How Rehab Works
Rehab isn't designed to help people who what to escape jail time or who want a reprieve from public scrutiny. Regardless of your social status rehab only works for those who fully work the program during and after treatment.
Whether you're a celebrity or just a regular person, addiction treatment typically involves a similar series of steps:
* Detoxification. About half of the addicts who come to Butler Hospital in Providence, R.I., must check in as an inpatient for three to five days of "acute stabilization," Alan Gordon, MD, Butler's chief of addiction rehabilitation, tells WebMD. Some must cope with symptoms of withdrawal such as tremors, paranoia, and depression. Others must deal with the crises that brought them in to treatment, such as legal or domestic problems. (In outpatient programs like those at Butler Hospital, "detox" is the only inpatient component.)
* Diagnosis. Many addicts also suffer from psychiatric problems--such as sleep disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety--or have faced traumatic life experiences such as rape or incest. While the exact relation between these problems and substance abuse may not be clear, many addiction treatment programs link up patients with psychiatrists or therapy groups.
* Cognitive therapy. This therapy helps addicts realize which life situations are most likely to trigger substance abuse, says Newt Galusha, MD, of Harris Methodist Springwood Hospital in Bedford, Texas. Then the addicts develop alternative plans. For example, if an addict usually drinks after arguing with a spouse, he might learn to end those fights by counting to 10 or going to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting instead of going to a bar. Addicts also learn "assertive skills" that help them learn how to say no to drugs or alcohol, Gordon says.
* Family therapy. Many programs bring family members into the program to heal damaged relationships and shore up the addict's support network. Support from family members is key to helping addicts stay clean over the long run, Garrett O'Connor, MD, chief psychiatrist at the Betty Ford Center, tells WebMD.
* Medication. An FDA-approved medication, Campral, helps people with alcohol dependence who have quit stay alcohol-free. Another FDA-approved drug, Suboxone, treats addiction to opiates (including heroin and some prescription painkillers); it reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Suboxone has a similar effect as methadone but is less prone to abuse, Gordon says.
* Introduction to 12-step programs. The Scripps McDonald treatment center in La Jolla, Calif., recommends "90 meetings in 90 days" for all of its patients, says Fred Berger, MD, center medical director. Many centers encourage patients to attend Alcoholics Anonymous or other forms of group therapy for a year or more after treatment.
Showing posts with label treatment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label treatment. Show all posts
Saturday
Thursday
Bi Polar Disorder
Vincent Van Gogh once wrote:
"I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process."
Modern Psychologists have surmised that Vincent Van Gogh had Bi-Polar Disorder (BPD). BPD is a brain disorder that causes one's moods to swing between mania and depression. In its most severe form it can cause one to loose touch with reality.
With Van Gogh, the deterioration of his mental status is apparent in his artwork; however most will agree that his best work was done during the last years of his life. So how is it that we are often eager to classify the mentally ill as unimportant to society? Presumably many of the worlds most gifted artists and scholars were affected with BPD. On the other hand, most were sent to asylums or were left to peddle for food in the streets.
What is Bi-Polar Disorder?
People affected with BPD may swing back and forth from depression to mania on a regular basis or they may experience a "calm" or "normal" period between episodes.
Symptoms of Mania:
1. Inappropriate elation
2. Inappropriate irritability
3. Severe insomnia
4. Grandiose notions
5. Increased talking
6. Disconnected and racing thoughts
7. Increased sexual desire
8. Markedly increased energy
9. Poor judgment
10. Inappropriate social behavior
Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every symptom. Some people experience a few symptoms, some have many. Also, the severity of symptoms varies with individuals.
For more on BPD go to Psych-Net.com
"I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process."
Modern Psychologists have surmised that Vincent Van Gogh had Bi-Polar Disorder (BPD). BPD is a brain disorder that causes one's moods to swing between mania and depression. In its most severe form it can cause one to loose touch with reality.
With Van Gogh, the deterioration of his mental status is apparent in his artwork; however most will agree that his best work was done during the last years of his life. So how is it that we are often eager to classify the mentally ill as unimportant to society? Presumably many of the worlds most gifted artists and scholars were affected with BPD. On the other hand, most were sent to asylums or were left to peddle for food in the streets.
What is Bi-Polar Disorder?
People affected with BPD may swing back and forth from depression to mania on a regular basis or they may experience a "calm" or "normal" period between episodes.
Symptoms of Mania:
1. Inappropriate elation
2. Inappropriate irritability
3. Severe insomnia
4. Grandiose notions
5. Increased talking
6. Disconnected and racing thoughts
7. Increased sexual desire
8. Markedly increased energy
9. Poor judgment
10. Inappropriate social behavior
Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every symptom. Some people experience a few symptoms, some have many. Also, the severity of symptoms varies with individuals.
For more on BPD go to Psych-Net.com
Wednesday
Alcohol Abuse Test
Select either yes or no for each of the following questions as they apply to your life and your alcohol consumption. Add up your score by adding the number 1 or 2 that coresponds with your answer. At the end there is a link to take you to the results for your score.
1. Do you feel you are a normal drinker?
1 yes
2 no
2. Have you ever realized you don't remember periods of time when you were drinking?
2 yes
1 no
3. Do people close to you complain of your drinking?
2 yes
1 no
4. Do you ever feel guilty about your drinking?
2 yes
1 no
5. Do your friends or relatives think you are a normal drinker?
1 yes
2 no
6. Can you stop drinking when you want to?
1 yes
2 no
7. Have you ever been violent when drinking
2 yes
1 no
8. Has drinking ever caused problems between you and your family members?
2 yes
1 no
9. Has any close relative gone to someone for help about your drinking?
2 yes
1 no
10. Have you ever lost friends because of your drinking?
2 yes
1 no
11. Have you ever had problems at work because of your drinking?
2 yes
1 no
12. Have you ever lost a job because of effects, or use, of alcohol.
2 yes
1 no
13. Have you ever neglected obligations, your family, or work for 2 or more days because you were drinking?
2 yes
1 no
14. Do you drink before noon fairly often?
2 yes
1 no
15. After heavy drinking have you ever had DT's or severe shaking, seen things or heard voices that weren't there?
2 yes
1 no
16. Have you ever gone to anyone for help about your drinking?
2 yes
1 no
17. Have you ever been in a hospital because of your drinking?
2 yes
1 no
18. Have you ever sought professional help for an emotional problem where drinking was part of the problem?
2 yes
1 no
19. Have you ever been arrested for drunk driving while under the influence of alcohol?
2 yes
1 no
20. Have you ever been arrested or detained because of drunken behavior?
2 yes
1 no
Add up your score and follow the links for a full evaluation.
This scale is for your entertainment only and is not to be used as a diagnostic tool or in lieu of professional help.
Add up your score and Click here for results
1. Do you feel you are a normal drinker?
1 yes
2 no
2. Have you ever realized you don't remember periods of time when you were drinking?
2 yes
1 no
3. Do people close to you complain of your drinking?
2 yes
1 no
4. Do you ever feel guilty about your drinking?
2 yes
1 no
5. Do your friends or relatives think you are a normal drinker?
1 yes
2 no
6. Can you stop drinking when you want to?
1 yes
2 no
7. Have you ever been violent when drinking
2 yes
1 no
8. Has drinking ever caused problems between you and your family members?
2 yes
1 no
9. Has any close relative gone to someone for help about your drinking?
2 yes
1 no
10. Have you ever lost friends because of your drinking?
2 yes
1 no
11. Have you ever had problems at work because of your drinking?
2 yes
1 no
12. Have you ever lost a job because of effects, or use, of alcohol.
2 yes
1 no
13. Have you ever neglected obligations, your family, or work for 2 or more days because you were drinking?
2 yes
1 no
14. Do you drink before noon fairly often?
2 yes
1 no
15. After heavy drinking have you ever had DT's or severe shaking, seen things or heard voices that weren't there?
2 yes
1 no
16. Have you ever gone to anyone for help about your drinking?
2 yes
1 no
17. Have you ever been in a hospital because of your drinking?
2 yes
1 no
18. Have you ever sought professional help for an emotional problem where drinking was part of the problem?
2 yes
1 no
19. Have you ever been arrested for drunk driving while under the influence of alcohol?
2 yes
1 no
20. Have you ever been arrested or detained because of drunken behavior?
2 yes
1 no
Add up your score and follow the links for a full evaluation.
This scale is for your entertainment only and is not to be used as a diagnostic tool or in lieu of professional help.
Add up your score and Click here for results
Tuesday
How Can I Overcome My Anger?
Q. I have trouble controlling and expressing my anger. Are there any meditative techniques or therapies that can help me handle my aggression in a constructive fashion?
A. The solution is to become aware of the anger and its cause, and then learn ways to express your emotions calmly -- rather than lashing out at the world around you. The goal isn't to suppress your anger, but to get it out in a nonabrasive way.
We're now fairly sure that anger, either expressed violently or turned inward, impacts your health negatively. An increasing body of evidence shows that anger is a risk factor for coronary heart disease and sudden death. A six-year study at the University of North Carolina characterized the anger traits of 12,986 men and women. The results, published in the May 6, 2000 issue of "The Lancet," found that subjects with the most anger traits were two to seven times more likely to develop coronary heart disease. Some people who couldn't express their anger transformed it into physical tensions such as headaches, stomachaches, or difficulty breathing. I know one woman who would feel a painful tightness in her throat whenever she needed to express an emotion but, instead, kept it inside. Watch for these signs and try to become aware of the emotion you may be feeling.
Anger isn't always bad -- it can be useful. I've seen it mobilize healing responses, for example. One patient struggling with an autoimmune disease was able to overcome it through a complete reworking of his lifestyle and the use of various mind-body techniques. An important part of his recovery was becoming aware of -- and expressing -- his anger toward doctors and hospitals.
As you become conscious of your anger, begin to distinguish between the mildly annoying and the infuriating. With the things that anger you most, try to figure out what else you're feeling -- powerless? guilty? stupid? Once you've learned to recognize anger and identify its roots, it will be easier to express it constructively.
Psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, and spiritual counseling may be useful in dealing with anger. Exercise is also an excellent way to cope with strong emotions -- both long-term and immediately. Several studies have found that physical activities such as swimming and yoga can ease anger and tension. Even one round of exercise -- say, a run around the block -- can significantly improve the way you feel.
Incorporate meditation and relaxation techniques into your daily routine. My breathing exercise will help you bring calmness throughout your body. Do it at least twice a day, and try it every time you feel anxious or upset.
A. The solution is to become aware of the anger and its cause, and then learn ways to express your emotions calmly -- rather than lashing out at the world around you. The goal isn't to suppress your anger, but to get it out in a nonabrasive way.
We're now fairly sure that anger, either expressed violently or turned inward, impacts your health negatively. An increasing body of evidence shows that anger is a risk factor for coronary heart disease and sudden death. A six-year study at the University of North Carolina characterized the anger traits of 12,986 men and women. The results, published in the May 6, 2000 issue of "The Lancet," found that subjects with the most anger traits were two to seven times more likely to develop coronary heart disease. Some people who couldn't express their anger transformed it into physical tensions such as headaches, stomachaches, or difficulty breathing. I know one woman who would feel a painful tightness in her throat whenever she needed to express an emotion but, instead, kept it inside. Watch for these signs and try to become aware of the emotion you may be feeling.
Anger isn't always bad -- it can be useful. I've seen it mobilize healing responses, for example. One patient struggling with an autoimmune disease was able to overcome it through a complete reworking of his lifestyle and the use of various mind-body techniques. An important part of his recovery was becoming aware of -- and expressing -- his anger toward doctors and hospitals.
As you become conscious of your anger, begin to distinguish between the mildly annoying and the infuriating. With the things that anger you most, try to figure out what else you're feeling -- powerless? guilty? stupid? Once you've learned to recognize anger and identify its roots, it will be easier to express it constructively.
Psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, and spiritual counseling may be useful in dealing with anger. Exercise is also an excellent way to cope with strong emotions -- both long-term and immediately. Several studies have found that physical activities such as swimming and yoga can ease anger and tension. Even one round of exercise -- say, a run around the block -- can significantly improve the way you feel.
Incorporate meditation and relaxation techniques into your daily routine. My breathing exercise will help you bring calmness throughout your body. Do it at least twice a day, and try it every time you feel anxious or upset.
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