Addiction

Mental Health America states that codependency can be passed down from generation to generation within dysfunctional families. This is often because dysfunctional families refuse to acknowledge that problems exist and as such, family members learn to repress their feelings and disregard their own needs. When this occurs, family members often “lose touch”, disconnect, and hide themselves away. If you are someone who has gone through this, you may have developed some habits of codependency. This can be incredibly dangerous, as it increases your risks for being in abusive relationships. Psych Central has identified several characteristics of codependency, including:

In short, they certainly can be. There are 2 ways in which addiction and mental illness coincide. In one way, addiction can perpetuate symptoms related to a mental illness, which can further develop as time continues. In another way, people who already have a mental illness may lean towards substance abuse in order to help them cope with distressing symptoms. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines either of these scenarios as cases of comorbidity, or “two or more disorders or illnesses occurring in the same person”. The NIDA notes that both the addiction and mental illnesses can worsen the course of each, causing a person a lot of distress. For example, a person with anxiety and depression may choose to drink alcohol often as a way to relax and interact more in social settings. This could eventually lead the person to develop alcoholism, in which case the person would have both an addiction and a mental disorder. On the other hand, a person who is addicted to antidepressants may develop more severe symptoms of paranoia, leading them to develop paranoid personality disorder, for example. There are a variety of causes for both addiction and mental disorders:

One person explained their success story with barbiturate addiction on the Massachusetts Medical Society’s official website. Here is an excerpt from their story: “I abused narcotics and barbiturates for the better part of 15 years. I initially like the way the drugs made me feel. Toward the end of my use, however, everything had changed…I lived in terror of being caught, thinking that I was maybe one of two or three doctors in the country with such a shameful problem…I have several years of recovery at this time…I feel that I am a far better physician, father, and member of society today than I ever was before.” First developed in the 19th century, barbiturates are both psychologically and physically addictive. Individuals are at high risk for overdose with barbiturates, as the dose that could lead to this is very small. Barbiturates are in the same classification as benzodiazepines, which include Valium, Klonopin, and more. These drugs act as depressants on the central nervous system, and often are used in medical practices for anesthesia. The “high” effects of barbiturates reach a plateau after a few hours, leading a person to have to consume more of the drug – which can easily lead to addiction. According to the Global Information Network about Drugs, barbiturates increase the activity of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), placing a sedative effect on the individual which can even lead to unconsciousness if taken in strong doses. Once taken, effects of the drug can kick in within 15 minutes and can last for up to 6 hours, depending on the drug taken. Typical symptoms associated with barbiturate use are: slurred speech, lack of coordination, reduced inhibition, impaired judgment, and confusion. If overdose occurs, respiratory arrest and death are possible. Barbiturate addiction is noticeable when a person seems to be tired all of the time, falls over often, and seems paranoid when awake. Insomnia is also a cause for concern if addiction is present. If you are struggling with barbiturate addiction, make the decision to seek help today. It’s never too late, and there are many people out here who want to see you overcome this.

Acupuncture can be formally defined as “a complementary medical practice that involves stimulating certain points on the body, most often with a needle penetrating the skin, to alleviate pain or to help treat various health conditions,” according to LiveScience. Acupuncture is becoming more and more popular in America; a 2012 study found that 14.01 million people were using acupuncture in 2007, and the numbers have certainly increased from there. With the opioid crisis affecting millions around the United States, acupuncture is becoming more widespread. Acupuncture has been shown to provide many benefits, including stress reduction and pain relief, but also to increase levels of chemicals in the brain such as serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, and more. According to Forbes magazine, acupuncture was recognized as a therapy for drug treatment by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1996. Many have been utilizing acupuncture as a way to manage their pain, which is reducing the number of opioid prescriptions needed, thus helping to reduce the number of opioid addictions. A 2015 study conducted by Harvard researchers, as explained on the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine’s official website, found that repeated acupuncture treatment was found to “reduce or eliminate the need for opioids by restoring the balance in key brain regions, altering pain-related attention and memory.” As more people are using this method to reduce their pain, opioids are becoming less critical. How does acupuncture relieve pain? Harvard Health notes that acupuncture releases endorphins – the body’s natural pain-killing chemicals – and by affecting the region of the brain that manages serotonin, the chemical responsible over our mood. Several treatment sessions may help a person feel more relaxed and experience less pain overall. While more research is being conducted, it’s clear that acupuncture is showing some signs of effective strategies. Perhaps people are finding more holistic, natural ways to help ease their pain without using prescriptions. If you are considering acupuncture, it is advised that you speak with your doctor first to ensure this would be a good fit for you.

According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), interventions are a safe, often effective way to confront a loved one with an addiction. Often people with an addiction are in denial, and an intervention allows the person to receive a structured opportunity for them to accept and to make changes before their situation gets worse. Interventions are often staged by friends and family, but coworkers may be involved at times as well. An addiction specialist often serves to intervene and help moderate the conversation. There are several benefits and challenges that come with interventions: The Good

Addiction can affect anyone, including the children of celebrities. Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love’s daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, has recently addressed a topic that she hadn’t really discussed in the past: her sobriety. The model and artist explained that her decision to achieve and maintain sobriety was a good one, and that she wanted to clear up any confusion or misunderstandings by the public. She stated, “Self-destruction and toxic consumption and deliverance from pain is a lot easier to adhere to. Undeniably, for myself and those around me becoming present is the best decision I have ever made. How we treat our bodies directly correlates to how we treat our souls. It’s all interconnected. It has to be”. The Rolling Stone notes that both of Cobain’s parents struggled with addiction – Kurt Cobain died in 1994 with drugs in his system, and, at the age of 27, Courtney Love was ordered to rehab by a judge in 2005. Frances, now 25, decided to become public about her sobriety as she recognized the importance of being a role model to many people. She went public via an announcement on her Instagram, as she stated that February 13th, 2018 was the mark of her second birthday of sobriety. While Frances didn’t go into depth about her struggle with addiction, she focused more positively on the present and her sobriety. She stated, “…I’m gonna take today to celebrate my vibrant health and the abundance of happiness, gratitude, awareness, compassion, strength, fear, loss, wisdom, and the myriad of other messy, complicated, raw emotions I feel constantly.” Frances Bean Cobain serves as an excellent example for embracing the present and moving forward from the past. Despite the struggles she and her family have faced, she is making the decision to be happy with where she’s currently at in her journey to recovery. She further stated that life can get better if we want it to be. With many tools, resources, and people available, recovery is certainly possible. If you haven’t yet, seek help today. A happier, healthier life is waiting for you just around the corner.

Rap and hip-hop music has had a huge influence on American society, and began in the 1970’s, according to Stanford University. Marshall Mathers, otherwise known as Eminem, has had a prominent place in the rap and hip-hop world as he has won 11 Grammys and an Academy Award. As a celebrity and artist, Eminem has helped fans all over the world connect to his messages and stories of abuse, addiction, violence, and more. His experiences are real, and he’s had ups and downs in terms of recovery. In 2010, the rapper explained in an interview with Guy Raz, the host of Weekend All Things Considered that he struggled with addiction throughout his career and ultimately had an overdose in December of 2007. Eminem stated, “I don’t think I realized the totality of what happened, so I after I got out of the hospital…when I got home, I went right back to using again”. Eminem has gone through a lot – from his father leaving him when he was 6 months old, to his mother with Munchausen syndrome struggling with addiction, and then later to his unhealthy marriage with Kim. Eminem released a song titled “Not Afraid” in which he eluded to the struggles he’s gone through and the recovery he’d been working towards: It was my decision to get clean, I did it for me Admittedly, I probably did it subliminally for you So I could come back a brand new me You helped see me through And don’t even realize what you did, believe me you Since 2010, Eminem has worked hard to overcome addiction and has found exercise as a motivational tool. In 2015, Eminem explained to Men’s Journal that he was running 8.5 miles each morning and 8.5 miles each night. This ultimately led to him injuring himself, but he lost a lot of weight and he began working out at home. Eminem has mentioned several times in his songs his love for his daughters and how he wants to be better for them. Eminem’s recovery has been a long time making, but nobody can truly put a time stamp on recovery because life has so many ups and downs. If you’re struggling with an addiction, begin your journey to recovery today.

Self-awareness is defined as a “conscious knowledge of one’s own character, feelings, motives, and desires”. People have a choice of whether or not they want to be self-aware, and addiction has the ability to take away our self-awareness as well. For example, a 2014 study conducted by researchers in New York found that drug addiction compromised self-awareness, causing people to exhibit drug-biased attention, disregard for negative outcomes, dissociation with the self, and behaving in ways that are socially unacceptable. The study concluded that treatment interventions that facilitate self-awareness building could serve as an effective foundation throughout recovery. Recovery programs often incorporate activities through individual or group therapy and other methods to help individuals build their self-awareness. These activities may include:

Although America is struggling with opioids, those aren’t the only drugs of concern. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications that can be easily bought in gas stations and grocery stores are more popular than ever – drugs like Tylenol and Advil are becoming a go-to for many. It makes sense – OTC drugs are saving Americans an average of $77 billion in clinical cost savings and $25 billion in drug costs savings, according to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association. While these medications are beneficial in that way, there are other risks associated with their use. For example, a new study conducted by researchers from the Boston University School of Health found that nearly one in five users exceed the recommended daily dose for over-the-counter drugs during a one-week period. Many consumers aren’t as concerned about this issue because they aren’t addictive like opioids, but this is a dangerous perception to hold. NBC News reports that taking too much over-the-counter drugs can cause health complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding and heart attacks. Furthermore, lack of research into OTC drugs means that many people are taking drugs that aren’t even meant to help reduce the symptoms they are experiencing. Dr. Liffert Vogt of the Academic Medical Center at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands wrote in an email to Reuters, “…Many people use [non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs] for indications other than pain, such as the flu, allergies, fever – and there is no medical base that indicates that [these] or acetaminophen are of any use under these circumstances.” The biggest concern is that while efforts to reduce the opioid epidemic are influencing doctor’s prescribing decisions, consumers aren’t necessarily encouraged to change their ways – leading them to abusing other drugs that are available. Overall, our culture has centered around poor management of chronic pain, and opioids are not the only problematic response we are experiencing to this. If you’re struggling with addiction, seek help today. There are many resources available, and healthy ways to cope with pain.

Three requirements for success in recovery

“Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford Perspective is everything in recovery – it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy, which makes it a very big deal. What makes one person successful and another person fail? Whether it comes to creating and maintaining a business, learning a new instrument or reaching a goal in recovery, people become successful first and foremost because they believe they can. They have a vision, and they have identified the steps to getting there. The people that haven’t reached success yet or have stopped chasing after a venture is likely because they have imposed on themselves one of the following harmful beliefs:

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 23.5 million people aged 12 or older need treatment for illicit drug or alcohol abuse. Addiction affects nearly all of America – a person with an addiction is affected mentally, physically, and spiritually – and their loved ones experience devastating moments of despair as they feel helpless watching their loved one struggle daily. No discrimination is exhibited when it comes to addiction, as all populations deal with this major issue. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides some excellent information on various populations: African Americans Illegal drug use among this population is 12.4%, compared to the national average of 10.2%. According to a 2014 study titled “Less Drinking, Yet More Problems: Understanding African American Drinking and Related Problems”, researchers from Indianapolis found that African Americans report a later initiation of alcohol use during adolescence and generally lower rates of use into adulthood, but they experience more social consequences from drinking as well as alcohol-related injuries and illnesses. African Americans are also at higher risk for polydrug use. American Indians and Alaskan Natives SAMHSA states that this population has amongst the highest rates of substance abuse and mental disorders compared to other U.S. racial or ethnic groups. The National Institute on Drug Abuse claims this is likely due to limited socioeconomic opportunity; American Indian youth are also initiating substance use earlier than other populations. Alaskan Native adolescents show to have the highest rates of lifetime tobacco use, marijuana use, nonmedical use of prescription relievers, and nonmedical use psychotherapeutics than other populations. Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Other Pacific Islanders Among people ages 12 and older, the rate of illegal drug use was 4.1% amongst Asian Americans and 15.6% amongst Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders. Binge drinking was also lowest among Asian Americans with a 14.5% rate, while Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders experienced a rate of 18.3%. Many people in this population find difficulty seeking treatment for substance abuse due to language barriers and external societal perceptions of success. Hispanics or Latinos Of about 52 million Hispanics or Latinos in the United States, the rate of illicit drug use among Hispanics ages 12 and up was 8.9%, while the national average was 10.2%. Binge drinking amongst this population was 24.7%, and alcohol use within the past year among Hispanic youth was 23.9%. A study conducted by researchers from Chicago found that this population is about average with the general population on drinking rates, but tend to have poorer outcomes in substance abuse programs due to language and cultural barriers.