Choosing the Right Alcohol Drug Abuse Treatment

Alcohol drug abuse treatment

Consumption of alcohol is a very common thing in today's society. It has been for a long time, but the access to alcohol has become quite huge even amongst teenagers. This had led to increased consumption too. What begins as a curiosity soon takes over and becomes an addiction. To a lot of addicts, they do not even know they are addicted. Such problems are complicated when the effects begin showing up both physically and mentally. At this point, life becomes so miserable that going through the treatment too becomes quite complicated.

A lot of thought has been given to alcohol drug abuse treatment. While most of the programs that have been created have had very moderate success rates and many have either been invalidated or becoming obsolete. Treatment for alcoholism is a very complex issue if not done correctly. But if done in a very proper methodology, alcohol treatment can be very simple. It all lies in the understanding of the whole process. Treatments need to be holistic in the sense that they not just take on the alcohol problem but think and work towards overall physical, mental and emotional levels. This means that a program needs to learn about the patient, understand his/her weaknesses and strengths and work to increase the will power to help him/her come out of the addiction. A lot of resources are available today to help people find good treatment programs. Most of these are online and so more accessible, and a lot of information can be obtained from here.

Lunesta Revealed: 7 Things You Must Know Before You Buy Lunesta Prescriptions

Lunesta is a newly released sleeping pill. Marketed as a revolutionary sleep aid, Lunesta is the only medication approved by the FDA for long term treatment of insomnia symptoms. Although Lunesta is a quality medicine that has already helped many people cure their insomnia and get a better night's sleep, here are seven things you should know before you buy Lunesta prescriptions.

Lunesta Side Effects

All medications have side effects. Lunesta has side effects that you may experience during treatment. The side effects of Lunesta include:

1. Drowsiness

2. Dizziness

3. Lightheadedness

4. Difficulty with coordination

Obviously, we can be happy that Lunesta doesn't have a long list of scary side effects like many other prescription medicines. However, you should still use caution during the first couple days of taking Lunesta. You need to see how persistent the side effects are, if you experience them at all. If you feel they are interfering with daily life, talk to your doctor about lowering your dose.
As with all medications that may cause the side effects above, do not drink alcohol while using Lunesta. Alcohol will make them intense and hard to deal with.

Lunesta And Memory Problems

Lunesta may be the only sleeping pill that is FDA approved for long-term use, but it still has some of the same effects as other sleep aids. I'm talking about memory problems; also known as amnesia. When you're treating insomnia with Lunesta, you may have trouble remembering things if you go to bed too late at night, and have to get up for work early in the morning. Lunesta is designed to give you a great night's sleep without any interruptions, so waking up too early will leave you feeling "out of it." If you're getting plenty of sleep while using Lunesta, but are experiencing memory loss, talk to your doctor about lowering your dosage. Lunesta is available in 1mg, 2mg and 3mg dosages.

Lunesta Tolerance

Tolerance is an issue that nearly everyone deals with at some time while taking a prescription medication. Your body can develop tolerance to a medication over long-term use, making it less effective in treating your symptoms. However, Lunesta showed groundbreaking results in a six-month clinical trial: Not one person developed tolerance to their Lunesta treatment, and they continued symptom-free for the entire six months! Hopefully, you will not need treatment for such a long time, but some of us are unlucky enough to have chronic sleep problems that are ongoing.

Lunesta Dependence

Some people taking sleep medicines such as Lunesta, Ambien and Sonata develop dependence over a long period of time. This means that with long-term use of sleep aids, our bodies may get used to having the medicine. When we stop taking it suddenly, we may experience unpleasant effects, called withdrawal symptoms. Lunesta is not a highly addictive substance, but as with anything you get used to, it is usually hard to suddenly give it up. Your doctor will help you gradually lower your dosage until you can stop taking Lunesta without experiencing withdrawal.

Lunesta Withdrawal

Now that you know about the possibility of dependence on Lunesta, let's go over the withdrawal symptoms you might experience if you stop treatment suddenly. The most common symptoms are just unpleasant feelings. No other withdrawal symptoms were experienced by people involved in the clinical trials. However, we know that other similar sleeping aids such as Ambien and Sonata can very rarely cause some more serious symptoms of withdrawal. These may include stomach and muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, jitteriness, and in only a few reported cases, seizures. The best way to relieve these worries is to talk it all over with your doctor to make sure Lunesta is right for you.

Lunesta And Personality Changes

Let me first say that these changes in behavior and thinking were not observed during Lunesta treatment in clinical trials. However, since Lunesta is similar to other sleep medicines that have been known to cause these symptoms, you should know that they are a possibility.

Sleeping medicines have been known to cause the following behavioral changes:

1. Some people become more outgoing and sometimes aggressive.

2. You may become confused at times.

3. Strange behavior may occur.

4. Others may notice that you're in an agitated state.

5. You may notice a worsening of depression.

6. Hallucinations are fun for some people, but not when you never wanted them in the first place. Make sure to talk to your doctor about lowering your Lunesta dose if you have hallucinations.

7. Finally, you may have suicidal thoughts while taking Lunesta or another sleeping pill. Talk to your doctor about this if you experience such thoughts.

Lunesta During Pregnancy And Breastfeeding

If you're pregnant, it may be alright for you to take Lunesta prescriptions until around the last few weeks before birth. Why? During those last few weeks, your unborn baby may take in some of the Lunesta that is present in your body after you take your dose. The effects of this are unknown, so it's best to just play it safe. Talk to your doctor before starting Lunesta if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Lunesta is excreted in small amounts through breastmilk, so please do not take Lunesta while you are still breastfeeding your baby.

Annuities 101 - For a Better Understanding

Annuities 101 is a guide to give you the clear idea about annuities and on better investments. An annuity is an understanding between you and your insurance company, who would help you to get returns on the invested money in the company. It is a retirement benefit plan which also helps you enjoy the compound interest, tax - deferred. The literal meaning of the word annuity is annual payments. The insurance company allows you to get periodic returns from the money invested in the company.

In most cases annuities allow withdrawal at least once a year without paying company withdrawal charges (10-15 of the accumulated money). The other way to receive your income is through systematic withdrawals. Systematic withdrawal program allows the investor to get a flow of money monthly, quarterly or yearly depending on the choice of the investor. Not only this by opting systematic withdrawal plan one can start or stop the income payments with the needs. You can also get your amount of payments increased or decreased accordingly. Without giving up the control over your money you can enjoy the benefits of deferred tax. Even though the exhaustion of your earnings, tax - free return of principal remains.

Annuities are less understood by people have developed certain myths regarding it. Some of the people have the conception that if they die, their money remains with the annuity company. To add on to this some also think that Annuities are too expensive and unaffordable. To break these notions Annuity 101 provides guidelines and channelizes the thoughts to the proper sources, where there are less chances of getting misled.

The three trends making annuities an increasingly important retirement plan:

· The US life expectancy has gone up according to the recent records on the release of disease control and prevention methods.
· Fewer Americans are covered conventional pension plans.
· The qualifying for taking social security has increased.
· To bring it into a nutshell recognizing retirement income has become more of an individual responsibility.

Therefore it can be well concluded that an annuity plan is an investment plan not only for the rich but also for the poor.

Information From a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center

Addicts are provided with provisional enjoyment and relief from using drugs and alcohol. The ill effects of addiction are numerous, but obvious when you are on the outside looking in. It can badly control any normal life causing dismal performance on the job, in college and in society at large. You will be effortlessly able to become aware of changes in behavioral patterns such as robbery from family members, recurrent arguments and fighting with family members or friends about your addiction problem.

However, one should bear in mind that there should be no retaliation to the addict when there is an argument with the addict about the addictive behavior. This person is not thinking rationally and any discussion is in vain because this person has already decided the path to take when it comes to using drugs and drinking alcohol. This will only worsen the situation. All the pessimistic behavior pattern are as a result to the addiction and many people do not understand this. As soon as the addict is able to conquer this addiction through a drug and alcohol treatment program, the recovering addict will certainly be able to go ahead with a normal life without cause of any trouble which the addict would have done prior to receiving treatment and getting to complete recovery in the process.

The normal function of the body is also affected negatively and that is one of the reasons why addicts are identified as sufferers of various health issues. The immune system is a natural defense system of the body that helps it fight any kind illness naturally. However, an addict's immune system is generally weak and for that reason you can find that an addict is usually easy to succumb to viral infections and other illnesses. If the person continues on the path to addiction, the body will not be able to fight against other dangerous diseases.

As determined by the drug and alcohol treatment program, the addict's body weight is usually lower than normal. The main cause behind it is that the addict no longer has an urge to eat food on a regular basis. However, this same addict will not think twice about taking drugs or drinking alcohol on a regular basis.

Drugs and alcohol can cause permanent harm and the only way to prevent this it to be admitted into a drug and alcohol treatment facility. It will not only supply medication to counteract the addiction, but also be trained on things such as having self-control, resisting temptation, having an optimistic mindset and becoming more spiritually aware. Even though it may seem very difficult to relinquish the power of substance abuse, it is only possible at drug and alcohol treatment center.

The recovering addict is put in a program that caters to their individual needs and helps them to make the decision to quit their addictive behavior once and for all. The program directs them to a lead a life of normalcy in society and gives them the tools to do so effectively and efficiently.

Alcohol Detox Symptom Checklist

An alcohol detox symptom checklist helps you prepare for alcohol detoxification. You are more likely to complete your detox program successfully if you know what to expect going in to the program. You may not experience everything on the checklist, but if you do, you will know it is part of the process.

Before entering a detox program, you are assessed to determine the severity of withdrawal symptoms. The assessment has two components. You provide a self-assessment of how you feel. You may not connect everything you feel to alcohol withdrawal. Your counselor will help you with this. The second component is provided through observation. Medical professionals observe you over a set period of time and write down observed symptoms.

You will have both physical and mental symptoms of withdrawal. The physical signs are often more obvious. You may sweat profusely. Nausea is a common symptom that can lead to bouts of vomiting. You may have tremors or shake uncontrollably. You can suffer excruciating abdominal pain as a result of alcohol withdrawal.

Some physical symptoms may not be apparent to an observer. You are likely to feel an overwhelming craving for alcohol. You may become tense or anxious. Be sure to let a medical professional know what you are feeling. Some people can hide these physical symptoms of withdrawal.

Mental symptoms are usually harder to hide because they become apparent during conversation. Depression often sets in during detox. You feel beaten down and hopeless. Despair becomes your primary emotion, resulting in a depression that may eventually have to be addressed with medicine. If you are depressed, you may not be willing to talk to anyone. You appear disinterested.

Another mental symptom is confusion. An observer is able to tell immediately if you are confused. You may be confused about where you are or why you are there. Confusion may occur as you try to remember certain moments in the past and can't recall things you think you should. You might experience hallucinations as a result of alcohol withdrawal. Although hallucinations are temporary, they can seem very real and terrifying.

A common but rarely discussed alcohol detox symptom is fear. Many people are afraid of the actual process of detoxification. They don't know what to expect. What if something goes wrong? Fear is a very real symptom of withdrawal that can be one of the biggest obstacles to recovery. Use the alcohol detox symptom checklist prior to detox to help address as many fears as possible.

Retirement Annuity Options

Annuities offer the assurance of a stream of income for life or for a specific period of time. For investors who fear the potential loss of all their money the guarantee of an income stream is important and that is why many consider purchasing a fixed, variable or indexed annuity. This protection makes annuities for seniors a great retirement income source.

Historically, people wanting to secure an income stream in retirement purchased fixed annuities which provide a guaranteed rate of return on investment and a fixed payment every month after retirement.

Variable and Indexed Annuities

Today many choose variable annuities or indexed annuities where the returns are tied to the stock and bond markets. The returns on variable and indexed annuities are not guaranteed and vary with the markets.

Variable annuities have the potential of a greater return than fixed annuities and the risk of earning less.

Indexed Annuities also connected to stocks and bonds are designed to return a targeted rate which is higher than a fixed rate annuity. If the market falls the contract guarantees a minimum return limiting the risk of indexed annuities. In return for the minimum guarantee there is also a maximum return limit. The maximum limit is usually stated as a percentage of the return on the investment, for example 90% of the return on the investment would be credited to the annuity. Most returns on indexed annuities are also limited to returns from market price changes only and not from dividends.

Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit Riders for Variable and Indexed Annuities

Variable and indexed annuities are often marketed with benefit riders that mitigate the risk to the investor in periods of market decline. These riders come at a cost and may or not make sense for you based upon your specific circumstance.

The guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (GMWB) and the guaranteed minimum income benefit (GMIB) riders can cost between 50 and 75 basis points of the value of your annuity on a continuing basis. The GMWB guarantees the right to take annual withdrawals from your contract at your option at a specified minimum payment without annuitizing the contract. This specified minimum payment is determined by a fixed percentage stated in the rider that is applied to the greater of the premium or the cash value of the contract. The GMIB guarantees a minimum income after annuitization regardless of the account value fluctuations due to market conditions. Generally, the GMWB doesn't make sense unless you plan to hold the annuity for 15 to 20 years and make use of the withdrawal benefit. The GMIB is only useful if you plan to annuitize and hold your annuity beyond the required waiting period (typically 10 years). Many contracts limit the annuitization to lifetime payouts which would not necessarily be attractive for those who are dealing with health care issues or other large financial needs later in retirement.

Be sure to shop around and make sure the guaranteed withdrawal benefit rider you are considering is the best deal available in today's highly competitive market.

Many indexed annuities will offer guaranteed income riders with a 7-8% roll up rate which after average variable annuity fees and the cost of the riders is a better rate of return than the most variable annuities with a guaranteed income rider can offer.

Benefit riders are optional in a variable or indexed annuity purchase and should be evaluated based on their own merits, your current retirement income investments, your personal financial situation and financial goals. If you have questions and would like to have annuities explained, it's a good idea to work with a qualified advisor to help you evaluate which annuity options are best for you.

Timely Alcohol Detox Saves The Lives Of Drunk Drivers And Their Accident Victims

If you think drinking alcohol is a normal and acceptable social activity, you have a lot of company. The vast majority of Americans never think about the potential disaster they might cause by driving home after hoisting a few, let alone the risk of alcohol addiction. That's something that happens to movie stars and rock musicians who wind up in fashionable country-club alcohol detox centers.

So let me pose a few questions: Why is it okay to get drunk at every party since high school? Get smashed every weekend at college, and keep getting drunk at party after party as life goes on? And even worse, why is it okay to drive home drunk? Why do people laugh about it instead of getting into alcohol detox where they should be?

And here's another one: Why is drinking at a party any different from going to a friend's BBQ where everybody shoots up heroin? Or lies around on yoga mats smoking raw opium? Because the only real differences between alcohol and street drugs are not about addiction or danger, they're about social custom and the fact that alcohol is legal and cheap.

For some 25 million Americans, alcohol has proven every bit as addictive -- and far more physically debilitating -- than most other addictive drugs. Not only that, although heroin and opium can be difficult and extremely uncomfortable to withdraw from without drug detox, withdrawal rarely kills anyone. Alcohol withdrawal, on the other hand, can actually kill someone unless experienced alcohol detox professionals are on the case.

Every day we read about some person getting busted for DUI, about alcohol-related injuries, crimes and tragic deaths -- things we seldom consider when reaching for another drink at a party. If they're famous, the reporter may add that the person is "entering alcohol detox" or something of the sort, which is commendable and no joke, by the way.

But when was the last time you heard on the news that someone driving under the influence of opium or heroin crashed through a divider and killed somebody? I can't remember such a story, and maybe it could happen. But millions more people drive while impaired by alcohol than narcotics, and it affects drivers much more severely.

And while most people would have a negative reaction to any suggestion they try heroin or opium at a neighborhood BBQ or anywhere else, many go right on drinking until they're staggering, and then pick up the car keys and head for the door. They should be taking a taxi, probably to the nearest alcohol detox center.

I'm not sure of any scientific surveys, but I think the people with real alcohol problems are the ones who habitually drink and drive, not occasional drinkers. Such people should have their keys taken away from them and get into alcohol detox and rehab to deal with their problems.

Here's a case in point. A 32-year-old West Virginia man was convicted recently of felony driving under the influence of alcohol, causing death. Police said Brian Stone of Gans, PA, killed five people from two different families while driving drunk on Interstate 68 in West Virginia last year. Prosecutors said Stone's car was loaded with beer and his blood alcohol content was three times the legal limit.

Police say Stone killed Courtney Evans, 31, and 12-year-old Sawyer Evans, and injured Sheena Evans, 29, and their youngest son, 3-year-old John. Stone also killed Donnell Perry, 52, and daughters Jacquesha Perry, 13, and Jentil Perry, 15, and injured family members Marcia Perry, 18-year-old Justine Perry,10-year-old Cory Perry, 8-year-old Aynna Perry, and 18-month-old Mia Barnes.

Now here's the kicker: This was the seventh time Stone had been arrested for DUI, five times in the past five years alone. This is a person who needed alcohol detox and rehab a very long time ago. An alcohol detox could have paved the way for a full alcohol rehab program that actually saved the lives of five adults and children, and rescued the life of young man who is now looking at possibly decades in prison.

The overall cost to society of alcohol abuse dwarfs the costs of all other drugs. If someone you know and care for has a problem with alcohol, talk to an alcohol detox counselor as soon as possible. It's never too soon to get someone onto an alcohol detox that can open the door to full rehabilitation and a sober life.

Headache Prevention - Caffeine and Alcohol

Anyone who has a taste for coffee and works in an environment where several cups are consumed a day is in trouble re headaches, if they are separated from their caffeine for just a day. It's not such a problem for outdoors workers as they have to leave the job to seek out and pay for their coffee, or if they have a thermos of coffee onsite it may not be appropriate to stop regularly for a coffee break.

But in many offices it is a convention to drink many cups per day and often many ideas or gossip is exchanged while putting the next cup. Busy people will commonly consume large amounts of coffee in the hope of staying alert and that they can work faster.

We quickly become accustomed to high levels of caffeine and many people experience caffeine withdrawal symptoms on their day off of at the start of a holiday.

One cup per day can cause withdrawals

Some people are so sensitive to caffeine that just one strong cup per day can cause a headache if the coffee fix is missed.

I attended a weekend health seminar and on the Friday night we were requested to avoid caffeine and drink herbal teas. By lunch on the Saturday most of the seminar participants had a headache.

Another source of caffeine and potential withdrawal is energy drinks. With the kick of a very strong coffee and the ease of drinking several on a hot day your system will rapidly become used to this high caffeine level and you will experience headaches for the same reasons as coffee withdrawal.

We all know about alcohol induced headaches. The dreaded hangover, feeling like death warmed up. Tired, thirsty, nauseous and in pain. Your headache is the combination of de-hydration and liver stress.

The hair of the dog works up to a point

Some argue that a hair of the dog, i.e. more alcohol makes them feel better. This is actually true. You can delay the hangover and headache effect by forcing your liver to process more alcohol thereby delaying the after effect as the liver recovers. But you are only delaying the inevitable and you are just going to make the headache worse when it does arrive.

The worse headache possible

The worse combination is caffeine from energy drinks and alcohol combined. It is popular to buy jugs of vodka and a bull like drink in many bars. Its easy to drink, but the effect is amazingly bad. The caffeine keeps you awake so that you can consume more alcohol.

In the morning you have de-hydration plus a massive liver rebellion and most likely a digestive rejection of the combined toxins ingested the night before. To add insult to injury there will be most likely some late night fatty food consumed to further work your liver over.

Annuity Riders and Waivers

An annuity can make payments for as long as the annuitant lives and also protects the owner or annuitant from outliving their money. Annuities also offer many riders and waivers for policies owners to enjoy and use at their discretion.

Guarantee Income Benefit Rider(s)

These riders are usually attached to variable and index annuities. This value can grow from 5-8% compounded on a yearly basis. After deferring your annuity for period years, you may access this value and the payments will be made based on your age. The older you are the higher the payout percentage. It is important to keep in mind that your account value is still subject to market risk if you have variable annuity.

Return of Premium Rider

A return of premium rider (ROP) will refund any paid premiums you made into an annuity less any withdrawals to you without incurring a surrender charge. The rider will effectively negate any possible surrender charges and gives the client and the agent a reason to meet every year and discuss whether to keep the annuity or move the money somewhere else.

Long-Term Care Riders

A Long-Term Care rider provides long term care insurance in addiction to a steady stream of income. The 2006 Pension Protection act now allows for withdrawals from an annuity or life insurance policy with a long term care rider to be tax free to the individual for qualified long term care expenses.

Please Note

Applies to non-qualified money
Your money is used first
May be accessed after the 2nd year
All of the money has to be used within six years

Waivers

All annuities offer waivers where you can take your money out of the annuity without incurring a surrender charge or penalty.

Death Benefit Waiver

When the owner dies, the beneficiary receive the payment or payout from the annuity

Nursing Home Waiver

Annuity holders will not be charged a surrender fee when the client enters a nursing home. Most contracts allow for this rider to be exercised after the first year and the Dr. will have to sign off on the paperwork

Terminal Illness Waiver

If you become terminally ill, the policy will allow you to surrender the policy early without a surrender penalty. Again, your Dr. will have to submit paperwork to the insurance company but you will be able to access your money.

Bailout Feature

Some fixed and fixed index annuities offer a bailout feature. The feature allows you to terminate your contract if the insurance company lowers their interest rate or caps below a threshold. An example of this would be a provision where the bail out rate is specified to be 1% below the current rate being offered. If the contract renews 1% or more below the original rate, the client may move the money without a surrender charge.

Preventing Cravings When You Are Attempting to Give Up Smoking

It is a challenging task to try to quit smoking. To be able to manage the cravings that are often associated with the withdrawal phase, involves perseverance and purposefulness. Even though you are attempting to quit smoking by removing the nicotine from your body, the body will naturally seek out nicotine in order to continue to perform effectively. Being the smoker you will be encouraged to smoke, as these cravings strive to fulfill the body's requirements. It is during these intense cravings that you must rely on your will power and concentration. This must be a strong desire that you must combat, so that you may free yourself from smoking.

A number of smokers will turn to drugs during the withdrawal phase of their attempt to give up smoking. There are a few widely advertised medications on the market that deliver the same enjoyment to the brain that you get from nicotine, which allows you to fight the craving to smoke. The need to light a cigarette is no longer there, as the drug produces the same experiences as if you had just smoked a cigarette.

However, it will still require a considerable amount of determination on your part, along with the assistance that these drugs afford, in order to successfully give up smoking. You must ensure that you are ready to face the first couple of days of self-denial, which will prove to be the most challenging. In these critical days, circumstances that cause you to think of smoking should be avoided.

This may mean avoiding familiar places where smokers gather, as this may encourage you to relapse. Certain individuals find that they need to satisfy the urge to press something between their lips, by substituting a piece of celery or a cinnamon stick for a cigarette, while others require something to hold, and so a pencil or similar object may be used. Consuming alcohol can be a common accompaniment to cigarettes, so you may need to stay away from alcoholic beverages during your attempt to give up smoking. It is easier to avoid being tempted to smoke, by occupying your mind and body with other activities and thoughts.

Some individuals will still be longing for a cigarette, even after practicing all of these techniques to avoid it. So, for them we have several tricks to fulfill this need:

Try pretending that a lit matchstick is a cigarette between your fingers. Your brain may be deceived by this technique, and the urge may pass, but if you do not get satisfaction from this, a relaxing bath may do the trick.

Never lose sight of the reasons that you are giving up smoking, and remain steadfast. Reiterate your goals, and affirm that you can overcome this struggle through your strength. Do not allow yourself to be talked into "just one cigarette", because although you may not realize it, even one cigarette can completely undermine your endeavor, and you could find yourself back at square one.

And, lastly, the support and encouragement of friends and family is paramount in your endeavor, so do not hesitate to request that they assist you as you work to give up smoking.

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal - What Every Doctor Should Know

Are often benzodiazepine some particular configuration successfully, as used before dental treatment before surgery for patients with nerve as premedication hospital and short-term treatment, some forms of motor dysfunction and epilepsy is the treatment. They used alcohol to manage the relief work that the withdrawal of delirium as a fingertip. The withdrawal of many problems, the doctor knows dependenciesLong-term use, because the other still have limited knowledge, the substandard care, putting in many cases, can give endanger patient safety.

The following points are useful, they go from patient benzodiazepine withdrawal:

Phenomenon

) If you shoot a few weeks longer term (more than four patients, when withdrawals may cause the symptoms of drug dependence may abolished it. Retreat and unique experience Symptoms vary by person. Common physical symptoms are: heavy sweating, headache, nausea, dizziness, indigestion, irregular heartbeat, chills, muscle aches, tremors, convulsions, muscle tremors. Depersonalization, derealization, anxiety, panic attacks, hallucinations, and psychotic symptoms are also common feelings of distorted perception.

Down to the patient and their symptoms are well aware that doctors can actually calm>withdrawal-related and will disappear once withdrawal is over. Sadly, this is not always the case and many patients with no pre-existing psychological problems end up being misdiagnosed and treated for schizophrenia, bipolar and other mental health disorders.

Cold-Turkey

A patient should never be advised to discontinue taking a benzodiazepine abruptly. "Then stop taking it" was the reply of a well-intentioned doctor when I expressed my concern that the drug had lost its efficacy. Fortunately, I found information online which recommended a slow taper using diazepam (because of its longer elimination half-life) and was able to successfully wean off. It is surprising that many doctors still give this advice and our Helpline often receives frantic emails from people experiencing extremely distressing symptoms as a result. Quitting cold-turkey is dangerous and can cause serious problems including seizures and psychosis.

Tapering

The decision to withdraw should be the patient's and she or he must be allowed to taper off the drug at a comfortable pace using the most appropriate weaning process. The more common methods are: substituting with diazepam, titration by crushing the tablet into a powder and mixing it with water, and the direct method where the dosage is very slowly reduced. Factors to be considered include personal circumstances, overall general health, the stressors in the patient's life, stamina, support available and previous experience with drugs. It is most important that the patient feels in control of the process. Apart from the usual withdrawal challenges, being pressured into tapering too quickly can cause additional anxiety and hinder recovery.

Duration

The conflicting reports regarding the duration of withdrawal and whether or not protracted withdrawal exists poses one of the biggest problems for patients. Withdrawal can last as short as between 5 and 28 days for those with mild dependencies. However, there are many cases where symptoms persist for longer and these patients are told the withdrawal period has ended and the problems are "all in the head". Furthermore, as alternative diagnoses are queried additional emotional energy is expended awaiting diagnostic tests results which are usually negative. When every test is exhausted, the suggestion that the problems are psychogenic in origin and nothing to do with withdrawal is inevitably made. This misinformation does not augur well for the unfortunate patients who then become concerned about the implied possibility of psychological disorders only to find that the symptoms disappear once the protracted period ends.

Benzo-wise doctors will agree that while many people recover within a six to eighteen-month period, it is not uncommon for a percentage of patients to experience symptoms (often interspersed with windows of normality) for two to three years or longer in rare cases.

Pre-existing Anxiety Myth

Because many patients are prescribed benzodiazepines for anxiety-related issues, the consensus is usually that the post-withdrawal syndrome or any protracted symptoms are in fact due to a resurgence of the pre-existing anxiety. I was prescribed a benzodiazepine for a neuromuscular condition and had no history of anxiety, depression or any other psychological problem. The anxiety I experienced especially during acute withdrawal was inconceivable. I have also communicated with others who were prescribed benzos for medical problems and experienced intense organic fear and numerous anxiety-related symptoms. Pre-existing anxiety or not, a nervous system in a hyper-excitable state due to the down-regulation of GABA receptors can reduce the most grounded and stable person to literally a 'quivering wreck'.

It is the responsibility of every doctor who prescribes a benzodiazepine to give the patient information on which the decision to take or not take the drug can be based. When treating patients for anxiety, insomnia or other related conditions, a doctor might understandably be hesitant and conclude that imparting too much information will only make matters worse. However, keeping patients ignorant of the addictive properties of a drug is not in their best interest and this is the reason for the 'unpleasant surprise factor' that presents in the form of withdrawal.

These are only the basics from an ex-patient's perspective. The most comprehensive guide is the Ashton Manual - Benzodiazepines: How They Work & How To Withdraw which should be compulsory reading for every healthcare professional. It has additional information on symptoms, tapering schedules, Z drugs which are similar to benzos, effects of other medication such as quinolones, and everything required to ensure that a patient withdrawing from a benzodiazepine is given the best possible care.

The Masturbation Addict - A Grand Fallacy

I admire greatly those men who initially got together to gain support & hope from each other as they faced addiction to alcohol, they were know as alcoholics. They began what is now know as Alcoholics Anonymous and their approach has been used to model many other programs in which people deal with addiction. The core doctrine of AA and other like programs is what's called The 12 Steps. I absolutely love the course that it leads one on. It is a journey of self discovery, of hope, of change and of learning to love life.

There is however a concept that is tossed around in this and other groups that I quite disagree with. The statement is usually something like, "once an addict, always an addict." While I understand that there's always a need in everyone's life to be cautious of falling into dark patterns of behavior, I also know the human brain has an amazing plasticity or ability to change. One should never underestimate the capacity of the human spirit to exert change when it sets its will to do so and for that change to become permanent, a very part of their nature.

It is with the premise that I do not agree with anyone identifying themselves with their fallen nature that I begin my thoughts addressed to those who consider themselves or are considered by others to be masturbation addicts.

Masturbation or self-stimulation is nothing new. Sexual desires have been placed within each of us & they have been exploited throughout time in varying and deviant ways. Indeed the age old "religion" of hedonism exists today as we find so many obsessed with their bodies & in pleasing the self.

Those who have come to compulsively masturbate quite often have also incorporated into their belief system false ideas which do them great disservice. These beliefs can convince them to engage in the illusion of intimacy while avoiding the heart of it. While seeing a professional therapist may be appropriate in many cases to determine what those beliefs are, there is much headway one can make on their own to understand & correct those core misconceptions.

Each of us has a voice inside we can listen to in order to help us understand things of great worth; things about ourselves, our relationships, etc. If we pay attention we can also come to understand the reason we initially turned to masturbation.

While masturbation is a common practice it does not serve as a proper means of obtaining lasting fulfillment from the expression of our sex drive. Our sexual desires are a gift from a loving Heavenly Father for the purpose of finding happiness and there are proper conditions under which that may be obtained.

Powerful chemicals secreted in the brain during sexual process help join a man & woman together in a committed, relationship. Masturbation mimics that chemical cocktail, but does not provide the other components of intimacy that only a real relationship can deliver. Instead it binds one to the object of attention. Pornography addiction for example is a bond often formed by the means of masturbation.

A connection to pictures or videos rather than a spouse can lead to wedges driven into what otherwise may have been a beautiful & rewarding relationship. Masturbation has even been used to condition people to become stimulated by & to thus be driven to seek out deviant sexual behavior (Human Intimacy, Victor L. Brown). This is one thing that makes masturbation such a problem to those seeking real human intimacy, that deep & meaningful connection with others.

To the "masturbation addict" it is vital for you to know that you are first and foremost a child of a Heavenly Father. You have been given unlimited divine potential! You choose your own happiness or misery and you have great power to change as you seek out and act up truth.

There IS hope! Learn to listen to that voice within as you turn your heart to that voice from above. Follow the impressions you get to move towards good, they will not fail you. Along the way learn of how your brain can pull you down into addiction to masturbation, porn & other sexual behaviors.

Lifting Your Spirits - How to Stop Drinking Alcohol

Do you use alcohol to help you feel better? Does the world look better when you've had a few drinks? Do you find yourself unable to communicate when sober?

If alcohol has started to become your "friend", it may be time for you to examine how you work with your emotions. For many alcoholics, emotions are a scary thing, and you may be the sort of person who has not learned to deal with them (or perhaps, as a child, been taught to suppress them).

For many people with drinking problems, dealing with their emotions is a far greater fear and challenge than dealing with the alcohol addiction.

If you want to learn how to stop drinking alcohol, you will need to learn to deal with your own emotions. People tend to learn that emotions are not under their control, and that belief becomes true - not because it must be so, but because it's believed.

Amazingly, with a little training and some persistent practice, it is possible to learn to take hold of your own emotions and state of mind. Some people who have practiced for long enough now "design" their states of mind, which means that they can be comfortable and happy in any situation (barring extremes such as death).

Designing your own state of mind must start, initially, with the realization that it is possible. A woman once said about one of these people, "But can he really be so happy all of the time? No, of course not." That woman had the belief that it was impossible, and so she will continue for the rest of her life feeling feelings that seem to be outside of her control. She cannot control what makes her happy or sad, and so her life is just "luck".

Once you have realized, the next step is to find out how. It is a process of growth, but the good news is that the first steps can be learned quickly. Those first steps, which can be learned with the help of mind specialists such as hypnotherapists, experts in NLP (neurolinguistic programming) and similar, allow you to take control.

After that, it is just practice and persistence. That doesn't mean, of course, that you should stop learning - far from it. Once you have learned to take control, continued learning means that you can start to learn to design your states of mind.

The ultimate (and it's easier than it sounds) is, in any situation, to ask yourself, "What state of mind would serve me and the people around me best?" Then, in just seconds, create that state of mind. For example, I used to panic in emergencies. That didn't help anyone. Now, no matter what the emergency (and I've dealt with a few), I keep a cool head with clear thinking powers. That serves both me and the people suffering in the emergency.

How soon will you start to learn?

Alcohol Detox Even If You Are Just A Social Drinker

Your body may be sending you signals that you need to take a break from alcohol. It may be time to detox alcohol from your body if you are feeling run down and tired, having digestive problems or experiencing achy muscles. If you drink and party regularly and have any of these symptoms, a simple alcohol detox may be for you.

With repeated or long term use, alcohol can cause liver and kidney problems, addiction and weight gain. While drinking and partying often seem harmless, ingesting alcohol on a regular basis can lead to the build up of toxins and sugars and eventually to alcoholism, or addiction to alcohol. Overuse and dependence on alcohol can have serious health risks as well.

However, most of us don't have a serious problem, and use alcohol socially. Even so, what can we do to limit the long term effects of alcohol usage?

In its simplest form, an alcohol detoxification program simply involves abstaining from alcohol for a period of time and allowing the body to eliminate all traces of the substance from the tissues and blood stream. Most healthcare professionals recommend at least one to four weeks of no alcohol. However, if you are a heavy drinker or suspect that you may be an alcoholic, cutting back or switching from hard liquor to wine for the first few days or a week may be easier for you to handle. Many people who have developed a dependence on alcohol will experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms like sweating, trembling and an almost overwhelming craving for alcohol.

Allowing your body a "vacation" from drinking may eventually lead to healthier habits, as you experience increased energy and vitality after your body begins to recover. During this period, take the chance to also do a colon, liver and kidney cleanse. Many report an increase in energy, sexual drive and function and a decrease of appetite after the detox period.

Allow your body to recover and rest. Take a break from alcohol for a month and you may be surprised at how great you feel!

Alcohol or Sedative Induced Memory Loss

Do you ever find you cannot remember a part of what happened during the period of time you were drinking, maybe an event (don't remember going to bed) or a conversation? If this loss of memory while drinking has happened more than just a few times when you first began your drinking career, and has become a pattern of behavior, then it may be a significant indicator that you have a problem with alcohol. There are two types of alcohol induced memory loss. One is called a fragmentary memory loss; this type has often referred to as a "brownout" or "greyout", and usually looks like this: I drank to the point of being drunk (beyond buzzed), and did not remember a particular event that happened while I was drinking until someone mentioned it to me the next day; then, after I was given a cue about the event, I remembered it. This type of memory loss is more common than the second form of memory loss that I will describe here. The greyout or fragmentary memory loss should not be dismissed as unimportant if it happens regularly enough to be considered a pattern of behavior resulting from excessive drinking. Getting drunk as a pattern of behavior will result in negative consequences and can be an important indicator of a problem.

The other type of alcohol induced memory loss is called a blackout or more technically, an en bloc memory loss. With this type of memory loss, the individual cannot recall the information (which can be about events during a short period of time, or for hours, or can be intermittent, i.e., the person goes in and out of a blackout), no matter how often he/she is reminded of it. The information is not available. This type of blackout can occur in novice or new drinkers who may at the beginning of their drinking drink too much too fast out of inexperience or due to the pressures of the moment and, typically, blackout, vomit, and pass out. The new drinker will usually figure out how to pace drinks and avoid the vomit-blackout experience. These novice blakouts are not usually of diagnostic significance.

Thus, the reaction of the individual to a pattern of blackouts may be more important than how often they occur. Blackouts should be a cause of great concern and result in efforts to prevent them. The lack of concern, or, the inability to drink without blackouts, would signify a serious problem and, probably, alcoholism. En bloc blackouts that occur as a recurring pattern of behavior (even once a month, for example) are serious indicators of a problem with alcohol (or any other sedative drug).

If you (or someone you know) have a pattern of complete blackouts (not referring to the length of time, but the inability to recall the information), I suggest that you seek help from a mental health professional with expertise in addictions. See my online addictions counseling services at http://www.alcoholdrugsos.com

The Disease of Addiction

In 1956 the American Medical Association (AMA) declared Addiction to alcohol and other drugs, to be a disease. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) followed the AMA, in 1960. Addiction to AOD qualifies as a disease by meeting the following criteria:


Primary: The illness exists in and of itself. (But may manifest in addition to other illnesses.)

Chronic: Does not go away, heal spontaneously or remit.

Progressive: Over time it gets worse.

Symptomatic: Can be diagnosed by the way it manifests in a person's physiology, behavior and lifestyle.

Fatal: If left untreated will result in death.

Treatable: Proven medication, therapies, and lifestyle changes do result in the ability to live without the abused substance.

Development of an addiction begins with the voluntary decision to use drugs. No one starts out hoping to become an addict, but as one uses over a lengthy period of time, control of use decreases proportionately.

One who is initially a voluntary user can become a compulsive and obsessive drug user, or addict. An ever-increasing body of scientific evidence suggests that the transition from voluntary user to addict occurs through a combination of processes, including a series of brain changes affecting neuro-transmitters (brain chemicals) that result from repeated drug abuse.

Because changes in brain structure and function are fundamental to the development and expression of addiction, it qualifies as a brain disease--a brain disease that translates into compulsive behavior and obsession with the drug.

We have finally learned that we do not have separate minds and bodies. We understand biology and behavior to be inseparable. Addiction proves this link. This physiological-behavioral view of addiction brings about new drug issues our society must face? First, the fact that addiction is a brain disease does not make the addict a victim with no responsibilities.

Addiction begins with a decision to use drugs (no one thinks they will become addicted), and the addict has to be actively involved in their own treatment for it to work.

But we do need to overcome the moral dilemma that the addict became ill as a result of their own behavior and deal with the brain disease once it is there.

That addiction is a brain disease helps explain why people need treatment; why most cannot just stop through exerted will power.

They literally have a changed brain. Because addiction is a complex bio-behavioral disorder, that's development and expression are tightly woven into social context, addiction treatment inevitably has many different variations and techniques, sometimes including medicines and behavioral therapies.

As a brain disease, addiction is much more complicated than using a lot of drugs. Addiction has wide range of medical, behavioral and social consequences that affect one's ability to function in virtually every area of life and society.

Thus, treatment cannot be just abstention from drug use; it must be restoring the individual to fully functioning in the family system, on the job and in overall society.

The best treatment combines medications, behavioral therapies and necessary psychosocial services in different combinations as are appropriate on an individual basis.

That they have this brain disease helps us to understand and explain why untreated addicted criminal offenders have such high post-incarceration rates of recidivism to both drug use and crime.

Untreated, the disease returns to previous severity nearly immediately after they are released back into the community.

On the other hand, initiation of a well-assessed, individual treatment plan, has proven to be greatly effective and numerous studies reflect that even a single treatment episode can dramatically reduce later criminality and drug abuse.

These facts seem to be leading to a national trend to blend both health and public safety approaches in dealing with addicted criminal offenders. Examples include diversion to treatment programs, drug courts and incarceration-based treatment programs.

A combination of Research, Medical professionals, Psychologists, and Certified Counselors are advancing success in treating the Disease of Addiction, monumentally. If society can overcome the stigma attached to mental illnesses and in particular addiction, as it did with leprosy, cancer, and other misunderstood diseases, with proper funding, addiction will become a commonly, successfully treated affliction.

Treatment of Dual Problems Simultaneously

A dual diagnosis center is designed to help people affected with both alcohol or drug addiction and a mental illness, such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety. Experience has shown that it is possible to treat both these problems, and the best way to do so is to treat the psychiatric illness and the chemical dependency at the same time. Such treatment is, no doubt, complicated but many centers have now started offering help to these patients. The biggest hurdle in treating them is their denial mode, because they find it difficult to accept that they need dual diagnosis drug rehabilitation.

When the patient is made to realize the importance and necessity of the treatment, the first task of the dual diagnosis treatment center is to start the process of medically monitored detoxification or detox. In this process, the body is completely sanitized, without leaving a trace of alcohol or any other drug, and the drug or alcohol withdrawal symptoms are closely monitored. When the process of detox is stabilized, the psychiatrist has to plan a strategy to treat the addiction and mental illness at the same time. This strategy has to be tailor-made to suit the needs of each patient. The dual diagnostic center has to proceed gradually so that the treatment is deep-rooted, and the objective is that the patient is able to completely abstain from the use of drugs and alcohol and his mental problems are controlled with sustained medication.

The mental health of a patient can also be disturbed by eating disorders. The symptoms of various types of this disorder vary and need to be taken into consideration for the proper formulation of the treatment plan. Similarly, sexual addiction is another area where the dual diagnosis center needs to develop a proper treatment strategy along with treatment of the substance abuse.

When the rehabilitation program is completed, a psychiatric follow-up along with proper care is provided by the dual diagnosis center so that the patient does not relapse into his earlier problems.

Dating in Drug Rehab

One of the toughest thing for an addict or alcoholic to face is when their substance abuse has gotten out of control and they have to check into a drug rehab treatment facility. However, the fact of the matter is that many people view their trip to a treatment center as an opportunity to hook up with members of the opposite sex. The fact of the matter is that this can be a very bad idea and I will tell you why.

Should I look for love in rehab?

When a person enters rehab they are at a very low point in there life. Many people feel that the best way to make the pain of their drug and alcohol withdrawal go away is to start a new relationship. There are many available partners in rehab who also are suffering through a tough spot int their lives as well. These people find themselves vulnerable for a relationship. When you combine these two elements, vulnerability and depression, you have an opportunity for disaster.

Here are the two reasons why you should not look for love while in drug treatment.

1. You are in rehab for a specific reason. Though it may be tough to think about, you are actually in the rehab facility in order to treat your problem with drugs and alcohol. For many people this challenge is something that is very high stakes as in some cases their lives are on the line. You are not in rehab to find love or to hook up. Every minute that you spend stalking a romantic partner is time that you are taking away from your own treatment.

2. Other people in rehab have a history of compulsive behavior. Unfortunately, one of the things that comes with compulsive behavior is diseases. There is a great prevalence of HIV and hepatitis as well as other STDs in the rehab population. For this reason, if you do not already have many sexually transmitted diseases, you are probably not going to want to get intimate with the average person in a drug rehab facility.

I hope this article has dissuaded you from trying to find love in a drug rehab facility. The important thing to remember is that you are in treatment in order to work on your issues with drugs and alcohol and it is important that you address them while there. Dating and drug rehab are not two things that should ever go together.

Immediate Variable Annuity - Advantages and Disadvantages

With variable annuities you have a choice of two types of payment options - deferred or immediate annuities. Deferred annuities keep investments for long periods of time and immediate annuities disperse the payment on a monthly basis.

Immediate variable annuity commences payment of dividends right from the very moment it is purchased. Quite often it will come with a life time guarantee of income. The depositor invests a large amount of money in a lump sum deposit; the investor has the option to allocate the funds across a range of assets. There is no lock in rate of return and it changes based on the performance of the assets during the year.

With immediate variable annuity investments there is a positive and negative side to be considered. These are equity based investments and on the positive side your monthly payments can increase substantially in value; on the downside the monthly payments can decrease in value - both are dependent on the performance of your portfolio.

The Advantages Of Immediate Variable Annuities Include:

- This type of investment offers a unique guaranteed lifetime income; it comes with the added advantage of market growth potential. This is extremely beneficial because lifetime investment plans don't always make provision for a decent living standard 20 years down the line with inflation to contend with.

- Since none of us know how long we will live, providing for the future becomes a bit risky. With immediate variable annuity you have the advantage of insuring against your retirement fund running on empty. Moreover, this type of investment offers growth potential, which is a lot better than a fixed rate instrument.

- Most of us do not like to contemplate death but it is a fact of life! With immediate variable annuity investments, upon your death your beneficiary (spouse or child) will receive the major portion of the money remaining in your account minus any withdrawals or loans due.

Ideally, immediate variable annuity investments are best suited for retirees who can afford to take a few risks to benefit financially from market growth. It provides you with monthly living expenses at a non guaranteed rate of return. To help settle the doubts in your mind you can always request a rate report for one or more of the best insurance providers in town.

On the downside, you should be careful to guard against variable annuity fees, which can be extremely high. Other traps can be the ongoing fees paid out as commissions and contract fees. Immediate variable annuity is not the best choice for everyone but its aggressive marketing (because of the high commission payouts) makes it seem like a fantastic option.

Investment advisors warn against putting too much money into immediate variable annuities to avoid spreading yourself too thin. This holds good really for any type of investments you plan on making. Before you invest it is recommend that you learn all you can about the investment plan, how it is structured and how it works; the positives and negatives associated with it and most important the type of payment you can count on.

How Can Alternative Medicines Help to Curb an Alcohol Addiction

Alternatives medicine types have been in use for more than thousand years in oriental culture. They are used for treating various health problems. The article below discusses the alternative medicine ways to help deal with alcohol addiction. Alcohol addiction affects all aspects of an individual's lifestyle- it wrecks emotional and physical havoc on people around them.

Here are some alternative health solutions:

- Firstly, one can begin with nutritional supplements. Alcohol addiction destroys almost all vital organs. The aim is to detoxify the internal toxins and correct nutritional shortcomings. For these, Vitamin B supplements, zinc, selenium, Vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene are some of the anti-oxidants necessary to include in the person's diet. Main thing is to ensure that the body absorbs all the nutrients and returns the earlier vitality.

- Most alcoholics have low blood sugar levels. To rectify this, the alcoholic should increase intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Refrain from refined carbohydrate intake such as white bread. Also, sugars should be avoided.

- Herbs like peppermint, catnip, and skullcap help in relaxing the body and combat withdrawal symptoms. It detoxifies the body and reduces the person's craving for alcohol consumption.

- Alternative health treatments recommend having purple coneflower, milk thistle, burdock root, kudzu root, and some other herbs help in blood purification.

- Chinese alternative medicine type practitioners recommend using acupuncture techniques for alcohol addiction cure. It has almost 50 percent success rates. They restore the lost balance of life's energy and cure other problems with vital organs. Some other therapies could be biofeedback training, chiropractics, homoeopathy, meditation, and hypnotherapy.

- For an alcohol addict, it is good to engage in yoga and meditation. Enroll for yoga classes. Meditation like breathing exercises relieves stress and relaxes the mind of the addict from all clutters and negative energy.

Alcohol And Drug Abuse Relapse Is A Choice

Nothing quite highlights the hypocrisy of our legal system like the condoning of celebrity excess as being due to "relapse." That is nonsense. Lindsay Lohan did not relapse - Ms. Lohan is an arrogant young woman who does what she wants and believes, apparently correctly, that she can get away with it because she is a celebrity with a convenient "disease."

But drug and alcohol abuse is a choice, certainly at 21. Other behaviors are also choices: smoking; uncontrolled Type II diabetes; un-medicated Bi-Polar Disorder - all are choices. "Relapse," real or faked, is a choice.

There is not a single documented case of anyone ever walking down the street, being grabbed by a bottle, dragged into an alley, and forced to consume the contents against their will. Or light a cigarette. Or consume pancakes with maple syrup. Or skip their medications. Let's get a grip here, folks.

No single myth contributes more to the continued abuse of drugs and alcohol than the unfounded idea that addiction is an uncontrollable disease with which, like with cancer, or malaria, you can expect spontaneous relapses. Hogwash! Relapse is an active event that the drunk, smoker, addict, diabetic, or manic-depressive initiates.

Saying so annoys a lot of people, mostly those who want to excuse their behavior because it "wasn't their fault," and those who want to reserve that excuse for the next time they want to make a bad choice. But it's still just an excuse.

Is it difficult to change an ingrained behavior? Certainly it is. Is it tempting to return to it even long after it's been left behind? Of course. It can be tough to avoid relapse. Each of us who's had a problem tend to remember the benefits while memories of the liabilities fade, whether our habit of choice involved alcohol, nicotine, manic highs, pecan cinnamon rolls, or any other self-destructive habit. But excusing a return to these bad old days shouldn't be aided by pretending it isn't a voluntary choice.

We all spend a lot of our life avoiding bad habits we first cultivated then left behind and then returned to. We all relapse in many forms over the years and spend a lot of time kicking ourselves for it. Usually, extracting ourselves is something we manage with only occasional help, and assisted mostly by the realization that we actually can.

That's the reason why those who succeed, without merely substituting one obsession for another, tend to also prevail over a number of bad habits. Former alcohol abusers turn out to be ex-smokers, too, who are no longer overweight. Figuring out that you can change a behavior teaches you that all behaviors can be successfully modified. You are not powerless.

Occasionally society helps us along with negative consequences for bad behavior. DUI/DWIs are no longer acceptable, unless you are a starlet of course, but even that is beginning to change. The problem remains, however, if we are all excused from accountability for the short-term results of our behaviors, why would we worry about the long-term ones? And if we have a "disease" over which we are truly powerless, why would we even try to change? Obviously it's futile. And just as clearly, we have a ready-made excuse when we decide to revert to our old, self-destructive habits.

Instead of actively embracing this disempowering "disease" model, our legal system and our society in general, needs to decide that change is possible and that relapse, while regrettable, is a voluntary choice. Only when we empower people to change, will we begin to see some real behavioral changes in those struggling to become ex-drinkers, ex-smokers and ex-addicts.

Tips on Quitting Smoking

Quitting smoking can drastically improve your health as well as save you a significant amount of money. However, despite these compelling reasons to do so, giving up smoking is far from easy. It is possible, though.

Here are some tips:

Write down the reasons you want to stop smoking

Writing down reasons you want to give up cigarettes will focus your mind and also give you something to remind you of your goals when you have a weak moment.

Make a plan for quitting

Although some people to stop smoking in stages or cut down gradually, it could end up being a drawn-out process that never ends if you don't set an end date. Set a date when you will finally quit cigarettes, work towards it and stick to it.

Make it public

Tell your friends, family and colleagues that you are stopping smoking. They will support you and avoid putting temptation in your way. Additionally, you will be spurred on to beat your addiction to nicotine because you don't want to let people down.

It may help you to 'buddy up' with someone else who is trying to stop smoking - you can spur each other on or perhaps even introduce a competitive element for fun!

Remove smoking paraphernalia

Don't have packets of cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays around. They will tempt you and remind you of your craving.

Understand your behaviour

Do you normally smoke when drinking alcohol? Or after a meal? Know your habits and break them or avoid situations where you know you will be tempted to smoke.

Think of the money!

You can save a significant amount of money by giving up smoking. If you smoked 20 cigarettes a day, quitting could save you a massive £190+ per month! You could also save money on things such as private health insurance. It is well known that many health insurance providers offer lower premiums for those who don't smoke as they are seen as less of a risk.

You don't have to go it alone

Stopping smoking is about willpower but there is plenty of help available to keep your resolve strong. Visit a stop smoking clinic for free NHS advice - ask your doctor about referring you if you're having difficulty giving up.

There are also various nicotine patches and gums available to ease the initial withdrawal symptoms. Research the complementary therapies, audio products and books that are on the market to help you quit.

Embrace the health benefits

You will begin to see the health benefits soon after you stop smoking - you're likely to sleep better, you'll breathe easier and your skin will be clearer. Most importantly you'll be reducing the risk of serious illness such as heart disease and cancer.

Alcohol Withdrawal: The Result of Alcohol Alcohol Dependency and Alcoholism

What is alcohol withdrawal? Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a set of symptoms that people have when they suddenly stop drinking after using alcohol for a long period of time. Some people have mild shakiness and sweats. The worst form of withdrawal is called "DTs" (delirium tremens). People with DTs may experience confusion, anxiety and even hallucinations (seeing, hearing or feeling things that aren't really there). DTs can be very serious if not treated by a doctor.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms rarely occur in people who only drink once in a while. Symptoms usually occur in people who have been drinking heavily for weeks or months and then suddenly stop drinking. People who have gone through withdrawal before are more likely to have withdrawal symptoms each time they quit drinking.

Do people going through alcohol withdrawal need an alcohol rehab?

Yes. An alcohol rehab has the ability to help you through alcohol withdrawal by admitting you to their alcohol detox unit. If you go through withdrawal a number of times without getting the right alcohol rehab treatment, your symptoms may get worse each time. So even if your alcohol withdrawal symptoms don't seem that bad, it's important to seek an evaluation at an alcohol rehab. This is especially true for people who have had a bad alcohol withdrawal before and people who have other health problems, such as infections, heart disease, lung disease or a history of seizures.

Is alcohol withdrawal and alcohol detox painful?

Without the help of an alcohol detox program, alcohol withdrawal can and is painful. By choosing an effective and quality alcohol detox program, they can greatly minimize any discomfort you may have due to alcohol withdrawal. An alcohol detox program will dispense medications that are capable of greatly reducing and sometimes eliminating alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Always seek an evaluation at an alcohol rehab program or alcohol detox program if you feel you may be experiencing alcohol withdrawal.

For further information on alcohol withdrawal go to www.recoveryconnection.org or call the national alcoholism helpline at 1-800-511-9225. If you are looking for an effective alcohol detox program go to www.lakeviewhealth.com.