seeds
Some grains e.g., quinoa, whole grains etc.

The effectiveness of proteins in addiction recovery: How much protein do we need?

On average, most people across the globe get enough protein from their diet. Like for instance in the western cultures, there appear to be more than enough quantities of in their diet which often go exceedingly beyond the daily consumption recommendations. According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, the daily recommendations for dietary protein should be based on weight and physical activity levels. That is to say that for adults they should aim to consume approximately 0.8g of protein per kilogram of their weight. (Weight in kg x 0.8g/kg = protein intake in g). However it is important to appreciate that when looking at the protein and food intake of someone suffering from an addiction, their intake falls below the average. It therefore means that when drugs or alcohol are present in ones’ life, other areas fall short and nutrition is no exception thereby making repair for recovery to become very necessary. And therefore since drugs and alcohol have a harmful effect on many metabolic processes, various organs and systems are greatly affected and need repair in addiction recovery. The following are just but a few of some of the organs that are greatly affected:

The effectiveness of proteins in addiction recovery: Protein and the digestive system

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT), also known as the digestive system is one area that is affected by addiction. The GIT transports food to the stomach to be broken down, and into the small intestines where most nutrients are absorbed. The inner part of the GIT is lined with a thin layer of mucous, which protects the outer layers of cells, muscle, blood vessels and nerves.

Mal-absorption is an abnormality causing poor nutrient absorption, can occur in addicts. Chronic alcohol use is one of the major causes of a folate deficiency, as it impairs the uptake of folate in the intestines. The bigger problem with most alcoholics is that their diets are weak and limited in many food nutrients including folate. It will interest you to note that folate deficiencies alter the intestines normal physiological role of absorbing other vitamins and minerals. Besides that the other characteristic of mal-absorption is diarrhea, which accelerates the excretion of nutrients and limits their absorption. This combination of factors culminates to mal-absorption, which eventually leads to malnutrition. Doctor Akoury recommends that for a better solution to this condition, sobriety is very essential in helping reverse these damages in the gastrointestinal tract, as the toxic effect of alcohol causes this chain reaction. In addition, providing extra nourishment, from protein can help to accelerate the recovery from the effects of mal-absorption.

A common, yet painful occurrence in alcoholism is gastro esophageal reflux or heartburn. Stomach acid is very potent, and can dissolve a nail! Alcohol relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that separates the esophagus and the stomach. When relaxed, stomach acid rises up into the esophagus. In severe alcoholism, chronic alcohol use can create tears in the esophagus causing esophageal varicosities. In addition, alcohol causes direct damage to the esophageal mucosa (a thin protective layer of mucous in the gastrointestinal tract). As with all damage in the body, protein is an important element of the healing process.

The effectiveness of proteins in addiction recovery: Protein and muscle

As discussed previously, food and nutrition is not a high priority for most addicts. They are normally lazy in preparing meals for themselves. Full meals can interfere with the ‘high’, and cause unpleasant side effects when mixed with alcohol or drugs. When using drugs or alcohol, appetite is suppressed and most addicts skip at least one meal a day. Others can go for hours to days without eating and without food the source of fuel for our body is limited, causing the body to fall back on stored energy supplies to sustain energy. And before you knew such individual will be starving causing the body to rely on glycogen stores, which are located in our muscles and liver. When addicts restrict their food intake and ‘starve’ their bodies, they continuously exhaust glycogen stores which deplete and reduces lean muscle mass. This is one of the major causes of weight loss during the addiction. In recovery, it is important to rebuild strength and muscle, to support a healthy lifestyle for recovery. Protein and exercise are essential in preserving and rebuilding muscle mass, as well as increasing energy levels in recovery.

Finally doctor Akoury reiterates that the effectiveness of protein in addiction recovery is a very healthy way of solving the problems of substance abuse and should be embraced by all standards. Therefore if you or any one you know is struggling with addiction doctor Akoury is more than willing to help you through the whole process if only you can schedule for an appointment with her today.

The effectiveness of proteins in addiction recovery: What unit of protein is adequate?

Staying sober by ensuring healthy eating habits

August 27, 2015

Staying sober by ensuring healthy eating habits: Nutrition and recovery

Staying sober by ensuring healthy eating habits is not only good for yourself but also beneficial to your loved ones. Take note of that and seek for professional help immediately.

Did you know that the food you eat could either help you out of your addiction situation? On the other hand the same food can also make you to sink further into addiction. These are two conflicting statements yet they are pregnant with a lot of truth in them. If you are wondering how, then you are just right in time for the commencement of this healthy discussion whose main focus is based on staying sober by ensuring healthy eating habits. Now to begin with, there is the general concern that the escalation of substance abuse is ruining the young, the old and even the unborn children. This is not something to be taken lightly because lives are being lost, manpower in our work stations is reducing and the cost of maintaining the victims in the rehabilitations centers is chocking the economies of our states down to the local villages and to the smallest unit of our families. Doctor Akoury a veteran addiction expert is not left out in this matter and she is saying that as things stand right now, there is mounting evidence which suggests that some of these sweet and appealing food stuff may be the reason why we are ever struggling with all manner of addictions. If this is the prevailing circumstance, the question that begs for an answer is what is the best solution to the problem? This is the one million questions that we want to respond to in this discussion.

Staying sober by ensuring healthy eating habits: The nutritional double whammy

From the professional point of view, the nutritional dilemma faced by recovering addicts is coming in two different categories. The first one being the very act of ingesting drugs or alcohol which is no doubt wreaking havoc on the body of users. Like for instance alcohol is one of the greatest impediments to nutrient breakdown and assimilation resulting in nutritional deficiencies. Opiates on the other hand tend to cause gastrointestinal issues, and more so during opiate withdrawal, severe vomiting and diarrhea can lead to nutrient depletion while stimulants will be suppressing appetite which can ultimately lead to an insufficient intake of calories and nutrients.

In addition to the purely physiological implications of drug and alcohol abuse, there is another factor that results in a less than stellar nutritional report card for addicts and that is change in lifestyle. Professionally doctor Akoury reports that when a person is lost in an addiction, he/she is less likely to eat in a very unhealthy manner. This is so because some of these drugs will cause you to eat too much while on the other hand the others will do the opposite thereby causing you to eat too little. At the height of their drinking, alcoholics often derive as much as 50 percent of their daily calorie allowance from alcohol itself. In most cases, the need for the addictive substance is prioritized over the need for, say, a whole-grain turkey sandwich or other high-quality nutrient-dense food says doctor Akoury.

We spoke to the professionals at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury and they are in agreement that given the nutritional standing of most recovering addicts, it’s surprising that proper nutrition is not emphasized more in recovery programs. And besides that there are mounting evidence pointing to one emerging consensus and that is the significance of nutritional therapy in helping those individuals who are recovering from addiction. It is ideally in order that proper nutrition has the potential to make those in recovery feel much better both mentally and physically. Moreover, various researches have suggested that the inclusion of nutrition education in substance abuse treatment programs can increase participants’ success in achieving recovery and these needs to be embraced by all standards if we are to see any meaningful changes in the fight against substance abuse.

Staying sober by ensuring healthy eating habits: The roles of nutrition in facilitating the healing process

Proper nutrition helps recovering addicts (and everyone else) feel better because nutrients give the body energy, help build and repair organ tissue, and strengthen the immune system. Because recovering addicts have usually damaged vital organs during the course of their drug or alcohol abuse, good nutrition provides them with the nutritional building blocks they need to begin restoring these damaged tissues. Besides that various studies have established that nutrition also plays an important role in mood. Research suggests that changes in your diet can alter brain structure both chemically and physiologically, and influence your behavior. Furthermore, the consumption of certain foods has been tied to increased production of key neurotransmitters like serotonin, which enhances mood.

This means recovering addicts can use food to feel better physically (as their bodies receive the nutrients they need to repair prior damage and operate on a more optimal level) and mentally (as they eat foods that enhance their mood and overall well-being). In many cases, feeling better will reduce the risk of relapse, as demonstrated conversely by the fact that recovering addicts with poor dietary habits are more likely to relapse. Additionally as we had mentioned before that in some cases, addicts may be so unfamiliar with the feelings of hunger, they misinterpret hunger as a drug craving and fall face-first into relapse. This is potentially a very disastrous mistake which can easily be remedied by frequent feeding on healthy meals.

Finally staying sober is the best thing you can do to yourself and to your loved ones. It will not only facilitate your recovery from all sorts of addictions you may have, but it will also bring a lot of comfort, piece and satisfaction in your whole life as a responsible bread winner of your family. We appreciate that doing this may not be very easy, and that is why doctor Dalal Akoury established this facility (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) to help you go about any challenges you may be feeling in your struggle with addiction. Therefore if you are struggling with any kind of addiction, you can call doctor Akoury today and schedule for an appointment with her so that all your addiction concerns can be addressed professionally.

Staying sober by ensuring healthy eating habits: Nutrition and recovery

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment

August 24, 2015

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment: Intelligent ways of containing drug addiction professionally

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment can be very difficult if you chose to face it on your own however with support from experts and loved ones the burden becomes much easier to bear.

If you have been with us on this very informative journey of delivery health information concerning our health, you must be aware that drug addiction is very dangerous and both socially, physically and psychologically to everyone. It has no boundaries and does not care whom to affect, when and how to attack. From the previous article we have intensively dealt with several mechanisms, pathways, intelligent and mart ways of dealing with complications that come with drug addiction. You can make reference to those articles but for the purpose of this article we want to focus our discussion on the topic “coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment and recovery process.” We therefore want to invite you to stay with us on the link as we engage the services of doctor Dalal Akoury a veteran addiction expert of over two decades to shade more light on the strategies of coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment in our societies.

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment: Coping with drug cravings

Experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a facility founded by Doctor Dalal Akoury are in agreement that sometimes craving cannot be avoided in certain circumstances and therefore in such time it is necessary to find coping ways to the problem. The following are some of the ways you can adopt to cope with cravings:

Get involved in some distracting activity – Distracting activities like reading, a hobby, going to a movie, exercising (jogging, biking) are some of the good examples that can be very effective in helping containing the escalation of substance abuse. This is so because ordinarily once you get interested in something else, you’ll find the urges go away. Another effective response to a drug craving is eating however when implementing this careful attention must be taken of ensuring that you eat a lot of junk food which are likely to add you more stress and inches to your waistline.

Sharing the problem with others – There is a lot of benefits is sharing problems and like it is always said that a problem shared is half solved, it therefore means that talking to your friends or family members about craving when it occurs is indeed seeking for solutions. Talking about cravings and urges can be very helpful in pinpointing the source of the craving. Also, talking about craving often helps to discharge and relieve the feeling and will help restore honesty in your relationship. Craving is nothing to feel bad about.

Urge surf – Many people try to cope with their urges by gritting their teeth and toughing it out. But some are just too strong to ignore. When this happens, it can be useful to stay with the urge until it passes. This technique is called urge surfing. Imagine yourself as a surfer who will ride the wave of your drug craving, staying on top of it until it crests, breaks, and turns into less powerful, foamy surf.

Challenge and change your thoughts – When experiencing a craving, many people have a tendency to remember only the positive effects of the drug and forget the negative consequences. Therefore, you may find it helpful to remind yourself that you really won’t feel better if you use and that you stand to lose a lot. Sometimes it is helpful to have these benefits and consequences listed on a small card that you keep with you for reference purposes.

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment: Build a meaningful drug free life

You can support your drug treatment and protect yourself from relapse by having activities and interests that provide meaning to your life. It’s important to be involved in things that you enjoy and make you feel needed. When your life is filled with rewarding activities and a sense of purpose, your addiction will lose its appeal.

Pick up a new hobby – Do things that challenge your creativity and spark your imagination, something you’ve always wanted to try.

Adopt a pet – Yes, pets are a responsibility, but caring for an animal makes you feel loved and needed. Pets can also get you out of the house for exercise.

Get involved in your community – Replace your addiction with drug-free groups and activities. Volunteer, become active in your church or faith community, or join a local club or neighborhood group.

Set meaningful goals – Having goals to work toward and something to look forward to can be powerful antidotes to drug addiction. It doesn’t matter what the goals are whether they involve your career, your personal life, or your health, just ensure that they are important to you.

Look after your health – Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy eating habits help you keep your energy levels up and your stress levels down. When you feel good, drugs are much less of a temptation. The more you can do to stay healthy, the easier it will be to stay sober.

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment: Don’t let relapse keep you down

Relapse is a common part of the recovery process from drug addiction. While relapse is understandably frustrating and discouraging, it can also be an opportunity to learn from your mistakes and correct your treatment course.

What causes relapse? – Various “triggers” can put people at risk of relapsing into old patterns of substance use. Causes of relapse can differ for each person. Some common ones include:

negative emotional states (such as anger, sadness, trauma or stress)
physical discomfort (such as withdrawal symptoms or physical pain)
positive emotional states (wanting to feel even better)
testing personal control (“I can have just one drink”)
strong temptations or urges (cravings to use)
conflict with others (such as an argument with a spouse or partner)
social pressures to use (situations where it seems as though everyone else is drinking or using other drugs)
good times with others (such as having fun with friends or family)

Finally doctor Akoury says that the most important thing to remember is that relapse doesn’t mean treatment failure. Therefore instead of giving up, it is important that you get back on the wagon as quickly as you can. Call your sponsor, talk to your therapist, go to a meeting, or schedule an appointment with your doctor. When you’re sober again and out of danger, look at what triggered the relapse, what went wrong, and what you could have done differently. You can choose to get back on the path to recovery and use the experience to strengthen your commitment.

Coping with challenges associated with addiction treatment: Intelligent ways of containing drug addiction professionally

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