Friday, October 31, 2008
Kids' anxiety: When to seek help
How do you know your child's fear or anxiety is a reason to see a doctor? It usually involves extreme behavior. Experts offer these tips:
— Separation anxiety: This is not the clinginess often seen in toddlers. It's a level of fear in school-age children up to age 10 or 11 in which they may routinely follow a parent through the house and resist sleeping alone and going to school.
— Generalized anxiety: Affected kids, usually from grade school to early teens, often have many unrealistic fears that interfere with their lives. It may be worries about thunderstorms so severe that going outside even on sunny days provokes anxiety. They may be so anxious about being on time or doing well in school that it results in stomachaches or other physical complaints.
— Social anxiety or phobia: This may appear in grade school or adolescence and is often dismissed as shyness. But affected kids are so paralyzed by self-consciousness and fear of interacting with others that they avoid social situations or speaking in class. There may be physical symptoms, such as sweating or dizziness.
Many families learn to adjust their lifestyles to accommodate children with anxiety disorders. However, if untreated, the problems can morph into depression or substance abuse during the teen years, said Dr. John Walkup of Johns Hopkins Hospital.
— Separation anxiety: This is not the clinginess often seen in toddlers. It's a level of fear in school-age children up to age 10 or 11 in which they may routinely follow a parent through the house and resist sleeping alone and going to school.
— Generalized anxiety: Affected kids, usually from grade school to early teens, often have many unrealistic fears that interfere with their lives. It may be worries about thunderstorms so severe that going outside even on sunny days provokes anxiety. They may be so anxious about being on time or doing well in school that it results in stomachaches or other physical complaints.
— Social anxiety or phobia: This may appear in grade school or adolescence and is often dismissed as shyness. But affected kids are so paralyzed by self-consciousness and fear of interacting with others that they avoid social situations or speaking in class. There may be physical symptoms, such as sweating or dizziness.
Many families learn to adjust their lifestyles to accommodate children with anxiety disorders. However, if untreated, the problems can morph into depression or substance abuse during the teen years, said Dr. John Walkup of Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Philosophy
Morningside Recoverys treatment philosophy has several layers. We first will evaluate and provide accessible, effective, individualized residential and intensive outpatient treatment to alcohol and other drug dependent men and women 18 years of age and above. We also provide effective mental health counseling for those who are also affected by emotional and behavioral problems. Thirdly, we provide family education to those affected by someones addiction. The purpose of evaluations are to assess the patterns, circumstances, and effects of an individuals alcohol and other drug use to determine the extent of the disease and severity of the dysfunctional relationship with substance abuse. The biopsychosocial influences and effects associated with the patients alcohol and other drug dependence are also evaluated. Also the special treatment needs of the person entering Morningside Recovery are identified. This includes; age, gender, and concomitant dual diagnosis and /or biomedical conditions and complications.
The purpose of treatment is to assist alcohol and other drug dependent men and women in addressing the biopsychosocial dimensions of their disease, to arrest their addiction and develop the skills necessary to maintain ongoing abstinence;, and assist each person to begin a more balanced lifestyle with the awareness that improvement in family and interpersonal relationships, work performance, physical well-being, and social functioning is attainable.
Morningside Recovery believes that behaviors of family members and concerned others of the addicted individual, are reflective of an emotional, psychological, and behavioral condition that develops as a result of an individuals prolonged exposure to addiction. As such, we provide education to those who have been impacted by this disease. The purposes of the educational services are to assist family members and concerned others in understanding the dynamics of addiction and begin to design a balanced family relationship lifestyle.
The essential treatment mission of Morningside Recovery is to provide cost-efficient medically managed intensive residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment and family treatment to alcohol and other drug dependent adults and related family members. The purposes of treatment are to assist the alcohol and other drug dependent person in achieving abstinence from mood-altering chemicals and to achieve improvement in family, job, school, and social functioning. It is to also provide assistance to family members and significant others in understanding the dynamics of addiction and to seek resources to address maladaptive behaviors that have been developed to deal with addiction in the household and related life skill tasks.
The staff at Morningside Recovery believes that alcoholism and drug dependency are primary, treatable disease. We believe that addicted individuals present three basic problems at the time of their entry into treatment:
1. They are aware of the serious life problems created by their use of alcohol or other drugs. These problems may be physical, vocational, educational, emotional, spiritual, and legal and family or relationship difficulties.
2. They have been unsuccessful in their attempts to control or stop using alcohol or other drugs. This often leads to a sense of futility or hopelessness.
3. Nay of a number of life situations may function as relapse triggers which can impede an individuals progress toward full recovery.
Morningside Recovery approach to treatment focuses on beginning to find solutions to these problems through helping the individual more accurately see the impact their alcohol or other drug use had on their life, help the individual find a source of hope for change, and assist the individual in identifying their relapse triggers and formulating a plan which will support continuing recovery. The realization of the goals of abstinence from mood-altering chemicals and an improved lifestyle is a lifelong pursuit, with treatment serving only as a beginning in a continuum of care which includes extended and transitional care. Movement and work towards these goals can be demonstrated in the present and during the persons stay in Morningside Recovery Treatment Programs of Newport Beach, CA.
The purpose of treatment is to assist alcohol and other drug dependent men and women in addressing the biopsychosocial dimensions of their disease, to arrest their addiction and develop the skills necessary to maintain ongoing abstinence;, and assist each person to begin a more balanced lifestyle with the awareness that improvement in family and interpersonal relationships, work performance, physical well-being, and social functioning is attainable.
Morningside Recovery believes that behaviors of family members and concerned others of the addicted individual, are reflective of an emotional, psychological, and behavioral condition that develops as a result of an individuals prolonged exposure to addiction. As such, we provide education to those who have been impacted by this disease. The purposes of the educational services are to assist family members and concerned others in understanding the dynamics of addiction and begin to design a balanced family relationship lifestyle.
The essential treatment mission of Morningside Recovery is to provide cost-efficient medically managed intensive residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment and family treatment to alcohol and other drug dependent adults and related family members. The purposes of treatment are to assist the alcohol and other drug dependent person in achieving abstinence from mood-altering chemicals and to achieve improvement in family, job, school, and social functioning. It is to also provide assistance to family members and significant others in understanding the dynamics of addiction and to seek resources to address maladaptive behaviors that have been developed to deal with addiction in the household and related life skill tasks.
The staff at Morningside Recovery believes that alcoholism and drug dependency are primary, treatable disease. We believe that addicted individuals present three basic problems at the time of their entry into treatment:
1. They are aware of the serious life problems created by their use of alcohol or other drugs. These problems may be physical, vocational, educational, emotional, spiritual, and legal and family or relationship difficulties.
2. They have been unsuccessful in their attempts to control or stop using alcohol or other drugs. This often leads to a sense of futility or hopelessness.
3. Nay of a number of life situations may function as relapse triggers which can impede an individuals progress toward full recovery.
Morningside Recovery approach to treatment focuses on beginning to find solutions to these problems through helping the individual more accurately see the impact their alcohol or other drug use had on their life, help the individual find a source of hope for change, and assist the individual in identifying their relapse triggers and formulating a plan which will support continuing recovery. The realization of the goals of abstinence from mood-altering chemicals and an improved lifestyle is a lifelong pursuit, with treatment serving only as a beginning in a continuum of care which includes extended and transitional care. Movement and work towards these goals can be demonstrated in the present and during the persons stay in Morningside Recovery Treatment Programs of Newport Beach, CA.
Monday, October 13, 2008
One-Third of all U.S. Drug Abuse is Prescription Drug Abuse
Currently according to the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, approximately one-third of all U.S. drug abuse is prescription drug abuse. The most commonly used prescription drugs fall into three classifications:
1. Opioids
a. Oxycodone (Oxycontin), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Loratab), and meperidine (Demerol)
2. Tranquillizers
a. Diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax)
3. Stimulants
a. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/detroamphetamine (Adderall)
There are too an estimated 800,000 web sites which sell prescription drugs on the Internet and will ship them to households and P.O. boxes, with no questions asked. The availability and accessibility makes the abuse of prescription medications easy. Like all drug abuse, using prescription drugs for the wrong reasons has serious risks for a person’s health and can cause dependency. At Morningside Recovery in Newport Beach California, a nationally recognized treatment center, prescription drug dependency is on the increase in many of its admissions into care. Morningside Recovery has programs available for those suffering not only from prescription drugs for those too who have become dependent on alcohol and other drugs of abuse. Morningside Recovery specializes in treatment both for males and females not only having alcohol and drug dependency problems but those too who are considered dual-diagnosed, having ongoing problems with emotional and mental disorders.
Current trends suggest and alarming warning with the abuse and dependency on prescription medication. If you or a love one is having problems don’t wait. There is help a phone call away.
1. Opioids
a. Oxycodone (Oxycontin), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Loratab), and meperidine (Demerol)
2. Tranquillizers
a. Diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax)
3. Stimulants
a. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/detroamphetamine (Adderall)
There are too an estimated 800,000 web sites which sell prescription drugs on the Internet and will ship them to households and P.O. boxes, with no questions asked. The availability and accessibility makes the abuse of prescription medications easy. Like all drug abuse, using prescription drugs for the wrong reasons has serious risks for a person’s health and can cause dependency. At Morningside Recovery in Newport Beach California, a nationally recognized treatment center, prescription drug dependency is on the increase in many of its admissions into care. Morningside Recovery has programs available for those suffering not only from prescription drugs for those too who have become dependent on alcohol and other drugs of abuse. Morningside Recovery specializes in treatment both for males and females not only having alcohol and drug dependency problems but those too who are considered dual-diagnosed, having ongoing problems with emotional and mental disorders.
Current trends suggest and alarming warning with the abuse and dependency on prescription medication. If you or a love one is having problems don’t wait. There is help a phone call away.
Morningside Recovery (866) 725-8565
Labels: addiction-treatment, drug abuse, drug myths, prescription-drugs
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
New Therapy Associates Tone With Cravings to Reduce Them in Real World
Virtual Reality Game Helps Drug Addicts Recover
The idea of virtual reality often is associated with acne-faced tweens and teens tackling video games. But it also is used for more serious purposes, like treating phobias and drug abuse.
Some believe a breakthrough virtual reality game may help addicts better control their cravings, which is a huge obstacle for the millions battling addiction and trying to recover.
The game, which is the brainchild of Duke University professor Zach Rosenthal, aims to offer something traditional therapy cannot by allowing a therapist to guide a patient through a virtual world that presents various temptations. It actually brings cravings present in the outside world into the therapy session.
"What we're trying to do is take people into a virtual crack-related neighborhood or crack-related setting and have them experience cravings, just like they would in the real world," Rosenthal said.
Rosenthal said cravings are mental and a learned behavior. So, the theory behind the game is just as a person learns to crave, he or she can learn not to crave.
The idea of virtual reality often is associated with acne-faced tweens and teens tackling video games. But it also is used for more serious purposes, like treating phobias and drug abuse.
Some believe a breakthrough virtual reality game may help addicts better control their cravings, which is a huge obstacle for the millions battling addiction and trying to recover.
The game, which is the brainchild of Duke University professor Zach Rosenthal, aims to offer something traditional therapy cannot by allowing a therapist to guide a patient through a virtual world that presents various temptations. It actually brings cravings present in the outside world into the therapy session.
"What we're trying to do is take people into a virtual crack-related neighborhood or crack-related setting and have them experience cravings, just like they would in the real world," Rosenthal said.
Rosenthal said cravings are mental and a learned behavior. So, the theory behind the game is just as a person learns to crave, he or she can learn not to crave.
