Addicted to Prescription Drugs
- 1.27.2010
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On September 29, 2009 Dr. Oz was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss the dangers of prescription drug abuse. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, more Americans abuse prescription drugs than cocaine, heroin and ecstasy combined. "What started out as a legitimate prescription for pills from a doctor now has 6 million Americans addicted," Dr. Oz says.
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Stress Has Taken Over My Life
- 1.25.2010
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Do you feel like you are constantly stressed out? Your thoughts are racing and you just can't seem to shut your mind off. Recently on CNN Health, Cindy from Montana asked a question:
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When Anxiety is Out of Control
- 1.21.2010
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Everyone worries from time to time. How do you know if your anxiety is out of control? “According to Katherine Schneebaum, M.D., a board certified family practitioner at Riverview Medical Center, it's not normal to worry for six months or more, or for worry to disturb your work or home life. "These could be signs that you are suffering from generalized anxiety disorder," says Dr. Schneebaum." Anxiety is a treatable illness that is more prevalent in women than men and seems to run in the genes.
How do you know if you have Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Some of the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder may include fatigue, insomnia, difficulty swallowing breathlessness, pounding heartbeat, nausea, muscle tension, restlessness, headaches, irritability, and/or hot flashes. You may also experience medical conditions caused by your anxiety like irritable bowel syndrome, depression, or substance abuse.
How do I get help for my Anxiety?
“According to Dr. Schneebaum, the first step to getting better is to talk with your doctor if you suspect you have generalized anxiety disorder. Prescription antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs can help ease your excessive worrying and relieve other symptoms. You and your doctor should discuss which type of medication and how much will best treat your condition.
Another option is to talk with a counselor. Two types of therapy can teach you how to rein in your worries when anxiety-provoking situations arise. Cognitive-behavioral therapy aims to change both how you think and how you act, while behavioral therapy focuses solely on changing unwanted behaviors. "Sometimes the best option is to combine one of these talk therapies with medication," says Dr. Schneebaum.”
What can I do to help ease my Anxiety?
Here is a list of things Dr Schneebaum recommends to help you feel better while you are being treated:
- Encourage members of your family to help you with your treatment goals.
- Learn and practice relaxation techniques.
- Avoid substances that could make you more anxious. These may include caffeine and even certain over-the-counter cold medications.
- Join a generalized anxiety disorder support group.
- Engage in regular aerobic exercise.
- Enjoy a joke. Keeping a sense of humor may reduce tension.
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How do you know if you have Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Some of the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder may include fatigue, insomnia, difficulty swallowing breathlessness, pounding heartbeat, nausea, muscle tension, restlessness, headaches, irritability, and/or hot flashes. You may also experience medical conditions caused by your anxiety like irritable bowel syndrome, depression, or substance abuse.
How do I get help for my Anxiety?
“According to Dr. Schneebaum, the first step to getting better is to talk with your doctor if you suspect you have generalized anxiety disorder. Prescription antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs can help ease your excessive worrying and relieve other symptoms. You and your doctor should discuss which type of medication and how much will best treat your condition.
Another option is to talk with a counselor. Two types of therapy can teach you how to rein in your worries when anxiety-provoking situations arise. Cognitive-behavioral therapy aims to change both how you think and how you act, while behavioral therapy focuses solely on changing unwanted behaviors. "Sometimes the best option is to combine one of these talk therapies with medication," says Dr. Schneebaum.”
What can I do to help ease my Anxiety?
Here is a list of things Dr Schneebaum recommends to help you feel better while you are being treated:
- Encourage members of your family to help you with your treatment goals.
- Learn and practice relaxation techniques.
- Avoid substances that could make you more anxious. These may include caffeine and even certain over-the-counter cold medications.
- Join a generalized anxiety disorder support group.
- Engage in regular aerobic exercise.
- Enjoy a joke. Keeping a sense of humor may reduce tension.
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Living a Double and Lonely Life
- 1.18.2010
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Brandi Gurin shares her personal story of living a double and lonely life on The Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Meth completely took over and destroyed her life and it all started with just one hit. Please read Brandi's story below:
"I am 29 years old, a mother of a 2 ½-year old son and I live with his father. Jeff and I have been together for four years.
I was raised with a very close small family. I have a mother whom I adore, a stepfather who is great, and my father is one of my best friends.
I wasn’t surrounded by drugs, poverty, or abuse. I graduated at Kent State University with a communications degree and I have worked for every penny since I was 16 years old.
When I was 26 years old I tried my first drug ever -- Ecstasy. From that point on, I experimented with different drugs but they never really grabbed me. They were just an escape here and there.
In 2002, I got pregnant. That day I found out I stopped using drugs or alcohol. Problems arose with Jeff and we split up last summer. I moved out with our son, got an apartment, worked 50 hours a week and was depressed out of my mind. During this time, I ran into an old high school friend at the gas station. He gave me his number so we could catch up.
Within one week of meeting up, he introduced me to meth. I did one line in hopes of feeling a tad bit better -- he told me it wasn't addicting and I felt on top of the world.
After a couple of weeks I felt amazing-- never tired, I could go to work, take care of my baby -- take care of EVERYTHING. Within two months, however, nothing seemed to matter but making sure I was high.
I decided to tell my son's father that I thought I had a problem, but I was scared.
My friend Ron (not his real name), had showed me how to shoot it up, wich was a entirely different ball game. He was also a cook, so I was able to get dope whenever I wanted.
I moved out of his apartment, quit my job, and my son and I moved back in with Jeff 120 miles away. We thought, as a family, we could beat this. We told no one what had happened.
Looking back, I had never intended to quit. I would drive and meet Ron to get dope after we moved. Finally, he just picked up and moved into hotels near me. We thought we were in love.
He taught me how to cook. He told me since I was a beautiful woman with no previous police record I would never get in trouble. I spent four months hiding and protecting my addiction. I would fake sleeping next to Jeff every night so he would think I was not using and I would pitch food away so he thought I was eating. We had our son put in daycare, because my family thought I was going to therapy and doctors for my problem. I made them believe my eating disorder was back. That's why I was loosing so much weight. I was living a double and lonely life.
The days weren't long enough. I could no longer live like this. I was shooting 2 grams a day, cooking in hotels, and when Jeff would go out of town for work I would cook at my house.
Finally, in November, Jeff found out everything. He put me in the car and drove me to my parents. They had planned an intervention. My whole family sat waiting for me in my parent’s living room. That night, I had Ron Pick me up at the end of the driveway and I ran.
I left my son to get high, and cook dope.
Meth made me believe I needed nothing else but it. Now, I have lost my car, my son and I told my whole family to f*ck off.
Ron told me he would take care of me. We would get ahead and I would get my son back. For eight weeks I injected about 3-4 grams of meth I made a day. I was never not high. I could not face the reality of what I had done to my family. My arms. legs and neck were bruised from stabbing my self. If I wasn’t cooking I was shopping for ingredients. I was the devil.
Ron would leave me all the time for days with no food, car or phone. It would be just me and the meth lab. I remained scared out of my mind daily. Still, never high enough.
Once, we thought I overdosed because I began bleeding out of my vagina everywhere -- it would not stop. Ron threw me in a car and dropped me off to a hospital. He left me there. He was so paranoid; he thought they would arrest him.
It turns out, the miscarriage I had two months prior was not fully finished which is why I was bleeding.
I got a cab, and went to the hotel, finished a cook and got high. I did not care if I died at this point. Ron came home and made me understand why he did what he did. I fell for it and we got high again.
We cooked just enough to feed our intense addiction and made enough money to throw another batch on. That's how we continued to live. We didn't go out. We ate every few days to keep our buzz on. At this point I was maybe 90 pounds and I couldn’t fit into adult clothes at Wal-Mart.
I missed my baby, but I was no longer worth being a mother, a daughter, a girlfriend, a friend. I was nothing and I wanted to get high until I died.
Ron has left me again -- he wouldn’t answer his phone for five days.
My arm was swollen because I have missed again and my bottom has hit. I took about four grams of dope and every water soluble pill in the house and put it in a needle. I said goodbye to my baby boy, and shot it in my arm. I wanted to die.
I woke up 18 hours later still alone. I surrendered myself to my family. They had a rehab all lined up waiting for me in Florida and I got on the plane two days later."
If you just read this story and can relate to Brandi's life than you know it's time to Get Help. Meth can destroy your life and if you don't stop, it can eventually kill you. We are here to help you! You don't have to hide your double and lonely life anymore.
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"I am 29 years old, a mother of a 2 ½-year old son and I live with his father. Jeff and I have been together for four years.
I was raised with a very close small family. I have a mother whom I adore, a stepfather who is great, and my father is one of my best friends.
I wasn’t surrounded by drugs, poverty, or abuse. I graduated at Kent State University with a communications degree and I have worked for every penny since I was 16 years old.
When I was 26 years old I tried my first drug ever -- Ecstasy. From that point on, I experimented with different drugs but they never really grabbed me. They were just an escape here and there.
In 2002, I got pregnant. That day I found out I stopped using drugs or alcohol. Problems arose with Jeff and we split up last summer. I moved out with our son, got an apartment, worked 50 hours a week and was depressed out of my mind. During this time, I ran into an old high school friend at the gas station. He gave me his number so we could catch up.
Within one week of meeting up, he introduced me to meth. I did one line in hopes of feeling a tad bit better -- he told me it wasn't addicting and I felt on top of the world.
After a couple of weeks I felt amazing-- never tired, I could go to work, take care of my baby -- take care of EVERYTHING. Within two months, however, nothing seemed to matter but making sure I was high.
I decided to tell my son's father that I thought I had a problem, but I was scared.
My friend Ron (not his real name), had showed me how to shoot it up, wich was a entirely different ball game. He was also a cook, so I was able to get dope whenever I wanted.
I moved out of his apartment, quit my job, and my son and I moved back in with Jeff 120 miles away. We thought, as a family, we could beat this. We told no one what had happened.
Looking back, I had never intended to quit. I would drive and meet Ron to get dope after we moved. Finally, he just picked up and moved into hotels near me. We thought we were in love.
He taught me how to cook. He told me since I was a beautiful woman with no previous police record I would never get in trouble. I spent four months hiding and protecting my addiction. I would fake sleeping next to Jeff every night so he would think I was not using and I would pitch food away so he thought I was eating. We had our son put in daycare, because my family thought I was going to therapy and doctors for my problem. I made them believe my eating disorder was back. That's why I was loosing so much weight. I was living a double and lonely life.
The days weren't long enough. I could no longer live like this. I was shooting 2 grams a day, cooking in hotels, and when Jeff would go out of town for work I would cook at my house.
Finally, in November, Jeff found out everything. He put me in the car and drove me to my parents. They had planned an intervention. My whole family sat waiting for me in my parent’s living room. That night, I had Ron Pick me up at the end of the driveway and I ran.
I left my son to get high, and cook dope.
Meth made me believe I needed nothing else but it. Now, I have lost my car, my son and I told my whole family to f*ck off.
Ron told me he would take care of me. We would get ahead and I would get my son back. For eight weeks I injected about 3-4 grams of meth I made a day. I was never not high. I could not face the reality of what I had done to my family. My arms. legs and neck were bruised from stabbing my self. If I wasn’t cooking I was shopping for ingredients. I was the devil.
Ron would leave me all the time for days with no food, car or phone. It would be just me and the meth lab. I remained scared out of my mind daily. Still, never high enough.
Once, we thought I overdosed because I began bleeding out of my vagina everywhere -- it would not stop. Ron threw me in a car and dropped me off to a hospital. He left me there. He was so paranoid; he thought they would arrest him.
It turns out, the miscarriage I had two months prior was not fully finished which is why I was bleeding.
I got a cab, and went to the hotel, finished a cook and got high. I did not care if I died at this point. Ron came home and made me understand why he did what he did. I fell for it and we got high again.
We cooked just enough to feed our intense addiction and made enough money to throw another batch on. That's how we continued to live. We didn't go out. We ate every few days to keep our buzz on. At this point I was maybe 90 pounds and I couldn’t fit into adult clothes at Wal-Mart.
I missed my baby, but I was no longer worth being a mother, a daughter, a girlfriend, a friend. I was nothing and I wanted to get high until I died.
Ron has left me again -- he wouldn’t answer his phone for five days.
My arm was swollen because I have missed again and my bottom has hit. I took about four grams of dope and every water soluble pill in the house and put it in a needle. I said goodbye to my baby boy, and shot it in my arm. I wanted to die.
I woke up 18 hours later still alone. I surrendered myself to my family. They had a rehab all lined up waiting for me in Florida and I got on the plane two days later."
If you just read this story and can relate to Brandi's life than you know it's time to Get Help. Meth can destroy your life and if you don't stop, it can eventually kill you. We are here to help you! You don't have to hide your double and lonely life anymore.
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Celebrity Influence...Good or Bad?
- 1.13.2010
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“According to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy report on prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse among the Nation's teens, young people age 12-17 abuse prescription drugs more than cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine combined.”
Celebrity behavior dramatically impacts our Nation's youth. This impact can be positive or negative. However, celebrities from all walks have been reported as abusing one substance or another. This definitely can impact negatively.
We hear about celebrity addiction tragedies such as Howard Stern's comedian Artie Lange's battle with addition and resultantly repeatedly stabbing himself in a suicide attempt. Casey Johnson recently died, although reports of exact cause is unclear, it is known she has battled addiction in the past and there is speculation that she may have gotten home after partying with drugs or alcohol and forgotten to take her Diabetes medicine which resulted in her death.
DJ AM died with 8 undigested OxyContin in his stomach and a ninth in his mouth.
There are also the countless celebrities who have checked into drug rehabs or battled substance abuse problems, including Steven Tyler, Rush Limbaugh, Eddie Van Halen, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Robert Downey Jr., and on and on.”
It’s sad knowing some of our favorite stars have made really stupid choices. It’s heartbreaking and devastating that some of those choices even ended in death. Maybe you never thought about trying drugs until your favorite celebrity did and now it has you thinking to just try it one time. Sadly sometimes that first time is your last time, so if you are considering doing drugs….DON’T. If you have tried drugs and are scared to tell anyone but you know you can’t seem to quit than you need help. We are here to help you find a healthy, drug-free life.
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Celebrity behavior dramatically impacts our Nation's youth. This impact can be positive or negative. However, celebrities from all walks have been reported as abusing one substance or another. This definitely can impact negatively.
We hear about celebrity addiction tragedies such as Howard Stern's comedian Artie Lange's battle with addition and resultantly repeatedly stabbing himself in a suicide attempt. Casey Johnson recently died, although reports of exact cause is unclear, it is known she has battled addiction in the past and there is speculation that she may have gotten home after partying with drugs or alcohol and forgotten to take her Diabetes medicine which resulted in her death.
DJ AM died with 8 undigested OxyContin in his stomach and a ninth in his mouth.
There are also the countless celebrities who have checked into drug rehabs or battled substance abuse problems, including Steven Tyler, Rush Limbaugh, Eddie Van Halen, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Robert Downey Jr., and on and on.”
It’s sad knowing some of our favorite stars have made really stupid choices. It’s heartbreaking and devastating that some of those choices even ended in death. Maybe you never thought about trying drugs until your favorite celebrity did and now it has you thinking to just try it one time. Sadly sometimes that first time is your last time, so if you are considering doing drugs….DON’T. If you have tried drugs and are scared to tell anyone but you know you can’t seem to quit than you need help. We are here to help you find a healthy, drug-free life.
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Is it Normal Anxiety or an Anxiety Disorder?
- 1.11.2010
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We live in a fast paced, high-pressure world and everyone goes through periods in their life where they feel anxious about situations, but how do you know the difference of normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder? A recent podcast interview was held on EveryDay Health by HealthTalk host Heather Stark and Brett Deacon, Ph.D discussing the different stressors of anxiety.
A normal pressure most people can relate to is public speaking. Getting extremely nervous and anxious before a public presentation is completely normal, but getting so anxious that you throw up before hand and than find yourself running off the stage in the middle crying of fear is not normal. What is causing this anxiety?
When you are trying to identify the anxiety you must first identify what is causing you to be anxious. Most people experience stress in response to real life stressors. Many of us can easily relate to the stress and anxiety that comes from a financial hardship where we have a hard time paying bills or if we have medical problems. These are some real life stressors that can trigger anxiety, but the severity of the anxiety is what helps to determine whether or not there is a serious condition. Does a heart palpitation make you feel like you are going to have a heart attack or the thought of being around people terrifies you so you avoid social situations?
If you feel like you associate with the person that feels scared to be in social situations, having a heart attack when you have heart palpitations, vomit before a presentation, or run away screaming during your speech than you may be experiencing more than your everyday anxiety. Anxiety can take over your life and keep you from being all you can be. If you know that you excessively worry over everything almost everyday of your life than you need to find something to help you function. Don’t let anxiety destroy who you are! Stop holding all of the anxiety inside, we are here to help you. You don’t have to feel this way anymore.
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A normal pressure most people can relate to is public speaking. Getting extremely nervous and anxious before a public presentation is completely normal, but getting so anxious that you throw up before hand and than find yourself running off the stage in the middle crying of fear is not normal. What is causing this anxiety?
When you are trying to identify the anxiety you must first identify what is causing you to be anxious. Most people experience stress in response to real life stressors. Many of us can easily relate to the stress and anxiety that comes from a financial hardship where we have a hard time paying bills or if we have medical problems. These are some real life stressors that can trigger anxiety, but the severity of the anxiety is what helps to determine whether or not there is a serious condition. Does a heart palpitation make you feel like you are going to have a heart attack or the thought of being around people terrifies you so you avoid social situations?
If you feel like you associate with the person that feels scared to be in social situations, having a heart attack when you have heart palpitations, vomit before a presentation, or run away screaming during your speech than you may be experiencing more than your everyday anxiety. Anxiety can take over your life and keep you from being all you can be. If you know that you excessively worry over everything almost everyday of your life than you need to find something to help you function. Don’t let anxiety destroy who you are! Stop holding all of the anxiety inside, we are here to help you. You don’t have to feel this way anymore.
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New Protein May Fight Cocaine Addiction
- 1.06.2010
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Do you have a cocaine addiction and no matter how hard you try to quit you simply can’t? It can seem overwhelming and nearly impossible to quit this addiction by yourself. Don’t give up hope! In a new study, researchers report a protein that could help eliminate cravings and addictions to cocaine. The protein breaks down cocaine, which is supposed to help make cocaine less addictive. “In rats, it lessened the desire for cocaine and prevented the rodents from dying of overdoses.” The protein is still being tested and perfected to become a great solution to help addicts quit cocaine, the only downfall is the protein does not last very long. Researchers are working on improving the protein to make a longer-lasting version. It's great to know there is research being done to help you overcome this addiction, but until then what are you supposed to do? If you are currently addicted to cocaine and need help, than contact us now. We are here to help you find the right treatment to overcome this addiction and find a normal, healthy life.
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Marijuana damages Young Brain More Than Originally Thought
- 1.04.2010
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Teenagers often find themselves in situations where peer pressure and drugs play hand in hand. If your friends are doing it than of course you need to do it too right? It can't hurt you that bad, or can it? According to new research by Dr. Gabriella Bobbi, the damaging effects of cannabis, also known as marijuana, on young brains are worse than originally thought. The new study suggests that daily consumption of marijuana in teens can cause depression and anxiety, and have an irreversible long-term effect on the brain.
The study was conducted to find out what happens in the brain of teenagers when they use marijuana and if it makes them more prone to neurological effects than adults. Her study points to an apparent action of marijuana on two important compounds in the brain -- serotonin and norepinephrine -- which are involved in the regulation of neurological functions such as mood control and anxiety.
"Teenagers who are exposed to marijuana have decreased serotonin transmission, which leads to mood disorders, as well as increased norepinephrine transmission, which leads to greater long-term susceptibility to stress," Dr. Gobbi stated.
If you have a problem with marijuana or you have child that has a problem with marijuana than it's time to get help. Drug addiction can take over your life and we are here to help you overcome that addiction. We are here to help you, contact us now.
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The study was conducted to find out what happens in the brain of teenagers when they use marijuana and if it makes them more prone to neurological effects than adults. Her study points to an apparent action of marijuana on two important compounds in the brain -- serotonin and norepinephrine -- which are involved in the regulation of neurological functions such as mood control and anxiety.
"Teenagers who are exposed to marijuana have decreased serotonin transmission, which leads to mood disorders, as well as increased norepinephrine transmission, which leads to greater long-term susceptibility to stress," Dr. Gobbi stated.
If you have a problem with marijuana or you have child that has a problem with marijuana than it's time to get help. Drug addiction can take over your life and we are here to help you overcome that addiction. We are here to help you, contact us now.
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