Can you remember back to the first time you used alcohol or drugs? Picture yourself as you were that day. Think about the circumstances that surrounded taking your first drink or drug. Think about where you were and who you were with. Did you enjoy the feeling the drink orContinue Reading
Withdrawal is the physical disturbance or changes that occur when a person begins to discontinue or suddenly stops their heavy use of drugs or alcohol. It also freqently accompanies ceasing the use of some prescription drugs or opiods. The period following such a cessation may include painful physiological and psychologicalContinue Reading
Alcohol abuse is a widespread issue and the danger signals are easy to recognize. Let’s look at the most common problems and, if you can answer yes to even one of the following questions, you have a drinking problem. (Adapted from the College Alcohol Problems Scale, revised, 2001). Ask yourselfContinue Reading
Take this brief Alcohol Use Quiz that screens for both at-risk drinking (drinking alone) and alcohol abuse, and dependence (heavy drinking) that may interfere with life or cause distress. This screening quiz may suggest seeking the advice of a health professional. While not a diagnosis, this audit (Alcohol Use DisorderContinue Reading
The first step for treatment of alcohol dependence begins with sobering up and cutting off the supply of alcohol. This first phase is called detoxification. Simply put, it means to remove poison. Alcohol withdrawal produces the same symptoms as drug withdrawal and can be extremely unpleasant. Old Habits The nextContinue Reading
There are three excellent reasons for keeping track of your daily use of chemicals such as nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, and other substances. For one, you may not have the slightest idea how much you ingest on a daily basis. Therefore you are not aware of their potential effect on yourContinue Reading
1. Addicts are weak, selfish, crazy, bad and/or stupid. Extensive research shows that addicts are ordinary people who are neither crazy nor insane. They are not bad people who need rehabilitating, nor stupid people that need to go back to school, nor weak or selfish, unable to kick their habit.Continue Reading
An addiction is a compulsive craving for a substance or behavior despite harmful or adverse consequences, and often has physical symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and distress following sudden withdrawal. In recent pop psychology, the supposedly irresistible seduction of addiction has been extended to include many behaviors formerly considered badContinue Reading
Craving is not a word reserved only for drug or alcohol addiction. Craving began when we were born. Because of our need to survive our brains came wired with circuitry to want, need, appreciate, and to pursue natural rewards such as food, water and sex. But in today’s society weContinue Reading
Are you addicted? Are you struggling with losing control of your daily activities or the use of a substance? Sometimes it takes more than willpower to overcome the problem. Many people are addicted to activities other than alcohol or drugs. Activities that consume much of your daily routine such asContinue Reading