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The Need For Addiction Healing Centers

March 19, 2015

Addiction Healing Centers-Restoration of the Mind, Body and Spirit to Treat Addiction

Addiction isn’t a new term that needs to be defined, however it is great to appreciate the fact addiction is a really broad subject. Though many people only relate addiction to drugs of pleasure, addiction to behaviors like sex, food and gambling are a part of us. Regrettably, most of the addicts we have today are addicted to harmful substances that therefore dictate that they be offered a whole person treatment. As known addiction to a drug isn’t only a problem in the sense of financial and behavioral aspects but rather on the damage that these substances do to our bodies. The most affected system in the body is the nervous system which is very crucial in coordination of messages that are sent from various parts of the system to initiate specific action that our daily lives revolve around. The brain and the rest of the nervous system especially the neurotransmitters are highly damaged after a long term use of certain drugs of pleasure. Due to this it is necessary that any attempt to treat addiction and restore the normal functions of the body should include therapies that aim at restoring the normal functioning of the neurotransmitters and the rest of the nervous system that might have been damaged by long term use of these drugs of abuse.

addiction healing centers

The severity of addiction will however determine the type of treatment that an addict is accorded, there are situations where a patient may suffer from a combination of drugs and behavioral addiction. There are also other co-occurring conditions that may work together to make the life of an individual addict miserable. Think of sex addiction, gambling addiction and alcohol addiction all in one brain! Can you imagine the magnitude of damage that such a person will suffer in the whole of his nervous system? Correcting such defects in the entire system of an addict will require multi-facet approach to ensure that the addict is completely healed and his health is restored. Treating the symptoms of addiction as most doctors do or other used to do may only serve as a momentary relief but will not help the patient to quit the use of drugs.

It is because of the gap that existed in the past, when all treatment options available for addicts only focused on treating the symptoms of addiction like depression that has been for a long time been addressed by giving ant-depressants. The antidepressants will work for a short time but the problem that lies deep in the malfunctioning neurotransmitter like dopamine and serotonin will remain unresolved.  To address these issues, several addiction healing centers have since been established to give the patients what they need most; whole-person healing. whole person healing is achieved through the practice of integrative medicine that may include both orthodox and traditional herbal medicine as well as dietary approaches to help not only quell the severity of the symptoms suffered by these addicts but also to help correct the damage that addiction to substance and other behaviors does to the brain and the entire nervous system. when the functions of the nervous system is restored, it can now be easy to help an addict to escape the bars of addiction as the body will be naturally fit to quell the craving for the substance of abuse.

Most addiction healing centers deal with addiction of forms as serious, chronic and potentially life-threatening disease that requires a full range of comprehensive, evidence-based addiction treatment services to completely manage and overcome once and for all but this requires full commitment and cooperation of the patient.

Restoration of the mind, body and spirit to treat addiction

Addiction Healing CentersThrough advances in the medical industry, there are several addiction healing centers that are now offering holistic approach to treatment of addiction victims. These approaches are geared towards Restoration of the mind, body and spirit because it is by this that addicts can achieve healing once and for all. The harmony of the human being is critical in healing of addiction this is because addiction interferes with the chemical composition of the brain which is the engine that drives the entire body. This leads to organs, cells and tissues being maimed hence can’t perform effectively. To achieve wellness of the mind, body and spirit, most addiction healing centers utilize several strategies such as proper nutrition, body cleansing or detoxification, exercise, yoga, tai chi, herbal medication, orthodox meditation, hobby exploration such as like dancing, hiking and even singing. All these are explored to achieve a balance in the body.

The advantage of seeking help from addiction healing centers is that they offer varied addiction healing approaches that may include; cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), 12-step philosophy, somatic therapies, nutritional counseling, psychiatric support, massage, yoga, Tai Chi, herbal therapies and adventure-based therapies that cater to all manner of addictions, both behavioral and substance related. These centers also have staffs who are vastly experienced in handling addiction cases. They can also customize treatment to suit every patient’s condition belief and preferences all in a bid to restore the mind the body and the spirit.

Finally, Behavioral addiction and drug addiction destroys wellness, therefore restoring health of mind, body, and spirit is essential in recovery. Dr. Dalal Akoury has done extensive work in addiction treatment and recovery. You may contact her to fix an appointment. Better still, you may visit us at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and experience the best practices in holistic addiction healing and recovery.

Addiction Healing Centers-Restoration of the Mind, Body and Spirit to Treat Addiction

 

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Sexual Addiction and Erectile Dysfunction

September 29, 2014

Sexual Addiction and Erectile Dysfunction – Facts Discussed

Sexual addiction

Is Sexual Addiction causing Erectile Dysfunction in your sex life? Be mindful of what you watch you could be causing more harm than good to your sex life.

We are today surrounded with a lot of conveniences which causes us to have real time information at the touch of a button and in the comforts of our living rooms and bed rooms. What we may not know is the negative effects of these conveniences in our societies and individual lives. This article is going to discuss the outcomes of certain sexual addiction as possible causes of certain sexual dysfunctions. However before that, let us look at some available statistics in relation to sexual addiction. It is believed that today in the US alone about 12 million people are suffering from sexual addiction. This has majorly been contributed by the conveniences around us enabling us easy accessibility of sexual materials on the Internet, cable television and videos.

Sexual addiction is a serious problem in which one participates in persistent and intensifying patterns of sexual behavior despite cumulative negative consequences to one’s self or others. Like other addictions, these behaviors continue despite genuine and tireless efforts to stop. Many may not think that sex can be addictive since there are no chemicals involved. However, the body produces many hormones and neurotransmitters during sex that produce the same chemical “high” as drugs or alcohol. Sex addicts, like any other addicts, often have a background of abuse (sexual, physical, emotional or neglect, and family histories sprinkled with numerous addictions. The complication and difficulties in solving this problem arises because of the denial and shame associated with sexual behaviors. Despite the variance in opinion about sexual addiction, the acknowledgment of compulsive sexuality is growing, and more help is available today than ever before.

Effects of porn and masturbation

  • Different researches and studies have established that masturbation is perfectly normal and can even be a physically healthy activity especially in the middle-aged men it cuts the risk of prostate cancer.
  • It can also reduce anxiety, and thereby help restore stress-racked immune systems.

Nonetheless according to experts, there is emerging evidence suggesting that over indulgence in masturbation aroused by the vast cornucopia of freely available porn we are accessible today is leading to serious cases of erectile dysfunction (ED) as we will be finding out as we progress with the discussion.

Stress Is Bad for Your Sex Life

This may sound like anti-onanistic propaganda however medical professionals say that masturbating too much is actually a pretty standard form of addiction, which is worsened by pornography. Watching porn creates a huge flood of dopamine in the brain. Over time, the receptors that were once very sensitive become less sensitive, and normal physical intimacy does not produce enough dopamine to stimulate the dopamine receptors. In other words, the more porn you watch, the harder and more graphic porn you’ll need in order to get firmer erection. If the trend continues, men can find themselves physically unable to maintain an erection, much less enjoy sexual contact with their sexual partners.

Besides this, porn-induced ED can create further performance-anxiety concerns, compounding into a problem that is both biological and psychological. This may necessitate individuals to start developing real self-confidence issues like they may:

  • Feel irritable
  • Sleepless
  • Frustrated
  • Anxious

This can occasioned one to lose a relationship quite easily because there is no specific number that indicates you are masturbating too frequently and remember that even masturbating every day isn’t necessarily a problem; nonetheless it’s conditional only if it’s interfering with your work, your social life, or your sex life (i.e. erectile dysfunction) should you be concerned. However in the event that you do have an issue, then the cure is simple: Stop watching porn and resist the urge to masturbate as much as possible and in a period of say 6 to 12 weeks your brain will get back to more typical dopamine sensitivity (though recovery time varies). Remember that some people’s brains may reach homeostasis (or, physiological equilibrium) much faster and so time should be your best friend when it comes to reestablishing homeostasis in the brain.

It is important to note that masturbation as an element that can cause erectile dysfunction is treatable at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care, and during recovery doctor Akoury will tell you that most men will often experience flat line libido a condition that can last for several weeks depending on the sensitivity of addiction. However the effect should not raise any alarm since it is temporal and will eventually soon go away. Remember that treatment will only be helpful to you when you’re properly evaluated by the experts. It is therefore very important that you seek the professional treatment from the experts and so calling doctor Akoury will be very ideal for you or better still pay her a visit at her office at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center and you will be attended to in total confidentiality.

What are the signs?

When one becomes addicted to sex then there is a problem because sex is supposed to be enjoyable and pleasurable to all participating parties. Addicts do not actually enjoy sex and therefore if you are seeing any or all of the following behaviors in your life or in your friends life, then you may make a resolve to seek for help from the experts like doctor Akoury who besides being a sexual dysfunction expert, is also an addiction expert of several years and she will be able to help you overcome your twin problems of sexual dysfunction and addiction respectively. The following are some of the behaviors that may be associated with sexual addiction which should concern you;

  • Compulsive masturbation
  • Simultaneous or repeated sequential affairs
  • Pornography
  • Cybersex, phone sex
  • Multiple anonymous partners
  • Unsafe sexual activity
  • Partner objectification/demand for sex
  • Strip clubs and adult bookstores
  • Use of prostitution/escorts
  • Sexual aversion/anorexia
  • Frequenting massage parlors
  • Sexual paraphilia’s (a need for unusual sexual stimulation) and/or any sexually offensive behavior

Finally having gone through this article, you may be able by now to tell whether you’re addicted to sex or you have a problem with masturbation which is causing you erection problems and distorting your sex life. If this article has pointed out this condition in your life, I would make an appeal to you that your condition is treatable and the treatment process will begin with you calling doctor Akoury to book for an appointment today. Doctor Akoury values your life and only wants to help you live life to the fullest.

Sexual Addiction and Erectile Dysfunction – Facts Discussed

 

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Neural circuits of preoccupation/ anticipation “craving” stage

September 19, 2014

Addiction and It Stages

Drug addiction is a slow developing disorder that is long lasting characterized mainly by the urge to seek and take the drug, loss of control in limiting intake and development of a negative emotional state of anxiety and irritability. When the drug is prevented, the user exhibits withdrawal symptoms. Drug addiction has been viewed as a condition that involves element of both impulsive and compulsive behavior that is brought about by the addiction circle. The circle is made up of three stages: the intoxication stage the negative or the withdrawal effect, and the anticipation stage/ preoccupation which is the craving stage.

The neural circuits of the brain affected

Study on human behavior has revealed discrete circuits that play a major role in binding a major stage of the addiction circle. The ventral tegmental area and ventral striatum is the main focal point for the intoxication stage. The extended amygdala plays the role in the withdrawal while the  orbitofrontal cortex–dorsal striatum, prefrontal cortex, basolateral amygdala, hippocampus, and insula are involved in craving and the cingulate gyrus, dorsolateral prefrontal, and inferior frontal cortices in disrupted inhibitory control which is the preoccupation/anticipation stage. Drug addiction therefore alters the normal functioning of the neural circuits which may begin with changes in the mesolimbic doper mine system and the process of neural adaptations from the ventral striatum to dorsal striatum of the frontal cortex and eventually deregulates the prefrontal cortex and extended amygdala.

neural circuits

Of late there have been studies aimed at understanding the genetic cellular and molecular mechanisms that mediate the transitions from once-in-a-while drug use to the loss of a person’s control of a drug abuse and to the final stage of a relapse even after trying to abstain. Drug addiction has aspects of both impulsivity and compulsivity disorders. Impulse control disorder is precisely an increased sense of tension before engaging in an impulsive act and a feeling relieved at the time of committing the act. They are categorized as the positive and strengthening mechanisms. On the other hand compulsive disorders are characterized by anxiety and stress before taking part in a compulsive redundant behavior and relieve from the stress by carrying out the compulsive behavior. The compulsive disorders are greatly associated with negative reinforcement’s mechanisms.

Impulsivity and compulsivity.

As the stage of addiction moves from one cycle to the other, the user moves from a stage of impulsivity to a stage of impulsivity and compulsivity. As a result, they are no longer positively reinforced by the drug but negatively influenced. These three stages of addiction are attributed to interacting with each other getting more intense and finally leading to the pathological stage called addiction.  The brain neural circuitry system is engaged at each stage of the addiction cycle and changes with increased intake of the drugs of abuse hence producing the disorder known as addiction. Since the brain responds to stimulus the entire system becomes oriented specifically toward drug related stimuli leading to an increased drive for seeking and taking drugs.

Executive dysfunction

Executive dysfunction is a range of cognitive, emotional and behavioral difficulties which occur after the frontal lobe of the brain is injured. The executive function include abilities such as: planning and organization, social behavior, controlling emotions, safe awareness among others. Drug abuse alters the normal functioning of the frontal lobe of the brain and leads to executive dysfunction. This leads to deficits in cognitive skills which involves thinking, personality and social behavior. Executive dysfunction also makes it difficult to solve problems and as a result drug addicts do not make accurate judgments or find solutions if things are going wrong. They are also irritable find it hard to concentrate lose their r memory and do not get enough sleep. It is very hard for people with this this problem to get along with others as they appear antisocial and can be misunderstood as depression lack of motivation, selfishness and aggression.

Future treatment targets.

neural circuitsGABA receptor substance that does not act as agonist or antagonist but affects the gamma-amino butyric acid receptor-ionophore complex. The GABA receptors play a role in almost every single activity of the brain. Ultimately glutamate and GABA do the information processing; they’re the ones that encode sensory inputs and thoughts (GABA directly modulates the effect of glutamate). There is the cognitive enhancement which requires the knowledge of cognition and what it involves. This cognitive enhancement could be aimed at improving short-term memory, improving information processing improving recall, or enhancing long-term potentiation. Each of this involves different circuits that involve multiple neurotransmitter systems.

Homeostatic resetters refers to the process of removal of toxic substances from the body of an individual through a process called detoxification in that at the end of the process the body returns to homeostasis after a long term use of an addictive substance.

CRF is brain stress systems that is engaged during the withdrawal/negative affect stage. This will reduce the dopamine activity and also help in restoring the frontal lobe of the brain. Therefore, the CRF increases in the effects that occur with sudden withdrawal from drugs and have motivational significance not only for the anxiety effects of acute withdrawal but also for the increased drug intake associated with dependence.

Glutamate modulators are used to reduce the habits of addiction by greatly improving the mood of the user and treating major depressive disorder. Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. There has been studies carried out which have shown altered glutamate levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid from patients with mood disorders. Administering glutamate to this patients will therefore greatly improve their mood.

Neural Circuits Of Preoccupation/ Anticipation “Craving” Stage

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Finding Help For Sex addiction Victims

September 19, 2014

Sex addiction and how to find help

What is sex addiction?

sex-addictionSex 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-addictionAnother 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

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Explaining Process Addiction

July 12, 2014

Does Process addiction Exist?

What is process addiction? This refers to a compulsive behavior that involves an action which on its own is not physically addictive but the person becomes dependent upon it. These behaviors may include: – love, sex, gambling, shopping, internet etc. This is a behavioral addiction and it doesn’t include alcohol or drug addiction.

Process addiction is mostly overlooked but it can be destructive to the victim. When a person is a victim of a process addiction, he/she feels severe coercion to engage in the activity repeatedly, sometimes even at the expense of their own physical, mental, relational or financial wellbeing.

Process Addiction

Which are some examples of these process addiction activities?

The list of activities which result into process addiction is very long since it is normally based on the activities that the individual regularly undertakes. When the activities are done repeatedly for a long period of time, there develops what can be called a habit in doing the activity. The person then becomes addicted with the activity over time and it becomes almost impossible to do without the activity. Some of the common ones are: – love, sexual activity, eating, shopping, gambling, watching pornography, mention them.

From this list though there are two behaviors which have proven to be outstanding. These are sexual addiction and pathological gambling.

·         Sex addiction

Sex addiction comes with recurring obsession to engage in sexual activity. A victim of this kind of addiction may end up sleeping with multiple partners over a short period of time and sometimes even forego personal duties in favor of sexual indulgence.

What are the symptoms of sex addiction?

Some of the indicator of a person addicted with sex may include excessive engagement in sexual acuities such as, pornography, masturbation and also behaviors like fetishism, exhibitionism and prurience.

  • Pathological gambling

Gambling is an activity that many of us engage into in variety of ways. This refers to any activity that someone engages with an expectation of monetary or material gain. The activity normally has probabilities and the person gambling accepts chances of losing or winning. An example of such events is a gamble on the results of a given football match e.g. World cup finals. The persons gambling predicts the result and places a valued item or some amount of money which is supposed to gain profit in the event of a win and in the opposite, it is lost altogether.

Even though these events we sometimes to for fun or looking for gain, when done for a long period they may turn out addictive. The person may increase the habit to a point of financial distress and often sacrificing belongings and time trying to get more money and consequently gamble it.

Which are the symptoms of behavioral addiction?

Process AddictionAddiction is usually difficult to spot. This is because different people engage into different activities during their free time in the form of hobbies. This makes it difficult to tell who is an addict of a given activity. However, people who are addicted to an activity will want to do it repeatedly, despite the damaging consequences which may come with the event.

The following are some of indicators of a behavioral addicted person:-

  • The person exhibits repetitive habits which persist or are continued despite their significant negative consequences.
  • The person experiences a feeling of loneliness, depression, anxiety and even sometimes highly stressed.
  • Another indicator of a behavioral addict is taking of increasingly big risks. For instance, the person may bet on the result of an event at 5dollars, the results goes contrary and the person bet again and again without a win but not seeming to give up even when the current bet is the only amount the person has as balance at that given time. This kind of addiction makes the person think of gambling without the losses that it comes with while the person unsuccessfully betting.
  • The addicts of behavioral addiction face difficulty in controlling impulses in general. These people follow their urge without having to reason out.
  • The victims of behavioral addiction have difficulty in sustaining relationships. This is particularly the case with the sex addicts. These people cannot control their sexual urges and thus they end up in uncontrolled sexual activities and normally with many different people. This makes it difficult for them to have a long term relationship due to un-trustworthiness (though they cannot control it) or in the event that the partner cannot withstand the frequent sex requirements of such persons.
  • Finally, the behavioral addicts will always want to hide or lie about their impulsive habits.

Treatment of behavioral addiction

In most cases, due to the nature of behavioral addiction the appropriate treatment is psychotherapy. Some times this therapy may need to be accompanied by some medication. It is common that the occurrence of behavioral addiction may be accompanied by likes of mood loss, anxiety or sometimes impulse control disorders. In such cases, treating all these conditions concurrently can relieve the symptoms of both.

Now we have seen the various symptoms of behavioral addiction. Are you in the category of victims of the same or do you of a person suffering from behavioral addiction like gambling and sex addiction? Meet professionals who will solve your problem at AWAREmed.

Does Process addiction Exist?

 

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