Category Archives: Integrative Addiction Treatment for Physicians

drug abuse

Contain addiction triggers and cravings

Contain addiction triggers

Contain addiction triggers and cravings will only be possible when you willingly give it up and let it go

Contain addiction triggers and cravings: Recovering with dignity

While getting sober from drugs is an important first step, it’s only the beginning of the recovery process. Once sober, the brain needs time to recover and rebuild connections that have changed while addicted. During this time, drug cravings can be intense. Doctor Dalal Akoury MD a veteran addiction expert and founder of AWAREmed health and wellness resource center advices that you can support your continued sobriety by making a conscious effort to avoid people, places, and situations that trigger the urge to use. This is only way among many you can use to contain addiction triggers and cravings. Besides, that, you can also opt for the following:

Make a break from old drug friends. Don’t make the mistake of hanging out with old friends who are still doing drugs. Surround yourself with people who support your sobriety, not those who tempt you to slip back into old, destructive habits.

Avoid bars and clubs, even if you don’t have a problem with alcohol. Drinking lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment, which can easily lead to relapse. Drugs are often readily available and the temptation to use can be overpowering. Also avoid any other environments and situations that you associate with drug use.

Be up front about your history of drug use when seeking medical treatment. If you need a medical or dental procedure done, be up front about your history and find a provider who will work with you in either prescribing alternatives or the absolute minimum medication necessary. You should never feel ashamed or humiliated about previous drug use or be denied medication for pain; if that happens, find another provider.

Use caution with prescription drugs. Stay away from prescription drugs with the potential for abuse or use only when necessary and with extreme caution. Drugs with a high abuse potential include painkillers, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety medication.

Contain addiction triggers and cravings: Coping with drug cravings

Sometimes craving cannot be avoided, and it is necessary to find coping ways like:

Get involved in some distracting activity. Reading, a hobby, going to a movie, exercising (jogging, biking) are good examples of distracting activities. Once you get interested in something else, you’ll find the urges go away. Another effective response to a drug craving is eating (be careful of what you eat, as eating junk will only add stress and inches to your waistline).

Talk it through. Talk to friends or family members about craving when it occurs. 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. 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 documented. This way you will be kept on the positive track of recovery and always remember to keep consulting with the experts at AWAREmed health center from time to time.

Contain addiction triggers and cravings: Recovering with dignity

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addiction

Keeping addiction behind you objectively

Keeping addiction behind

Keeping addiction behind you objectively with constant practicing of healthy living

Keeping addiction behind you objectively: 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.

Keeping addiction behind you objectively: 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)

The important thing to remember is that relapse doesn’t mean treatment failure. Rather than giving up, 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.

Keeping addiction behind you objectively: Build a meaningful drug free life

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brain

Bipolar disorders and brain instability

Bipolar disorders

Bipolar disorders and brain instability and drug abuse can bring serious brain instability.

Bipolar disorders and brain instability: Cycles of depression

If you have never known what bipolar disorders are, then it will benefits you to appreciate that normally it is identified by incidences of excitability (mania) interchanging with the cycles of depression. The mood swings between mania and depression are normally very sudden. Doctor Dalal Akoury, MD founder and President of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center says that bipolar disorder results from instability in the sections of the brain charged with moods regulation. During manic periods, persons struggling with bipolar disorder may be excessively impulsive and energetic, with a flamboyant sense of self. The depressed stage brings overpowering feelings of anxiety, low self-respect and suicidal thoughts.

Because of the seriousness of bipolar disorder, many of the victims will often require time in inpatient depression treatment centers. The essence of this is to help them to be free from life stressors, get appropriate medication management and learn healthier coping skills. Ideally if you will schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury, this is what we will offer to you during treatment professionally and with a lot of dignity.

Bipolar disorders and brain instability: Types of bipolar disorder

There are two principal types of bipolar disorder. Individuals with bipolar disorder have had at least one fully manic episode with episodes of major depression. (At one time, bipolar disorder was called manic depression).

Individuals with bipolar disorder II rarely suffer full-fledged mania. Instead they suffer periods of hypomania (increased levels of energy and impulsiveness that are not as extreme as the symptoms of mania). These hypomanic episodes alternate with episodes of major depression. A mild form of bipolar disorder called cyclothymia involves periods of hypomania and mild depression, with less severe mood swings. It is further important to note that bipolar disorder affects men and women equally and usually appears between the ages of 15 and 25.

Bipolar disorders and brain instability: Bipolar disorder symptoms and signs

The manic phase of bipolar disorder may last from days to months and include the following symptoms:

  • Binge eating, drinking and drug use
  • Easily irritated
  • Elevated mood
  • Hyperactivity
  • Increased energy
  • Inflated self-esteem
  • Lack of self-control
  • Little need for sleep
  • Over-involvement in activities
  • Poor temper control
  • Racing thoughts
  • Reckless behavior
  • Sexual promiscuity
  • Spending sprees
  • Tendency to be easily distracted

These symptoms of mania are seen with bipolar disorder I. In people with bipolar disorder II, hypomanic episodes involve similar symptoms that are less intense. The depressed phase of both types of bipolar disorder involves very serious symptoms of major depression include:

  • Struggling concentrating, memory lapse and poor decision making.
  • Eating disturbances
  • Fatigue
  • Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and guilt
  • Loss of appetite and weight loss
  • Loss of self-esteem
  • Overeating and weight gain
  • Persistent sadness
  • Persistent imaginations of death
  • Sleep disturbances like excessive sleepiness or inability to sleep
  • Withdrawal from activities that were once enjoyed and from friends

Finally bipolar disorder increases the risk of suicide to the directly affected victims. While in either phase, a person may abuse alcohol or other substances, which can worsen the symptoms. Sometimes there is an overlap between the two phases. Manic and depressive symptoms may occur simultaneously or in quick succession in what is called a mixed state. But in all these instances, you will need help. This is what doctor Akoury and her team of experts will do effectively to restore your health professionally.

Bipolar disorders and brain instability: Cycles of depression

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New heroin addiction treatment solutions

New heroin addiction

New heroin addiction treatment solutions tailored to clean up our streets

New heroin addiction treatment solutions: Understanding more about heroin addiction

Heroin is an illegal and highly addictive drug. It is the most abused and most rapidly acting of the opiates. Heroin is processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties of poppy plants. It is typically sold as a white or brownish powder or as the black sticky substance known on the streets as “black tar heroin.” Experts at AWAREmed health and wellness resource center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD agree that even though purer heroin is becoming more common, most street heroin is “cut” with other drugs or with substances such as sugar, starch, powdered milk, or quinine. Because of that finding solutions must be prioritized and that is why doctor Akoury and her team of experts are working on the new heroin addiction treatment solutions to help the ailing communities get better. Having said that this substance is addictive, you need to be sure of its symptoms so that timely action can be taken.

New heroin addiction treatment solutions: Symptoms and the side effects

Heroin produces a “downer” effect that rapidly induces a state of relaxation and euphoria (related to chemical changes in the pleasure centers of the brain). Like other opiates, heroin use blocks the brain’s ability to perceive pain. Heroin abusers, particularly those with prior drug abuse history may initially be able to conceal signs and symptoms of their heroin use. Loved ones or co-workers may notice a number of signs of heroin use, which are visible during and after heroin consumption like:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Dry mouth
  • Constricted (small) pupils
  • Sudden changes in behavior or actions
  • Disorientation
  • Cycles of hyper alertness followed by suddenly nodding off
  • Droopy appearance, as if extremities are heavy

Buprenorphine (byoo-preuh-nor-feen) is a medicine for treating heroin addiction. Buprenorphine works a lot like methadone, but instead of getting it at a special clinic, a doctor prescribes it in the office and you can take it at home which can make treatment easier for you. The next question I want to ask is “Why is it important to treat heroin addiction?” it is important to appreciate that heroin addiction is a disease and can cause many health problems including:

  • Overdose and even death.
  • If you inject heroin and share needles, you can get HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C, or give these diseases to someone else. Injecting can also cause infections of the skin, muscle, and heart.
  • Because heroin is illegal, you may have to go through a lot of trouble or do something illegal to get it. You can end up in jail if you get caught with even a small amount.

When you use heroin for a long time, your brain and body changes and become dependent on it. If this happens, you may need to take medicine every day for a long time to treat your addiction, just like people take other medicines to treat other health problems like diabetes patients who need to take insulin shots daily. Finally, methadone has been used for heroin addiction treatment but under this patients have to report to their methadone clinics for the medication and support. These are but a few of the new heroin addiction treatment solution and while continuing with the discussion, if you have any concern, you can schedule an appointment with doctor Akoury today for the commencement of your recovery program.

New heroin addiction treatment solutions: Understanding more about heroin addiction

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weight loss program

Prescription drugs risks for weight loss

Prescription drugs risks

Prescription drugs risks for weight loss across the board. It is a challenge we must all take heed on

Prescription drugs risks for weight loss: Diet pills for obesity treatment

If you’re struggling with your weight management a lot often goes on in your mind including the possible prescription drugs risk for weight loss. Because of that, experts at AWAREmed health and wellness resource center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD says that when considering long-term weight loss drugs for obesity, you should always consult closely with your doctor on the following concerns and risks:

  • Addiction: All prescription weight loss drugs except Orlistat are “controlled substances” meaning that doctors are required to follow certain restrictions when prescribing them since they could be addictive.
  • Tolerance: Most people’s weight tends to level off after six months while taking a weight loss medication. This leads to a concern that the person has developed a tolerance for the medication, but this is unclear.
  • Side effects: Most side effects of weight loss drugs are mild (although some can be unpleasant) and usually improve as your body adjusts to the medication.

Alternative treatments for Obesity

The following products are considered to be alternative treatments or natural remedies for Obesity. Their efficacy may not have been scientifically tested to the same degree as the drugs listed in our previous articles. But nonetheless, there may be historical, cultural or anecdotal evidence linking their use to the treatment of Obesity.

  • Garcinia (hydroxycitric acid)
  • Guarana
  • Hoodia
  • Ephedra

When dealing with the scourge of obesity and weight gain, we have chosen not to leave anything to chance. This is one war we must win and if using alternative treatment will make an individual patient get well and live a more comfortable and healthy life, we will certainly explore that option reiterated doctor Akoury.

If you are joining us for the first time, we want to welcome you to the home of solutions to all matters pertaining addiction, beauty and weight management. These are areas of great concern to everyone in the society and that is why doctor Akoury made a decision to establish this medical center with a sole objective of transforming each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power.

Besides that it will interest you to note that, Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. This is certainly one of the outstanding strength you would not wish to disassociate with. Therefore, if this describes you, doctor Akoury is available on telephone number 843 213 1480 around the clock just to listen to you and help you get your life back naturally. On scheduling that appointment, together with her team of experts, they will not only treat you professionally but also educate you on all the possible prescription drugs risks for weight loss. This is very necessary because currently many are turning to diet pills for weight loss and such knowledge is very important for you too.

Prescription drugs risks for weight loss: Diet pills for obesity treatment

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