BEAT ADDICTION WITH LOVE AND HOPE

July 23, 2015

Beat Addiction With Love And Hope

Beat Addiction. The road leading to addiction is straight and smooth. Addiction is both rewarding and repetitive, literally making the ride fun. But there are consequences, most of the time dreadful. This reminds us the way back to recovery. Unlike the road down to addiction, the one back to sobriety is rough and bumpy. Sometimes it is so rocky we get stuck, other times it’s so muddy and slippery we get back down to addiction and wait for another season. After a few more attempts, we lose hope and let nature take its course. Recovery then seems impossible, however it is within reach. And we can give it one more shot. Only this time differently. How about beat addiction with love and hope?

Beat Addiction with Love for Others

It has been said over and over, and this will serve a reminder, this time because we have to beat addiction, the path to recovery requires great deal of support by others. These include members of the family, friends, neighbors, class mates, and medical care givers. Well you must be wondering about that small concern, the fear to share deep and personal information with others.

It is important to note not everyone is willing to help as some of these same people led you into addiction in the first place and are willing to stifle your efforts for as long as it takes, especially when there is the risk of losing certain mutual benefits. In order to beat addiction one needs to trust someone, or some people. On the other hand others have to be lost. This is where we get to discriminate. See, it is simple. Identify one or two people you are willing to share with, and remain accountable to them. On the other hand drop those buddies who do not support your bold steps along the long dusty and rusty road back to sobriety.

BEAT ADDICTION

Beat Addiction with Love for Self

The prime way to beat addiction is making the decision. The secret lies in making the first step. However there is magic in doing the same with love. Other than love for those wonderful people helping you recover, there is love for self. C’mon who doesn’t need a healthy life? Who wants stay in bed while others go about their businesses? The answer to the questions is obvious, NO.

It is also obvious we do love ourselves. But we hardly think about it, about us. Just like you would buy yourself a gift on a special day, you must take the challenge to reward yourself a healthy life. If addiction is the obstacle to your achieving true happiness, why not make the step, at least make an effort. C’mon I do not mean the short lived pleasure brought by the addiction substance itself. There is a challenge though. Maintaining love is a difficult thing in itself. And many have failed a number of times at it. It is demonstrated by commitment and persistence to forever show care, to cherish and like a rose flower always keep fresh. This is the challenge we must take. It should be much easier to prove love for ourselves.

Beat Addiction with Love for God

The last form of love is a rare one. Not very many of us are recognize it. Unfortunately not even the very experienced of specialists. It is however as important as any other kind of love listed to beat addiction. This is love for a higher power, God the creator. Love for God is marked by constant communication with Him. As earlier stated, the road to recovery is difficult; it is characterized by failures and pitfalls. Sometimes hope is all we need. In as much as we make various initiatives and stay true to them, we also need spiritual intervention. Those who have been successful to beat addiction, the few of them however have actually often confessed the great power of the knee in rebuilding from addiction. Further when a person loves God, he/she recognizes the body is His temple and would strive to keep it clean, healthy and holy hence abstain from many forms of behavioral and substance addiction.

BEAT ADDICTION

Winning Addiction at a Glance

However in order to beat addiction, we need more than love and hope. Actually we must have employed several other initiatives. The following are some of those I summary:

Exercise Regularly: Work outs release endorphins. It gets rid of stress. And helps in building emotional stability.
Meditate Regularly: Yoga is a great way of dealing with one’s inner emotions. It is another yet excellent way to handle stress.
Enjoy Nature: Stepping out to a beautiful view and a warm mildly scotching sun is a great way to come to terms with your present.
Listen to Music: Simply music is a healer. It blows away your mind. It takes one off present hassles and soothes your emotions.
Keep Records: Of course you need to make an extra step. Mean you cannot do the same thing every day and expect a different result.
Start a project: Keep yourself busy at something positive. Spend all your free times at it that at the end of each day you have very little energy to tolerate an addiction.
Be the expert: Help someone beat addiction. While giving a list of convincing reasons to fight an addiction, you might benefit as you reflect on them.

For more information to beat addiction click on www.awaremednetwork.com. You may as well call up Dr Dalal Akoury (MD) of Integrative Addiction Institute and International Organization of Integrative Cancer Physicians. Also click on: http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com for more information about this year’s August Integrative addiction medicine conference. The site also contains info about how to sign up for the same as well as speakers at the integrative conference.

BEAT ADDICTION WITH LOVE AND HOPE

Addiction: A Neuroplasticity Disease

July 22, 2015

Addiction: A Neuroplasticity Disease

Had an accident or stroke? Developed amnesia? Lost consciousness for some reason? Well maybe not you. You may be wondering however how a friend or neighbor is recovering from such incidences of short or long term memory losses. Well thanks to technology now we know the brain has a way to self-regenerate in its functions through a process called neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity and Addiction Defined

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adjust to new environments or needs by developing new nerve cells throughout the body. it is the brain’s way of recovery. neuroplasticity allows the cells to compensate for any injuries or diseases in the nerve system. It also allows the neurons reorganize themselves to perform new functions of the brain depending on changes in their working environment.

One of the most common mechanisms in neuroplasticity is axonal sprouting. This is the process whereby active axons develop new nerve endings to connect with those their links were severed. Inversely, the damaged one can also grow new nerve endings to reconnect to the active neurons. Neuroplasticity is a term derived from the words; “neuron” and “plasticity”. A neuron is a nerve cell of the brain. Plasticity on the other hand means ability to remold. The process is at times referred to as brain malleability. Other times it is simply called brain plasticity.

Addiction on the other hand is an intricate condition of the brain, usually categorized as a disease that involves reward and motivation cerebral systems structurally and chemically altered. It is a mental condition characterized by a compulsive urge to indulge in rewarding stimuli despite possible dire consequences. Addiction is both reinforcing and rewarding. It manifests itself in the form of repetitive, intrinsic behavior including; gambling, food, exercises, shopping and substance abuse.

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Influence of Neuroplasticity on Addiction

At one time Aristotle said: “We are what we repeatedly do.” Even though the Greek coined the phrase in the context to advice his readers of making a habit of excellence, the great philosopher had his brain develop a pathway around his successes over time. See, that is what the brain does. It creates a path of neurons to support our habits. A weight lifter for instance develops stronger muscles as a result of repetitive action. Similarly the brain may develop a path around addiction.

Once such pathways are created, addiction takes control of the brain. Eventually the addiction becomes the only thing that matters to the addict. Once the addiction hijacks the brain’s centers of pleasure it becomes the only thing that brings the addict a sense of joy or happiness. Soon his/her brain recognizes more of the addiction and less of other socio economic aspects of life including: friends, relatives, family, responsibilities, and work among other normal forms of social interactions and activities.

Neuroplasticity on Addiction Treatment

For a long time detoxification has been used as a treatment mechanism against addiction. This is the removal of the substance of abuse from the body. Victims however fell back on to substance abuse shortly afterwards. The billion dollar question then was how this still happened sometimes way after the victim’s blood had been cleaned of the same. This was one very interesting aspect of scientific state of quandary.

It is however through neuroplasticity scientists discovered treatment of an addiction needed more than mere detoxification. The brain actually needed to be retrained back to its normal functions. It required an intensive psychotherapy among other medical interventions to remold the recovery process. Also, it required an intense psychotherapy to reconfigure the brain’s recognition of what initially seemed normal and of the person as a whole especially in terms of behavior change. The nerve cells needed to rebuild a connection along initial, rather former normal pathways.

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Neuroplasticity and Drug Abstinence

The process, neuroplasticity however does not take away the addictive neuron pathways like probably in the case of severe brain damage usually by accidents. It only retrains the brain to develop new ones along the old clean pathways. It is therefore often advisable to abstain from drugs completely during recovery. This is so as to avoid reinforcing the addictive path.

It is the same case each time you reread your favorite novel. You might have read it last twenty years ago. And you could have forgotten a few characters already. However if you picked that same book today you would remember a lot more, the story would begin to unfold in your sub conscience mind even without rereading the whole story yet again. You would remember the chapters more clearly, vividly the characters, deeply their roles and or attributes without going into it a whole other time.

Relationship between neuroplasticity and addiction is not a simple support of addictive habit and recovery alone. It is an inter-disciplinary connection of varied other fields; computer technology, anthropology, and psychology among others. Want to learn more on this? This year’s August integrative addiction medicine conferences could just be the answer you are looking for. Click on: http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com and sign up for the upcoming event where you will have a chance to meet various medical experts, and listen to speakers on the neuroplasticity and integrative addiction recovery.

Addiction: A Neuroplasticity Disease

Managing Forms of Fear in Addiction Recovery

July 20, 2015

Forms Of Fear And Addiction And How To Manage

Ever found yourself at a scene of accident? Ever watched a horror movie? Well many of us have.

It is indeed dreadful. These two however brings out different kinds of fear in many of us. One is the kind you never want to experience ever. The other is the kind that despite the fact it holds our breaths and makes our hearts beat a little faster we still mole around and find some fun in them. Or who enjoys accident scenes; trust me not even the corps. How about anaconda, or the vampire diaries, aren’t they some of your favorites? The answer is obvious. Now back to our subject, fear and addiction.

One of the greatest concerns of an addict on rehab is fear. The following are some of the most common forms of fear among the addicts.

Fear of recovery from addiction

As mentioned in many other reports, addiction is both rewarding and reinforcing. One major concern therefore is losing the very substances that gave them a sense of happiness and joy, losing their primary forms of pleasure and replacing the same with new ones that do not in essence give similar kind of pleasure quickly. Many addicts wonder whether really they are able to sustain recovery and their life after victory.

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Fear of Failure to Recover

It has also been mentioned a number times recovery is a long journey. In the course of it, there are several pitfalls and failures. There are times of doubt; there are those times the addict thinks s/he set her/his goals so high. At which point they think they do not have what it takes. And they attempt to fall back due to fear and addiction.

Fear of Victory over Addiction

Isn’t it ironical this comes after that of disappointment? Could be there are good reasons for this too. Naturally human beings are curious. They often wonder what it is on the other side. Usually they do not know. This develops into a form of fear similar to one of the most dreaded, fear of the unknown. Isn’t it true people fear walking in the dark? Similarly addicts may not know exactly what would happen once they recover. They may know the benefits yes, but they may not yet know a whole lot of other things including; how to deal with the past, and new identities.

Fear of Denial by Family and Friends

Many addicts are slow on coming to terms with reality. They fail to admit they have a problem. They go about recovery either discretely or normally and in total disregard of their situation. They find it hard in the face of mockery and or rejection by their old friends. It could be the ones who led them into the problem in the first place or the new recruits who are probably still blinded by the short-term benefits of addiction and are yet to face any real consequences. Many addicts fear being judged. However the worst form of fear under this category is the fear to seek support.

Fear of Falling Back

There are never assurances to recovery. They are never clear cut treatment. These make this form of fear very real. Recovery demands a lot of commitment. Many addicts therefore fail to take any steps concerned the whole process might fail they shall be right back where they started, states of both fear and addiction.

The road leading to addiction is straight and smooth. Addiction is both rewarding and repetitive, literally making the ride fun. But there are consequences, most of the time dreadful. This reminds us the way back to recovery. Unlike the road down to addiction, the one back to sobriety is rough and bumpy. Sometimes it is so rocky we get stuck, other times it’s so muddy and slippery we get back down to addiction and wait for another season. Faced with both fear and addiction, it is important to be bold and take the right steps back to recovery. What then must we do to manage such fear and addiction?

Based on Fear of Recovery

The first thing to do when faced with any form of fear is to recognize it. The other thing to do is to overcome. However the latter is never easy. It is advisable to take a step at a time. Also, it is advisable to share the same with a therapist who will be able to walk you through the steps. The other forum, rather one of the best is sign up in a support group where you will likely meet other addicts undergoing the process, probably harboring the same fears. Don’t they say always there is security in numbers?

Based on Fear of Failure

It is simple, first recognize the fact there are failures along this path. Second everyone is unique; it might be a simple straight path as so and so. Once these facts have settled drop a perfectionist kind of attitude and go through the process. When faced with difficulties, share the same with the therapist and try another approach. Also, persistence is crucial in managing this form of fear and addiction.

Based on Fear of Victory

How about try not resisting this kind of fear? How about identifying it and yet letting it be? Many however have found a secret in simply letting the future be and living in the present.

Based on Fear of Denial

This form of fear demands great support by trusted family and friends. It is overcome by signing up into support groups.

Based on Fear of Falling Back

This has been solved by the discovery of the brain’s ability to reorganize itself to a state of normal functioning, neuroplasticity. The secret here is in abstinence; this is so that the brain is able to remold back to a former state of sobriety. It also involves exposing yourself more to alternative forms of pleasure.

The above, very important, are a tip of the iceberg. There is a lot more to fear and addiction you may find very useful to you. Click on http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com to find a whole piece of information on fear and addiction.

Forms Of Fear And Addiction And How To Manage

RESTORING NEUROTRANSMITTERS KEY IN WAR ON DRUGS

July 17, 2015

Restoring Neurotransmitters Key In War On Drugs

The history of the largely popularized terms; War on Drugs is a long one. It began in the 1960’s when scientists still conducted research on the medical value of substances such as; marijuana, psychedelics, opium, and Coca. At the time many of these substances were not illegal. However these substances became symbols of political rebellion, youthful dissent, and other social political upheavals. Most of them therefore top on the list marijuana were banned henceforth. Various American Presidents have made history in the dance, War on Drugs. The most popular one is President Nixon, who declared a war on Drugs in the year 1971. He dramatically placed marijuana on Schedule One, the most deterring category of the addictive substances. Since then the battle against drug use has undergone through several twists and turns till to-date. However the most important and yet challenging bit of it is rehabilitation of the victims, or better their say recovery.

Restoring Neurotransmitters, New Approach to War on Drugs

It is highly unlikely doing the same thing every day will yield different results. For a long time detoxification has been used to treat addiction. This is the introduction of cleaning agents in a patient’s blood, to wipe off addictive substances. In many occasions however, the victims have fallen right back into addiction and the process started a whole new. Or aren’t there people who have spent so much time in Rehab facilities with no improvement?

Well time is ripe for a different approach to the war on drugs. There are scientific breakthroughs to that effect. One such was the astonishing revelation of neuroplasticity. This is the brain’s ability to recover from loss of memory or to maintaining normal functioning after incidents of accidents or other activities that might lead to an injury or damage of neurons. Adoption of neuroplasticity in rehabilitative treatment has been a great step in the war on drugs. For more information about it click on http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com. However today we shall discuss a different scientific breakthrough more like neuroplasticity, restoring neurotransmitters.

War On Drugs

Supporting Research on Neurotransmitters and War on Addiction

In a common medical study often alluded to, there were animals placed in a cage for some time and their behavior observed. The animals were provided a bowl of water, and another containing alcohol. The animals had a choice between the two. It was observed they chose different bowls depending on their health at each given time. Most of the time they were denied food, nutrients for that matter, they would drink from the alcohol containing bowl. Other times they were provided proper nutrition and they would drink from the water containing bowl. Continued provision of good food saw them drink the water and avoid the alcohol. Soon they never took in alcohol. At another, yet a commonly cited study, addicts underwent traditional rehabilitation methods of detoxification and were keenly observed for a period ten years, after which only about 5% managed to completely, abstain.

Proper Nutrition Key in War on Drugs

These study observations led scientists to a world of possibilities. Proper nutrition greatly assists in restoring neurotransmitters, which in turn helps in recovery. What then are neurotransmitters? They are chemical messengers’ neurons use in communication. They enable the nerve cells send and or receive electro-chemical signals within the brain and with other parts and organ systems of the body. They are therefore very well capable to regulate all functions of the body including: movements, sleep, wake, emotions, hearing, feelings of touch, response, and mental processes; cognitive thought.

The role of neurotransmitters therefore is underscored very important. Deficiencies are not good for our health, certainly not for those in rehabilitation. Addiction is a major neurotransmitter imbalance. It is an advanced symptom of neurotransmitter deficiency. The symptoms include the following: alcoholism, caffeine, sugar, sex, gambling, carbohydrate, nicotine, tobacco and marijuana addictions. Types of neurotransmitters include: serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, acetylcholine, and glutamate. Too little or too much of any or all of these is not good for recovery. Improper diets, environmental toxins, chronic stress, candida overgrowth, and genetic inheritance are top among causes of disparity.

War On Drugs

Neurotransmitter Restoration Prime in War on Drugs

Restoring neurotransmitters therefore is as important a recovery exercise in the war on drugs as are the other therapeutic methods. The following are simple ways of restoring neurotransmitters:

Identify nutritional deficiencies. Neurotransmitters are majorly created through amino acid assimilation. There is need therefore to take in more protein containing foods with less of complex carbohydrates. Caution however has to be taken against foods containing fat and cholesterols as they are health hazards in other ways. Click on awaremednetwork.com for any further information on nutrition.
Learn stress management skills. For the record take a walk in the sun, enjoy a beautiful view of the landscape, the horizon, take in deep breathes, listen to music, and accept the present.
Exercising is another great way of restoring Enough exercise in itself leads to the production of endorphins, which as earlier stated are neurotransmitters. Exercising also aids in proper digestion of foods and creation and assimilations of in this case, amino acids.
Maintain a balanced hormonal level in the body. Neurotransmitters work hand in hand with body hormones, glands and enzyme secretions. You may have to discuss this with your physicians. They might recommend a number of DO’s and DONTs that you will observe in order to restore your transmitters.
And yes, actively start controlling use of addictive substances. Other than the known hard drugs, you should be able to reduce use of sugars, caffeine, and chocolate among others. Also reduce environmental toxins around your home or place of work.

Once again click on http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com for more information on these and the August Integrative Addiction Medicine Conference, by the way, you should sign up for that. You will also get to know a whole list of experts lined up for the event. One of those is Dr. Dalal Akoury of Integrative Addiction Institute and the founder of International Organization of Integrative Cancer Physicians.

RESTORING NEUROTRANSMITTERS KEY IN WAR AGAINST DRUGS

Screen Addiction: Why We Must Be Concerned

July 16, 2015

Why We Must Be Concerned About Screen Addiction

While technology has made significant contributions to our world, it has come along with a number of concerns. One such concern is screen addiction. This is in fact the greatest new generation technological obsessions of our time. Indeed the world has changed, largely through technological innovations, and is set to do so even more exponentially in the coming years.

Present times sure have new demands. And the need for electronic gadgets be it: the traditional television sets, computers, laptops, i-pads and mobile phones is one we cannot run away from. The concern however is the amount of time we spend with these devices, of what value that is to us, and the effects of such screen addiction kind of novel behavior on us, especially our children.

Figures Indicating Screen Addiction

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children between the ages of eight and ten have access to electronic devices for a period close to eight hours between sunrise and sunset and vise-versa. Their counterparts beyond the age ten are however glued to their gadget screens for a period well over 11 hours each day.

A research piloted by the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC) also yielded critical figures that rather points to worrying trends of beginnings of screen addiction. In a sample population of 20,000 children in their teens, 20% of 3^rd grade students were each in possession of a mobile cell phone. The numbers gradually increased from the aforementioned to approximately 25% of 4^th graders, 39% of 5^th graders and over 83% of students in middle school.

Screen Addiction

Whereas proponents of technological global revolution argue children should not be limited in embracing new technology, the opponents remain adamant parents have a reason to worry especially about the above statistics. The following are reasons to pay more attention to the second group of experts that have from time to time raised the red flag against screen addiction.

Forms of Screen Addiction

Granted there are a billion or so internet sites with valuable content. It is undeniable on the other hand there is as much the number of website with pornographic materials. With such sites readily accessible to the young ones, we do not need rocket science to know they will be addicted. These fellows will find themselves browsing through various websites and for one reason or another constantly lower their moral guards to various forms of sexual activities hence screen addiction.

Victims of online sexual addiction often find themselves in virtual relationships with people with whom they constantly download and share pornographic content; texts, pictures, audio and video materials. With time they develop virtual bonds, sometimes in cohorts called chat rooms, and more often than not find themselves spending more time chatting (sexting) with their online counterparts, more of strangers to them at the expense of their of their real life partners. The after effects no doubt range from family conflicts, separations, instability, infidelity, or worse divorce.

When screen addiction victims are not in the business to satisfy their sexual desires, it does not mean they quit swiping their screens all together. They could as well be on it only for a different reason this time, video gaming. Those who know this too well will agree video game addiction is real. The situation here is so bad medical experts have become wary. Studies indicate about 15% of computer video gamers often exhibit signs that meet World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) criteria for addiction.

Other forms of screen addiction include online shopping, gambling, and research. The former is largely attributed to fast changing marketing trends and the convenience of a worldwide variety. The latter is largely driven by the need for information across various disciplines of study. It is fuelled by increasing availability of online information and the convenience associated with the same with the help of Google, web-crawler et al. This is also because of increasing e-learning models of study among various institutions of learning and research. Gambling however just like alcohol and drug abuse is associated with relationship, work related, and financial problems.

Screen Addiction

Side Effects of Screen Addiction

A number of research studies conducted over time have shown constant exposure to the internet causes cancer, largely as a result of electronic and mobile cell radiations. The same was however brought to light by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the year 2011 after careful considerations of observations and recommendations made by 31 scientists drawn from various medical professions and from various backgrounds worldwide.

Too much exposure to electronic gadgets has also been said to hinder effective development of the brain. Various research findings have led to the realization screen addiction causes shrinkage of the brain’s grey matter. The result is poor impulse control, organization, planning, and other emotional aspects of our being such as love, empathy and compassion. For more information on this, click on http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com.

The above website will be your guide to this year’s August integrative addiction medicine conference and how to sign up for the same. You can also call Dr Dalal Akoury of Integrative Addiction Institute and International Organization of Integrative Cancer Physicians. She also specializes in advanced integrative addiction, Integrative Cancer therapies, and neuroendocrine restoration.

WHY WE MUST BE CONCERNED ABOUT SCREEN ADDICTION

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