Sunday, March 30, 2008

Is Winehouse going to rehab?


Amy Winehouse is reportedly considering going back into rehab - fearing life in London holds "too much temptation".

The Back To Black star was admitted to a clinic in January (08) to finally kick her drug addiction - but checked out after just two weeks. Winehouse has since been photographed looking distinctly unhealthy; she came down with contagious skin condition impetigo earlier this month (Mar08) which left her with sores all over her face, and she has also been snapped with her arms covered in cuts - prompting fears she may have resorted to self-harming.

And British newspaper The Sun is now reporting the 24-year-old has conceded she needs further treatment, possibly in an international facility.

A source tells the publication: "Amy has admitted she needs to check into rehab again. There are too many temptations for her in the U.K. - people around her in London are making it impossible for her to stay clean for any length of time."

"Her management considered sending her to a clinic in Israel but are now looking further afield. They are assessing a clinic in Cape Town in South Africa."(LR/WNTSU/LJ)

Copyright 2008 WENN

Friday, March 28, 2008

Avoiding Alcohol is a Good Thing!

What is alcohol?

Alcohol is nothing but a natural fruit juice. It is a health drink also. There are many types of alcohol. But the one which is useful to human being is ethyl alcohol. It is also known as grain alcohol since it is prepared from starch grains. Ethyl alcohol is the alcohol of wine beer, whisky and similar beverages. It is often simply referred as “alcohol”. Most of the alcohol is prepared when grains, fruits or vegetables are fermented.

What is fermentation?

The process of conversion of sugars into ethyl alcohol under the influence of yeast is known as fermentation. The raw materials of ethyl alcohol are cane juice, beets, dates, molasses, fruit juices which contains sugar, substances which contain starch such as potatoes, rice, barley and maize.

Why should you avoid commercial alcohol?

Denatured Alcohols

It is commercial ethyl alcohol to which small amounts of very poisonous substance have been added. So, commercial alcohol contains methyl alcohol which is poisonous. The manufacture and sale of ethyl alcohol is under strict government control. Heavy excise duty is levied on sale of alcoholic beverages. For industrial purpose ethyl alcohol is duty free in some of the countries.

Alcoholic Beverages

The largest use of ethyl alcohol is considered as a beverage. Wine contains about 12% ethyl alcohol. Beers contain about 4%. Whisky and Brandy contains about 40-50% ethyl alcohol. The alcoholic content of a beverage is indicated by a measure known as proof spirit.

How does it affect your health?

When you drink alcoholic beverages, the ethyl alcohol finds its way in your blood. When you consume 0.8% you will feel steady. If it is 2% you feel giddiness, 3% not able to walk, 4% you may fall down. When it reaches 5% it may leads to death

Why do people like to have it?

Due to some curiosity people like to drink it. They feel that it is good and reduces stress. Some times to people drink to relax themselves.

A Step By Step Method for Alcohol Detox

Alcohol detox may be defined as a phase of medically supervised and monitored withdrawal from alcohol at the same time the alcohol is detached from the body.

Alcohol detoxification depends on your age, medical status and alcohol intake history. In the case of a young man who drinks a lot and looks for 7 days treatment after his last consumed alcohol, he may not need detoxification ahead of starting medication for alcoholism. The most common drugs employed for this purpose are the benzodiazepines, which are followed by barbiturates.

What are benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines, diazepam, oxazepam or lorazepam are the most common drugs used to minimize symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. There are a number of treatment methods in which it is employed. The choice of benzodiazepine depends upon the situation.

Chlordiazepoxide is preferred in case of uncomplicated withdrawal of alcohol.
Diazepam or Lorazepam are available for persons who are not able to take medicines safely by mouth.
Oxazepam and Lorazepam is considered best for patients who have cirrhosis

What is the proper medication for alcohol detox and withdrawal?

Alcohol detox can cause suffering and pain and it can be life threatening. Detox from alcohol, otherwise known as withdrawal, may lead to various problems. The symptoms of acute alcohol detox and withdrawal start to emerge within 6 to 48 hours. Proper medication for alcohol detox and withdrawal is to lessen the discomfort of the patient and avoid the development of severe symptoms. Admission in hospital gives the safest situation for alcohol detox and withdrawal.

What is common procedure to detox?

Most doctors are contented to prescribe for alcohol detox. A common procedure for detox is as follows.

Your doctor may prescribe a high dosage medication for the first day so that you discontinue drinking alcohol.
Then the dosage will be reduced gradually over the next five to seven days. Usually this avoids or reduces the nasty withdrawal symptoms.
You should accept not to consume any alcohol in the course of alcohol detoxification. In order to make sure that you are not drinking alcohol, a breathalyzer may be used.
Usually your doctor or nurse will monitor you more often at the time of detox.

While under going detox, support from friends or family may be of great help. The work of receiving the prescription and providing the detox medicine is shared with a friend or family member.

Trying to get sober?

Monday, March 24, 2008

Cross Addiction

Cross addiction
Substance Addiction tends not to be confined to a particular mood altering drug.....when you have one addiction, you get the whole set thrown in for free - even before you have experienced the other drugs.

An addict I knew had a bad relapse. We couldn't figure out why. A reason may have been his use (not abuse) of an over the counter flu medication. It contained codeine, which is obtained from opium or prepared from morphine. He was a recovering heroin addict and the codeine sparked cravings. His flu nearly cost him his life.

The many pills and potions I was prescribed in hospital to treat my depression and anxiety, I became addicted to. To this day, I still crave Valium and Chloryl Hydrate on occasions - just out of the blue. But luckily those feelings are just flashes now, but they still serve as a warning.

Many alcoholics/addicts who go into recovery, never actually do. They simply swap one drug of dependence for another. An example would be someone who gives up alcohol and then is using valium long term for their "nerves". The "nerves" are actually protracted withdrawals, their bodies are never given a chance to actually start recovering. This is called cross-addiction. These drugs are usually prescribed to addicts in the first twelve months of recovery. Way too soon in most cases. The brain doesn't seem to differentiate between drugs.

I am a heavy tobacco smoker. I tried giving it up a couple of years ago by chewing nicorettes. Now I smoke and chew nicorettes. My caffeine consumption amazes people. There has been months where I consumed no other fluids apart from caffeinated drinks. So I guess if it really boils down to it, you could consider me not "recovered". But I am happy where I am at, and tobacco and caffeine does not seem to spark cravings for other drugs. It seems to be the exception to the rule. What are your views on this?... I'd be interested to know. Maybe I'll give up some day, maybe I won't, it's not an issue for me at the moment. Cigarettes and coffee have never caused me do the things I did whilst under the influence of other drugs and they definitely do not make my life unmanageable.

This may anger the non-smokers out there, but giving up tobacco and coffee early in recovery after giving up alcohol and/or other drugs can be quite dangerous. The body can go into overload, and you can end up right back where you started. And no, I'm not rationalizing, I'm serious.

I've got a feeling I may get a lot of email on this subject................

I take no other drugs. I am very careful not to. No liqueur chocolates, no medications containing codeine. I was very scared when I had to have a general anesthetic that I would wake up with withdrawals, or worse still, wake up during the operation because of my tolerance to that class of drugs. I discussed it with my doctor, who I was lucky to have - he understood addiction and he bumped up the levels of anesthetic. I regained consciousness fairly quickly, but at least not while I had the scalpel in me! And yes, I did suffer from mild withdrawals....

These are the things that an addict needs to keep in mind going through day to day life. A great many things that others take for granted, we can't have - or they have higher risks associated with them. It's as simple as that. Remember to carefully read the labels of any medication you are taking and find a doctor who understands your circumstances and the disease of addiction. At this point, I would like to state that I have no professional medical qualifications and I do not wish to turn anyone from their doctor prescribed treatments. I am only suggesting that you be aware of the dangers of cross-addiction by questioning any prescription or treatment you are given.

If you are not sure about the medication you are currently taking, a good source of information is http://www.rxlist.com/ . It has a huge listing of medications and associated issues. If your medications have a warning label on them that says "may cause drowsiness", you can bet that it contains some sort of MAS (Mood Altering Substance). Sometimes these medications will be necessary, but please, handle with care.

We are on the road to recovery and numerous emotions boil over in us. They can be quite overwhelming, we aren't used to dealing with them "straight". The most prevalent ones are depression and anxiety. Some doctors approach these conditions with the prescription of anti-depressants and tranquilizers. Does that seem right to you?

Doctors abide by what is known as the Hippocratic Oath. The oath had its origins from Hippocrates who is considered to be the Father of modern medicine. He also stated "It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has." This has special bearing in the case of anxiety and depression in the recovering addict. If your doctor is unaware that you have a substance abuse issue, he/she may prescribe totally unsuitable medications that could ultimately bring about your undoing. I came across a scenario like this only a few weeks ago. A close friend of mine who previously had cocaine problems was prescribed a tranquilizer - it had some undesirable effects.

Once again, these medications have their place, but not so much in recovery. The emotions you will experience are normal, they will pass. Anti-depressants and tranquilizers may act as a thin bandage over a gaping wound and may worsen the damage already done. Part of recovery is about dealing with emotions and problems without the use of drugs or "medicines". Medication does play an important part in the initial withdrawal stages, as detoxing can be potentially fatal. If you are currently taking anti-depressants and/or tranquilizers and decide you want to try to get along without them, ensure you discuss it with a qualified health professional first. Sudden cessation of the medication can be dangerous, and there are cases where they are necessary.

Well, my ash-tray is overflowing and my coffee cup is empty....I better go get another!

Michael Bloch
michael@worldwideaddiction.com
http://www.worldwideaddiction.com

The Sober Village Help is only a click away! Alcoholism and addiction recovery forums. Sober forums for those in need of help and support for themselves or loved ones. We do care!

Thursday, March 20, 2008

High Rates of Binge Drinking in Ireland

New research shows that 58 percent of the drinking done by men in Ireland is binge drinking, the London Press Association reported Oct. 8.

The study conducted for Ireland's health department further found that 48 percent of all men and 16 percent of women in Ireland binge drink at least once a week.

Ireland is the highest of all other European countries in term of binge drinking. In the United Kingdom, the percentage of men who binge drink is 40 percent, while in France it is 9 percent.

In addition, more problems, such as falls, unintentional sex and public order offenses, were linked to drinkers in Ireland than any other European country.

Irish health minister Micheal Martin said a number of initiatives are underway to address binge drinking.

"The clear message from this research is that we must change our drinking patterns -- we need to cut down and slow our drinking."

The health ministry recently districted a "Guide to Rethinking your Drinking," as well as a new advertising campaign that will be shown before movies in cinemas throughout the country.

In addition, the new single by Irish artist Sinead O'Connor will include a booklet with information on alcohol.
Source: http://www.jointogether.org/news

Monday, March 17, 2008

$4M Grant To Study Effects Of Chronic Marijuana Use Won By Scripps Research Team

"I'm really excited about the opportunity that this grant offers," says Mason. "It's time to get some clarity on how cannabis use impacts cognitive function, induces withdrawal symptoms, and affects the body's stress systems. This is important information. People are deciding every day whether to use or not to use marijuana, for medical purposes or otherwise, and there is little scientific information to advise this decision."

The NIDA grant will fund the startup of a new Translational Center on the Clinical Neurobiology of Cannabis Addiction, the first such center to be dedicated to studying the neurobiology of cannabis dependence. The ultimate goal of this research is to help develop novel approaches to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of marijuana addiction.

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug. The 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimated 97.8 million Americans aged 12 or older had tried marijuana at least once in their lifetimes; 25.4 million had used marijuana in the past year.

Of those admitted to treatment programs for drug addition in 2005, marijuana was the primary drug for 292,250 people or 15.8 percent.

A New Center for Research

The issue of cannabis dependence first came to Mason's attention during her work on alcohol addiction. When recruiting patients for alcoholism clinical trials, she noticed that a number of candidates expressed the need of treatment for dependence on cannabis. She subsequently applied for an exploratory grant from NIDA to study the issue, which provided preliminary data for the foundation of the new center.

"While there are some people who have a problem with both alcohol and cannabis, many individuals are dependent on cannabis alone," she noted. "The estimate is that about four percent of those who use cannabis eventually become addicted to it."

The new center will pool the talent of several laboratories to learn more about addiction to cannabis and the consequences of withdrawal. In addition to Mason, who holds the Pearson Family Chair at Scripps Research, the center's principal investigators will include Scripps Research Associate Professor Michael Taffe, Scripps Research Associate Professor Loren Parsons, and University of California, San Diego, Associate Professor Susan Tapert.

The researchers and their teams will draw on complementary expertise in tissue analysis, imaging, animal models, and human clinical trials to understand the condition of marijuana addiction from a variety of perspectives. Techniques will include neuropsychological measures, biochemical analyses, and functional MRI.

Some of the center's initial projects will address questions such as the exact nature and duration of cognitive impairment caused by marijuana use; the role of development (for example, adolescence vs. young adulthood) on susceptibility to addiction; the effects of cannabis on the central nervous system; and the characteristics of withdrawal after long-term use.

The center will also contain a training component to mentor the next generation of researchers in the field.

"It's time we shed the light of science onto the topic of marijuana addiction," Masons says. "There is a lot we need to know in order to develop effective treatments.

source: http://www.medilexicon.com

Friday, March 14, 2008

Lancet urges parents to act on underage drinking

Parents should take the greatest share of responsibility for steering teenagers away from binge drinking, according to an editorial in the Lancet. It said underage drinking had risen substantially during the past 10 years, and nearly one-third of teenagers were now binge drinkers.

Early abuse of alcohol increased the risk of serious health problems for teenagers, with more falling prey to fatal accidents, self-harm, suicide, violent behaviour, unprotected sex, alcohol dependence and liver disease, the journal said. Learning to enjoy alcohol, in moderation, was "an important part of growing up" in many societies, but it was a lesson not being taught in the UK.

In Britain and Ireland, young people are drinking more than ever before - and often substantially more than in the US, France and Mediterranean countries. According to the Lancet, 27% of British 15-year-olds admit to having had at least five alcoholic drinks in a row in the past month, up from 22% in 1995, and 29% of teenage girls binge drink. Nearly half of the alcohol drunk by young people comes from the family home, with the rest from supermarkets, shops, off-licences and bars.

"The biggest share, and burden, of the partnership must fall on parents and guardians who should take greater responsibility for teaching children about drinking safely. Creating a culture in which alcohol is enjoyed in moderation, perhaps diluted, and is drunk with food as part of sharing a meal together rather than drunk alone, is helpful. For a healthy younger generation, society's relationship with alcohol has to change, beginning in the home," the journal said.

The government is due to publish its Youth Alcohol Action Plan later this year, which aims to tackle parental alcohol misuse and improve alcohol education in schools. "Unless the UK government bans alcohol advertising, substantially raises taxes on alcohol, restricts its availability and seriously debates increasing the legal purchasing age to 21, an opportunity will be lost," the editorial said.

Alcohol taxes did go up in Wednesday's budget, adding 4p on beer, 14p on wine and 55p on spirits. Nigel Evans, the Tory MP for Ribble Valley and vice chairman of the all-party beer group, said the extra tax on beer would not tackle binge drinking, but would accelerate pub closures.

The Lancet said young people who misused alcohol often had symptoms of conduct disorder, anxiety, or depression, some of which may be signs of future alcohol dependence. Parents who misused alcohol or who had broken relationships with their children increased the chances of their sons and daughters drinking.

Adults should be willing to intervene when necessary. "It should not be acceptable for doctors, teachers or parents to turn a blind eye or offer no follow-up when a child is in hospital with a head injury after drinking, when a teenager truants to drink, or when a 15-year-old goes to bed drunk," the editorial added.

source: The Guardian

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Understanding The Neurological Underpinnings Of Risk

Researchers from EPFL and Caltech have made an important neurobiological discovery of how humans learn to predict risk. The research, appearing in the March 12 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, will shed light on why certain kinds of risk, notably financial risk, are often underestimated, and whether abnormal behavior such as addiction (e.g. to gambling or drugs) could be caused by an erroneous evaluation of risk.

Planning entails making predictions. In an uncertain environment, however, our predictions often don't pan out. And erroneous prediction of risk often leads to unusual behaviour: euphoria or excessive gambling when risk is underestimated, and panic attacks or depression when we predict that things are riskier than they really are. To understand these anomalous reactions to uncertain situations, we need to look to the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie how we learn to predict risk. Surprisingly little research has been done in this topic, and we do not yet know precisely how the brain is involved in our estimation of risk.

Using functional imaging in a simple gambling task in which risk was constantly changed, the researchers discovered that an early activation of the anterior insula of the brain was associated with mistakes in predicting risk. The time course of the activation also indicated a role in rapid updating, suggesting that this area is involved in how we learn to modify our risk predictions. The finding was particularly interesting, notes lead author and EPFL professor Peter Bossaerts, because the anterior insula is the locus of where we integrate and process emotions.

"This represents an important advance in our understanding of the neurological underpinnings of risk, in analogy with an earlier discovery of a signal for forecast error in the dopaminergic system," says Bossaerts, "and indicates that we need to update our understanding of the neural basis of reward anticipation in uncertain conditions to include risk assessment."

Contrary to what Descartes held dear, the finding that risk prediction and processing of emotions are related suggests that emotions may be intimately involved in rational decision making -- they may help us to correctly assess risk in an uncertain world.

source: medilexicon.com

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Lack of permit forcing recovery center to close

A recovery center for drug and alcohol addicts is looking for a new home after a zoning snafu forced them to leave a west Athens compound.

About two dozen residents at Serenity River Residence Center packed up Monday after discovering that the nonprofit group lacked a necessary permit to operate a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility.

Residents said they planned to move in with members of Serenity River's board of directors or to rented houses elsewhere in Athens, pledging to stick together to beat addiction using the group's tough-love approach.

"We're not kin, but I consider this my family," said Roger Strickland Jr., who has lived at the center for about a month.

After applying to Athens-Clarke County for a permit to build a new dining hall, founder Phil Redden said he learned Friday that Serenity River would have to leave the property because the center was operating illegally.

Rehab centers, halfway houses and other such treatment facilities need a special-use permit from the Athens-Clarke Commission to open, and Serenity River never applied for one, county planner Lara Mathes said.

The nonprofit officially is suspending its operations, but the former residents will continue to meet and participate in the recovery program as they look for funding to find a permanent new home, Redden said.

Although the tight-knit group is separating, the move could be a "blessing in disguise" by allowing them to buy a new and permanent home and acquire the necessary permit, Redden said.

"To help thousands of people over the years, we need a place with a little more privacy, and we need to make it a little nicer," he said.

Redden will raise money to buy property for a larger treatment center that could house 40 people, and is seeking donations, he said. His goal is to open and begin accepting new residents in six months, he said.

"I'm sending up flares to see if anyone in Athens can do anything to help this thing that works survive," he said.

Redden rented two houses and a loft, formerly home to drug users, on five acres off Tallassee Road in July to open the treatment center. During time off from his full-time job as a crane operator, the former alcoholic collected used needles and beer cans and repaired the run-down property.

The six- to 12-month program uses Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous principles, frequent meetings, manual labor and plenty of straight talk to convince addicts to stop drinking and using drugs. Several residents said it's the only recovery program that's ever worked for them, and they were not discouraged by the recent setback.

"I want to stick around and help them build the new facility and help others get sober," Clemoth Church Jr. said.

Serenity River can be contacted at (706) 549-2667.

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 031108

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Fear of Failure

Facing Fear Of Failure

At some point, we've all experienced some form of fear of failure. It stops some of us from even trying, while others try half-heartedly, undermining their own success and confirming their fears. I've done both in so many areas of life, I thought it would be helpful for me to share some of my fears with you, along with some insights to help you with yours. Here are some top-selling recent books on fear of failure.

Fear Of Failure is a phobia...actually, many phobias related to performance anxiety. It can present itself in sporting events, love life, business, school, church...anywhere. I've had serious anxiety in all of the above. I've "choked" under pressure in sporting events, singing, speaking, asking girls out, or to dance. I can remember anxiety as early as elementary school, where, even though I knew the answers, I couldn't put them on the board or speak them when called upon. As I got older, I was able to force myself to do some of these things despite my fears, though, I couldn't have told you how, at the time.

Anxiety And Motivation: What I learned was anxiety destroys motivation. As we see the potential devastation of failure, the price of trying seems too high...so we turn back. Every time we turn back, we strengthen the emotional wall between us and our goals. Enough times turning back and we'll stop trying completely. This is how anxiety can lead to depression. Depressed people just look like they don't care...they probably care so deeply they shut down. People with depression and anxiety live in a real hurt to avoid an imagined hurt...it's an amazing thing. Once, I was so afraid of failing in a full-time sales business I had started, I spent at least a week in bed, curled up in a fetal position, crying myself to sleep. Fear Of Failure can rob you of the motivation to even try...which guarantees...failure. To get over this, we need to find something that inspires us to take risk and then develop an innovative plan to minimize the risk.

Finding Inspiration isn't as easy as it sounds for a lot of people. In affairs of the heart, most of us see the prize as so valuable we become inspired to great risk. Other areas aren't so easy. With my business, I discovered money was not a good enough motivator for me to be willing to risk. Strangely enough, I became profitable in business only when I found out I was far more inspired to help people than to make a sale. Helping people get what they want, helping them overcome a financial difficulty and find solutions to life problems was what really drove me. Once I discovered helping people was what inspired me, I was willing to risk failure. What drives you? Let yourself off the hook of performance pressure for a few weeks and try to discover what moves you. Is it the approval of a loved one, your name on the door, receiving an award, seeing your daughter graduate college, finally being out of debt, helping others achieve their dreams? Collect up all those things that drive you. Think back over your life and picture the things you feel were accomplishments that made you feel fulfilled...these are your inspirations. Once you have a good picture of your inspiration, you're ready for the easy part, growing with innovation.

Growing With Innovation is establishing and carrying out an innovative plan to face down your fears one by one, using small, painless, almost risk-free steps. My fear of failure in sales was complicated by fear of people, making it extremely difficult for me to imagine ever selling to enough people to earn a profit. So, from the day I finally got out of bed, I broke down my job into stages...greet people, meet people, get phone numbers, make appointments, make sales. At first, I only concerned myself with greeting people. I even used my aerobic walk every morning to practice smiling and waving at people. In a few weeks, I was ready to go out in public and personally meet people...a few a day and gradually more. Then, I did the same thing with getting contact info, calling, selling, group presentations, etc. I've now spoken to groups over 1,000, founded 3 profitable businesses and 2 non-profit corporations, but it started with a little man frozen in fear, crying himself to sleep.

Your innovation will be based on what it is, specifically, you're afraid of. You must develop your own plan, starting where you're comfortable and slowly growing and stretching yourself until you can repeatedly face down your fear without hesitation. Let me promise a few things, so you won't be surprised. The only way to defeat fear is to face it. Courage is not fearlessness! No one is free of fear. Courage is going on despite fear, to accomplish your dreams. The steps I've recommended are designed to help you face your fears and respond to them differently. Instead of stopping or turning around, you'll still sense the fears but, with practice, be able to dismiss them and move forward. Also, as you're moving forward, you will certainly stumble and fall and embarrass yourself and others along the way. Welcome to life! The absence of struggle is death! "The chief danger in life is that you may take too many precautions." Alfred Addler. If you're truly in fear of failure, consider this...The only way you can fail is by not continuing to try.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

BIPOLOAR DISORDER


What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a medical condition that affects the brain, giving you periods of extremely high mood and periods of very low mood.


Highs are called "mania" and lows are called "depression". You will often still hear bipolar disorder called by its old name, "manic depression".

Everybody has good days and bad days; happy moods and sad moods. In bipolar disorder, these feelings become so extreme that you cannot cope without treatment.

The word "bipolar" means patients keep switching between two opposite "poles" of extreme mood. Think of mood as a range of feelings and emotions, with depression at one end and mania at the other.

How do you get bipolar disorder?

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Experts today believe that bipolar disorder is caused by several different things, including a chemical imbalance in your brain.

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Bipolar disorder also seems to run in families. About two thirds of people with bipolar disorder have a close relative who also has the disorder, or who suffers from severe depression.

How serious is bipolar disorder?

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Without effective treatment, bipolar disorder can have tragic outcomes. About 25% of people with bipolar disorder attempt suicide at some time during their lives.

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However, many people with bipolar disorder are not prevented from achieving their goals in life. In fact, throughout history, some of the most influential people in art, literature, business, and politics have had bipolar disorder. With proper treatment, you can still enjoy good relationships, rewarding careers and stability.

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Bipolar disorder can take its toll on friends and family, just like other serious illnesses. The patient's symptoms can cause many problems in their relationships with other people. Loved ones can often feel exasperated, angry, useless and even depressed. It is important for friends and family to look after themselves as well as the patient.

How long does bipolar disorder last?

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If you have got bipolar disorder, you might have to be on medication for the rest of your life. But with a good treatment plan, people with bipolar disorder can live full and productive lives.

How is bipolar disorder treated?

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People with bipolar disorder need various types of treatment and support to deal with it. They have to take an active role in understanding and coping with bipolar disorder.

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Nobody has discovered a cure for bipolar disorder, but we use medications to treat some of the symptoms. Many people who have bipolar disorder live full and productive lives. Yet, tragically, more than one in ten people with bipolar disorder try to commit suicide at some point.

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It is incredibly important for people with bipolar disorder to take their medication exactly as it was prescribed. Support, love, patience and understanding from family and friends is also a vital part of treatment.

SOURCE: http://www.patienthealthinternational.COM

Monday, March 3, 2008

Addiction: Why Can't They Just Stop? - Book Review

Editors: John Hoffman and Susan Froemke

This companion book to the HBO documentary of the same name sheds light on the hidden American epidemic of addiction.

Blending compelling personal narratives with statistics and expert opinion, all gleaned from over two years of research and reporting, ADDICTION offers a comprehensive and provocative look at the impact of chemical dependency on addicts, their loved ones, society, and the economy.

Breaking the stigma that addicts are simply weak and immoral, it delves into new brain research proving that drugs and alcohol change the chemical composition of addicts' brains, making it veritably impossible for them to quit. The nation's top experts persuasively argue that the time has come for the blame to stop and the healing to begin.

ADDICTION also features material not included in the documentary: testimonials, original graphics and images, additional elaboration on theories and treatments of addiction, and more. This book is essential reading for anyone who has been impacted by what is now realized to be a very real and widespread disease.