Rehab | Quality of Life

Addiction and Substance Abuse for Teens

: Image via Wikipedia

Teens can be difficult to deal with when it comes to following rules and living a healthy life emotionally, mentally, and physically. Parents that have teenagers find it more difficult to deal with them as they reach the middle years of their teen years because the teens are running into a higher amount of peer pressure. Teens will try certain things when they are still young such as alcohol, drugs, smoking, tobacco and sex. Some teens will like what they have tried and continue to use or will dislike what they have tried and will discontinue their use of the item. It is important for parents to stress the harm that alcohol, smoking, tobacco and drugs can cause if used by teenagers.

Some teens who like what they have tried will continue to use these items and cannot live without them or function without them. This is considered substance abuse. Substance abuse can cause serious medical problems and emotional problems in teens because they are so young and do not know how to handle problems that might arise from their substance abuse. The illegal drug used most by teens these days is marijuana, even though many teens abuse prescription drugs found in their own home or household chemicals as inhalants. Teens use alcohol or drugs to fit in with their friends or just because they like how these items make them feel.

It has been found that teens who have parents with alcohol and drug abuse problems will have an increased risk in developing substance abuse problems of their own. Teens who also are not close with their parents or who do not feel valued by their parents are also at a higher risk for developing a substance abuse problem during their teenager years. Alcohol and drug abuse problems are a leading cause of death or injuries suffered in teenagers in accidents, suicides, violence and drowning. Studies have been released that substance abuse in teens can lead to pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV because of unprotected sex.

Filed Under: Addiction, Health, Rehab, Treatment Tagged With: Addiction, Drug abuse, Illegal drug trade, Substance abuse

Aromatherapy and Depression

: Image via Wikipedia

Depression, especially manic depression, is a condition that millions of Americans suffer from each year that can be treated via medications, cognitive therapy, or aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is one of the most popular treatments because it uses natural oils that come from plants to treat the symptoms and assist in a healing process. Depression can be caused by a lack of sleep and aromatherapy can relax the mind and help patients suffering from depression get their sleep back on track. The oils used in aromatherapy can also help to brighten one’s mood, but should only be used as a complimentary treatment that is combined with a variety of other treatments.

Clary Sage essential oil is used to help treat insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Basil is used to help treat fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Rose essential oil is used to treat the nervous system and other disorders. Ylang-ylang is used to treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Sandalwood is used to treat depression and tension. Lavender is used to treat headaches, insomnia, migraines, nervous tension and stress related conditions. Jasmine essential oil is used to increase the beta waves in the front of the head which gives the patient a more alert and responsive state of mind.

The emotional centers in the brain are closely related to the sense of smell, which is why aromatherapy is so commonly used in treating depression. Smelling the scents listed above can easily help patients suffering from depression relax and remove tension from their bodies.

If anyone feels that they are experiencing depression they should consult their doctor as soon as possible before beginning an aromatherapy regimen because there could be other treatment options available including medication, cognitive therapy, and other treatments. When using aromatherapy patients can do perform aromatherapy on their own or they can go to a masseuse and receive a massage to help with their depression. If the patient does their aromatherapy on their own they can use candles, diffusers, and other scented items to help with their depression.

Filed Under: Addiction, Health, Rehab, Research, Treatment Tagged With: Anxiety, Depression, Essential oil, Mental health

Addiction and Substance Abuse for Adults

: Image via Wikipedia

Substance abuse occurs when a person over uses a particular drug to achieve a certain result. Substance abuse and addiction can be cause by a number of different factors. One of the main causes of substance abuse is due to genetic factors. If there is a family history of substance abuse, there is a greater chance you could one day battle drug abuse or addiction. There is also an increased risk of substance abuse and addiction for someone dealing with a mental illness. Those who are one pain medications for certain injuries or illness can also become addicted if medicine use is not properly monitored. One of the most prominent causes of addiction and substance abuse is peer pressure. It can be difficult to “just say no” when the people you are around are pressuring you.

There are many signs and symptoms to look for in someone you think may be dealing with addiction or substance abuse. Not every person who is suffering from substance abuse or addiction exhibits the same symptoms; however, there are a few common ones to look out for that are prominent in most addiction cases. A common symptom is increased irritability and trouble sleeping. Those dealing with addiction may also exhibit slow and inhibited movements and speech. At times they may appear confused or disoriented. Look for sudden weight loss or weight gain, as this too can also be an indicator of addiction and substance abuse.

When a person becomes addicted to a substance they begin to build up a tolerance and more and more of that substance is required to achieve their desired outcome. Once tolerance sets in, it can be extremely painful and difficult should a person decide to stop overusing. Some withdrawal symptoms can range from mild chills, aches and pains to full on hallucinations and psychosis. Many people who are dealing with substance abuse are afraid of withdrawal and its symptoms, thus avoiding recovery.

Filed Under: Addiction, Rehab, Treatment Tagged With: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental disorder, Substance abuse

Healthy Foods for the Colon

: Image via Wikipedia

Maintaining a healthy colon is one of the most important aspects of living a long and healthy life but this part of daily life is more often than not overlooked by thousands of Americans each year. It is estimated that there will be over 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer in the United States come the year 2010 and over 50,000 people will succumb after a battle with colorectal cancer in the country in 2009. Having a healthy colon can help to maintain a healthy weight, provide you with more energy, will eliminate toxins from the body and will flatten the stomach of the person with the healthy colon.

When it comes to keeping your colon healthy the first step in doing so includes eating a healthy diet. This diet should not last one week, or two weeks, or even a couple of months. Instead, this diet should last your entire lifetime if you want your colon to always be healthy enough to keep the rest of your body healthy too. One of the best food groups to include in your healthy diet is fiber. Fiber helps people have more frequent and healthier bowel movements as it absorbs excess undigested food when moving through a person’s system. Fiber cannot be digested, which means that it will be less in fat and calories than other foods we might eat. Eating a good amount of fiber can help to keep a person’s weight down and prevent the onset of diabetes.

Fiber is divided into two main categories, soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber is fiber that can dissolve in water while insoluble fiber is fiber than cannot dissolve in water. Soluble fiber helps to regulate the blood sugar of a person while insoluble fiber helps to move waste through the intestine while removing toxins from the person’s colon. Insoluble fiber also helps to balance the acidity levels of the person’s large and small intestines.

Filed Under: Health, Rehab, Treatment Tagged With: Colorectal cancer, Dietary fiber, Intestine

Helping a Loved One with a Brain Tumor Diagnosis

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

When someone is diagnosed with a brain tumor, it’s a very scary time. Many tumors are benign and not cancerous, but even some of the benign ones need surgery to remove them. That’s especially true if the tumor is growing rapidly and/or causing symptoms like headaches and blurred vision. Depending on where in the brain the tumor is located, there may be other symptoms in other areas of the body. Since the brain and nervous system work so closely together to handle all of the body’s functions, it’s possible that a brain tumor will cause much more than just brain or head symptoms. Keep that in mind when you receive a diagnosis or are trying to help a loved one with a diagnosis.

A person with a brain tumor may be in pain, and can have all sorts of other problems. His personality can also be affected. If you want to help someone with a brain tumor, it’s necessary to understand that he will have good and bad days. He may also be angry or frightened, and these feelings are normal and expected. Getting angry and frustrated with what he may not be able to do is also normal and expected, but try not to show these things to the patient. He is suffering enough and likely uncomfortable with what is taking place in his life.

He may also be facing surgery – and possibly a cancer diagnosis, as well. Just being there is often very helpful. People who are ill and frightened generally don’t want to be left alone. They want to know that someone is there for them and that they have people who will care for them in their time of need. Even though a brain tumor can cause some confusion, most people have a clear understanding of what’s taking place with their condition and diagnosis. If you’re caring for someone who’s confused at times, just help guide him through those times as much as possible. Surgery – if it’s an option – will generally clear up that problem and restore understanding and normal function.

Filed Under: Health, Rehab, Treatment, Tumor Tagged With: Brain tumor, Conditions and Diseases, Surgery

An alcohol rehab center treatment with goats?

Medicine has truly transformed in the modern age. The twentieth century saw amazing developments in the production of pharmaceutical drugs, many of which have arrested diseases around the globe. The pharmaceutical industry has grown from what used to be a small shop where the person behind the counter ground herbs and powders to a 50-billion-dollar-a-year industry.

One can be fairly certain that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn’t make many recommendations about drugs or food products to the law makers on Capitol Hill without first consulting the pharmaceutical industry. And now, with the rise of bio-engineering, farmers and ranchers might follow suit.

The first decade of the twenty-first century produced the first pharmaceutical-producing goat. As shocking as it may sound, this goat was engineered (yes, engineered) to produce specific chemicals in its milk. In 2006, the European Union declared the goat illegal, and breeding of the goat was arrested, but in 2008, the EU overturned its ruling, and the goat ended up in the United States.

Now, in 2010, a herd of goats whose milk provides a highly refined anticlotting drug is being kept in a high-security compound in New England. The goats are simply milked—there is no need for a purification process like that needed for drugs derived from hamsters or plants.

One can almost imagine an alcohol rehab center or hospital of the future as a place where enrollees drink goat milk and dine on raw plants. No need for shots or pills. Through nutritious meals alone, the patient’s medicinal needs are taken care of.

We might wonder about the possibility of the bio-engineered goats escaping into the wild and successfully breeding with local goats. What effects on health and medicine might await us in the future?

Filed Under: Rehab, Treatment Tagged With: Food, Goat, United States

Mental Health is a Vital Part of Life

When it comes to staying healthy, most people focus on the physical. They work out, they eat right, and they do all sorts of things that they feel are valuable to staying in shape. Unfortunately, they ignore their mental health. Not only do they not work on their mental abilities so they can continue to learn and grow, but they lose a lot of what they already know because they don’t use it. Some knowledge really doesn’t have much point. Some of the things a person learned in grade school, for example, aren’t really needed in later life. However, there are a lot of things that are learned and are very important and valuable. Letting them go and not being concerned about your mental health can leave you feeling lost, unintelligent, or like you’re losing your mind.

You can avoid those kinds of feelings and the problems that inevitably come with them by paying attention to your mental health. Keep learning and exploring your world. Don’t stop growing and creating, because it’s hard to get your momentum back once you lose it. That doesn’t mean you can’t get it back, but it does take more work than it would if you’d have kept up with your momentum the entire time, and never let it lapse. The way you improve upon your mental health and stay active can really vary based on the kinds of things you like to do.

Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box a little bit, and try something you’ve never done before. Maybe you could learn a new language, take a class in something unique and different, or study something that’s interested you for years but you’ve just not had time for. All of those are good ways for you to enjoy your learning time and keep your mind active. When you work toward both mental and physical health you’ll have a better chance of staying active on all fronts throughout your life. You’ll generally feel better, and staying mentally alert can help to prepare you to grow older more gracefully.

Filed Under: General, Health, Rehab Tagged With: Disorders, Mental health, Mind