Sober Resources

Knowing when you have a problem is vital to your recovery when you are addicted. The vast majority of addicts do not know when addiction help is warranted, or even necessary. You can not possibly recover from addiction if you do not seek help with your problem, but how do you know when your problem is that serious? This article focuses on the things you need to know to identify a serious addiction problem.
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Alcoholism is one of the most dangerous addictions on the planet, not only for the addict but for their children as well. Parents that are alcoholics are much more likely to abuse their children whether through physical abuse or through neglect. No matter how much you love your children, you can’t be a proper parent and be an alcoholic at the same time.
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Addictions come in many shapes and sizes, and children are quick to notice each and every one. Whether you are addicted to alcohol, drugs or gambling, your children notice that something is going on that is different from other families. Depending on their ages, they might even think that your behavior is the norm. Regardless of the situation, it is important that you know how to talk to your kids about your addiction.
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Virtually every man wonders about where they came from and how we got here. The eternal search for a greater power than ourselves is one aspect of spirituality that is highly beneficial when used properly for addiction recovery. Whether you believe in a greater power or not, the universe and its energy are a wonderful source of recovery. You can tap into that energy with some practice.

The first step in doing so is to begin to explore this world of spirituality. Nobody can do this for you, but a good place to start is to head out into the woods, beaches and mountains of your choice. If this is not practical, then head into the local woods nearby or by a nice lake. Wherever you feel the most relaxed in nature will do just fine. The reason this is so important is because it gives you the chance to relax your mind and become closer to nature.
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Substance Abuse and Addiction
There is a slight difference between substance Abuse and addiction. Substance Abuse is nothing but using an illegal substance or legal substances in the wrong way.

Addiction starts as an abuse or generally using the substances like marijuana and cocaine. There is possibility of using a drug abuse without being addiction to it. Addictions is unable to control the using the drug or drink. Addiction involves psychological and physical dependent on the substance. You can also say that the body needs more and more substance than before in larger dose to get the same effects.

Some physically addicted persons stop the drugs like alcohol, cigarette and experiences some withdrawal symptoms like shaking, diarrhea and feeling awful.

Addiction sign:
A particular drug or substance makes an addiction. Sign of addiction may be change in mood, weight loss or gain, eating disorders or depression.
Addiction of a drug or alcohol includes

1. Psychological signals
Keeping it as a secret from the family and friends and withdrawal is difficult.
Attempts made to quit from drugs or drinking may be failed.
New bad habits like stealing others belongings to buy drugs.
The oscillating mood.

2. Physical signals (often called withdrawal):
Sleeping pattern may get changed
Sickness or shaking of hands and legs while quitting
Weight gain or loss because of changes in eating habits
Eagerness to take more and more substances to get the same effect

Addiction and Alcohol:
Addiction to alcohol is easy but leaving the habit is not very simple because they become addict to it with many physical and mental problems. Quitting takes many steps and confident of the person is very important. Take advices from doctors, follow it and recover your health.

What is drug addiction?
When a person uses a drug for the first time he/she experiences intense feelings of pleasure and the limbic system creates an appetite which drives us to seek those things again and again. Once a person stops using these drugs, it makes him feel lifeless and depressed and the only way is to use the drug again and again which makes him addicted. This phenomenon is known as drug addiction.

There are many organizations and people in our society who are trying hard to make sure that there are no drug addicts. Yet, the rate of success for these kinds of programs is significantly low because of the fact that they are on the assumptions of philosophy and human nature. They believe that the social support structure is responsible for addiction. Addiction is actually a means of giving up conscious control. Most addicts will not usually stop using until they hit the bottom level. Addiction causes a lot of problems not only to the individuals but also to the others around him. The addict individual does things which he does not do normally. This is not a conscious act.

As time passes, the addict realizes at some point of time that what he had done is wrong. This is because of the fact that the unconscious mind’s ability to block the addict’s conscious awareness is more. This creates a lot of misconceptions and positive emotions and motivations are denied, refused or completely extinguished. This behavior becomes more pronounced. At this stage it’s very difficult for the addict to recover.

The Human Brain and Drug Addiction
The human brain is the most outstanding organ of all. The nervous system is the most complex of all biological systems. It is highly organized. Billions and billions of nerve cells or neurons work together for controlling various functions of organs in the body. The nervous system apparently enables the organisms to adapt the constantly changing external environment. This is usually called as homeostasis. The central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system which includes the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are the complete
The limbic system and the reticular formation are the important regions of brain involved in human behavior. The limbic system controls the physical emotions physically and mentally. It also governs the memory process, learning and motivational aspects of behavior. The reticular formation is the “bridge” portion of the central nervous system. It controls the inflow and outflow of impulses. It is also responsible for alertness, sleep, arousal and maintaining consciousness in man. These activities of central nervous system can be altered by a wide range of chemicals in the level of neurotransmitters in the system.
Consciousness and coordination of external and internal stimuli are controlled by cerebral cortex. It contains about 9 million neurons. The part of brain called cerebrum, which is highly organized puts human apart from all the other living organisms. Removing entire cerebrum in frog makes no behavioral changes. But, humans become blind, paralyzed and will die soon.

Why drug addiction happens?
Drug addiction happens due to many reasons. Sociologist, religious adherent personalities when they get upset, it drives them to drug addiction. This sort of behavior happens because of making the addict feel shameful, weak and helpless. The addict feels very depressed. Then he naturally tends to do something which gives him pleasure. Moreover there are biological reasons for why drug addiction happens. The activity of the drug can be clearly seen in the central nervous system and the endocrine system. The actions of these two systems define the human behavioral and psychological processes. They also regulate the physical and mental thoughts like moods.

Can the drug addicts recover?
The drug addicts can recover by attending counseling. It takes a long time to recover. There must be pure and positive encouragement from the surrounding people. The person must regain his conscious mind and fight hard to recover him/her from addiction. He must control his/her emotions.
Medical prescriptions like the use of pain killers, muscle relaxers, anti depressants will make addiction still more badly only.

How drug use begins?
A person generally tries a drug. Then he continues to use it a few more times for sheer pleasure and ultimately becomes dependant. These produce harmful effects. For instance consumption of alcohol can produce progressive detoriation of physical and mental health.

Do the medical drugs have influence?
Phychopharamacological agents are drugs which modify the behavior and those agents include antipsychotic, antidepressants, antimanics and antianxiety agents. The antipsychotics have effects on autonomic nervous system and the reticular formation. The antidepressants have been a very good success in modern psychopharmacology. They are used for treating anxiety neuroses by producing muscle relaxation and calmness. They also produce euphoria i.e. a false feeling of well being and produce tolerance and physical dependence. So, these kinds of drugs will lead to serious problems like drug abuse or drug dependence. These include alcohol, tobacco, morphine, heroin, brown sugar, diazepam, cocaine, alprazolam, cannabis etc. This drug addiction dependence is characterized by overpowering desire to continue drugs, a tendency to increase the amount taken progressively. In physical dependence there will be a biochemical and physiological adaption of the tissues to the new environment when the drug is used repeatedly. This creates withdrawal of the drug when avoided or stopped. Withdrawal syndrome is different for each and may be life threatening.

Copyright 2008 C.King, M.Ed., Sober Sources Network may be reproduced with proper acknowledgments.