Dictionary definitions of addiction include:

"Compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (heroin, nicotine, alcohol, etc.) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal".

"Persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful".

   Addict: (n) "One who is addicted to a substance."

   Addict: (v) "To devote or surrender oneself to something habitually or obsessively."

Colloquial use of the words addict and addiction have progressed in recent years to include many things not inherently harmful and not characterized by any withdrawal other than the feeling of loss. For example, some Steamboaters may say they are addicted to skiing. There may actually be some truth to this; look at the person (usually with a history of addiction to a substance, perhaps in early or marginal recovery from substance abuse)  compulsively skiing to the detriment of his marriage or family commitments, or even work; he may "devote or surrender himself obsessively to skiing." He may be doing something harmful to his marriage or job, but when the season is over, he does not have physiological withdrawal. He may feel loss, but more likely will find another process to participate in "habitually or obsessively."

This behavior is compulsive, but it is not the same as addiction to a mind altering substance. The danger here, to continue with this example, is in substituting skiing for alcohol, heroin, prescription pills, or speed. Certainly physical exercise is good for everyone, and can be helpful to the addict who is discontinuing the use of a mind altering substance; but if the addict simply begins to use skiing compulsively and does not embrace the work and process of recovery, he is likely to return to substance use and abuse when the season is over. He will find skiing only goes so far in helping deal with the underlying pain, anger, and other feelings he has been covering up with substances and now with obsessive skiing.

The point is that the addict is the problem; the skiing, even the substance, is not really the problem. A non-addict can have an intense interest in something, perhaps reading or art, or some form of exercise. This passion does not become destructive. The non-addict (I hesitate to say "normal person" as everyone’s idea of what constitutes normal is different) does not switch from intense and passionate reading, writing, painting, or skiing to abuse of alcohol or pills when he stops reading, writing, painting, or skiing. Non-addicts can have an intense interest or passion for something; this is not addiction; it is intense interest or passion for something that enhances their lives and is not destructive; they are not addicts; they are passionate and intense people or people with intense and passionate interests.

The real issue here is that addicts are different from other people. If you ever have the opportunity to listen to an addict (even one in recovery for many years) try to explain to a non-addict (spouse, therapist, friend or family) how he thinks or feels, and see the puzzled look on the non-addict’s face, then watch two addicts talking to each other, nodding their heads and finishing each others sentences, you will see the difference.

Again, the danger for the addict is in substituting something for the drug instead of working on recovery; it does not usually last and it does not provide for resolution of past issues and progression to a clean, sober, and responsible life.

So, to answer the question, "is everyone addicted to something?" No, some people are addicts and they are susceptible to becoming addicted to any substance or process they use. Other people, perhaps 85% to 90% of the population, are not addicts; they can safely have intense interests and not risk destructive and harmful addictions or physiological withdrawal symptoms.

David

Alcohol and health effects of alcohol on the body can be short term or long term effects. The consumption of alcohol and health related problems can occur over a short time frame, while other conditions and long term effects of alcohol on the body may only happen following years of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol comes into direct contact with the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach and intestines as well as being absorbed into the bloodstream. Health problems can begin as headaches, feeling nauseated, sore throat or indigestion. However, if alcohol abuse continues, these and other alcohol and health symptoms can develop into more serious illnesses and diseases.

Here are examples of short term health effects of alcohol on the body:

• Nausea, Vomiting, Dizziness, Hangovers - excessive alcohol consumption can result in the body trying to protect itself by getting rid of the alcohol and vomiting. Alcohol and health and the central nervous system are related since alcohol affects a person’s sense of balance and orientation, leading to a feeling of nausea and/or dizziness. Hangovers are partly due to the body’s dehydration caused by alcohol consumption, and hangover effects of alcohol on the body may be felt a few hours after consuming alcohol.

• Loss of Muscle Control - slurred speech is one of the effects of alcohol on the body. Impaired judgement and poor coordination are alcohol and health effects that can lead to falls and accidents.

• Adverse Interactions with Medications - alcohol is known to interact negatively with at least 100 medications. For example, antihistamines taken with alcohol can increase the drowsiness that this medication by itself can cause. Large doses of the painkiller acetaminophen taken together when consuming alcohol increases the risk of liver damage.

• Pregnancy Risks - alcohol can cause numerous birth defects, the most serious being fetal alcohol syndrome. Babies born with fetal alcohol syndrome will have physical abnormalities, mental impairment and problems with behavior. To avoid negative alcohol and health effects during pregnancy, do not drink alcohol during pregnancy as no one knows exactly how much alcohol causes birth deffects.

Because alcohol and health effects can involve many organs in the body, long-term heavy drinking puts you at risk for developing serious health conditions and illnesses. Here are examples of long term effects of alcohol on the body:

• Liver Inflammation and Cirrhosis of the Liver - liver inflammation symptoms include abnormal yellowing of the skin, eyeballs and urine, fever and abdominal pain. And in the case of cirrhosis, as many as one in five heavy drinkers will develop cirrhosis of the liver. Alcohol is especially harmful to the liver since the liver is needed to metabolize alcohol. Alcohol destroys liver cells, and it destroys the ability of the liver to regenerate new cells.

• Cancer - long term heavy drinkers increase their risk for certain forms of cancer such as cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus and colon.

• Heart disease - long term heavy drinking increases a person’s risk for developing high blood pressure and heart disease.

• Pancreaitis - long term heavy drinking can result in developing inflammation of the pancreas, called pancreaitis. The pancreas are needed for food digestion, and pancreaitis symptoms include severe abdominal pain and weight loss. Pancreaitis can be life-threatening.

Additional long term negative alcohol and health effects on the body include damage to the brain, nerve damage, bleeding in the esophagus, erectile dysfunction in men, insomnia and depression. If you’d like to learn more about alcoholism stages and warning signs, there are proven resources available that can help. It is never too late to begin recovery from alcohol addiction.

Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing

Michael

Sexual addiction can be defined as an obsessive sex drive that has gone out of control of the individual. It is termed as a process addiction & quite different from substance addiction such as alcohol or drug addiction.

In case of a process addiction, the individual experiences a high from chemicals released in to the brain & not from any external source.

At a stage, the mind gets accustomed to the release of these chemicals & it searches out for extended sources of high. Now this can be in any form such as eating, putting oneself in dangerous situation or even from sexual stimuli.

Addiction to sex can take several forms such as the use of pornography, masturbation, repeated sexual affairs, voyeurism, extra martial affairs & patronizing prostitutes.

Under extreme cases, addiction to sex can even result in rape, murder or molestation. In most forms of sexual addiction, the behavior is done in secret & the addict becomes an expert in hiding his secret life from others around him.

Sexual addiction can be caused due to exposure to porn at a young age. Under these circumstances, the addict keeps up to his habits even after marriage.

A sexual addict tends to affect his personal relationships. The individual experiences a higher sex drive as compared to his partner & when his desires are not met, he rebels in different ways. When denied for favors, a sexual addict stops providing emotional support to his spouse & ultimately damages the relationship.

In most cases, the problem results in divorce or bitter feelings among the partners. The sex addict becomes extremely obsessed with meeting his own needs at the expense of those around him. This damages his relationships.

The problem keeps on increasing for a sex addict. He craves for more stimulation & ends up acting out the fantasies that are formed in the mind. The wife becomes an object of sexual gratification in this relationship. The addict does not mind seeking thrills of an increasingly illicit nature.

Sex addicts often deny having a problem & try to blame others for problems or make excuses for their actions.

Some of the behaviors related to sexual addiction include compulsive masturbation, extra marital affairs, having more than one sexual partners, one-night stands, molestation, sexual harassment, rape, voyeurism, obsessive dating through personal ads, use of prostitutes, phone sex, computer or cyber sex, exhibitionism & consistent use of pornography.

Usually, a sex addict gains less satisfaction from the sexual activity & forms no emotional bond with his or her sex partners. Most sex addicts deny their problem. The treatment is provided only when one accepts that he has a problem. In most cases, the addict faces problems such as breakup of relationship, loss of job, health crisis or an arrest. The circumstances often force the addict to admit to his problem.

While undergoing a treatment the individuals is encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle. The treatment includes education on healthy sexuality, individual counseling, family therapy &/or marital therapy. There are several programs arranged for people with sexual addictions.

In some cases, health care practitioners suggest using medications to treat the disease. Some of the common medications used to treat sexual addiction include Prozac & Anafranil.

Shannon

There are so many different types of addiction today and they seem to be increasing as time goes by.

The most common addictions people think of when they hear the word addiction are those to alcohol and drugs. These two may be the most common and affect the largest number of people, however, many people struggle with other types of addiction.

I will touch on the most common addictions in this article.

At one point in time smoking was the cool or the in thing to do. However, smoking is not the problem, but the addiction to nicotine is. Many people have tried and failed many times to quit their nicotine addiction.

Today smoking is less tolerated. There have been many laws passed which have made those people who smoke more of a target. This has helped to reduce nicotine addiction considerably over time.

Who would have thought that eating would become a problem. However, with the number of fast food restaurants and television food shows, eating, or over eating has become one of the biggest health risks in the U.S.

As a society we are becoming less and less active which only compounds the problem. The risks of diabetes and heart disease only complicate this particular addiction.

One of the fastest growing addictions has to be video games. This addiction affects people of all ages, from our young children all the way to the baby boomer’s.

What begins as a form of entertainment can easily progress in to an obsession. The popularity and the prices people pay for the newest players and games should give all of us an idea how this addiction has taken over many peoples lives.

The increasing popularity of the Internet has been accompanied by a rise in Internet addiction. Whether people are ensnared in chat, forums, web surfing or other online pursuits, the time spent in front of the computer can escalate into addiction territory.

Internet addiction is often accompanied by other types of addictions, such as an addiction to video games, porn, or online gambling.

For many people, sex is an addiction. Conquests become never-ending. The range of behaviors includes relation-hopping and mistaken addictions to what passes for love, where those affected look for love in all the wrong places and people.

Now here’s one that will surprise you. Shopping has become an addiction. Yes, I said shopping. The availability of credit cards has prompted people to purchase what ever their heart desires, even if they can’t afford to pay for it.

The shopping addiction has a dramatic income on families by ruining credit ratings and pushing bankruptcies and housing foreclosures to extreme levels.

Does reading about any of these addictions make you squirm in your seat? Well hang on, there’s help on the way. Stay tuned as we show you ways to over come your addictions.

If you’re like any one of the millions of people today caught in the throws of addiction, then you understand the frustration that comes with trying to live your life each and every day.

Perhaps you’re one of those people who as a result of their addiction has ended up in the courthouse, or even the psychiatric hospital. Maybe you’re homeless and living on the street, having to survive doing things you otherwise wouldn’t even imagine doing.

The truth of the matter is that it doesn’t matter where you are at this moment. What’s important is that you know and understand that there is a way to come up out of the hole your addiction has thrown you into.

There is a way to addiction recovery.

It’s easier than you think. Trust me. All it takes for you to get started is a desire to be a better person.

Addiction recovery is about self empowerment, even though perhaps you’ve been told over and over again that you’ll always be an addict.

Perhaps you yourself believe that you’ll always be an addict.

How empowering is that?

Think about it: If you’re constantly being told that you’ll always be an addict, where is there room for addiction recovery?

It is a fact that 80% of our actions are actually being run on auto pilot; that is, our sub conscience mind is doing all the work. That’s the part of our brain that we are not aware of. Fortunately, there is a way to tap into this.

You don’t need a group setting to do it, especially if your insurance doesn’t cover it; you don’t need to go away for 30 days, because quite frankly it’s just as easy to change you’re thinking without having to go anywhere.

Unless you’re being mandated to some kind of Addiction Recovery program, trust me, you can recover from addiction without all the hype.

Be prepared to take a different approach towards your recovery from addiction. If implemented, you will be discovering the real meaning of freedom.

You will know that you can recover from addiction, and you will do so with peace of mind, heart, and soul.

Thomas

You know, I was searching the web the other day and I ran across an article by a well known self-help guru. The article was titled “How to uncover your True Life Purpose in 20 Minutes!” And I thought to myself, I just have to read this! So as I began reading, I was instructed to get out a pen and piece of paper! Next, I was directed to clear my mind of all thought, and then to proceed by writing down whatever popped into my head. The author went on to claim that your true life purpose will be revealed by the written idea that makes you cry! Now, at that point of the juncture, I immediately became disenchanted and shook my head in total disbelief that someone could even write such misguided information! I wouldn’t dispute the fact that a few tears would flow as a result of the abovementioned exercise. However, that emotional outburst would be delivered by the shear frustration of writing page after page of ideas that have absolutely nothing to do with your true purpose!

Think about this! Many people search their entire lifetime for their soul mate, but they never find them, do they? Perhaps that’s because they’re armed with the wrong tools, and their searching in the wrong place. You see, it’s impossible to use external analytics to find your soul mate. And trying to find your true life purpose by using the same method is equivalent to trying to find your soul mate without your soul! Your true life purpose is etched in your soul, and the only way to unlock it is by connecting to your higher consciousness. However, most people fail to accomplish that because they don’t understand how to remove the blocks that are preventing that contact. These blocks are often caused by fears and insecurities that stem from various patterns of family dysfunction such as control, abuse, abandonment and alcoholism. These patterns often undermine self-esteem and rob many people of their personal power, which renders it all but impossible to connect to a higher level of consciousness. As an example, Sue wants to attract her soul mate. When asked to describe the qualities of her ultimate mate she offers the following:

Passionate

Compassionate

Selfless

Kind

Generous

Understanding

Honest

Trustworthy

Able to express love openly

That all sounds great, doesn’t it? But, the chances of Sue achieving success on her soul mate quest are slim to none. Here’s why; Sue had been subjected to verbal abuse and abandonment as a child, which ultimately crushed her self-esteem and personal power. As a result, she has lived most of her life with issues of trust and a fear of abandonment. These self-limiting beliefs are buried deep in the subconscious mind and are very powerful when it comes to universal manifestation. In essence, Sue is living an ego or fear based existence instead of acting from her true self or soul. So, in all likelihood, sue will attract someone she can’t trust and/or who will eventually abandon her.

Now, at this point, you may be asking; what does soul mate attraction have to do with discovering my true life purpose? Well, the answer is everything! You see, the very same fears and insecurities prevent the necessary connection to higher consciousness that is required to reveal ones true path. If you want to get to the rose garden you’re going to have to pull yourself out of the mud puddle. In other words, uncovering your true path requires courage. But, it also requires a commitment to embracing a journey that will have some unexpected twist and turns along the way. In fact, many people who unveil their life purpose often say, “gee, I never thought I’d be doing that in a million years!” As an example, if anyone would have suggested that I would become an author who has written 10 books and over 100 articles, I would have instantly dismissed them as a complete loon! At the time, I had absolutely no reason to think otherwise because I completely despised the subject of English. In fact, whenever my teacher would ask me to diagram a sentence, it was everything I could do to refrain from regurgitating! You see, it’s rarely what you perceive it to be on the surface. So, can you now understand why it’s impossible to uncover your true purpose by writing a few phrases in 20 minutes? If you’re really committed to unlocking this secret, you’ll need to clear away all the garbage and surrender your will. Now, when I say surrender, I don’t mean that you should turn everything over to the universe and expect the goods to be delivered to your doorstep. You still need to drive your car, but you’re going to have to do it with a different driver. A driver that knows how to read the signs!

OK! So, here’s what to do to get started;

Uncover, confront and liberate yourself from your fears and insecurities ( Set boundaries and establish principles) (Sometimes you just have to say no)

Learn the proper techniques for forgiveness (This applies to others as well as yourself)

Learn how to restore your self-esteem and personal power

Learn the correct way to practice self-reflection or meditation

If you’d like more information on the 5 step process to uncover your true life purpose visit my websites below to download my free e-guides.

overcoming addiction 

how to stop drinking without aa

David Roppo – Overcoming Addiction

Regards,

David Roppo

The Addiction Freedom Coach

Trish

Current base theory for most Treatment

What is the essence of addiction from a scientific standpoint? What facts support the foundation that supposes that an “addict” has no control and that free will has nothing to do with their ability to stop? What indicates that without help, they have little or no hope of recovering, from this “state of addiction” that has occurred in their brain?

The overwhelming, compulsive, uncontrollable use of drugs is a central factor in the life of an addict. Their need to satisfy the cravings becomes dominant in all behavior. It does not matter what drug they choose. Nothing will satisfy the overwhelming craving except their drug-of-choice. Meth users will not settle for heroin. Heroin users will not be satisfied with marijuana. Crack users have no desire for downers (sedatives, painkillers, etc). It is not about coming down, fearing dramatic withdrawal symptoms, or anything like that, that produces continued cravings (though an addict will use these to justify and rationalize illegal, immoral things that they do to obtain the drug). In fact, there are few withdrawal symptoms associated with crack and methamphetamines, two of the most addictive substances known. It is not the physical part that matters. It is truly the psychological aspect of addiction that produces cravings that result in continued use of and progressively, using more and more of the chosen drug. It’s actually more like “the drug chose them”, for the addict. Free will and the ability to turn away from drugs is no longer an option. An addict cannot do this for his job, his health or, sadly, even his mother or his wife; not even for his own children. Physical harm, jails and prisons, and often even the possibility of death are just obstacles to be overcome in the insatiable need for, and quest to obtain, the addicts’ drug-of-choice! Having lost the ability to choose not to use the drug, the addicts’ life progressively centers more and more on the drug. Drugs become the reason to get up and get out of bed. Drugs become the excuse not to do things that discourage their use. They are “thee pleasure” in the addicts’ life. Addicts in later stages of addiction will even choose that, drug-of-choice, over the euphoric pleasure of sex! Use of money is prioritized with, obtaining drugs, as number one. You see, the addict has to have that drug! Unless his craving is appeased nothing can be all right for the addict. When they are compulsively obsessing over the need to satisfy the cravings few barriers exist. Principles, rules and morality become non-existent. This is the truth regarding the disease of addiction that changes a user into the fiend that addicts eventually become.

How can this be?

I can’t imagine anyone being that weak!

Don’t they care about anything?

I just can’t understand what is wrong with him!

Doesn’t she see what is happening to her life?

ADDICTION IS A DISEASE OF THE BRAIN,, RESULTING IN FUNDAMENTAL, LONG LASTING CHANGES!

You are going to need to remind yourself that addiction is a chronic,

progressive, fatal disease… At the same time, seeing it as a disease cannot be an excuse… its being a disease is the “reason” for many things, but not an excuse. Addiction is a “treatable” disease even though it is chronic and subject to relapses. As with most potentially fatal diseases, addiction often requires more than one episode of treatment.

Understand this; you are an addict because drugs have changed your brain. Your state of being has been totally taken over by the drug. Learn to equate this disease with diabetes. It is not cured. It is held back by multiple ongoing episodes of treatment. As with most diseases, often a crisis occurs that requires more than the daily maintenance that suffices most often. This is most often a relapse into using.

Though addiction is a disease of the brain, it is also much more than that. It is far more complicated because of the fact that the human brain is the most complicated organ in any living organism. The brain controls every system in the body. Every characteristic unique to the human being is a result of our uniquely complicated brain. The human brain produces things that are mostly exclusive to humans. Conscience, remorse, morality, philosophy, religious beliefs, science, mechanics, and the list goes on… drugs have fundamentally caused long lasting changes in the addict, in the thing responsible for all of this… the Brain. Is it any wonder that you have trouble understanding the problems that result from addiction?

NEUROTRANSMITTERS: chemicals in the brain that are responsible for communication between the nerve cells of which the brain and all of the nervous system are composed… The cells themselves and a few very unique organs in the body produce these type of chemicals.

Don’t worry, this chemistry lesson is about as complicated as we’ll get!

“DOPAMINE”

The changes in levels and availability of this neurotransmitter or brain chemical, somehow cause changes at a cellular level that translate into compulsive, uncontrollable drug use on the behavioral level! This means that these brain changes, over time, get translated into behavior changes. this is why you are bewildered at what you observe.

ABOUT DOPAMINE:

Initially, people take drugs because they like what they do to their brain. Amid a whole series of brain changes, one is a surge of Dopamine, that occurs when the drugs we commonly classify as addictive, are taken. When a drug produces a really sharp spike in Dopamine it is extremely pleasurable. The odds are very high that one will experience extreme euphoria with this drug, and it will be addictive! It’s no surprise that Dopamine is the brain chemical involved in signaling all of our normal pleasurable experiences, such as… Sex, eating, laughter, love, smoking, and surely, getting high. Here the problem arises! After taking drugs for a lengthy amount of time, this includes all addictive substances we know of, the addict’s Dopamine levels are generally lowered. This in itself will cause a nearly complete personality change. Some people experience chronic dysphoria and/or depression as a result. Major behavioral changes become apparent at this point. This then is no longer the person that you once knew. They now have a basically different brain, as if the mad scientist accidentally transplanted the “wrong” or “bad” brain. This is hard to accept if you don’t know the things that you are now learning. To learn more go to my Web Site, Addiction: Why Me?

Edgar

Alcohol addiction is the most common addiction present in the world today. Hence the number of patients taking alcohol addiction treatment is more than patients of any other treatment program. There are many rehab centers for treating the alcohol addiction and all has different set of programs to treat their patients. But overall, the alcohol addiction treatment program has three main steps that are common in all those rehab programs. These three steps are intervention, detoxification and rehabilitation. The alcohol treatment program is based on these three main steps and these steps are common in all the rehab centers.

1. Intervention: Intervention programs are held to make the addict understand what havoc is being wreaked on their physical and mental health due to the alcohol addiction. Intervention programs help the addict to come to terms that they need a treatment and help them in joining the treatment center. The work of the intervention program doesn’t stop here. The intervention program remains throughout the program, till the addict comes out of the treatment center and leads a normal life. The intervention program also takes active participation from the family and friends of the addict. In most cases, the family plays the major role in the intervention program.

Sometimes the intervention program also includes the employer of the addict or any religious leader or an educational institute. The main work of the intervention program is to make the addict aware about their problem and make them, realize that they need treatment. The addicts first deny that they are ill and need treatment and this denial process is the biggest hurdle in making the population addiction free. With the help and support of the family, the interventionist will try to bring the addict out of his or her denial mode and join a treatment center.

The interventionist will train the group of people who want to help the addict come out of their denial phase. The interventionist will guide the patient on various ways in which the family and friends can make the addict aware about what they are doing wrong. The program for this purpose will also be planned by the interventionist. The group members will be given the counseling to deal with the situation and also be prepared for giving proper motivating speeches to the addict.

2. Detoxification: In the detoxification process, the patient will be made to abstain from the addictive substance. The patient will show some withdrawal symptoms when made to abstain in such a manner. These symptoms will depend upon the extent of the addiction, and also on the nature of the addiction. Those who are into addiction from long time will face major withdrawal symptoms. After starting the detoxification process within a day or two, the symptoms will start appearing, which might last for up to a week or more, depending on the condition of the patient’s addiction.

Due to this reason, the detoxification process is always carried out in inpatient treatment program, as the patient needs a 24-hour medical supervision. Various medications will be given to the patient in order to decrease the cravings, of the patient for the addictive substance. If the patient is into mild alcohol abuse, then the detoxification process can be carried out in outpatient treatment program too.

3. Rehabilitation: Once the patient is out of the withdrawal symptoms, the rehabilitation program starts. Anytime the patient can go into relapse and that is why in this program there are various things carried out on the patient at one go. To keep the patient away from going into relapse, the patient will be kept on various medications. In order to keep the patient away from his or her cravings for alcohol, they will be given counseling. Here patient will be taught methods to control themselves. These methods are Yoga, breathing techniques and relaxation exercises.

One more purpose of the alcohol addiction treatment program is to make the person adjust well in the society after the treatment gets over. For this, the healthcare provider, family and friends all will try to boost the confidence level of the patient. The patient will be advised to join social activities. The patient will also be given motivation to join a hobby.

There are various small steps involved in the alcohol addiction treatment but overall the procedure for treating the alcohol addict is same in most of the treatment centers. Depending upon the addiction level of the patient, he or she will be advised to join either inpatient or outpatient treatment program. In inpatient treatment program the patient will have to stay in the treatment center. While for outpatient treatment program the patient will need to visit the treatment center few times a week.

Warren

Over-attachment to anything is a serious problem. People are addicted to different things – drugs, cigarette, alcohol, cartoons, and computer games are just a few things that people fall addicted to.

No one really thought seriously about TV addiction until recently, when a research found the characteristic behavior of persons addicted to drugs and to TV is the same. That is, persons addicted to TV shows the same behavioral patterns like someone who is addicted to drugs.

Definition of addiction: inability to overcome the dependence on anything, in spite of serious efforts from one’s part is an addiction. Serious withdrawal symptoms are another characteristic of addiction.

For example – someone who is addicted to drugs know he/she must break away from drugs, tries in that direction, but is unable to free oneself from the influence of drugs.

Different studies conducted by universities from different parts of the world suggest the strong parallels between TV addiction and drug addiction.

Researchers studied the brain waves of people, who were serious about withdrawing from TV.

The persons experience maximum pleasure while preparing for watching TV – he/she feels happy while taking the remote control and while switching on the TV. Once the TV program is over, he or she returns to the previous state of tension and mental stress. He/she wants to reach before TV to once again feel peaceful.

This experience has strong parallels to that of drug addiction, where drug addicts feel disturbed when the drug stops working in their body and they inject more drugs into their blood.

This is not true for all TV viewers. People who watch TV for more than four hours a day exhibit these behavior patterns and one tenth of total TV viewers are haplessly addicted to TV.

The Serious Problems Associated with TV Addiction

• Anxiety

• Lethargy

• Prefers solitude

• Turns away from social situations

• Difficulty getting along with others

• Risk of obesity

TV Addiction in Children

Children below 12 years of age are especially vulnerable to the dangers of TV addiction. They can forget everything about their studies and spend so much time before TV.

When parents try to minimize time spent before time, the children protest and in an unhealthy way. Self harm and destruction are common.

Studies have also found that children enslaved to TV mature early and feel helpless before difficulties.

Some Things You Can Do to Prevent TV Addiction

@ – Spend time engaging in physical activities, sports, hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering, swimming, tree climbing, etc according to one’s physical capacity.

@ – Read books including novels, short stories, poetry, science fiction stories, science magazines, etc.

@ – Engage in indoor games like chess, caroms, scrabble, board games, etc.

@ – Be active at a social service club (so far the best antidote for all stress related problems).

All the above activities are helpful in overcoming addiction to TV. While you feel energy sapped, lethargic and tensed after prolonged TV viewing, these activities make you feel refreshed.

Lewis

NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkaw said, “The results of this study represent a promising step toward an effective medical treatment for cocaine addiction.”

Many experienced drug rehab professionals are not so enthused about the prospect of a new wonder drug that will treat cocaine addiction with any success.  “It is just history repeating itself in regard to drug addiction,” said Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor for the Narconon Arrowhead residential drug rehabilitation program, Rebecca Pool, C.A.D.C..  “In the 1800’s heroin was invented and promoted to treat morphine and opium addiction.  Morphine addicts became heroin addicts.  Methadone, developed by the Nazi’s during World War II, was promoted as a cure to treat heroin addiction in the early 1970’s. Subsequently heroin addicts became methadone addicts.  Then came suboxone to treat methadone addiction leading to methadone users getting hooked on suboxone and so the story goes. Developing new drugs to treat drug addiction has not worked, history tells us that.”

It is well known that a large portion of the addiction treatment industry has settled on substitute medications as a means to prevent addicts from falling back into their unhealthy lifestyle.  According to Narconon’s Pool, “The problem with this approach is that it does not help the individual discover and deal with the initial problems that lead them in the direction of drug addiction in the first place.  Here at Narconon we have found that the solution to solving addiction is to help the person rehabilitate themselves as opposed to ‘treating’the symptoms of drug addiction for an indefinite and ongoing period of time.”  

The Narconon Arrowhead rehabilitation program uses a thorough detoxification program followed by counseling and life skills training to bring about recovery from addiction. One drug is not replaced by another so when a person completes the program they are completely drug-free.  The length of the program varies from person to person but on average takes three to five months. Seventy percent of Narconon program graduates go on to live drug-free lives.

If someone you know is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol and you want to help them achieve lasting recovery, call Narconon Arrowhead today. Call Narconon at 1-800-468-6933 for free addiction counseling, referral and free assessment of visit us at our website www.stopaddiction.com

Marie

Addiction can be defined as a family disease. It is a fact that the entire family suffers with the addict. This is the reason that professionals consider treatment of the family to be the part of the whole treatment of addiction.

First, it is important to understand that the tendency to become addicted is genetically transmitted. This is proved by a research that has been undertaken to know the exact reason of raise in the cases of addiction.

When it comes to the family suffering, there are a number of ways a family suffers with the addict. According to a study, about one third of the families in the United States have at least one member in the family with a substance abuse problem.

About one-fourth of this problem exists in nuclear family. In such families, there are more chances of divorce, domestic violence, anxiety, child abuse, depression and general medical problems.

When an addict & the whole family gets into the recovery mode, many effects of depression are supposes to go away in a couple of years. However, there needs to be an active participation from the addict, the family & the recovery professional.

It may be quite difficult to deal with addiction in the family as it’s hard to see a family member in trouble but one needs to be strong enough to cope up with such troubles. The most important thing to remember is that there are many important issues to explore as soon as someone in your family requires help. First, you need to make out whether you are contributing to the core problem or working towards eliminating it.

Here are certain contributions you may be making to increase the problem:

• Making yourself believe that you are responsible for the whole scenario rather than caring for yourself.

• Getting judgmental towards the addicted person.

• Concealing the addict’s behavior & covering up for them.

• Doing certain things for the addict that they require to carry out all by themselves.

• Accepting your lack of control & giving up after some trials.

• Paying attention to your feelings & needs rather than taking care of the addict.

Here are certain important facts that you must know regarding how to deal with addiction:

• The family must suggest some actions to the addict that are required to help him get out of the addiction.

• Individual counseling also works really well with the addict. Here, a professional puts an effort to provide some cool tips to get out of the situation and fight addiction bravely.

• People who are fighting against a drug or alcohol addiction, a variety of detox treatments are suggested and these treatments may be conducted in a hospital, specific clinic or even a treatment facility.

• Certain types of addiction also require adept or special type of medication. For instance, a drug called nicorette helps a lot to those addicted to smoking.

• One can also contact self recovery groups where special help is provided to addicts. Addicts are taught how to recover & maintain their self esteem here.

• Different types of out-patient facilities are also available where the addict is provided adept treatment. He needs to visit where facilities regularly in order to meet their program expectations.

The task of helping an addict overcome his problem may be difficult but with hard work & determination, it is possible.

Shannon