Category Archives: Addiction Recovery

Is Depression Truly Biochemical?

There is much debate in both professional and social circles over whether depression is purely mental or biochemical. Every person gets sad at some point and depression can resemble a bout of simple sadness to the layperson. Therefore, it is easy to compare the two and reach the conclusion that depression is just being sad and perhaps the sufferer is making it worse without any physical mechanism playing into it. Then again, evidence is building to suggest that this is not the case. Evidence suggests there is a distinct difference between depression and sadness that goes beyond the symptoms.

What does "Biochemical" Mean?

What it means to say something is biochemical is that it is related to the chemistry within a living organism. As it pertains to depression, it is saying there is a chemical imbalance within the body, specifically the brain, that is causing the mood disorder. Researchers are even noticing, "reduced hippocampal gray matter" in individuals with chronic (Read More....)

Addiction and Our Young People

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Throughout most of my life I have been surrounded by some type of addiction. It always takes on the same form with each and every person no matter what the object of addiction is. I know that each person who has had any contact with addiction most likely has tried to figure out where it comes from and why it happens. I am aware that it is considered a disease and that it may be hereditary. Although what I am not sure of is whether or not it is completely a physical disease. I believe at least half or more of the problem is with the heart.

If you are an addict or have ever been around one you know that they are generally very selfish people. Their number one concern is themselves. The world seems to revolve around them and their needs. The majority of addicts I have been around say the same thing over and over. “I am not hurting anyone but myself.” This is a fabrication of their selfish nature.

Unless they live on an island all alone they are always hurting someone else with their addiction. Many times they hurt people financially, they have families that do without because of their addictions. Many times the hurt is emotional, parents, spouses, children, siblings, or friends that hurt because they care or because of constant disruptions in the family. It always ends up that the responsible people; the selfless people (Read More....)

An Overview of Medicare and Medicaid

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There are two government programs that have been under fire from critics inside and outside of the government since their inception. These two government programs are Medicare and Medicaid, both of which provide healthcare services to the disadvantaged and poverty-stricken through the use of taxpayer funds. The programs were created and enacted by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 as part of the Social Security Act, which was itself a component of Johnson’s “Great Society” program. According to popular belief the two programs are actually very different in various ways, but both Medicare and Medicaid are controlled and ran by the same government organization: the United States Department of Health and Human Services, under the branch called the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services.

In its most basic form, Medicare can be described as a government-run social insurance agency that helps more than 44 million people (as of 2008) and costs about $432 billion a year (as of 2007), according to the information kept by the United States government. The money that is spent by the United States government on Medicare makes up about 3.2% of the entire United States of America’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

On the other hand, Medicaid is more of a social welfare program for people in need. Medicaid (Read More....)

What to look for when finding an addiction program that will help you

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Balboa Horizons is for men and women who want strong Christian values incorporated into their recovery program.

Addiction programs treat all types of addictions. Just some of these are addictions to alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex and even shopping. Those who believe that they have an addiction serious enough to need treatment will want to find the most appropriate place for their unique circumstances. No matter what their addictions are, they will be able to choose an inpatient or outpatient, secular or Christian or a program with a particular philosophy to help them meet their goals.

Do You Need an Inpatient or an Outpatient Program?

An inpatient program is ideal for those who have been abusing a substance for several years or even decades. If this is the case, the detoxification process can cause these people to experience frightening withdrawal symptoms. When this occurs, they are highly tempted to drink or use the drugs again.

In an inpatient program, (Read More....)

How Will I know When They Really Mean It?

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Dealing with a loved one who is going through addiction is one of the most trying and difficult experiences imaginable. There are so many different interests going up against one another: you want to take care of your loved one, you need to protect yourself, and you need to not waste your time trying to help them when they're not willing to accept your help.

The bad news is that you can never be 100% certain that your loved one is being honest about wanting help. When you're dealing with a person who is in the throes of addiction the fact is that you're not dealing with that person, you're dealing an addict. The need for the drug takes over every other aspect of their personality from rational thought to their innermost dreams and passions. Everything takes second stage to getting the next fix, so even the most honest person can be driven to lies and deception if the addiction gets hold of them.

Another complication is that people who ask for help today might not want it tomorrow. It's very easy for an addict to say that they've had enough when they've just had a fix, when things are going well, but hard for them to stick to that promise when they're crashing back down to reality.

This is the hardest fact about helping someone over an addiction: you need to be strong when they aren't.

The (Read More....)

Never Ending Addiction

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Anna Amphigorously Photography

Too many times we have seen recovering athletes and movie stars tell their story of addiction recovery leaving all of us with a feeling that if we try drugs we will not have an addiction. This is positively not true.

1. Starting - Identifying why one chose to do unlawful drugs, excessive alcohol or smoking will be 90% of the solution. If not easily identifiable, then reasonable doubt can be employed filtering through the twining of the ball of rubber bands about ready to snap.

2. Rejection - Rejection by friends and family may lead to a greater addiction. A true rejection of the opposed drug and user will alienate and destroy family and household alliance. It is important not to badger.

3. Discovery - Discovery of an addiction in the family or household can lead to rebuking spiritual deity or the head of household. Respect has to be introduced again into one's life. Point out positive signs (Read More....)

It’s Not All In Your Head: Mental Health Conditions That Are Associated With Physical Conditions

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Check out this series of amazing ads for Domestic Violence.

Citing data from NIMH (the National Institute of Mental Health), NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) states that 26.2% of American adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. It further states that according to a doctor cited in the Archives of General Psychology, over half of Americans will meet the criteria for some type of mental disorder in their lifetime. Many of the most common mental illnesses carry a variety of mental and emotional stresses brought on by the anxieties of dealing with the condition. Recent studies have shown that in some cases, there can also be a number of physical symptoms present in subjects dealing with mental (Read More....)

Alcohol Related Crimes & the Relation to Liquor Stores

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Think about all of the crimes you have seen or heard on the news that are alcohol induced. Excessive drinking is often a cause of reckless behavior. Crimes that occur as a result of offenders abusing alcohol can be reduced with the proper focus and attention placed on this situation.

Consider some of the statistics released by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)

· There are over 5 million adults today who remain under correctional supervision as a result of an offense they committed while under the influence of alcohol.

· Alcohol plays a part in 40% of violent crimes.

· 40% of convicted murderers currently incarcerated were under the influence of alcohol when they committed their crimes.

The reduction of alcohol does not guarantee a reduction in crime, but when the statistics show an overwhelming percentage of offenders who are under the influence, something should be done.

When crime and drugs were extremely bad in many metropolitan (Read More....)