Why Can’t Addicts Stop Using On Their Own?

If you or someone you know has a substance abuse problem one of the first questions that comes to time is why does the person who is addicted to the substance stop using the drug on their own? Here is a brief overview of that answer.

Almost everyone who starts out using drugs or alcohol believes that at some point in time they can stop using the substance on their own. While there are the occasional addicts who have success with this many people find that they quickly go back to using their substance of choice.

Even though they had no intention of going back to using drugs or drinking alcohol many addicts cannot help it. It is believed that long term use of drugs and alcohol can actually change the shape and structure of the brain. These changes can range from brief periods of memory loss to behavioral changes. Some of the most common changes that the brain undergoes over a long period of drug or alcohol use is the inability to have impulse control. This lack of impulse control leads many people to continue to use the substance of choice long after they have given up their addiction.

While the addict might have had good intentions of stopping their substance abuse the changes in the brain cause them to not be able to stop on their own. This is why it is important to see therapy or enter a rehab center. One of the most common forms of therapy that is recommended for addicts is behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can actually help the addict relearn impulse control so that they can eventually give up their addiction.

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Common Ways Those With Alcohol Problems Stay in Denial

As with all substance abuse problems there is the issue of denial. Many substance abusers will refuse to believe that they have a problem and will often make excuses for their problems. Alcohol abuse and alcohol addictions are no exception to the denial issue.

There are many ways that a person with an alcohol problem will be in denial. Here is a look at some of the ways that a person with an alcohol problem might create some excuses.

Understating the Number of Drinks. A person with an alcohol problem will typically understate the amount of drinks that they had. When asked how many drinks they had that evening they might answer two or three, when in reality it was seven or eight.

No Consequences of Drinking. Another way to deny the problem that alcohol is causing in a person’s life is to declare that there are no problems from the alcohol. This can be done by downplaying the legal trouble that a person is in or by ignoring any problems that might arise at work or school because of drinking. To the alcohol abuser as long as there are no consequences there is no problem with what they are doing.

Blaming Problems on Others. One of the most common ways to stay in denial about a drinking problem is through blaming any problems that come from drinking on someone else. An example of this is someone who is in trouble at work for showing up late because they were drinking will often blame it on the bad boss who is so strict, not because they were late to work. Since the problems are caused by everyone else and not the person who is drinking the person often convinces themselves that there is no reason to believe they have a problem with drinking.

Filed Under: Alcohol Counseling Tagged With: , ,

Signs of an Alcohol Abuse Problem

Alcoholism is a severe form of dependence upon alcohol. Many people might have a problem with alcohol without even realizing it. This is because alcohol is a legal product many people justify that they are not doing anything wrong and therefore do not have a problem.

If you are wondering if you or someone you know might have a problem with alcohol here is a look at some of the signs that there might be a problem with alcohol developing.

The Development of Tolerance. Tolerance is the first warning sign that there is a problem with alcohol. Many people will believe that they are just drinking one small drink but many times one drink can turn into two or three and quickly spiral out of control. While tolerance isn’t always a sign of alcohol problems it can be a warning sign that there could be problems.

The Withdrawal Signs. The second major warning sign that there could be a problem with alcohol is that there are withdrawal signs. These symptoms will include nausea and vomiting, insomnia, irritability, fatigued, loss of appetite, headache and shakiness. A huge warning sign that there could be a problem is if someone believes that they need to relieve the symptoms by drinking even more alcohol.

Giving Up Activities. Another warning sign that there could be a problem with alcohol is when a person starts to give up activities that they love because it does not involve alcohol. Sometimes it isn’t even the fact that the activity doesn’t involve alcohol it is because the alcohol has taken such an important role in the person’s life that they no longer have an interest in anything else. Many times this is a sign that the person is developing a reliance upon the alcohol and it could be a potential problem.

Filed Under: Alcohol Dependence Tagged With: , ,

Situations That Can Cause Alcohol Abuse Problems

Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are one of those substances that many people have a difficult time with. The media will often portray a substance abuse problem as if it came out of nowhere and it becomes full blown in no time. However, there are various ways that an alcohol problem can develop. Here is a look at some of the ways that alcohol abuse problems develop over time.

Sudden Changes. Many people will develop an alcohol or substance abuse problem in response to a stressful situation. These people were likely to drink small amounts of alcohol throughout the day but when the stressful situation or sudden change occurred they turned to alcohol to sooth the problem.

Tolerance. Many times substance abuse problems develop because the addict developed a tolerance to the substance of choice. They may have started out drinking only one or two beers but because nothing was affecting them they turned to drinking more and more until it became a problem. These types of situations usually creep up on the person and an alcohol problem seems to come out of nowhere.

Drinking Daily. There have been many studies and situations that shows those that drink daily or binge drink could develop an alcohol problem over time. This is because the body becomes so accustomed to the alcohol that when the person decides to stop it can cause problems. While the person does not realize that they are developing a problem, it quickly spirals out of control and they develop a substance abuse problem.

Filed Under: Alcohol Dependence Tagged With: , ,

Why Vitamin B1 is Important During the Detox Process

During the detoxification process there will be a lot of talk about vitamin B1. In fact chances are one of the first things the hospital staff does when you enter the detox center is place an intravenous solution of B1 into the alcohol or drug abuser. Here is a look at what B1 does to the body and why it is important to get those that have a substance abuse problem a high dosage of the vitamin B1.

The vitamin B1 is known as thiamine and is essential to the brain. When a person drinks a high amount of alcohol the body has a tendency to become deprived of the vitamin B1. The body becomes deprived of this vitamin the brain will almost appear to become pickled or dried out. A brain in this state can cause a lot of problems from disorientation to loss of brain function and amnesia.

Many times the vitamin B1 can be replaced through supplements and injections. This allows the brain to receive the nutrients that it needs to work properly. The ability to give the brain back the nutrients that it needs is why many detox centers will start the IV of vitamin B1 right away.

One of the best benefits about the vitamin B1 is that it is water soluble. That means if the person who is receiving the vitamin doesn’t need the amount that is given to them the vitamin will absorb in the body and not cause the person any potential harm. This reason is why many detox centers will give it to a substance abuser regardless of what course of treatment they wish to undergo.

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The Importance of Nutritional Therapy During The Detoxification Process

The detoxification process that an alcoholic or drug abuser goes through is a complex process. Chances are they will be suffering from extreme withdrawal symptoms as well as intense cravings for the substance of choice. While there are many aspects of the detoxification process that are medical in nature there is also an emphasis on the nutritional side as well.

Many alcoholics and drug addicts suffer from intense malnutrition. It is believed that the malnutrition can often lead to cravings for the drugs or alcohol. This belief is why many people who undergo the detoxification process are also undergoing nutritional therapy. Nutritional therapy helps the body receive the nutrition that it needs to subside the cravings for the drugs and alcohol.

Nutrition is also a major element when it comes to the detoxification process because there are certain supplements and vitamins that help aid the detoxification process. The most popular type of supplement and vitamins that are used during the detoxification process are those of Zinc and vitamin C. It is believed that Zinc and vitamin C help with the detox process as well as help get the addict’s judgment and body back into shape.

Another element that is focused upon during nutritional therapy for the time during detox is that of the antioxidants. Many drug and alcohol addicts have increased levels of free radicals in their body. Free radicals will damage the body’s organs and tissues. Antioxidants are believed to flush the free radicals and help repair the body. Antioxidants that are used during nutritional therapy include beta-carotene, vitamins E and C, Zinc and selenium. These will all help flush the free radicals from the body and help with the detoxification process.

Nutritional therapy during the detoxification process is essential for any substance abuser because it allows them to rid the body of harmful toxins as well as get their nutrition back to the levels it should be.

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Other Alternative Medicine Approaches to Substance Abuse Problems

There are dozens of different types of alternative medicine treatments. While alternative medicine is often thought to treat physical symptoms or diseases that cause pain it can also be used to treat some of the side effects that comes from substance abuse.

Alternative medicine is used to reduce the withdrawal symptoms and help the body detox. This allows anyone with a substance abuse problem to concentrate on themselves while they work on the issues that caused the substance abuse to arise.

The most popular forms of alternative medicine that help the body through detoxing and with any withdrawal symptoms include diet therapy, imagery therapy and acupuncture. However, there are other forms of alternative medicine treatments that can be used to help with substance abuse. Here is a look at some of the rarer forms of alternative medicine that have been used to help with substance addictions.

Homeopathy. Homeopathy is the use of different scents to create stimulations throughout the body. Homeopathy has several different scents that work for reducing cravings for drugs or alcohol and even help relax the substance abuser so that they are less likely to use the substance of choice.

Chiropractic. Chiropractic care often works in a similar way that acupuncture does. It is believed that there are a number of disturbances in the spinal alignment that can cause an individual to crave and want drugs or alcohol. Chiropractic care will fix the alignment and potentially cure any cravings or withdrawal symptoms.

Hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy works in the similar way that imagery and visualization does. It allows the substance abuser to put them into a slight trance so that their subconscious mind offers positive views of a drug or alcohol free life. Many substance abusers believe that hypnotherapy is essential to their sobriety or abstaining from their substance of choice.

Other alternative treatments include biofeedback training that works to rework the thinking of the substance abuser and meditation that works in the similar way that hypnotherapy and visualization does.

Filed Under: Alternative Alcohol Rehab Tagged With: ,

Low Blood Sugar Could Lead to Drug or Alcohol Cravings

There are a lot of theories about why a person suffers from an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Some people believe that it is an issue of genetics, while others believe that there is a chemical in the substances that alter the body. However, one of the most recent discoveries has lead many people to wonder if it has to do with the blood sugar levels of the addict.

A recent study showed that almost every person who suffered from some type of alcohol or drug addiction had extremely low blood sugar. This has caused many researched to wonder if the addiction to the substance is caused by the substance or because of the low blood sugar that the person might have had before they started with their substance of choice.

Luckily, if you believe that low blood sugar might be the cause of a specific substance abuse there are a few things that you can do to make sure that the low blood sugar does not happen and the body will not suffer from the craving for the drugs or alcohol.

Here is a look at what people can do to remedy low blood sugar and potentially help their addiction.

Avoid Sugars. It is a good idea to avoid sugars. Even though the blood sugar is low sugars will spike the blood sugar and cause it to crash. This can lead to cravings of alcohol or drugs. Sugars can include fruit juices, sugars and even corn syrups.

Avoid Refined Carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates work in the same way that sugars do. It causes the body to spike the blood sugar and drop it quickly. Try to avoid stuff such as pasta and white bread which are known as refined carbohydrates.

Intake Complex Carbohydrates. Certain carbohydrates will allow the body to have higher levels of blood sugar for a sustained amount of time. Increasing the intake of whole grains, vegetables and certain types of fruits can help keep a higher blood sugar level throughout the day and reduce the cravings for the drugs or alcohol.

Filed Under: Alcohol Dependence Tagged With: , , ,

Alternative Medicine Approach to Drug/Alcohol Addiction: Guided Imagery and Visualization

When people use the term alternative medicine people will normally assume that they are talking about Chinese medicine, acupuncture, chiropractics or herbal medicine. However, there is a lesser known form of alternative medicine known as guided imagery and creative visualization that has been commonly used to treat those with an addiction to either drugs or alcohol.

Guided imagery and creative visualization have proven successful in helping treat those with a substance abuse because it is an alternative form to relaxation therapy. One of the most commonly cited reasons for turning to drugs and alcohol is because of the need to ease the high amount of tension in a person’s life, improve self esteem or to even relax at the end of the day. Guided imagery and creative visualization work to eliminate known triggers to drug or alcohol use by allowing the person to engage in exercises that will relax the body and therefore cause the person to not turn to drugs or alcohol.

Popular forms of guided imagery and creative visualization include relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation or breathing exercises. Muscle relaxation is also encouraged because it allows the substance abuser to learn how to properly relax the body and muscles through a natural, alternative way and not have to turn to drugs. It is believed that these types of relaxation and imagery techniques can work because it allows the substance abuser to picture themselves in a happy drug-free state of life and can work through positive reinforcement.

Guided imagery and creative visualization has been proven as a successful way to help treat those with a substance abuse problem. It has been so successful that many drug and alcohol treatment centers incorporate these practices into their therapy sessions. Some programs will start the day out with guided imagery and visualization as a way to help calm the addicts that are in the treatment center and help them get into the habit of engaging in these mental exercises.

Filed Under: Alternative Alcohol Rehab Tagged With: ,

Treating Substance Abuse Through Herbal Medicine

More and more people are starting to turn to alternative medicine as a way to treat a number of diseases and illnesses. While traditional Chinese doctors and alternative medicine practitioners have long used alternative medicine to treat alcohol or drug addictions it has just started to make its way to the United States as a respectable form of substance abuse treatment. One of the most popular forms of alternative medicine as a treatment for substance abuse includes that of herbal medicine.

Herbal medicine is the use of specific herbal supplements or teas to cure the body of the craving for the substance that is being abused or to help with the detox process. While herbal medicine and alternative medicine do not work to cure the addiction completely it allows the addict to have a rest from the withdrawal symptoms or cravings so that they can work on any underlying issues.

Here is a look at some of the most popular types of herbal supplements and teas that are used to help with the detox process or to cure cravings of the substance that is being abused.

Anti-Anxiety Herbs. Many herbal medicines and teas help to cure anxiety or depression. Many drug and alcohol addicts will suffer from extreme forms of anxiety or depression while they are detoxing. This makes any herbal medication that works to sooth these symptoms popular. Popular herbal supplements and teas that are used to cure anxiety or depression include catnip, peppermint, skullcap and chamomile. Sometimes St. John’s wort is used but not all the time.

Detoxing. Drug addicts and alcohol abusers need to detox their body of the harmful chemicals that were placed in the body. Popular herbal supplements that are used to detox the body include milk thistle, burdock root and echinacea. Many of these herbs are also known to help repair organs in the body that might be harmed from the drug or alcohol addiction.

Filed Under: Addiction Recovery Tagged With: , ,
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