Addiction Redefined

The face of addiction is changing as the newest draft of the American Psychiatric Association's latest diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) excludes the disease classifications for substance dependence. Now it is called Substance Use and Addictive Disorders. The reason for this is that dubbing the term dependence misrepresents it wholly.

In the DSM-V, which will be released in May 2013, addiction is defined as abuse of any substance or behaviour, including gambling but not including sex. Exactly how addicted an individual becomes depends on how self-absorbed and compelled they are with the substance or behavior.

There is a rising debate over the changes of the new DSM-V. The reason for the debating is that it must be remembered that this manual, like it or not, determines much health insurance coverage to determine what is and what is not going to be covered. However, the medical definition of addiction is forever now changed.

Those who are responsible for the newest changes to the DSM-V worried that anyone that relied on any substance would be categorized as substance dependent and that would be an incorrect assessment. This would then mean that if a person needs antidepressants or even anti-anxiety drugs they would be considered addicts.

The treatment community is not happy with the new changes and worry that the new definition of addiction will taint statistics, cause false epidemics, and cause a massive over spending of funds that is not necessary.

The new DSM-V indicates that it used criteria for determining addiction that added "craving or a strong desire to use," replacing other certain terms with new ones, and adding gambling to the list of addictions. Sex and Internet addictions were not added just yet.

It is expected that there will be a lot more diagnoses and many of these will be when there truly is a lack of need for it. More diagnoses lead to more prescriptions going out, which could fuel the prescription drug epidemic even farther. In addition, consider the low rate of success with treatment for addiction and many are justifiably concerned with how the new DSM-V just add salt to the open wound.

Finally, many also worry that pharmacological interventions will take a turn and that redefining existing terms and techniques can only lower the number of promising treatment options that may have helped. With the new DSM-V a typical college student that binge drinks would be diagnosed as a mild alcoholic. Bottom of Form

It is not expected that changing a few terms will have more people seek help nor is it expected to alter the way that providers offer their services. Many are keeping their fingers crossed that this will bring about earlier and more significant interventions. That is all that can be hoped for at this point.

Procrastination During Smoking Can Kill!

The worst thing we can do while smoking is to delay quitting. By prolonging the quit, the closer we become to walking that one-way street into deaths arms. You may think that I'm being a little extreme, but take a look at the statistics of young smokers dying. The age of 'terminal smokers' is dropping fast. Fact. There 2 main factors causing this change;

1. There are more children in their early teens taking up smoking.
2. The amount of chemicals that are added to cigarettes have varied and increased.

Procrastination during smoking is literally life threatening. The longer we put off quitting smoking, the more chance there is of a deadly disease taking over our body. Every single cigarette we put to our lips is like another pull of the trigger during a game of Russian roulette. Problem is that there are only so many empty chambers before the hammer finally strikes a bullet.

When quitting smoking, the term "sooner rather than later" has more truth than we think. According to the surgeon general Regina Benjamin, one puff of a cigarette could kill you. Although cancer can take quite a long time before it takes a hold on your body, a heart attack could be just around the corner.

Its become quite clear recently that the harm caused by smoking (especially those concerning the heart) can start in right away says Dr Terry Pechacek of the CDC. This means that the so-called "social smoker" is also at risk from a heart attack, if the persons arteries are silently clogged then one cigarette is enough to cause a cardiac arrest.

There are more than 7000 chemicals in each puff and as they surge through your body, they cause cellular damage in nearly all organs, and as you take each puff the smoke enters the body and transforms its chemistry so that its sticky and tacky, this is how arteries are blocked.

You really are playing Russian roulette when you decide to keep smoking and I don't believe we're even close to discovering the true extent of the damage that smoking causes, not just to us but also our loved ones through passive smoke.

None of us actually think that it will happen to us, but believe me when i tell you that if you keep smoking then there's only one way out! Don't just be another statistic, quit now before it's too late. Quit for good.

Defeating the 'smokers delay' is relatively easy. Please visit HERE to find out how.

Stop Smoking Without Gaining Weight

Many people are wanting to quit smoking but fear the extra weight gain that is sometimes associated with quitting. Snacking is the major cause of this weight gain. As we fight off the cravings for nicotine we replace it with whatever we can stuff in our mouths. In effect replacing one bad habit with another. Obesity can be as harmful as smoking.

Nicotine is a powerful toxin primarily used as an insecticide. It has absolutely no medicinal benefit, and it continues to kill thousands of people each year. Fortunately, once we quit, nicotine only stays in our system for a short while. The percentage of nicotine in our bodies is cut by half every two hours so the physical effects of nicotine withdrawal have usually left our bodies by the time we get up each day. Our bodies become 100% nicotine free in 72 hours. 

That means that we just have to deal with the psychological effects of nicotine withdrawal, and that is usually much tougher for a lot of people. When people quit smoking often they will satisfy their cravings for a cigarette with a snack. If you were to do this five or six times a day you would soon start packing on the pounds and foolishly wondering if it's all worth it. Anxiety and irritability are also symptoms of nicotine withdrawal along with difficulty concentrating and sleeping. Not to mention the increased hunger.

Smokers have to realize that this is an addiction and like other addictions we have to face it hour by hour and day to day. The easy part is that this is a psychological addiction and we can beat it by training our minds to remember that we are now non-smokers and non-smokers don't go around being irritable all day. Non-smokers aren't consumed with thoughts of lighting up. Non-smokers don't snack all day long because they haven't got their nicotine fix. Non-smokers don't stink like smoke, and they haven't got tobacco stained teeth.

 They dramatically cut their risks of heart attacks and strokes. Non-smokers live longer, more healthier lives. Remember that each craving lasts only a few minutes, and you can talk yourself through it. As each day progresses the cravings will subside. There is only one rule for 100% success and that is - No Nicotine Today. If you fail in your attempt to quit smoking, try again. It's never too late to quit smoking. You are only a smoker when you are smoking, and if you want to be a non-smoker, don't smoke.

There are many products out there that will replace cigarettes with other forms of nicotine injection. That's all they do is replace nicotine with nicotine. It's not the smoking we are addicted too it's the nicotine. Remember there is only one rule for 100% success - No Nicotine Today.

My recommendation is that you replace cigarettes with something that will suppress your appetite. Something to manage stress and enhance your mood. Something that encourages mental clarity and focus. Something like Visi's "Trimma". This one a day capsule is made from a proprietary formula of all natural ingredients including the Arctic Cloudberry. Trimma will help you fight off those cravings all day, safely and naturally. Many people have successfully quit smoking and I encourage you to keep trying

Please Contact me for more information. 
erictherockman@gmail.com

5 Life Changing Lessons I Learned From Quitting Smoking

Being a smoker for over 10 years and an ex-smoker of 3, I have experienced every low and high that a smoker can face. I have been at the lowest point a smoker can possibly reach. Quitting smoking is a journey, it's a long winding road of the lowest lows and the highest highs. Quitting smoking is a series of lessons, It can be some of the best lessons you will ever learn in life.

1. Patience is a virtue... Really, it is!

The main thing we learn on the path to quitting smoking is patience. Every step we take on that path requires patience. Quitting smoking requires a high amount of patience as the task in question cannot be achieved in a day. It simply isn't an overnight thing. It takes time.

2. Achieving a goal is life changing.

To achieve what you believe to be the most impossible thing in the world is an amazing feeling to say the least. As soon I realised that I had made it to the land of the smoke-free, setting goals and seeing them through became a slight addiction! I wanted to realise my current dreams and also rekindle my lost ones.

3. With pain comes pleasure.

Nothing we do in life should be easy. We should strive to deal with the difficult situations that life throws at us and face them head on. The biggest lesson I learned from quitting smoking was to face my demons. I decided to no longer cower and hide from what tormented me, instead I grabbed them by the throat and said "that's it, no more"

4. Fear nothing.

The thought alone of going through quitting shook my bones to their core. I had no idea of what to expect, I'd smoked for so long that I'd forgotten how beautiful life was without that little stick of death. It taught me to respect my fear, not to dismiss them but to harness them and use them to my advantage.

5. My life is amazing!

Life is simply amazing without smoking, you can only see it once you've quit. But believe me when I say that life is precious and that we should never take it for granted. As far as we know, we only get 1 shot, we should never even think of burning it prematurely by smoking. Life is exactly that, its life. And we should live it to the full.

It's now time for you take that first step to freedom and learn your own lessons from stopping smoking. Whatever those lessons are make sure you learn them, make sure you never smoke again. Trust me, its worth it.

There are certain barriers we face when we attempt to quit smoking, they are easy to overcome once we know how. To learn these lessons.

Overcoming Your Fear of Quitting Smoking

Quitting smoking isn't the easiest task to achieve, especially if you have a fear of not knowing what your life will be like once you sever the strings with nicotine.

The fear of quitting is a terrible affair,you've smoked so long that you can't remember what its like to live without it and that scares you.

This was the main reason that kept me smoking for over 10 years, I was scared to quit because I thought I was about to lose something special in my life. But this is a scam that's fabricated by the big addiction. It warps our perception and tricks us into believing that its something we need or want.

Some of the main scenarios are;

I can't enjoy a night out or party without having a smoke.
If we have a night out with friends that smoke, we tend to believe that we may be left out. You subconsciously look at the situation as a membership to a special club and you do t want to leave. But there's no better feeling than not have to leave a party or club to step outside in the freezing cold or pouring rain to light up.

Smoking helps me deal with the stress in my day-to-day life. This must be the most common, what we don't realize as smokers is that stress can't be solved by having a smoke. Lets say you're having a bad day at work and you get into an argument with a co-worker. You decide to leave the room and have a smoke to 'calm' yourself. You return to the room but the situation is still there. So has smoking helped? Of course not.

Smoking is a part of my daily routine, a part of my life and I cant break it.
Although smoking does become routine it's definitely not a part of your life. For something to become a part of your life it must be wanted or needed and I'm pretty sure you neither want or need smoking.

I've tried to quit smoking with patches and gum and failed so I guess I'm stuck with it.
Nicotine replacement is not the be all end all. There are much more effective ways to quit smoking. Don't ever give up giving up!

Over half a million Americans die each year from smoking related illnesses. Don't let nicotine trick you into needing it,don't put yourself in that half a mil statistic.

For an effective method of quitting smoking that doesn't rely on NRT or going it cold turkey

Pharmacotherapy + Behavioral Therapy = Save Your Life

The pity is the vast majority of smokers start as tweens or teens - easily influenced by media, marketing, peer pressure, that burning desire to look grown up and be the popular one - and that feeling of immortality - "it won't hurt me I can quit any time I want."

Smoking is an addiction - yes people get addicted to different extents. Addiction is a complex brain disease with symptomology of compulsive or uncontrollable cravings, & continued use of the substance - even though the user knows its detrimental torment of the body. An addiction control's the brain, thereby controls a person's behavior - explaining the compulsive aspect of the disease. As with drug addictions the underlying changes to the brain from the tobacco smoke necessitates the smoker to seek more and more to avoid withdrawal. Smoking hits the brain faster than any other drug, especially with the help of the diabolical filters designed by the tobacco industry.

A behavior is our action on thoughts and feelings based on our response to internal (brain) & external ( environmental) stimuli. Smoking, as any unhealthy habit has an environmental, biological & behavioral stimuli. To treat the addiction, we need to make sure we are addressing all 3 aspects of each individual's smoking habit.

And consistent with that are our cold hard facts. Statistically, the greatest quit rate at the 1 year mark is:

Pharmacotherapy + Behavioral Counseling = Success

The combination of both, is more effective than either alone.

The same is true with prescription meds - get the addiction assessed carefully, there are contraindications - & use in conjunction with behavioral therapy.

However, depending on the number of CPD (cigarettes per day) and a few other factors, a behavioral counsellor can assess if pharmacotherapy is beneficial.

The long term (over 150 days) of unaided quit attempts, "cold turkey", is a measly 3%-5%.

The Long term success over 2 years is much higher with the addition of behavioral counseling, vs. NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy) or prescription medications. Again, we need to address all aspects of the addiction for long term smoking abstinence.

There are many forms of NRT now available, in varying dosages: The Patch, nicotine inhaler, nicotine gum, mouth spray & lozenges. There is a great deal of thought that goes into the choice - a good behavioral counsellor can do a an assessment - and together figure out the right choice.

NRT helps minimize withdrawal symptoms which helps smokers hang on through the rough spots. And yes, it can be very helpful in a reduce to quit program choice.

But again, every person's case needs to be assessed and the level of dependence needs to be determined - it is not just about cigarettes per day.

Serious life threatening habits have been etched into the brain. It takes an analytical approach to "unetch" the deadly path. Consult an expert, to determine your unique quit smoking program.

Shira Litwack, Medical Fitness Professional... proud creator of thousands of health enthusiasts & corporate health cultures world wide...

Medical Fitness Professional,Lifestyle & Weight Management Health Coach, Fitness & Nutrition for chronic illness recovery, Smoking Cessation Counsellor

Radio Talk Show Host/Producer bestinhealthradio

Director of Health Mentoring & External Resources Canada For International Center of Excellence The Obesity Control Center with Dr. Ariel Ortiz

Cancerfitcare Provider & Regional Director

1-855-TRUEBFF

The Benefits of Alcohol Rehab Centers

Alcoholism is an ailment that is difficult to understand for most people, particularly those who do not suffer from it. Most addicts live in a world of fright and embarrassment when it comes to acknowledging that they have a problem. When a struggling alcoholic finally starts to realize the negative effects of alcohol on his life, relationship and career, he should take action in order to get rid of his addiction.

One of the top recommendations for addicts willing to deal with their drinking problem is to enroll into a rehab center for alcohol addiction. The staff at these facilities is very well trained. They will give the addict not only the right physical support in his delicate condition, but mental care as well. Below are some benefits of alcohol rehab centers.

Perfect Environment

Alcohol rehab centers offer the best ambiance to relieve addicts from the disease of alcoholism. These centers are designed to distract the brain from the burdens of alcohol dependence. They do this by offering activities to engage the body and mind while allowing time to fully recover. A good environment will help to keep addicted patients away from temptations, while being in a secure environment.

Peer Support

Alcohol rehab centers house individuals from every walk of life in various stages of flushing alcohol from their systems. This is very beneficial to new arrivals, since one gets the sense of empathy, motivation and support from individuals facing the same problems. When addicts are assembled in one room, they can express themselves easily without the fear of rejection.

Aftercare Support

Aftercare is vitally important and should be part of every treatment facility's program. It can help avert a relapse, which keeps any alcohol addict from going back to their addiction. Aftercare planning starts when an individual is at the treatment facility. The center will prepare the addict for their transition back home to aid them stay free from alcohol.

Day to Day Routine

This is an integral factor in any alcohol rehab center. Addicted patients go through one on one therapy, group therapy, and numerous activities which retrain the brain and the body to live alcohol free life.

Emotional Support

The medical staff at alcohol rehab facilities doesn't fail to empathize and provide emotional support particularly when addicts require them. On the professional level, health care providers render a tremendous amount of support to assist alcoholics cope with withdrawal stress. The health care team consisting of the most competent physicians, nurses as well as psychotherapists are well trained to therapeutically interact with the addicted patients.

Learning

Learning about alcohol addiction, how to beat it, preventing relapse, and more is another advantage that assists addicted patients to realize that there is a way to live an alcohol free life. Learning the appropriate tools and how to utilize them is the key to any alcoholic trying to recover.

Alcohol creates many problems in our society and people's personal lives. But the good thing is that there is help through alcohol rehab facilities. Alcoholism can easily be treated if the right treatment is offered to the addict.

If you're looking for a very good alcohol rehab, visit The Cabin Chiang Mai.

The Fun Easy Way to Quit Smoking in 6 Weeks

I have been cigarette free since July 2012. I had tried many times to quit. Now I feel each time I attempted to quit really counts as a learning experience. There are a few added suggestions on helpful supplements and non prescription medications at the end of my article. Please check with your physician as to weather any of my suggestions would interfere with medications you are currently on.

Back to how I quit smoking and made it fun. Here is the breakdown and the break free of it all.

One: You should create a plan that works for you. To create that plan the best way you might have to experiment with your own tolerance level and symptom reducers. If you have tried to quit cold turkey before, great: Look at every time and ask this question: What happened? For me it was stress and a feeling of deprivation. Beyond the usually stomach cramps and headaches and lousy flu like complaints that most people experience within the first week of quitting, there are emotional land mines. All the emotional highs seemed to need a cigarette to balance them out. If I was very excited and happy, I needed a cigarette, if I was bored, I needed a cigarette, if I was angry and irritable, I needed a cigarette, but stress trumped all those emotional moments for me. Nicotine mixes with brain chemistry, and sets off a pleasure bouquet of adrenaline and blood sugar and dopamine. It creates an intense release that lasts for about 10 minutes and then starts to subside. It takes you down.

Two: Create a pre-planned withdrawal day. Pick a day or just a half day where you go without a cigarette. I already know that I will become a bitch and people should not come anywhere near me. That is a given. I also already know that I will want to "snack." Chocolate works pretty well for me. Salty foods seem to work too. This is where you experiment. Have a supportive friend buy you Nicotine patches and snacks at the store. Then have them pick up a funny movie from a DVD rental place. Tell them to not venture into the dragons lair. They should simply leave all items on your door step and tip toe away. They should not even stick their vulnerable head in the door and say good luck. It is best to text message this if needed. I would wear the patch for about 8 hours. 

Hitting The Milestones Of Drug And Alcohol Treatment

We recently celebrated a number of recovery milestones here at our drug and alcohol treatment center, and given the nature of drug addiction and alcoholism, we are overjoyed with these miracles. Here are some simple tips for those looking to hit these milestones for themselves.

It is all well and good to have a sponsor, but if we never actually make use of them, it does not do us a lot of good. We might think we have the answers, but our own histories with drug addiction and alcoholism should be enough to show us that is not always the case.

A sponsor has a deep understanding and knowledge of recovery, and the life experience clean and sober to help us navigate through our own lives. All too often, we do not make use of them until we are in desperate need of their assistance. If we maintain that relationship and keep open minds, we can often avert some of those troubles altogether.

Be of Service

There is nothing quite like helping someone to help forget about whatever it is we are going through at the moment. By helping others, we are reminded that the world does not revolve around us, and that, compared to where we used to be, our problems today do not stack up to what we used to endure.

Something as simple as giving a ride, or even just introducing yourself to someone who you have not seen before, is a great way to give back, and more often than not, helps you far more than the other person. Whether that person is going through a drug and alcohol treatment center or has any interest in recovery does not matter. It is our own willingness that makes all the difference.

If we stay around long enough, there will come a time when life just is not going the way we want it to. This is where we learn the real strength of our recovery. It is all well and good to champion the merits of drug and alcohol treatment when things are working out in our favor, but it is much harder to do that when we might feel as though the world around us is falling apart.

The good news is that this need not be so difficult, so long as we ask for help from those around us and tell them honestly how we are doing. If we keep a straight face and say that everything is going well when that is not true, then it becomes very hard for those around us to help. There's an old saying in recovery: "It's better to save your butt than save your face," and sooner or later, every old-timer learns this truth firsthand.

Do you have any words of wisdom for those just starting out, or for those with some time under their belts? Let's hear it in the comments section!

449 Recovery is a drug and alcohol and rehabilitation center helping people overcome their fears and assisting families to deal with a loved one's challenges. Visit HERE to find out more about our services.

New Review Spotlights Damages Of Binge Drinking

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that binge drinking is four or more drinks at a time for women and five or more drinks at a time for men. Some people think that the issue may be on the rise worldwide, and, maybe partly some people associate the binge drinking phenomena with partying U.S. college kids.

The U.S. seems to have an especially bad reputation when it comes to excessive drinking. Some studies have also suggested that men binge drink more often and more aggressively than do women, although other studies seem to suggest that women are catching up to men in this regard.

The new review of studies has just been done regarding the problem and the damaging physical effects of this issue. Researchers say that this is a new set of findings in alcohol-caused damage to the liver, but also points the way towards new and innovative treatments and therapies, educational programs, and recommendations for ways to make positive lifestyle changes.

What Can Happen When Someone Drinks Too Much

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, someone is binge drinking if they consume enough alcohol in two hours to reach a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of.08. Generally speaking, and depending on a person's size, it normally takes men five drinks in two hours, and women four drink in two hours, to achieve this BAC of.08.

The effects on the body of this sort of fast paced and intense drinking, some say, are far-reaching and long lasting. A whole class of diseases called Alcoholic Liver Diseases (ALD)-cirrhosis, fatty liver, and hepatitis, among them-apparently result from alcohol abuse in general, but especially from drinking large amounts in a small period of time. The problem, some researchers say, is that the liver is a very important organ, the location for most of the body's metabolic action, and that because the liver and its metabolic function play a large role in the functioning of the kidney, the heart, immunity systems, the blood and blood vessel systems, and the mind, that binge drinking caused ALD can in fact have cascading effects and consequences for the health of the whole human body.

Some research suggests that it can do damage at a cellular level, to the mitochondria of cells specifically, and that this type of acute injury to liver cells can do great harm to the overall health of an individual.

Going Forward In More Research And Better Health

Researchers point at the information and intelligence gained from the new review of studies as a road-map for the future.

They also point to the review as a stepping off point for further research into ways to attempt to treat, control and cure related health issues. Researchers hope to uncover new therapies and treatments that will allow people to better care for themselves and manage their own health, to avoid binge drinking in the first place, and attempt to reverse or at least mitigate the damage done by binge drinking.

Binge drinking continues to be a major problem. For more information on the topic or to get someone help for an alcohol problem contact Narconon.