Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol Abuse




What are the signs of alcohol addiction or dependency?

Alcoholism is a disease that can vary depending on the rate and frequency in which it is consumed. Alcoholism will destroy the lives of the addict as well as the family.

Visual signs that alcohol is being consumed to excess are easily recognizable to adults and even some children.

    * redness in the face during or after the consumption of alcohol

    * reaction times or reflexes delayed or non existent

    * vomiting or nausea 

    * slurred speech and conversations that are completely incoherent

    * clumsiness and no balance when walking 

    

Recognizing when there is a problem 

When alcohol consumption becomes a ritual and the quantity of alcohol needed increases is a sign that there might be a more serious problem. Someone that abuses alcohol makes their drinking a focus of their life. 

  * Hangovers and increased time to recover from the night of drinking .

   * tolerance levels go up and the amount of alcohol needed to get the desired effect increase 

   * personal life and professional responsibilities are not being taken care of

   * unsuccessful attempts at reducing the intake of alcohol

   * withdrawal symptoms show up when unable to drink

Alcohol is a depressant it affects the central nervous system once it has metabolized through the liver. Alcoholism and abuse can result in other medical problems such as :

   * high blood pressure

  * sexual impedance or lack of sex drive

   * Cancer 

   * intestinal problems

   * Osteoporosis in women

Alcohol abuse causes over 100,000 deaths in North America. It is the leading cause of death in teens due to alcohol related car accidents. 

Drinking habits can vary for every alcoholic, some will binge drink, while others will drink in excess every day. Once alcohol starts to take control of a persons life there can be severe social and economic consequences. Being drunk or hung over at work usually results in loss of jobs and income. Domestic violence is increased in household that have an alcoholic present in the home. Legal problems soon are compounded with the addiction and can place severe financial burden on the family.

What causes someone to become an alcoholic?

Genetic predisposition, environment and the mental health of the individual are leading factors in the development of alcoholism. Members of the same family can respond differently to alcohol effects. These reasons are why treatment can be different for every alcoholic and not everyone in the same family can have the same predisposition to alcohol effects. 

Alcohol withdrawal can be a life threatening health risk.

Long term alcohol abuse can affect the liver, nervous system, heart, brain and stomach. Detoxification from alcohol can result in the DT’s or Delirium Tremors. A Person can have a life threatening event happen if there is a sudden stoppage of consumption. Medically supervised detox is required for most alcohol withdrawals.

Alcohol abuse is a serious medical condition that requires a medically supervised detox in order to keep the individual safe from seizures and life threatening blood pressure drops. Detoxing from alcohol should never be done in the home. If you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms from alcohol withdrawal call 911 right away and get the help you need as soon as possible. It could save your life. 

Do not wait till it is to late. Get help now. Christian Drug Rehabilitation is a leader in finding the best treatment centers for Christians in need of alcohol Detox and treatment. Give us a call now. 1-866-391-6530

What is Recovery?

What is Recovery?

Guideline for long lasting recovery from drugs and alcohol

The first step in recovery is learning and deciding that there is a need for a change.

• Learn what treatment options are available
• Find help and support.
• Make your sobriety last by building a purposeful life
• Never loose hope
• If you fall back pick yourself up and start again

To find long lasting recovery it takes a few steps to maintain sobriety 

First you have to realize that there is a problem that needs to change. Are you ready to start your recovery? If you are ready give us a call toll free 1800-513-5423 for immediate help in finding a drug rehab or treatment center for you or a loved one. 

Deciding that addiction recovery is needed and you want to make a change is the crucial step in recovery. No matter what brought you to the decision that you need make a change for the better, making the decision for change is the only thing that really matters. For some of us, it takes us landing in some sort of rock bottom that we feel that is as low as we will allow ourselves to get, in order to feel the need for changing our alcohol or drug habits.

Making lifestyle changes and breaking behavioral habits
Changing your habits can be a lot harder that it seems, we are creatures of habit and making habitual changes has to start with changing the way we think and how we act on the thoughts that we cannot control. Simple changes that you can implement to help your recovery.

Find ways to help you manage stress

Change your friends to those who support your newly found sobriety.

Rediscover what you like to do for fun 

Change how you view yourself

Finding treatment options and support 

Some people will make the decision to enter into treatment for their addictions themselves. There are a few different options available for  the treatment for addictions. Choosing to get help to handle an addiction to drugs or alcohol can be a critical second step in the recovery process.
 

Inpatient treatment centers: This style of treatment can include long term programs,short term programs and many different specialized treatment options. Receiving treatment at an inpatient treatment center allows the individual to recover in a loving and caring environment while receiving treatment for their addictions. 

Outpatient treatment programs: This style of rehabilitation sets treatment scheduled on a regular basis from daily meetings and therapy to once a month depending on the level of care you choose. Some of the other types of outpatient treatment include partial hospitalization programs and intensive outpatient treatment, which is mainly used for people that need medical care and psychiatric treatment while undergoing a substance abuse treatment program. These types of programs are heavily monitored and often times, accompanied by sober living arrangements to offer a better level of support than a traditional outpatient program.

Dual diagnosis Treatment programs: Most dual diagnosis treatment centers are inpatient treatment with a heavy focus on mental health and underlying mental health problems that have not been previously addressed. Treatment at these centers are usually longer than the typical 28 day treatment center. 

Many of the programs that help people recover from drugs or alcohol will incorporate the 12 steps to recovery. Twelve step programs help people who are struggling with addictive behaviors. Twelve step programs like AA, NA, CA  offer support for the individual in the form of meetings and fellowship with people striving to remain drug or alcohol free.

It doesn’t matter what program you choose for you treatment; you are gonna need help in recovery to avoid common pitfalls in early recovery. This is the important third step in recovery; talking to your friends and family about your intentions to change your life. Trying to hide your recovery can make things more difficult for you, your friends, and your family.

It may encourage you to know that people will support you and you should welcome the help in your time of need. You need to take charge of your recovery and be very proud of the fact that you are changing your lifestyle habits for the better. 

Find recovery groups

There may be cases when the family or friends contributed to your addiction problem either directly or even indirectly (enabling you to be addicted). In these cases it is extremely important to find like minded people to help with support and introduce you to new social outlets that support recovery.

Make your sobriety last

 

Getting free from drugs or alcohol through a drug rehabilitation program is a great first step in recovery, but managing your recovery can take planning and execution of the aftercare program you have set up for your return home.

Know your triggers and learn to manage cravings.

One of the biggest parts in early recovery is learning to manage cravings and the thoughts of using again. Being able to identify triggers, environments, and staying away from people that are using drugs or alcohol will help you stay on your path of recovery. 

Make sure to avoid places where drug or alcohol are present.

Avoid people that you used to drink or use drugs with.

Enroll and follow through with your aftercare program. After care programs can include some or all of following groups or programs.

• Support groups

• Halfway or sober-living houses

• 12 step recovery programs

• Continued outpatient care

• Find activities and hobbies that you enjoy and give you a sense of well being.

The final step in recovery is the rebuilding of a new life without the need for drugs,alcohol or any addictive behaviors. This is not a simple as it seems. We are habitual beings that can fall back to what we feel is a safe place. Some people feel the need to give back and volunteer in their community and others take up hobbies and activities for their fulfillment.

Making sure to set reasonable goals and following through until they are completed to your satisfaction fuel us for the next goal and it’s challenges. Life takes a lifetime to complete so do not rush into anything to fast take your time and make sure that the decisions is the best for you and not the best for right now. 
What to do if you relapse after going to treatment 

Relapse can be a part of some peoples recovery but it is not always the case. If you find that you have fallen back to you addictive behaviors you know what to do to pick yourself back up. You have all the tools that you need to get yourself back on the track of recovery. 

Relapse can be caused by many things but the most common cause that we have noticed is boredom. Being an addict can have a great impact on your social life and in some cases, need as much time as a full time job. That is a lot of time to fill, so getting into aftercare and managing your time in order to include some activities that you enjoy on a daily basis, will help you stay the course of recovery. 

If you are ready to start your recovery program give us a call 1-800-513-5423 to find the substance abuse program that is right for your needs while enrolled in a drug rehabilitation program.

Signs You are Enabling An Addict

There is a fine line between helping an addict and enabling them. We cannot stress enough how important it is to the well being of the individual involved, that you do not facilitate their addiction or continue to clean up the messes that they make due to an addiction.

Substance abuse can become a serious problem for many people. NIDA ( National Institute on Drug Abuse) estimates as of 2012 that almost 24 million people in the United States needed to seek treatment for an addiction. Out of almost 24 million people, only about 2.5 million actually seek treatment, leaving almost 20 million people that are in denial about their addictions. 

With the staggering addiction epidemic these numbers suggest that there is a serious problem that has gone unhanded to the point of it being out of control. Many people with addictions are in denial about their addictions. Denial is a complex issue, but for many, if they do not see the consequences of their actions, than there is no reason to change. The common factor that encompasses the denial process is the addict has one or more enablers that bail them out of any problems that arise, due to knowing or not knowing about their addictions. 

Enabling an addict can be extremely dangerous, for the addict and the enabler. For example, if you make someones bed everyday and don’t ever teach the young child to make their own bed, they will never learn that the bed needs to be made up every day. It is the same for addiction enabling,. If the addict does not see the consequences of their own addiction problems, then they do not see there is a problem. If they feel that everything is great and there is no problem, then why would they want to make a change? This can have long lasting mental, physical, and emotional damage to both parties involved.

Signs of Enabling

Below is a list of enabling behaviors and signs that you are helping someone stay addicted.

• Blaming others or situations other than the addict to make excuses for behaviors or actions. The enabler may accuse others that their actions have caused the addiction problem. All this is done to protect the addict from the consequences of their actions and drug abuse.

• Putting the needs of the addict before the needs of the enabler. It is and always will be in the nature of some people to want to help someone in their times of need, but enabling takes this a bit to far. While the addict needs and wants for nothing, the enabler puts their own needs on the back burner. This is done out of love but can have devastating consequences to both the addict and enabler.

• Enablers have difficulty in expressing their emotions. Enablers often times, can start to become seemingly emotionless as they become ever concerned with expressing the wrong emotion. They tend not to express feelings one way or another in hope that they will not perpetuate a negative response from the addict. 

• Ignoring the addicts increasingly negative and dangerous behaviors. This can involve just about anything from denying that a problem even exists to just overlooking behavior changes and actions.

• Lying to friends or family, just to cover the reasons for the poor behavior or actions of the addict. An enabler will cover for the addict to keep the peace and to make sure that there is no confrontation that the addict has to deal with.

All of these enabling signs can lead an enabler with the feeling of resentment towards the addict. it is quite common to resent the addiction and the addict, all the while enabling the addiction to still have a hold on both lives.

Addiction can become a family disease and can have long-lasting emotional, as well as physical effects, to the family, friends, and the person that has become addicted to drugs or alcohol. Breaking the chain of enabling can be very difficult for some, as they tend to see what they are doing is helping. Sometimes it takes an intervention  to understand the scope of the enabling and addictive behaviors. 

How to end the cycle of enabling addiction

Enabling an addict can become a serious problem very fast. Breaking the cycle of enabling behaviors can help the addict see the consequences of their actions, while helping them learn that their actions affect more that their themselves. Here are a few examples of learning how to stop the enabling process. 

• Stop cleaning up after them. While intoxicated addicts can become messy, may even break things depending on their mental state at the time of usage. Let them clean up their messes as they can see what they did while intoxicated. 
• Stop paying their bills. Some addicts have it real good. They can spend their money on drugs or alcohol all the while their bills are being taken care of by friends or family. 
• Follow through with all plans that are made. 
• Do not adjust your schedule or activities, even if they refuse to participate. Do not let the negative behaviors rule your life go without them.
• Look at your options. When enabling someone, we need to look at if the short term anguish that can happen vs the long term effects that letting the addiction continue will produce. 
• Stop putting yourself in danger. You should not let the addict put you in situations that can lead you to harm or legal problems. If they want to continue their unsafe behavior, they need to walk that road without you. 

Take action now stop enabling behaviors get your loved one the help they need.

When you have an addict in your life, it can be difficult to break the habit. For any addict to feel the consequences of their actions, they must feel that there are real consequences they will have to face. Sometime this can be the only way that an addict will feel the need to go get help with their addiction. It is a hard habit to break and can be difficult to discern the difference between helping and enabling. If you are feeling that you may have a problem with enabling an addict, please give us a call and we will help you decide if there is a need for treatment or counseling. 

There are groups available that can help families learn how to stop enabling

Nar-Anon Family Groups (narcotics abuse) http://www.nar-anon.org/

Al-Anon Family Groups (alcohol abuse)  http://www.al-anon.org/

These groups can be found very easy online and in brick and mortar locations. 

SOURCE

Long Term Effects of Xanax Addiction

The long term use of Xanax or any opioid can have very dangerous results. Read more about Opioid abuse here. 

Holistic Drug Rehabilitation

 For those who have tried to defeat drug or alcohol addiction and have been through a traditional program before, you might want to try a different approach to treatment for addiction. Holistic and natural healing centers for addiction, treat addiction as a condition and not a disease, focusing on the mind, body and spirit as a whole. The holistic drug rehabilitation centers treatment consists of treating each of these areas to help the client achieve their freedom from addiction.

Why choose a Holistic Rehab Center?

  The reasons that a person can choose to enter a program for addiction that is holistic can vary from person to person. Some self medicate for pain relief, mental problems, and self esteem issues. While others can use drugs or alcohol to get away from everyday problems that they think will get better when they use. Addicts usually don't know what area that they are compensating for by the use of drugs and alcohol. For this reason the addiction is addressed in all aspects of the addicts life. This will help address the situation at it's root causes.

  If you are looking for a holistic Drug Rehab center please use our online contact form or call toll free and one of our addiction treatment specialist can help guide you to a program that will best fit your needs in treatment. 1-800-513-5423

  When looking for a holistic treatment center or drug rehab there are a few things to consider.
We recommend that you evaluate the program that you are looking at to make sure that the program is the right fit spiritually, physically, and mentally. There are several options and treatment models to consider when choosing a holistic drug rehab.

Treatment options that are available?

  When choosing a program there are different treatment models that may or may not be beneficial to the individual seeking treatment for their addiction. For this reason we recommend that the program offers several different models so they have a variety of tools in their arsenal to handle the addiction at it's root causes. Most treatment centers that are holistic will try and help you come off all medications and offer holistic options for anxiety and other disorders, while others may offer both types of treatment, medicated or non medicated treatment options.

What is the length of stay at the program?

 As well as having different treatment options, it is recommended that the length of stay at a treatment center be longer than the average 21-28 day programs. Usually the treatment length is anywhere from 45 days to 90 days depending on the program. Longer programs work well for some that need a little extra time to handle their addiction.

What is the cost of a the program?

  Holistic treatment centers can become quite expensive due to the level of care and the high quality foods that they serve. You can find out exactly what the program will cost right down to the activities offered at the center. There may be ways to cut the cost by opting out of some activities and treatment options they offer that may not interest you.

Where is the program located?

  There are holistic programs in almost every state and choosing a program should be carefully thought out take into account all aspects of treatment. We recommend that you base you decision on the best possible treatment program for you and forget about location. There may be the perfect program right in your own town or it may be out of state. In the end, it is your choice, so choose wisely. 

We can help you locate high quality centers throughout the country and even in Canada, that offer a holistic approach, along with traditional treatment models. The best way to locate a drug rehab center that is holistic, is to give us a call and we will guide you to the best treatment center that will be able to handle your addiction. 

                   Call Now, Our counselors are here to help you

                                            1-800-513-5423

   When you have located a few treatment centers that are holistic, we highly recommend that you visit the centers if possible and talk to some of the clients if allowed. If this is not possible at least talk to the intake counselor and interview them to see if they are the right fit for you. Remember this treatment is for you, not the treatment center in question, and you need to make sure that you feel comfortable with the staff and treatment model, for treatment to be successful.
It can be very difficult to find a drug rehab center that is holistic and close to your area of need. If you do not have a holistic treatment program that is near, do not worry. There are options available in almost every state. Taking the time to interview them and make sure that you are comfortable with their treatment methods and practices can be the difference between succeeding and failing. For this reason, we recommend that you call and we can help you with the questions that you may or may not know to ask about their treatment methodologies.

       

I am looking for a luxury or and executive private rehab center.
When there needs to be complete anonymity and privacy due to the sensitive nature of jobs and personal life, an ultra private, holistic, treatment center might be the right choice for some. Executive rehabilitation centers, offer office and networking time to allow the client the ability to stay on top of their business life, while working on the issues at hand.
Some of the higher end treatment centers offer amenities very similar to resort style accommodations and surroundings. Their main focus is making the treatment very comfortable healthy environment. 

Hard Truths about your Old Friends 

RE BUZZ

The first step is complete. You have chosen to get help for your addiction and the recovery process has started. It’s common to think back to your old life and friends during recovery. You may reminisce about some of the great times you had together and even look forward to seeing them after your recovery program has ended. However, the problem with your “old friends” is that they may not be a good influence on you and could even lead to relapse. Accepting the hard truths when it comes to your previous social life may help you stay sober for the long term.

Hard Truth #1- You shouldn’t hang out with them

The truth is that some of your old pals won’t be ready to give up addiction like you are. It’s extremely unlikely that you will hear them admit that or the fact that they are a bad influence on you that could lead to your own relapse. If you continue hanging out with them you are going to put yourself directly in the path of temptation and your sobriety is too important to let this situation ruin it.

Hard Truth #2- Your life was a mess when you were using drugs

Your “old” friends aren’t going to tell you about how horrible your life was when you were using because they are still trapped in that world. While you chose to overcome addiction and better your life because you knew it was problem, they just aren’t there. Many of those friends will try to tell you stories of the “good old days” when you were using and the amazing times you had with them. The stories could make you want to use, and again, your sobriety is too important.

Hard Truth #3- Your friends stole from you

Now, while this can’t be said of every “old” friend you may have had, many of them would be guilty of this. If you roomed with another addict or even dated another addict, chances are they stole money from you when they needed a fix. If you look back and remember what it was like to “jones” for more drugs, you can probably also remember how tempting it was to steal items of value or money from anyone around in order to pay for more drugs.

Hard Truth #4- Your friends lied to you about their lives

When you were addicted and you had to talk about your current situation to family or friends that didn’t know about your addiction, you lied. Your friends that are still using are still lying. It’s possible that they will say things like, “It’s not that bad,” “I can quit anytime,” or “My life is great. I’m so happy.” You know from experience that it is that bad, that if they wanted to quit they would, and most likely they are miserable. Sobriety is a long, complicated road with twists, turns, and bumps. Accepting the hard truths about your friends is a part of that journey. You have chosen to get clean and change your life, so don’t let the pressure you may feel from those still using deter you from your path. You can overcome addiction, one step at a time.

SOURCE

Christian PTSD Treatment

Christian PTSD Treatment 

When our War Heroes come home from service, to our country, often times the transition can be very difficult for them. The comradery and support from friends that have been through the same experiences soon dissipates as they transition back to civilian life. Many of our patriots are left feeling the sense of abandonment when dealing with PTSD. This disorder in not to be taken lightly and needs to be addressed so we can help our vets return to us whole.  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is not limited to our military personnel but the general public also, not as wide spread, but equally important.  

Having PTSD can trigger other behavioral problems including, but not limited to depression, addiction to drugs or alcohol, panic disorders, and anxiety. The treatment that we have listed below can help deal with all the related conditions as well as the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. For best treatment results all the problems associated with PTSD, treatment should be handled at the same time to help speed up the recovery process.

Understanding PTSD Treatment

There have been some advances in the treatment for PTSD. When a person has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, trying to deal with the past can be very difficult. When trying to cope with these issues, some people keep their feelings suppressed, instead of telling others how they feel. Talking with a therapist can help with this condition. 

CBT is one of the types of counseling and therapy that centers use for treating PTSD. Research has proven that this is the most effective treatment and counseling for PTSD. The VA is now offering a few different treatment for this disorder, CPT – cognitive process therapy, PE therapy – Prolonged exposure therapy. Medications and EMRD ( Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) have been shown to be effective in the treatment for PTSD along with serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI), also used in the treatment for depression.

PTSD therapy: How long does it last?

PTSD treatment in most facilities last anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Other treatment types have a longer treatment periods, up to 2 years.

What will be worked on while in Therapy?

While in treatment, you and the therapist will discuss options as to the type of treatment that is available to you and what your goals are that you hope to reach.

Reducing your symptoms

Learning how to cope with these symptoms, teaching you how to feel less guilt or sadness associated with PTSD, improving relationships at work and at home is a key to success. Not everyone that has PTSD has the same goals that they want to achieve and some may take longer than others. There is no treatment plan that works for everyone, so it is important to lay out the plan so your individualized program can cover all your concerns. Your therapist will help you decide what goals are most important to you and work on these first.

What can I expect from my therapist or counselor?

When sitting down with a therapist, they should discuss the different types of treatment available to you and work out a plan, that you both agree on. This is the best course of action to take to achieve the goals you have set for treatment. You should also come to an agreement as to what to do if the treatment does not seem to be working: an alternate plan for treatment. 

Make sure that you are comfortable with your therapist as you will be working as a team to help with your problems. It is difficult for most people to talk about painful situations, traumatic experiences, that you have had. This is why we stress the importance of feeling comfortable with your therapist, because you will be talking to them about, often times, painful or traumatic experiences that you have seen or been through in your life. During therapy, feelings can emerge and often times be very extreme, and challenging.

If you do not have a connection with your therapist or feel that they are not helping, talk to another therapist to see if changing your counselor or seeking another option for treatment is the right choice. You should always let your therapist know when you are seeking a second opinion. 

Other types of treatment may include but not limited to:

Group therapy

 We talk and share with people that have very similar experiences and trauma’s. Sharing your experiences with others may make you feel that you are not alone in this fight against PTSD. Some people feel more comfortable sharing their stories only with people that have been through similar experiences. You will learn to deal with your emotions such as anger, guilt, rage, and shame. Learning to put the past behind us so that we can work on the present and the future is the key.

Psycho-dynamic Therapy

This is a type of therapy that teaches us how to deal with emotional conflicts caused by trauma. This therapy helps in the understanding of past events and how we react to those events.

Your counselor will help you:

Locate and identify what triggers the memories and other symptoms 

Raise your self esteem 

Find ways and activities to help with the coping of these intense feelings and emotions.

Become more aware of thought and feelings, so you can change reactions to these thoughts.

What is EDMR?

EDMR is a fairly new treatment for PTSD and there have been discussions and disagreements as to the effectiveness of such treatment. 

While thinking of talking about stressful memories, the therapist helps you focus on other stimuli, hand taps, eye movements, and sounds. They take your focus off of the event by distracting and having you follow hand movements or listen to random sounds. In treatment as the individual attention is taken off of the event on on to other stimulus, has shown promise in helping to change reactions to such memories. 

We now understand that Chemicals in your brain affect the way we feel. When you feel depressed this can be linked to a lack of serotonin in your brain, SSRI’s include Paroxetine (paxil), Sertaline (zoloft) Citalopram (Celexia). There are other drugs that have been know to help with this condition. Please talk to your doctor to discuss medications in the treatment for PTSD.

PTSD can effect your family and friends. When the feeling that no one can possible understand why you get angry, depressed, it can appear that you are under so much stress. Family can often feel scared, withdrawn, and often times guilty due to them not understanding the condition.

A key component of therapy includes family sessions, either through conference calling or at the center. While in family sessions, it is very important to be honest about your feelings and concerns and listen to others. Talking about PTSD symptoms and triggers can help the family or friends understand what brings the condition to the surface.