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Motivational Interview So Important In Addiction Treatment

March 15, 2015

Crucial Stages of Motivational Interview as Part of Addiction Treatment

Addiction is a multifaceted issue that also needs to be given a multifaceted approach in treatment without which treating addiction will be a fallacy. There is required input and cooperation of the patient 100 percent. He has to have the will to quit using the drugs he is using; you can never force an addict to quit using a drug he has become addicted to. It also needs patience of both the doctor and the patient so that the addict will be able to completely recover from all the adverse effects of addiction especially during withdrawal. One of the ways through which an urge to quit using drugs can be imparted into an addict is through motivational interview. Motivational interview is often referred to as motivational therapy and us done by a motivational therapist. The main aim of the motivational therapist is to help the patient see the side effects that he is suffering as a result of the use of the abusive drug and help create a desire to quit using the drug in the addict. He will not try to victimize the addict or to oppose his views but uses the power of empathy to instill the desire to quit the use of the abusive drug into the addict.

Motivational Interview

For any motivational interview to be effective there is need of full cooperation from the addict. There is also need of input of an experienced motivational therapist to place the will to change from the use of drug abuse into the mind of the addict. The addict is the center of focus in motivational interview, he is the one who has to make the decision of whether to quit using the drugs or not. The motivational therapist is just there to help him make this decision by giving him a better option in quitting but he can’t decide for the addict, the addict has to own the decision to quit and that is when he is bound to succeed. In a journalistic point of view it appears that both the addict and the therapists are very crucial parties to this type of treatment because as much as the therapist may be good at his work. He may bear initial fruits in planting the desire to quit using the drugs in the mind of the addict but the addict must make the step of quitting the use of the drug.

Here are some crucial stages that the addict will be taken through by the help of the motivational therapist

  • Pre-contemplation
  • Contemplation
  • Preparation
  • Action
  • Maintenance and relapse

For effectiveness these stages should be followed in sequence, however if an addict may fall beck he should be encouraged to continue from where appropriate.

Pre-contemplation

This is the first stage in which the thought of changing has not even got into the mind of the addict. In most instances the drug users are in denial and they do not consider themselves as the right audience to the advice being offered. Here the will to change is not close even to the addict and it requires an input of an expert motivational therapist to let the drug addict see the need to overcome the addiction. During this stage, addicts do not consider change. They may not believe that their behavior is a problem or that it will negatively affect them or they may be resigned to their unhealthy behavior because of previous failed efforts and no longer believe that they have control over addiction. At this stage the therapist must be careful not be seen as opposing the lifestyle of the addict but as an empathizer who has placed his foot right in the moccasins of the addict. Here the therapist’s main goal is harmer the desire to quit using the drugs of abuse in the patient’s mind.

Contemplation Stage

At contemplation stage, patients are unsure about changing. They are weighing the benefits they get from the use of the drug against the benefits they will receive after quitting its use. At this stage the patients tries to look into the reasons why they can’t stop the use of the drug. Giving up an enjoyed behavior causes them to feel a sense of loss despite the perceived gain.  This is the stage where the patient needs the help of the motivational speaker most as he gets in conflict with himself. He is torn between stopping the use of the drug and continuing using it. He must know the advantages and disadvantages of quitting the drug use. The therapist will be of help in letting the addict choose wisely.

Preparation Stage

Motivational InterviewDuring the preparation stage, patients prepare to make a specific change. To test the waters of the new world, the addict may try using the drugs in lower doses and tests his body reaction to the deprivation. The therapist helps the patient to stay true to its course since the outcome of these experiments may make the addict to give up on the goal of quitting the drug use.

Action Stage

The action stage is the stage that needs more of the patient’s contribution to be successful. Many patients may fail once but with the help of the therapist they may get up and continue fighting addiction.  Every effort that the patient puts forward must be appreciated by the therapist as this gives the addict the morale to continue.

Maintenance and Relapse Prevention

Every motivational therapist would want his patient to reach this stage. However the addict may go through the initial stages many times before fully landing on this stage. Change is not always easy to deal with and any discouragement from the therapists over the addicts’ occasional slip may thwart his hopes of ever overcoming addiction and hence he may give up.

Finally, the need to quit using drugs of abuse is crucial in motivational interview; the therapist has to instill this in the addict failure to which the interview will bear no success. All the same addiction is a jail that many are chained but the need for liberation is the very reason for our existence. Here at AWAREmed we are dedicated to finding the best solutions to addiction and dependence on substances. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is always in the mood of helping any patient to be addiction free. Do not hesitate to call on her for help in managing any sort of chronic pain or any type of addiction as well as other diseases.

Crucial Stages of Motivational Interview as Part of Addiction Treatment

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Estrogen Imbalances Impacting on Addiction

March 10, 2015

The Effect of Estrogen Imbalances in the Disease of Addiction

Hormonal fluctuations affect women more adversely than men. The hormone estrogen plays crucial functions in the life of a woman and its supply should not be interrupted. However as a woman is aging the ovaries stop producing this hormone leading to a fall in the level of this hormone. When the level of the estrogen hormone has floored the duties of this hormone will be unattended to leading to myriads of health problems affecting women. Among other problems a woman will experience the following problems when the level of estrogen falls; vaginal dryness, irritability, low sex drive, mood swings, hot flashes and urgency of urination. Pellet implants have been used to treat migraine and menstrual headaches and have been found effective in dealing with menopause symptoms.

According to an article published in the Holy Hormones journal, Female hormones are potent modulators of brain chemicals, neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.  the article reports that when a woman receives the bio-identical hormonal replacement therapy it does not only help with its anti-aging effects but also improves the general quality of life in women as it helps in preventing depression, anxiety and insomnia disorders all of which cause subsequent addiction.

Estrogen Imbalance

Hormonal imbalances cause drug craving

An investigation done at  Florida Detox & Wellness Institute on all hormonal and brain chemical imbalance that can cause drug and alcohol craving it was proved that  many female patients develop addiction issues because of midlife changes in estrogen and progesterone production.  The Institute opines that the reason why these findings have gone undetected is because most addiction treatment centers do not routinely examine the hormones involved in the pituitary-adrenal-ovarian axis.

The involvement of estrogen hormone imbalances in addiction calls for a more integrated treatment to addiction. As opposed to treating only the visible symptoms of addiction, there is need for doctors to integrate spiritual counseling and modern brain science so that the imbalances in the brain chemicals can be corrected making the treatment whole. By evaluating the possible imbalance in the brain and correcting the imbalances by bio-identical hormone therapy, the electrical activity in the brain is balanced and this nullifies the chances of a patient attempting self-medication with drugs of pleasure and alcohol. Clinical studies done at Florida Detox & Wellness Institute have indicated that addicted patients will use drugs and alcohol either to stimulate under-active brain regions or to relax over-active brain systems. The unusual electrical activity in the addicted patient’s brain is typically caused by inherited or acquired biochemical and hormonal deficiencies.

The changes on estrogen levels in midlife causes hormonal imbalance in women and therefore for there to be a successful treatment of an addict there has to be an accurate diagnosis which is based on evaluation of neurotransmitter and hormonal and brain scan research.  By normalizing the underlying biochemical and electrical imbalance drug and alcohol craving can be stopped. There is also need to identify the specific brain chemical and hormonal deficiencies as this will allow for more effective diagnosis of the root cause of the patient’s craving, thus eliminating alcohol and drug addictions.

Addictions that are common in the middle age population can be eliminated by correcting hormonal imbalances.  As women approach menopause the decline in estrogen takes charge however the decline in progesterone hormone normally begins eight years earlier before estrogen begins to decline. It is important to note that the decline in hormones is a gradual process. The drop in levels of progesterone hormone in women will result in such experiences as anxiety and insomnia. Other clinical studies that were done at the Florida Detox & Wellness Institute have shown that the progesterone decline phenomenon is a common etiology of alcohol and drug abuse, which causes over 40 percent of our addicted middle age females.

The biochemical explanation for the increased anxiety experienced by midlife females is that suboptimal progesterone levels occurring in the presence of normal estradiol levels cause an increase in brain electrical activity. Progesterone essentially is a brain relaxing hormone because it converts to another hormone, allopregnanolone. This metabolite of progesterone, allopregnanolone, activates the same relaxing nerve receptor, the GABA-A receptor, as does Valium, Xanax and alcohol.

Estrogen ImbalanceThere is need for balance between the GABA activity and the estradiol production in the body. When there is a loss in GABA activity as a result of dropping progesterone levels a person will develop excess electrical activity in both, their central and peripheral nervous system. This phenomenon occurs because estradiol enhances the excitatory brain chemicals, dopamine and histamine. Their excitatory effect on brain electricity should be counter balanced with the GABA effect of progesterone. The new onset progesterone deficient middle aged female experiences newfound anxiety and insomnia that frequently precipitates the need for relaxing medication which ultimately causes subsequent addiction issues.

Women who have low levels of progesterone hormone will begin using alcohol and other drugs to relax their brain. When this happens, alcohol, just like Valium will activates the GABA-A receptor. This will make them drink more of alcohol increasing the units they take as time goes by as the wine will cease to be just a drink to her but a medication.

The effect of estrogen progesterone imbalance as well as other brain chemicals in causing addiction has been proved beyond any reasonable doubt and it is therefore very important for every addiction patient to ask for hormonal evaluation and restoration when receiving any addiction treatment.

Finally, if you are battling with addiction and is interested in the long lasting, effective addiction treatment therapy please call 843-213-1480 or contact Dr. Dalal Akoury is an experienced doctor who will be able to help you.

The Effect of Estrogen Imbalances in the Disease of Addiction

 

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Erectile Dysfunction: Causes and Cure

December 29, 2014

Erectile Dysfunction, Causes and Cure

Erectile dysfunction is one problem that has seen even the most masculine men wet pillows with tears behind closed doors. This is a problem that will continue to haunt men if they fail to seek immediate help. Erectile dysfunction also known as impotence refers to a situation when a man can no longer get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Having an erection trouble once in a while is not necessarily a cause for alarm but if erectile dysfunction is an ongoing problem, it will not only cause stress and depression but will also cause relationship problems as well as affect your self-confidence. Erectile dysfunction sounds like failure or weakness to many men. It gives them a feel of inferiority and may go a long way in affecting their way of expressing themselves. Erectile dysfunction affects men even beyond the boundaries of the bedroom as it lowers their self-esteem leaving them with an inferiority disease. In most cases erectile dysfunction is caused by deficiency in the testosterone hormone. Testosterone hormone is majorly produced in the testes and is the hormone that is entirely responsible for sexual drive in a man. Without this hormone any man will not be able to have the urge to have sexual intercourse and even if he was to have sex just out of responsibility he will not be able to achieve an erection that can last long enough to optimally perform the sexual intercourse act. The levels of this hormone however vary with age. As one is aging the levels of this hormone will go down and this is just normal however incase the levels of this hormone are flooring at an early age it can be solved by going for testosterone therapy which may help to restore the normal testosterone levels in a man.

Erectile Dysfunction

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

To achieve an effective erection that can last long enough to satisfy a woman or long enough for procreation several factors come to play. Male arousal is a very complex process. Here are some of the causes of Erectile Dysfunction.

Stress- this is one of the psychological factors that has been found to cause erectile dysfunction. Sex begins in the brain and so when the brain is worked up clogged by stress then it may become very difficult achieving an erection. Other psychological factors that may cause erectile dysfunction include anxiety and depression.

Low Testosterone Levels

Testosterone is a major cause of hypogonadism. Testosterone is the necessity for a man to be sexually active. When levels of testosterone decline the urge to have sex declines and so is the ability of an erection to last long enough to perform satisfactory sex. Low testosterone levels also causes dump moods which may not have very good effects on a man’s ability to erect. However there are natural ways that can be employed to help restore testosterone levels and resolve the whole problem of erectile dysfunction. One of the ways through which an erectile dysfunction caused by low testosterone levels be solved is going for testosterone replacement therapy.

Other causes of erectile dysfunction include;

  • Certain prescription medications
  • Tobacco use
  • Alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse
  • Treatments for prostate cancer or enlarged prostate
  • Heart disease
  • Clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis)
  • High cholesterol
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Wounds in the penis

Erectile Dysfunction Testing

There are very many causes of erectile dysfunction and therefore it is important for tests to be done to reveal the cause of the disease before giving any therapy. There are also very many tests that can be done to show the cause and the state of your erectile dysfunction. Some of the tests that can be done include;

Urinalysis-Analysis of urine can provide lots of information, including information on protein, sugar and testosterone levels. Abnormal measurements of these substances can indicate diabetes, kidney disease or a testosterone deficiency, all which can cause ED.

Penile biothesiometry– This test involves the use of electromagnetic vibration to determine sensitivity and nerve function. A decreased sensitivity to these vibrations may indicate nerve damage.

Vasoactive injection– During this test, an erection is produced by injecting special solutions that cause the blood vessels to dilate allowing blood to enter the penis.

Dynamic infusion cavernosometry– This test is used for men with ED who have a venous leak. During this test, fluid is pumped into the penis at a predetermined rate. By measuring the rate at which fluid must be pumped to attain a rigid erection, doctors can determine the severity of the venous leak.

Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile Dysfunction Treatment  

Just like there are several causes of erectile dysfunction so are the treatments available. However the biggest challenge in treating erectile dysfunction is that most men are ashamed to discuss this issue with their doctors. When that is done the doctor may avail you the best treatment for your situation.

Here are some of treatments;

Penile Implants- penis implants offer a permanent solution to erectile dysfunction. There are more types than you may think. Your doctor will help you choose the best for you.

Erectile Dysfunction Surgery– though not so popular a surgery can help fight erectile dysfunction as it improves the blood flow to the penis hence improving erections.

Nutritional Supplements– there are some nutrients that must be available in the body at good levels so as to make erection last. These minerals may include zinc and calcium. These minerals can be supplemented to help save the situation.

BHRT–Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy can help men regain their youthfulness and sex drive of their 30’s through BHRT. Bio identical Hormone Replacement Therapy restores hormones to physiological levels to support brain, nerves, heart, vessels, skin, bones, and other body’s systems functions for all have hormone receptors.

Find help

Erectile dysfunction can damage your confidence and your relationship. If you are troubled by ED Low testosterone may be the cause, and BHRT may be the cure. To get started with testosterone replacement therapy, please call (843) 213-1480 or contact Dr. Dalal Akoury.

 

Erectile Dysfunction: Causes and Cure

 

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