The illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief

July 31, 2015

The illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief: Substance abuse provides temporary relief from stress

The illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief is one that should not be taken seriously because the consequences can be life threatening.

Over the years research has established that the effects of stress on human life can damage individual’s mental and physical well-being. Despite of this establishment, we are somehow bound to be stressed in life owing to the nature of life’s demands today. Experts are very categorical that stress will always be there and reasonable stress may not be bad anyway however, our inability to deal with stress effectively when it strikes is the problem we need to work on. Ordinarily and this is where we all miss the point, when we are faced with stressful situations and circumstances we often go for the wrong elements of solutions. Doctor Dalal Akoury a respected drug addiction experts registered that one of the ways that people often run to for help is the use of alcohol or drugs. Whereas this type of self-medication can provide temporary relief, it however important to note that this is ultimately self-defeating. The consequences is that the individual will have more stress in their life than ever before and besides that they will lose their strength and ability to handle it progressively. Therefore the illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief is misleading and dangerous. Nonetheless there are so many different techniques that people can use to better manage stress effectively. We will be discussing some of those ways as we progress into the discussion and therefore I request you to stay on the link to the conclusion of this article and you will not regret it.

The illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief: Stress Defined

People often struggle to give the precise definition of stress yet in their life this word is used almost on a daily basis. A lot of us will give numerous examples of what stress does in an attempt to define the adjective however giving the precise specification of what stress is remains an uphill task to many a challenge that we want to pull off your shoulders now. Ideally stress is very subjective and people are even struggling to agree primarily on which things are stressful and those that are not. Like for instance so many people will be taken off gourd and fell stressed when they are asked to make a public speech, and yet again for others this won’t be such a big deal. We are all different as to what stressed us but we all have the common fact that despite being different on how and what stress us, we are all getting stressed at one point or another.

Therefore we can make several definitions of stress and one way of defining stress would be to simply register that it is the body’s way of dealing with a demand at any given time. This will involve the release of different chemicals in the body in preparation to taking action. It is also important to appreciate that the fight or flight response is produced by the body when there is a sense of danger. We may not shy away from the fact that stress has developed a bad reputation in our lives and societies, but the again it is also somehow essential for survival. That is because if people didn’t react to external events they would be in great danger from those events. Besides that stress can also be highly beneficial when it comes to preparation for exams or other important events. Does that surprise you? If it does I will explain for your understanding. From various studies it has been established that stress can encourage people to put in a lot of effort and it keeps them focused to their ultimate goal whether it is an exam or any other thing they want to excel in. now that we are all at par with what stress is, let us further into the discussion by addressing some of the elements that triggers stress.

The illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief: Stressors – Triggers of stress response

Anything that triggers the stress response is referred to as a stressor. Therefore some of the most common stressors include:

Sudden death of a loved one
Consistent conflicts at work or home
Chronic Illnesses
Overwork and undue targets
Poor time management
Legal problems
Major life changes such as changing house or job
Relationship breakdown
Unhealthy habits such as substance abuse

It may not be possible to put all the stressors here on paper because they are many and diversified but these are just a few that may help you know what are likely to cause you stress so that you can take action accordingly.

The illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief: The dangers of chronic stress

According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) and founder of this health facility, it is important to understand that the moment people spend a lot of time feeling stressed, a lot of changes will take effect in their lives. Like for instance when one is stressed he or she can begin to feel the effects of stress which can cause damage both physically and mentally. This is because the chemicals associated with the stress response are only meant to be in the bloodstream for short periods. Those who are chronically stressed will have such chemicals working overtime. Therefore, the following are some of the dangers of chronic stress that we need to take note of:

Chronic stresscauses the immune system to become less effective. This is because stress forces the immune system to release chemicals so that they end up being overused. Instead of helping people fight off infections, these chemicals begin to damage the individual’s own organs. This can increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes among other chronic complications.
Chronic stress leads to fatigue and depression. Those who are dealing with a lot of stress in their lives will have poor mental health.
It can increase the risk of developing ulcers and digestive problems.
Many people who are dealing with chronic stress will turn to substance abuse.

Finally we will certainly continue with this discussion in our subsequent articles but in the meantime, it is important that if you are stressed and using the wrong substance for relief, it is time for you to choose life and live it in a healthy way. Doctor Akoury is an expert in all lines of addiction and your stressful life is one that she will help you fix in the most professional way if only you can schedule for an appointment with her today for the commencement of your treatment and full recovery.

The illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief: Substance abuse provides temporary relief from stress

Types of depression which are associated with addiction

July 30, 2015

Types of depression which are associated with addiction: What you need to know about depression

Types of depression which are associated with addiction are not just harmful to individuals health but are also fatal if not addressed in good time

Research has proved that there are significant evidence linking depression and drug addiction. Today we have different types of depression which are associated with addiction some of which may include the following: A typical depression, chronic and psychotic depression. For us to understand these properly, we are going to be consulting with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) and also the founder of the facility. Doctor Akoury is a veteran expert in addiction and has been in practice for well over two decades now. That can tell you that we are talking about nothing but professionalism at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. You can become part of this team by scheduling for an appointment today and all your concerns will be addressed professionally and promptly. And now to the types of depression:

Types of depression which are associated with addiction: A typical depression

According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, there is a form of clinical depression which does not present itself straightforwardly. This is what is commonly known as “atypical depression,” where the symptoms are surprising and indeed, atypical to the condition. The “atypical” in the name does not mean that this is a rare condition it is found in 36 percent of all cases of depression only that it is different from classical depression. This type of depression is often associated with the following symptoms.

Types of depression which are associated with addiction: Symptoms of atypical depression

Doctor Akoury says that, those who have this type of depression (atypical depression) are likely to experience the following:

Sleep a lot (hypersomnia) instead of being unable to sleep
Overeat (hyperphagia) instead of losing your appetite
Gain weight instead of losing it

In cases of hypersomnia and hyperphagia, the variation or excess sleep is defined as 10 hours per day (or two or more hours a day than usual); the weight gain is defined as at least 5 pounds. There are other, more nuanced symptoms of atypical depression. You may actually experience happiness at good news, but the feelings do not last and are quickly replaced by more common depressive sensations. In fact, this symptom known as mood reactivity – is one of the criteria for diagnosing atypical depression. If a positive experience makes you feel more than 50 percent happier than you did before the experience, your doctor knows that you do not have major depression and can prescribe the appropriate course of treatment for you.

In another symptom, you may feel incredibly lethargic and completely drained of energy. While this is standard to victims of both classical and atypical depression, atypical depression is different because victims feel as though they are physically unable to move that is to say that they are feeling as if they are being physically restrained from getting out of bed, for example.

Atypical depression also can make you excessively sensitive to criticism and negative feedback. If this sensitivity negatively impacts your job or academic performance, and it causes stress in your personal and everyday life, your medical practitioner can use this to diagnosis atypical depression.

Similar to other depressive and mood disorders, women are more likely to develop atypical depression than men. Besides women, typical depression is also very common with teenagers than adults even though it can continue into adulthood if not detected and treated in good time. Other conditions, such as substance abuse, anxiety, and somatization disorder where the patient has chronic physical symptoms with no evident physical cause are more common in atypical depression than classical depression.

Types of depression which are associated with addiction: Chronic depression

Chronic depression also known as dysthymia, its effects are not as severe as those of major depression, but it lasts longer – upwards of two years. While the impact is not as crushing, the persistent, lingering effects of dysthymia are still serious cause for concern. Doctor Akoury reports that diagnosing dysthymia is not easy, because it does not present itself clearly as major depression. Given that it is diffused over a significant period of time, dysthymia is often simply brushed off as a negative disposition or a long-term bad mood. It often escapes the attention of the people who may be able to notice a problem because of how habitual the symptoms of dysthymia can appear.

Because of this, even people who have dysthymia may not know that they have a depressive condition. Unable to understand why they do not enjoy life as much as they used to, they are at risk for developing other comorbid conditions, such as eating disorder (never leaving the house and relying on comfort food), substance abuse, and even suicidal thoughts and behaviors. It is possible for the patient to experience an attack of major depression, even while suffering from dysthymia. This phenomenon is known as “double depression.”

Types of depression which are associated with addiction: Chronic depression symptoms

Other recognizable symptoms of chronic depression may be:

Insomnia
Fatigue
Excessive amount of sleep
Cognitive impairment
Hopelessness and despair

These symptoms may be familiar; they are also found in people who have major depression. The difference here is that for people with dysthymia, these symptoms are not as pronounced, but they can last for years. However, like other major depression, the effects of dysthymia are enough to disrupt daily life.

Types of depression which are associated with addiction: What is psychotic depression?

In the context of mental health, psychosis refers to a patient losing contact with reality. The following symptoms are associated with psychosis:

Hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things when there is no such stimuli
Paranoid delusions, or the fear that the patient is being persecuted
Cognitive impairment
Catatonia

Psychotic depression is characterized by the usual symptoms of major depression including insomnia, feelings of worthlessness, anxiety, inability to enjoy pleasurable activities, etc. with some manifestation of psychosis. The causes of psychotic depression are still not understood, but it is believed that an imbalance of a hormone known as cortisol (which is secreted in the adrenal glands, for release during times of stress) may be associated. It is also important to note that psychotic depression is different from other disorders where psychosis is present, like schizophrenia, because patients with psychotic depression are aware of their psychoses; that is, if you have psychotic depression, you will know that the voices you hear are not real.

Finally it is important to note that the shame or embarrassment inherent can make psychotic depression difficult to diagnose. Therefore taking early precaution is very necessary so that what can be avoided be avoided before it gets out of hand. You can talk to doctor Dalal Akoury of you feel that this describes you and she will be able to help you in the most professional way.

Types of depression which are associated with addiction: What you need to know about depression

Acute substance abuse problems and medical tourism

July 28, 2015

Acute substance abuse problems and medical tourism: Would you travel abroad for addiction treatment?

Acute substance abuse problems and medical tourism, you realize that the most important thing is getting the problem sorted out. Therefore if traveling abroad would help then it is necessary and must be done.

The trend of treatment is changing from time to time due to various reasons. There are some illnesses that make people feel that they cannot be attended to from their locality again because of several factors. And as a result of this many are opting to seek for the same treatment far away from their localities. In this case distance may not matter but the interest and ability to meet the cost becomes the key factors for consideration. We spoke to doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center about her experience with clients in her over two decades of practice. And she said that addiction treatment is one that is being sought for by many across the borders. According to her most of her clients who are not residence of state are concerned about stigma. As it has been stated severally on this link that in the olden days individuals who were suffering from substance abuse were actually seen to be of weak character. And even though things are now changing, pockets of people are still harboring this old school of thought hence the reason of acute substance abuse problem and medical tourism in most parts of the globe.

If you are still wondering what medical tourism is then you are on time for the most cherished source of medical information. This simply refers to the practice of traveling across international borders in order to obtain health care. Ideally there are many reasons for why people might choose to do this but the most common are that it can be significantly cheaper to get treatment abroad, and it can also mean better options. Those individuals who are dealing with a substance abuse problem are now following the example of the medical tourist. They too are looking at their options in foreign countries and an increasing number of them are deciding that traveling abroad for addiction treatment just makes sense.

Acute substance abuse problems and medical tourism: Importance of choosing the right rehab

In order for the individual to have the greatest chance of success in recovery they need to choose the right rehab. The problem is that the facility that might be right for one person might not be such a good option for someone else. If there was one facility that was right for everyone the rest of the rehabs could follow this template and this could help to eliminate addiction completely. The reality is that no such facility exists and there can only be a rehab that is right for the individual. This is why when choosing where to go the individual needs to consider their own needs and how the treatment program will match those needs. For example, some people are quite secular in their beliefs, and they might struggle in a rehab that focused too much on spirituality. On the other hand, those people who have strong religious beliefs will probably benefit from a rehab that emphasizes spirituality.

Even if the individual knows what type of rehab is most likely to work for them it does not always mean that this option will be available to them. The most common reason for this situation is that the individual feels they would do better with some type of private facility, but they do not feel able to afford it. One way to overcome this obstacle to choosing the right rehab is to consider traveling abroad for addiction treatment. This can also mean that the individual has new alternatives that would not be available to them back in their home country.

Acute substance abuse problems and medical tourism: Benefits of traveling abroad for addiction treatment

People do not just travel overseas for no reason there must be some good things that motivate them to travel across the borders in search for treatment. The following are some of the benefits of traveling abroad for addiction treatment:

It means that the individual may have recovery options that would not be available to them at home. Some of the international rehabs offerunique programs that might be just what the individual needs.
By traveling abroad the individual will often find cheaper options than they would find in their home country. This could mean that even those with a modest salary can benefit from a stay in a moreluxurious facility.
There are some individuals who will not want other people to know about their stay in rehab. One way to protect their anonymity is to travel abroad to stay in a rehab in most of these placed they will not even need to use their real name further offering them the best of protection from any stigma.
It is possible to attend a facility in an exotic location such asThailand. By entering recovery the individual is building a foundation for a better future and it seems fitting that they do this in a special place.
Some people often feel or view rehab abroad as a reward for doing the right thing.
There will be some discomforts related to the rehab process that are unavoidable (e.g. being away from family), but there will be other discomforts that will be complete avoidable (e.g. staying in an environment that is not conducive to recovery). By choosing a foreign facility the individual may be able to eliminate many of the unnecessary discomforts associated with this type of treatment.
Combining rehab with a foreign holiday can make the whole process more meaningful. It will ensure that the start of the journey into sobriety will be special as well as memorable.
Some people will choose a remote location with stunning scenery. This ambience will make their stay in rehab all the more comfortable.

Finally the objective of traveling or medical tourism will always remain the same when it comes to fighting drug addiction. It is important to note that traveling alone will not offer the solution but all other factors of treatment must be observed if any meaningful result is to be attained. If the patient is still in denial and he/she is flown abroad for recovery treatment, such individual will not be able to optimize on their medical tourism and will probably return the same or even worse as they left. Therefore there must be good preparedness before this decision of traveling is arrived at. It will be very important that you talk with professionals in your region to help you understand some of the coping needs that you must observe. If you are looking for where to get this information, then look no further because we are here for you. Talk to us at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center and we will be of great help to you in all matters pertaining to drug addiction recovery process.

Acute substance abuse problems and medical tourism: Would you travel abroad for addiction treatment

Coexistence Of Pain And Addiction; Pain Cause Or An Effect

July 26, 2015

Coexistence Of Pain And Addiction; Pain Cause Or An Effect

According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heroin use has hit a staggering 63% increase in the United States U.S. Based on the report, use of the narcotic drug was recorded at a low of 1.6% of Americans aged 12 years and above in 2002. A decade later percentage of the American population within the age brackets using the addictive substance increased to an average high of 2.6 each year. The report also pointed out heroin use among the feminine gender shockingly doubled that of men in a similar study period.

Increased Opioid Use Cause of Amplified Addiction

The increase of heroin use among women was however attributed to increased opioid pain killer prescriptions. Women understandably have more related and complicated medical conditions. In related medical reports, abuse of opioid painkillers has increased significantly since the 1990s to this date. Between the period 1999 and 2006, individuals aged 12 and above reportedly used pain medication prescriptions for non-medical reasons; their numbers increased from 2.6 million in 1999 to 5.2 million in 2006. In the latter calendar year, 5.2 million publics self-reported abusing the opiate narcotic prescriptions. According to the reports, close to 5 million of the U.S. populace is affected by opioid pain and addiction related pills, further leading to well over 17,000 deaths.

The abuse has paralleled that of heroin use in a similar period as illuminated above. Over time therefore women have increased opioid pill prescription as a result of pain compared with their counterparts, hence the increase. To understand these reports more clearly and what they mean in the subject pain and addiction, continue otherwise… http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com for related articles and information on an upcoming Integrative Addiction Medicine Conference.

Pain and addiction

Addictive Opioid narcotics Used as Pain Killer

Back to our discussion, opioid is a narcotic pain killer pill medication often prescribed by medical doctors. It is an integration of various narcotic drug substances including: methadone, codein, morphin, Oxycontin, hydrocodone, and heroin; the latter being the most popular of the pain and addiction therapeutic narcotics. The opiate pain relief pill prescriptions vary in level of effects to the body. But most significantly they depress the central nervous system, and reduce rate of body functioning; both physical and psychological pains. While they are often prescribed for prescribed medical reasons to be used within specified durations, mostly to deal with pain and addiction related problems, there are reports extended use of the opioids cause addiction.

Effects and Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal

Effects of opiate addiction are allegedly far-reaching, or if you may are devastating. Opioid addiction leaves not a single aspect of an addict’s life unscathed. Some of the most common effects of the opiate narcotics addiction include: damage of brain structure and functioning, damage of memory, seizure, bleeding ulcers, liver damage, job loss, incarceration, divorce, domestic violence, child abuse, homelessness, coma, constant overdose, or in extreme occasions deaths. Effects of withdrawal can also be very unpleasant. They vary depending on the period of exposure; quantity of the drug used each time, and the frequency of use. Actually it is advisable withdrawal is at all times done under close supervision of a medical doctor. Common effects include: bone and muscle pains, nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramping, Goosebumps, vomiting, chills, incessant anxiety, compulsive craving for pills, seizure, dilated pupils, fevers, irritation, agitation, and in extreme cases like in the case of effects of addiction coma and suicidal thoughts.

Over the years experts on pain and addiction have long grappled with how best to treat the patients who suffer from chronic pain who are estimated worrying figures of about 116 million Americans. Their concerns originate from conceivable high risks involved with long-term exposure by patients on treatment. Such risks include as highlighted earlier increased drug tolerance and the ardent need for augmented doses, a condition referred to as hyperalgesia meaning increased sensitivity to pain and addiction. On the other hand the health care providers are concerned some patients may reject the opiate narcotics prescriptions for fear of addiction.

There are however no specific statistics to substantiate or rule out such fears, an aspect said to be making the situation even worse. Approximations of addiction among chronic pain addicts vary by huge margins; from about 3% to an estimated 40%. The unevenness is a result of differences in the duration of treatment, insufficient research on long-term outcomes, incongruent of studies results on populations and the aspects measured to assess pain and addiction related drug abuses.

Managing Pain and Addiction

To moderate these addiction risks, it is thought wise the physicians screen patients for latent risk factors, including but not limited to; personal and family histories, mental stability and drug exposure determined over time. Monitoring patients for such signs of abuse is also crucial for the reasons some indicators can also signify multiple conditions hence making accurate assessments challenging. Premature and or frequent pain and addiction opioid pain killer requests for instance could denote progression of the pain related illnesses, drug tolerance, or emergence of advanced other drug problems.

Pain And Addiction

Finally development of operative non-addicting pain treatments is a national health priority. An emergent elderly population and the growing number of wounded military officials serve a clear indication of the urgency of the pain and addiction subject matter. Researchers have in the past few years amplified their quest for alternative medications that can go a long way in alleviating pain but do not necessarily cause addiction. More medical research is however obligatory in order shed more light on effective chronic pain and addiction management, including identifying predisposing factors to addiction that some patients have and further develop preventive actions against drug abuse.

As to whether pain is a cause or effect of addiction, it can be deduced from the above discussion pain is both a cause and an effect of the same. Also, that pain and addiction are coexistent medical phenomena doctors would achieve a lot more positive results when they are simultaneously treated as opposed to inappropriately treating one at the expense of another.

Coexistence Of Pain And Addiction; Pain Cause Or An Effect

PTSD and Addiction Cause-And-Effect!

July 26, 2015

Cause-And-Effect Relationship between PTSD and Addiction

It is a common medical practice addicts are tested for co-occurring physical and mental conditions each time they seek treatment. In many of those occasions they have actually been diagnosed with various forms of the same. Very much common among them is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). There are several accounts as to the connection between these two. One such theory is based on the fact many victims of PTSD have drug addiction or related issues. And there are available data that pretty much supports this.

According to a commonly cited report, an estimated 8% of Americans have suffered PTSD at one point in their lives. Out of them 34% men and 27% women have recorded drug addiction. Again, 52% men and 28% women victims of PTSD tested alcoholics. Given the statistics, PTSD ranks very highly among predisposing factors to drug addiction; that is, when compared with other forms of co-occurring physical and mental medical conditions.

From PTSD to Addiction; Escape Theory

The first explanation, rather one that is considered too obvious is that patients with PTSD related symptoms including: insomnia, pervasiveness, nightmares and mood swings sought escape in drugs. This according to proponents of the theory was one way the patients got reprieve from physical, psychosocial and the emotional pains.

With time more exploratory studies have been done. Some of these opine, suggest the reason many PTSD victims are diagnosed with drug addiction was broader than that. They do not however contradict the fact the paradigm of escape has offered a good part of the reason PTSD and addiction have such a relationship. For instance alcohol is a great depressant, given the statistics above it could as well be true very many resort to drinking the addictive substance in order to discharge their “pains”.

Cause-Effect PTSD Addiction Relationship; Increased-Risk Theory

Other than that the increased-risk philosophy also posits a cause-and-effect kind of relationship between PTSD and drug addiction. Proponents here argue before PTSD can develop a traumatic incident must occur first. They also posit the drug abusers often expose themselves to higher risks of such traumatic events. The point here is in as much as various PTSD symptoms very much pushes victims into drug use and addiction the vice versa is also true; that sometimes those already addicted may as well through their acts develop PTSD.

PTSD AND ADDICTION

From Addiction to PTSD; Vulnerability Theory

Some scientific researchers also argue whether PTSD symptoms come first or last, they have the ability to either cause an addiction or PTSD or make them perennial. Vulnerability theorists do not concern themselves with which causes what between these two, rather they concentrate on effects of PTSD symptoms and experiences of addicts on the functioning of their brains. Intoxicants for instance they argue have damaging effects on the brain that may make it very difficult for an addict to recover in this case therefore making it possible they develop persistent PTSD.

It has been established genetic factors make some people more susceptible to drug and alcohol addiction. In a recent study conducted by UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, it was found there is a link between particular genetic components and symptoms of PTSD. While there are no specific explanations yet as to why PTSD and addiction commonly co-exists, it is anticipated continued research may provide the missing links.

Effects Created by Co-Occurring Drug Addiction and PTSD

Effects of addiction far go beyond influencing a person’s body functions to both their physical and psychosocial lives. They include among others; physical pains, mental and emotional pains, relationship problems, work related problems, anger, memory loss, family quarrels and fits, depression, irritability, and problems falling asleep. PTSD pretty much has similar effects on its victims, which makes people who exhibit both PTSD and Addiction often perennial problems, for them these issues never seize. Such include: They tend to have escalated forms of these symptoms, hence making it much more difficult to get treated from any either drug addiction or PTSD.

Treatment Options for PTSD and Addiction

There are well over 17 medically recognized symptoms linked to PTSD, which clearly indicates just how troublesome it can be in the lives of victims. It is therefore prudent to seek relevant treatment for PTSD while seeking addiction related therapy. On the other hand drug addiction has a tendency to influence recognition of the brain to various drugs and related medical conditions. Drug addiction therefore has the capacity to make healing from PTSD very difficult. Treating both PTSD and addiction therefore requires a simultaneous approach.

PTSD AND ADDICTION

The first stride when for a patient with both conditions is to talk to his/her physician and seek more information about the treatment options. Medical scientific research evidence shows patients with both PTSD and SUD symptoms generally improve when provided with treatment options that addresses both conditions, which may involve among others the following:

For more information on the above, click http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com. The link will also guide you on how to sign up for an upcoming Integrative Addiction Medicine Conference. You will also find a backgrounder about speakers lined up for the conference. If you need to learn some of the most recent studies on both PTSD, addiction, genetic transfer along generations, their relation, and more treatment options, the event is a must attend.

CAUSE-AND-EFFECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PTSD AND ADDICTION

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