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Dealing with multiple cases of drug addiction

Dealing with multiple cases of drug addiction: The toxic effects of multiple addictions

Dealing with multiple cases of drug addiction

Dealing with multiple cases of drug addiction will not only help you health wise but also keep you in good books with the law enforcement agencies.

Multiple drug addiction will always occur when the elements of addiction is more than one at any given time. In other words any two, three or more psychoactive substances at a time causes what is referred to us multiple of addiction. Even though there is no particular pattern by which multiple addiction may occur, from experience there can be various combinations of drugs from different classes that when put together will cause multiple of drug addiction. Like for instance the most frequent drugs combinations includes: heroin and cocaine; cocaine and alcohol; heroin and MMDA (ecstasy); heroin and THC (marijuana); alcohol, amphetamines, MMDA and THC; benzodiazepines usually take part in every combination. Now with all these combinations you can only ask yourself that do we have solutions to multiple cases of addictions. We will find solution from our topic of discussion today which is “dealing with multiple cases of drug addiction”.

We spoke to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center an addiction health facility founded by doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) to make a difference in the lives of people who are struggling with substance abuse. From her over two decades of practicing experience doctor Akoury says that drugs taken in combination often potentiate the narcotic effects of each other. Their addictiveness, narcotic properties and toxic effects on the body arise. In situations like this, withdrawal symptoms become more severe and prolonged. The pathological attraction to drugs (craving) reaches the point of paranoia. The processes of physical and mental degradation are accelerated by several times. It is important to note that with multiple drug addiction, detrimental health consequences will become irreversible after 3-4 years of drug abuse. It therefore means that if you are going through this complication, then it is time for you to seek for help immediately from the house of the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center today.

Dealing with multiple cases of drug addiction: Combination of alcohol and cocaine

The most common and highly dangerous version of multiple drug addiction currently is a combination of alcohol and cocaine. The combination of Cocaine and alcohol in body creates a highly toxic chemical called Coca-ethylene the only known example of creating a third drug following the ingestion of two others. Coca-ethylene’s powerful euphoric effects help to explain the increasing attraction of combining alcohol and cocaine. The combined use of alcohol and cocaine can produce a sense of increased and prolonged euphoria, compared with the use of either substance isolated. However, Coca-ethylene has not only a pronounced euphoric effect but also possesses the life-threatening properties. It is not only toxic for liver, but it is also blamed for heart attacks and in a surge of social problems. Many who consider themselves social users for whom a line or two of cocaine coupled with a few drinks in a bar is a weekly or monthly event – don’t consider the health implications of drug addiction.

Its side-effects threaten to become tragically familiar as they take their toll on users. In UK for example a study was conducted and the result of the study established that there was some 20% increase in the number of young people (from 16 to 24-year old) taking the drugs every year. The number of people under 25 who have sought help for cocaine addiction has doubled in just four years. Figures from the study revealed that the number of people going to hospital after overdosing on cocaine has doubled over the past five years.  Alcohol plays a significant part in many of these admissions.

Cocaine-related deaths are also increasing in the US. The US National Household Drug Survey estimates that around five million people use alcohol and cocaine each month. The ability of cocaine users to consume vast amounts of alcohol is being blamed for an increase in sexually risky behavior among the young and rising levels of violence. According to some studies conducted in Manchester (UK) suggest that around half of all young people arrested for violent behavior were on drugs, and of these the majority were on cocaine. Many of them were drunk prior to their arrest. There is no question that the use of both alcohol and cocaine is a growing concern. Surveys show people who drink regularly in bars and clubs are more likely to be using alcohol and drugs. This presents challenges to health professionals about how to raise awareness of the health risks.

Dealing with multiple cases of drug addiction: Speedball combination of heroin and cocaine

Another wide spread drug combination is the so called Speedball, when heroin and cocaine ate taken together intravenously in the same syringe or by insulation. Originally the term Speedball was applied only to combination of heroin and cocaine. Nowadays it also can be applied to mixture of any opioids with amphetamines and bezodiazepines. The idea of Speedball is the use of stimulant (Cocaine) and depressant (Heroin) at a time. Combination of “upper” and “downer” is meant to reach the more intense rush of euphoria and the same time to alleviate the negative side-effects of both drugs such as an excessive anxiety and depression. Avoidance the sedative effect of heroin is the most frequent cause of appeal to Speedball. Two substances with opposite effects cause a state of mediator chaos in user’s brain.  Incoherence, confusion, drowsiness, blurred vision, motor skills dysfunction, uncontrolled behavior, paranoid delusions, hallucinations, excessive arousal are the typical symptoms of speedball intoxication.

There are two main groups of complications from using the Speedball. The first one comes from cardiovascular toxic effects of Cocaine: irregular heartbeat, blood hypertension, vascular constriction which often result in heart attack/ heart arrest, brain hemorrhage or ischemic stroke. The second one comes from pharmacodynamics of the drugs. The effects of cocaine wear off far faster than those of heroin. Uncovered, isolated effects of heroin may result in severe respiratory depression which is a life threatening condition.

This cocktail of drugs creates a strong physical dependence with all classical symptoms of heroin deprivation (nervousness, sickness, sever muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating and etc.) strengthened by symptoms of cocaine withdrawal (insomnia, paranoia, anxiety, restlessness and etc.), lasting even in the case of medical assistance no less than two weeks. Finally by now you must be well conversant with the dangers of drug addiction and you can just imagine that not just one but two or more of the drugs are wreaking havoc in your life in the name of multiple drug addiction. That is why this article was pointing out some of the collaborations drug users can make to even add more problems to their health. Even though multiple cases of drug addiction are increasing daily, this problem can be treated effectively. Therefore if you are struggling with addiction of any kind, be it multiple or otherwise, you can call doctor Dalal Akoury today and book an appointment with her and you will never regret having done so.

Dealing with multiple cases of drug addiction: The toxic effects of multiple addictions

 

 

 

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Correcting the brain damage from drug abuse

Correcting the brain damage from drug abuse: The generator of pathological activity

Correcting the brain damage from drug abuse

Correcting the brain damage from drug abuse must be every ones priority if we have to defeat addiction and its consequences

Did you know that drugs are the major cause of the death of the brain cells? The brain is one of the most sensitive organs in any human body where everything starts and ends. Death is always registered the moment ones brain stops functioning. Therefore we all have a duty to keep the good health we have by correcting the brain damages from drug abuse and doctor Dalal Akoury is going to take us through the discussion to unlock some of the sensitive things that we must do to keep the proper functionality of the brain. According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury, this could be the worst damage they cause to the brain. And remember that the degree of the brain damage from drug abuse is always defined by the prognosis of recovery. Sometimes unfavorable changes in the brain of a drug addict are so much overwhelming that they are not even able to realize the problem let alone the need for treatment. And even if they are, the deformed psyche, expressed in loss of willpower, doesn’t allow them to complete the treatment and refrain from using the drugs. Nonetheless such situations often come to the extreme cases. Besides that under normal circumstances addiction often creates a center of addiction in the brain, or so-called a generator of pathological activity for drug craving.

To illustrate this, let us take an example of a condition we are all familiar with that of epilepsy. This disease is characterized by periodically recurrent seizure syndrome and when a small portion of the brain cells (it can be quite small in size), figuratively speaking, “going crazy”. From time to time they reach the level of excitation which covers the whole brain. As a result, a person loses consciousness, falls down, the total muscle spasms make him convulse. When he comes regains his consciousness, he doesn’t remember what happened to him. Medically these “haywire” cells are called the generator of pathological activity. Now the connection is that about the same generator is formed in case of a drug addiction. However in this case the generator is that of attraction to drugs, self-excitation of which with different periodicity may also cover the entire brain and cause an uncontrollable, overpowering desire to take drugs thereafter. The activity of the generator leads to a constant, obsessive thoughts about drugs. Without treatment, this generator can persist for years, even if the person does not use the drugs during that time. Along with the formation of the generator of attraction to drugs, there is another type of brain damage from drug abuse, to the nervous system of a drug addict.

Another reason why correcting the brain damage from drug abuse is necessary is because the regular drug poisoning leads to severe changes in metabolism in the cells of the nervous system and especially in brain cells. These cells contain neurotransmitters which are the active substances whose presence in the inter-neuron synapses provides the transmission of electrical impulses to effectuate the functions of all kinds of nervous activities, including the higher nervous activity of a man’s mind, emotions, feelings, willpower, and so on. Doctor Akoury reiterates that the constant presence of the outer psycho active chemical substances badly affects the processes of neuro-transmission in the brain.  And remember that the altered brain reactivity will reflects in the changes of well-being and behavior pattern of an addict. When this happens he becomes lethargic, listless, emotionally limited. Gradually he will begin to lose interest in life, his cognitive abilities dwindle. Against this background, frequent outbreaks of anger and irritability become regular.

It’s fair to say, that shortly after the “fix”, the deficit of neurotransmitters in an addict’s brain temporarily shifts back to “normal”, and the victim feels better for a while. However, with each subsequent dose of narcotic, the further infringements in neuro transmitter systems of the brain ultimately become more and more profound.

Correcting the brain damage from drug abuse: Drug withdrawal

During the “withdrawal” the most unpleasant sensations are connected with an abrupt plummet of content of neurotransmitters in the brain. For instance, the dopamine content due to severe lack of transmitters can’t be utilized in time and may exceed the normal level few times. The excessive amount of dopamine is a real poison to the brain.

Drug withdrawal (especially opiate withdrawal) physically and mentally is a very disruptive condition. It may last from few days to a few weeks. You can get more information about opiate (Heroin, Methadone) withdrawal by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today and she will be more than willing to help you find answers to all your questions today.

It is further important to note that during withdrawal some time will lapse and within a few days the level of neurotransmitters will gradually returns to normal even though this may not be completely done, but all the same the symptoms of drug withdrawal subsides. Besides that another danger will come in handy waiting for the patient. This is commonly known as “dry withdrawal”.  After some time, when seemingly all is over, sometimes without any reason, but mostly after the stress, the balance of neurotransmitters breaks down again. At this point the patient starts re-experiencing some mental discomfort, nervousness, sleep disorders, hot-and-cold flashes and aggravated attraction to drugs.

Drug addiction, like many other chronic diseases, is characterized by fluctuating course, with alternate “ups and downs”. Most of the failures happen exactly on the peaks of these “ups”. That is why all drugs have the toxic effects and damages the body’s cells. This damage causes some element of pain in an individual and to fight this pain the victim will have to take more drugs further causing addiction to that substance and the situation to becomes a vicious circle: that is to say, the higher dose of drugs the more pain they cause, the more pain the more need to take the higher dose. As a result, the euphoric effect of the drugs, which was so attractive at the beginning, quickly disappears and leaves an addict to continue taking the drug just to avoid the pain and let him somehow to function “normally”.

Finally from the discussion we have seen that drug addiction is a very complex disease, which is fixed in many levels of the organism. Simple and quick methods, such as coding or isolated psychotherapy are absolutely inactive. To this doctor Akoury says that professionally drug addiction requires a serious multi-stage treatment at all levels and that will be very helpful in correcting the brain damage from drug abuse effectively.

Correcting the brain damage from drug abuse: The generator of pathological activity

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The necessity of addiction treatment in time

The necessity of addiction treatment in time: Drug addiction is a curable disease

The necessity of addiction treatment in time

The necessity of addiction treatment in time is not an option but a must owing to the complications that may come with it if treatment is not done in time.

I want to bring to you the message of hope particularly to those who may be losing hope in their struggle with addiction. We understand the difficulties you and your family are going through in your struggle with the condition. It also concerns us as professionals from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. This is a medical facility that was founded by one of the veteran addiction expert doctor Dalal Akoury with the primary objective of bringing hope to all addiction victims like you. Because of our great concern, we want to assure you that somebody cares and you are not alone. The good news about this problem is that it is curable meaning that you can have you life back and live it to the fullest. However for this to take effect it is important that we share with you the necessity of addiction treatment in time. Remember that just like all other health conditions, prevention would be the best so that we don’t have to get to the treatment phase. Nonetheless, because this is already with us professional treatment becomes necessary. It will therefore interest you to note that, the formation of this facility was guided by the good will doctor Dalal Akoury is having in making her contribution towards eliminating this problem from your life and that of your family. Doctor Akoury practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. Therefore if this introduction suits your situation, then you are at the right place and calling doctor Akoury for an appointment should be the first thing to do so that she can enroll you to the right addiction recovery program.

Now back to our topic of discussion “the necessity of addiction treatment in time, it is quite unfortunate that despite this condition being curable many people still don’t come out for help and they chose to suffer in silence. Yet some still argue that the addiction treatment does not help and that it is only the patient’s own strong will that can solve the problem of addiction. This is what I will call a terrible mistake. It is important to note that the journey for treatment of addiction is along one. Like for instance, in the first 3-5 years of addiction victims are generally inclined to deny the existence of any problem. Then after this the next phase of the process is delaying and searching for the short cuts and cheapest treatment, and then the statement that nothing helped them is followed. With all these time wasting the intensity of addiction increases meaning that there will be need of a lot of motivation on the part of loved ones for this process to be a success. Doctor Akoury says that even though motivation is necessary, it is meaningless to keep postponing treatment until the moment when motivation appears, when a person’s physical and emotional will power have been completely worn out.

The usual argument and blame game where victims defend themselves by using cases where some people’s addiction treatment were unsuccessful to declare that addiction is incurable disease is pure manipulation and shifting of responsibility on parents, doctors, government, aliens and other such institutions and individuals. The true position is that people who have recovered from their addiction will always try as soon as possible to forget the period of their lives which was associated with drugs. They often do so because they are ashamed and sorry for many mistakes they made. People just don’t want to recall that time. For man of sense it is stupid to walk around and boast to everybody that he was cured. On contrary, a drug addict with a peculiar tendency to change reasonable behavior for empty rhetoric will be arguing that treatment doesn’t help, because two or three of ten undergoing treatment failed. Therefore, the negative feedback on different drug forums and in the streets always prevails yet this is not always the case. If you want to be helped, speak to the experts and don’t listen to street garters. Your health is very important for you to take wrong information from quakes and believe them.

The necessity of addiction treatment in time: Drug addiction is a serious disease not a bad habit

Did you know that at this point of time there are still very many people who still believe that addiction is all about weak character? It is quite unfortunate that after many years of communicating with the addicts and their relatives we could still realized the following:

Despite the fact that nowadays, when information about addiction available to everybody, most of the people, oddly enough, know little about drug addiction as a disease and often underestimate its seriousness and destructiveness to the body.  And in this regard, they just don’t realize how deep, diverse and the same time complex must be the treatment. Most people believe that drug addiction is rather a bad habit than an illness. But in fact, this is a very serious disease that affects all body systems – from the higher nervous activity to intracellular metabolism. That is why addiction must be considered as one of the most intractable diseases. Everyone knows that our organism is endowed with protective systems which protect us from germs, viruses and other disease-causing factors. To such protective systems can be attributed a system that produces ingenious “hormones of pleasure” – endorphins and enkephalins. The purpose of which is to protect the body from such harmful factors as stress, pain, shock. For instance, in case of injury or disease the endorphins protect the whole body and especially the nervous system from excessive pain, which in its turn may be very detrimental by itself. Sufficient level of endorphins makes a person feel good, optimistic, productive, and active during the day and provides good quality sleep during a night.

The necessity of addiction treatment in time: Drug addiction and endorphins

When we talk about endorphins we refer to any group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system which are tasked with a number of physiological functions. Ordinarily they are peptides that activate the body’s opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect. Now having got that explanation, it is important to note that the external narcotics will destroy the ingenious narcotic system and thus leave the individual without its protection. It therefore means that foreign drugs displace the body’s own endorphins and gradually become an essential element of biochemical processes in nervous system. In this case the person is forced to use the drugs to maintain his health condition in a “normal” state. The nature of endorphin-enkefhalin system is such that it is not able for self-recovery. It means that without proper repair of this marred by drugs system, to defeat craving for drugs is impossible. A person with impaired endorphin system is vulnerable to stress, to situations where even the slightest provocation can cause him to resort to drugs again. We will continue the discussion of this hormone in our next article but in the meantime, treatment of addiction must be done in good time if any meaningful result is to be realized. Therefore if addiction is causing you sleepless nights, reach out for help from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center today.

The necessity of addiction treatment in time: Drug addiction is a curable disease

 

 

 

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The effects of drugs on clinical depression

The effects of drugs on clinical depression: Depression and addiction

The effects of drugs on clinical depression

The effects of drugs on clinical depression is almost getting out of hand in the current life set up.

The complications of drug addiction and misuse of alcohol will continue to be with us thanks to the life demands in the twenty first century. Everybody is having their own share of life demands and expectations which in many times we often fail to meet. Those failures always form the biggest reasons why people feel depressed and stressed. When these two (depression and stress) are present in ones’ life there will be high chances that some of those people may resort to using drugs to minimize their depressed and stressed situation. And with that in mind, we want to discuss through this article the effects of drugs on clinical depression and stress. Our objective is to inform you of their interrelationship and the best possible means of eliminating them from your life. Meanwhile in one of our discussion forums a question was asked to the experts’ at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury that “does depression cause addiction by triggering a need for intoxication? Or does substance abuse cause depression by changing the way the brain functions?” In response to that, doctor Akoury said that it is important to note that depression and substance abuse intertwine on several levels including the following:

  • Under normal circumstances depression can trigger drug or alcohol use as a form of self-medication.
  • Drugs or alcohol can also precipitate depression by altering the brain chemistry.
  • The effects of intoxication or withdrawal can resemble the signs of a depressive disorder.
  • The neurological factors that cause depression may predispose the individual to alcohol or drug addiction.

One very challenging thing about depression and drugs is that a lot has been and is still being done to conclusively establish the difference between the two but as things stand now, even to the most experienced clinicians, it can be difficult to tell the difference between clinical depression and the effects of drugs or alcohol. Many of the most widely abused substances are central nervous system depressants, including:

  • Alcohol: Includes beer and wine as well as hard liquor and spirits
  • Benzodiazepines: Includes sedative/muscle relaxants like Valium (diazepam), Ativan (lorazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam)
  • Cannabis: Includes smokable and edible forms of marijuana
  • Opiates: Includes illicit and prescription drugs derived from opium, such as heroin, morphine, codeine, hydrocodone and oxycodone
  • Barbiturates: Includes powerful sedatives like Seconal (secobarbital) and Nembutal (pentobarbital)

From the expert’s point of view, doctor Akoury says that substance induced mood disorders occur when the psychological effects of drug intoxication or withdrawal cause abnormal emotional states. Withdrawing from cocaine, meth or other stimulants can cause changes in brain chemistry that lead to severe depression. Depression may also be a side effect of withdrawal from heroin or other opium-based drugs.

The effects of drugs on clinical depression: Symptoms of substance-induced depression

Symptoms of substance-induced depression include: fatigue, poor appetite, lack of concentration, tearfulness, suicidal ideation and they resemble the symptoms of major depressive disorder. And besides that, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the symptoms of substance-induced depression usually does not take long and normally resolve within a few days after the drug is cleared from the patient’s system. However when depression is not diagnosed in good time, getting clean or sober can actually make the symptoms worse. Further to that it is important to appreciate that when alcohol or drugs have been used as a form of self-medication, the depressive symptoms may come to the forefront once the individual has been through detox. Nonetheless in the event that depression is treated in a mental health setting without addressing the problem of substance abuse, the patient may never be motivated to stop abusing drugs or alcohol, and depressive symptoms may never really be resolved.

The effects of drugs on clinical depression: Treatment of depression

First of all it is important to appreciate that depression is a chronic condition that in many instances may never be completely cured. However, its symptoms can be managed effectively through a combination of psychotherapy, behavioral modification training and participation in support groups. Doctor Akoury adds that in the event that talk therapy alone can’t resolve the symptoms of depression, then the application of antidepressant medication can be a valuable addition to the treatment plan. Besides that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has also been proven to be a highly effective method for changing the negative thought patterns associated with depression.

Feelings of hopelessness, low self-worth, and despair are treated as learned thought patterns that can be replaced with positive, self-affirming beliefs. According to JAMA Psychiatry, CBT is an effective therapy for depressed individuals within all age groups, and positive results continue over time. The therapeutic strategies learned in CBT can be applied to co-occurring disorders like anxiety, personality disorders or substance use disorders.

Alongside that doctor Akoury alludes that with consistent, medically supervised use, antidepressant medications can improve symptoms in a matter of weeks. Antidepressants in the SSRI category (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that is considered to be in the first line pharmaceutical treatment for depression, these medications include popular drugs like Prozac (fluoxetine), paroxetine (Paxil) and citalopram (Celexa). When SSRIs are not effective, older antidepressants in the tricyclic or MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) may be prescribed instead. And according to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, depressive symptoms improve with treatment in up to 80 percent of cases. Unfortunately, nearly two-thirds of depressed individuals either do not seek or do not receive treatment for this serious, disabling disorder. Out of those individuals who struggle with both depression and substance abuse, only a small percentage receives research-based, dual diagnosis treatment for both conditions. It therefore means that we still have a lot to do in order to bring these chronic conditions to manageable levels. Finally if you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression or even stress, your help is now within reach just by making a phone call on Tel:  843 213 1480 to schedule for your appointment with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center today and all your concerns will be professionally addressed.

The effects of drugs on clinical depression: Depression and addiction

 

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Depression and the Connection to Substance Abuse

Depression and the connection to substance abuse: Understanding the two conditions

Depression and the Connection to Substance Abuse

Depression and the Connection to Substance Abuse are realistically dangerous in any human life

We are at it again and this is because of the ever increasing concerns raised across the globe about the significance of depression and the connection to substance abuse. Professionals at the home of experts (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) are very concern at the effects of clinical depression and how it can take a toll on the body, mind and spirit causing physical health problems as well as a profound sense of hopelessness and despair. This is one health element that can ruin a whole society if not addressed in good time. And because of the increasing demand for health information about this two unique problems, we are going to be discussing this topic yet again to further give insight of the precautions that you can take to be safe of this devastating health condition.

According to doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) a veteran expert in addiction and also the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, the effects of depression can be felt primarily on a physical level in the form of sleeplessness, weight changes, inactivity and substance abuse. Doctor Akoury is confirming that from the available statistics it is true that the problem of alcohol consumption and drug abuse are more common with depressed individuals than in the general population. Besides that we can further make some confirmations from different bodies who are researching on the possible links between depression and addiction, like for instance according to QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, men diagnosed with major depression are nearly three times more likely to develop a dependence on alcohol, while women with depression are over four times more likely to become alcohol-dependent.

Depressive disorders affect the health and productivity of the general population as well as the life of the individual. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that major depressive disorder affects almost 7 percent of American adults and that is almost 15 million people, while dysthymic disorder affects 1.5 percent, and yet again the World Health Organization has also noted that depression is one of the leading causes of disability around the globe further giving us more reason to act swiftly. The expert’s at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury are reporting that if not addressed promptly, substance abuse can worsen the course of depressive disorder by increasing the risk of outcomes such as:

  • Drug or alcohol addiction
  • Psychiatric hospitalization
  • Suicide attempts
  • Accidental or intentional overdose

Individuals who are diagnosed with depression and a substance use disorder are more likely to drop out of conventional substance abuse treatment programs before they finish rehab. They are also more likely to relapse once they start a treatment program. Therefore it is important that the treatment for these co-occurring disorders should be done effectively and must target both conditions in order for the patient to achieve long-lasting recovery.

Depression and the connection to substance abuse: Recognizing depressive disorders

When dealing with situations like the two before us, it is very important that we are well informed of each of them so that we are able to make a distinction. Therefore the question that follows would be “how can you distinguish between depression as a psychiatric disorder and the blue moods that we all experience at times?” This is very necessary because with clinical depression, the severity of these moods is more intense, and symptoms last for longer periods of time. In order to meet the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder, the individual must experience at least five symptoms of depression for two or more weeks. The following are some of the typical depressive symptoms to watch over:

  • A predominantly low mood on most days of the week
  • Lack of interest in favorite activities
  • Physical exhaustion
  • Sleeping too much or too little
  • Unwanted weight loss or gain
  • Sluggish thinking or movements
  • Dwindling to focus on important tasks
  • Contemplations of death or suicide
  • Feelings of guilt, hopelessness or worthlessness

Dysthymic disorder, a milder form of depression, is characterized by less severe symptoms persisting for two years or more. People with dysthymic disorder may seem chronically unhappy, irritable or sullen. While the symptoms of this disorder may be less noticeable than major depression, however the effects can persist for years. One of the major challenges about this situation is that many individuals who are struggling with dysthymic are actually not aware that they have a psychiatric disorder. It is therefore important to note that when faces with such circumstances, then only a qualified professional either a clinician, a doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist can make an official diagnosis of major depressive disorder. However, by learning to recognize the symptoms of this debilitating condition, you and your loved ones can prevent serious consequences like self-isolation, addiction and suicide. We understand that some of these problems may not go down well with many of us and that is why we are open always to offer our professional help to all members of the public of all walks of life. You can call doctor Akoury on Tel:  843 213 1480 to schedule for an appointment with her for a more consultative season and have all your concerns addressed professionally.

Depression and the Connection to Substance Abuse: How does depression begin?

It is common knowledge that ignorant is a very costly affair meaning that in our case study we must get all the information we need about depression and addiction for us to be able to understand and make the right decision. While addressing the question “how does depression begin?” Doctor Akoury registered that depressive disorders can arise from a number of different sources or from a combination of factors. And the following are some of the most common contributing causes for your consumption:

  • Stressful situations that aren’t easily resolved, such as divorce, the death of a loved one, or a serious injury or illness
  • Physical health problems, such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, cancer, or alcoholism
  • A genetic predisposition to depression, or depressive moods in close family members
  • An imbalance of chemicals that regulate mood and energy levels, such as serotonin, dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
  • Structural abnormalities in the areas of the brain that regulate mood and memory

Finally imaging studies have shown that depression is linked to specific regions of the brain, and that these areas appear to be different in people with depressive disorders. Harvard Medical School points out that the hippocampus amygdala and thalamus may be smaller or function less efficiently in people with depression. We will however continue with this theory of Harvard Medical School in our subsequent discussions but in the meantime, if you or any one you know is struggling with depression or substance abuse, then it is important for you to seek for immediate help from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center today without delay.

Depression and the Connection to Substance Abuse: Understanding the two conditions

 

 

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