Is it possible to be sober again

September 25, 2015

Is it possible to be sober again: If yes then how?

Is it possible to be sober again? this is the question that many ask and we want to reaffirm that with timely and proper treatment, sobriety is very possible.

If you have been struggling with drug addiction for a long time the word sobriety can be very elusive for your consumption. This is so because if you have made several attempts to quit and each time you try you fail again and again, it is only normal that as human you will be discouraged and ask, “Is it possible to be sober again?” many people have found themselves in such situations and gave up while other who got the guidance of addiction professionals we taken through various treatment programs and eventually recovered from their addiction habits. We therefore want to bring to you the message of hope that sobriety is not only possible to people but it is also very possible in your situation no matter the intensity of your addiction or the length of time you’ve been addicted to the substance you are struggling with. As professionals from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, we have been on the front line delivering sobriety to millions of our clients and your case will not be an isolated one. Therefore if you are struggling with drug addiction, we want to encourage you that even though you mind is tuned on the negativity that sobriety seem like an impossible goal, it is honestly possible and recovery is always within reach no matter how hopeless your situation seems. With the right attitude giving up will not be an issue. So if this description suits your case we want to invite you to the home of addiction solutions (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) who is a veteran addiction expert of more than two decades of exemplary service to the people across the globe. You can therefore schedule for an appointment with her today for the commencement of your addiction recovery today in the meantime, we want to give you some insight on what you can do in preparation of your journey to full recovery as follows:

Is it possible to be sober again: Make a decision to change

This is often the biggest and most challenging step since most addicts often live in denial. Taking that bold step to change may be an uphill task but even with that we want to encourage you that if this is your problem, then don’t think you are alone, many people have been there and it is actually normal to have the feelings of push and pull about giving up your drug of choice because of the attachment you have built over the years. We will always be there for you because we understand that change is never easy and committing to sobriety involves changing many things some of which may include:

The way you deal with your stressful moments
The people you associate with on a daily basis
The things you do during your free time
How you think about yourself

You may wonder if you’re really ready for all that change or if you have what it takes to quit. Doctor Akoury says that recovering from addiction is a long process, one that requires time, commitment, motivation and support. Besides that you need to be very honest with yourself when embarking on this journey of recovery. On our part we want to give you the following tips to help you in making that very important decision:

It is important that you keep track of your drug usage in terms of quantity and time of usage. Through this you will be able to have a clear sense of the role addiction is playing in your life.
Get to know all the pros and cons of quitting, as well as the costs and benefits of continuing your drug abuse.
Consider the things that are important to you, such as your spouse, children, career and health. How does your drug use affect those things?
Talk it over with someone you trust. Ask the person how he or she feels about your drug use.
Ask yourself if there’s anything preventing you from changing. What are some things that could help you make the change?

Is it possible to be sober again: Explore your treatment options

Doctor Akoury says that once you’ve made the decision to challenge your drug addiction, then it’s now time to explore your treatment choices. As you consider the options, keep the following in mind:

There’s no magic bullet or single treatment that works for everyone – When considering a program, remember that everyone’s needs are different. Drug addiction treatment should be customized to your unique problems and situation. It’s important that you find a program that feels right.

Treatment should address more than just your drug abuse – This is very important because addiction affects your whole life, including relationships, career, health, and psychological well-being. Treatment success depends on developing a new way of living and addressing the reasons why you turned to drugs in the first place. It may have been because of your inability to manage stress, in which case you’ll need to find healthy ways to handle stressful situations.

Commitment and follow through – Drug addiction treatment is not a quick and easy process. In general, the longer and more intense the drug use, the longer and more intense the treatment you’ll need. But regardless of the treatment program’s length in weeks or months, long-term follow-up care is crucial to recovery.

There are many places to turn for help – Not everybody requires medically supervised detox or an extended stint in rehab. The level of care you need depends on your age, drug use history, and other medical or psychiatric conditions. In addition to doctors and psychologists, many clergy members, social workers, and counselors offer addiction treatment services.

Finally having made this worthy decision, it is important that even as you seek help for drug addiction, it’s also important to get treatment for any other medical or psychological issues you may be experiencing. If you need professional assistance then calling the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center should be your starting point because we believe that your best chance of recovery is through integrated treatment for both the substance abuse problem and the mental health problem. This means that we will be able to professionally combined both your mental health and addiction treatment and address them simultaneously and by the time we will be done with you, your life will never be the same.

Is it possible to be sober again: If yes then how?

Treating sexual addiction and substance abuse concurrently

September 23, 2015

Treating sexual addiction and substance abuse concurrently: Treating multiple addictions

Treating sexual addiction and substance abuse concurrently will help you remove the element of shame that is always associated with sex and besides it will give you the new lease of life full of comfort and fulfillment.

Talking of addiction, people often associate addiction only with drugs and other substance of abuse. We have actually been brought up knowing that drugs both illicit and prescription drugs are the elements that qualify for abuse and so many people have narrowed their minds in that school of thought. But is it really the true position of the understanding of what addiction is all about? We spoke with the experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the leadership of a renowned addiction expert doctor Dalal Akoury about this subject and we want to share with you some of the outcome of that discussion particularly on the significance of treating sexual addiction and substance abuse concurrently. From the discussion we were able to establish that there are different kinds of addictions. One could be addicted to drugs and alcohol, or to certain behaviors or even both. Doctor Akoury explains that behavioral addiction may include addiction to sexual activities, gaming from the computer devices, gambling and many others. And like we had stated before that, one could be addiction to either one or both. Therefore take for example sexual addiction can be accompanied by other addictions or other substances of abuse. She continues to states that while on the surface, different addictions seem to be associated with their own unique set of behaviors they are often fueled by the same underlying feelings of guilt, shame, avoidance and trauma. Addictions interact within the individual making it difficult to tease them apart.

Treating sexual addiction and substance abuse concurrently: Patterns of problematic substances

When examining patterns of problematic substance use in individuals seeking help for a sexual addiction, it becomes clear that the two are indistinguishably linked together. It is estimated from the various studies that between 40-60% of individuals struggling with sexual addiction also meet the criteria for alcohol or drug addiction. And according to the experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center it is evident that many individuals with sexual addiction problems have actually admitted to using substances in order to deal with, or escape from, the pain that is caused by their sexual behavior. Besides that it is also very common that many people are currently using substances to get over their inhibitions in order to engage in sexual behaviors that might be uncharacteristic for them if they were not drunk or high further explaining the significance of multi addiction. We must therefore seek for information by way of investigating how multiple addictions can feed into one another. This is very important because it is possible that individuals may use one of their addictions to mask or dismiss the other addiction and this could be influenced by various reasons including fear and shames especially those elements that are considered shameful addiction. Like for instance take for example, an individual may deny having a problem with sexual addiction and insist completely that their problematic sexual behavior is only caused by intoxication. However, the truth of the matter in this case may be that the drugs or alcohol are merely concealing the pain and shameful acts that are associated with the sexual addiction thereby helping the person to be spared from the emotional consequences of his or her actions. By the same token, both addictions may work on intensifying one another in such a way that the person only engages in their sexual addiction under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These rituals then serve to protect the addiction and ensure that patterns of use are stable and predictable and this can be very dangerous if not dealt with expeditiously.

A major concern with treatment of substance use disorder alone is that untreated sexual addiction often precipitates a relapse of substance use. Dealing with one addiction while ignoring the other may end up intensifying the problem that has not been addressed. A good example would be when a person in early recovery from a substance addiction turns to sexual performance enhancers in order to continue the ritualized sexual behavior that was previously enhanced by the substance use. This sexual behavior can continue to be problematic for the individual. The individual may continue to feel a sense of shame and pain. Therefore recovery is about addressing the entire addictive process, not just those associated with a particular substance or behavior. The addictive process, whether it be related to sexual behavior or substances is often characterized by a pattern of secrecy, cognitive distortions and rituals. Therefore recovery from addiction regardless of type, would involve embracing and attempting to live a life of honesty, authenticity and emotional growth.

Fortunately, many underlying similarities between multiple addictions mean that the underlying framework for concurrent treatment is quite effective. According to a recent study conducted at Bellwood Health Services confirms that individuals with a comorbid sexual addiction and substance use disorder attending the same treatment centre as those with only sexual addiction, have comparable treatment outcomes at six months follow-up. Both groups demonstrated substantial improvement not only on measures of substance use and sexual impulse control but also on self-reported measures of well-being and quality of life.

Treating sexual addiction and substance abuse concurrently: Replacing the maladaptive coping strategies

Finally and looking at some of the past psychological trauma, sexual abuse, abandonment and neglect, doctor Akoury reiterates that these are some of the very important issues that need to be addressed in treatment. Therefore any recovering addict must endeavor to learn on how to recognize the signs of being actively involved in the addictive process and work hard primarily at replacing all the maladaptive coping strategies with positive and affirming ones. Moreover the individual addict needs to be empowered and be given the necessary tools to be able to function effectively in their environment and successfully meet all life’s challenges without turning to substance use or problematic sexual behavior. We know that this can be very difficult to some of you and if you’re that person, then you need not to give up because there is help on the way upon calling doctor Dalal Akoury today to schedule for a one on one meeting with her and your life will never be the same again thereafter.

Treating sexual addiction and substance abuse concurrently: Treating multiple addictions

The significance of cortisol in stress management

September 18, 2015

The significance of cortisol in stress management: Tips on managing stress

The significance of cortisol in stress management is a step in the right direction

Understanding the significance of cortisol in stress management is one very important element that we all need to appreciate if we want to meaningfully defeat some of the health complications that are associated with stress and addiction. In this tough economic situation a lot of publications are posted in various media and forums with very luring information about certain remedies of stress. Doctor Dalal Akoury a well-respected addiction professional says that in today’s market, there are several commercials that tout the effectiveness of supplements like Cortislim ™ and Relacore ™ that propose to help people lose weight and feel less stressed by inhibiting the effects of cortisol. However, these commercials do not necessarily give you the fully inform you need to know about some of the following and including:

What stress is all about and its significance to the overall physiological functioning?
The actual pathways involved with the stress response and the one responsible for cortisol release.
The function and importance of cortisol for bodily function.
The potential link between cortisol and obesity.
The potential link between stress, cortisol, and appetite.
The harmful health effects of stress-induced obesity.

We are therefore going to engage the services of experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center to help us in unlocking some of the potential facts we need to know about the role of cortisol in stress management. Therefore the purpose of this article is to primarily give some clarifications about some misconceptions on these topics and to suggest some practical assessment and stress management ideas for the fitness professional and personal trainer to incorporate with students and clients.

The significance of cortisol in stress management: What is stress and its significance to physiological functioning?

As we progress into the discussion, it is important that we move from the known to the unknown and it is to say, stress can be defined as the nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it or as any event in which environmental demands, internal demands, or both tax or exceed the adaptive resources of an individual, social system or tissue system. Doctor Akoury is saying that in many different societies today, stress is a common term that is often associated with negative situations and settings and on the other hand a stress-free life may also be harmful, primarily because an individual will lose his/her ability to react to the different challenges of life. It is important to note that every person has an optimal positive stress level known as eustress, while on the other hand stress that is harmful is noted to be distress.

The significance of cortisol in stress management: Stress response pathways

The reactions of people to stressors are normally different in many ways. Like for instance, if an individual perceives the stressor as a challenge to his/her control of a situation, norepinephrine the “fight” hormone is predominantly released. And, if the stress arousal increases and a possible loss of control is felt by the individual, then epinephrine, another “flight/anxiety” hormone is released. It therefore means that when the stress is prolonged and seen as hopeless, the individual becomes more distressed and feels defeated. This then activates the hypothalamus in the brain and what follows is a cascade of hormonal pathways resulting in the final release of cortisol from the adrenal cortex of the kidney.

Experts’ at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center says that the brain is able to selectively activate the fight, flight, or defeat responses. This usually occurs in day to day living when an individual perceives his/her hassles as a challenge to control or a loss of control. Although the stress pathways work together, they each can uniquely affect the function of bodily processes. For instance, the “fight” or “flight” stress responses cause the heart to beat faster and harder as well as release more free fatty acids (disassembled triglycerides) into the blood. The “defeat” response stress pathway can lead to enhanced lipogenesis (fat creation), visceral obesity (deep abdominal obesity), breakdown of tissues, and suppression of the immune system. All these give us all the reasons to bring stress to manageable levels soonest.

The significance of cortisol in stress management: Useful stress management tips for fitness professional to apply

Fortunately, fitness professional are already doing many physical activities to help their clients manage stress. Many types of aerobic and anaerobic exercise have been shown to be effective interventions in reducing or managing stress. Some of the popular ‘mindful’ exercise programs such as yoga and Tai Chi (or Tai Chi Chaun) are also recommended for stress management. Meditation, progressive relaxation, deep breathing, and visualization are methods that can be effective in decreasing stress-induced symptoms. Also, eating right and getting enough rest should be incorporated in a stress management plan for life.

In conclusion, doctor Akoury says that it is always important to appreciate that stress will always be a part of our daily living and is necessary for providing challenge to physiological and psychological development. However, too much stress over a period of time combined with poor coping habits may cause physical, chemical, and hormonal imbalances in the body, thus leading to disease and death if left unchecked. The pathways of the stress response are complex and may activate other hormonal pathways, resulting in the release of cortisol. The chronic release of cortisol combined with altered tissue production is linked to the development of abdominal obesity in both men and women. Cortisol is associated to overeating, craving high caloric fatty and sugary foods, and relocating fat from the circulation and storage depots to the deep internal abdominal area. It is therefore very crucial that all fitness professionals must continually educate their clients and the general public about the value of exercise and stress management activities as important strategies for managing stress and lessening the health risks associated with stress-induced obesity. Finally if you are not flowing with us well in this discussion and you need a more close one on one discussion with our team of experts, you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for further professional guidance.

The significance of cortisol in stress management: Tips on managing stress

Understanding the effectiveness for narcotic abuse treatment

September 17, 2015

Understanding the effectiveness for narcotic abuse treatment: Dealing with the problem of narcotic abuse professionally

If you had the power of understanding the effectiveness for narcotic abuse treatment, you will not associate yourself with any kind of drugs in life.

We are privileged to have real addiction professional like doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center in our midst to help us go through the challenges of addiction and help us in the understanding the effectiveness for narcotic abuse treatment from all levels. We actually need to be safe from all the attacks of drugs and that is why doctor Dalal Akoury founded this facility (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) to primarily to make a difference in the lives of people who are struggling with addiction. To do this, her main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. It will also interest you to know that Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. And now that you are aware of where to find lasting and professional solutions to all your addiction complications, you may want to call her on Telephone number 843 213 1480 to schedule for an appointment with her so that all your concerns can be addressed professionally. In the meantime, let us focus our discussion to the topic of the day “understanding the effectiveness for narcotic abuse treatment” even as we progress into the discussion.

Understanding the effectiveness for narcotic abuse treatment: Intoxication

Intoxication is normally treated in cases of overdose and when severe respiratory depression occurs. Naltrexone, an opiate agonist drug, may be used to revive a person who has overdosed. It binds to opioid receptors in the brain and counteracts the effects of drugs like heroin, morphine, and codeine. Its side effects may include nausea and headache and it may be associated with liver toxicity. Like we had mentioned before, detoxification is normally the first step in treatment. Withdrawal may last from a couple of days to 2 weeks. Two drugs, methadone and clonidine, are applicable in this mode of treatment.

The primary role of methadone (a synthetic narcotic) is to reduce the discomfort of withdrawal and is normally administered in tapering doses until withdrawal ends. And because methadone is a narcotic its side effects are similar to the effects of heroin or morphine, however they have a slower onset, last longer, and are less severe. Also, respiratory depression can occur in high doses. And when it comes to clonidine which is an anti-hypertension medication, it affects the nervous system and can block the physical manifestations of withdrawal, like anxiety and irritability. Its most common side effects are dry mouth, dizziness, and drowsiness.

Understanding the effectiveness for narcotic abuse treatment: Dependence

This is very dangerous and must be overcome by abstinence. Drug counseling, self-help groups, half-way houses, and narcotics anonymous (similar to alcoholics anonymous) may instill in a user the behavioral and psychological changes necessary to break a drug habit. And remember that methadone maintenance is helpful when combined with these strategies. Tapering initially large doses of methadone can help people gradually overcome dependence. Methadone is abused and its use remains controversial. Still, long-term treatment plans (30 days to more than a year) can keep people away from street drugs, needles, and disease. They improve the quality of life for most people who attempt to recover.

Like in many parts of the world, we have over 11,000 drug treatment centers in the United States providing treatment for intoxication, withdrawal symptoms, and dependence. The objective of detoxification is abstinence. Under this arrangement staffs are trained in substance dependence, and most centers employ physicians. Therefore patients will have an option of either choosing an inpatient or an outpatient treatment program, depending on the severity of dependence, availability of facilities, insurance coverage, and other considerations. Some facilities specialize only in detoxification or long-term treatment; others provide both fast-acting devices to treat narcotic overdose

It will interest you to note that in April 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new hand-held auto-injector to reverse a potentially fatal opioid overdose. This device which is known as Evzio (naloxone hydrochloride injection) is designed for use by family members, caregivers, and non-medical first responders in cases of known or suspected overdose of heroin or a narcotic pain reliever. And according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Evzio will be available by prescription to friends and family members of people at increased risk for opioid overdose—those who are taking narcotic pain medications for a medical condition and those who are struggling with narcotic addiction. The easy-to-use device can be carried in a pocket, purse, or bag, or can be stored in a medicine cabinet at home. Once it is turned on, it gives verbal instructions for use and then directs the person administering the medication to call in case of emergency. A training device is included with the delivery device and family members and caregivers are instructed to become familiar with using the device before it is needed.

Understanding the effectiveness for narcotic abuse treatment: Signs of narcotic overdose

The signs may include decreased breathing/heart rate and loss of consciousness. Evzio delivers a single dose of naloxone into the muscle (intramuscular) or beneath the skin (subcutaneous) as an emergency treatment. Because the effects of narcotics can last longer than the effects of naloxone, and because naloxone can cause severe opioid withdrawal, it’s important to seek medical attention as quickly as possible. The following are some of the potential side effects of naloxone:

Nausea and vomiting
Profuse sweating
Cardiac arrest
Uncontrolled trembling/shaking
High blood pressure spikes
Increased heart rate
Seizures

Finally understanding the effectiveness for narcotic abuse treatment should not be taken lightly since it forms the basis of finding effective and lasting solutions to all addiction related problems globally. Therefore if you or anyone you know is struggling with any kind of addiction, you can be the bridge of hope to them by introducing them to the home of addiction experts (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury today.

Understanding the effectiveness for narcotic abuse treatment: Dealing with the problem of narcotic abuse professionally

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery

September 2, 2015

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery: What next after smoking cessation?

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery can be felt even up to one year latter after quitting. the heart is the most vulnerable of all the organs.

There is no doubt that up on quitting smoking health improvement takes place almost immediately and for sure people who quit cigarette smoking at whatever age or stage of life are expected to feel significant and remarkable benefits within a few minutes, hours, days and weeks from their last puff of cigarette. However, it is equally important to note that even though the benefits will be realized almost immediately, the effects of smoking can still be felt even after one year of smoking cessation. Doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, says that, with smoking the vein health may still not return to normalcy thereby increasing the possibility of a failed heart bypass surgery and that is why we want to focus our discussion on the aftermath of smoking risks after recovery. It will interest you to note that according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is the most common type of open-heart surgery performed globally. Professionally this is primarily done to patients who have severe heart problems, or those whose major arteries have been blocked and damaged making them susceptible to heart problems. This procedure involves connecting (or grafting) a blocked artery to a healthy one so the blood can bypass the damaged artery and flow freely through the other one. Success rates of coronary artery bypass goes beyond grafting surgery which are considered high among non-smokers.

Experts are working round the clock to reduce the aftermath of smoking risk after recovery and according to a study published in the journal The Annals of Thoracic Surgery it was established that the damage caused by tobacco use to the veins may not be fully reversed even after one full year of smoking cessation. It therefore means that smoking has very long term effect on your health that even after quitting you will still be at certain risk according to the study. And like we had mentioned previously, heart disease is the number one killer in the world and it is strongly facilitated by smoking and the nicotine in the tobacco smoke. Along with improper diet, obesity, high cholesterol and inactivity, smoking is still a major risk factor for cardiovascular problems. From the discussion so far it is becoming clear that even though quitting smoking now is the best thing to do since doing can reverse many of the side effects of tobacco use, it is equally important to appreciate the fact that it will take some time before the other damages can be reversed completely. Doctor Dalal Akoury is reaffirming that since no one really knows when he or she will be in need of coronary artery bypass surgery; therefore, the best approach to this problem/habit is to stop immediately and preferably in your youthful age. This is very important because the heart problems and complications often deteriorate and get more obvious in old age says doctor Akoury. For better understanding of the magnitude of this problem, let us consider the following smoking risks on other medical procedures as follows:

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery: Smoking poses health risks to any kind of surgery

While all smokers are urged to quit, doctor Akoury is of the opinion that individual smokers who are scheduled for surgery must be highly encouraged to quit as soon as possible if they want to escape the scathing consequences of the problem at hand. The contents of cigarettes which include among other things nicotine and carbon monoxide are so destructive and will impact negatively by blocking the smooth blood flow to different parts of the body thereby impairing the healing process.

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery: Smoking increases risk after colorectal procedures

According to the findings of a given study published last September in the Annals of Surgery journal revealed that smoking boosts the risk of infection, pneumonia, blood clots and kidney failure after colorectal procedures.

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery: Smoking makes cancer treatments less effective

Cancer is one of the most frustrating illness and cancer patients will confirm to you the agony they go through during treatment. Cigarette smoking is a serious threat to cancer treatment for varies many reasons and therefore all cancer patients are highly discouraged to desist from smoking because it hinders their body from effectively cooperating with the treatment. It is also important to note that besides lowering their immune responses, experts have establish that smoking can increase the risk of risk of heart and lung complications including problems related to general anesthesia.

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery: Smoking impacts the body even during less invasive surgeries

The best way of avoiding all these complications is not just stopping but choosing not to be lured into smoking in the first place. Those who do not smoke at all have less risk considering all the health complications that are associated with smoking. Doctor Akoury advices that if you are schedule for any surgery regardless of whether it’s a major or minor surgery, the professional advice from experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is that patients must endeavor to stop smoking way before the scheduled date of their procedure to ensure success of the treatment. There is no two way about it any patient schedule for surgery must quit smoking.

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery: Continuing to smoke after surgery causes serious complications.

Finally in one of the studies, more than half of patients who continued to smoke after surgery developed complications compared with less than 20 percent of those who quit. Lighting up also increases the risk of death after surgery. Doctor Akoury parting short is that there’s no way in which tobacco use will help in easing the process of any medical treatment or procedure. With that in mind smokers who have health problems or are undergoing treatments MUST make the decision of quitting a priority. Otherwise, they could be facing serious, long-term consequences.

The aftermath of smoking risks after recovery: What next after smoking cessation?

Tag Archives: Drug addiction and stress