Fighting addiction begins in the brain effectively

September 28, 2015

Fighting addiction begins in the brain effectively: To fight addiction, feed your brain

Fighting addiction begins in the brain effectively and this must be done with utmost care owing to the sensitivity of the brain. Essential nutrients must never be in luck

As the nerve center of human life, the brain is very essential in very many ways. Nothing will happen in the body without it being registered in and from the brain. The brain therefore plays an integral function in keeping the body communications to various parts of the body. Having known the importance of the brain, we now want to narrow our discussion to some of the specific role the brain play in fighting addiction. Therefore the focus of our discussion is going to be on the topic “fighting addiction begins in the brain effectively.” That topic begs to ask how is this possible and what do we know about the brain, addiction and effects of addiction to the brain? These are very fundamental questions of concern which we want to address progressively as we settle into the discussion. To help us in this, we are going to seek the professional opinion of experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) and founder of the same. To start us off, doctor Akoury shares with us her personal experience with her clients over the years as follows.

Fighting addiction begins in the brain effectively: Denial and denying the brain essential fats

As we have said time and again that denial is the biggest problem we all face when dealing with addiction, that fact is very evident in most clients that I have been privileged to help get through their addictive situations. At one point I was attending to a client who for purposes of confidentiality I will refer to as Miss XYZ. Ideally if you met Miss XYZ, you might presume she had everything to live for. And just to share briefly about her in her early thirties she was doing well as a junior executive who was married with two young children. Yet when XYZ opened up as she sat on my couch during a session, she narrated to me how her troubles at home and work had brought her, more than once, to put a killer knife at her wrist and imagine ending her emotional pain forever.

For over a decade Miss XYZ disorderly drank bottles of wine every night and regularly smoked marijuana alongside taking pain killers. Even though she knew her actions she denied it first to herself, her family and to me (her doctor) that substance abuse was a part of her problem. “I’m not an alcoholic,” she said with a lot of confidence. Because she was such a long way from even addressing her (conventional) addictions, I inquired about what else she was ingesting and so I ask “What did you eat for breakfast?” That question revealed to me that she wasn’t just intoxicating her brain but she was also starving it of the essential nutrients. It was almost a routine for her skipping breakfast most days and when she took it will be only a cup of coffee or glass of juice once in a while. According to her, she put soy milk in her coffee because she thought that all dairy and meat products were unhealthy. She also avoided fat in all her foods because she believed fat would make her fat (are you like her?). What she didn’t know is that the brains rely on healthy fats for their functioning and for that reason two fats, EPA and DHA, are particularly known for their mood-boosting qualities. By avoiding any fats she was literally avoiding foods that would provide her brain with these naturally essential and therapeutic molecules.

Doctor Akoury continues that realizing all these she asked her to go to a local lab for some blood test. We talked about her making some dietary changes, especially the merits of nutrient-rich brain foods, such as eggs and fish. She admitted in a guilty whisper, “I’ve been craving a hamburger” and you will agree with me that wasn’t really surprising. Like a good number of other women of reproductive age, her there was great deficiency of iron in her blood further explaining what was lucking in her body to function well. With this deficiency she actually felt listless; she lacked the energy to cope with her demanding job and a family as well.

Fighting addiction begins in the brain effectively: Certifying the brains nutrient needs

With so many challenges standing in the way of recovering from addiction, the simplest first step is to stop depriving your brain of good and necessary food and nutrients. Experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are very categorical that recovery will partly depend on developing new chemical pathways by which the brain overcomes habitual behaviors. This we want to emphasis that you owe it to your recovery as it will nourish the brain to poise it for better learning, stable moods and less intrusive cravings. Even though there are so many bad things Miss XYZ did, the good news is that eating to support recovery need not be a deprivation: It can be delicious and remember that when you feed your brain with essential nutrients from their natural sources, you are taking better care of yourself, which is a fundamental step in rebuilding your brain and your self-esteem. A diet geared to stabilize mood and minimize cravings will be high in omega-3 fats from fatty fish, folates from leafy greens, vitamin B12 from eggs and meat, and the many brain-healthy nutrients amply found in colorful fruits and vegetables. Instead of the sugar (dopamine) rushes from eating simple carbohydrates, the sustained feeling of fullness from healthy foods can fortify you in your recovery.

Finally when Miss XYZ changed her diet, her moods stabilized and her suicidal thoughts dissipated. The killer knife was now used properly for cutting meat, fish, and vegetables. The conclusion of my therapy with her was that a better-nourished brain and taking control of her eating habits were very instrumental steps in addressing her alcohol and drug problem. At this point she could now listen to the concerns of family members about her addiction. She became more responsible and registered with a support group. She stuck with her diet and got in the habit of regular exercise instead of daily sugar or alcohol. Miss XYZ is now celebrating many years of sobriety a recovery journey that began when she took her first bite of real food for breakfast. You can also benefit from the same by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for the commencement of your recovery program.

Fighting addiction begins in the brain effectively: To fight addiction, feed your brain

Keeping your brain healthy to eliminate addiction

September 26, 2015

Keeping your brain healthy to eliminate addiction: Finding solutions of addiction from the brain

Keeping your brain healthy to eliminate addiction will require serious soul searching so that your motivation to food will be right and to the correct and healthy foods only.

Did you know that life stop the moment the brain stops? Many people often feel the heart to confirm death of a person but the heart is not driving your life. In fact the functions of your life heavily rely on proper functionality of the brain. It therefore means that the brain is the center of everything that makes us alive and healthy. We want to use this plat form to educate us about the need of keeping your brain healthy to eliminate addiction. We are also aware that addiction is a serious threat to health and life in general and the sooner we find means of dealing with it the better for our health and that of our societies. Now we want to invite you to join us in the discussion as we engage the services of addiction expert of several decades doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) and also the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. Ideally this facility was formed out of the deepest concern doctor Dalal Akoury after seeing and attending to many addicts of different substances. You can therefore become a part of the solution to this problem by calling doctor Dalal Akoury for a more in-depth and professional redress.

Doctor Akoury reiterates that the concerns of many people are that for any addictive behavior, a good place to start the journey of recovery is and should always be at the end of your fork. Remember that any effort towards beating an addiction and staying committed to sustained recovery will heavily depend on your optimal and perfection of your mental health, besides that there are scientific evidence that your mental health will be powerfully affected by what you feed on. A path to recovery from destructive addictions, including those to drugs, alcohol, compulsive eating or gambling, could start at your next meal. It is therefore very important that no time is wasted in dealing with all manner of addiction. The moment you notice signs of addiction, it is only fear that you seek for treatment immediately before it is too late to make any significance change.

Keeping your brain healthy to eliminate addiction: Effects of relapse to addiction

In my several decades of working with patients, I have seen how the 12-step approach can be very effective more so when there is willingness to be helped. Alongside that I have also established that without dietary changes being implemented on the part of the victim, any attempt of abstinence and recovery is needlessly more vulnerable to relapse. At the heart of the problem are a new set of dietary choices. And because many people are currently feeding on highly-processed foods, foods which are not originally designed by nature but designed in the laboratories, this can cause life to be very complicated in the long run. Remember that the main ingredients of such foods are sugar, refined carbohydrates, and vegetable oils and besides, the producers of such foods have designed them primary to taste good and appealing to the eye for the purpose of luring client into more consumption that is to say they are more of profit oriented than health. Professionally doctor Akoury is of the opinion that feeding on this kind of food will only succeed in lighting up the same pleasure-rewards areas in our brains that are activated by drugs like cocaine and heroin as well as by a variety of addictive behaviors. Ingesting dopamine-triggering foods, in other words, subjecting your brain to the ups and downs, highs and lows, of any addictive substance or activity since you are stirring the same neurochemical pot (no pun intended).

Keeping your brain healthy to eliminate addiction: Nutritional deficiency by substance abusers

Even as we progress into the discussion, it will interest you to note that many substance abusers deeply hooked on drugs and alcohol suffers from serious nutritional deficiencies that magnify the effects of their addictive illness. Alcohol dependency, for example, can lead to thiamine deficiency, and increases the risk of deficiencies of vitamin B12, vitamin D, and magnesium which are all very significant nutrients needed for optimal brain function. Professional nutritionist will tell you that all the processed foods, in particular, have been taken through various stages of manufacturing thereby stripping them of much of their natural nutritional value, so they fail to supply the essential nutrients our bodies need in general and all the more so when substances further deplete our body’s stores. It is also very important to appreciate that the other nutritional deficiencies can also result in the victims feeling rundown, foggy-brained, distractible and depressed. Take note that any diet of junk food combined with addictive tendencies is a combination that robs you of the neurochemical ingredients you need to function, and thus to bring your full capacities to recovery.

Finally in keeping your brain healthy to eliminate weight you will need a lot of commitment and determination if this exercise is to yield any meaningful truth. We appreciate that once addicted, denial and shame of being embarrassed will be a hard nut to crack, but remember that it is your health that is at stake here and the sooner you comes to the realization of the facts as they are the better. Remember that with addiction, there is no element of discrimination; everybody is vulnerable in almost equal measure. Therefore doctor Akoury registers that for us to be of help to you, the very first thing to do is to acknowledge that you have a problem, when this has been done then you can now schedule for an appointment with us for further deliberations. And up on visiting our facility at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, we will professionally carry out an evaluation to your individual health or addiction complications and based on the outcome of the tests and through evaluation, treatments can now be allowed.

Keeping your brain healthy to eliminate addiction: Finding solutions of addiction from the brain

Understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge

September 16, 2015

Understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge: The endless list of substance abuse elements

Defeating drug addiction begins with understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge and taking the correct action

The reason why many people are suffering from various health complications is because of luck of luck of knowledge. This can be very painful more so if something could be done and an individual suffers ignorantly. That is why doctor Dalal Akoury and her team of experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are taking the lead role in posting very informative blogs to the general public so that together we can find solutions to this problem. In that regard we want to focus this discussion into understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge and some of the substances that we need to disassociate with by all means. The list of substances is endless and they include the following:

Understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge: Cocaine

Cocaine is one of the most abused drugs and it is also known as crack, coke, snow, rock. Taking the US as an example it will be noted that cocaine use has gone down in the last few years; from 2007 to 2012 with the number of current users in the U.S. ages 12 or older dropped from 2.1 million to 1.7 million. Derived from the coca plant of South America, cocaine can be administered into the body by smoking, injection, snorting or just by swallowing. The intensity and duration of the drug’s effects depend on how you take it. Desired effects include pleasure and increased alertness. Short-term effects also include paranoia, constriction of blood vessels leading to heart damage or stroke, irregular heartbeat, and death. Severe depression and reduced energy often accompany withdrawal. Both short- and long-term use of cocaine has been associated with damage to the heart, the brain, the lung, and the kidneys and this are the complications we want this blog to help you address by scheduling for an appointment with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of a veteran addiction expert doctor Dalal Akoury today for the commencement of your recovery journey.

Understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge: Heroin also known as smack, horse

There is no doubt that heroin use has been on the rise from time to time and according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2012 about 669,000 Americans reported using heroin in the past year, a number that has been on the rise since 2007. The biggest increases are among users ages 18 to 25. Effects of heroin intoxication include drowsiness, pleasure, and slowed breathing. Withdrawal can be intense and can include vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, confusion, aches, and sweating. Besides that any overdose of this substance may result in death from respiratory arrest (stopping breathing). And because heroin is usually injected, often with dirty needles, use of the drug can trigger other health complications including destruction of your heart valves, HIV/AIDS, infections, tetanus, and botulism.

Understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge: Methamphetamines

This substance is also known as meth, crank, ice, speed, crystal and its use has also increased significantly especially in the West. Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant with the potential abilities of increasing alertness, decreases appetite, and gives a sensation of pleasure. The drug can either be administered into the body by injection, snorting, smoking or taken in as a mixture with food. It shares many of the same toxic effects as cocaine including effects like heart attacks, dangerously high blood pressure and stroke. It is also associated with several withdrawal symptoms including depression, abdominal cramps and increased appetite. Besides that it is important to appreciate that, methamphetamines other long-term effects may also include paranoia, hallucinations, weight loss, destruction of teeth, and heart damage. These are not the only substances that bring complications to your health.

Understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge: Club drugs

The club scene and rave parties have popularized an assortment of other drugs. Many young people believe these drugs are harmless or even healthy. And as we had mentioned before that the list is endless, the following are some of the club drugs that we need to be careful about even as we desire proper understanding of the scourge of addiction in our societies.

Ecstasy also called MDMA, Adam, STP – This is a stimulant and hallucinogen used to improve mood and to maintain energy, often for all-night dance parties. Long-term use may cause damage to the brain’s ability to regulate body temperature, sleep, pain, memory, and emotions.

GHB also called Liquid XTC, G and blue nitro – Once sold at health food stores, GHB’s effects are related to dose. Effects range from mild relaxation to coma or death. GHB is often used as a date-rape drug because it is tasteless, colorless, and acts as a powerful sedative.

Rohypnol also called roofies, roche – This is another sedative that can be used as a date-rape drug. Effects include low blood pressure, dizziness, abdominal cramps, confusion, and impaired memory.

Ketamine also called Special K, K – This is an anesthetic that can be taken orally or injected. Ketamine (Ketalar) can impair memory and attention. Higher doses can cause amnesia, paranoia and hallucinations, depression, and difficulty breathing.

LSD (also called acid, microdot) and mushrooms (also called shrooms, magic mushrooms, peyote, buttons) – Popular in the 1960s, LSD has been revived in the club scene. LSD and hallucinogenic mushrooms can cause hallucinations, numbness, nausea, and increased heart rate. Long-term effects include unwanted “flashbacks” and psychosis (hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and mood disturbances).

PCP also known as angel dust, hog, love boat – PCP is a powerful anesthetic used in veterinary medicine. Its effects are similar to those of ketamine but often stronger. The anesthetic effects are so strong that you can break your arm but not feel any pain. Usually, tobacco or marijuana cigarettes are dipped into PCP and then smoked.

Finally the list above is represent may not be conclusive but it represent the magnitude of the problem that we are likely to go through if we don’t act expeditiously as required to defeat drug addiction and all other complications that are associated with it. Therefore individually and collectively you need to consult with your physician before taking any action so that any further complication can be addressed in the most professional way for a better, healthier and more comfortable life of full productivity thereafter.

Understanding the genesis of drug addiction scourge: The endless list of substance abuse elements

The best pathways of deregistering drug addiction

August 24, 2015

The best pathways of deregistering drug addiction: Possessing a drug free body system

The best pathways of deregistering drug addiction from our societies will depend on the societal attitude change. when this happens we can begin by eliminating these chronic elements one after the other.

Talking of the best pathways of deregistering drug addiction we are reminded of our introduction part of this discussion where we handle the mechanisms of dealing with drug addiction and the smart ways of fighting the same. In the previous article doctor Dalal Akoury helped us unlock the foundations of drug addiction and we now want to further that discussion progressively by looking at some of the best pathways of deregistering drug addiction from our systems and societies. Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury have been working round the clock in trying to eliminate the scourge of addiction with lots of successes in the past decades and we are not about to stop because the escalation of drug addiction is ever on the rise thereby putting of the likeminded people to raise to the challenge. Rom where we left in the previous article, the following are some of the best pathways of deregistering drug addiction from our lives.

The best pathways of deregistering drug addiction: Relieving stress without drugs

Stress is one of the most common triggers of substance abuse and for sure record available from several statistics indicates that most of drug addicts could have not become addicted to the substances they are abusing if the element of stress was address promptly. According to doctor Akoury conditions like stress, loneliness, frustration, anger, shame, anxiety, and hopelessness are inevitable in life and in one way or another while still on this planet earth we will come across them. The danger is they will remain in your life even when you’re no longer using drugs to cover them up. It therefore means that until we address them decisively and professionally the problems that are associated with drug addiction will not be settled effectively.

It is interesting to note that in many instances drug abuse will most likely shoots up from misguided attempts to manage stress. Many people turn to alcohol or recreational drugs to unwind and relax after a stressful day, or to cover up painful memories and emotions that cause us to feel stressed and out of balance. Even though this is the common practice by many, there are better and healthier ways of keeping your stress level in check. From the professionals’ point of view, doctor Akoury registers that practicing activities like taking part in healthy exercises, meditation, using sensory strategies to relax, practicing simple breathing exercises and challenging self-defeating thoughts are very essential in eliminating stress that is very key in propagating drug addiction in most of our cultures.

The best pathways of de-registering drug addiction: Strategies for relieving stress quickly without drugs

Whenever we are stressed, it is very normal for people in such state of mind to feel that doing drugs is the only way and possibly the best in handling unpleasant feelings. If this is how you are feeling, we want to help you out of that feeling because it is not true and will not be anytime soon. We appreciate that stress is inevitable in this point of time, but it is important to note that even in such difficult and stressful situations, you can still learn to get through those difficulties without falling back on your addiction. Doctor Akoury is very categorical that different quick stress relief strategies work better for some people than others because we all respond to stress differently. The secret is to find the one that works best for you, and helps you calm down when you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Remember that when you’re confident in your ability to quickly de-stress, facing strong feelings isn’t as intimidating or overwhelming and the following can be very helpful in the process:

Indulgence in physical activities like exercise is very important as it releases endorphins, relieves stress, and promotes emotional well-being. Therefore try running in place, jumping rope, or walking around the block and you will experience the difference.
Step outside and savor the warm sun and fresh air. Enjoy a beautiful view or landscape. This may sound meaningless to many but it is very important and has worked for many as one of the best pathways of deregistering drug addiction.
For those who may not be active enough to take part in vigorous exercises, yoga and meditation will be a better option for excellent ways to bust stress and find balance.
Many people often think that when exercise in mentioned then it has to fall in tight schedule. That is not really the case remember that even play with your dog or cat, enjoying the relaxing touch of your pet’s fur is a good way of dispensing out stress.
Put on some calming music and take time to listen to the soothing tune.
Breathe in the scent of fresh flowers or coffee beans, or savor a scent that reminds you of a favorite vacation, such as sunscreen or a seashell.
Close your eyes and picture a peaceful place, such as a sandy beach. Or think of a fond memory, such as your child’s first steps or time spent with friends.
Make yourself a steaming cup of tea and take time to enjoy it.
Look at favorite family photos it will rejuvenate your life and send off stress packing.
Give yourself a neck or shoulder massage and soak in a hot bath or shower. Doing this will deliver calmness and comfort that will send off any element of stress packing off your life.

Finally in the quest of finding the best pathways of de-registering drug addiction that will make you have a drug free body system, there will be some obstacles along the way which you must be very ready to face and address promptly. Like we had mentioned before that stress is one of the key triggers of drug addiction, it is important to appreciate that the moment stress sets in the craving for drugs will be overwhelmingly high and demanding. This is the time when many people makes serious mistakes and fall into serious addiction that they cannot come out of easily. Therefore before you let things get out of hand, it is very crucial that you seek for professional help immediately from the trusted experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. This is the best thing you can do for yourself and the sooner you schedule for that appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury the better for you and your loved ones. So don’t make any hesitation and call today for the commencement of your treatment immediately.

The best pathways of de-registering drug addiction: Possessing a drug free body system

The crimes of terrorism and legalizing drug use

August 20, 2015

The crimes of terrorism and legalizing drug use: The association between crime and drug addiction

The crimes of terrorism and legalizing drug use are two different things that must be dealt with soberly if we have to keep and maintain a healthy and peaceful society.

We are living at a time when very many things you would not imagine happening in life. The rate of crime is escalating and becoming very sophisticated every day. Many lives are lost in one single act of crime thanks to the availability of drugs in the market that has made criminals to get the psych for crime. Because of this the global safety is not guaranteed and that is why we want to focus our discussion on the crimes of terrorism and legalizing drug use in our states. Will this real help put to check this problem that is causing a lot of fear among people in the society? This is a subject that can be debated endlessly and therefore we want to engage the services of doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) who besides being a veteran addiction expert of several decades is also the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. This facility was formulated primarily to help people who are struggling with any form of addiction regain their lives and be productive in the society.

Doctor Akoury is registering that it is regrettable that dealing in illicit drugs is continually becoming a very big business not just in your country but across the globe. Today we have very many organized and dangerous drug cartels in most countries that are deeply rooted in this killer business and the most painful part of this is that they are using the proceeds accruing from their criminal activity to raise more havoc in the societies. These cartels are causing a lot of constrain in the delivery of security services in some states since a lot of efforts are put in ensuring that their activities do not cause harm to the innocent citizens. In the process of doing this other sectors may be compromised which means that the status quo is likely to continue for very long time if the drugs continues to be affordable and easily accessible in the market as it is now in most streets of our cities across the globe.

The crimes of terrorism and legalizing drug use: Should drug use be legalized?

As the debate rages on doctor Akoury states that one of the ideas put forward in this discussion is that of legalizing drugs. Those who are supporting this view argue that it would facilitate and help in the reduction of crime especially those that are associated with drug abuse. Their point is that when dealing in drug is legal then chances are that addicts would not have to resort to criminal behavior to fund their habit. The costs of drugs could be put to check by setting rates which addicts could afford without having to steal in order to get the supply. Besides that they also elude that these drugs could also be taxed and the revenue realized from these could be used to fund drug rehabilitation treatment. Alongside with that this school of thought is also seeing the possibility of realizing reduction in the attraction to drugs. To them many people will often be curious at things that are prohibited and restricted and so by allowing its use this will be eliminated hence the reduction of substance abuse.

Nonetheless the opposing views is very categorical that the effects of drug abuse is so devastating that letting people lose to it will kill the moral fabric of the society and most importantly, we are going to register very disturbing figures in terms of death, sicknesses and crime due to more addictions. Besides that the reason of revenue is inconsequential as this would place an extra burden on taxpayers, the authorities and the State as a whole in the logistics of caring and administration of treatment to the increased number of people being addicted to the drugs.

If you are still with us in this discussion I want to believe that we are heading somewhere. Now that we are progressing well doctor Akoury possess this concern, “what do you do with those people who are addicted to committing an offences day in day out?” remember that these people may or may not be addicted to drugs but one common denominator the have is that they have an addiction, which in this case is addiction to crime. These are very tricky occurrences and we will be lying to ourselves if we say that we understand because for sure there is no easy answer to this debate will still continue. However it is important to pick certain points in this all issue and appreciate that the questions raised are very pertinent and cannot just be ignored. That is why professionally it is said that prevention is better than cure therefore you do not willfully create a problem because you have the mechanisms of solving it says doctor Dalal Akoury.

The crimes of terrorism and legalizing drug use: Addiction and crime prevention measures

It has been suggested that unless we can change human nature itself then crime will always be with us. Crime is normally first propagated in the mind before it’s execution and so the wellness of the mind is a perfect remedy for everyone. Doctor Akoury is of the strong opinion that while we appreciate that drug addiction is well connected with crime, the two can be separated and each can be dealt with individually and in isolation. It will be an uphill task for the authority to ensure that drug barons are arrested because many of them are always walking free while their little clients are the ones being arrested and when they are arrested, the have the resources to buy their way out into the street again. This element of corruption must stop for our society to be safe.

Finally and on the professionals point of view, the option of treatment is the best and for this to yield any meaningful fruits, it is highly recommended that we all engage the services of real professionals in addiction to help in addressing this problem. Therefore to start you off this long journey of addiction recovery and reduction of crime levels from our societies, it will be very important for you if you are struggling with any form of addiction to schedule for an appointment with the home of experts (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury today for the commencement of your recovery process immediately.

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