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Buddhist sexuality

Buddhist And Their Reasoning On Sexuality

February 8, 2016

Understanding Buddhist sexuality

Buddhism just like, Christianity, is a religion or philosophy that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices that are based on the teachings attributed to Gautama Buddha or famously known as “the awakened one.” The religion traces its roots to India, but has, over the years spread to other countries like; China, Burma, Tibet, Japan and other nations in the southern Asia. Buddhists, as is with Christians, have some principles or guidelines that govern on moral living. These are referred as the precepts, which are identical to all the Buddhist traditions. Undertaking these precepts is practiced by both lay Buddhist initiations and lay Buddhist devotionals. The precepts are five in number and do include; commitments to abstain from harming living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct lying and intoxication.

Buddhist sexuality

To the Buddhist, the five precepts are supposed to act as some guideline for the betterment of the purity of the soul. Just like in Christianity, there are the Ten Commandments against which if a person leads a life, they are considered sinners, Buddhism also find the five precepts there pathway to explain meditation and life’s enlightenment that ends all suffering.

However, as Christianity uses commandments as laid down rule to be followed, the precepts in Buddhism are not rules that must be followed. They are just provided for them to use in training for enlightenment, and it is upon each and every Buddhist to either choose to follow them or not. They believe that it is upon each person to develop their constructive attitude. We now need to understand the third precept into much detail.

Just like in every society and religion in the world, Buddhists also do have some views as far as sexuality is concerned. Sexuality is the third of the five precepts that this religion was provided with by their founding father, Gautama Buddha. On the precepts, Buddhists are urged to desist from sexual misconduct. The sexual misconducts include; rape, paraphilia, adultery, sexual pervasions and promiscuity.

Buddhism does not see the sexual practice as a bad thing, but rather what happens after the sexual act. For the Buddhists, the sexual act can have a possible of three consequences. There is the constructive impact, destructive and neutral effects. The sexual pleasure in itself is not evil, but the desire or craving for sexual desire that is in itself wrong and needs to be fought for one to be free of. When one is engulfed by such desires or attachments, they need to work hard to get rid of them, that is, renunciation.

A sexual act in Buddhists is considered destructive when one is driven by greedy desire and attachment. For example, when a person rapes a woman. It focuses on the impact this will have to the rapist. It believes that the rapist will suffer emotionally and should, therefore, consider renunciation to get rid of the desire that drove them to commit the rape in the first place.

Buddhist sexuality

Another destructive attitude the Buddhist believe is the seeking for a perfect partner in a relationship, or even perfect orgasm. When a person haves sex seeking for a perfect orgasm or perfect partner, there is the possibility of dissatisfaction rising. The attitude of dissatisfaction is considered to be destruction because of the unfulfilled desire within the person. This causes frustration and makes the person miserable. In this case, the person should get rid of the feeling of the perfect partner or perfect orgasm to enjoy sex.

There is also the case of extramarital affairs and the sex out of marriage. According to Buddhists, having sex with another person’s partner is also destruction. The sexual act is not condemned, but the consequences. It is viewed that extramarital sex is fuelled by the attitude of dissatisfaction by a partner in a relationship. It is the Buddhists take that extramarital sexual relation cases a lot of unhappiness to the partner, which can destroy a marriage. It is, therefore, important for the individual to fight such desire. Or, to avoid hurting a partner, one should keep their affairs very secretive. When such affairs take place, the perpetrator should be aware of the consequences, which also include divorce.

There is also sexual practices that involve unmarried individuals. This is also blamed on dissatisfaction that arises from the sexual desire for attachments. Buddhism is also against this for the consequences that may occur. Sex within non-marriage is also destructive given Buddhism. This kind of sexual practice may cause unwanted pregnancies or even diseases. Also, abortion is also a possibility.

Understanding Buddhist sexuality

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Misuse of alcohol

Alcohol consumption consequences and hidden facts

December 2, 2015

Alcohol consumption consequences and hidden facts: Alcohol addiction

Getting the facts right about alcohol consumption

Getting the facts right about alcohol consumption is a must for everyone whether you are directly or indirectly affected because we all have a duty to perform in the eradication of alcohol abuse

Different state across the globe has put certain parameters aimed at controlling the consumption of alcohol. With all these efforts the rate at which alcohol is being consumed is worrying ad so we ask are these parameters working. Is there a need of doing more? To answer that questions we want to narrow down the discussion to getting the truth about Alcohol consumption consequences and hidden facts, and with the help of professionals from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, we are going to reveal certain facts which you really don’t want to miss. I want therefore request you to stay with us on the link because doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is up to the task having practiced in this discipline for over two decades, she will be able to address all your concerns professionally. You can therefore seek for more professional information about alcohol consumption direct from the experts by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury even as we progress into the discussion.

And just like we have mentioned it is no secrete anymore that everyone is well informed of the legal drinking age throughout the globe. And in the United States where most of our references are going to made as we build on this discussion the acceptable drinking age is at a minimum of 21. That is the government ceiling however and according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, it is shocking and sincerely regrettable that almost up to 80% of our young high school students have at least tried alcohol. The rules have not been effective in keeping the teens to testing the waters with alcohol. And since the decision as whether to drink is a personal decision that we each eventually have to make, many young people have found themselves drinking out of peer pressure and fear of being left out. The sense of belonging and fitting in has not worked well for our teen more so when it comes to the consumption of alcohol and drug abuse. It is because of such that we have prioritized on this article to provide some information on alcohol, including but not limited to how it affects your body so that you can make an educated choice in your life about the consumption of alcohol. Now what exactly is alcohol to you? Let’s find out from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury.

Alcohol consumption consequences and hidden facts: What is alcohol?

The production process of alcohol is funny and interesting. It is actually created when certain grains, fruits, or vegetables are fermented through a process known as the fermentation. This is a process that that involves the usage of yeast or bacteria to transform the sugars in the food into alcohol. Doctor Akoury is registering that the process of fermentation is one that is used to produce many necessary items including everything from cheese to medications. Alcohol is actually produced in different forms and can serve or be used in different multiple ways including being used as a cleaner, an antiseptic, or a sedative. And that brings us to our next focal point which is “if alcohol is a natural product, why then do teens need to be concerned about it is consumption? Professionally doctor Akoury explains that when people drink alcohol, it’s absorbed into their bloodstream. From there, it affects the central nervous system which includes the brain and spinal cord, which controls virtually all body functions. At the moment a lot of studies are being conducted more so with regards to the teens alcohol consumption. And with the knowledge that the human brain is still developing during our teens growth and development, scientists are researching are working around the clock to establish the effects and consequences of drinking alcohol can have on the teen brain. We will be responding on that as it develops from time to time so this is the place to be for all the health information you need to have about alcohol consumption.

Alcohol consumption consequences and hidden facts: How does it affect the body?

I am certain that it will not pass your conscience that alcohol is a depressant, which means that it slows down the function of the central nervous system and essentially affecting the whole body operations. How does it succeed in this? According to the experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, Alcohol actually blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain. When this happens, alcohol will alters a person’s perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing thereby rendering the victim totally incapacitated to function normally.

One reason why people often get into drinking is because of the passive benefits of its consumption, like for instance it is believed that when alcohol is consumed in very small amounts, it can help a person feel more relaxed or less anxious. However any consumption of alcohol above normal will certainly cause greater changes in the brain, resulting in intoxication. People who have overused alcohol may stagger, lose their coordination, and slur their speech. They will probably be confused and disoriented. Depending on the person, intoxication can make someone very friendly and talkative or very aggressive and angry. Reaction times are slowed dramatically and that explains why people are often advised not to drink and drive. This is because when under the influence of alcohol also known as intoxication, such individuals may think that they’re moving properly when they’re not. They may act totally out of character.

When large amounts of alcohol are consumed in a short period of time, what is commonly referred to us alcohol poisoning may occur. Alcohol poisoning is exactly what it sounds like, that is to say that the body has become poisoned by large amounts of alcohol. There are several indicators of this but normally the first one will be violent vomiting. When this goes to the extreme, experiences like extreme sleepiness, unconsciousness, difficulty in breathing, dangerously low blood sugar, seizures and sometimes even death may result. These feelings are realistic and are no fix ion, therefore the sooner you chose life the better for you and your whole family and the society as a whole.

Alcohol consumption consequences and hidden facts: Why do teens drink?

Experimentation with alcohol during the teen years is common. Some reasons that teens use alcohol and other drugs may also include: curiosity, to feel good, reduce stress, and relax and the sense of belonging also referred to us fitting in. Finally doctor Akoury say that owing to the content about alcohol in the media very young kids see advertising messages showing beautiful people enjoying life giving the impression that for one to enjoy life alcohol has a role to play. And because many parents use alcohol like beer or wine at dinner time children often feel that alcohol seems harmless and so they get motivated to try. Is that what you want for your kids?

Alcohol consumption consequences and hidden facts: Alcohol addiction

 

 

 

 

 

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Sex Addiction Stress, and Stress

May 25, 2015

Stress, Sex And Addiction: Roles Of Corticotrophin Releasing Factor, Oxytocin And Arginine- Vasopressin In Sex Addiction Stress.

Sex Addiction

Sex Addiction Stress

Stress sensitivity and sex are predictive factors for the development of neuropsychiatric conditions. it has been thought stresses are the sole cause for addiction but this isn’t true since triggers can also cause relapse to drug use. Sex Addiction Stress and stress involve similar pathways.

The development and clinical course of addiction-related disorders do appear to involve neuroadaptations within neurocircuitries that modulate stress responses and are influenced by several neuropeptides. These include corticotropin-releasing factor, the prototypic member of this class, as well as oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin that play important roles in affiliative behaviors. Interestingly, these peptides function to balance emotional behavior, with sexual dimorphism in the oxytocin/arginine-vasopressin systems, a fact that might play an important role in the differential responses of women and men to stressful stimuli and the specific sex-based prevalence of certain addictive disorders.

Stress and Sex Addiction Stress

Stress generally is defined as any stimulus that challenges physiological homeostasis—that is, which alters the balance or equilibrium of the normal physiological state of the organism.

Individuals exposed to chronic stress exhibit a higher propensity to become addicts. Stress-induced relapse is also higher in addicts. In general, there is a higher prevalence of addiction in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders and depression. Additionally, childhood trauma is associated with increased vulnerability to addiction. Exposure to high peer deviance in childhood and adolescence is among the strongest known risk factors for drug use and drug abuse. Interestingly, a very recent study has found that individuals with increased risks of drug addiction because of parental divorce or genetic liability are more sensitive to the pathogenic effects of peer deviance.

Stress and addiction are interconnected in several ways. For example, stressful life events may predispose individuals to engage in addictive behavior or relapse.

Sex Addiction Stress

Epidemiological studies have observed significant sex- specific differences among patients suffering from addiction and other neuropsychiatric disorders. The onset, severity, clinical course, and treatment response of anxiety disorders also differ significantly in women compared to men. Importantly, the sex bias in neuropsychiatric disorders, including post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), remains even after adjusting for the type of trauma, pre-existing psychiatric disorders, and sex differences in reporting. Several studies have found increased prevalence of depression in women. Similar sex differences exist for addictive disorders. For example, more adult males abuse addictive drugs than females across most drug classes, including alcohol, psychostimulants, and narcotics. However, women develop addiction more quickly. There are also critical differences in the way that illicit substances affect the two sexes.

Men and women also show different propensities to relapse, and are differentially affected by triggers for relapse to drug taking, putting women at greater risk for repeated relapses despite the higher prevalence of drug abuse in men. Interestingly, once the addiction cycle resumes, women show longer periods of drug use before their next quit attempt.

The sex differences may also be a result of hormonal and neural differences between men and women in relationship to their response to the addictive behavior.

Corticotropin-releasing factor and  Sex addiction Stress.

CRF is a 41-amino acid-containing neuropeptide. CRF orchestrates the stress response by acting at the level of the pituitary to initiate the HPA axis response to stress, as well as centrally to modulate limbic and brain monoamine systems that are important in autonomic and behavioral components of the stress response. CRF causes its effects by stimulation of corticotropin-releasing factor 1 receptor (CRF1R) and CRF2R, and displays an 18-fold greater affinity for CRF1R than CRF2R.

Physiological responses to stress involve the release of CRF from the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, followed by stimulation of ACTH release from the anterior pituitary. ACTH, in turn, stimulates the secretion of cortisol/corticosterone from the adrenal glands. In addition, CRF has an extensive extrahypothalamic influence across the corticostriatal-limbic regions, and plays a critical role in modulating subjective and behavioral stress responses. Central catecholamines, particularly noradrenaline and dopamine, are involved in modulating brain motivational pathways that are important in regulating distress, exerting cognitive and behavioral control, and tempering behavioral and cognitive responses critical for adaptation and homeostasis. The hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic CRF pathways and central catecholamines target brain motivational path- ways to critically affect adaptive and homeostatic processes. CRF dysregulation has been linked to the pathophysiology of mood and anxiety disorders. During stress, release of limbic CRF can modulate monoamine systems that have been implicated in mood and cognition. Although activation of both the HPA axis and central monoaminergic systems by CRF during acute stress is adaptive, the inappropriate or persistent activation of these systems can have adverse consequences leading to psychopathology.

Oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin in Sex addiction Stress

Sex addiction and stress

Sex addiction Stress and stress

Cells originating in the PVN have specific pathways that efficiently deliver OXY to other structures in the brain including the amygdala, BNST, septum, hippocampus, and NAc. OXY released by peripheral organs or by the posterior pituitary does not readily cross the blood–brain barrier, with only 1–2% crossing. In disparity, the local expression of OXY receptors is highly variable and explains differences in social attachment within and between species. OXY exerts anxiolytic and anti- depressive effects in various models.

OXY, in collaboration with hormone dopamine, is vital for pairing and bonding in prairie voles. When OXY is infused into the VTA, it increases dopaminergic activity in the NAc, and stimulation of oxytocinergic projections within the VTA increases extracellular DA within the NAc while concurrently inducing penile erection. OXY-induced dopaminergic release within the meso- limbic DA system may impact the attribution of incentive salience to a variety of social stimuli and ultimately influence an organism’s drive towards such objects thus causing addiction.

Sex Addiction Stress is a menace that should be fought by all means that is why we at Integrative Addiction Institute are committed to availing help to addicts and offering training to Health care providers in Integrative Addiction. Call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) today for assistance.

Stress And Sex Addiction Stress: Roles Of Corticotrophin Releasing Factor, Oxytocin And Arginine- Vasopressin In Sex Addiction.

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Sex Addiction Affects the Nervous System

May 21, 2015

Neurobiology of Sex Addiction

Sex AddictionSex addiction is a crucial topic and when anybody has taken time to read very post about it, it is only prudent that I simplify everything and walk along with everyone as know about the neurobiology of sex addiction. This is really necessary as not very person who suffers from sex addiction can understand medicine jargons. To begin with;

What is Neurobiology?

This is the study of cells of the nervous system and how these cells are organized into functional circuits that helps in processing information and influence behaviors. Neurobiology is a sub unit of both biology and neuroscience. In comparison, neuroscience is broader as a scientific study of the nervous system than neurobiology.

The nervous system is very essential in the body owing to its vital functions. Firstly let’s delve into the functions of the neurons that we may validate its relevance in this topic of sex addiction. The neurons are cells that are specialized to receive, propagate, and transmit electrochemical impulses to initiate certain responses that are important for optimum functioning of the body. The human brain has neurons that amount to more than billions. The neurons are specialized to perform different functions; they are also diverse in morphology.

The nervous system is very important owing to its many function, it is therefore essential that it remains healthy all the time as any disorder may affect it negatively and culminate into more serious or even fatal conditions. Anytime there is a defect in the neurotransmitters the person must suffer the effects. Contrary to what people think, imbalances in the neurotransmitters never affect the health of a person only but also it influences the behaviors of a person.

Neurobiological disorders refer to diseases of the nervous system and they may be caused by genetic, metabolic and other biological factors. Most of the disorders termed as psychiatric disorders are neurobiological. They include but not limited to; autism, obsessive-compulsive disorders, Tourette syndrome, bipolar disorders and even schizophrenia. These disorders are common and can affect anybody, it is advisable to adopt good nutrition and avoid substances that may deplete the neurons and interfere with the proper functioning of the nervous system. In this post we will look at the changes or imbalance in the nervous system that may lead to sex addiction and how sex addiction relates to these neurotransmitters.

Neurobiology of sex addiction

For there to be an effective approach in sex addiction treatment, there has to be a detailed understanding of how the compulsive behavior affects the brain. This has led to many researchers to establish the link. In a research done by the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, a study that looked into brain activity in nineteen male patients affected by compulsive sexual behavior and then compared them to the same number of healthy controls. The patients that participated in this research study had begun watching pornography at early stages in their lives as opposed to the healthy volunteers.

Dr. Valerie Voon, a Welcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellow at the University of Cambridge explained that the patients had been suffering from lack of control of their sexual desires and acts and this had exposed them to adverse consequences that were weighing them down, ruining their lives and relationships. The doctor further observed that these patients exhibited the characteristics similar to those who from drug addictions. Part of the research goals was to show if there were similarities in the brain activity of sex addicts and drug addicts.

For this study, were shown videos some of which were sexually explicit while others were just sport videos, their brain activity was thereafter monitored by the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which uses a blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal to measure brain activity.

The researchers found that three regions in particular were more active in the brains of the people with compulsive sexual behavior compared with the healthy volunteers. Considerably, these regions; the ventral striatum, dorsal anterior cingulate and amygdala were regions that are also particularly activated in drug addicts when shown drug stimuli. The ventral striatum is the part of brain that is involved in processing reward and motivation, while the dorsal anterior cingulate is implicated in anticipating rewards and drug craving. The amygdala is involved in processing the significance of events and emotions.

Brain activity mirrors in sex addiction is similar to that in drug addiction

When the patients were asked to rate their level of desire after watching the explicit sexual videos, they showed higher levels of sexual desire but when asked when they liked them, they didn’t rate them high an indication that they watch porn compulsively but they really don’t like watching porn. This phenomenon is similar to drug addicts who do drugs but they don’t like doing it. Their desire was also correlated with higher interactions between regions within the network identified with greater cross-talk between the dorsal cingulate, ventral striatum and amygdala for explicit as compared to sports videos.

SEx AddictionThe researchers verified that the brain activity of those who are addicted to sex is similar to the brain activity of patents who are addicted to drugs and other substances.

“There are clear differences in brain activity between patients who have compulsive sexual behavior and healthy volunteers. These differences mirror those of drug addicts,” concludes Dr. Voon.

There is need to restore the chemical balances in the brain for a successful addiction treatment. At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we have made it our priority to ensure that every addict has a place he can call on and find a lasting help. Call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Neurobiology of Sex Addiction

 

 

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How to Boost Dopamine Levels Naturally

May 20, 2015

Boosting Dopamine Levels Naturally

Dopamine is a vital brain chemical that is responsible for crucial functions. Dopamine allows for feelings of bliss, pleasure, euphoria, drive, motivation, focus, and concentration. Dopamine is involved in the frontal cortex in executive functions like attention and feelings among others. In the rest of the body, dopamine is involved in nausea, in kidney function, and in heart function. Though only relevant to most people when it comes to such aspects as motivation, addiction, attention or lust, dopamine is a crucial neurotransmitter that also does vital functions in different pathways. As a neurotransmitter the hormone transmits messages from nerves. When a nerve releases dopamine, it crosses a very small gap called a synapse and then attaches to a dopamine receptor on the next nerve. So when dopamine is depleted the impulses sent by the nerves can’t be transmitted and hence may impair brain functions such as behavior, mood, cognition, attention, learning, movement and sleep.

dopamine

Here are some ways to naturally boost dopamine

Adopting a healthy diet– healthy eating helps in solving most health problems. By adopting a healthy diet you are taking a good leap into naturally boosting your dopamine levels. Foods rich in carbohydrates, vegetables, whole grains, whole grain pasta, rice, broccoli, spinach, lettuce among other healthy foods can go a long way in boosting dopamine levels.  Eating fat processed foods will do the opposite. You may also eat sweet foods like chocolate, only a couple squares of good quality chocolate with a high percentage of Cocoa in it can raise these chemicals. You can also get an adequate supply of B vitamins, folic acid and vitamin C because these vitamins play a role in transmitting brain chemicals. Spicy foods like chili peppers and jalapenos are also good for the course.  The heat triggers the release of endorphins, so the spicier the better. You may get help from a nutritionist who may give you a list of foods that may be of benefit.

Acupuncture – acupuncture has been used for a long time and has been very effective in restoring the flow of energy in the body. Among the Chinese acupuncture is a highly regarded ancient treatment of complex diseases. Apart from boosting the flow of energy it helps in the release of dopamine and endorphins and this explains why many therapists use acupuncture to help their patients who are struggling with addiction to drugs and other substances.

Eating animal proteins- foods that are rich in animal proteins are good for boosting the levels of dopamine in the body. This includes many varieties of fish, chicken, turkey and other forms of poultry. It also applies to most types of meat as well as eggs. These tyrosine-rich foods offer an effective way to maintain or increase dopamine levels. For vegetarians there are vegetable sources of proteins that can help in the same way, these may include; sesame seeds, almonds, peanuts and legumes.

 Eat fruits especially bananas.

Eating fruits especially the ripe bananas help in regulating dopamine because they have a high concentration of tyrosine. Other food sources of tyrosine include almonds, apples, watermelons, cherries, yogurt, beans, eggs and meats.  It is important to note that foods alone generally do not have the therapeutic amino acid levels necessary to boost dopamine levels for someone experiencing major depressive disorder. Therefore, to boost your dopamine levels adequately, tyrosine supplementation is often needed.

dopamine

Meditation– meditation has been practiced for a long time, thanks for its therapeutic effects. Through meditation the fatigue in the nervous system is mitigated and so their performance is enhanced. Doing meditation right helps in production of dopamine at required levels. Meditation is a common practice in Asia especially among the Chinese.  There are therapists who can help you achieve this. At AWAREmed Dr. Dalal Akoury will help you achieve this.

Herbal supplements – Some herbs like St John’s Wort, 5-HTP and L Tyrosine can all increase dopamine in the brain. These herbal supplements will even help restore the levels of dopamine after use of drugs such as opiates.

Exercise – when you exercise there are lots of benefits that you can reap from exercise. Exercise is one of the best natural ways to produce serotonin, dopamine and endorphins. however to enjoy the benefits of exercise and help boost dopamine levels and other vital neurotransmitters you need to do more vigorous exercise as stronger the physical demand you place on your body, the greater the release of endorphins.  You should try weight training and high and low intensity exercises. Hit the gym and reap big.

Sex – sex is helps in boosting the dopamine.  A long session can dramatically increase dopamine. When a person is suffering from withdrawal effects of drugs and dopamine is at lows then sexual intercourse can be a good remedy.

These are some of the many ways to help boost your dopamine levels naturally, there are other ways of boosting dopamine but you need to discuss with your doctor if you want to be safe as some of the supplements will cause you great harm; not everything bought over the counter as natural supplement is harmless. In fact to get help in case you have been using drugs of abuse that have since led to the erosion and depletion of dopamine levels in your brain you are advised to seek the help of an integrative doctor who will evaluate which option will best fit your condition. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an expert at this.  Call her on (843) 213-1480 for help

Boosting Dopamine Levels Naturally

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