What to Do if Your Family Has a History of Addiction

If you grew up in a household with a father, mother or other family member who was an alcoholic or drug addict, you have reason to feel concerned over your own relationship with drugs and alcohol. Just as many personality traits have a tendency to run in the family, so does addiction. While it is not inevitable that the child of an addict will grow up to also suffer from some type of addiction, there is substantial evidence to demonstrate that individuals who were raised by addicts are significantly more likely to develop addiction. The experience of living with an addict can be enormously emotionally scarring. You may have witnessed your parent being drunk or high. Perhaps there were issues with domestic violence or abuse.

Maybe you even saw your parent arrested or were at some time taken from the home by child protective services. Experiences such as these would be enough to drive many people into using drugs or alcohol, but they are not the full picture. There is, in many cases, also a genetic component to addiction. For example, research has demonstrated that some people may be physiologically predisposed to becoming alcoholics due to the fact that they are less sensitive to alcohol. They have to drink more to get drunk, and as a result of this increased alcohol consumption they are more prone to becoming dependent on the drug. You may not only have had a role model who set an example of substance abuse, but you may have inherited a tendency to become addictive.

Avoid Substance Abuse Altogether

Fortunately, you do not have to let the same things happen to you as what happened to your family members. You can break the cycle, and you do not have to become addicted. In fact, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that more than half of all children of alcoholics do not themselves become alcoholics. It is far from being inevitable that you will become an addict. You should, however, take certain precautions to keep yourself safe. According to statistics provided by the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, children of alcoholics are four times more likely to develop alcoholism. You do need to protect yourself against the risk of addiction. The first thing you can do in your effort to avoid addiction is to avoid drugs and alcohol. For some people, certainly, this may be easier said than done. Drinking is a major part of many social activities, whether it is going out with friends on the weekend, attending parties or other special occasions. You may feel compelled to drink simply in order to fit in with everyone else, especially when you feel anxious to avoid explaining that you are a teetotaler due to your family history of addiction. Avoiding uncomfortable social situations, however, is nowhere near as important as keeping yourself free from the ravages of addiction. Whether it is drinks out with friends or drugs at a party, you should do everything you can to avoid substance abuse. This may even mean that you have to make major changes in your life, such as by finding new friends who don’t drink or use drugs. Such changes will be entirely worthwhile.

Get Help When You Need It 

In the event that you have already started drinking or using drugs, you must stop without delay. Don’t overestimate your own ability to resist addiction. Quit as early as you can, and if you find yourself resistive to quitting or if you cannot drop the habit at will, recognize that you are developing an addiction. The sooner that you handle the problem, the easier it will be to get under control. By checking into an effective drug rehab treatment program, you can most likely put an end to your own addiction and perhaps even address the emotional trauma and other issues from your past that have left you at greater risk of developing your own addiction. Remember that quitting alcohol or drugs and staying sober is important not only for your own health and happiness. You additionally need to put an end to the problem in order to protect your children from the chance of becoming addicted in the future.

Do ‘Organic’ Products Really Help Extend Life Expectancy

It commonly happens that a person who is quitting drugs or alcohol gets excited about the prospect of a healthier life and begins looking for other ways to improve. Getting sober will lead to enormous health benefits, but it may be only the first of many changes that you can make towards a healthier and happier you. Another step that you may want to take is to improve your diet by incorporating organic foods into your daily menu. Unless you have already studied the subject of organic food, you may be wondering what all the buzz is about. Simply put, organic food is just food in its natural state. It is actually ironic to realize that organic foods, which are treated as being something new or special, are nothing more than unaltered food. In order to be certified as organic, the food must not have been treated with pesticides that kill insects by poisoning them; it may not be genetically modified; it may not have been irradiated; and it cannot contain antibiotics or hormones. “Conventional” or “normal” foods, on the other hand, may have been subjected to any and all of these treatments, with the result that they are often not as nutritious or healthy as their organic, and therefore natural, counterparts. 


One of the greatest attractions of eating organic is the prospect that it may actually extend one’s life expectancy. This is especially important in light of the fact that average life expectancy is actually dropping in the United States. Now that you are getting sober, you probably want to do everything that you can to enjoy a long and healthy life. Improving your diet can go a long way towards achieving this goal. Some of the leading causes of death in the U.S. include degenerative diseases, diabetes, obesity and heart disease, all of which may be caused or contributed to by a bad diet. Organic foods are typically healthier, and this is not only because they are not contaminated by pesticides, hormones, radiation and genetic modification. Another reason has to do with the fact that organic farmers tend to do a better job of caring for the earth and producing better food. For example, they typically engage in more sustainable farming techniques, which means that the soil does not become depleted, resulting in foods that contain higher concentrations of minerals, vitamins and other nutrients that are vitally necessary to health and longevity.

Evidence that Organic Eating Means a Longer Life

The link between an organic diet and a longer life seems to exist based on commonsense observations, but it also appears to have been demonstrated by a recent study conducted at Southern Methodist University. The researchers fed two isolated groups of fruit flies a diet that was identical in every way except for one: Whereas the first group ate “conventional” foods, the control group at exclusively organic food. As a result, it was found that the flies that ate an organic diet lived longer than their peers. Further, these flies were also found to be more fertile and to produce offspring in greater numbers. Research has yet to prove that the same or similar effects would occur in humans who ate organic, but it would be reasonable to assume that they would. Given the enormous health benefits of organics, it is easy to justify spending a relatively small amount more to buy them. While organic food may mean a grocery bill of around 25 percent more than for shopping at a conventional supermarket, you can look at this expense as being a type of health insurance. By eating a healthier diet, you can give yourself a considerable boost in energy, fitness and your overall sense of wellbeing, in addition to the fact that you will be less prone to illness and may be able to spare yourself an astronomically costly period of life in which you would require surgery, prescription medication and could perhaps even be forced out of work.

The Most Common Drug Addictions In The United States

According to the latest government statistics, an estimated 20.4 million people in the United States have used some kind of illicit drug within the past 30 days. Prescription drugs continue to be a problem, illicit’s like heroin, meth and marijuana and now new synthetics.

But, what are the most commonly abused drugs in the United States?

The Most Common Drugs of Abuse

Though there are many drugs available to addicts here in the US, they have been narrowed down to the top 5 substances that addicts are most commonly hooked on.

• Marijuana: Studies have shown that long-term use of marijuana causes a drop in IQ levels as well as the loss of other cognitive abilities such as thinking, computing and memory. The potency of marijuana continues to get more and more powerful. A recent test of thousands of samples of marijuana plants done by the University of Mississippi’s Potency Monitoring Project found that the levels of THC in today’s marijuana has been found to exceed 30 percent as compared to 4 percent back in 1983.
• Cocaine: Crack cocaine acts as a stimulant and this takes a major toll on not only the heart, but other organs as well. In fact, even one use of the drug may result in respiratory failure, a stroke, a heart attack and even death. Long-term use of crack cocaine can cause loss of sexual function. It can also cause the user to develop a hole in the wall that separates the two nostrils, know as the septum. Long-term use of the drug can cause destruction to the lungs, brain, heart and digestive tract.
• Opiates: Opioids are used to treat acute pain and include such prescription drugs as morphine, methadone, hydrocodone and oxycodone. Opioids stimulate the areas of the brain that receive pleasure and in turn produce a sense of well-being and euphoria. Repeated use of these types of drugs begin to overwhelm the system with dopamine and, in time, the body thinks it needs the drug in order to survive and this is how addiction begins. The use of opioids to treat pain dates back to before recorded history, with the use of the opium poppy for its therapeutic benefits. Many people become addicted to opioid painkillers after being prescribed this type of medication for an injury or to manage the pain after an operation.
• Methamphetamine: This extremely addictive drug is mostly made in illegal meth labs using toxic chemicals that can be found in common household products. The effects may include euphoria, increased libido, hyperactivity, restlessness, insomnia, heart attack and stroke.
• Alcohol: Consuming alcohol can directly affect the heart and liver, putting them at risk for disease. Brain function can also be impaired as alcohol works directly on the central nervous system. Long-term abuse of alcohol can actually destroy brain cells and cause brain damage.

 

Know the Signs of Abuse

If you are concerned that someone you know may be using drugs, pay attention for indicators such as sudden change in behavior, loss of interest in favorite activities, mood swings and withdrawal from family and friends. If you do notice any of these things, contact a professional for advise on taking further action.

5 Books To Read For Inspiration Through Rehab

Rehabilitation from a drug or alcohol addiction can be overwhelming. There are many factors that play into a successful recovery. Whether it be giving up old habits or the withdrawals themselves, inspiration is needed every step of the way in order to keep you going through the whole process.

There are many ways to stay inspired: by talking with other recovering addicts or by thinking of loved ones who are important to you. Another helpful way to stay motivated is to read materials about successful recoveries. There are tons of books on the subject of recovering from a substance addiction. A few are listed below, along with their descriptions:

 

Titles To Look For

• Addict In The Family: Stories of Loss, Hope, and Recovery. By Beverly Conyers 

Everyone knows that seeing someone with an addiction can be devastating. This book goes over true stories of recovery from family member of addicts and offers tips. Some of the main ones include loving someone with an abuse problem, not enabling, the use of intervention and how to care for and protect the family during this time.

• Mindful Recovery: A Spiritual Path to Healing from Addiction by Thomas Bien Ph.D. 

This book offers solutions for healing from addiction and all of the challenges that come with resolving substance abuse.

• Now What?: An Insider’s Guide to Addiction and Recovery by William Cope Moyers 

In this publication William Cope Moyers, the author, goes over what happens during and after treatment. This book also answers question about recovery as well as intervention.

• The Addictions Workbook: 101 Practical Exercises for Individuals and Groups by James E. Phelan 

The recovery process in general is what this workbook covers. It can be used by someone during treatment or after as well as professionals in the field like counselors. It is not only used for substance abuse but also uses 101 exercises that can be adapted for sex, gambling or eating disorders.

• Stage II Recovery: Life Beyond Addiction by Earnie Larsen 

This publications discusses rebuilding one’s life after treatment. It is beneficial to read during recovery periods so one can create a plan to move forward with life and improve all areas of living with family, onself, the work environment and society in general. 

 

Recovery Is Possible

Remember that all recoveries need to be done with the help of professionals. These books are simply inspiration to help you through the whole process. Motivational stories such as these give you hope that you can attain the same accomplishments. With lots of encouragement, support, and willpower, it is possible to win the war over addiction and regain a happy, healthy life once again. Here’s to a successful recovery!

The Consequences Of Alcohol Abuse On Those Around You

Alcoholism is a condition that develops over time. Repeatedly destructive choices to consume excessive levels of alcohol eventually produce physical and mental dependency on alcohol, ravaging one’s personal health on many levels.

Due to the heavy consumption, alcoholics often live completely unaware of the world around them. Their reaction time is slower and their sense of reality is completely blurred. If you are an alcoholic, you may not have spent very much time analyzing the consequences of alcohol abuse on those around you.

Effects of Alcoholism on the Family

 Especially for those struggling with alcoholism who have children, the effects are nothing short of devastating. 

As stated above, alcoholics tend to be somewhat unaware of reality. Alcohol causes mental scattering and a false perception of reality, thus making it hard to grasp the real consequences of one’s heavy drinking.

Families often have a very hard time watching their loved one (mother, father, sister, brother, child, etc.) drown their lives in alcohol. Especially because many alcoholics exhibit severe denial, it can be hard to help them without the assistance of rehabilitation or intervention professionals.

Alcoholics put tremendous burdens on their families, financially, mentally and otherwise. For example,

• Children with alcoholic parent(s) commonly experience emotional neglect, domestic violence or abuse.

• Due to their unstable lifestyle or a loss of job, alcoholics often have to borrow money to support their habit.

• Most families, wishing to be supportive, provide financial assistance or lodging only to be betrayed with alcohol-driven theft or dishonesty.

Alcohol Abuse: The Ripple Effect

The most obvious damage an alcoholic does is to himself/herself. Physically, mentally and emotionally, heavy alcohol consumption will actually drain an individual of motivation, energy and life. Further, the body of an alcoholic usually becomes very sick and problems of the liver arise, causing life to be an everyday struggle at best.

Causing harm to yourself inevitably harms those around you. If you are unable to function as a healthy, independent and responsible individual, you put everyone around you at risk.

Further, alcohol abuse generally causes a slew of personal and social issues, such as:

• Loss of job

• Domestic fights and arguments

• Neglect of one’s obligations or duties (leaving them to others)

 How Do I Know if I Have an Alcohol Problem?

Alcoholism is a progressive condition that gradually worsens if heavy drinking is continued over time.

Because you know yourself better than anyone else, you can determine the severity of your drinking problem better than anyone else.

Look honestly over some of the following indications of alcoholism. These are some of the most commonly seen signs of a drinking problem:

• Personal guilt or regret over drinking. (Modest drinking doesn’t usually produce regret, but excessive drinking will.)

• Patterns of lying, dishonest and other actions to hide one’s drinking habits.

• Drinking alone or at odd hours of the day.

• An anxiety over alcohol; the need for a drink every few hours to avoid physical discomfort.

• Consistent bad hangovers or “blacking out” as a result of drinking too much.

• Expressions of concern from friends, family or co-workers.

Further, if you find yourself gradually requiring more and more alcohol to feel drunk, be aware that this is a sign of physical tolerance building up. This can lead to dependency and a worsened state of alcohol abuse.

Source: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/alcohol_abuse_alcoholism_signs_effects_treatment.htm

What Does A Healthy Diet Consist Of

Eating healthy is a basic and simple way that we can fuel our bodies and feel great, both physically and mentally. What does a healthy diet consist of? This is a question with a wide array of possible answers.

It is important to understand that the term “diet” does not refer to fads, overnight weight loss products or extreme means of losing weight. The definition of diet is simply one’s eating habits and how they fit into one’s lifestyle.

Eating healthy begins with you. If you are experiencing particular health issues, weight problems or allergic reactions, try incorporating “clean” eating patterns which, consistently and over time, will help your body to function optimally.

The Effects of a Poor Diet

Physically, the effects of a poor diet are usually observable right away. Unhealthy people are not, always fat and it is very possible to have an average-weighted or even skinny person who is unhealthy. Thus, one’s weight is not the only usable indication of health. Other signs of a poor diet could be:

• unexplainable aches/pains
• headaches
• extreme fatigue/lack of energy
• joint pressure
• muscle spasms
• sleeplessness
• dental problems
• nausea/loss of appetite
• stomach pain 

Fad dieting and starving yourself is extremely bad for your health. Further, most pre-packaged meals, though low in caloric content, do not offer much in terms of nutrition when compared to the plentiful vitamins and minerals found in freshly prepared, colorful meals. Hence, fad dieters can end up looking skinnier as a result of malnourishment or starvation. This is not only unhealthy, but is dangerous to be mentally running on empty.

Rather than depend on drive-thru or microwavable instant foods, try eating clean—eat foods your body can digest easily and rapidly obtain nutrients from. Stuffing yourself with a heavy meal forces your body to overwork itself and makes you feel tired and bloated and put on excess weight.

Eat Your Rainbow

You may have heard nutrition experts use the phrase, “eat your rainbow.” This is a fun way to say: eat a variety of different colored foods.

 Avoiding eating only meat and potatoes. Rather, eat leafy greens, purple eggplant, red fruits and yellow squash, etc. Eating colorfully takes exerting a little effort to get creative with fruits, vegetables, meats, fish and healthy grains. Try thinking outside the box, and try a new food once a week. Also, switch out high-fat foods for healthier alternatives.

Instead of drowning a baked potato in fatty sour cream, for example, try a sweet potato with Greek yogurt. Also, if there is a protein shake product you enjoy, try blending in some fresh fruits or vegetables. The more servings of fresh fruits/vegetables you get per day, the more minerals, vitamin C and other essential nutrients you will receive.

Using Food to Heal Yourself

Depending on the specific mental or physical ailment you are experiencing, there is likely a corresponding nutritional deficiency that, once located and addressed, will make a huge difference. The immune system, which is responsible for fighting viruses and general well-being, responds well to Vitamin C which can be found naturally in guavas, sweet red peppers, oranges and kiwis. Next time you’re battling the common cold, try those delicious fresh foods as a natural remedy.

Also, take into consideration your personal situation. If you have food allergies or intolerances, factor these into building the right diet for you. If you have a gluten intolerance, for example, or you react negatively to dairy, research creative replacement food items so you can begin to feel better both physically and mentally. 

Source: http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm