February 23, 2012

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Counseling is An Important Step in Addiction Treatment

Genetic counseling session 

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Successful treatment for addiction includes a variety of different counseling options that are designed to help you cope with your life without reverting back to your addictions. In many cases, you will have access to individual therapy that will help you to uncover the behaviors that lead your addictions. Many people come to realize that they feel like they have very few options when it comes to coping with the stresses of daily life.

After you have had a sufficient amount of individualized counseling, your therapist might recommend that you join a group counseling session. By joining others who are undergoing addiction treatment, you will be able to realize that you are not alone in your actions. You will be able to hear the stories of people who come from similar backgrounds as you do as well as those of people whose backgrounds are vastly different than yours. This wide range of experience will help you to better understand that, regardless of your background, all people need help with coping with stress at times.

Another reason for joining in a group counseling session is that you are able to learn from other people. With the help of the group facilitator, you can begin to see that there are other ways to cope with stress besides turning to substances that can lead to an addition. The members of your group counseling session can be a great resource that you can turn to during the times that you experience stress since they have been in the same situation as you have been.

Filed Under: General, Theraphy Tagged With: , ,

What Causes Drug Addiction?

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Most people who experiment with drugs and alcohol have no intention of becoming addicted. There is no one reason why people become addicted to drugs so predicting addiction is very difficult. Studies have shown that there are three key factors that influence drug addiction.

1.) Your social environment: Let’s face it, if you aren’t hanging around with people doing drugs then you are less likely to have access to drugs. Furthermore, people who do not do drugs are not very tolerant of those who are using. Environment also includes family life. People who have parents abusing drugs will learn from birth that doing drugs is acceptable. Indeed, it is quite difficult to uphold the negative stigma of drugs if your own family who you love is doing the same drugs.

2.) Biological makeup- Many things are hereditary and drug addiction could be another prime example. It is often difficult to distinguish if drug abuse is genetic or habitually learned if a child openly observes his parents doing drugs. However, there is strong evidence that predisposition to drug and alcohol addiction is genetic in nature.

3,) Age of exposure- Studies have shown that people who experiment with drugs at a young age are more likely to become addicted. As the brain is still forming, it is learning patterns and behaviors. An unfortunate consequence of using while the brain is still forming is that the brain can incorporate the act as a norm for the developing body.

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High School Freshmen Survival Guide

When you are going into high school as a freshman, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns about this new adventure. Here are some things that you should remember when you are entering as a first time freshmen that are going to help your first days and year of high school a lot more comfortable and enjoyable for you.

  • Your Grades are Very Important – The first thing that you should remember is that starting now, your grades are very important. They are going to be something that the colleges will look at when you apply there.
  • Don’t Fear the Upperclassmen – The second thing that you should remember is that upperclassmen aren’t scary.  You probably have heard horror stories about the way that freshmen are treated. But it’s not true.  You aren’t going to interact much with them and the majority of schools don’t allow bullying at all.
  • Classes – The third thing that you should remember is that the classes you are taking can help when you’re looking for employment or going on to college.  Some of the AP classes let students get some college credits while still attending high school, while other classes teach the students trades like mechanics.
  • Prepare – The fourth thing that you should remember is that you need to be prepared before class.  You should have everything that you need for class when your class starts.  Study for all your tests and do your homework.
  • Make Wise Choices – The final thing that you should remember is that you are going to have more freedom, but you should remember that it can affect your future. Think about the extracurricular activities and how they are going to look on your college application.

Being a freshmen in high school is something that can be scary but when you remember the above tips you’ll find that it’s not so bad.

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Prom Preparation Tips for Guys Part 1 – The Big Night

Now that the big night’s here, there are some things that you should do to make the night of the prom especially nice for you and your special girl. Here are some things that you should remember when the night comes.

  • If you haven’t rented a limo or another type of car, be certain that your chosen car is nice and clean as well as being full of gas before you pick your date up.
  • Make sure that you look and smell good – shower, shave, clean and trim your fingernails, brush your teeth, and generally make sure that you are well groomed for your prom.  If you like using cologne or aftershave, make sure that you don’t use too much.
  • Be prompt when you’re picking up your date and make sure that you’re greeting your date’s parents politely.  Know that you’re going to probably have to answer questions about your evening’s plans and ask about her curfew to ensure you bring her home at the right time.
  • Make sure that you’re polite to her all the time. This is a great time to show how much of a gentleman you are – open doors, pull out chairs, and offer your coat to her if she’s cold.
  • Compliment her throughout the evening.  She’s gone to a lot of trouble to look great that night and when you notice the details you will show that you care.
  • If you’re going with a group, you can dance with others in the group a couple of times but make sure that you’re paying your date the most attention and don’t hang out with your guy friends all night.
  • If you go to a party after the prom, make sure that you’re responsible.  Don’t drink, be nice to your date, and make sure she’s home before the curfew.

These are some things to remember for prom night – they’ll help you have a great time.

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Teens and Prescription Drug Abuse

Did you know that your teen can find drugs right under your nose? One of the most common type of drugs adolescents are using and becoming addicted to these days are prescription drugs. Your own medicine cabinet might be your child’s supplier.

Any prescription medicines you are taking under a doctor’s care can become a possible “pleasure” drug for your teenager. Any medications that relax you, stimulate you, relieve pain, and help you sleep are candidates for your teen to become addicted to. The most common medications your teen can get from your own prescriptions and become addicted to are OxyContin and Vicodin.

One of the reasons your teen may be using these drugs is because they believe that since a doctor prescribed them, they are safe, and can give them a “safe high.” They may even be using medicines that you have given them yourself in the past, such as cough syrup and over the counter pain relievers. But prescription medications taken by anyone in your household are the most common types of medications teens will try to get high on.

You need to be aware of the situation in your home, and make sure you explain to your children that any medication is not for their pleasure. Explain the dangers of taking the medications when not prescribed to do so, and in large doses. Let them know abusing them is as harmful as abusing any other type of drug.

The best way to protect your children from abusing prescription drugs is to keep these medications in a place where your children and their friends cannot get a hold of them, such as a locked medicine cabinet. Ensuring your children don’t know where you keep them is also helpful.

You can talk to your doctor and pharmacist about the harm taking prescription drugs can cause your child, and find out how to keep them safe from abusing them. But you are the bottom line when it comes to educating your children about the dangers about prescription drug abuse, and taking precautions to ensure it doesn’t happen in your home.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse, Theraphy Tagged With:

Teach Your Child to say “no” to Drugs and Alcohol

In a day and age where children are being raised by single parents or in a household where both parents work, it is more important than ever to talk to your child about drug abuse and addiction. While in school, your child is faced with the number one cause of using drugs: peer pressure. If you’re not able to be there with your child right after he or she gets out of school, you want to make sure your words are.

By talking with your child at an early age about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse and addiction, your voice will stay with them when they are faced with the pressure of trying them for the first time by their peers. Believe it or not, your opinion does matter to your child when it comes to situations like this, and if our children know how we feel about them using drugs and alcohol, they are more likely to say no.

As your child grows older, he’s going to be exposed to more and more situations where the decision to use drugs and alcohol come up, such as at parties, football games, after school, and over the weekend. Your child needs to know that it’s OK to say “no” to these situations without having any negative repercussions. If your child learns to say “no” young enough, he won’t even think twice about it when the situation comes up. After saying “no” several times, his friends might even get the picture and stop offering. The important thing is that your child feels comfortable enough to say “no” without even thinking twice about it.

Schools are doing their best to educate children about drug abuse and saying no to drugs. But you are the ultimate weapon against your child succumbing to peer pressure and trying them. So talk to your children about drugs early on, and keep reinforcing your thoughts and feelings on the subject. Let them know they can come to you with any questions without fear, and that you have an open-door policy about the subject.

Filed Under: Drug Abuse, Drug Rehabilitation, Rehab Programs, Theraphy Tagged With: , ,