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

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

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

In fact, I can remember as a boy we played indoors at grade school in the winter in a large basement room whose ceiling was lined with hot water pipes used for radiator heat. During recess and lunch breaks we would play a version of hockey except we kicked a volley ball around. More often that not, it seemed, the ball would hit one of the pipes, all of which were wrapped with asbestos and secured with a thin cloth. The impact would send a cloud of dust to the floor and invariably into the air we breathed. We didn't know it then, but we were endangering our lives by breathing this poisonous pollutant. Thankfully, I'm still alive and kicking, but I don't know if any of my classmates have contracted a deadly asbestos-related disease from those indoor games.

Symptoms Can Take Years To Develop

Asbestos exposure can lead to medical issues and asbestos related disease years down the road. There are some types of asbestos related disease that may not manifest for twenty to forty years after a person has been exposed. Therefore, awareness and diagnosis of the problem is both critical and difficult.

These ailments come in many shapes and sizes, and are caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. This exposure occurs in homes, workplaces and schools that were constructed using materials containing asbestos.  Asbestos was a very common building material in the 20th century, prior to our knowledge of its harmful effects on our health, and was found in materials ranging from roofing to siding to insulation.

People Exposed To Asbestos Are AT Risk

People are exposed to asbestos and thus at risk for becoming ill when they breathe in air containing asbestos fibers. Once inside the body, asbestos fibers can move around, although one of the more commonly damaged areas is the lungs.

Asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer are both labeled as being an asbestos related disease. Asbestosis is irritation and inflammation of the lungs caused by scarring due to asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs around the lungs, ribs and abdominal organs.

Persons At Risk Should Not Smoke

Treatment can include standard cancer treatments, vaccinations and infection treatment where appropriate, and use of oxygen for breathing issues. Those who have or who are at risk for asbestos related disease and smoke are strongly encouraged to seek help with smoking cessation.

Exposure to asbestos is not a guarantee that someone will experience medical difficulties. However, those who have been exposed should be aware of the risks and obtain regular medical evaluation, especially since asbestos related disease can take decades to occur.

Legal Recourse An Option For Victims

Many cases are the result of exposures that occurred in unsafe workplaces. In other instances, individuals were exposed because of building construction using materials that contained asbestos occurring in or near residential areas. Because of this, there are many lawsuits involving asbestos exposure and many lawyers and legal firms who focus on restitution for those suffering from asbestos related disease. In addition, many areas known to have had high risk for asbestos exposure have programs in place, both private and non-profit, which offer screening for asbestos related disease and support for individuals and family members dealing with health issues.

If there is reason to believe that asbestos is present in a building, whether it be a commercial building, workplace, or residential home, experts should be contacted to inspect the property and recommend appropriate courses of action.

Technorati Tags: asbestos-diseases, Health, Legal Recourse, Medical, Mesothelioma, treatment

Drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers are all over the United States and most other post industrial countries.  Choosing between the ones with available openings can be hard, especially if you are like everyone else and are on a limited budget. 

If you are relatively wealthy or have excellent health insurance, you’re in luck and will more than likely be able to find a program with an opening.  There is a good chance you’ll have to fly in somewhere, so plan on taking an extended trip.

Social Or Medical Rehab?

Although they all vary significantly, there are two basic categories that all drug and alcohol rehab centers fall into: social model and medical model.  Social model addiction treatment centers emphasize therapy, discussion, counseling and group work, but generally have a limited or non-existent medical staff.  These treatment centers normally will not provide detox services.  Medically based addiction treatment centers have the same kinds of therapy and counseling in the social models, but also have a medical staff that includes one or more doctors.  These centers will usually provide a detox center prior to treatment, and are able to administer and prescribe medication for use throughout treatment.

Today, the most popular addiction treatment centers are medically based.  These centers also tend to be the most expensive.  If you can afford it, or have health insurance willing to pay part or all of the costs, I recommend using a medical model treatment center.  Having the advice and services of an addiction-trained physician is very valuable in the early stages of recovery.

Need To Research Potential Options

However, it is a good idea to research the facility before signing up.  In your research, pay special attention to the doctor or doctors they have on staff.  Are they ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) certified?  Do they actually have any experience in addiction treatment?  A doctor with limited knowledge or experience with addiction can actually make your problems worse by prescribing you highly addictive medications.  And it is dangerous to assume that just because the doctor is working at an addiction treatment center that he or she must be an addiction specialist.  Many drug and alcohol abuse treatment centers help cut costs by hiring any doctor they can find!

Also, when looking for a drug or alcohol rehab center, look into the kinds of services they offer.  If you have any say in the matter, look for a center that provides a variety of different kinds of therapy, exercises, nutritional information, mediations, etc.  An alcohol and drug addiction treatment center provides plenty of resources will help you to customize your recovery a little more, which increases the chances of finding a form of treatment that works for you.

Technorati Tags: Addiction, alcohol abuse, Detox, Drug abuse, Health, Treatment Centrers