Alcohol Detox

 For those with alcohol dependence issues who are ready to make a change, alcohol detoxification, or a detox, may be in order.  Yes, it’s the so-called “first step” to stop all alcohol intake along with substituting medications and/or supplements similar to alcohol’s effects to soothe withdrawal symptoms.  If alcoholism kills – a detox is the first line of defense to save you or someone you love.

 What to Expect

“Going it alone” is not wise or safe when breaking free from alcohol addiction.  It’s also very painful.

During the process you may experience these symptoms:   Sleep disruption, nausea, “heavy” head, rapid heart beat, irritability, seizures, hallucinations, blackouts and pale skin.

With a doctor-assisted alcohol detox program, you have the necessary physical and psychological assistance you need to manage withdrawal symptoms.  To “detox” involves eliminating all traces of alcohol from your system and it can take a few days to two weeks to complete that fully.  Treatment includes counseling to discuss why the addiction was developed in the first place and how to avoid the types of behavior which would lead to addiction again, a restructuring of your habits, as it were.

An alcohol detox may be completed effectively and safely in both inpatient and outpatient settings – but always under medical supervision with personnel trained specifically for these situations. Depending on the severity of the alcoholism, medications may be decreased and eventually stopped by the end of the detox process.

Should You Endure an Alcohol Detox?

 That depends on the strength of your motivation.  Your recovery cannot begin without undergoing one.  And while very few have had success detoxing at home, experience has shown inpatient treatment allows you to focus on yourself rather on familiar surroundings.  Going to another living area allows you to create a different mindset where you mentally prepare for your journey to recovery.

 Since a detox involves eliminating poisons from your body it makes sense to not add to its burden of elimination by using cigarettes and other harmful substances before, during and after the process.   All of these toxins would be counterproductive to your success.

 Should you choose an inpatient or outpatient facility make sure it will support you should you have a relapse.  An extended care program or a structured sober living environment will help you meet your needs while often being financially covered by your insurance granted the facility is State-licensed.  If insurance does not cover your visit, many treatment centers offer a variety of self-pay options.

 With most medically based inpatient or outpatient alcohol detox programs you’ll be reminded of the dangers of addiction and offered options to cleanse toxins from your body that include more water intake and fresh fruits and vegetables.  A nutritionist will also prepare a meal plan customized for your health and food preferences.

Conclusion

 Should you decide to take that step in eliminating alcohol addiction from your life, you’ll need compassion and assistance – not judgment.  And an alcohol detox process may just be what you need to take you in the new direction you are wanting to go.

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Seattle Alcohol Treatment Options

We have a lot of visitors on this website from the Washington State area. So I thought in this post, to include some city and state specific resources to help you if you are undergoing any type of alcohol dependence problem.

In future posts, I will be covering different cities and areas around the world, as unfortunately excessive alcohol drinking is a global and growing problem.

Alcohol Help In Seattle And Washington State

The main thing you can do right away and this is a 24 hour option is to call the Washington Recovery Helpline which is a free service to help people dealing with different kinds of substance abuse problems. Call them on 1-866-789-1511 (toll-free).

The ‘Green Book’

There is also a tremendous resource provided by the State Government. It is called the Directory of Certified Chemical Dependency Services in Washington State.

On this page, you will see a lot of sections for you to download. You will need the Adobe Acobat PDF reader in order to be able to read these sections. You can download this for free if needed.

The document provides a whole lise of helplines, inpatient and outpatient treatment centers, other types of dependence centers, all of which are certified by the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR).

They also contain resources for specific groups of people who might have specialized needs such as pregnant women or young people and so on.

University Of Washington Alcohol And Drug Abuse Institute

Another excellent resource for you is the University of Washington Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute.

This web page lists a number of major detoxification and other centers for you in Seattle to deal with alcoholics and alcohol dependent people in Washington State. You can find more information and the links to each of the resources very quickly. They also have as you would expect, many resources on academic and research into alcohol dependence as well as links to national and international government agencies.

Tips and tools to help you quit alcohol or moderate your drinking right now!

Pharmaceutical Treatments For Alcohol Problems

According to About.com’s Alcoholism page, there are only three medications which are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat alcohol dependence and alcohol addiction.

However, they are only meant for people who have given up alcohol entirely. They are there to reduce the cravings for alcohol.

The main options are:

Antabuse (disulfiram) which actually makes someone sick if they drink any alcohol.

Apparently there has been research showing that long-term use of these tablets lead to former drinkers, developing a ‘habit’ of not drinking. This is the ultimate aim, no matter which approach is taken.

Naltrexone (Revia)which reduces the craving for alcohol by changing how alcohol normally affects the brain.

Basically it stops the feelings of pleasure you normally have when drinking alcohol. It is also used for dealing with addictions to drugs.

Acamprosate (Campral) which relieves the distress and discomfort caused by alcohol.

Campral was approved by the FDA in 2004 and has been used by 1.5 million people worldwide. It reduces both cravings for alcohol and also starts to resolve the chemical balance in the brain which years of heavy drinking have misaligned.

However please note that Campral is not a magic pill. It does not work for everyone and needs to be used as part of an overall recovery program, including therapy and group work as needed.

For more information on the different types of medications, please visit About.com’s pages:

http://alcoholism.about.com/od/about/a/treatment.htm

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Alcohol Outpatient Treatment Program Options

While it’s true that moving into an inpatient alcohol rehabilitation facility is advantageous for some people, it’s also true that others with alcohol dependency issues just can’t stop their lives and get off.  It’s for these dependents that alcohol outpatient treatment program options are better suited.

Alcohol Outpatient Treatment Program Options and MA Programs

These services help provide recovery skills, hope and support in a confidential, safe environment helping you make new personal commitments to a healthier future.  An outpatient treatment institution provides covered medical services at an organized licensed medical facility but does not provide room and board and professional services on a continuous 24-hour basis.

Most alcohol outpatient treatment program options are eligible for MA (Medical Assistance Program) advantages.  The MA program provides payment for certain medically necessary outpatient drug and alcohol clinic services.

Why the Fuss?  Does Alcohol Really Damage Me?

 First off, the brain is affected, then the heart becomes weak with a potential for failure. The liver, our chemical filter, becomes fatty, then enlarged, and eventually scarred (cirrhosis).  Other alcohol overconsumption risks include poor immunity, ulcers, pancreatitis and in the case of pregnant women, the risk of deformed or retarded babies.

Nothing pretty in the above picture.  That’s why if a loved one points out to you that you need to monitor and maybe even eliminate your drinking, don’t be quick to take offense or become defensive.  They just may be telling the truth by advising you to look into local alcohol outpatient treatment program options.  In view of this, what constitutes safe drinking?

What is Safe Drinking?

You’ve heard many times that “moderation is the key.”  But what is moderation?  Maybe you consider your alcohol consumption to be under control, reasoning that as long as you don’t get drunk there is no problem.  However, recent research asserts that in Europe, 1 man out of 4 has an alcohol consumption rate that is considered hazardous.

According to http://watchtower.org, “Government and medical sources define “moderate” drinking as 0.70 ounce [20 g] of pure alcohol per day, or two standard drinks for men, and 0.35 ounce [10 g], or one drink, for women. French and British health authorities suggest “sensible limits” of three drinks per day for men and two for women. The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism further recommends that “people aged 65 and older limit their consumption of alcohol to one drink per day.”

However, since we all react to alcohol differently, even these lower limits may be too high.  For instance,  “moderate amounts of alcohol can be harmful to people with mood and anxiety disorders,” notes the 10th Special Report to the U.S. Congress on Alcohol and Health.

What Happens During Treatment At An Alcohol Outpatient Facility?

The minimum alcohol outpatient visit is 15 minutes though hour-by-hour appointment sessions are also available. Talk therapy which includes one-on-one counseling and group meetings are offered.  Dealing effectively with the underlying issues leading to overdrinking helps to treat the whole person.

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Alcohol Inpatient Treatment Centers

Alcohol Inpatient Treatment Centers

Not everyone who drinks too much or too often is considered an alcoholic – but these same people may not argue that they are addicted to alcohol.  Both physical and psychological dependence are involved with alcohol addiction as it is a potent substance and hence, will take more than sheer willpower to break free.  Many need the medical treatment alcohol inpatient treatment centers offer to reinforce their resolve to break free from and stay from alcohol abuse.

What are Alcohol Inpatient Treatment Centers?

Since not all alcohol inpatient treatment centers are alike, it’s important to research which would best suit your needs or the needs of someone you love.  They are developed in a way that allows alcohol addicts to receive treatments which still enable them to lead a normal life.  In fact, some now promote programs specifically developed for anxiety disorder and alcoholism which are often intertwined disorders.

A reputable alcohol inpatient treatment center will acknowledge cases on an individual basis as every case is unique in its own right.  Moving into the inpatient alcohol rehabilitation center will allow you or your loved one less distraction and temptation to keep on track toward your goal.  The duration of your stay depends on the program offered and the addict’s history with alcohol.  Some programs last for one month on average while others need three to six months of concentrated treatment.

Alcohol inpatient treatment centers are especially useful if you or a loved one has tried to quit before with an outpatient program and it hasn’t been successful. Fact is, when excessive alcohol is consumed, the very organ that monitors physical, emotional and mental perceptions – the brain – can malfunction when it’s overloaded.  The more one drinks, the less capable the brain is of correctly evaluating one’s true condition.  So self-appraisal is not often a good barometer in determining when to get professional help.

Another advantage of alcohol inpatient treatment centers is on-site professional support beginning with detoxification.  Some offer completely medication-free treatment while others recognize the need for anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications to help relieve physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms.

Regarding cases where there is no money or insurance to fund the treatment, you can contact SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ufds/abusedirectors, 1 800-662-HELP) for a state by state locator as well as tips on handling court-ordered treatment and what steps you need to take if a loved one needs treatment but refuses to comply before treatment is completed.

Should You Enter an Alcohol Inpatient Treatment Center?

That’s a question only you can truly answer, but if you are in the throes of alcohol misuse, do not be quick to give up on yourself or to assume that there is no hope. Countless strugglers have been where you are now and have either cut down on alcohol or have cut it out altogether with the assistance of alcohol inpatient treatment centers. They do not regret their decision and neither will you.

So if you feel (or others observe) that your alcohol consumption is becoming over the top, take steps to correct it now.  If it is clear that you cannot control your drinking, be willing to give it up entirely. As painful as that sounds, it is much less painful than a wasted life.

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How Hypnosis Can Stop Your Drinking

Background

This blog post has been guest written by Beth Liden, a hypnotherapist based in Tempe, AZ In this article, she will introduce you to hypnosis and how it can address your alcohol problems.

Introducing Hypnosis

Do you have a drinking problem? Do you feel drinking is making you a happier person or a sadder, more angry and sick person? Do you want to change?

Hypnosis is a powerful tool that can help you to stop drinking alcohol, enable you to achieve your goals and leave you feeling relaxed, confident and comfortable.

Using hypnosis to stop drinking alcohol is becoming an increasingly popular and effective means of stopping drinking. And it needs to be, as alcohol is one of the three leading causes of diseases and injuries worldwide. It is a problem that many people just like you struggle to overcome.

What exactly is hypnosis and self-hypnosis?

Hypnotherapy is the most immediate tool for changing beliefs and/or behaviors there is. Of all the therapies, hypnotherapy will produce the most immediate results. Hypnotherapy is a combination of hypnosis and therapy, which is one of the many attributes separating it from stage hypnosis. Traditionally, a hypnotherapist will spend about half of his or her time talking to the client while the client is in the Beta state (normal awakening consciousness). The remainder of the time, the client will be in hypnosis (Alpha or lower). Hypnotherapy works by combining hypnosis with precise, outcome-oriented therapy and targeting the subconscious mind.

Hypnotherapy is quite different than traditional therapy. Instead of spending years with a therapist, clients who undergo hypnotherapy will have an efficient, fast, and reliable means of altering negative behavior.

Self Hypnosis is also a very effective way of getting into the subconscious mind and changing the belief systems that you wish to change. Self hypnosis is done using a recording of a hypnotherapy session. These recordings can vary in length, purpose, and will usually come with some sort of instructions IE only listen to this recording at night, etc. It is always important to follow the instructions since the one who made the recording is a certified hypnotherapist and knows best. Recordings should be listened to on a daily basis for at least 21 days as this is found to be the amount of time it typically takes for the subconscious mind to shift a thought pattern.

How specifically does hypnosis work to deal with alcohol problems?

Hypnotherapy is widely known for helping people with habits they wish to break. Alcoholism is a habit that your mind has trained you to believe you need. So many people try to use will power alone to break these habits since that is the only way they know how. The problem with will power is the need does not go away. That is why so many people fail when trying to break a habit. Hypnosis taps into your subconscious mind and basically tells your subconscious mind a new story about alcohol. That new story falling into beliefs that you do not need alcohol any longer, that you are more than fine without it, that you prefer to drink healthier beverages, etc. In this way you subconscious mind will start to relay that new message to the rest of you and you will no longer feel the need to drink.

Self hypnosis allows you to relax deeply and connect with your creative unconscious mind. This part of your brain holds the root to many of your automatic behaviors and may hold the key to understanding and stopping your overindulgence.

What is the scientific basis for hypnosis? Are there any potential side-effects or dangers of using hypnosis?

There are many case studies and hypnotism goes very far back in time and has been studied by many influential people such as Freud. Scientists are forever trying to understand the brain and how is works exactly. So scientists are therefore still trying to understand exactly how hypnosis works. The proof I like to say is “in the pudding”. There have been many successful case studies where people have overcome everything from fears, to pain management with hypnosis.

There has also never been a case of side effects or dangers since in hypnosis you simply taken into a state of mind that is normal to you. In fact you go into this state on a daily basis when doing things like driving a car, watching TV, or playing a video game. The other reason why there are never any ill side effects is because no matter what, you are always in control and aware, so you would never accept a suggestion that you did not want.

What causes drinking problems in your professional experience?

Excessive drinking can be result of habitual behaviors. “drinking can also be the result of psychological behaviors where alcohol is used as an anesthetic to reduce emotional pain, to provide a release from stress or relationship problems or past trauma. ” usually someone who uses alcohol to cope with, or escape from, emotions or memories has developed drinking as a coping strategy.

What is your background and training in hypnosis and do you have any products that can help me with my problem drinking?

I have studied many alternative means to healing for the most part of my adult life and have been a certified hypnotherapist for the past 12 months. I am also a certified NLP practitioner and Life Coach. Believing that all three work together nicely. The self hypnosis recordings I offer on my website can help anyone with any habit including alcoholism. I also offer in person treatments out of my home office in Tempe, AZ.

How can I contact you for more information?

To contact me please visit my website

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What actually happens to you on a physical level when you take your first sip of alcohol?

This post will explain what happens to you and your body step by step and the effects alcohol is having on you.

When you take a drink of alcohol, the alcohol is absorbed by the stomach, enters the bloodstream, and goes to all the tissues. The effects of alcohol depend on a variety of factors, including your size, weight, age, and sex, as well as the amount of food and alcohol you have already had before drinking this particular drink.

Let’s begin with how alcohol is absorbed in the body. The first effect of drinking is felt of course in the mouth. Some alcohols can cause a burning taste on the back of your throat. This burn is caused by the pain receptors in your taste buds. Essentially, the body is warning you against consuming alcohol because it sees it as a toxic substance.

Next, the stomach wall absorbs 20% of the alcohol as it enters the blood stream. Depending on the time of day and when you last ate, the alcohol may be readily absorbed or slowly absorbed. If your stomach is empty, the alcohol is quickly absorbed.

Essentially only a few minutes after you have started drinking, there will be alcohol all across your body. The remaining 80% of the alcohol is absorbed in the small intestine.

We all have an enzyme in our stomaches designed to process ethanol into a safer substance. The enzyme in use is called alcohol dehydrogenase. Alcohol dehydrogenase in men is 70-80% more effective than the same enzyme in women.

There are also age differences – young women and men over 50 years of age have the most difficulty coping with alcohol. But note that heavy drinkers and people with alcohol problems have severely reduced levels of this important enzyme.

The longer the stomach has to work on the ethanol, the less harm it can do to your body. When a meal is eaten the exit valve of the stomach closes in order to digest the food. When food and alcohol are consumed at the same time this prevents the alcohol from passing quickly into the small intestine from where it would be rapidly absorbed giving the enzyme more time to work.

The bigger you are the more blood you have in your bloodstream.Added to this, the average adult male is made up of 66% fluid, compared to 55% for women.

So if a man and woman of the same weight drink the same amount in one occasion, the woman will end up with a blood-alcohol level a third higher than the man’s. It will take a third longer for the woman’s body to eliminate the alcohol from the blood.

The alcohol that passes through the stomach is absorbed by the small intestine. The small intestine allows 80% of the alcohol to be absorbed more quickly than from the stomach. Once in the blood stream, the alcohol spreads throughout the body.

Finally, alcohol enters the nerve cells and begins to have an effect on the brain. Alcohol circulates in the bloodstream until it is processed by to the liver. The body cannot store alcohol so has to deal with it. Problems occur when there is too much alcohol in the system and the liver is being overworked.

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Alcohol Free Cocktails – A Great Choice

Now you may have decided to give up alcohol for some period of time and as someone who now no longer drinks alcohol you might be wondering what to drink when you go out with your friends to a bar or club.

There are the perennial favourites- coke/pepsi or lemonade. However your teeth can really start to feel it after a few of these plus you might want to consider healthier options. And one of them is alcohol free cocktails. I first thought about this when I wanted to go to a Chiquitos restaurant in London. This is a chain of Mexican style food joints.

They are mid-range level so not the cheapest and not the most exclusive of places but quite nice. I was looking at their menu and noticed firstly on their drinks menu they had a whole section on alcohol free cocktails but also they were half the price of normal cocktails.

Everything from the Cancun Sunset – Apple juice and grapefruit juice with grenadine to Playa del Paradiso – cranberry, passionfruit, pineapple and grapefruit juices with lemonade. Then when I went to a really funky bar in the City district of London, the bartender made an amazing alcohol free cocktail using 7 or 8 different ingredients, shaking it etc.

It tasted awesome. The great thing also if you order alcohol free cocktails, no one will even know that they have no alcohol so you are saved from questions about why you are not drinking etc. If you however want to make your own alcohol free cocktails at home or for your own parties, here are some delicious recipes: http://alturl.com/7mom

So, on top of alcohol free beers – most bars in London I goto now offer at least one alcohol free beer, alcohol free cocktails offer a great alternative to coke and other drinks. Plus they help you get your share of 5 fruit and vegetable servings a day!

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The Psychological Effects Of Drinking Alcohol

When many people think of the effects of alcohol, they think
about the physical effects alcohol has on the body, such as
liver damage.

But there are many psychological effects of alcohol on the
body that you may not have thought of.

In many cases, the psychological effects of alcohol are much
more damaging and painful to you than the effects that you
already know about.

Here’s a look at some of the psychological effects of
alcohol on your body:

Depression

Alcohol is a depressant.

This means that once it begins circulating in the system,
it will decrease the activity within the nervous system of
your brain.

For this reason as you drink alcohol…

…you may notice that you start to have more feelings of
depression or become entrenched in a depression as a result
of the drinking.

Many make the mistake of thinking they can ‘drown their
sorrows’ by drinking more, and make the feelings of sadness
and uselessness go away.

If this describes you, what you don’t realize is you are
just making the situation worse and causing your depression
to become deeper and last longer.

Anxiety:

If you are like a lot of people, as you consume
large amounts of alcohol you will become stressed from the
impact of the drug.

While you may find the buzz from the alcohol enjoyable for a
while, it will give way to a series of stresses on your
system that will manifest psychologically.

From a general feeling of discontent to restlessness,
nightmares and even overwhelming fear…

…there are a number of feelings of anxiety that can come
of your alcohol usage.

Personality Changes:

Have you noticed your family members are treating you
differently?

It may be because you have changed in how you interact
with them.

Alcohol can make massive personality that you may not even
see.

Once you become intoxicated, what were your usual
personality traits may change dramatically.

You may become selfish, egotistical or even angry about your
life and everything in it.

Aggression and mood swings are some of the most common
traits. These changes are brought on by the alcohol’s
effect on serotonin in your body.

Serotonin is a chemical in your body that transmits signals
relating to mood to your brain.

When its job is weakened by alcohol, moods and emotions can
get out of control.

Another common personality change brought on by alcohol is a
deterioration of morals.

As alcohol affects the body, it acts to slow the responses
of the synapses in the brain.

This slowing down of the brain’s circuitry decreases
thinking and reasoning.

For this reason, when you are intoxicated, you may be
willing to do and say things you would not usually do or say
if you were thinking clearly.

Obsession:

Once you become dependent on alcohol (whether
you realize it or not)…

…you will start to become obsessed with drinking.

While many think a few drinks are not dangerous, to someone
who is alcohol dependent or becoming alcohol dependent,
there is no difference between getting those next few
drinks, and a drug addict who is looking for
their next hit.

Your obsession can lead to a loss of other interests in your
life and a focus only on how you are going to get another
drink, while all along denying there is a problem with your
desire for alcohol.

Generally, you will not realize you are being pulled in to
an obsession until it is too late.

Denial:

Just as you would expect in any other type of
addict, those who drink a lot of alcohol go through a
number of denial issues.

If you have heard from those who you love that you may be
drinking too much, you really should listen to them.

Often, you will not even notice you are becoming more and
more intoxicated on a regular basis, because you are too
close to the problem.

Alcohol dependency is a progressive illness…

…and you may not be able to see what it is doing to you
in the same way someone else can.

Just like any other disease, alcohol dependency is a
progressive disease.

The longer and more you drink, the more pronounced the
effects will be on your system.

Additionally, these psychological effects of alcohol are
not just felt while you are drinking, or the morning after.

They can continue for a number of days or weeks after you
have consumed the alcohol.

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How To Moderate Your Drinking

I have come across two main groups of people who have alcohol
problems. One group needs and even wants to give up alcohol
forever. They realise that even just one sip can lead to continued
over-drinking and they cannot keep or stick to limits.

Another group is the opposite and wants to enjoy drinking alcohol
but just not to overdo it – i.e. to moderate their drinking and
stay in control.

If you are in this group, then I would like to refer you to the
HAMS website – Harm Reduction For Alcohol. They have a Moderate
Drinking Cheat Sheet with 14 strategies for controlling your
drinking.

The Strategies:

1.Eat before you drink
2.Be well hydrated
3.Plan and schedule your drinking
4.Plan your transportation
5.Choose your buzz
6.Measure your drinks
7.Count and chart your drinks
8.Pace your drinks
9.Alternate your drinks
10.Choose your drinks
11.Avoid pre-drinking
12.Avoid drinking when you feel bad
13.Have a snack instead
14.Do an abstinence period
15.Get support
The web-page goes into more detail for each point with some
specific advice on how to achieve moderation so you can still enjoy
drinking without going overboard. Please go here for more
information:

http://hamsnetwork.org/mods/

Reviewing it again, there is some good information on this page for
each point with some handy tips so please review once more for you
to control your drinking.

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