Alcohol Addiction Diagnosis and Treatmen

Diagnosis
Most people know very well that either they can control their drinking habit, or the alcohol will control their lives. People who feel guilty about their drinking habit can quit this addiction by making little efforts.
Here are the signs of alcohol dependence:
• Feeling of frustration when someone suggests drinking less.
• Consuming alcohol even when the consequences could be harmful (e.g. at work).
• Drinking alcohol in the morning to face the day.
• Hide liquor bottles at home or at work.
• Drinking alone or in secret.
• Feeling lack of interest in activities and leisure that once provided pleasure.
If you think you are at risk of alcohol dependence, or if this is the case for someone dear to you, get help from the resources available to you.
Treatment and Prevention
Some people exhibit severe physical symptoms when they try to refrain from drinking alcohol. Hallucinations and delirium tremens, which are considered toxic symptoms, are actually caused by a sudden sobriety. These people show alcohol dependency symptoms such as fear, confusion, fever and rapid pulse when the drug is no longer in their system. The hospital treatment and anti-anxiety medication may help alleviate the physical effects during the withdrawal phase. For most people who stop drinking, the greatest danger is to start drinking again (i.e. relapse).
It is not easy to bring a loved one to seek help for alcohol dependence, since most people deny the problem (this denial is related to cognitive changes associated with the disease). It may be that you have to raise the subject more than once and you have to involve friends and family members in the discussion to show how much you care. It is best to approach handle the subject calmly without launching accusations and focusing on supporting the individual. You should mention about the specific events and behaviours that caused your concerns rather than speaking generally.
Know that there are various effective interventions to treat alcoholism. Some people will be able to change or discontinue their drinking if a trustworthy person talks to them about the devastating effects of their behaviour. Sadly, the interventions of the family and friends are insufficient in a majority of cases.
The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) may be a possible choice. Known for its 12-step program, this international organization can be very useful to many people through the personal efforts and peer support. For more information, look for the phone number of the AA in your local directory.

For more tips to get rid of alcohol addiction, do visit www.alcoholrehabmn.com.

Bipolar Disorder - How the Low Side Afflicts You

Bipolar disorder is, in fact, a name given to a group of mood disorders. It is not a specific mental health diagnosis. The disorder is characterized by mood-swings between high and low moods. The low moods can range from mild depression to a very severe depression which can last for many months. In fact the actual diagnosis is related to the pattern of mood-swings the afflicted person has. As a result the degree of the mood-swings relates to the actual bipolar disorder diagnoses the afflicted person has.
A diagnosis of cyclothyiac's disorder applies when there are definite mood-swings but they are not of a severe nature. Here the person will only enter a mild depression. Most likely they will experience:
• Change in sleeping habits (increase or decrease)
• Change in eating habits (increase or decrease)
• Little or no energy and
• Poor concentration with difficulty in focusing and decision-making. Poor decisions can result.
Cyclothyiac's disorder can bring with it its own set of problems. Specifically, the mood-swings can be such that the afflicted person does not realize that their mood-swings are any greater than a "normal persons." Their friends and loved ones may not be aware that the person is experiencing mood-swings at a level greater than normal. The result is that the disorder can be extremely hard to diagnose. In turn those so afflicted can go through life experiencing a series of mood-swings greater than what they should have to experience.
A diagnosis of bipolar, type 2 can lead to either mild or severe depression. The symptoms for severe depression are as for mild depression. However a number of these additional symptoms will also apply:
• Sadness, often including crying
• Little interest in or pleasure from normal daily activities
• Irritability and anger
• Anxious feelings and worrying
• A feeling that everything is going wrong for then
• Withdrawal from social activity
• Aches and pains with no physical cause
• Greatly reduced self-esteem and
• Suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts.
A diagnosis of bipolar, type 1 normally leads to severe depression. Recovering from severe depression can be extremely hard. There is an added danger if the person with severe depression has a diagnosis from within the bipolar disorder spectrum. Any treatment prescribed can push them past a normal mood. They could be pushed into hypomanic episode or even into full-blown mania.
By its medical definition a person with a diagnosis from the bipolar disorder spectrum will experience some degree of depression at some stage of their bipolar cycle. Their specific bipolar diagnosis will relate back to their normal cycle of highs and lows. The extent of the depression they experience will normally relate back to their specific bipolar diagnosis. Cyclothyiac's disorder normally lead to mild depression. Bipolar, type 2 can lead mild or severe bipolar. Bipolar, type 1 generally leads to severe depression.

Ray Tyler was diagnosed with manic depressive disorder in 1982. He still lives with, and receives treatment for the disorder, today. However he has not had a manic depressive episode since 1997.
You can follow Ray's blog at Bipolar Manic Depressive.com Ray has recently written a series of posts on depression in his blog. You can check out the most recent one HERE
Learn how to manage Manic Depressive (now known as Bipolar) disorder. This will enable you to regain control of your life.

Teenage Depression - Peer Pressure

A key aspect of the teenage years is for the individual to develop self-identity and this is done within the context of the social environment. Social interaction and the development of effective social skills become fundamental during this stage of life, and thus most teens become preoccupied with achieving social acceptability.
This is why peer influence is so powerful in the teen years. All teenagers are influencers in their own right whether they realize it or not, but conversely all teenagers are susceptible to influence from others. Unfortunately, the reality is that not all peers are a source of positive influence. For instance peers may influence each other to experiment with drugs or alcohol, or teens may feel it is expected of them to have sex by a certain age whether they are ready or not. When a teenager feels compelled to do something or behave in a certain way that makes them feel uncomfortable or that they do not agree with because they perceive it to be an expectation of their peers; that is when peer influence becomes peer pressure.
Peer pressure can be both positive and negative. Every parent blames peer pressure when their own child makes choices they disapprove of, but it is important to ask yourself if whether your own child is being influenced or if he or she is the one doing the influencing. It is equally important that you instil in your teen the values and strength of character to make good choices as it is to ensure that your child befriends those who hold similar values.
However even when a circle of friends are a relatively level-headed group, in the teen years, 'peers' extend beyond those we have close relationships with and extends to all other teens they come into contact with in their primary social environments such as schools and malls. Those teens that have low self-esteem and doubt their choices and decisions are more prone to cave to peer pressure. The key is to equip your child to be able to identify negative peer pressure from positive peer influence; the key phrase being 'pressure'. Develop in your teen the ability to:
· Be comfortable and secure in the choices they make even if their peers question or taunt them about it
· Talk to you about choices and temptations. Have a non-judgmental attitude when talking about difficult life issues such as sex. Brainstorm and discuss with your teen action plans and scenarios where peer pressure may put him or her in an awkward social position.
· Take responsibility for the choices they make. As much as peer pressure may influence your teen to make poor choices, the final decision to comply with that pressure ultimately lies with your teen. By understanding your teen's position, yet still holding them accountable for mistakes or errors in judgment you will be preparing them for inevitable difficult choices later in life.
Teenage Depression

The must read book: "All you wanted to know about Teen Depression", is available at: [http://www.depression-teenage.com]. Anne Ross is a Psychotherapist, Counsellor, Crises facilitator, Cranial Sacral and Myofascial Therapist, including various other Massage/Body/Energy techniques, but above all she is a mother. She is an accredited member of the Traditional-Medicine Society and the Association of Transactional Analysis.