Category Archives: outpatient addiction treatment

drug abuse

Contain addiction triggers and cravings

February 23, 2017
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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brain

Bipolar disorders and brain instability

February 23, 2017
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

February 23, 2017
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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Inpatient Detox

Testosterone restoration effectiveness

February 21, 2017
Testosterone restoration effectiveness

Testosterone restoration effectiveness in men’s sexuality

Testosterone restoration effectiveness: What is testosterone?

Testosterone is a hormone that stimulates the development of male secondary sexual characteristics, produced mainly in the testes, but also in the ovaries and adrenal cortex. Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. It is also the most important of all male hormones. It’s the hormone that makes you strong, muscular, youthful and vibrant. With that definition, you are beginning to appreciate why testosterone restoration effectiveness is paramount across the board.

Testosterone restoration effectiveness: The testosterone decrease with age

According to the experts at AWAREmed health and wellness resource center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD, it is important to note that, as men get older, testosterone levels decrease. From about age 40, testosterone levels decrease about 0.3% to 1% per year. Low testosterone levels result in decreased energy, depressed mood, increased body fat, reduced muscle mass, decreased bone strength and a reduction in sex drive or function.

The best way to maintain healthy testosterone levels naturally is through a combination of nutrition, exercise, stress management, and supplementation. Since muscle helps maintain higher testosterone levels, it’s important to exercise on a regular basis. Whole body exercises like squats, deadlifts, and bent rows are particularly good at stimulating testosterone and growth hormone release. Get plenty of sleep and reduce stress to suppress the muscle-destroying stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is a big testosterone killer. Supplementation can also help support your body’s production of testosterone. The bulk of this essential nutrient is made by the skin on exposure to sunlight. The rest comes from the diet.

Further on that, a study in Clinical Endocrinology journal of 2,299 men established that those men with enough of the vitamin had more of the male sex hormone than those with less. Blood levels of both dipped in the winter and peaked in the summer. Low testosterone levels can impact on a man’s libido as well as zap energy levels. It also performs essential functions in both men and women such as maintaining muscle strength and bone density. Finally, if there is one thing that will remain endless, it must be learning new things and adapting to the changes that come with knowledge. There is no doubt that testosterone restoration effectiveness is important but to keep this in the right units, we must deal with all elements that cause their reduction. That is why doctor Akoury made a decision of creating this medical center whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power.

Besides the treatment activities going on, it will interest you to note that doctor Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms making the best for all your health needs. You can always reach her on telephone number 843 213 1480 for a one on one professional discussions over all the concerns you may have.

Testosterone restoration effectiveness: What is testosterone?

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gut-brain-axis (1)

Human brain functionalities

February 20, 2017
Human brain functionalities

Human brain functionalities can engage any gear of coordinating the whole body systems

Human brain functionalities: The human operation manager

Have you ever considered how the brain works, the amount of information being processed by this organ is huge and what is surprising is how orderly and efficient they are being processed. Take for example one of the life practical examples like driving a car. A lot of multi-tasking takes place. One will have to position him/herself well on the steering wheel, focused on the road and not sleeping, communicate with your feet, leg, hands, and arms, knowing where the brakes are among very many things like listening to the radio, talking to your passengers etc. now coming to the human brain functionalities, you can imagine the kind of speed involved in processing such data all at the same time. So many, these tasks may appear simple owing to the experience one has in driving nonetheless, this may not be so if you bring in the nerve center. In fact, all these one is only able to do because of the proper functionality of your brain and so how does the brain work all these efficiently and perfectly? Keep reading to find out.

Human brain functionalities: Different brain regions contribute to the regulation of different functions

Taking our example of driving as the bigger task, the brain will break it into smaller units like communicating, hearing, seeing etc. for them to be processed. A section of the brain will analyze the movement of objects we see, the other part will be organizing the tasks, in other words, each part of the brain carry out specific task meaning that whenever a given task is to be done the right information is processed by that specific part of the brain. The other aspect of the brain is that in the event that a section of the brain is damaged then all the functions done by that section will not be done and that is why in an accident if the occipital lobe at the back of the brain is damaged then blindness occurs but other unaffected areas like seeing and movement continues to function normally because the job of seeing is highly compartmentalized, individuals who have lost one aspect of sight like the ability to see colors or to recognize faces, may still be able to do other visual tasks. And so you can imagine being able to recognize people by hearing their voices but not being able to recognize them by their faces when you see them?

According to the experts at AWAREmed health and wellness resource center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD, the advantage of this localization of function is when larger jobs are parceled out throughout the brain they all can be done at once. This decentralization of labor adds great speed to our ability to understand what is happening in the world around us, to analyze it, and then to generate appropriate responses. Dealing with information in this way is called parallel processing and it has been used by the computer scientists in the development of computers.

Finally, the human brain is sensitive and consists of several large regions, each being responsible for some of the activities necessary for life. When the brain is under the influence of drugs, life becomes unbearable. Some of the brains regions include the brainstem, cerebellum, limbic system, diencephalon, and cerebral cortex. Having appreciated the human brain functionalities, it is important to keep it safe from all substances of abuse. You can call on doctor Akoury for more professional help now.

Human brain functionalities: The human operation manager

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