Positive psychology in addiction treatment

July 24, 2014

Positive psychology in addiction treatment – Drug Addiction

Positive psychology in addiction treatment. It is much healthier to treat addiction when there is common understanding of the problem at hand.

Everyone would want to be given hope that their life situation is not permanent and there is light at the end of the tunnel. When professionals are administering treatment they often give their patients words of hope and keep it that way even when they are convinced that chances of living the hospital bed is diminishing every passing second after all the patients only visited the facility to get better and being hopeful is very necessary in treatment of any kind of health condition. However there are instances when this has not been the practice in some quarters like in addiction related problems we know for sure that there is high possibilities of relapsing during and after recovery a process that may occur repeatedly and can be very discouraging. When one relapses consistently such a person needs to be encouraged to soldier on and be given hope that this is normal and will be defeated with time. To do this it will be important that we cultivate the positive psychology in both the addict and the health care provider.

Positive psychology in addiction treatment – Definition

Therefore let us understand what positive Psychology is all about. First this is a new initiative in the arena of psychological research and intervention defined as the scientific study of the strong points and virtues that enable individuals and communities to flourish. The initiative is founded on the understanding that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to promote what is best within them and to improve their experiences of love, work, and play.

In effective addiction treatment, positive psychological approaches play an important role in achieving long-term addiction recovery goals. Usually addicts are told that:

They have a disease which they will have to manage for the rest of their lives.
To expect relapse and that from a statistical perspective, most will die from their illness.

This is extremely demoralizing prognosis to provide to someone who has presented a problem to you for help. This is not the way to go and a positive psychologist would rearrange the conversation and the situation by instilling hopeful suggestions that addiction is a behavioral disorder and even the most rooted behaviors can be changed with proper treatment and change of life style among other applicable factors. While not denying the negative statistics surrounding addiction recovery, reframing of the opportunity to recover into something achievable is empowering and motivating giving hope to many who may be suffering from substance abuse.

Positive psychology in addiction treatment – Self-discovery

Positive psychology is a continuous process and is boundary less so long as the patients still need help. Therefore after giving these quality encouragement to the addict patient by suggesting that recovery is possible not just for a select few, the positive psychologist will then begins to work with the addict to re-evaluate life and initiate a process of self-discovery where the addicted patient get to know the kind of activities and relationships of great importance to and for them.

Like I said before with this positive psychology there are no limits. For instance example, consider a physically challenged person on a wheelchair all his or her life being pushed to your office for advice in life telling you that what they want to do is to be serving seals, what would you tell them? Many may condemn then because they cannot walk and so may not be productive in an assignment. This is the wrong way of handling people by doing this you will for sure achieve great injury and demoralization to this people, instead you may instill hope in them by suggesting and encouraging them to look into what it would take for them to save seals. You may inspire them that since they are not able to walk and be physically active what about if they be involved through the internet in those types of activities and raise funds to support the work! Being visionary is the kind of process being applied to the people suffering from addiction to help them a world and life beyond substances they abuse and to give them achievable goals to work towards with the sole objective helping them keep to their recovery.

Meaningful recovery is achieved when the pain of the past is worked through and goals for the future are set and worked toward. Part of the problem of addiction generally may include: An inability to envision a different future, future in which happiness, good work, and strong relationships are the fabric of daily life. With the application of positive psychology, the therapists are able to inspire and help addicts plan for and believe that they can attain the kind of future of which they previously could not even dream. This is the spirit that is transformative and realistic. If you have been with me on this link you may have read from our previous articles putting emphasis to every one of the duty of care owed to one another, this is an endless commitment that you and I should embrace for the good of our well-being. In attempting to achieve this doctor Akoury a known addiction professional of several decades founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center where total care and treatment is administered to all in need while focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE this is ware to be for all kinds of addiction related problems.

Positive psychology in addiction treatment – Drug Addiction

PAIN AND ADDICTION: COMMON THREADS

July 22, 2014

Pain is a complex disease whose treatment needs to be keenly addressed. There are variety of medication options which treat pain and from which the patient can choose from. When the pain being experienced by the patient results to be chronic, this becomes a concern which is common with chronic pain patients

Is there any relation between pain and addiction?

We can actually argue that there is a relationship between pain and addiction. Where does this relationship originate? The relationship of addiction and pain result from the choice that the chronic pain patient chooses when trying to treat this pain. While some methods are proven to cure pain without leaving behind addiction to the patient, some of the medications for pain (Especially prescription drugs like opioids) are known to cause addiction especially when abused. The addiction of such drugs results from their ability to cure pain. These drugs are administered to the patient and initially they tend to treat pain. Over time the body tends to be resistant to these drugs and hence they must be taken with higher frequency and sometimes in higher quantity. If such a drug continues to be taken, it eventually reaches a point when the patient cannot do without it, since the pain temporarily stops when the drug is taken and returns after a short while. This forces the person to be a regular taker of the drug, not necessarily willing but forced by pain experienced. This is the point at which we consider the person to be an addict of the pain killing drug.

Addiction and pain related terminologies

There are terminologies which are related to pain and addiction which results from pain medication. These terms are described below:-

Dependence – this refers the situation which results when the patient is exposed to a given medication for an extended period of time. If the medication for example was indented to treat pain, at this stage the person will be living by the medication, which means the pain will only stop when the person takes the medication. This patient is considered to be dependent on the medication and without which the patient will suffer pains. This condition may look like addiction but actually it isn’t.
Tolerance – this is yet another term related to pain and addiction. This condition develops over time, and necessitates having to use more of the medication to receive the same effect. This condition is reached when the patient’s body has gotten used to the pain killing medication and the small medication which used to kill the pain no longer has that ability over the body to treat the pain and thus the dose has to be increased to achieve the desired effect (treatment). This condition also should not be seen as addiction because actually it isn’t.
Withdrawal – this refers to the symptoms that occur if the medication is suddenly stopped. This is because the cell receptors throughout the body that are used to medication are without it. This is normally the case when the patient is taking significant amounts of opioids and suddenly stops taking them. These symptoms may be severe and even make the patient feel sicker than before. This sometimes may make the patient want to keep on taking them since it is better when taking them than when withdrawn. Some of these symptoms may come in the form of:- tremor, diarrhea, sweating, nausea, vomiting, gastric upset, stress, depression etc. This condition if not given a close look may seem to look like addiction to a given substance, but in the actual sense it isn’t. Withdrawal is though closely related to addiction and sometimes it may be very difficult to differentiate between them. This makes the withdrawal effects to be termed as addiction in most cases.
Addiction – this is a situation of psychological need to have a drug or behavior. Some of the common addiction types are the addiction from drugs, internet, eating, shopping, gambling etc. this is the biggest of all the others we have mentioned above (Tolerance, withdrawal and dependence). When a person is addicted by a pain killing drug like opioids, the patient may develop dependence and tolerance to the drug and incase he/she tries to stop taking the drug suddenly, there may be withdrawal which you must go through. This is a both psychological and emotional effect of not having the pain killing drug, which in this case is very difficult for the addict to stop.

pain and addiction

it is very advisable that, if you feel you are being addicted to the pain killing drug that you have been using in the past, be honest to your doctor and speak with your doctor about it. This will ensure that the doctor evaluates your condition in time and consequently help you out by changing the medication while it is not too late.

What causes opioid addiction?

Opioids are prescription medication which is used to treat pain. Sometimes the patient may not use the medication as directed by the physician. This is one of the leading causes of addiction since opioids aree highly addictive. When it becomes an habit for the patient to use opioids, this definitely results into addiction.

Is there any relation between pain and addiction?

Opioid Epidemic: Veterans Remain At High Risk

July 17, 2014

Stay Away From Opioids, They Are Addictive!

Opioids Opioid addiction is an ugly state, as we have always written about in this blog. Over the years, we have heard of celebrities who have succumbed to opioid addictions and we wonder, where is the problem? Addiction is a gradual process, and so are its effects in the body. Let’s discuss this topic in this post.

What are opioids?

These are drugs that are known to be relievers of pain. They work by lowering the number of pain signals your body sends to your brain and also changing how your brain responds to these pains. There drugs normally they are safe, but when they are misused they are very addictive.

What is Opioid addiction?

This refers to the pleasurable desire created in your body by the misuse of opioids which makes you want to use them every time.

Which are the examples of these opioid drugs?

The opioid drugs include:- opium, fentanyl, codeine, heroine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, oxycodone, tramadol paregoric just to mention a few.

What is opioid drug tolerance?

Tolerance to drug refers to when your body over time gets used to the effects of the drug. When this happens, you may have to take a higher drug to attain the effect you used to attain before. When you use opioids for a long time, especially when abused, a time will be reached when your body gets used to the drug and it cannot have any reasonable effect to your body. If this becomes the case, if you want to use opioids to cure pains, it won’t be possible.

What about opioid dependence?

This refers to a point reached when the person has used a drug for a long time, such that his/her body works changes because they have taken drugs. Withdrawal effects are a common thing in this case, and the victim cannot stop taking the drug. The withdrawal effects prevent the person from stopping taking the drugs and therefore in everyday life, the person will need to take these drugs for survival.

How to spot addiction?

Craving for drug is a common way of knowing that you are addicted to a drug. In this case, you will feel like you cannot control your urge for the drug. The opioid addicted person will every minute want to take the drug not as a matter of choice but forced by the body urges.
If you find that you keep using the drug every without doctor’s prescription, even if the drugs are causing harmful effect on you, you may be addicted. This taking of drugs in most cases will not be a personal choice but you just find yourself taking them.
An increased tolerance for the drug is normally an indicator that the drug has gotten used to your body and consequently resulting to addiction. For instance, if the opioid addict has some pain and takes the drug that used to previously help in similar situation, It may not have any significant impact. This will require usage of a more powerful drug than the one the person used to previously take.
If you find that you are spending excess in terms of time and money on drugs, this could be an indicator of addiction. Since the addicted person will not be able to do without the drugs, it is common that the person will be a regular visitor to the drug dealers to purchase the drug every now and then. This will translate to the person spending too much money and time to acquire the drugs.
Addiction to opioids is also known to cause excess weight gain or weight loss. If you find that you are gaining weight or losing weight abruptly and you healthy status is good, then the reason could be that you have been addicted in opioids.
Another indicator of addiction in opioid that we cannot overlook is the act of turning to crime to pay for more opiates. This is a common case in places where people are not economically developed. This person will need money to purchase the drugs but since the money is not there, the person may end up in criminal activities while sourcing money for the purchases of the drugs. This will commonly result in pretty crime activities.

How is opioid addiction treated?

The treatment of opioid addiction is never an easy task, since opioid addiction is a complex disease which has physical, mental, social and emotional factors associated. For any successful treatment therefore, all these factors must be addressed. This treatment may be administered as outpatient program but in some cases in patient is the only option. This is normally the cases when it has caused mental problems to the addict.

opioids

The following are some of the key treatment methods:-

Detoxification – this is often the first attempt at treatment. This involves supervised withdrawal from the drugs. This is normally supported with medication to help the patient withstand the withdrawal effects.

Medication – here the addicts are sometimes introduced to milder opioids, whose quantities are drastically reduced during the medication period. This is normally helpful in helping the addict slowly withdraw from the drug usage.

Treatment facilities – this is a method of treatment in which the patient may be referred to a self-help group which helps the person in the recovery time.

Therapies – these are therapies which may be prescribed to the patient. This could be an activity like exercise. This will help the patient emotionally by not thinking about the drug every time.

So now we have seen all the consequences and solutions of opioid addiction. Are you ready to recovery from this addiction? All you need is to call or visit AWAREmed and you will be helped out by highly experienced professionals.

Stay Away From Opioids, They Are Addictive!

Hypnosis Addiction Treatment, Hypnosis treat addiction

July 6, 2014

Hypnosis Addiction Treatment-Drug Addiction

The joy of being free from addiction is fun and hypnosis offers a good treatment method

We are not done yet with addiction until it is finally done. We have taken it upon ourselves to ensure that our contribution towards eradication of addiction in and from the global system does not only counts but also effectively felt positively. We are going to look at another element of addiction treatment (hypnosis) in this article for you to be more and more informed of as many as possible the available means and ways of treatment. Hypnosis or Hypnotherapy as an addiction treatment is fast becoming popular in the medical and psychiatric community. This treatment method can be very helpful particularly to those patients who have gone through the initial stages of rehabilitation cope with cravings and piece off relapse. The administration of this kind of medication must be well guided by qualified professional.

Hypnosis Addiction Treatment Process
before this method is used it is important that the patient is taken through detox process to clean up all the toxic in the system a process that can take some considerable amount of time may be weeks or even months.

Hypnotherapist is that professional guiding the patient into a trance like mental state in which the person is more subjected to concepts and proposals. While at this state of mind those who are being hypnotized become more inventive and better at finding solution to problems. It is important to note that this method will only be helpful if the addict is willing to stop their destructive habits and behaviors. This kind of treatment does not change minds or persuade new outlooks but only it helps to hone and refine a pre-existing mindset.

Effectiveness of Hypnosis Addiction Treatment
It is important to appreciate that hypnosis does not an addiction, but it can definitely serve a role in a comprehensive course of treatment. It’s particularly useful in helping recovered alcoholics stay on the right track. That is how Hypnosis Addiction Treatment

In order for hypnotherapy to serve a meaningful role in overcoming addiction, it is necessary that the person receiving treatment be sober. Profound attentiveness is the cornerstone of hypnotism, and the toxins and dulling effects of alcohol limit the effectiveness of a hypnotic trance as Hypnosis Addiction Treatment. Along these lines, hypnosis serves a greater role in preventing relapse than it does in quitting drinking. It serves as reinforcement, but not as a solution to addiction in itself.

After a person who has been stressed up with an addiction to alcohol overcomes the initial hurdle of becoming sober, a new set of challenges emerge. At this point, staying sober is the goal, and doing so requires goal setting, plenty of focus and a healthy dose of optimism. It is at this point where hypnosis as a treatment for addiction really becomes effective because it permits the patient to get involved in the treatment process, letting them discover their own triggers for relapse and giving them tools to smash a craving should one arise.

Hypnosis Addiction Treatment-Hypnosis helps people relax
Hypnotic trance is a deeply relaxed state, and it’s noticeable by changes in metabolism, breathing and even brain patterns. In other words, it’s both a mental and physical state of being. During this relaxed state, the person being hypnotized is more open to discovering the mechanisms of their addiction to alcohol. Hypnosis Addiction Treatment allows them to discover the ebb and flow of their own cravings with the objective of putting together plans to overcome them without any stress or feelings of guilt getting in the way.

Hypnosis Addiction Treatment -Self-Hypnosis
In some cases, the hypnotherapist may also train their patients to practice self-hypnosis in their daily lives. Going into a lightly hypnotic state is an excellent way to overcome a craving in real time, and it gives recovering alcoholics a powerful edge against relapse.

Hypnosis Addiction Treatment -Specialists in hypnotism for addiction
when opting for hypnosis treatment it is important for patients to know that there are no set perimeters on who to choose and so one must shop around for the best to carry out the therapeutic process. To some extent, the level of proficiency required from a specialist depends on the depth of the therapy. For recovering alcoholics who are merely seeking to arm themselves with plans for fending off cravings and relapse, a basic behavioral therapist is more than qualified. Hypnotism of this caliber is relatively easy to carry out, and while it certainly should not be performed by amateurs it doesn’t require a great deal of specialization. Any professional practicing hypnosis as a treatment for addiction should be certified by the relevant authorities.

However, some rehabilitation clinics and addiction treatment centers are also using hypnotherapy as a means of delving into the person’s mind to root out underlying causes for the addictive behavior. This requires careful understanding of the psychology of addiction and should only be carried out under the strict supervision of a qualified psychologist. The role of Hypnosis Addiction Treatment is complex and delicate.

The Limits of Hypnosis Addiction Treatment
When considering the effectiveness of hypnosis as a treatment for addiction, it’s important to acknowledge the different types of addiction that exist. In short, an addiction can operate on a physical or a mental plane. Elements of both exist in most cases.

A physical addiction involves a substance like alcohol, which literally enters the body and transforms the way it operates. The damage that the substance exacts on the body may be reversible, but no amount of hypnosis is going to repair these physical changes.

But from a mental perspective, an addiction is rooted in repetitive behaviors and environmental triggers, and the settlement comes in some form of fulfillment. Some addictions are completely mental, such as addictions to gambling or pornography. However, many of these same triggers and behavioral patterns are also at work in physical addictions like alcoholism. That explains why Hypnosis Addiction Treatment is effective in the treatment of any addiction.

In either case, hypnosis is a tool that the mind can use to address thoughts and behaviors that are related to addiction. When applied in this way under the careful supervision of an addiction counselor, hypnotherapy can be an effective addition to a comprehensive suite of treatments. Finally it is my hope that this works for you however if you need to consult on any matter touching on addiction then at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury who is the C.E.O and the founder of this facility you will meet caring experts who will be at your service and meet you at your point of need while focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE.

Hypnosis Addiction Treatment-Drug Addiction

Hypnosis as an Addiction Treatment
Probing Question: Does Hypnosis Work?
Hypnosis for Addiction
What is self-hypnosis?
Hypnosis to Quit Smoking with Tim Thornton
Is Hypnosis Dangerous? Side Effect of Hypnotherapy
The Entertainment Side Of Stage Hypnosis
Hypnosis for Weight Loss: A Legitimate Option?
Can hypnosis help you break those unhealthy habits?
The How-Tos of Hypnosis

Beating Addiction Naturally

July 5, 2014

Natural Ways to Beat Addiction

Detoxifying the body is usually the first step of recovering from addiction but this is just a small part of how such addicts can manage sobriety for a long time if not for life. Patients can get both traditional and western therapies as part of treatment for their addiction. Natural therapies like acupuncture, hypnosis, yoga and guided meditation can help in addressing the whole body difficulties of addiction. Mind, body and spirit are all connected to addiction recovery considering the immense positive response to natural therapies of some patients. These natural therapies needs to start with the mind, body and the spirit where addicts will be taught natural ways to control their own health and they will also be taught how to focus on their habits in a natural way.

The said physical treatment will offer the affected people an opening to direct their feelings connected with addictions. Almost all addictions can be treated naturally but most people are oblivious to these facts. However, the common human being will try and approach it in different ways. Take for example the case of opiate addiction or addiction to pain killers. Many people believe that it is almost impossible to get rid of this addiction but this should not be hard if you are in the right path and know what you are doing.

Regrettably, most people don’t usually know about all these alternatives when trying to detox for these drugs or tablets. Treatment of addiction to pain killers can be done in three phases which is commonly known as detox (PAWS) post-acute withdrawal syndrome and recovery. For pain killer addiction natural therapy detox, ordinary wisdom says one has 6 choices (medicated home detox, cold turkey detox, rehab, in patient detox, ultra rapid detox and opiate replacement detox). Take an example of cold turkey therapy where the addict unexpectedly or suddenly stops all the opiates. These detox is mostly done at home devoid of medical involvement or drug prescription.

Patients who opt for cold turkey detox usually do so because they have no choice mostly because they will either have no money to buy the opiates, luck the opiates or both. This is mostly because they don’t have other options due to lack of money to buy the opiates. The detox is easy and quite comfortable because it will only last for about a week. This detox is usually not recommended because it is difficult and does not work long term, the relapse rate with this method is very high to consider it a practical method.

However since statistics show that many people will not complete home detox and even if they do a big percentage will relapse. Below are some of the proven ways that have worked overtime.

Acupuncture: this will help manage the addiction behavior by arousing the brain and it will also help overcome cravings and unnecessary urges. Acupuncture has also been proven to help patients stay in addiction treatment for a longer time than those who don’t embrace it as a way of treatment.
Exercise: This therapy is another way of teaching addicts to control their unhealthy cravings to a great health. Exercise has also been known to aid in the management of stress and even weight that is always gained after quitting various addictions like hard drugs or even smoking. It has even gone further to make them feel confident of themselves.
Hypnosis: this will help patients reject or eliminate the behavior and will adopt a new way of thinking about their addiction.

natural addiction recovery All these channels when applied should be used alongside other remedies but not as an only way of intrusion. These remedies should be considered by patients as another potential means to address their infirmity. A combination of intrusions will give the best results when it comes to combating addictions.

Get Expert Help from New Frontiers in Medicine Academy

If you are suffering from addiction or need to train in addiction treatment and recovery, then we invite you to obtain expert help from tested and trusted professionals at the new Frontier Medicine Academy. You will get treatment from experts and also get expert training on all the aspects of addiction including the genetics and epigenetics of addiction.

Natural Ways to Beat Addiction

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