Tag: Alcoholics

Acupuncture and Drug Abuse

Acupuncture is a bright light on the road to recovery for many drug addicts and alcoholics. As an addict is recovering, the physical and psychological urge to get another fix or get another drink can be overwhelming. If the addict can get past that feeling, there is more hope for another successful day on the road to recovery. Currently there are a number of chemicals to help reduce that feeling, such as the nicotine patches to help people stop smoking. However, a major advantage of using acupuncture is that it uses no chemicals in the treatment, can be used for a number of different addictions, and is quite inexpensive compared to a number of other treatments.

Let’s take a look into a clinic that uses acupuncture to treat recovering addicts. Before the clinic used acupuncture, it was somewhat loud and not a pleasant place to be. The treatment room holds dozens of clients at the same time, each sitting in a chair. Each person sits with five long needles dangling from each ear. Depending on the person, a few also have some acupuncture needles in their hands, arms, or feet. When the time comes to remove the needles, some are removed by one of the acupuncture practitioners, or an assistant, or some clients remove their own needles at the appropriate time. Needles are left in the patient for an average of about forty-five minutes. The chairs are arranged so that the clients can see and talk to each other if they wish. This helps when they share experiences, and helps if some of the new clients are nervous about the use of acupuncture. The room, though it holds a number of often troubled patients, is generally quite calm and peaceful.

What advantage is there in using acupuncture for a recovering addict? Most of the addicts describe a release of that feeling that insists they must find a fix or must find a drink. The patient describes it as the feeling when you get home after a long day and take off your shoes. The effect of the treatment lasts for about a day, and so newly recovering addicts are scheduled for daily treatments. People such as dry alcoholics can come by on a periodic basis, or when they feel they need another acupuncture treatment. Many dry alcoholics are fine as long as their daily life is not stressful, but if a family problem arises at home or at work, the familiar feeling becomes strong once again. At those times an acupuncture clinic is a great help, for it affects an actual physical change in the person.

Many detox clinics that use acupuncture in its regimen incorporate it into an overall program, where the acupuncture treatments are the first steps that a patient takes. A typical clinic will schedule a new patient for daily acupuncture sessions, and at each session take a sample to ensure the patient has not used drugs during the past day. After 10 “clean” days, the patient is considered in sufficient shape to start additional therapy, such as a twelve step program. Acupuncture treatments continue during this time. If a patient has a relapse, the patient just starts all over again with the ten day acupuncture treatment.

Using acupuncture in recovery programs has definite advantages, both economically and in support of physical and mental health for the recovering addicts. It is just another example where the use of acupuncture incorporates healing in all areas: physical, mental, and emotional.

Alcohol Abuse And Depression Statistics-Illusion Of Fixing The Problem

Statistics point out that as many as one in ten people who are depressed also have a drinking problem. Alcohol abuse and depression is an awful combination that makes both problems worse. There are people who use alcohol to “self-medicate” their depression away. While this may give them the illusion of fixing the problem, the truth is that drinking alcohol only serves to deepen the depression.

People with depression are not thinking as clearly as they can, and alcohol dulls the senses as well. Anybody can build up a tolerance to alcohol, but it’s much more problematic for someone who is depressed. They are less likely to realize that they are drinking more to get the same effect, and this can quickly lead to alcohol abuse. Not only can the alcohol cause intolerance, but the depressed person is also in a state of mind where they don’t care about a lot of things.

It is believed that about 40% of alcoholics exhibit signs of clinical depression, and 10% of people who are depressed abuse alcohol. Those are some interesting numbers, but there is no way to know what the actual cause and effect is. Perhaps people who are predisposed to alcoholism are also predisposed to depression, and vice-versa. Regardless of the accuracy of these numbers, alcohol abuse and depression need to be taken seriously.

The symptoms associated with depression and alcohol abuse can often be similar. Both conditions bring about behavioral changes, though there are some that are more related to one disease or the other. Impulsive acts, impaired judgment, and isolation are common to both diseases; whereas acts of aggression and violence tend to be related to alcoholism, and suicidal thoughts are related to depression. However, there are many lines of gray here, so it’s not always easy to tell which condition is causing which symptoms. The main thing is to take all of these symptoms seriously and to seek help from a qualified professional as soon as possible.

There is some evidence that alcoholism may be genetic, or at the very least, a learned conditioned. People who had parents that abused alcohol are more likely to abuse it themselves. Furthermore, they are likely to have a higher tolerance for alcohol, which also puts them at risk. The same basic thing can be said (except for the part about alcohol tolerance) about people who had depressed parents. Their odds of being depressed are also higher.

Alcohol abuse and depression often occur side-by-side, so it can be very difficult figuring out what the root of the problem is. However, because the two diseases are especially bad when combined with one another, it is very important to get help if both conditions are present. Seeking qualified medical advice as soon as possible is the key to an effective recover. There are several treatment options available, and it is worth seeking them out. It doesn’t happen overnight, but you can be sure that a happier life waits for those who get these diseases under control.

Protect Yourself From The Flesh Eating Disease

I know that all the rage these days is talk about an impending zombie apocalypse and that is what you may first think of when you hear about flesh eating disease but since there really is no such thing as zombies let’s talk about how you can protect yourself from the flesh eating disease called Necrotizing Fasciitis.

The best way to protect yourself from the flesh eating disease is to keep your hands clean. Wash them in warm water and soap for at least 15-20 seconds when they are visibly soiled and use hand sanitizer to kill the germs you can’t see for other times.

If you cut yourself or get a burn while you are in the kitchen, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem at the time, always clean the area very well and keep it covered. Feel free to use a triple antibiotic ointment and change the bandage frequently or at least daily.

The bandage you use should also be kept dry so go buy yourself some vinyl or latex gloves at your local drug store to use to cover the affected area, if it is on your hands, that is.

Bacteria thrives in warm, moist places so if the bandage gets wet change it immediately.

If you are a relatively healthy individual you have a lower risk of acquiring this possibly deadly infection. Higher risk individuals are those with chronic conditions that deplete the immune system like diabetes, cancer, and lupus.

Alcoholics and drug abusers also have a higher risk of developing this type of infection.

These people should take special precautions from even getting injured because with an immune system that is not functioning like it should sores and burns will not heal quickly in the best of times.

If, a day or two after an injury, you start to notice any of the following symptoms, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.

If you notice:

1. Increased redness, swelling and the area of injury is hot to the touch

2. Green drainage from the would

3. Increased or new, severe pain to the area

4. An area near the center of the original injury has turned black. This indicates that tissue death has begun.

Diagnosis is made by your doctor ordering a number of tests such as:

1. Lab culture of the wound

2. CT scan or MRI

3. Blood tests

4. Biopsy of the surrounding skin

Immediate treatment is essential to limiting the damage the toxins released by the bacteria can cause. If left untreated for even just a little while, sometimes only a few hours, extensive damage can occur and complications such as amputation or organ death can quickly follow.

Statistics show that if you do not learn how to protect yourself from the flesh eating disease and you do acquire this deadly infection 1 in 4 will die from it.

All it takes is keeping your hands and any injury you get clean, covered and dry.

Combating Stress and Anxiety through Support Groups

Studies reveal that people with good friends are more able to cope with stress and anxiety than people who dont have any companions whose shoulders they can cry on. 85% of people today are said to suffer from stress and anxiety problems one way or another and these people will be able to handle stress and anxiety better if they find the courage to talk about it and ask for help and support.

Talking about Your Problems is Not a Weakness
Many individuals are in the opinion that talking about their problems is almost akin to revealing their weaknesses or admitting to their inability to cope with their problems. They must understand that talking is completely different from whining; its a fact that the act of talking is a way of releasing our pent-up emotions. Youre just letting off steam, so to speak, and that shall not be construed in any way as begging for pity or attention. It is also not another form of complaining but simply your way of asking for empathy. We feel better when people empathize with our situations and thats why we shouldnt keep our emotions to ourselves. Its destructive rather than constructive.

Factors to Determine the Best Support Group for Your Needs
Since we are all unique individuals, its possible that our needs for a support group are unique as well. What may work for you may not be suitable for another so its best to base your decision on your preferences alone.

Individual or Group Support
As mentioned previously, some people find it extremely difficult to talk about their feelings and problems in life. If this is your case, it may be best to start out with individual consultations with your therapist. Once you get comfortable with talking openly to a stranger, you could then move on to the next level and join a small support group.

Focal Point of Support Group
There are hundreds of support group to choose from and each support group has its own focal point of interest. Obviously, Alcoholics Anonymous is for the rehabilitation of alcoholics while there are other support groups that concentrate on increasing the self-confidence of its members. Choose the support group that can truly help you cope with your problems and consequently, eliminate stress and anxiety from your life. If youre a workaholic and too much overtime is the main reason why youre too jumpy most of the time, find a support group thats specifically meant to treat workaholics like you.

Time and Location of Meetings
It is best that you choose to join a support group that holds its meetings at the time and place youre sure to be available. Choosing a support group, in spite of its great objectives and wonderful staff, thats located in the next state would be highly impractical as you may have to travel for hours every time theres a meeting.

Type of Communication
Most support groups hold meetings where members can meet each other in person. People who prefer anonymity however may opt for other means of communication like joining an online group or talking to a volunteer on the phone. While face-to-face meetings are generally more effective, the end choice belongs entirely to you so choose the type of support group that youre most comfortable and most likely to stick with for a long time.