Alcohol Addiction

All forms of substance abuse and addiction are clouded with stigma. For alcohol specifically, many people assume that compulsive drinking is a lesser condition. It is important not to lose focus from the true issue of the behavior. It does not matter what the psychoactive agent is, the craving, withdrawal, and tolerance is what deteriorates health, relationships, and entire lives.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, inhalants are volatile substances that produce chemical vapors that can be inhaled to induce a psychoactive, or mind-altering, effect. Inhalants are difficult to categorize because they could be a variety of things. However, inhalants are typically described in terms of four categories: Volatile solvents: These are liquids that vaporize at room temperature. These may include paint thinners or removers, dry-cleaning fluids, degreasers, gasoline, glues, correction fluids and felt-tip markers. Aerosols: These are sprays that contain propellants and solvents. Examples of this would be spray paints, deodorant and hair spray, vegetable sprays generally used for cooking, and fabric protector sprays. The Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) notes that prolonged sniffing of aerosols could lead to damage such as heart failure and even death within minutes. Gases: This could include medical gases or other medical anesthetics such as chloroform, halothane, and nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas”. Whipped cream dispensers often contain nitrous oxide, and other objects such as butane lighters, propane tanks and refrigerants contain gases that are inhaled. Nitrites: Nitrites do not act directly on the central nervous system like the other categories do. They primarily act to dilate blood vessels and relax the muscles. Many people use this form of inhalant to enhance sexual encounters. Cyclohexyl nitrite, isoamyl nitrite, and isobutyl nitrite are common inhalants also known as “poppers” or “snappers”. Users may inhale vapors directly from open containers, or may breathe in fumes from rags soaked in chemicals. Some people may spray the chemicals directly into their nose or mouth, or may inhale the fumes from a paper bag. Teenagers are especially at risk for this, as PAMF notes that inhalants are most common/popular between 7-9th grade students. Common signs of inhalant abuse are: chemicals odors on clothing or in breaths, paint or stains on the face or clothing, hidden empty spray or solvent containers, drunk or disoriented appearance, slurred speech, nausea, lack of coordination and more. If you suspect that your teen is abusing inhalants, speak with them about seeking medical help. If you catch your child inhaling, take them to a clear, well ventilated area until the episode wears off and see a doctor. If your child is unconscious or not breathing, dial 911 immediately. By being aware of inhalants, we can better protect our children from severe bodily damage. Speak with your children about the dangerous impacts of this today. You may just save your child’s life.

Addiction is not an isolated incident. It is a chronic condition that requires continuing care. Likewise, excessive substance abuse can contribute to a number of problems besides one’s own health. Addictive behavior can lead to other illegal activity, unlawful acts can lead to being arrested, and incarceration can even force individuals back into addiction.

The year of 2016 marks a significant shift in regards to how addiction and substance-based treatment are viewed. With the recent passing of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) through the Senate, the conversation on addressing addictive disorders has taken a distinct turn towards action and compromise. However, multiple government officials declare the new act lacks financial support and the use of specific treatments in the field remains contested.

Taking action against addiction is best accomplished by having a sense of structure to rely on. Although treatment professionals and providers typically build a foundation with their patients, some people may need an extra level of support. The hardiness model of resilience proposes three factors that create a strong and sturdy self: commitment, control, and challenge. Each characteristic is important to have in day-to-day life, but all are particularly powerful throughout the recovery process. Established by Salvatore R. Maddi, Ph.D., the concept of hardiness was developed from a landmark study on Illinois Bell Telephone (IBT) staff. After comparing the wellness of 400 employees before, during, and after a massive company restructuring, Maddi and his research team noticed a significant subset of employees that reacted positively to the change. As a result of further analysis, Maddi identified a trio of personality traits that contributed to this resilience:

Many people feel pressured to drink on NYE, but there are many ways to combat this. Making the decision to remain sober on New Year’s is a smart choice, because it allows you to stay more alert, aware, and present in conversations that you have with others. Much of New Year’s drinking can lead to arguments, fist fights, and reckless decisions that produce harsh consequences both physically, mentally, and legally.

Many people feel pressured to drink on NYE, but there are many ways to combat this. Making the decision to remain sober on New Year’s is a smart choice, because it allows you to stay more alert, aware, and present in conversations that you have with others. Much of New Year’s drinking can lead to arguments, fist fights, and reckless decisions that produce harsh consequences both physically, mentally, and legally. Here are some sample phrases that you can use this New Year’s if you are asked to drink:

The holidays are often filled with family, friends, food, games, and more. While spending time with friends and family can be fun, it can also easily get out of hand. Many people drink during the holidays to celebrate, relieve stress, socialize and more; this habit of thinking also causes people to spend too much, argue more, get in accidents, become more stressed or anxious, and not have real conversations with each other. Perhaps you are in recovery or are simply trying to cut down on drinking. No matter the case, it can be difficult to manage our original goal of sobriety during the holidays when our loved ones are indulging and want us to partake in the drinking festivities as well. Here are four nice (and effective!) ways of denying alcohol at holiday events:

According to Dr. Courtney Warren, clinical psychologist, when we deceive ourselves and others, we aren’t taking full responsibility for who we are. This can be very damaging because we are perpetuating the very aspects of ourselves that are hurting us the most instead of acting to change them. A recent study called Self-deception as a mechanism for the maintenance of drug addiction found that individuals with substance dependence exhibited higher levels of self-deception, especially through active denial, selective amnesia, projection, and confabulation. These are several ways that people deceive themselves and others, as explained by the researchers mentioned above:

There are many individuals who have committed illegal activities to support their drug or alcohol use.  In 12-step recovery, the checklist of whether one is an addict includes mention of illegal activity to finance the addiction.  The degree of illegal activity will range by the person and the addiction.  There is a picture that one conjures up of a drug deal in a dark alley or a person robbing a convenience store to get money to buy drugs.  These types of situations usually get media attention.  There are others who commit white collar crimes and get no media attention.  The issue at hand is more one of why addicts commit illegal activities in the first place and what can be done during recovery to overcome these problems. The addict can sometimes face problems obtaining money to finance their addiction.  Many resort to illegal activity because of desperation.  The addiction is very powerful and can play a role in one’s ability to know right from wrong.  There is a physical and psychological need to drink or take drugs and this need overshadows doing what is right.  Illegal activity becomes an option when the addict or alcoholic has run out of choices.  There are no friends or family members left to ask and your employer will not advance you any further money.  Credit cards are non-existent or maxed out.  At this point, the addict might consider illegal activity to get money. The type of illegal activity chosen is a personal matter or could be a group effort.  It might be easier and less threatening to take money out of your spouse’s wallet then to steal a wallet from a stranger.  It might be easier to embezzle money from your employer than to rob a store.  The point of these examples is to illustrate the desperation associated with an addict’s need to use drugs or drink.  There is also an increase of those who commit white collar crimes to finance a drug or alcohol problem. During recovery, if illegal activities were committed, they will need to be addressed.  Some problems will need to be addressed through the justice system and some can be addressed through 12-step meetings or through therapy.  There is a point when the addict needs to review these illegal activities in a safe space and learn to live with the negative things done to fuel the addiction.

A growing amount of research is suggesting that mood and happiness could be linked to your stomach. Your gut produces bacteria to break down food. Bacteria can either be good or bad. Nobody is in a good mood when their stomach is upset. The science is similar. When the gut microbiome is upset because of trying to process unhealthy foods, it puts the brain in a bad mood. Good bacteria, on the other hand, which makes the tummy happy, makes the brain happy as well. Foods rich in probiotics are often fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut. Probiotics can also be found in yogurt or food that has had probiotics put into it.

So much of mental illness in all of its forms relies on self-hatred and self-loathing. The brain is hardwired to notice and cling to negativity first, over positivity, which is why it takes so much mental training to practice positivity. Shame, guilt, trauma, self-deprecation, and self-harm are ways that everyone gets down on themselves, holding themselves in contempt for being a flawed human being. Those who are living with mental health disorders and substance use disorders often take this eroding behavior to the extreme. When confronted with the question of how they think of themselves, they are often surprised by the answer: not very highly. Low self-esteem and self-worth are the foundation upon which we build a foundation of ourselves in acceptance and and self-love. Acceptance is the way we receive ourselves fully, allowing for ourselves to be who are we are in every way that we are- mental illness included. Once we start moving into self-acceptance we are recognizing that who we are as we are is correct. There is nothing wrong or mistaken about us. We are unique, just as everyone is unique and we are accepted, just as we are learning to accept everyone. We accept rather than except. We stop telling ourselves we are an exception to the rule of acceptance. These are 3 signs that you are starting to accept yourself: