Real concerns for smokers desiring to quite

September 4, 2015

Real concerns for smokers desiring to quite: Finding solutions to all your smoking frustrations

Please don’t because I understand the real concerns for smokers desiring to quite. I appreciate but no thank you.

Until you get there you may not understand the magnitude of the real concerns for smokers desiring to quite their smoking habits. The desire to quite is often very high in most smokers, but they are always pulled down by environmental events, social and physical events. Speaking to experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, it is very evident that smokers are easily angered, frustrated and irritated, they are anxious, depressed and often are worried about their BMI. These are some of the real concerns for smokers desiring to quite that we want to focus on in this article as follows.

Real concerns for smokers desiring to quite: What can I do about anger, frustration, and irritability?

Anger and frustrations are a common occurrence after one opts for quitting smoking, at this point you may feel jittery and short-tempered, and you may even want to give up on tasks and assignments more quickly than usual. Because of this you may be less tolerant of others and easily get into more arguments with people even at the slightest different in opinion. Over the years experts have been researching on the link between anger, frustrations and cigarette smoking and it was established that the most common negative feelings associated with quitting smoking are feelings of anger, frustration, and irritability. These negative feelings are always at their highest within the first week of quitting and may last for 2 to 4 weeks. For easy management of these negative feelings the following are some useful hints:

In all you do always remind yourself that these feelings are temporary and will fade with time.
Engagement actively in physical activities like taking a walk is very important.
Reduce from your diet caffeine by limiting or avoiding coffee, soda, and tea.
Try meditation or other relaxation techniques, such as getting a massage, soaking in a hot bath, or breathing deeply through your nose and out through your mouth for 10 breaths.
Always consult with your doctor about nicotine replacement products or other medications before you can administer any in your body.

Real concerns for smokers desiring to quite: What can I do about anxiety?

Doctor Akoury is registering that the feeling of anxious is almost becoming a routine every time one make effort of quitting. Ordinarily within a time spun of 24 hours of quitting smoking, you will most likely feel tense and agitated. You may also feel tightness in your muscles especially around the neck and shoulders. According to the various studies conducted in the past it has been established that anxiety is one of the most common negative feelings associated with quitting. Therefore if anxiety occurs, it builds over the first 3 days after quitting and may last 2 weeks. We can therefore apply the following tips in the managing anxiety:

Remind yourself that anxiety will pass with time.
Set aside some quiet time every morning and evening a time when you can be alone in a quiet environment it will help you remain focus objectively.
Engage in physical activity, such as taking a walk.
Reduce caffeine by limiting or avoiding coffee, soda, and tea.
Try meditation or other relaxation techniques, such as getting a massage, soaking in a hot bath, or breathing deeply through your nose and out through your mouth for 10 breaths.
Consult with your doctor about nicotine replacement products or other medications.

Real concerns for smokers desiring to quite: What can I do about depression?

It is normal to feel sad for a period of time after you first quit smoking after all you are losing something that you originally loved so much. Therefore progressively this mild depression will occur and normally it will commence within the first day of quitting and may progress for a couple of weeks, and disappear within a month. However if you have a history of depression which is associated with a more severe withdrawal symptoms including more severe depression then such depressions need to be treated in isolation as it may be an indicator of a more serious problem. Many people have a strong urge to smoke when they feel depressed and therefore the following tips may be helpful for you in the management of your depression:

Call a friend and plan to have lunch or go to a movie, concert, or other pleasurable event.
Identify your specific feelings at the time that you seem depressed. Are you actually feeling tired, lonely, bored, or hungry? Focus on and address these specific needs.
Increase physical activities. This will help to improve your mood and lift your depression.
Breathe deeply.
Make a list of things that are upsetting to you and write down solutions for them one by one.
If depression continues for more than 1 month, see your doctor. Ask your doctor about prescription medications that may help you with depression. Studies show that bupropion and nortriptyline can help people with a past history of depression who tries to quit smoking.

Real concerns for smokers desiring to quite: What can I do about weight gain?

Gaining weight is common after quitting. Studies have shown that, on average, people who have never smoked weigh a few pounds more than smokers, and, when smokers quit, they attain the weight they would have had if they had never smoked. Although most smokers gain fewer than 10 pounds after they quit smoking, the weight gain can be troublesome for some people. However, the health benefits of quitting far outweigh the health risks of a small amount of extra weight. Here are some tips for managing weight gain:

Ask your doctor about the medication bupropion. Studies show that it helps counter weight gain.
Studies also show that nicotine replacement products, especially nicotine gum and lozenges, can help counter weight gain. Because some people who quit smoking increase their food intake, regular physical activity and healthy food choices can help you maintain a healthy weight.
If weight gain is a problem, you may want to consult a nutritionist or diet counselor. And by the way this is one of the areas of strength of doctor Dalal Akoury and consulting with her will give you a clear head start on your way to recovery right way.

Real concerns for smokers desiring to quite: Finding solutions to all your smoking frustrations

What causes addiction and how risky are they

July 15, 2015

What causes addiction and how risky are they: The expert’s opinion

What causes addiction and how risky are they can be clearly seen in the chains of addiction that affects everyone indiscriminately.

It is becoming evident that what we have known all along as the causes of addiction may not be scientifically confirmed. Owing to the fact that this is a question that researchers have grappled with for as long as you can remember. Doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, says that up to now there’s no definitive answer and no one has discovered one single cause. However we will not burry our heads on the ground about certain things that happen around us like for instance, there is no doubt that if one drinks alcohol, use drugs, gamble or indulge in other potentially destructive behaviors, they would become over time become addicted to those substances or actions. But then again, there are quite a number of people who can indulge in such activities without becoming addicted. This now begs the question that everyone is asking “why do some develop problems while others don’t?” stay tune because as we progress into the discussion, doctor Akoury is going to be giving us some answers as to what causes addiction and how risky are they, those causes.

What causes addiction and how risky are they: How does addiction start?

To start us off, we need to find out why people chose to take these destructive substances. According to experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Akoury, in many occasions people often try drugs or other potentially addictive behavior because they are seeking for some sort of reward or benefit and of course they are benefits in quarts and quarts. This is so because ideally there is nothing good about drugs no matter the set standard limits. From a professional point of view, those who take drugs often do so because of the physical effects they hope to experience. The bottom line is that drugs have a marked effect on the body systems and mind. Otherwise you would ask yourself that if there were no effect, people would be unlikely to repeat the experience they willingly and unconditionally do. It can therefore be concluded that no one under normal circumstances would sets out just to become addicted to a given substance.

Significantly doctor Akoury says the periodic use of some of these substances and certain behaviors in several ways do change the way their users feel. If they make user feel better, relax them, make them feel powerful, excites, let us escape and so on, and because of those effects, they tend to go back to them time and again.

Sometimes the attraction also comes from the feeling that the behavior identifies us (users) as one of a certain social group – people may try drugs because they think it will gain them acceptance in a desirable social group of gang or that they become one of the rebels or cool party people. However, in some people, those experiences uncover a powerful attraction. What can start out as casual experimentation, normal social behavior or even a doctor’s prescription can lead to repeating the behavior more frequently and with greater quantities. The more you do, the more likely you’re to continue doing even more. Finally on this, following the psychological shift to dependence which means that you can’t do without the substance or activity, the brain’s chemistry may start to adapt, demanding ever more of what it’s grown used to and fiercely resisting the discomfort of withdrawal. The behavior takes on a self-perpetuating life of its own as the body becomes physically dependent on it.

What causes addiction and how risky are they: Who’s at risk of addiction?

What makes some people more susceptible to becoming dependent or addicted is perhaps a genetic predisposition. This theory, with some evidence to support it, makes sense especially since addiction crosses social divides. Nonetheless, this is still debatable and is under investigation and the scientific findings are yet to be served.

Besides all thee, we also have in principal so many other cultural and social factors that can put people at greater risk. For instance, you’re less likely to become alcohol-dependent growing up in a country where alcohol consumption is unacceptable than where it’s a normal part of everyday life. Growing up in a family where there’s alcohol or drug abuse increases the risk towards the same. This is also implies that in the cases where individuals suffered from certain injustices like child abuse, childhood trauma and neglect for such individual people the risk of addiction becomes even higher owing to such past circumstances.

Poverty, a lack of education and unemployment can also increase the risks. If your environment is stressful and you feel unable to change it, you may turn to substances for relief. Significant life events may contribute. Like for instance if your inner world is in turmoil and frustrated, there is higher chances that such individuals are likely to turn to substances as medication to feel better. Doctor Akoury says that as painful as it is these are the most immediate remedies people often go for even with the full knowledge of the prevailing consequences.

People who don’t receive adequate nurture as children or who are more emotionally sensitive may be more susceptible. Even though these factors may not always necessarily lead to substance misuse or dependency or any other addictive behavior, the naked truth is that they can increase vulnerability to the same substances. Now in conclusion, what causes addiction and how risky they are is one piece of information everyone must have irrespective of your addiction situation. Even if you are not directly affected, in several ways, you are indirectly affected either psychologically or even physically. That is why doctor Akoury made a very informed decision to create a medical center whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. Now that you know what you can get from this facility, you can go on to schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today for the commencement of your recovery treatment program.

What causes addiction and how risky are they: The expert’s opinion

Effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse

May 29, 2015

Effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse: The Hard Hit Society

Effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse are going to kill the entire generation if corrective measures are not taken immediately

Even though alcohol is a legally acceptable drink in our societies, it use is causing a lot of pain to the same society especially when it is abused. This is one of the substances that are very easy to abuse owing to its addictive nature. It therefore beats the logic to advice that when taking alcohol, users must be careful to be as moderate as possible. I ask this question, the substance is a highly intoxicating and addictive, how then do you recommend a bottle or two for both genders knowing that you will not be able to help the keep to the limit? It is this in ability of many alcohol users to keep to the limit that has led to alcoholism and alcohol abuse. Because of this, we are left with the effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse to deal with. According to experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury, alcoholism and alcohol abuse can affect all aspects of your life. Long-term alcohol use can cause serious health complications, affecting virtually every organ in your body, including your brain. Problem relating to drinking can also damage your emotional stability, finances, career, and your ability to build and sustain satisfying relationships. In essence the point is that alcoholism and alcohol abuse can have serious impact on your family, friends and the people you work with. That is why doctor Akoury founded this facility to give her contribution in containing this ever escalating problem in our societies.

The effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse on the people you love

When alcoholism sets into a family, comfort and piece flee in the opposite direction. I understand that it is common knowledge that the potential damage of alcohol abuse can be very lethal including complications like cancer, heart problems, and liver disease the other side of life can also be impacted on negatively. I am talking about the social side of life. The impact to this effect can be very devastating and alcoholics may end up without healthy relationships because of divorce and separation, problems relating to domestic violence, struggling with unemployment and endless life of poverty. These are real social issues that come with alcoholism and alcohol abuse. Nonetheless occasionally you may escape the in one area say from your work station the effects that alcoholism and alcohol abuse has on your personal relationships cannot be ignored.

This is because drinking problems put an enormous strain on the people closest to you. In many cases, your loved ones would be very protective to avoid embarrassment because they feel obligated to cover for the person with the drinking problem. In other words, they take on the burden of cleaning up your messes, telling lies for you, or working more to make ends meet. Pretending that nothing is wrong and hiding away all of their fears and resentments can take an enormous toll on them. This is one aspect that hit children the most. Children are usually very sensitive and can suffer lasting emotional trauma when a parent or caretaker is an alcoholic or heavy drinker.

Effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse: Getting help for alcoholism or alcohol abuse

Like in all other addiction, alcohol addiction treatment begins with the acceptance of the existence of drinking problem. This very first step may appear to be the easiest part but it is not and in fact many addicts are never willing to voluntarily acknowledge their individual drinking problems. It takes tremendous strength and courage to face alcohol abuse and alcoholism head on. Reaching out for support is the second step. It may not matter the choices you are going make be it going to the rehab or relying on self- help programs or even getting a therapy or a self-directed treatment approach, the bottom line is that getting support is very crucial. It is important to appreciate that recovering from alcohol addiction is much easier when you are surrounded with people you can rely on for good encouragement, comfort and guidance. In the absence of such support, it will be very easy to fall back into the old patterns of addiction when the going becomes very difficult.

Doctor Akoury says that your consistency on the recovery program will depend on continuing mental health treatment, learning healthier coping strategies, and making better decisions when dealing with life’s challenges. In order to stay alcohol-free for the long term, you’ll also have to face the underlying problems that led to your alcoholism or alcohol abuse in the first place. Those problems may include depression, an inability to manage stress, an unresolved trauma from your childhood, or any number of mental health issues. Such problems may become more prominent when you’re no longer using alcohol to cover them up. But you will be in a healthier position to finally address them and seek the help you need.

Effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse: Helping a loved one with alcoholism or alcohol abuse

Finally if someone you love has a drinking problem, you may be struggling with a number of painful emotions, including shame, fear, anger, and self-blame. The problem may be so overwhelming that it seems easier to ignore it and pretend that nothing is wrong. But in the long run denying it will be more damaging to you, other family members, and the person with the drinking problem.

Dealing with a loved one’s alcohol problem can be an emotional rollercoaster. It’s vital that you take care of yourself and get the support you need. It’s also important to have people you can talk honestly and openly with about what you’re going through. It may interest you to opt for institutions like the Al-Anon as the starting point. This is a free support group for families coping with alcoholism. Listening to others with the same challenges can be a tremendous source of comfort and support. You can also turn to trusted friends, a therapist, or people in your faith community but most importantly would be consulting with the experts for help. You can schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center for a much more professional guidance and treatment today.

Effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse: The Hard Hit Society

Severe Mental Illness and Substance Abuse

December 1, 2014

Persons with Severe Mental Illness Are Prone To Substance Use

People with severe mental illness (SMI) are more prone to substance abuse than those who are not suffering from severe mental illness. Both epidemiological and clinical studies that have been done on this have attested to this fact. The findings of these researches have also pointed out that Individuals diagnosed with SMI are also at greater risk of hospitalization, homelessness and suicide and experience more difficulty in different spheres of their lives. Most studies have shown that individuals with SMI are more prone to substance abuse. However other studies that have been done on the same issue have not linked the two phenomena. The substances used most frequently by persons with SMI are alcohol, followed by cannabis and stimulants. Sedatives and hallucinogens are used less frequently by those with SMI. Amphetamine use is greater in persons with psychotic disorders compared with the general population. Studies have shown that both cannabis and, to a greater extent, amphetamines can provoke psychosis. Because individuals do not use cannabis or amphetamines alone, but use them in combination with several other substances, examining the effects of the use of a specific substance on mental illness is particularly challenging. A review showed that substance use has adverse long-term effects on cognitive functions in persons with SMI. The substance that has been found to affect the individuals most negatively is alcohol while cannabis use has little influence on the cognitive functions of the individuals.

Several studies have shown that many people with SMI tend to achieve full remission of their substance use while others relapse frequently. Research from different treatment settings indicate that 30 per cent of those with less severe mental illness and heavy substance use attain sustained remission, while up to 60 per cent of those with SMI and less severe substance use attain sustained remission.

There is however a lack of studies on how persons with SMI experience abstaining from substance use. Nevertheless, research on substance use by clients without the comorbidity of mental illness indicates that social support is important to successful change in behavior of these people. Clients claim that they benefit from interventions that address their multiple recovery issues as opposed to ones that emphasize recovery strictly in sobriety terms. Another qualitative study has noted the participants’ view that highly structured programs and cognitive behavioral techniques are crucial to achieving abstinence. Not only is sobriety a lifelong struggle for many clients, but also is perceived as a challenging state because of the risk that the person becomes complacent after achieving sobriety. This may indicate a need for substitute dependency to maintain the abstinence.

It is of importance to examine how individuals with a psychotic disorder experience quitting substance use and to investigate reported experiences of former abstinence periods by participants still using substances. Two qualitative studies with a primary focus on how persons with SMI experience abstaining from substance use have reported that clients view substance use as one of many sources of difficulty over a troubled life course and that social support is critical to staying clean, lack of support in most cases makes it difficult for these individuals to quit using these drugs. One ethnographic study of clients’ perspectives showed that giving up substances was seen as a source of both pleasure and pain, and presupposed a certain level of rationality.

Study findings

In a study done by Henning Pettersen, Torleif Ruud, Edle Ravndal and Anne Landheim with an objective to find out experiences of abstaining from substances of persons diagnosed with SMI. They examined both the reasons given and the requirements and strategies used when abstaining. The main reasons for quitting substance use were social relationships and meaningful activities. It was found that the stated requirements and strategies used in the search for sobriety were detachment towards people and places, positive thinking, controlling feelings and emotions, and fear of dependency. A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews was conducted, and a descriptive and explorative design was applied. This study included a purposeful sample of 11 patients with SMI and substance use being treated by assertive community treatment teams. Henning et al concluded that the results from this study are consistent with those from other qualitative studies on the importance of social relationships and meaningful activities as expressed reasons for abstaining. The strategy of actively avoiding a former adverse milieu to reach sobriety is consistent with findings from one similar study. The strategies of fear of adverse consequences, positive thinking, and controlling feelings and emotions found in the present study have not been reported by other qualitative studies.

The study had eleven participants of which nine were men and two were women. The ages of the participants were between 27-63 years. Most of the participants had a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, but persons diagnosed with bipolar disorder or an unspecified psychotic disorder also participated. For most participants, SMI had preceded their substance use. The treatment of the participants took duration of between 14-30 months after the first interview.

Severe Mental illness Cannabis and amphetamine were the main substances used in the study but alcohol and other prescription drugs were also used to a lesser extent. However most of the participants used a combination of the substances. At the time of the study four of the participants were abstaining from substance use. Their abstinence periods ranged from 3 to 18 month. At the time of the first interview seven of the participants were still using substances. By the second interview, the abstainers were still abstinent and the users had continued their use. The abstaining group and the group of users did not differ significantly in their psychiatric diagnosis or history of substance use. The 11 participants shared their experiences of shorter and longer periods of abstaining from substances. Some of them talked of their abstaining periods retrospectively, and some were abstaining at the time of the interview. From the findings of this study it is therefore safe to conclude that people suffering from SMI are more prone to substance abuse than people who don’t.

Finally, 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.

Persons with Severe Mental Illness Are Prone To Substance Use

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