"God comforts us in all of our troubles so that we can comfort others in their troubles."2 Corinthians 1:4

Sunday, December 16, 2007

goodness and the joy it brings

Today I have to be thankful for the many people I have met in my recovery who have been there for me whenever I have been in need. I thank my higher power for bringing them into my life. They unselfishly listen to me when I am scared and fearful of a relapse. Then before I know it hours have passed and they are still talking and listening to me until I realize that my need to relapse has passed, I've grown tired, and I have gotten through another day. So many wonderful people, most of them mere strangers have extended a glorious lifeline to me and have asked for nothing in return. I know that when another troubled stranger comes up to me and is in need of my support, I too will unselfishly be there for them, to share the love that was so gracefully shared with me. I want to share my recovery with others who are suffering, and share all glory with them, through the love that I've been shown.
(these "reflections in recovery" are written in conjunction with the upcoming book "A NEW JOURNEY" RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION by john carcerano)
wesite www.newjourneyrecovery.com

continuing on, with glory
photograph by john carcerano
As I journey through my day and hit some rough spots where I may find aggravation or if things just don't seem to go my way I will still be joyous because I know that I am living a clean crisp life. Had I still been using, I know my bad days would have snow balled and been much worse because I would run from problems and allow things to really eat me up inside. For i also know that there are many others struggling who really do not have a single clue how to change things. I feel good physically and mentally, no more hangovers or rotten comedowns. I love that I can have challenges and deal with them no matter what they may be. I know that I can always take a 15 minute break from life by going for a little walk to reflect on things with my clear crisp mind, or look forward to a tea break with my favorite cookies and ice cream. I know that I can always call one of my new close friends who are also in recovery. Or go to a group meeting and vent my frustrations with others who want to see me get through another day. Soon the night will come and so will my bedtime as I cuddle up and thank my higher power that he got me through another day. I am truly wonderful! I really do have a lot to celebrate.
("reflections in recovery" are written in conjunction with the upcoming book "A NEW JOURNEY" RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION, by john carcerano)
website address: http://www.newjourneyrecovery.com/

helping a loved one find recovery from a drug or alcohol addiction ...part 1 of 3


Written for those who have a strong physiological addiction.....
Having a close friend or family member who is an addict can be very traumatizing. they can be hard to understand many times and also seem untrustworthy. The person they are deep inside is the one you dearly love. That person is still there, you just gotta have patience and persistence. Trust me, it will pay off. Do not try to force an addict into recovery because that approach will never work. no "in your face" approaches nor try to jam religion down an addicts throat. That will never work. Always be gentle, compassionate, caring, concerned and a good listener. You will need to build a trust with your loved one and hold no bias in dealing with them. They might begin to tell you things that may shock you, just love them and do not judge them. Do not bring up times in the past when they have disappointed or even stolen from you. Their need to feed their addiction is the reason for the disappointing acts they have committed in the past. You want the addict to get well and move on with their life, so you must talk with them only in those terms. Do not overwhelm them with future events, think and talk only in the now. They will have days filled with ups and downs, there will be hours where they need to use and don't want you around, and there will be hours where they are thinking heavily about seeking help and quitting their addiction. That's where they need to know that you will be there. their mind will swing like a pendulum so be ready. When they are down and out and talk of quitting, you must strike while the iron is hot. If you do not know anything about what to do when they reach out for help, then prepare for that moment by going out and finding someone to help you when the time is right. You can either go to an Al-anon meeting and ask there for someone who can talk to your loved one when they are ready, or you can go see a counselor who will advise you how to contact them when your addicted loved one reaches out for help. After you find someone to intervene when that time comes, casually let the addict know that you care, and that you have been talking to someone "nice" who would be glad to assist in a recovery plan. It's important that the person who you both go to see has experience with being sober and acts in a friendly manner. It will really help greatly if you can bring them to go see an ex-addict who truly understands. They will form a bond with the addict immediately.
In order for the addict to quit using, they need to change their environments where there are no recognizable triggers that can cause them to use again. Bring them into a new area of town that they are unfamiliar with . They will be uneasy and jittery when they first quit using, so you need to prepare to keep them calm in some way. If they have been a heavy user then you should be prepared to get them to inpatient detox right away. There they will be under medically supervised care. If you cannot afford detox then please contact your state human services department and they will provide state sponsored detox for free. Before your addicted loved one finds recovery, you will need to begin talking with them about detox so you can prepare and set it up quickly when they decide they will accept help. in detox they are usually administered sedatives so that they can sleep and relax as their body withdraws from the chemicals that have become so necessary for them to survive. The bodies cells need to readapt to normal and this process is a shock to their system. the first 5 days or so will be the most traumatic on them. But detox in a proper setting will make this process as safe as possible.

Part 2 of "Helping a loved one find recovery"
there will be 3 parts to this condensed "how to help a loved one find recovery" blog.
my alcohol and drug addiction blogs that you find here are in conjunction with my website and book entitled "A NEW JOURNEY" RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION.
MY WEBSITE THAT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU IS AT http://www.newjourneyrecovery.com/
I will always be sharing more with you ....
thanks, and god bless you. John Carcerano

the cure of time

As each new day passes in my recovery i will realize that my goal of staying clean and sober from drugs and alcohol will get easier and easier. It's the same as if I was driving near the California mountains, the further I drive away from the huge scene of mountains, the smaller the mountains will appear. And as I keep driving away from them, finally I can no longer see the mountains at all. It's the same with the addiction that I am overcoming. The more time that passes, the less vulnerable to my demons I become. The things that once triggered my mind to use drugs and alcohol are having less and less impact on me as I continue my new thinking of how and why to stay in recovery. Before long I will be having many anniversaries in my new life. First it will be 30 days clean, then comes 60, 90, 180, and without realizing I will find that I have gone a year clean and I will continue to feel like a new and better person. As I stay on this course, those that love me will be so proud, as I am proud of myself too.("reflections in recovery" are in conjunction with 'A NEW JOURNEY' RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION, by john carcerano
WEBSITE http://www.newjourneyrecovery.com/

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

heroin addiction

Heroin is an opiate that comes from the poppy plant. Blacktar, Brown sugar, Skag,Dope, Horse, Junk, Mud,, Smack, H. These are all street names for heroin,Heroin addiction occurs after longer term use, usually after 3 to 6 months . Heroin is a dirivative of morphine.Both Heroin and morphine are a very strong and mind numbing pain killer. Heroin is highly addictive.Heroin is taken by shooting up with a needle, eaten or snorted. It is also mixed with other drugs to acheive a more uphoric high. It is mostly mixed with cocaine for what is called a speed ball effect. A high with a combination of upper and downer kind of high. It is also mixed with PCP.
Heroin addiction is associated with some very serious health conditions, including fatal overdose, spontaneous abortion, collapsed veins, and infectious diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis. Heroin looks like a white or often times brown refined powder substance.The short-term effects of heroin ingestion appear shortly after a single dose andusually last a few hours. After a heroin injection, the user reports feeling a rush of euphoria and then a warm flushing of the skin, a dry mouth, and heaviness in the extremities. The user goes "on the nod",a feeling of both wakefulness and drowsiness. Heroin will depress the central nervous system.
Chronic users may develop collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses (pus-filled pocket inside inflamed, infected tissue), , liver disease, and cellulitus. Also various types of pneumonia, may result from the poor health condition of the abuser, depressed respiration, suppression of pain and vomiting.Heroin use will also produce tolerance and physical dependence, which are also powerful factors for continued use and abuse. As with abusers of any addictive drug, heroin addicts gradually spend more and more time and energy obtaining and using the drug. Once they are addicted, the heroin abusers' primary purpose in life becomes seeking and using drugs. The drugs literally change their brains. Long-term effects of heroinSymptoms of withdrawal include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey"), and leg movements. Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 24 and 48 hours after the last dose of heroin and subside after about a week. However, some people have shown persistent withdrawal signs for many months. Heroin withdrawal is never fatal to otherwise healthy adults, but for those whose bodies have been ravaged and weakened by long term use and malnurishment could die if not properly detoxed in a medical setting.
Additives in street heroin may include substances that do not dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. This can cause infection or even death of small patches of cells in vital organs. Immune reactions to these or other contaminants can cause arthritis or other rheumatologic problems. One percent of Heroin addicts will die of an overdose to the drug.

properly treating dual diagnosis
by john carceranothe importance of recognizing dual diagnosis in treating your addictionA dual diagnosis is found in at least 40-45% of those with a history of alcohol or drug addiction. Dual diagnosis is the presence of at least one psychological disorder besides the addiction. An addiction itself is a diagnosable disorder according to the Diagnostic Manual of Mental disorders (DSM 4). It is extremely important that when you are addressing your need to quit your alcohol or drug addiction that you be checked for a psychological disorder. If there is an over looked disorder then you will most certainly not succeed in quitting your addiction until you properly treat that disorder. When you are free from all mind altering substances then you will be able to look for any and all psychological issues. The reason being, because one will mask the other. Anxiety,depression, anger and irritability are the most common symptoms to look for. A psychiatrist will be unable to look for a 2nd disorder besides the addiction, if the addiction has not been arrested because the addiction itself will bring on many of the symptoms associated with a psychological disorder. In fact, in most cases the psychological disorder will be the main trigger for the substance addiction. Drugs and alcohol are a way to self medicate from the symptoms of a mental illness. A mental illness will also make the body more physiologically susceptible to drugs or alcohol. There often is great controversy in the medical community as to what disorder should be treated first. There are psychiatrists who will not treat a patient until they are free from all drugs and alcohol, and then there are addiction counselors who will not treat an addict until their psychological disorder is being treated. For a psychiatrist or addiction counselor to take one of these attitudes really is a form of malpractice. Both disorders need to treated at the same time. If the treating counselor is not both an addiction counselor and a psychiatrist, then the patient with the dual diagnosis needs to see an addiction counselor who will work in conjunction with the treating psychiatrist. The medications used for treating the psychological disorder often take several weeks to several months before they begin working. And often times the first prescribed medications are not found to be the right ones for the patient. There are several different medications for each diagnosis, and the right ones for a specific persons physiology can only be found through trial and error. So the addiction counselor needs to have patience while this trial and error process of finding the right medicine to stabilize their patient plays out. anj

Thursday, January 3, 2008

PCP (angel dust)
PCP, IT'S SYMPTOMS, EFFECTS AND ISSUESby john carceranoPhencyclidine is the medical name for the drug known as PCP or "angel dust". PCP is used as a recreational drug for its hallucinogenic effects. PCP was originally developed in the 1950's as an antistetic but it's side effects of halucinations and euphoria made it a drug worthless of medical use. PCP is most commonly snorted through the nose. It also can be taken orally or shot up with a needle. Heroin addicts will sometimes mix PCP with their heroin for a two fold effect. It is well absorbed by the body following all routes of administration concentrating fastest in the fatty tissues and the brain. Unchanged PCP is excreted in the urine in moderate amounts (10% of the dose). The terminal half-life for PCP varies considerably with a range of 10 to 60 hours depending on the amount used and the weight of the user.EFFECTSThe effects of PCP, as with all hallucinogens, are unpredictable and variable. Symptoms include euphoria, extreme relaxation, increased strength, time and space distortions, anxiety, panic, hallucination and extreme erratic behavior.Whack, Rocket fuel, Dust, PCP, these are the most common street names for this wicked drug. PCP is not an addictable drug. It is mostly used as a recreational "escape from total reality" drug. Each use is always a different and unpredictable effect. Often times their is an anxious paranoia associated with use. At times their will be a more potent mix of the drug than at other times. I personally used PCP twice monthly for about a year and a half from the ages of 18 to almost 20. I found that I was able to build a up a tolerance to PCP. PCP is a drug that is mostly used by those who are not being very responsible with their normal day to day responsibilities. When I used the drug I was also able to observe other people around me who also took PCP. I noticed that those who rarely took PCP would get more paranoid with their existence. Most would get all depressed about their life and really seem on the brink of self destruction or even talk of suicide and dying. This was not a drug to take lightly. I witnessed others who would take one third the amount that I would take, and yet they would often times "freak out" from the effects. At times it would take assistance by me or someone else to help prevent another user from getting too paranoid and despondent because of their PCP use. I did experience some good distorted realities on the drug too. It's not all paranoia. But each PCP use was always an unpredictable time. I ate it a few times and I got just as high as if I would have snorted it. I also experienced highs on the drug that were very mellow and subdued. I had several times where PCP would just relax me so much that I would sit in a chair and be unable to move for 1 or two hours. All I could do would be to observe those in the room with me, I couldn't even talk at times. I also remember taking too snorting too much one evening of some veryy potent PCP. I thought I was going to have to call an ambulence for myself. To try to shake off the drugs effects I went outside for a long brisk walk. Walking was difficult because my legs were going numb, and I felt like i was three inches tall. It was scary and bizzare. I always knew the potency of the drug by it's smell. When I would score(buy) a more potent batch, as soon as I would open the wrapper a strong smell would fill my car. When that happened I was happy, I knew it was gonna be good. I was always told that PCP is sometimes cut with heroin or even Drano. I personally had a few times when I was sure my PCP was cut with something poisonous because I would have a very anxious and sick time from the drug, it would not be the normal feel, and it would take me days to feel well again.If you know that a loved one is taking this drug, you should be concerned for their safety. Anyone who uses this drug with some regularity should be getting immediate counseling and support to assist them through their troubling life issues. Get them help immediately.DESCRIPTION OF PCP FROM A GOVERNMENT WEBSITEWhat are the street names or slang terms forPCP?Angel Dust, Embalming Fluid, Killer Weed, Rocket Fuel.What is PCPPCP, or phencyclidine, is a dissociative anesthetic that was developed in the 1950s as a surgical anesthetic. Its sedative and anesthetic effects are trance-like, and patients experience a feeling of being "out of body" and detached from their environment. Use of PCP in humans was discontinued in 1965, because it was found that patients often became agitated, delusional, and irrational while recovering from its anesthetic effects.What does it look like?PCP is a white crystalline powder that is readily soluble in water or alcohol. It has a distinctive bitter chemical taste.this blog is written for you, in conjunction with my upcoming book "A NEW JOURNEY RECOVERY" RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION by john carceranovisit my self help website for addiction athttp://www.newjourneyrecovery.com/anj

there are 3 stages to the disease of ALCOHOLISM
Tuesday, January 1, 2008

3 stages and 2 types of alcoholism

THE THREE STAGES OF ALCOHOLISM ; Early Stages of Alcoholism . In the early Alcoholism stages, a person begins to depend on alcohol to affect their mood. They drink for relief from problems, and they begin thinking more and more about alcohol. The person and others around them may not recognize that they are in the earliest of the stages of alcoholism. A gradual increase in Tolerance happens, meaning, it takes increasing amounts of alcohol to achieve the desired mood-altering effects. Often, the person can consume large amounts of alcohol without appearing impaired.At the early Alcoholism stages, the body has adapted to increasing amounts of alcohol. In fact, how a person functions will likely be improved with drinking as blood alcohol levels rise. For example, they can think and talk normally or walk a straight line with no problem. However, with continued alcohol consumption over time, the body begins to lose its ability to deal with high alcohol levels. As this occurs, when the Alcoholic stops drinking and their blood alcohol level decreases, their thinking, talking or walking functions deteriorate, and they are moving into the next of the stages of alcoholism.
Middle Alcoholism Stages .In the second stage of Alcoholism the need and desire to drink grows more strongly intense. The alcoholic drinks more often and in larger amounts. Also drinking begins much earlier in the day. This stage is where the Alcoholic loses control over their drinking. Tolerance decreases as they become as they grow intoxicated much easier. Withdrawl begins to strengthen and intensify when ever alcohol is not consumed for short periods. This is where it becomes apparent to the drinker and to others that the drinker indeed does have a drinking problem. Blackouts, hangovers and more sick feelings occur regularly. The alcoholic is most often in denial to others about their drinking problem.
End Stage Alcoholism .As Alcoholism progresses, the Alcoholic has become obsessed with drinking to the exclusion of nearly everything else. Everyone can tell there's a major problem. During the late Alcoholism stages, the mental and physical health of the Alcoholic are seriously deteriorating. Many of the body's organs have been damaged which lowers resistance to disease. Relationships at home or socially may have been severely damaged, and there can be mounting financial and legal problems due to the alcoholic's powerlessness over alcohol.Every Alcoholic will suffer from malnutrition. Alcohol in large amounts interferes with the digestion process and the passage of nutrients from the intestines into the bloodstream. Liver function has been damaged, further limiting the conversion of nutrients into a usable form that the body can assimilate. The damaged cells are not receiving the needed nutrients, they cannot repair themselves and the damage continues. Nutritional deficiencies cause a host of related problems to become worse. For example, a vitamin B-1 deficiency common in alcoholics can result in loss of mental alertness and appetite, fatigue, confusion and emotional instability. And if the Alcoholic continues drinking, alcohol will cause the death of the Alcoholic in one way or another. From suicide, accidents and related injuries to direct damage to the body's organs and systems, death will likely be the final outcome of end stage alcoholism. (courtesy sober recovery)
THERE ARE TWO GENERAL TYPES OF ALCOHOLICS: One type of alcoholism basically makes up 95% of all alcoholics afflicted with the disease. This type of person will start drinking around the age of 18-20 years old. About the college age. They may start drinking at football games or social functions. They may start out drinking only once or twice a week. Drinking will be a planned and fun event. They will not develop a problem with alcohol until about 6-10 years after they first started drinking.
The other type of alcoholic will start drinking in their early teens and become hooked on alcohol almost instantly. This type of alcoholic has one or both parents who also have a severe addiction to either alcohol or drugs. If a person starts drinking or using drugs in their early teens, they are 5 times more likely to become a problem alcoholic and 6 times more likely to have a diagnosable psychological disorder. So the very likelihood is that they will be dually diagnosed. They usually get into trouble with the law more often and become a burden on society. This type of alcoholic is not to be considered a rotten person. They are this way because of genetic and social factors mostly stemming from a a dysfunctional family. For this severe type of alcoholic to stabilize they will need advanced counseling and a lot of moral support along with extensive psychological counseling.
Although I do not consider myself from a fully dysfunctional family, (I was raised with a lot of love and a stable roof over my head) I was among this 5% of alcoholic in that when I was 15 years old I had started drinking, and instantly I was a heavy alcoholic. Without a doubt a trained psychologist/addiction counselor can predict with a degree of certainty whether a pre-teen will become an alcohol or drug addict based on certain criteria that they may possess. I will get into predicting addiction in adolescents in an upcoming blog.
perspectves
biological moral psychological social spiritual
this blog is written for you in conjunction with my upcoming book "A NEW JOURNEY" RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION , by me, john carcerano and here is my self help website for those with addiction or mental illness issues. http://www.newjourneyrecovery.com/ anj

anti-social personality disoder

anti social personality
by john carceranoA person with an Antisocial Personality diagnosis will exhibit several if not all of the following traits:Symptoms:Common characteristics of people with antisocial personality disorder include:Persistent lying or stealingConstant difficulties with the lawOften violating the rights of others.Drug or alcohol addictionViolent and aggressive behavoirAgitated depressed feelingsConnot tolerate being bored,always restless and unsettled feelingsHas no regard for the safety of himself or othersAlways getting in trouble as a childThey show no remorse for their hurtful actionsCharmerImpulsivenessThey have a feeling of entitlementRarely makes or keep friendsShows no feelings of guiltPeople with Antisocial personality do not like or respect authority figures.MY EXPERIENCES WITH AN ANTISOCIAL PATIENT AND ASSOCIATEI knew a guy with antisocial personality and he was always very difficult to deal with. I also knew him when he was 9 months dedicated to sobriety and he was a very different and easier person to deal with. His name was Tom. Tom was always fast talking and conning his way through life. He was also an alcoholic and cocaine addict when he could afford it, preferably crack cocaine. But as he entered his late 40's he was broke and so he drifted away from cocaine. He still drank cheap straight vodka very heavily. About a half a quart to a quart a day. He was an inconsistent worker and he could never make ends meet. Because he was an unstable worker he would also have to rely on handouts to help him get by every month. Up until the age of 49 he had been arrested at least 10 times that I knew about. Everything from 4 dui's to car theft and drug possession. He always had run ins with the law and was in and out of the legal system all of his life. Often he would con his way to receive probation for his many arrests. He did serve 4 or 5 sentences of a year or so each. He was an extremely difficult person to be around. He told me that he had started drinking and drugging at the age of 14 and that his father was a heavy drinker. I saw photos of his father and he looks just like him, so it's apparent that he received most of his inheritance from his father. His father died when Tom was still in his teens. What you mostly find in people who have an antisocial personality disorder is that they usually come from a semi dysfunctional background and their is almost always one parent that was addicted to drugs or alcohol. Now Toms father was an alcoholic but his mother was not. His father was a very intelligent and successful lawyer. Toms mother was a heavy smoker though, and she died of emphysema. And according to Tom, he was sneaking his mother cigarettes in the hospital on her death bed. So there was a very strong addictive tendency in his family. Toms brother had succeeded at beating alcoholism and was put on SSRI medication for a psychological disorder.Tom fit the pattern well for those with antisocial personality. They start using drugs and alcohol in their early teens and begin getting into trouble with the law early in life. Tom would also tell me that he often could not sit still and relax and that his mind would race.Treatment:A successful outcome for psychotherapy alone is very limited for this disorder. Intense psychoanalytic therapy has also not proven to be very successful.The therapeutic relationship, therefore, can be one of the first ones. Antisocial diagnosed individuals have been found to be lacking in a life where there has not been much emotional rewards. A good and trusting rapport with the client is the only way that there can be a successful treatment outcome.Medication Antisocial patients respond best to SSRI's such as Zoloft or Paxil. These antidepressants often help to reduce aggressiveness, anxiety and depression. These patients often only receive treatment when they are forced to through the criminal justice system. They not only need help from a substance abuse counselor and a psychiatrist but also close support from family or friends if it is available. They have often made a lot of enemies with their agressivly conning and unlawful behavior. Breaking ground with treatment often takes some time. anj

Monday, January 7, 2008

ANOREXIA EXPLAINED, AND MY ANOREXIA

Anorexia is the serious loss of body weight and muscle mass. This is caused by several factors and these factors are explained further on in this summary. Anorexics have a distorted view of their own body appearance and of their weight. They fear gaining weight and feel that they are getting fat even when they clearly are not. They are usually at least 15-18% below their normal body weight for their height. they have restricted their eating to patterns of 1000 calories or less. Often as little as 300-500 calories a day. Anorexics often are fatigued, have muscle aches and often experience headaches. People who suffer from anorexia need intense psychological therapy to help better understand the issues that are causing their preoccupation with weight loss and malnutrition.
CultureIn today's modern culture the extra thin woman is the sign of beauty. This wasn't always the case. In the 1800's, as is apparent from paintings and photographs back then, weight and big curves were considered a thing of beauty in a woman. A growing factor putting pressure on women to lose weight is our modern society. This triggers an obsession with a woman to fit in by having a stick thin figure. Models and movie stars on television all have body's of skin and bone, and they all get the handsome man. A size zero body for a woman is the "in thing" to have. Weneed to take a good look at what we do as a society, especially in the movie and recording industry. They are the trend setters.GeneticsA persons family history also plays a role in anorexia. If there is a history of anorexia or OCD in a persons family tree then that will make someone more susceptible to anorexia also. If anorexia is in your family tree then you need to be more careful not to trigger the disorder in your offspring. Educate them young if they are more at risk. Get counseling to those who are more susceptible and have a genetic link to anorexia.Self EsteemLow self- esteem is a common personality trait in those diagnosed with Anorexia. Perfectionism and social isolation often manifest themselves in anorexics. Although the social isolation often emerges after the anorexia begins. These people were often good in school and no problem to others. By focusing their attention on weight loss and their food, the person will ignore the problems that they often do not want to face. This is not true in all diagnosis of Anorexia but it is evident in a few of the diagnosed forms.
Stress, Rape, Physical or Sexual abuseTraumatic events can often be found to be another cause that triggers anorexia.Anorexia and OCDIt is often thought that OCD is different than anorexia. With anorexia the sufferer is constantly obsessing on staying thin, and they see the slightest looseness of their skin as a sign of fat. With OCD there is constant obsessions that need to be relieved with a compulsion. Anorexia is pure obsessions. But, up to a third of OCD sufferers experience some form of anorexia or other type of obsession with their food intake and diet. If an OCD sufferer obsesses about certain foods being harmful in some way then they will avoid them and alter their diet.A study conducted by Yale and Brown of 94 anorexic woman found that 37% of them were officially diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder using the DSM IV criteria.Does OCD cause anorexia? The short answer is yes, in a lot of cases it does. I am one of those cases and I will explain to you in the next paragraphs. OCD has been found to exist in about 1/3 of those diagnosed with anorexia. Those with OCD tend to obsess about nearly everything, and when that obsession is about chemicals or bad things in food, it can and often does lead to anorexia. In this case the anorexia can be treated much more successfully with SSRI"S. I found that when I took luvox for my OCD, my OCD symptoms of obsessions and compulsions eased by 70-80%. There are several triggers and causes to anorexia and each different cause must be treated differently in order to have a successful outcome against the anorexia.MY OCD HAS LED TO MY ON AGAIN, OFF AGAIN ANOREXIA
At the age of 7 I quickly developed OCD due to high fever convulsions. At the age of 9 I become grossed out when I heard about some diseased meat that had made it's way into some stores. The thought of the diseased meat, and also eating of a dead animal caused me to become a non meat eater. I avoided meat at all costs. My dad and grandmother noticed that I would only eat potatoes because i did not like meat, or the taste of vegetables. My dad and grandma used to yell at me at the dinner table to eat something nourishing. I would not. At the age of 11 I developed a bad flu. My flu lasted 3 weeks and would not subside as I would grow weaker and weaker. I was finally rushed to the hospital because I threw up blood. My diagnosis was malnutrition. Malnutrition brought on by my OCD causing me to be obsessed with only certain foods. Even my finger nails were very brittle and breaking all the time for a few years during this period. Poor and brittle nails are a clear sign of bad nutrition and anorexia. So I am a very clear example of how OCD can often lead to anorexia. It took me over 30 years to learn how to control my bouts with anorexia. But in my case it's important to point out that I also experienced bouts with binge eating too. I had brief periods in my preteen life when I was severely overweight. So no two people are alike when it comes to anorexia. That's why there is not a sure fire solution that I could give you on how to cure anorexia. I will briefly touch on several common solutions here, and will get into more detail on Anorexia in my upcoming book on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder entitled "THE STRANGER UPSTAIRS".
HOW I LEARNED TO CONTROL AND OVERCOME MY ANOREXIA
Before I briefly explain here how I overcame my bouts with anorexia please understand that my example is not a model for everyone. Each persons case with anorexia has different causes, and addressing the causes of each individual based on their symptoms and triggers of the disorder is the only way to treat anorexia in the sufferer. The anorexic must see a trained and experienced mental health specialist in order to get well and recover from this life threatening disorder. My Anorexia is caused by my OCD. I would say that I feel I have control over my Anorexia . Sure I have periods where I may starve myself but the starvation usually does not last more than a few days and I am pretty good at eating foods that are pretty high in nutrition. Although people around me laugh when ever I comment that I need to lose weight, they always tell me that I'm crazy if I think I need to lose weight. I am always encouraged by others to eat more. Although I do have very thin wrists I truly am trying to keep my wieght at 120 and that is the weight I really like to be. My weight does stay around the 128 mark and I know that is not a bad weight. I overcame my anorexia by slowly learning what proper foods I could eat that had high nutrients and low calories. Often times during my anorexic periods I would get light headed and nearly pass out. I am 5 foot 8 inches and at my lowest weight I weighed 116 pounds. I don't consider myself a severe anorexic, but for a man, 116 pounds is not a proper weight by any means. People around me would always ask me if I was sick. It got to be quite annoying."He believes that when families stop criticizing, stop judging and controlling, and instead just try to help and understand their loved one's struggle, that's when things start getting better."husband of a recovering anorexic
UNDOING PAST NUTRITIONAL DAMAGE AND EVEN THE CURED ANOREXIC COULD VERY WELL HAVE HEALTH ISSUES LATER IN LIFE DUE TO THE NUTRIENTS THEY STARVED THEIR BODY FROM EARLIER IN LIFE.For anorexic patients a complete health examination will be required along with future recording of weight. Gums or teeth must be checked, a doctor must also look for unusual heart rhythms, checking of bone density, changes with menstrual cycle and tests for anemia(low red blood cell count) and heart disease. Anorexia can also lead to smaller heart muscles.I recall a recent study of patients admitted to hospitals for heart attacks. The study found that heavy overwieght people had a higher chance of surviving a heart attack than did skinnier people. The study never fully concluded why this was so. But my opinion for this is that overwieght people probly ate more protien and had stronger hearts compared with thinner people who ate less protien. Just a little something to think about.Hormonal changes. Changes in reproductive hormones and in thyroid hormones can cause absence of menstruation (amenorrhea), infertility, bone loss and retarded growth.Imbalance of minerals and electrolytes. Your body needs adequate levels of minerals, particularly calcium and potassium, in order to maintain the electric currents that keep your heart beating. Disruption of your body's levels of fluids and minerals creates an electrolyte imbalance. Unless restored, this imbalance can be life-threatening.Nerve damage. Anorexia may cause brain and nerve damage, seizures and loss of feeling.Digestive problems. Anorexia can cause constipation and bloating.
anj

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ; My Explanation and a Study of My Symptoms And a host of other facts about symptoms, comorbidity with drugs or alcohol, and what you can do to successfully cope and control this Anxiety Disorderby john carceranohttp://www.newjourneyrecovery.com/ Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) has many similar symptoms. These symptoms often wax and wane over the lifetime of the sufferer. There is no cure for this debilitating disorder, but it can be managed to a high degree all depending on the severity of the symptoms and the steps taken by the sufferer to modify behavior, thoughts and stress. Most people with OCD are able to hide their illness from others. They suffer in silence. They rarely ever tell anyone that they have this disorder. Because to explain their symptoms to anyone would make them sound neurotic and crazy.The person with OCD experiences a sort of short circuiting of their thought processes. Especially in the area of the brain where thoughts of danger and the avoidance of calamities are generated. This area of the brain is called the basal ganglia.The OCD sufferer becomes plagued with a constant mental bombardment of extreme obsessions and compulsions. These obsessions and compulsions never go away. The obsessions the sufferer experience are of always feeling that a disaster is about to occur even under normally peaceful circumstances. Their mind is constantly bombarded with unwanted thoughts and images.My onset of OCDI too am a sufferer of OCD. The best way I could describe it to you is that it feels as if I have two brains. My regular thinking and functioning full brain, and also a brain that shoves unwanted thoughts into my mind at a rapid fire pace. I am unable to stop this “other brain of mine” from this non-stop bombardment of obsessive thoughts, worries and often times violent, crude and repulsive thinking. I have learned to control the severity and pace of these rapid fire thoughts. There is a war going on in my head at all times. “My other brain” keeps on telling me that certain things are one way, when my full rational brain knows that they are really another way. But there are always these strong compulsions to reduce the anxiety brought on by the danger signals from “my other brain”. The problem is that if I just ignore these obsessions, then there is a build up of anxiety until I recognize and acknowledge them in a certain way, by responding to them with a compulsive movement or mental ritual. If you suffer from OCD then you will understand what I have just described to you all too well.KNOWN CAUSES OF OCDOCD most likely is triggered by genetic and secondary medical causes. By secondary medical causes i mean as a result of a medical condition that directly involves the brain. A large portion of OCD sufferers report either a serious head injury, brain seizure or major brain operation directly prior to the onset of their first symptoms. Between the ages of 2-7, I was hospitalized 4 or 5 times for epileptic brain seizures brought on by high fevers. My last seizure at age 7 is what I am sure triggered my OCD. A few days after I was released from the hospital because of my last seizure, I immediately began to experience the compulsion to perform rituals in response to strong obsessional thoughts that would not subside. I first remember getting yelled at by my step mother because i got up in the middle of the night to check the clock a total of 22 times. She thought I was playing games. My brother began to make fun of me for my bizarre behavior and shortly after that, I began to learn how to hide my OCD symptoms from others so that I would no longer be teased for my strange behaviors and movements. By the age of 8 , I had developed a fear of germs. I would never drink out of anyone else's glass and I would always use plastic knifes and forks as often as I could. At aged 9, while watching the news with my brother, there was a report about some diseased cattle. I remember my brother joking and playfully taunting me about the gross diseased meat from dead cows. The next day I chose to give up meat for the rest of my life. I only briefly ate meat in my teens because I did not like too many vegetables and meat was my only way to stay alive and healthy. But I often drowned it in ketchup or swallowed it fast as if I was taking a pill. The reason I had to force myself to eat meat in my teen years was because I was hospitalized at aged 11 for malnutrition. When I had turned 22, that's when I knew that I could stay healthy without ever eating meat again. I have not eaten any meat products now for 22 years. I have also gave up eating milk products 12 years ago. The reason I gave up milk was because I found out milk and cheese are made from bacteria cultures. I also carefully read the ingredients of all the can food that I buy to make sure it contains no meat or milk products. I am what you can call borderline anorexic at times. I go through periods where my weight will go down to 116-120 pounds and I'm 5 feet 9 inches tall. I do eat very healthy vegetarian foods now, and during those rare periods when my weight will drop drastically, I make sure that I drink fruit and vegetable juices, and I also take a variety of vitamin supplements. I also used to take on a ton of complicated projects, and get so overwhelmed that I would not succeed in any of them. I've since learned how to resist taking on too much, and now I only take on a few complicated projects and seem to be doing a lot better at them. And least I forget, from the age of 15 to 29 I was heavy drinker. I drank nearly a fifth a day of hard alcohol. So due to anxiety and other pressures, I was a prime candidate for alcoholism. Sounds complicated, huh. I really feel fine now. Considering my constant OCD symptoms. It's great when you can be honest with yourself and understand it all. It makes coping a lot easier. I have never had therapy to reduce my OCD symptoms but I found out that when I take the SSRI drug Luvox, my symptoms were reduced by 70-80%.
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES ("my other brain")My thoughts on my OCD were always a feeling as if I had two brains, and I often wondered about this description of mine until I read the story of a four year old girl who had been hospitalized with a severe brain injury. She had undergone a long brain operation and went home about a week after her initial injury. A couple of days after this little girl came home she immediately noticed that she was constantly obsessed by these thoughts of numbers in her head. These thoughts had so persisted that she went up to her mother and said "mommy mommy, i always have all of these numbers in my head. would you please tell my other brain to stop putting these numbers in my head).Now it is well known about the honesty at which children describe situations, and I was just shocked when I saw that her description of her OCD was exactly as the way I thought it felt. Out of the mouths of babes, a true honest description of OCD.OCD IS ALSO CAUSED BY A STREP INFECTION A strep infection has been proven to trigger an auto immune response that directly attacks an area of the brain called the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia is the section of the brain that malfunctions and seems to be short circuited in those with OCD. The link from strep throat to OCD was first discovered around 1995 by a Dr. Swedo. Dr. Swedo had observed, and interviewed fifty children with a sudden onset of OCD or tic disorders who had recently (within the past several months) been diagnosed with a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) infection. Swedo found that the children had classic patterns of OCD and tic symptoms. She tested the presence of antistreptococcal antibodies in their blood and found that symptom exacerbations were twice as likely to occur with the presence of antistreptococcal antibodies.
The triggers and causes for OCD seem to be isolated to 3 or 4 main causes. Again they are most often caused by physical brain damage from injury, epileptic seizures, inherited abnormalities and also an autoimmune response triggered from a strep infection which damages the basal ganglia portion of the brain.This will be a study in what exactly OCD is, and what is best for the sufferer to do to manage and cut down on the severity of this disorder. I have written this in the best and least scientific terms that I could, so as you can better understand in laymen terms, what you need to do to get control of your OCD symptoms. There seems to be good answers as to what causes the onset of OCD. The problem is that even if you are able to trace the cause of your OCD illness, there is no way to reverse the fact that you already have the disorder. OCD is not what you can really call a preventive disorder. In about 1/3 of all OCD sufferers there are associated disorders. These associated disorders are mostly tics and uncontrollable movements that are often known as Tourettes Syndrome. Anxiety is a constant presence to those who have OCD. Some people may experience depression also. Intensity of thought is another trait of OCD. A trait that I too suffer from at all times where my thinking is stuck in a very serious and analytical mode.DSM IV CRITERIA FOR OCD DIAGNOSISA. Either obsessions or compulsions:Obsessions as defined by (1), (2), (3), and (4):(1) recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress(2) the thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems(3) the person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action(4) the person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposed from without as in thought insertion)Compulsions as defined by (1) and (2):(1) repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly(2) the behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessiveB. At some point during the course of the disorder, the person has recognized that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable. Note: This does not apply to children.C. The obsessions or compulsions cause marked distress, are time consuming (take more than 1 hour a day), or significantly interfere with the person’s normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or usual social activities or relationships.D. I another Axis I disorder is present, the content of the obsessions or compulsions is not restricted to it (e.g., preoccupation with food in the presence of an Eating Disorder; hair pulling in the presence of Trichotillomania; concern with appearance in the presence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder; preoccupation with drugs in the presence of a Substance Use Disorder; preoccupation with having a serious illness in the presence of Hypochondriasis; preoccupation with sexual urges or fantasies in the presence of a Paraphilia; or guilty ruminations in the presence of Major Depressive Disorder).E. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.Hollywood and Obsessive Compulsive DisorderI have included links on the left of this page that will direct you to several stories about Hollywood celebrities who have disclosed having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. And I am also including this list of others celebrities who have had this disorder. Knowing there are others who have OCD and continue on with successful careers should be a motivation for you to carry on with a near normal life also too, if you are so diagnosed with OCD. You will find that OCD is not as commonly found as other psychological disorders. That because OCD is a much rarer disorder. Here are a list of some famous people who have either disclosed having OCD or have been described with the symptoms:Howard Hughes,Roseanne Barr,Howie Mandel,Martin Scorsese,Howard Stern,Marc Summers,Michelangelo,Stanley Kubrick,Harrison Ford,Jane Horrocks,PenÃlope Cruz,Billy Bob Thornton,Warren Zevon,John List,Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson,Paul Gascoigne,Nikola Tesla,John Melendez,Kathie Lee Gifford,Ludwig van Beethoven,Cameron Diaz,Albert Einstein,Ian Puleston-Davies,David Beckham,Charlie Sheen,Joey Ramone,and Leonardo DiCaprio{Diaz has publicly admitted she is deeply germophobic and habitually rubs doorknobs so hard before opening doors to clean them that the original paint fades afterwards. Along with her floors, she says, she washes her hands 'many times' each day and uses her elbows to push open doors.}MRI STUDIES ON OCDModern preliminary studies of the brain using magnetic resonance imaging have shown that people with obsessive compulsive disorder had significantly less white matter than did normal subjects, suggesting a widely distributed brain abnormality in OCD. Understanding the significance of this finding will be further explored by functional neuroimaging and neuropsychological studies (Jenike et al, 1996).
OCD AND ADDICTION
Alcohol and drugs mixed with any psychological disorder is not safe and will aggravate symptoms. OCD is an anxiety disorder and any substances that cause anxiety can only trigger and make the disorder worse. Even alcohol will help increase the anxiety and severity of OCD symptoms. Most people think that alcohol is a sedative. When the effects of alcohol begin to ware off, the drinker really suffers from irritability and anxiousness. And this will only make OCD symptoms worse.
GOOD ADVICE HOW TO TREAT AND CONTROL YOUR OCD SYMPTOMS
I will advise you how to get free and cheap counseling, and what to do to control your OCD. I learned how to get a good grip on my OCD. if you want to see a therapist and can't afford one, then call your states social services department and ask them where you can get free help. most states, especially in the big cities offer free counseling with a psychiatrist and you can qualify for free meds from the big drug companies. they may charge on a sliding scale for a shrink, i went a long time ago when i needed help and i had to pay $6.00 per session. make some calls, it's all there for you. heres how i controlled my OCD, and it has caused me all sorts of problems in my life. i bacame an alcoholic for 14 years due to the anxiety from my OCD. i've been alcohol and drug free for 13 years now. don't drink or do drugs because this will only make your OCD worse. especially as you come down form substances because of the anxiety and stress that is associated with the comedown. coke and uppers will fuel your OCD severely and stay away from caffiene because this will also fuel your OCD. i am white knuckling it now as far as not taking any meds for my OCD, but i have learned to cut out stress in my life at a very good rate. don't get worked up about things. this will cause your stress and anxiety level to rise and severely impact your OCD symptoms. I should go on meds because when i took 100 milligrams of Luvox my OCD symptoms were reduced by 70%. i also learned to drink caffiene free teas at night and sometimes when i feel a bit anxious I will add cava cava or Valerian root to my tea. I will even at times take melatonin to help me relax at night. i even learned to practice ignoring my OCD when it demands that I perform rituals. It's hard to do at first, but when you ignore the obsessions by not giving in and performing these rituals, the OCD will greatly subside. over a few months time of ignoring rituals it will become easier and easier to not do this. Then it will become more of a maintainence for you to not do rituals. The strength of the OCD symptoms will now greatly reduce. I also learned to do rituals in my mind so I don't look funny to other people doing strange movements.OCD CRITERIA AS SEEN ON THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MENTAL HEALTH WEBSITEObsessive-Compulsive Disorder“I couldn’t do anything without rituals. They invaded every aspect of my life. Counting really bogged me down. I would wash my hair three times as opposed to once because three was a good luck number and one wasn’t. It took me longer to read because I’d count the lines in a paragraph. When I set my alarm at night, I had to set it to a number that wouldn’t add up to a ’bad’ number.”“I knew the rituals didn’t make sense, and I was deeply ashamed of them, but I couldn’t seem to overcome them until I had therapy.”“Getting dressed in the morning was tough, because I had a routine, and if I didn’t follow the routine, I’d get anxious and would have to get dressed again. I always worried that if I didn’t do something, my parents were going to die. I’d have these terrible thoughts of harming my parents. That was completely irrational, but the thoughts triggered more anxiety and more senseless behavior. Because of the time I spent on rituals, I was unable to do a lot of things that were important to me.”People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have persistent, upsetting thoughts (obsessions) and use rituals (compulsions) to control the anxiety these thoughts produce. Most of the time, the rituals end up controlling them.For example, if people are obsessed with germs or dirt, they may develop a compulsion to wash their hands over and over again. If they develop an obsession with intruders, they may lock and relock their doors many times before going to bed. Being afraid of social embarrassment may prompt people with OCD to comb their hair compulsively in front of a mirror-sometimes they get “caught” in the mirror and can’t move away from it. Performing such rituals is not pleasurable. At best, it produces temporary relief from the anxiety created by obsessive thoughts.Other common rituals are a need to repeatedly check things, touch things (especially in a particular sequence), or count things. Some common obsessions include having frequent thoughts of violence and harming loved ones, persistently thinking about performing sexual acts the person dislikes, or having thoughts that are prohibited by religious beliefs. People with OCD may also be preoccupied with order and symmetry, have difficulty throwing things out (so they accumulate), or hoard unneeded items.Healthy people also have rituals, such as checking to see if the stove is off several times before leaving the house. The difference is that people with OCD perform their rituals even though doing so interferes with daily life and they find the repetition distressing. Although most adults with OCD recognize that what they are doing is senseless, some adults and most children may not realize that their behavior is out of the ordinary.OCD affects about 2.2 million American adults,1 and the problem can be accompanied by eating disorders,6 other anxiety disorders, or depression.2,4 It strikes men and women in roughly equal numbers and usually appears in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood.2 One-third of adults with OCD develop symptoms as children, and research indicates that OCD might run in families.3The course of the disease is quite varied. Symptoms may come and go, ease over time, or get worse. But OCD will never go away. If OCD becomes severe, it can keep a person from working or carrying out normal responsibilities at home. People with OCD may try to help themselves by avoiding situations that trigger their obsessions, or they may use alcohol or drugs to calm themselves.4,5OCD usually responds well to treatment with certain medications and/or exposure-based psychotherapy, in which people face situations that cause fear or anxiety and become less sensitive (desensitized) to them. NIMH is supporting research into new treatment approaches for people whose OCD does not respond well to the usual therapies. These approaches include combination and augmentation (add-on) treatments, as well as modern techniques such as deep brain stimulation. (NIMH)
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compiled ocd material from other sitesThe typical OCD sufferer performs tasks (or compulsions) to seek relief from obsession related anxiety. To others, these tasks may appear odd and unnecessary. But for the sufferer, such tasks can feel critically important, and must be performed in particular ways to ward off dire consequences and to stop the stress from building up. Examples of these tasks: repeatedly checking that one's parked car has been locked before leaving it; turning lights on and off a set number of times before exiting a room; repeatedly washing hands at regular intervals throughout the day.Symptoms may include some, all or perhaps none of the following:Repeated hand-washing Specific counting systems - i.e. counting in groups of four, arranging objects in groups of three, having objects grouped in odd/even numbered groups, etc. One serious symptom which stems from this is "counting" your steps, e.g. you must take twelve steps to the car in the morning, etc. Perfectly aligning objects at complete, absolute right angles, etc. This symptom is shared with OCPD and can be confused with this condition unless it is realised that with OCPD it is not stress-related. Having to "cancel-out" bad thoughts with a good thought. Examples are: Imagining harming a child, and having to imagine (for example) a child playing happily to "cancel" it out. Unwanted sexual thoughts. Two classic examples are fear of being gay or fear of being a pedophile. In both cases, the sufferer will obsess over whether or not they are genuinely aroused by the thoughts. A fear of contamination; some sufferers may fear the presence of human body secretion such as saliva, sweat, tears or mucus, or excretions such as urine or feces. Some OCD sufferers even fear the soap they're using is contaminatedA need for both sides of the body to feel even. As in, a person with OCD might walk down a sidewalk and step on a crack with the ball of their left foot. They might then feel the need to step on another crack with the ball of their right foot. Also, if one hand gets wet, the sufferer may feel very uncomfortable if the other is not. There are many other symptoms. It is important to remember that one must be diagnosed by a doctor to officially suffer from OCD in medical terms; furthermore possessing the symptoms above is not an absolute sign of OCD and vice-versa. Obsessions are thoughts and ideas that the sufferer cannot stop thinking about. Common OCD obsessions include fears of acquiring disease, getting hurt, or causing harm to someone. Obsessions are typically automatic, frequent, distressing, and difficult to control or put an end to by themselves. People with OCD who obsess about hurting themselves or others are actually less likely to do so than the average person.Compulsions refer to actions that the person performs, usually repeatedly, in an attempt to make the obsession go away. For an OCD sufferer who obsesses about germs or contamination, for example, these compulsions often involve repeated cleansing or meticulous avoidance of trash and mess. Most of the time the actions become so regular that it is not a noticeable problem. Common compulsions include excessive washing and cleaning; checking; hoarding; repetitive actions such as touching, counting, arranging and ordering; and other ritualistic behaviors that the person feels will lessen the chances of provoking an obsession. Compulsions can be observable — washing, for instance — but they can also be mental rituals such as repeating words or phrases, or counting.Most OCD sufferers are aware that such thoughts and behavior are not rational, but feel bound to comply with them to fend off fears of panic or dread. Because sufferers are consciously aware of this irrationality but feel helpless to push it away, untreated OCD is often regarded as one of the most vexing and frustrating of the major anxiety disorders.In an attempt to further relate the immense distress that those afflicted with this condition must bear, Barlow and Durand (2006) utilize an odd example. Strangely enough, they implore readers not to think of pink elephants. Their point lies in the assumption that many people will immediately create an image of a pink elephant in their mind even if told not to do so. The more one attempts to stop thinking of these colorful animals, the more they will succeed in generating these mental images. This phenomenon is termed: the “Thought Avoidance Paradox”, and it plagues those with OCD on a daily basis, for no matter how hard one tries to get these disturbing images and thoughts out of his/her mind, feelings of distress and anxiety inevitably prevail. Although everyone may experience unpleasant thoughts at one time or another, these are usually warranted concerns that are short-lived and fade after an adequate time period has lapsed. However, this is not the case for OCD sufferers. (K. Carter, PSYC 210 lecture, February 14, 2006).People who suffer from the separate and unrelated condition obsessive compulsive personality disorder are not aware of anything abnormal with them; they will readily explain why their actions are rational, and it is usually impossible to convince them otherwise. People who suffer with OCPD tend to derive pleasure from their obsessions or compulsions. Those with OCD do not derive pleasure but are ridden with anxiety. OCD is ego dystonic, meaning that the disorder is incompatible with the sufferer's self-concept. Because disorders that are ego dystonic go against an individual's perception of his/herself, they tend to cause much distress. OCPD, on the other hand, is ego syntonic--marked by the individual's acceptance that the characteristics displayed as a result of this disorder are compatible with his/her self-image. Ego syntonic disorders understandably cause no distress (K. Carter, PSYC 210 lecture, April 11, 2006). This is a significant difference between these disorders.Equally frequent, these rationalizations do not apply to the overall behavior, but to each instance individually; for example, a person compulsively checking their front door may argue that the time taken and stress caused by one more check of the front door is considerably less than the time and stress associated with being robbed, and thus the check is the better option. In practice, after that check, the individual is still not sure, and it is still better in terms of time and stress to do one more check, and this reasoning can continue as long as necessary.Not all OCD sufferers engage in compulsive behavior. Recent years have seen increased diagnoses of Pure Obsessional OCD, or "Pure O." This form of OCD is manifested entirely within the mind, and involves obsessive ruminations triggered by certain thoughts. These mental "snags" can be debilitating, often tying up a sufferer for hours at a time. As of 2004, headway continues to be made by specialists. It is believed by many that Pure O OCD is in fact more prevalent than other types of OCD, although it is likely the most underreported as it is not visibly apparent, and sufferers tend to suffer in silence. In this disorder, the sufferer tries to "disprove" the anxious thoughts through logic and reasoning, yet in doing so becomes further entrapped by the obsessions. "Pure O" OCD is thought to be the most difficult form of OCD to treat.Some OCD sufferers exhibit what is known as overvalued ideas. In such cases, the person with OCD will truly be uncertain whether the fears that cause them to do their compulsions are irrational or not. After some (possibly long) discussion, it is possible to convince the individual that their fears may be unfounded. It may be extra difficult to do ERP therapy on such a patient, because they may be, at least initially, unwilling to do it.OCD is different from behaviors such as gambling addiction and overeating. People with these disorders typically experience at least some pleasure from their activity; OCD sufferers do not actively want to perform their compulsive tasks, and experience no tangible pleasure in doing so.OCD is placed in the anxiety class of mental illness, but like many chronic stress disorders it can lead to clinical depression over time. The constant stress of the condition can cause sufferers to develop a deadening of spirit, a numbing frustration, or sense of hopelessness. OCD's effects on day-to-day life — particularly its substantial consumption of time — can produce difficulties with work, finances and relationships.The illness ranges widely in severity. The illness affects many people and it is not cureable but can be treated with anti-depressants. This illness affects millions of people worldwide, and the number keeps growing. TreatmentOCD can be treated with Behavioral therapy (BT), Cognitive therapy (CT), medications, or any combination of the three. Psychotherapy can also help in some cases, while not one of the leading treatments. According to the Expert Consensus Guidelines for the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder the treatment of choice for most OCD is behavior therapy or cognitive behavior therapy.The specific technique used in BT/CBT is called Exposure and Ritual Prevention (also known as Exposure and Response Prevention) or ERP; this involves gradually learning to tolerate the anxiety associated with not performing the ritual behavior. At first, for example, someone might touch something only very mildly "contaminated" (such as a tissue that has been touched by another tissue that has been touched by the end of a toothpick that has touched a book that came from a "contaminated" location, such as a school.) That is the "exposure." The "ritual prevention" is not washing. Another example might be leaving the house and checking the lock only once (exposure) without going back and checking again (ritual prevention). The person fairly quickly habituates to the (formerly) anxiety-producing situation and discovers that their anxiety level has dropped considerably; they can then progress to touching something more "contaminated" or not checking the lock at all — again, without performing the ritual behavior of washing or checking.Pharmacologic treatments include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as paroxetine (Paxil, Aropax), sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), and fluvoxamine (Luvox) as well as the tricyclic antidepressants, in particular clomipramine (Anafranil). SSRIs prevent excess serotonin from being pumped back into the original neuron that released it. Instead, the serotonin can then bind to the receptor sites of nearby neurons and send chemical messages or signals that can help regulate the excessive anxiety and obsessive-compulsive thoughts. SSRIs seem to be the most effective drug treatments for OCD, and help about 60% of OCD patients, but do not "cure" OCD Other medications like gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), and the newer atypical antipsychotics olanzapine (Zyprexa) and risperidone (Risperdal) have also been found to be useful as adjuncts in the treatment of OCD.The naturally occurring sugar Inositol may be an effective treatment for OCD.Recent research has found increasing evidence that opioids may significantly reduce OCD symptoms, though the addictive property of these drugs likely stands as an obstacle to their sanctioned approval for OCD treatment. Anecdotal reports suggest that some OCD sufferers have successfully self-medicated with opioids such as Ultram and Vicodin, though the off-label use of such painkillers is not encouraged, again because of their addictive qualities.Studies have also been done that show nutrition deficiencies may also be a probable cause for OCD and other mental disorders. Certain vitamin and mineral supplements may aid in such disorders and provide the nutrients necessary for proper mental functioning.For some, neither medication, support groups nor psychological treatments are helpful in alleviating obsessive-compulsive symptoms. These patients may choose to undergo psychosurgery as a last resort. In this procedure, a surgical lesion is made in an area of the brain (the cingulate bundle). In one study, 30% of participants benefited significantly from this procedure.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

meet tonia dunbar....miracles do happen

Miracles Do Happen......Meet Tonia Dunbar And Her Little Boy Tommy by John Carcerano. 15 years ago when I was still new in my recovery from alcoholism I happened upon a woman whom had the nicest smile and such a warm personality. She seemed good hearted. But what became clear about her quickly was that she was an addict. Her name is Tonia Dunbar. She had an addiction to crack cocaine that destroyed her stable life and caused her to give custody of the two children she loved to her mom. Thank goodness for the children. She was lost, and the only thing that kept her mind from focusing on her problems was crack cocaine. From 1994 until 2004 she was a hardcore street addict. If you had an encounter with her while she was using, however brief, you came away with the impression that she was a genuinely good person, but one with deep troubling issues. The first 6 months I knew her, our encounters were brief. I would often see her on the streets of Evanston Illinois, and she would sometimes ask me for $5 or $6 dollars. I never asked her what she needed it for, but she seemed down and out, and all she really wanted was a little help. So I helped her once in a while and would give her a few bucs. She told me she lived in the neighborhood. As I've said, I'd known Tonia 6 months and only saw her sometimes. Then one evening in the middle of a cold Chicago winter where the temperature was -20 degrees, I went to my car to go somewhere. when I got to my car I soon realized that I had left the doors open. Inside was a person sleeping without any blankets. It was Tonia. I felt so bad to see her there cold and it quickly dawned on me that she was homeless. I lived in a little studio apartment in the house of my elderly landlord. I worried about bringing her to my home for fear my landlord would get the wrong impression. I spent my last $50.00 to get Tonia a hotel room so she could spend a warm quiet night. I picked up some grapefruits and other snacks and food for her to eat because I was sure she was hungry. Tonia had a size 26 waist. I knew this because I gave her a clean pair of my good jeans which were size 28, and they kept falling off of her so I also gave her my only belt. I remember the look on her face when we first walked into that warm hotel room. She quickly took off her old gym shoes and excitedly ran to the bed and got under the warm covers. She fell right to sleep. I would wake her periodically to feed her. And she would eat a little bit then quickly doze off again. She often would fall asleep with food still in her mouth. I had to wake her to tell her to swallow her food so she wouldn't choke. If ever I would leave her for even a half hour , I'd check on her and would always have to wake her to tell her to swallow her food. I felt like I was her father. But I also felt happy that someone could be there for her, to comfort her. It was obvious she was hurting. I had a lot of issues going on in my own life about the time I happened upon Tonia, but I just seemed so focused in wanting to help her become stable again and for her to quit using. It was a stormy 10 years of up and down crisis's working with Tonia, a story which I will detail briefly as part of several stories which are included in my upcoming book titled "A NEW JOURNEY.com, RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION". I will detail the steps Tonia took to quit her ravaging addiction. By 2005 Tonia did give up her crack cocaine addiction, and it was motivated by her love of a child she would go on to have while she was addicted. Rather than give up the child to the state, the love for that child was a key factor in her getting clean. And the fact that Tonia gave up her hardcore addiction for the love of her newly born child just attests to the kind and wonderful person that Tonia really is. She has had about 5 brief slips while in recovery for the during the past 5 years, but thank GOD that none of those slips led to full blown relapse. I remember when the state was about to take her child, she was crying and very distraught. she told me with such beautiful force and conviction "I don't care what I gotta do, I am going to do it. They are not gonna take Tommy! I will jump through every hoop they (the state) ask me to, but I'm gonna keep Tommy. Whatever they tell me to do, I'm just gonna do it". It was so wonderful seeing Tonia make that decision, and I am so proud of how far Tonia has come. She has even found herself a wonderful boyfriend who is also far in his recovery, and at this writing they are engaged. The ups and downs of Tonia's recovery were not easy for her, or those around her. But somehow everyone in Tonia's life helped Tonia pull herself together and find a new life in recovery for her and her beautiful little boy Tommy. There were two times that had I not intervened, Tommy surely could have wound up in a foster home. But knowing Tonia's conviction, I am sure that had that happened, she would have prevailed and ultimately be where she is today, and that's together with her little boy. Her family, especially her daughter also played a key role during some turbulent times in order for Tommy to remain with his family and with Tonia. So addiction recovery is something no-one can do alone. Support from family and friends is critical, along with the desire of the person addicted to make a hard decision and then look for the grace to follow through and make the necessary changes. You are not alone when you decide to get help to quit an addiction. There are wonderful people and support groups to help guide you. if you are suffering from an addiction you too can be a beautiful success story like Tonia's. I am Tommy's Godfather, I baptized him in the church of the hospital he was born in with the help of the church priest and have completely supported his every needs since the day he was born. I love Tommy and treat him as a son. To me, he is my son. The last time I recently saw saw Tommy was yesterday. I was going to bring him his McDonalds happy meal. He didn't even know that I was going to bring him McDonalds. He was on his front porch with his relatives (Tonia is still in long term treatment) and when he had seen me, his face lit up and he came running yelling "Johnny Johnny" and he jumped up and gave me such a strong hard hug. You cannot put a price on moments like that. it seemed all the continuing effort was well worth this little boys happiness and stability. Thank GOD for everybody who playing a role in the outcome of this beautiful story. And thank GOD for the conviction of Tonia to make the decision to make all of this happen. By John Carcerano http://www.newjourneyrecovery.com/

at times

at times when i may wonder
whats it all about
i'll keep it in my thoughts
that to know is also doubt
everything within my past
is me in every way
and the me thats yet to come
is influenced by today
through the journey that i've seen
there's been hell n then
there's been beauty and there's grief
i'd not go back again
every second which so passes
i cannot suspend
so i'll try to do the best i can
before i reach the end
i'll take each day as it passes
and know not what i'll find
while knowing more pain is yet to come
there's still some good of some kind

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

you are not alone

most people seem to feel that there is a stigma associated with having an addiction or a psychological disorder. well the reason for a stigma are very few. one in three has an addiction of some kind, be it drugs, alcohol, gambling, cigarettes, food etc. just take a quick look at the numbers. in the united states 1 in 10 is an alcoholic. it is also estimated that about 1 in 20 has some form of street drug or prescription drug addiction. cigarette smokers are estimated to be at 22% of the population or about 2 in 10. so right there is 3.5 out of 10 people are addicted to alcohol, drugs or cigarettes alone. now what about food, gambling, coffee and sex addicts? i am being ultra conservative with the 1 in 3 being some sort of an addict. that figure is actually very low.now what about mental illness? it is largely believed that 1 in five has some form of mental illness, be it anxiety, depression, panic attacks, manic depression etc. now not all mental illness is detectable by the untrained person. in fact many people who have some lessor forms of mental illness are not even aware that they have it. it is widely known in the medical community that about 35% of those with a diagnosed mental illness are also addicted to either drugs or alcohol. so 1/3 of all alcoholics are what is known as dual diagnosed. dual diagnosis is simply explained as a person who has an addiction to substances and a mental illness.from these figures it is safe to make the conclusion that 50% of the population has either an addiction of some kind or a mental illness of some form. if 1 in 2 is affected like this then why is there a stigma attached to having an addiction or mental illness? that a good question. I'd rather you ask yourself that question and see what answer you can come up with. denial? ignorance? disbelief? well it's one of these 3. there are problems more common to the human race than we would care to believe. believe it! now what about medical illnesses? well i wont get into the statistics on those. but as living, breathing people with feelings, lets get to understand one another a lot better and realize that we all suffer to a major degree one way or the other. lets be a little kinder to each other because were all on the same boat ride together. bless you.
john carcerano, author of the upcoming book "A NEW JOURNEY" RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION http://www.newjourneyrecovery.com/ anj

strength in my recovery

today i have to be thankful for the many people i have met in my recovery who have been there for me whenever i have been in need. i thank my higher power for bringing them into my life. they unselfishly listen to me whenever i am scared and fearful of a relapse. then before i know it hours have passed and they are still talking and listening to me, until i realize that my need to relapse has passed. I've grown tired and have gotten through another day, sober. so many wonderful people, most of them were only strangers a few months ago. but now they're there for me. they have extended a glorious lifeline to me and have asked for nothing in return. whenever they are down and out, and need a listening ear, i am all too happy to be there for them, like they were for me. sobriety is wonderful, I'm so happy that it now includes me. whenever a troubled stranger may come up to me, in need of my support, i want to unselfishly be there for them, to share the love that's always been there for me. i want to share my recovery with others who are suffering, because in my heart i know, that when another who is suffering comes up to them, they too will pass it on.
http://www.newjourneyrecovery.com/

growing
there is a road to happiness
and also there's a fee
you are but a seedling
sprouting to a tree
at times you will get crapped on
the growing will be hard
people they will hurt you
and also leave you scarred
you'll need water when your dry
and sunshine when in gloom
you'll need a lot of thoughtful care
if you ever are to bloom
the years will show you lots of falls
and your colors sometimes fade
but you will always spring back up
cause you are what God made
you'll need willingness and strength
to give your shape a form
and keep within a constant battle
so you'll get through the storm.
john carcerano 84
this blog is written for you, in conjunction with the upcoming book "A NEW JOURNEY" RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION
http://www.newjourneyrecovery.com/

rush limbaugh and addictive personality

When Rush Limbaugh had to disclose his addiction to the pain medication Oxycontin, it came as a huge surprise to many. Actually, a few months before he disclosed his addiction, the National Enquirer was running headline stories about it. So he had not much of a choice but to disclose it. When I had heard about his addiction I was not at all surprised, saddened maybe, but not surprised. I am always saddened when I see someone suffering from alcohol or drug addiction. You see RushLlimbaugh clearly exhibits all the traits of addiction and addictive personalities. On air he is always talking about his "formerly nicotine stained fingers". A reference to his former smoking days, and of course smoking is an addiction. Rush has also spoken many, many times about his up and down battle with weight. So through his own admission and through the various photos of him it is clear that he has often suffered from food addiction. When he went into rehab a few years ago to break his addiction to the pain medication Oxycontin, several tabloid newspapers had reported that he had taken up smoking again while in rehab. So he quits the Oxycontin and takes up smoking to cope with his anxieties that are no longer being coped with through his taking of pain medication. Rush Limbaugh was extremely over weight about 10 or 15 years ago. He finally slimmed down about 12 years ago. Right about the time when he has admitted that his addiction to Oxycontin began. So his food addiction ends when his addiction to the calming pain medication begins. and rush remained thin for the 10 years he was addicted to the Oxycontin. So now, a couple of years after his addiction to pain medication ended, Rush has again developed a problem with weight. So his food addiction is back. Rush Limbaugh is a classic example of someone with addictive personality. What you should understand about addiction, all types of addiction is this, it is all rooted in the same general causes. Addiction is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. this chemical imbalance is triggered in a few ways. a psychological disorder will cause a chemical imbalance and so will extreme fear, or emotionally traumatic situations. also stress and social pressures will cause a chemical imbalance. to end your addictions you need to treat the underlying root causes of your chemical imbalance. if you don't, then you will shuffle from one addiction to another in an effort to deal with an unquiet mind brought on by your chemical imbalance. i remember how my auntie Connie used to shake when she went without her cigarettes for more than one or two hours. hence, the anxiety she suffered from a chemical imbalance. look at what usually happens to most smokers who quit smoking. they gain weight. and most of them say that they have gained weight because they now have clean taste buds and can really enjoy the taste of food. wrong! the reason they gain weight is because they have replaced one addiction with another. that's called trading addictions. they can greatly end their addiction if they would just treat the root causes of their chemical imbalance that is bringing on anxieties in their unquiet mind. when i quit my heavy drinking i had found myself addicted to over the counter sleeping pills for over a year. then when i quit taking the sleeping pills to calm down i found myself drinking herbal tea with the calming ingredients of cava cava or Valerian. both natural sedatives. i also found myself walking 3 or 4 miles a day. i did not really decide i was going for a walk, i just could not keep still and before i knew it, i found myself walking. so having an addiction does not make someone a bad person, you really have to sympathize with the anxious feelings an addict feels. and what the addict needs to do is treat their chemical imbalance and then their need to engage in addictive substances and behaviors will greatly diminish. the fact is that at least 1 in 3 suffer from an addiction, half don't know it or won't recognize it, but the facts are clear that addictive disorders are much more common than most people have imagined.

xxxxadd jc that not every addiction is addictive personality, dougs aunts example, and if the issue is coped with properly then there may very weel be no need for switching addictions)
this blog is written in conjunction with the upcoming book 'A NEW JOURNEY" RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION by john carcerano
website address: www.newjourneyrecovery.com anj

LIVING IN THE NOW. rejoice in "today"

Today is the true meaning of my life! When I find myself wondering why I am here, I need to keep in mind that this existence is one of loving today, and living in the moment. Living in the moment means I should not be overly concerned nor troubled by what I hope for, or worry about tomorrow. This day, “now”, today, these are my precious moments! 5 years time will change a lot, some good, some bad, but the “now”, are the moments to rejoice and really appreciate my loved ones and my friends, for truly this time I have with them are the most precious moments that I can never have again. Smell the flower, call a parent, say I love you. Because the “now”, this moment, will not last forever nor will the people in it. But in my flood of memories I will never lose these thoughts of all the precious moments, that are no longer here. I want to enjoy today, with the grace that God has given me, and appreciate its moments because the moment, is what I always live and feel “now”. The yesterdays are but my memories of times that are long gone, that will never to be repeated, but only joyously reflected on in such a treasured way. As for this day, I will absorb in it, make the most of it because it is all mine.