Understanding of Addiction and Low Self Esteem

June 3, 2015

Understanding of Addiction and Low Self Esteem: What is self-Esteem?

Understanding of Addiction and Low Self Esteem. Young people who are suffering from rejection often seek for comfort and acceptance in the wrong company of alcoholics and drug addicts.

Self-esteem is a psychological term used to describe how humans evaluate themselves overall in relation to self-worth. Psychologically this can be described as the self-confidence and satisfaction that people have in their own life. On the other hand the terms self-esteem and self-worth tend to be used interchangeably even though feelings of self-esteem tend to be more fluid than self-worth. Ideally the issues surrounding self-esteem can be very complicated depending on the intensity or the nature of the effects. What is it that causes the individual to have a low self-esteem? Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center have reported that the way people view themselves will have a great impact on how they experience or passive their own lives. Those who have low self-esteem will struggle to find success and happiness, mostly because they do not feel within themselves worthy of enjoying such things. Their lack of self-worth will affect every area of their life, and more so, their relationships with other people. It is regrettable that many of those who are struggling with low self-esteem often turn to substance abuse because it offers a temporary solution to their problems. While the truth is that using alcohol and drugs to escape with their feelings of low self-worth will only leads to further misery and addiction. That is why this article is going to be interrogating our understanding of addiction and low self-esteem so that we can put this to perspective.

Understanding of Addiction and Low Self Esteem: The Causes of Low Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem can be very traumatizing and if combined with substance abuse life can be very unbearable. It is therefore very important that we are not starved with the information about the causes of low self-esteem which may include the following:

Under normal circumstances when one in his or her childhood suffered some form of child abuse, the scar will remain with them for life even if treatment were done. This constant reminder of the yester year’s events can severely affect the way they view themselves. Children lack the knowledge and insight to understand the situation, and because of this they will keep blaming themselves for the abuse. This feeling of somehow being wrong stays with them into adulthood. And remember that physical, mental, or sexual abuse can all have lasting consequences on a child’s sense of self-worth due to the permanent scars that come with them.
In the event that parents fail to give all the necessary support to make their children feel valued and important, then this can later lead to poor self-esteem. It is important for parents to note that when it comes to children the value is in what the parent fails to say or do and not what they have done or said. Children are highly sensitive to their environment; therefore they need to be nurtured all the way. If young people feel that they have failed to live up to their parent’s standards, this may translate negatively on then to the point that they may find it difficult to value themselves.
Too much criticism when growing up is a very bad indicator and this when not corrected can leave behind mental scars. People who are always being told that they are a failure or stupid are likely to believe the negative impression implied on them.
The way people are treated by their peers is also important for self-esteem. One of the most compelling functions of a peer group is feedback on behavior. Consistent negative feedback can have a profound effect on a person.
Being the victim of racism or prejudice will usually change the way people view themselves and that is a key factor in understanding of addiction and low self-esteem.
Those individuals who have issues around their physical appearance can easily develop feelings of low self-worth. In the modern world, there is too much emphasis placed on physical beauty. The media is largely responsible for this obsession. Feelings of being unattractive will lead to low self-esteem.
When people feel that they do not really fit in anywhere it will change the way they view themselves. This lack of connectedness with other people is common among people who are dealing with esteem issues.

Understanding of Addiction and Low Self Esteem: The Effects of Low Self-Esteem

Those who are dealing with low self-esteem may experience many of the following problems:

Failure to value one-self leads to a failure to take care of oneself. The person may not see the point of putting much effort into their bodies and minds. This means that they will be far more likely to suffer from poor physical and mental health. Low self-esteem can lead to premature death as well.
Not believing in oneself will limit one’s potential. A person may not be willing to put in the necessary effort to achieve their dreams, because they not believe it will bring results. Such people may be convinced that mediocrity is all they deserve.
Individuals with low self-esteem are far more likely to turn to alcohol or drugs as a means of escaping their problems.
People with low self-esteem often end up in abusive relationships. This is because they can inwardly feel like such relationships are all they deserve.
When people do not value themselves highly they are more likely to bow to peer pressure. Many individuals who end up in dangerous cults suffer from low self-esteem.
It can be hard for such individuals to trust other people. They may believe that anyone who is trying to help them has a hidden agenda. They can also go to the other extreme where they trust unworthy individuals too much.
These individuals will be highly insecure in relationships. If they do not value themselves, then they will find it hard to believe that other people can value them.

Understanding of Addiction and Low Self Esteem: Addiction and Low Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem is one of the characteristics of the addictive personality. When people first begin using alcohol or drugs it will increase their self-confidence. They become less concerned with what other people think of them. The individual begins to rely on these substances in order to cope with life. Addiction means that the person’s life begins to all apart as their self-esteem hits an all-time low. In AA, they describe the situation as, alcohol gave me wings but then it took away the sky. Lack of self-worth can then keep people trapped in addiction.

Understanding of Addiction and Low Self Esteem: Underage Substance Abuse and Low Self-Esteem

Finally it has been established from various studies that children with low self-esteem are more likely to abuse alcohol or drugs as they grow up. Because of this they will not want to be left out more so when they are associating with mates who are already into drugs and alcohol. The peer pressure and sense of belonging will certainly carry them away all in the name of experimenting. And because of the temporary relief when under the influence of drugs and alcohol, the idea of escaping reality will be more appealing even if it is only for a little time. Doctor Dalal Akoury warns that unless something is done timely, those individuals who use alcohol or drugs at a younger age will have a greater risk of developing an addiction in the future. It is therefore very important that you start early by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Akoury for a more professional treatment approach.

Understanding of Addiction and Low Self Esteem: What is self-Esteem?

Implications of alcoholism to family Domestic Violence

May 29, 2015

Implications of alcoholism to family Domestic Violence: Also threats to body organs

Implications of alcoholism to family Domestic Violence is becoming realistic and the experience is one that none would want to associate with

When there is the element or traces of alcohol consumption in any given family, chances are that, peace will be very elusive in such an environment. It may not matter who is the victim, so long as the common denominator is miss use of alcohol tables will have to be turn upside down for peace and tranquility to prevail. This can only serve to confirm the implications of alcoholism to family domestic violence. And for the a voidances of doubt says doctor Dalal Akoury alcoholic households are less cohesive and have endless conflicts, and members of such families are less independent and expressive than households with nonalcoholic or recovering alcoholic parents. Domestic violence is a common consequence of alcohol abuse across the globe and that is why you and I must pool together to bring this scourge to manageable levels.

Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center have for the past two decades been studying the effects of alcohol and particularly to the domestic violence and their findings does not miss the point, it has been established that when it comes to domestic violence, women and children are the major losers. A lot of abusive men when under the influence of alcohol are very violent and beat up their spouses and children recklessly and disorderly. Like for instance:

The Effect on Women – this is a serious risk factor for injury from domestic violence and in many cases the injury are inflicted by the male partner under the influence of alcohol.

The Effect on Children – Alcoholism in parents also increases the risk for violent behavior and abuse toward children. Children of alcoholics tend to do worse academically than others, have a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, and stress and low self-esteem than their peers. In addition to their own inherited risk for later alcoholism, many children of alcoholics have serious coping problems that may last their entire life. Adult children of alcoholic parents are at higher risk for divorce and for psychiatric symptoms. One study concluded that the only events with greater psychological impact on children are sexual and physical abuse.

Implications of alcoholism to family Domestic Violence: Increased Risk for Other Addictions

Over the years researchers are finding common genetic factors in alcohol and nicotine addiction, which may explain, in part, why most alcoholics are often smokers as well. Doctor Akoury reiterates that alcoholics who smoke are actually compounding their health problems probably into calamities. In fact, some studies indicate that people who are alcohol-dependent and smoke all at the same time are more likely to die of smoking-related illnesses than alcohol-related conditions. Abuse of other drugs is also common among alcoholics. This is a very technical health problem is I may say. Alcohol and cigarette are never friends and bringing them into your health can only be said for luck of better adjective to be very dangerous. In instances like this doctor Akoury recommends that the patient or their loved ones must take immediate initiative of enrolling such individuals for treatment. And besides the domestic violence, miss use of alcohol also has savvier consequences on the various body organs.

Implications of alcoholism to family Domestic Violence: Liver Disorders

Alcoholic Hepatitis and Cirrhosis – Alcohol is absorbed in the small intestine and passes directly into the liver, where it becomes the preferred energy source. The liver is particularly endangered by alcoholism. In the liver, alcohol converts to toxic chemicals, notably acetaldehyde, which trigger the production of immune factors called cytokines. In large amounts, these factors cause inflammation and tissue injury.

Even moderate alcohol intake can produce pain in the upper right quarter of the abdomen a possible symptom of liver involvement. In many cases, such symptoms may be an indication of fatty liver or alcohol hepatitis, which are reversible liver conditions.

It is estimated that between 10 – 20% of people who drink heavily (five or more drinks a day) develop cirrhosis, a progressive and irreversible scarring of the liver that can eventually be fatal. Alcoholic cirrhosis (also sometimes referred to as portal, Laennec’s, nutritional, or micronodular cirrhosis) is the primary cause of cirrhosis in the U.S.

Not eating when drinking and consuming a variety of alcoholic beverages increase the risk for liver damage. Obesity also increases the risk for all stages of liver disease.

Hepatitis B and C – People with alcoholism may have lifestyles that put them at higher risk for hepatitis B and C. Chronic forms of viral hepatitis pose risks for cirrhosis and liver cancer, and alcoholism significantly increases these risks. It is therefore very important that people with alcoholism problem should be immunized against hepatitis B. since at the moment there is still no vaccine for hepatitis C says doctor Dalal Akoury.

Implications of alcoholism to family Domestic Violence: Gastrointestinal Problems

Alcoholism can cause many problems in the gastrointestinal tract. Violent vomiting can produce tears in the junction between the stomach and esophagus. It increases the risk for ulcers, particularly in people taking the painkillers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen. It can also lead to swollen veins in the esophagus, (called varices), and to inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis) and bleeding.

Alcohol can contribute to serious acute and chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) in people who are susceptible to this condition. There is some evidence of a higher risk for pancreatic cancer in people with alcoholism, although this higher risk may occur only in people who are also smokers. Finally dear reader from this article we are not able to discuss all the other body organs that are affected by alcohol and cigarette addiction. We will progress with quite a number in our subsequent articles and that is a discussion you don’t want to miss. However in the meantime you can schedule for an appointment with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury and she will be able to individually evaluate your condition and administer treatment professionally not just on matters torching on alcohol addiction but even on all other substance of abuse.

Implications of alcoholism to family Domestic Violence: Also threats to body organs

Sexual Abuse, Rape and Female Sex Addiction: The Link

May 18, 2015

Role of Sexual Abuse and Rape on Female Sex Addiction

Sex addiction is real and today very many people are enslaved to its chains, rummaging through life looking for all and every viable point of egress from this monster but to no avail. The reality however is that of all those who are already victims the fight against it is just as fierce as any other against other known addictions. it is quite unfortunate that the dangers of sex addiction or the very existence of this phenomenon is still overlooked, this is probably because most the people affected by sex addiction are women who are not ready to expose themselves as sex addicts and look for help; the society can be blamed for this, women have been associated with all the wrong reasons, called derogatory names in relation to their sexuality so it no surprise that most of them will endure all the problems that come with sex addiction in silence. It is quite unfortunate that most of the people who are sex addicts do not even know that they are suffering from sex addiction. There are various causes of sex addiction but sexual abuse and rape have been linked to sex addiction as causative agents.

sex addiction

Though overlooked, sex addiction is a real problem that has been here to stay and will continue to cause nightmares to many people. Statistics has it that between 10% and 17% of people aged between 20- 35 years struggle with sex addiction. The frequency of sex addiction is said to be at 3% generally. Past sexual misgivings of a person may lead to sexual addiction, therapists, healers and doctors have all noted the clear correlation between sexual abuse and sex addiction. If a person got raped at a younger age, the incident will make him incapable of differentiating between healthy sexual relationship and unhealthy sexual relationship. as opposed to what many people think sexual addicts are not engaged in the act for the sake of pleasure they can get from, therapists have taught that these addicts do not even enjoy sex but use it to help numb their painful feelings that may stem from past experiences. Though the major causes of sexual abuse are sexual abuse and rape, the availability of free porn sites on the internet has fueled sex addiction. many people are able to log into these porn sites and watch the videos which further corrupts minds into believing that compulsive sexual behaviors are in fact a ‘virtue’ to be highly upheld. These videos depict sex as an act that is not borne out of love and care but rather out of compulsion.

Sex addicts may exhibit the following symptoms

Sexual thoughts that is obsessive.
having multiple sexual partners
prioritizing sexual intercourse even at the expense of the daily work
inability to stop or control the behaviors
linking sex to pain, most addicts believe sex have to be endured
having intercourse with prostitutes and minors
Quest for dominance and control in sexual encounters
feeling remorse or guilt after sex

Sexual abuse and rape are leading causes of sexual addiction.

When a child is raped, the emotional baggage will continue to haunt her for a long time into her adult hood. This trauma often leaves the mind craving for something to make up for the emptiness and feelings of bitterness that follows when a person has been sexually abused. To self-medicate most victims will turn to sex as a therapy and this compulsive sexual behavior will become a part of her life. According to Doug Weiss, a therapist and executive director of the Heart to Heart Counseling Center, 80 percent of sex addicts have been sexually abused in the past and the emotional baggage still haunts them. These vies are also echoed by Mark Schwartz, psychologist and former director of the Masters and Johnson Institute in St. Louis, Missouri. He has observed that many people coming forward as sex addicts have been abused assaulted or raped. Dr. Schwartz opines that when a person has been raped or put through any other act of a sexual abuse in the past, she will fail to trust in other people and become more susceptible to turn to sex addiction as a manifestation. however he points out that this failure to trust people readily that makes people predisposed to sex addiction has also been shown by individuals who were neglected by parents mostly as a result of divorce or when the parents were engrossed in their professions and failed to spend time with the children.

sex addiction

It has been known that imbalances in the naturally occurring chemicals in the brain like the serotonin and dopamine can contribute to sexual problems but the relationship between these hormones and sex addiction have not been established. This according to Mayo Clinic may be because the research into the neuroscience of sex addiction has not been conclusive for the links to be drawn and established. However it has been found that these chemicals are lower in children who were sexually abused in the past and so they have to use their own bodies and sometimes food to help them boost their levels of these crucial hormones especially serotonin.

today very many people are suffering from sex addiction, the biggest problem that comes with sex addiction is that many addicts are not ready to accept what happened in the past and live in the present, most of them feel that they are to be blamed for what happened to them and hence not willing to open up and seek help. Here at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we have enlisted sex addiction as a real threat that can only be treated through integrative medicine. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an expert at this. Call her on (843) 213-1480 for help.

Role of Sexual Abuse and Rape on Female Sex Addiction

Substance Abuse Promotes Violence Against Women

November 30, 2014

Women with Substance Abuse Problems Exposed to Violence Against Women by Men

Women are type vulnerable lot. They are the victims of most violence against women cases that happen in homes and even outside home in clubs and public places. However when a woman engages in substance abuse she even become more vulnerable. It is not strange to see a woman who has got drunk being dragged away by men who do not even know her, in most cases women are raped when they are drunk by people who are closest to them. In this society women who have become dependent on alcohol are an easy prey to men who insult and use them for all their benefits; their handbags snatched, they get physically harmed and in extreme cases where they drink too much to contain the have been victims of gang rape.

In family setting, in a home where a woman is a drunkard there will always be fights between her and her husband, women increase their chances of being physically hurt by their husbands when they get drunk and hence are unable to reason well as they would without the influence of alcohol and other drugs. The drugs taken often interfere with the cognitive abilities of the people who use them and women are no exception, with this impaired cognitive abilities in a person nothing happens the same and for women it places them at risk of assault not only from their spouses but also from the general public. Some have also turned to substance abuse or alcohol, as a result of exposure to violence against women perpetrated by men . When someone is exposed to violence the will suffer Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms which is majorly characterized by emotional numbing, intrusion, hyper arousal and even avoidance, a woman experiencing PTSD will turn to alcohol and other forms of substance abuse to escape these memories but this will only make her even more vulnerable. Women who might have also been brought up by parents who constantly fought face a problem in the future as the woman has the syndrome in her, she grew up seeing her mother being victimized by the father and that in itself is a myriad dosage of inferiority complex, making her view herself as a someone to be subjected to a man’s control hence giving in to constant harassment by men. This problem can be light in normal circumstances but if she also takes alcohol or uses other drugs then the risk of substance abuse is greatly escalated.

Research study in Stockholm

Between March 2009 and April 2010, 79 women with substance misuse in Stockholm were interviewed; 35 WwH (WwH) participating in outpatient treatment for substance misuse, and 44 HW (HW) with or without treatment for substance misuse in contact with Social Services. When in contact with Social Services, there is a standing offer to participate in treatment for substance abuse problems, though not mandatory for receiving help. Women were asked to participate in the study by the staff at the respective units or by a researcher when visiting each participant unit.

HW in the present study were individuals without a residence, owned or rented, had no permanent address, had to rely on temporary housing options, or were living rough. Women in shelters or temporarily living in institutions were also included.

There were some missing data on items randomly distributed over the measurements for one of the subjects included in the HW group.

A shortened version of the World Health Organization questionnaire of male violence against women – experience of men’s physical and psychological violence, sexual abuse, number and incidence of assault, and domestic violence between the adults during childhood was completed by the subjects. Questionnaires concerning relation to male perpetrators like partner, father, acquaintance, etc., if the violence against women was reported to the police, if the report passed to prosecution, any help they got and from whom, and experienced satisfaction with this help/support, were formulated for this study by the authors. ASI, Addiction Severity Index, was also used to seek information about substance misuse problems, physical and psychological health, family situation, marital status, children, and experience of the justice system.

The results of the study

In total, 91% (72 of 79 women; WwH 29; HW 43) had experienced violence against women by men. In total 99% (WwH 97%; HW 100%) reported experiences of emotional/psychological violence against women, 90% (WwH 83%; HW 95%) physical, and 61% (WwH 59%; HW 63%) sexual violence. Nearly two fifths (WwH 18%; HW 82%) of the women had been assaulted during the past year and about one-fifth (WwH 10%; HW 33%) from their current partner, most exposed by numbers and times were the HW. About a third of the women (WwH 34%; HW 28%) had been abused by the father or another male relative, for further information about the number of women in the respective group subjected to violence against women during childhood.

The study, on substance abuse, also found out that alcohol dependence was a contributor to the injustices that women were put through. The mean score for the WwH alcohol consumption days during the last 30 days was 6.8 days (SD=9; range 0-30). Most frequent substance abuse during the last 30 days was amphetamine used by 24 of the HW in mean 7.3 days (SD=12.2; range 0-30). Both groups were suffering from physical ill health as prolonged physical damage/illness (WwH 51%; HW 82%), receiving medication for physical problems (WwH 43%; HW 45%), and had Hepatitis C virus infection (WwH 6%; HW 70%).

In conclusion, it is clear that women who engage in are more exposed to violence against women than those who are not. It is therefore necessary for women addicted to drugs to seek treatment. We at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to availing help to addicts by availing some of the most integrative approaches to healing an addict. We advocate for natural healing to all kinds of addiction. Call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Women with Substance Abuse Problems Exposed to Violence Against Women by Men

Finding Help For Sex addiction Victims

September 19, 2014

Sex addiction and how to find help

What is sex addiction?

sex-addiction Sex addiction or ‘hyper sexuality disorder’ as some experts refer to it, is a subject that has elicited a lot of debate in the recent times. Arguments about the issue have not only been confined to medical journals and publications but have also found their way to popular media. In general, the big question about the issue has been whether or not it is actually a form of disorder and if so, what kind of treatment should be used on individuals who have been diagnosed with it. Of course there are many other questions with regard to how the diagnosis can be done and other related issues, but what is clear is the fact that there are millions of individuals who report that they are affected by this condition and are in need of help. Since such individual do seek help, get it and end up reporting overall improvements in their lives, it can be said that indeed sexual addition is a disorder that affects many people in the world today. The good news is that there are specific methods that can be used to handle it.

It is not easy for one to diagnose themselves as having this problem. In most cases, individuals who show the clearest signs of sexual addition tend to deny that they are affected. Some even go to the extent of denying the very existence of such a problem in the first place. This is not an issue to worry about since as it is known, sexual addiction is actually a type of obsessive compulsive disorder. Its manner of operation makes it very difficult, if not completely impossible, for an infected person to point it out. However, when you generally find it impossible to control your sexual drive to such extent that daily life activities are interfered with, chances are that you are in need of help. On most occasions, affected individuals are so consumed with sexual acts to the extent that they engage in what can be described as risky sexual behaviors. Such behaviors are done with total disregard for the social, economic and even health risks that are associated with them. This may be evident in excessive sexual stimulation, obsession with sexual imagery and one having an unusually high number of sexual affairs.

There is still an important aspect to this condition. Although sexual addiction is seen as a disorder in itself, the role that other emotional sates such as anxiety, depression and other forms of emotional disturbances play in its development cannot be ruled out. What this means is that many individuals who are affected by this disorder usually have experience feelings of loneliness, the desire to experiment with new things and general emotional difficulties. These feelings precede excessive sexual fantasies which culminate to actual hyper sexuality disorder.

How can Sex Addiction be treated?

There are different forms of treatment that have been developed to help individuals caught up in this form of addition overcome it. Unlike the past, increase in knowledge, development of new therapies and increased awareness has made it relatively easy and fast for one to have access to any form of treatment desired. Here is a brief overview of some of the methods and how to access them.

The first common method of treating sexual addiction entails use of psychotherapeutic techniques to help one break the thought patterns that are known to trigger such kind of behavior. The idea behind this form of treatment is that sexual addition, like many other forms of addiction, has a basis in the psychological processes of the individual. Therefore, if an individual is able to recognize what these thought patterns are, what triggers them and how they lead to the compulsive disorder, it will actually be possible to control them. For this process to be effective, you first have to get a properly qualified therapist. Working with such a specialist, you will have a chance to map your past life. It is through this process that specific experiences in the past that give rise to the current thought patterns will be identified, special methods of dealing with them developed and a sound plan of how to go about it adopted.

sex-addiction Another common form of treatment for sexual addiction that is gaining currency in the current times entails counseling sessions. This may take many different formats. For instance, family counseling sessions may be effectively used for families that one of the members is affected. This form of counseling is effective in that it helps not only the individual who is affected but also those other members of the family who may not be having the disorder but are affected by it by virtue of being family to the affected individual.

Further, many individuals who are affected by this disorder find it useful to use group counseling as a form of therapy. The popularity of seeking group counseling for dealing with difficult conditions is not confined to sexual addition. From addiction to alcohol, drugs and other forms of socially undesirable behaviors, group counseling sessions have been used quite effectively to help affected individuals. There are several reasons for this trend. The most common one is the anonymity that one is usually accorded when joining such a group. The second one is the friendly atmosphere that is usually created during such group counseling sessions. Since all the members have gone through similar experiences, it becomes easy for one to open up and share past experiences, present challenges and future aspirations within such an environment.

Lastly, the good thing about such support groups is that occasionally, expert help from doctors and other professionals is provided. This, which may be in the form of medication or other intervention measures, boosts the overall chances of one completely breaking free from the addiction.

Sex addiction and how to find help

Tag Archives: Sexual abuse