When you have to deal with an alcoholic in your life, you're bound to face some pretty difficult decisions. One of the hardest things to do is to confront an alcoholic about his problems.

Usually, an alcoholic will deny up and down that he has a problem until his face turns blue. That is why, before you confront someone you have to know the things to look for. Studying alcoholic behavior is a great way to be prepared for this inevitable, but difficult conversation.

The Alcoholic Tries To Hide His Drinking From Others

There are many behaviors of an alcoholic, and some of them are more obvious than others. One of the most obvious ones is, of course, excessive drinking. Definitions of how much constitutes excess vary, but generally someone who has to get intoxicated every single day is an alcoholic. Yet it isn't just the amount of drinking that shows signs of alcoholism. One of the most telling alcoholic behaviors is hiding your drinking patterns. Alcoholics will often stow away bottles of booze and only drink it when other people are not looking in order to make it look like they drink less than they do.

Dr. Jeckyll And Mr. Hyde

Another one of the most troubling alcoholic behaviors is changing when you are drunk. A lot of people enjoy getting drunk now and then, but most people keep their same personality. With alcoholics, however, you never know. Some relatively peaceful folks will become violent when they drink. Sometimes conservative alcoholics will become excessively promiscuous and take risks when they are drinking. Often this strange alcoholic behavior is accompanied by an inability to remember events from the night before. It is almost a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde kind of phenomenon.

One less obvious sign of alcoholism, or perhaps this behavior falls into the category of a "drinking problem," is the alcoholic who can go weeks at a time without a drink. But when he does drink--Look Out! He's the guy who gets arrested for drunk driving, gets into fights (which he usually brings on himself), passes out at social functions in front of his family and co-workers, beats his wife, etc.--just plainly unacceptable behavior. The next day he is mortified when you tell him what he did (he usually can't remember). In my book that person is an alcoholic because he cannot control alcohol--alcohol controls him.

Stopping Off At Their Favorite Saloon For A Quickie

I've spent a lot of time in bars myself in my life, but fortunately I don't have the genetic pre-disposition toward alcoholism. But I sure have seen a lot of them in my time. Many are my friends. Many also were my friends, but they all died of alcohol-related ailments or in accidents. You go into a neighborhood tavern-type bar at 3:00 in the afternoon on any weekday, and there is a regular group sitting at the bar drinking hard stuff and smoking cigarettes--nearly every single one. Many are single or don't relish going home to the spouse. You know what they watch every sing day on TV? Jeopardy! They shout out the answers if they know them. It's like a club. And most of them are alcoholics. It's depressing. One of the reasons I don't drink much anymore.

Alcoholics develop different friendships when they are drinking. Many of them will leave their usual group of friends to go out with their drinking buddies. These buddies are often alcoholic themselves, and are willing to reinforce each others' addictions. They don't really spot each other's alcoholic behaviors, because they are all in denial. If the alcoholic in your life develops these kinds of friendships, it can be much harder to intervene. After all, he will have a new group of friends telling him that his drinking is okay. The important thing is just to persevere. If you have to, bring in some other mutual friends and do an intervention together. Sometimes it is easier to confront someone as a group and that is as individuals.

Good Luck. It's very difficult on all parties.

Technorati Tags: alcoholism signs, denial, depression, intervention, memory loss, treatment

Things don't always necessarily need to be new in order to be helpful.  This is true in a lot of areas in life and is also true when it comes to certain types of medical treatments. 

As a matter of fact, there were treatments that were being performed thousands of years ago in Asia that still have some medical benefits, even today.  One of those is the practice of acupuncture, something that is becoming more popular in Western society today.  What exactly is acupuncture and how can it help you with your health?

How Acupuncture Works

Acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medicine in which small, hair sized needles are inserted into the body at specific locations in order to alter the flow of energy.  These channels which, according to Chinese acupuncture medicine, run through the body keep everything in line and balanced.  If one of these should happen to get out of balance, however, it could cause a problem in the entire body and depending on where the imbalance occurred, it could affect a specific area of the body.  This is really the essence of yin and yang, the two forces which regulate almost everything within the human body.

Acupuncture Is Safe

Many people are nervous about going to the acupuncturist but, as a matter of fact, it is actually one of the safest forms of medical treatment that there is.  In fact, there are very few problems that can occur as long as a few safety guidelines are followed by a doctor.  This would include such things as only using prepackaged, sterile needles and, of course, understanding what they are doing so that the needles are inserted in the proper areas.

Although it has not been totally embraced by all areas of the medical community, acupuncture is actually a relatively safe way for you to enhance your health through the use of natural medicine.  Some of the studies that have been done on acupuncture actually show that it does contain some benefit and that it causes certain changes in a person's physiology that may help them in the healing process.

So, if you're having a difficult time with any number of things physically, acupuncture may be able to help you to get back on the road to better health.  Even though it is not a total replacement for traditional medicine, it can still enhance your ability to live a healthy life.

Acupressure

Acupressure is another related ancient healing tradition that uses the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body's natural self-curative abilities. When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body's life force to aid healing. Acupuncture and acupressure use the same points, but acupuncture employs needles, while acupressure uses the gentle but firm pressure of hands (and even feet). There is a massive amount of scientific data that demonstrates why and how acupuncture is effective. But acupressure, the older of the two traditions, was neglected after the Chinese developed more technological methods for stimulating points with needles and electricity. Acupressure, however, continues to be the most effective method for self-treatment of tension-related ailments by using the power and sensitivity of the human hand.

Technorati Tags: acupressure, acupuncture, Anxiety, depression, healing, Health, tension, treatment

Some parents do not realize that their teenagers can have huge mental health problems. This is mostly because adolescents do everything they can to appear normal thanks to pressure from peers and family alike.

parents don’t know how to separate their teenager's normal growing pains from what might be  real problems with their mental health.  Teenagers can be hard to read, so it makes sense that these problems can go largely undiagnosed for some adolescents.

Sometimes Suicide Is The Result

There is a large group of teens with adolescent mental health issues that go undetected. Sometimes this goes on until it is too late. As parents, it can be hard to think that your child could possibly have these problems at such a young age, and even when the teen is throwing hints around, they can go ignored. That doesn't make those parents bad people, it just means they know very little about adolescent mental health. For some, when a teen tries to or succeeds at suicide, parents look back and see the signs when it is too late.

Depression and Anxiety Are Common among Teens

Depression and anxiety are two very common adolescent mental health problems that can occur. If you know that depression runs in your family, do not dismiss that this could happen to your teenager. Things growing up as a teenager are hard enough, but if you add depression to the mix, it could be overwhelming. Anxiety is a problem of adolescent mental health when teens are overwhelmed and feel that there is no way out of those feelings and the issues that might be causing that anxiety.

Be Watchful For The Danger Signs

Some signs that parents miss in regards to adolescent mental health issues are things that teens hide very well, and it is not too surprising that they are missed at first. Some teens deal with their problems by cutting themselves. They do this in areas where the cuts can not be seen and they go to great lengths to hide them. Those with adolescent mental health problems can also get caught up in underage drinking, drugs, and very questionable sexual activities. Those are things that some teens can easily hide as well, though not always.

Try Professional Help

If you think you see signs of mental health issues with your teenager, keep an eye on what is going on and see if you can get them to go in to see someone for evaluation. They may not like the idea, but if they are really having problems, they will probably give in - even if they act like you are forcing them. Dealing with and admitting to adolescent mental health problems can be very hard for a teenager, so keep that in mind. If you feel strongly enough that the signs are all there, do what you have to do to keep them safe and healthy. You don’t want things to get out of control.

Technorati Tags: Adolescent Mental Health, Anxiety, children, depression, Parenting, suicide, Teens

I know a lot of alcoholics. I drank with them. They are my friends. For some reason I didn't get addicted, but for years I drank as much as they did, so I guess I didn't have the genetic predisposition to alcoholism.

I was one of the lucky ones. Most of my alcoholic friends are on the wagon and have been for years. They lead happy, productive lives and are loved by their friends and families.They have good jobs and do well financially.  But it wasn't always that way. They reached a point where their alcoholism became too much of a burden for them. They reached a point--the Point of Reckoning--where they had to make a choice. Stop drinking or lose all the really important things they cherish. Like their families. Their careers. Their resources. Their self respect. Whatever it was, they reached a decision point. They decided to give it up. It's tough, no question. One of the hardest thing leading up to the Point Of Disgust was their denial of their problem. But it usually takes several bad experiences for them to decide to go on the wagon. The key question they had to ask themselves was this, "Do I control my drinking, or does it control me?" If the answer to that is the latter, then the time to seek help is staring at them in the mirror. Fortunately there are a variety of options available to seek help from.

Treatment Programs Won't Work Unless The Alcoholic Wants Help

At some time, people who are addicted to alcohol may have to seek treatment, either on their own, with encouragement from their families, or because it is ordered by employers, the military, or the courts. There are many treatment options available, and as said previously, it depends on what type of circumstance exists requiring the alcoholic to seek treatment. Such options include meetings with others, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, individual counseling, outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, medications, or a combination of treatment modalities, which is most common. Stopping cold turkey is also an option, but is usually not successful, unless combined with a support environment like AA. People seeking alcohol treatment usually do so because they are at rock bottom-the Point Of Reckoning-- and many instances where alcohol has disrupted their lives and the lives of their loved ones has occurred. Treatment will not work unless the individual truly wants help.

The Alcoholics Anonymous Approach

Many alcohol treatment programs are based on the 12-step program, which is used in Alcoholics Anonymous. In this type of setting, alcoholics are encouraged to be open and share experiences, but are not required to do so. Tons of literature is available at these meetings for a nominal price or for a donation, and a variety of topics are discussed relating to the alcoholic’s individual situation. Those who are serious about quitting must seek out a sponsor, which will help them through their recovery process. This person is available to them in case they are having a weak moment or if they just need words of encouragement.

Sometimes Medication Is Necessary For Withdrawal

Alcohol treatment programs are designed to get the person back on track physically and emotionally, so that they can face their addiction and gain control of their lives. Self-esteem and self-worth is greatly distorted by the addiction, and treatment interventions include group and individual therapy to get at the root of the trauma which may have caused the cycle to begin in the first place. Recovering alcoholics may also benefit from prescribed medications, such as anti-depressants or anti-anxiety drugs to help them control they physical symptoms of withdrawal, which can only be prescribed by a medical doctor or psychiatrist.

Success Is Achievable

Recovery takes time and with the proper support and motivation, alcoholics can be successful and remain alcohol-free for the rest of their lives. As I mentioned above, most of my alcoholic friends beat their addictions. Often times the alcohol is replaced by another substance, but this is not always a bad thing. The most common is coffee or caffeine and cigarettes. I'm not advocating it, but I have an alcoholic friend who smokes pot whenever he gets the urge for a "diversion." It's better for him than alcohol. Food is also another common vice, but as every person seeking treatment is told, one thing at a time. It is just not possible to conquer every issue at once. The most serious should be addressed first, then everything else will fall in place. Take one day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time, this is the best recipe for long-term success.

Technorati Tags: Addiction, alcoholics anonymous, alcoholism treatment, rehab, treatment

use acronyms throughout this, so you should know that ADD stands for Attention Deficit Disorder, and ADHD for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Background

I am an ADHD expert…to ONLY myself, to only my particular disorder, also know.  So as I write, I do so from a place of 40 plus years of history of the disorder, of diagnosis in only the last four years, and of having self-medicated (with street drugs) and later having researched and engaged in therapy and medical treatment for my ADHD.

ADHD is thought by many to be a child's disorder, which of course it is, but many sufferers like me are never diagnosed so we carry ADHD into our adult lives. When ADD or ADHD first appears in a child's behavior, it is usually interpreted incorrectly by the parents. The child can't concentrate or focus on anything for very long, so he or she has difficulty taking tests or completing homework assignments and  has problems in school and is thought to be stupid and perhaps teased  by classmates. But the child is not stupid at all. In fact, the child might get A's in a couse he or she really likes but an F in one that doesn't really interest him. Or the child may be overly energetic and disruptive in class. Teachers are more knowledgeable about ADD these days, because for years the cause of the problematic behavior was not properly diagnosed.
Adults who have ADD or ADHD usually have had it since childhood, and their disorder remained undiagnosed until ironically their child was diagnosed with the problem. They recognize that they had the same symptoms as their child when they were young.
Alternative Treatment Options

But I would like to share with you the ADHD alternative treatment methods I have learned about along the forty-year journey of hell and heaven, too.
First, know that while street meth is not a legitimate ADHD alternative treatment, it is what one MD says clever of you to try.  That is, many intelligent, proactive individuals who have ADHD but have not been diagnosed and are at their wits’ end trying to “cure” themselves will do what is called self-medicating.  So don’t be ashamed or overly obsessed with the esteem issues that come with street drug use.  Just get to a doctor or psychiatrist for diagnosis and understanding of the disorder.
Then, weigh the options available to you by reading whatever you can: read magazines, books, on- and offline articles.  Find the works devoted strictly to ADHD and written by experts and professionals in the field, including the following (listed here in no particular order): David Sudderth, Joseph Kandel, Thom Hartmann, Sari Solden, Thomas Whiteman, Michelle Novotni, Kate Kelly, and Peggy Ramundo.
At this point you will have come across the “traditional” or most common treatments, such as psychotherapy and drug (Amphetamine, Ritalin, etc. Al.) therapy combined, and will have found some ADHD alternative treatments, as well.  These include such alternatives as the following:
HOMEOPATHIC/NONTRADITIONAL MEDICINES

Some turn away from western medicine to such alternatives as acupressure—a healing technique that has been successfully applied for smoking habits, weight problems, anxiety disorders, fertility issues, and even HDHD symptoms.  As of 1997, the Lincoln Hospital Recovery Center in Bronx, New York, for example, administers acupressure treatments to those with ADHD.  They have had remarkable results: kids have been positively impacted in regards to their sleep and hyperactivity patterns, blood pressure and depression problems, studying and participating, working, and just sitting…calmly and without the “mind spinning” so familiar to those with ADHD.
ENERGY HEALING

Reiki and Therapeutic Touch, for instance, are energy healing approaches that work on the premise that the human being is a dynamic being, connected by physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional components.  Energy healing methods seek to balance these components, so in the person with ADHD, the symmetry that results is said to be calming—slowing the activity down so the person can focus, is less anxious, and is less intrusive and defiant.
DIETARY CHANGES

A close investigation of foods that are or contain allergens and irritants to the nervous system has revealed the possibility of ADDers being especially negatively impacted.  ADD treatments in this area include eliminating or curbing intake of white flour, sugar, and/or additives/preservatives.  But the controversy still roars on this one, and FDA and other regulatory bodies have not acknowledged the veracity of gross dietary changes…yet.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS

Much attention has been paid to holistic treatment, other ADHD alternative treatment, and vitamin therapies.  And many vitamin sources claim to help alleviate such symptoms as inability to focus, edginess, and sleep problems.  But as with any ingesting therapies, inappropriate application can lead to damaging results on other parts of the body and brain.  So what most specialists will acknowledge as important is nutritional balance, antioxidant vitamin supplements (A, E, for example), and/or a multi-vitamin…though as with many alternatives they will not attest to any remarkable cures or absolute recovery, which has yet to be proved, documented, and announced…for now, anyway.

Technorati Tags: ADD, ADHD, Alternative Treatment, children, Family, learning problems, Natural Traetment

Anxiety and depression are by far the two most common mental illnesses diagnosed in the United States, and probably the world, although there haven’t been studies done to confirm it. 

They both can be debilitating in their effects, and are very difficult disorders to live with.  Unfortunately, most people with anxiety and depression do just that; live with it.  Most studies done on the diseases show that more than 75% of people who are clinically depressed go without treatment, as well as over 90% of people with anxiety disorders.

This is especially disturbing, since both anxiety and depression are the most treatable forms of mental illnesses there are.  There are a variety of medications that are available today to treat both anxiety and depression, and there are a lot of helpful resources out there that can help find the road to recovery from your symptoms.

Anxiety And Depression Related

The two diseases are not fully understood, but are definitely related in some key ways.  People suffering from anxiety disorders are many times more likely to also suffer from depression than someone without an anxiety condition.  The same is true with people suffering from depression, in that they are more likely to also have an anxiety disorder.  It is not surprising then that many of the anxiety and depression treatments are similar or even exactly the same.

Medication Treatments Work But Are Risky

Traditionally, anxiety disorders have been treated with the use of sedatives.  The first and most famous sedative used to treat anxiety is alcohol.  Due to its toxic effects and highly addictive nature, barbiturates quickly replaced alcohol as a treatment for anxiety after their introduction to the medical world in 1912.  Of course, it was soon realized that barbiturates suffer from many of the same drawbacks as alcohol, and today benzodiazapines have all but completely replaced barbiturates in anxiety treatment.

While benzodiazapines are effective in treating anxiety, they too are highly addictive chemicals, and can actually make the symptoms of depression worse.  So if you are worried about addiction, or are suffering from both anxiety and depression, you should avoid using sedatives of any kind to treat your symptoms.

There are likewise some drugs that are good for treating certain forms of depression, but will actually worsen an anxiety disorder.  Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors, such as Wellbutrin, have been shown effective in the treatment of depression, but are not recommended if you also suffer from anxiety.

Consider Natural Remedies And Therapy As An Alternative

The SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptape inhibitors, are medications that are effective in treating both anxiety and depression.  Support groups, therapy, counseling, exercise, and a healthy diet, are all non-pharmaceutical ways of treating both disorders.  If you suspect that you suffer from anxiety and depression, or either one, you should see a doctor.  Both disorders are highly treatable, but will likely only get worse without taking steps to recover.

Technorati Tags: Anxiety, depression, Medical, medication, Natural Remedies, Therapy, treatment

mean, you tried prayer.  You tried writing and crafting fiction and plays—solo and in collaboration—to purge yourself in a kind of catharsis that has worked in other areas of your emotional life before….  For years, every single day, you tried power walking, knowing that physical labor (of sorts) will also expunge many evils and keeping with the only form of exercise you actually liked.  You tried helping others, learning in a support group that to get your mind off yourself you have to get OUT of yourself, you have to focus on those who are worse off in many ways, etc., etc..

If you are in rehab, It is only natural, as a recovering addict or alcoholic, for example, or as an ACA (adult child of alcoholics), who believes in avoiding the complications of synthetic drugs, you would lean toward natural cures for depression.  Such remedies, you hope, will keep you in the forests, amongst the flora, fauna, and creatures that belong in your eco-friendly environment and life.

What Are Some Natural Cures For Depression?

So what are some of those natural cures for depression?  Some use Saint John’s wort, a.k.a. Hypericum perforatum. St John’s wort is an herb that has been said to contain compounds—such as hypericin and hyperforin—which contribute to what the Greeks said would successfully “ward off evil spirits,” as it was known as the drug that would preside “over an apparition”…which is where it’s name came from.

Others use natural cures for depression that are said to simulate the SSRIs—the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors.  When the serotonin levels in your brain are off (imbalanced), your mood is plummeted.  On an up and down picture representing normal to depressed moods, say, your mood would be down at the bottom.  A high or happy person’s mood would be waaaay up at the top.  Okay, so the SSRI draws the serotonin levels up, pools them, and traps them in a higher place.  You come from the bottom, the SSRI comes from the top, and the effect/result is a leveling off somewhere in the middle.

5 Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and tryptophan are said to do the same thing, but are natural cures for depression versus intense chemical cures (such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, for example).  So 5-HTP supplements the missing or diminished amounts of serotonin and tryptophan by being what depression.org calls the “intermediate step” between the two.

Exercise Helps
Other natural cures for depression include physical and some mental efforts.  Like power-walking, exercise, yoga, and some forms of meditation have been found to adjust the imbalances of serotonin and other mood stabilizing chemicals in the brain.  And it goes along with the logic that visualization techniques, which therapists can help you practice, can be tailored toward the positive, to counter the misery that is depression.

Technorati Tags: alcoholism, depression, Exercise, meditation, Natural Remedies, rehab, St. John's wort