Rehab Articles
compulsive gambling, treatment for compulsive gambling
1. Dealing with compulsive gambling can be just as devastating as addiction, but there are options when it comes to treatment for compulsive gambling. In order to get help all you have to do is admit that you have a problem and seek treatment, but this step can be very difficult for some people.
2. Set a date to stop your compulsive gambling, and count down until this date arrives. This gives you a chance to get motivated and strengthen your resolve, and this means that you will be less likely to give in when you start to crave the excitement and rush that you get when you gamble.
3. Compare the options that you have when it comes to treatment for compulsive gambling. Look at each program and determine what methods and techniques are used in your treatment. If these do not include individual counseling to root out the causes of your compulsive gambling then a program may not be very effective and you could end up needing further treatment later on as a result.
4. If you have a problem with compulsive gambling than an extended support network is required. This is in addition to treatment for the compulsive gambling. This support network can help you through the toughest times, offering support and encouragement when you feel ready to cave and hit the casino floor once again.
5. If you relapse then seek treatment for compulsive gambling again, and do this until you finally succeed. You do not have to let compulsive gambling ruin your life.
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Anorexia nervosa, types of eating disorders
1. Anorexia nervosa is not about dieting or food, this disorder goes much deeper than that. This is one of the types of eating disorders that is very complex, and it has psychological and social components that can make effective treatment very difficult. Food is linked to body image or control in some cases and this link must be severed with intensive counseling.
2. Most types of eating disorders have a false body image factor, but this is just one of many factors that needs to be addressed. The reason for the anorexia nervosa will vary from one person to the next, and the only way to get to the root causes is with individual counseling several times a week.
3. There are two types of eating disorders when it comes to anorexia nervosa, restricting and purging. With restricting anorexia nervosa yo will try to lose weight or maintain an unhealthy body weight that is too low by using very strict diets, exercising almost around the clock, and even fasting completely at times. This restricts the calorie intake.
4. Purging anorexia nervosa is when you achieve weight loss by eating normally or even over eating and then purging yourself. You may force vomiting after every meal and snack, you may use laxatives in large amounts, and the use of diuretics is common with many types of eating disorders.
5. Anorexia nervosa is one of the types of eating disorders that can be treated with the right methods and counseling types. If you or someone that you care about has any eating disorder it is important to seek help as soon as possible.
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dual diagnosis, dual diagnosis treatment
A dual diagnosis occurs when you are diagnosed with a mental disorder and a substance abuse problem, but how is this made and what dual diagnosis treatment options are available? When you first seek help for either the substance abuse or the mental disorder it is important that all of your conditions and medical issues are known. The first step should be a complete evaluation, with a physical exam, testing, and a complete diagnostic work up. This will help to ensure that any mental disorder is identified along with the substance abuse. When a dual diagnosis is provided then dual diagnosis treatment will involve a specific plan for each of the conditions that you have, so all of the problems are addressed at the same time.
Dual diagnosis treatment is critical, because if both conditions listed in the dual diagnosis are not addressed and effectively treated then a full recovery will not be possible. When only the substance abuse or the mental disorder is treated then the other problem will still cause issues, and you will not be whole. Dual diagnosis treatment needs to be personalized for your specific needs and the mental disorders that are present. When a mental disorder is present it may take some time to determine whether the addiction or the mental illness is the underlying disorder and which problem is contributing to the other. If this is not done then dual diagnosis treatment is not going to be effective, and you could end up relapsing soon after you leave treatment for the dual diagnosis.
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ADHD medications, substance abuse
Today physicians are learning more about preventing substance abuse with ADHD medications, and this training is sorely needed. Guidelines have been issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics to ensure proper care for children who are given these medications in order to prevent substance abuse. Children who have ADHD have a higher risk for substance abuse according to a recent paper which was published in the Pediatrics Journal. The guidelines released on ADHD medications in children includes practical advice to physicians about the potential for abuse with ADHD medications and signs to watch for that would indicate substance abuse of any type. It is becoming more common for children and teens who are prescribed stimulants to have the opportunity to buy, sell, trade, and misuse these medicines in a number of ways.
Authors of the recent report on ADHD medications and substance abuse with these drugs stated “Prescribers are cautioned that many school-aged children with ADHD- up to 23% – are approached to sell, buy or trade their medication. Stimulant medications have the potential for misuse, diversion and addiction. Treatment of ADHD symptoms with stimulant medication may reduce the risk of developing substance use disorders. ” The report goes on to caution that every provider follow safe stimulant prescribing practices to ensure that the ADHD medications are used as intended and do not provide the opportunity for substance abuse. In addition a physician should confirm any ADHD diagnosis before prescribing ADHD medications which have a stimulant effect. There are many other disorders which can also cause symptoms of this condition.
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Someone who displays the signs of compulsive eating may be suffering from one of the eating disorders and not even realize it. This condition is often called a food addiction, and it may be caused by some of the same factors that lead to substance abuse in others. The need to overeat may be due to an emotional state or a traumatic event earlier in life. Would you recognize the signs of compulsive overeating if you experienced or saw them? For many people the answer is no.
Some of the common signs of compulsive eating may be similar to those of certain other eating disorders. Binge eating occurs when large amounts of food are consumed in a single sitting, and you continue eating long after your hunger has been satiated. Other possible signs of compulsive overeating can include:
- Eating food faster than usual
- Being preoccupied with your weight
- Feeling guilty when you eat too much
- Being ashamed of your eating habits
- Eating in private when no one else is around
- Hiding food, or hiding evidence of the amount of food that you have consumed
- Weight that fluctuates frequently
- Constantly dieting yet failing to lose weight
- Being overweight from eating large amounts of junk food
- Obesity related medical and health conditions
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Losing interest in the usual activities because you are concerned about your weight or how you look
- Using food as a source of comfort or a friend
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alcohol abuse, military veterans
New research shows that military veterans may engage in alcohol abuse due to the stressors of civilian life, and that this is a higher risk for military veterans than for civilians. National Guard soldiers who returned home after leaving the service were far more likely to engage in alcohol abuse if they experienced setbacks in their civilian life. Some of the biggest stresses included serious legal issues, divorce, the loss of a job, or serious financial problems like bankruptcy or home foreclosure. The results of this study can be found online in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. Military veterans who return home are at a higher risk of alcohol abuse when life gets tough and civilian stress is high, and in depth help is needed to help these vets acclimate to the stress of civilian life.
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University Magdalena Cerdá, PH.D., MPH, who was the lead study investigator, discussed the findings regarding military veterans and alcohol abuse. “Exposure to the traumatic event itself has an important effect on mental health in the short-term, but what defines long-term mental health problems is having to deal with a lot of daily life difficulties that arise in the aftermath — when soldiers come home. The more traumatic events soldiers are exposed to during and after combat, the more problems they are likely to have in their daily life — in their relationships, in their jobs — when they come home. These problems can in turn aggravate mental health issues, such as problems with alcohol that arise during and after deployment.”
