Tag Archives: drug addiction prevention

painkiller abuse

Natural balance homeostasis of the brain

July 30, 2016
Natural balance homeostasis

Natural balance homeostasis of the brain can fall prey to substance abuse

Natural balance homeostasis of the brain: Drug addiction

One of the fundamentals in our response to the question of discussion “the natural balance homeostasis of the brain” is that addiction will always change the brain natural balance which is scientifically known as homeostasis. The truth is that addiction interferes with an important biological process called homeostasis. Scientifically the human body is considered as a biological system. All biological systems attempt to maintain a “normal” balance, known as homeostasis. Doctor Akoury says that the brain actually functions as the administrator of this balance by making various adjustments where is necessary to maintain a balanced, well-functioning, biological system. Each person’s “normal” balance is individually determined. Drugs of abuse and activity addictions lead to changes in this normal balance.

Natural balance homeostasis of the brain: The brains over-stimulation

Chronic over-stimulation of the brain (like that which occurs in addiction) interferes with the maintenance of this natural balance homeostasis. When the brain has difficulty maintaining homeostatic balance, the wonderfully adaptive brain makes adjustments. It does this by creating a new balanced set-point. The creation of a new balance is called allostasis. This may not be very clear to many, but let me make it simpler by using a daily life illustration. Take for instance if you add more weight by 20 units, you will try fitting into your clothing’s despite the discomfort. But with time this will not be bearable and so you will have to adapt to the new body size by buying new clothes that will fit you well. Once this is done you will be more comfortable and at this point you will get used to the fact that your cloths are now large size and not medium or small sizes as it used to be.

That is how the process your natural balance homeostasis changes from medium to large. And with this adjustment you become comfortable again. Nonetheless the reverse can also take place in the future where the added 20 units may be lost to keep healthy and when that happens you will be compelled to make further readjustment to your clothing size by buying smaller sizes. Therefore even though at this moment you will be healthy due to the loss, you will still need to make an unpleasant and costly adjustment by buying smaller clothes. This is very similar to the unpleasant adjustment the brain must go through when people try to give up their addiction. Although this is a positive change, we will be uncomfortable while the brain makes readjustments to suits the present circumstances.

Natural balance homeostasis of the brain: The brains coping strategies

I hope that the concept is coming out clearly from the above illustration. But nonetheless even with the brain’s wonderful ability to make the readjustments, these changes are still causing significant changes to the brain’s functioning. And in fact it is these changes that account for many behaviors associated with addiction such as:

  • The powerful and lustful need to obtain drugs or continue with the indulgence of harmful activities despite the harm to self or loved ones
  • The difficulty of quitting an addictive drug or activity, and
  • The obsessive, all-consuming nature of addictions such that little else in life matters

This happens because addiction caused the brain’s balance to change to accommodate the addiction. Once changed, the brain requires the addictive substance or activity in order to maintain this new homeostatic balance. Finally it is important to appreciate that we all have a duty to keep our health above board and the brain is playing a key role in ensuring that this dream is realized. Therefore anything that makes the brain to function improperly must be the biggest enemy to us. That is to say that if you or anyone you know is struggling with any form of addiction you may want to consider scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for the commencement of your healing recovery program.

Natural balance homeostasis of the brain: Drug addiction

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porn addiction

Porn Addiction and How to Fight It

July 20, 2016

Porn addiction is one of the most popular forms of sexual addiction. It can simply be defined as an uncontrolled preoccupation with sexual images. If not taken care of in time, porn addiction, just like any other addiction can interfere with the addict’s life. Despite the fact that it isn’t listed as a mental disorder, porn addicts often find themselves anxious and depressed when they cannot access porn material.

Once fully addicted, fighting porn addiction might require more than your conscience. It is like trying to wrestle your uncontrollable feelings.

What makes porn addiction hard to fight?

  • Just like any other practice, getting involved in anything that encourages porn addiction for a long time will make it a habit. It will become part of your life and to let it go; you’ll need more than your efforts.
  • Viewing or reading porn materials more often is like training your body to expect a reward. Just like alcohol, you’ll need it all the time making it one of the things you can’t live without.
  • Being able to access porn materials easily relieves you of cravings as well as frustrations.
  • Porn addictions become a taboo that is hard to let go. It ends up controlling your life as well as your personal sexuality.

How to get out of porn addiction

Porn addiction is a habit that once adopted will take control of your mind and body and before you know it, you’ll be doing things that you didn’t plan to do such as, taking breaks while at your workplace or staying up late at night just to view some explicit content. The good news is, coming out on top and being in control of your life is something you can do by yourself.

One of the best methods is, refocussing your sexual energy. You can just say that you will get busy doing some stuff, maybe, some housework or some few assignments whenever the craving invades your mind and body. Saying is easy, but ‘doing’ is where your real efforts are important. For better results, you need to change what triggers your mental addiction.

porn addiction

After realising the real triggers, you need to search and adopt an activity that will get your mind off the triggers and most importantly, stick to it. Put it down on paper and make it your new habit. Take for example what triggers depression when you are missing or can’t get your hands on a porn material or an anything related to sex that is frustrating and the only thing that can relieve you of it is porn. More often it is always boredom, and the fact that get your hands on porn imagery is easier than anything else, and you can access it at your own convenient time.

If what relieves you when you experience the above issues is sitting on a computer browsing porn stuff, it will be best if you change the way you relieve yourself when you are depressed. For better results, avoid anything related to the internet.

The final word

Fighting addiction can be quite a task especially if it is something whose absence leaves you depressed. The good news is, it all depends on the steps you decide to take.

 

Call us today if you need help with these topics and more on 8432131480.

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Injected drugs

Moral failing has no link with drug addiction

November 25, 2015

Why drug addiction is not a moral failing: Addiction medicine, new medical specialty

Why drug addiction is not a moral failing

Why drug addiction is not a moral failing? Research has established that drug addiction is a disease like any other and must be addressed medically without any form of victimization morally or otherwise.

Traditionally if you had problem with drugs and alcohol, the society would see you as one who is not morally upright. We are also told that old is gold but is this perception productive in anyway? And would you consider it as gold in the present generation? Those are some of the points we want to consider in this discussion and that is why we are choosing the topic “why drug addiction is not a moral failing by all standards? To be more specific with this tradition doctor Dalal Akoury MD, founder and also the President of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is a veteran addiction expert who has helped in the transformation of millions of people across the globe with their addiction complication is going to help us understand the variance between the old perception and the new scientific understanding of the complications relating to misuse of alcohol and drug addiction. She says that up until the early twentieth century it was common to view addiction as a moral failing. It is regrettable that those individuals who fell into cage of such behaviors were viewed as bad people who were willfully doing wrong. As time goes by and with new research studies revelations, this view begun to change in the early 1940s with the arrival of groups like Alcoholics Anonymous. This brought a new dispensation and people began to look upon addiction as a disease that could be treated if the right professionals are engaged. And according to the available statics we can now confirm that over the last few decades the medical professionals’ establishment has further endorsed the idea that such behaviors are a brain disease by creating a new specialty to treatment of addiction.

Moral failing has no link with drug addiction : Relationship between medicine and addiction is not a new one

We are all aware that western medication has been predominantly involved in the treatment of addiction for many years with some little restrictions in the applications. The explanation to this is that many alcoholics have traditionally sought their physician expert’s opinion from time to time when they decided to get help for their addiction and the complications that come with it. Under normal circumstance during such visits, the physician would in most cases refer them to other specific professionals such as psychiatrist, addiction therapist, or self-help group. Things are changing and now the medical establishment is viewing addiction as a disease that they can treat. This has led to the rise of a new specialty of addiction medicine. And according to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, doctor Akoury is registering that in the past it was not unknown for physicians to be highly knowledgeable about addiction. As a matter of fact, those who are regularly dealing with such patients may decide to do additional courses so as to increase their ability to help. The American Society of Addiction Medicine has been on the leading front in providing this training to those who willing to benefit from it. It is therefore important to appreciate that those groups that have also been the driving force for ensuring that addiction medicine became a recognized specialty had their dreams realized in 1988.

Why drug addiction is not a moral failing: Need for addiction to be a medical specialty

One clear fact that needs to be understood is that addiction has consequences that cut’s on both sides of the divide. That is to say that everybody has his or her portion of pain whether you are a direct or indirect victim. And remember that at the moment there are many different professionals involved in providing care for addicts and some of those professionals may include:

  • Addiction therapists
  • Addiction counselors
  • Psychiatrists
  • Psychologists
  • Social workers
  • Psychiatric nurses
  • Public health professionals

Even though a lot of progress has been made with the treatment of addiction patients, much more is still need to be done because of the following reasons:

  • There is increasing evidence that alcoholism is a physical disease – a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. If it is a medical condition then it is only natural that there should be a medical specialty that is focused on offering the most effective possible treatment.
  • High resonance imaging shows that addiction does actually cause damage to the brain meaning that it is a medical problem.
  • There are now a number of medical institutions across the globe including in the US offering accredited one year programs where doctors can gain the knowledge they need for the treatment of addiction – in the past such courses were not accredited. This means that these physicians will be in a much better position to offer the help their patients need.
  • Information is power and the lack of it about addiction is certainly going to be a gap that needs to be filled and this can be done by creating an addiction specialty in medicine to help in breaching the gap.
  • Addiction is viewed as similar to other chronic conditions such as diabetes. When it is not possible to offer a cure the focus should be on medical management of the symptoms.
  • The medical management of addiction can focus on relapse prevention. By getting somebody to stop abusing alcohol or drugs. This must be appreciated that this is just half the battle and the real task is to help them stay stopped.
  • There are a number of pharmaceutical drugs that people can use to overcome their addictions and of particular interest are drugs that may reduce the intensity of cravings or help the individual pass through withdrawals easier.
  • Sending addicts to psychiatrists might not always be the best course of action because many of these individuals do not have psychiatric problems although a high percentage of them do.
  • Physicians often feel helpless to help addicts. The growth of the specialty of addiction medicine means that they can do more than merely patch them up and send them back out to the world.
  • The physician is often in a good position to recognize the symptoms of an addiction.

Moral failing has no link with drug addiction: Future of addiction treatment

Finally with this fact that addiction has become a bona fide medical specialty out of the box, we need to start seeing real time improvements in the care of addicts such including the following says doctor Akoury:

  • There will be an increasing number of physicians who have a good understanding of addiction and treatment. These professionals will be able to help ensure that addicts who pass through the medical system receive adequate treatment.
  • It is likely to mean that there will be increased research into pharmaceutical and other treatments that may be of value to those struggling with addiction.
  • It should mean that physicians can do more than just pass the addict onto another specialty.
  • Physicians will be able to play a key role in relapse prevention.

All these are tailored towards ensuring that addiction victims get the best and this best can only be realized when you as a victim of an addiction schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for further professional guidance.

Moral failing has no link with drug addiction: Addiction medicine, new medical specialty

 

 

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treament using therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy and teenage addiction

November 24, 2015

Understanding Dialectical Behavior Therapy and teenage addiction: Are you sending the wrong message?

Understanding Dialectical Behavior Therapy and teenage addiction

Understanding Dialectical Behavior Therapy and teenage addiction is very necessary in the fight against teenage addiction.

For a very long time now we have indicated openly that with addiction there are no boundaries. Everyone is at a risk of being addicted to any drug depending on several factors which we have repeatedly discussed in our previous postings. Nonetheless with the rampant increase of the number of people being addicted to drugs every passing day, it has become necessary for us to marry facts and discuss them as they are for our timely consumption and taking appropriate action plan. In view of that, we want to focus this discussion on the understanding Dialectical Behavior Therapy and teenage addiction as components addiction and how they complement one another in the fight against substance abuse. The use for chemical dependency is another element that requires Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for solutions says doctor Dalal Akoury who is an addiction expert, MD, Founder and President of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center.

From her over two decades of working experience in this discipline, doctor Akoury defines Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for those with severe psychosocial disorders. According to the recent work at the University of Washington suggests its effectiveness with chemical dependency, in particular, and some addiction specialists are incorporating DBT into rehab treatment plans. It is however important to appreciate that this form of therapy concentrates on skill development, coping strategies, and the individual’s strengths. Through a focus on positive reinforcement, Dialectical Behavior Therapy can decrease the number of self-destructive episodes an individual might experience, as well as their severity. The basic assumption of DBT is that people are doing the best they can but are lacking the skills necessary to function appropriately in any given environment.

Understanding Dialectical Behavior Therapy and teenage addiction: How does DBT works

When you choose this mode of addiction treatment for your specific condition, it will be very important to be informed of how DBT works. Doctor Akoury registers that basically there are about four components of DBT and they may include the following:

  • Individual therapy
  • Group therapy
  • Therapist Consultation Team
  • Phone Coaching

Now for better understanding, let us seek the expert’s opinion from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center which is the home of solution founded by doctor Dalal Akoury, MD and President of the facility (AWAREmed Health and Wellness) as follows:

Individual therapy

Professionally, this is where the client records issues that come up during the week on diary cards and discusses them with a therapist. During these sessions, the therapy focuses on developing or improving skills that will diminish self-destructive behaviors, sabotage to therapy, and improve overall quality of life. This is actually very important especially to the teenagers who are struggling with the various forms of addiction. With the administration of DBT there will be both physical and psychological empowerment which is very instrumental in the fight against addiction.

Group therapy

Doctor Akoury reiterates that when group therapy is done at least once week and sessions that will last for up to two and a half hours, focusing on the use of four specific skills: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation and distress tolerance, the result will be overwhelmingly productive to everyone whether you are the direct victim or indirect victim. Many people often feel intimidated when they are alone with the specialist but with the group therapy some ray of comfort and confidence is possible since one will be able to ride on the experiences of other people who have been there. Moral support is one of the strengths realized in such an arrangement. Therefore if you or any one you know is struggling with an addiction of any kind, then you may want to be the bridge through which they will get the much needed help they need by scheduling for an appointment with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. On receipt of your appointment, doctor Dalal Akoury and her team of experts will attend to you humanly and with a lot of confidence. Patient doctor trust and confidentiality is one virtue we uphold in this facility to perfection.

Understanding Dialectical Behavior Therapy and teenage addiction: Therapist Consultation Team

This includes therapists who are using Dialectical Behavior Therapy and provides weekly support for the therapist.

Understanding Dialectical Behavior Therapy and teenage addiction: Phone Coaching

This is designed to help incorporate skills into an individual’s daily life. The coaching sessions are generally brief, informative and to the point. It is however very important to take note that mindfulness is the foundation for the other skills taught in DBT, because it helps individuals accept the powerful emotions they may feel when exposed to difficult situations. Buddhist practice for instance informs the mindfulness exercises used in DBT, though the version used does not contain religious concepts. DBT helps develop the capacity to be present, to pay attention without judgment, and helps individuals develop perspective on their emotional states. Doctor Akoury is further registering that since the use of Dialectical Behavior Therapy in substance abuse is comparatively new, it is yet to be considered as an evidence-based therapy. However, the increased use of DBT in the treatment of chemical dependency will likely yield statistical evidence to prove or discount its effectiveness.

Finally understanding dialectical behavior therapy and teenage addiction is just but one out of the many options available for the treatment of drug addiction and not just in the teens, but also with other different age groups. It is therefore very necessary that when considering any method of application, expert opinion would be very important. And for that reason, we want to advice that you consult with your physician for further professional advice and if you are within reach, then you may want to consider scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for a one on one discussion with her and you will not regret having done so.

Understanding Dialectical Behavior Therapy and teenage addiction: Are you sending the wrong message?

 

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Misuse of alcohol

Using aromatherapy in drug addiction recovery

November 24, 2015

Using aromatherapy in drug addiction recovery: Alternative therapies for people in recovery

Using aromatherapy

Using aromatherapy in addiction recovery can bring very tangible difference in the lives of young and old people doing drugs.

It is an open secret that alcohol or drug addiction is posing serious threat to human life and health. A lot is being done to find user friendly application that will the victims comfort during and after recovery. And even as this is everybody concern, it has not deleted the fact that recovering from the various kinds of addiction can be very challenging. Speaking to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, we are able to share with you a variety of great resources available that can make the healing and reconstruction process much easier. According to doctor Dalal Akoury MD who is the founder and president of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, any minor discomforts that an individual experiences during the initial settling in period to sobriety will be worth it because of the benefits to be gained by this new way of living after the absolute recovery process is completed. We appreciate that the healing process will often come with some elements of discomforts like the withdrawal symptoms, but nonetheless it is important to note that there are possibilities of reducing these discomforts to a minimum and manageable levels. One of the ways of achieving this is to make use of alternative therapies such as using aromatherapy, and that brings us to our topic of discussion today which is “using aromatherapy in addiction recovery.” This will be very interesting and productive not only to the direct victims, but also to the indirect victims. We therefore want to kindly request you to stay with us on the link to get that facts right so that together we can make not just a difference, but a significant one.

Using aromatherapy in drug addiction recovery: Elucidation of aromatherapy

It is good that we understand what aromatherapy is and more so in relation to our subject of discussion. From the expert’s point of view, aromatherapy has been practiced for centuries by different cultures across the globe and the benefits have spoken for themselves. Anciently it is believed to date back to several generations and it is one of the oldest applications to date. It is no wonder that today it is classified as one of the types of alternative medicine or holistic treatment. It involves using various plant materials and aromatic ingredients in order to produce scents that are believed to benefit mental, physical, and spiritual health. The individual benefits from the properties of these mixtures through inhalation.

For better understanding, it is important to note that there are varieties of essential Oils which comes in liquid form and are used in aromatherapy. They are made up from the oils of plants or other compounds and in many instances they (oils) are often extracted through the process of distillation which is a method of separating solutions that involves boiling. The different essential oils that are created by this process are not only used for aromatherapy, but can also be applicable in a number of ways including being found in cosmetics and sometimes even food. Currently we do have many different types of essential oils that are used for a multitude of purposes with just one single essential oil can contain up to a hundred different compounds inside of it.

Using aromatherapy in drug addiction recovery: How aromatherapy works

When it comes to usage, many people are often perplexed of various things including cost and the duration of recovery. These are among the concerns that we will all have but one very important element that we must have is that despite such concerns, it is still possible to begin benefiting from aromatherapy without spending heavily. Doctor Akoury is advising that, all that is really needed is some essential oil and a diffuser. By now we all understand the use of essential oils however the purpose of the diffuser is to heat the essential oil so that it can diffuse into the air as a vapor. And besides this there are also some aromatherapy products that can be directly inhaled or applied to the body. Careful consideration should be taken so that this is only done with products designed for this purpose.

The other concern we noted is that of the cost element. I deadly doctor Akoury says that these products (essential oils) will definitely vary in price with smaller quantities of about 15 ml costing approximately $5 to $50. These figures may still be high for some client but the good news we have now is that these days it is possible to find things even cheaper online but even as you go online it is still very important to only deal with a reliable suppliers. The other point is that there are different types of diffuser available with some using candles while others will use a special electrical light bulb to heat the essential oil. It is usual to mix the oil with water in the diffuser. It is also suggested that people investigate the different types of products available to decide which ones will most benefit them, and this will depend on what function they wish the essential oil to perform for them.

Using aromatherapy in drug addiction recovery: Aromatherapy for people in recovery

One ultimate fact that we must not forget is that while aromatherapy is essential for people recovering from addiction and alcoholism, it is important to note that on its own, it cannot cure addiction, but these compounds can be of great importance to people recovering from any kind of addiction. For better understanding, the following are some of the benefits one would get when using these products:

  • Some essential oils can be effective at helping people relax. This can be particularly important for people in early recovery who can find adjusting to their new life a bit overwhelming at times.
  • It is fairly common for people in the first year of recovery to complain of a fuzzy brain – this can occur as a result of the initial withdrawals or post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS). There are some essential oils that can increase mental clarity.
  • Many people complain of difficulties sleeping during the early days of recovery. Essential oils in evening will be able to relax them and put them in the mood for sleep.
  • Meditation can be of great benefit to those who are recovering from an addiction. Some people find that essential oils help them fall more easily into a meditative state – although people need to be careful because if the aroma is too noticeable it will act as a distraction.
  • Some of these products can be good at lifting people’s mood.
  • There are oils that can help people reduce their anxiety levels.
  • They can help lessen the impact of withdrawal symptoms such as body discomfort and nausea.

Finally the use of aromatherapy in addiction recovery is very essential in helping addicts stay comfortable even when the effects of withdrawal symptoms occur making them very effective in controlling instances of relapse. We are going to continue with this discussion progressively in our subsequent article and we want to invite you to continue being with us for more information about the efficiency of aromatherapy. In the meantime if you have any concern that you need to be addressed, you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today and you will be attended to professionally.

Using aromatherapy in drug addiction recovery: Alternative therapies for people in recovery

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