Friday, April 2, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
More Than A Quarter Of Youth Aged 12 To 20 Drank Alcohol In The Past Month
More Than A Quarter Of Youth Aged 12 To 20 Drank Alcohol In The Past Month
WHY CHILDREN START DRINKING.
1. As children approach their teen years, they begin to experience many emotional and physical changes – changes that are not always easy. During this challenging and confusing time, even good children may experiment with alcohol.
2. For most children, it's not just one thing that influences them to drink, but a combination of factors.
3. Life events, like going from middle school to high school, breaking up with a significant other, moving, or divorce, can cause a child to turn to alcohol. Reassure your child that things will get easier, and make sure he or she knows that drinking isn't a solution.
4. As children begin spending more time with their peers and less time with their parents, this increased freedom can lead to drinking. While it's important to give your child space, keep track of where they are and who they're with. If they are at a friend's house, make sure a responsible adult is nearby or accessible.
5. Taking chances and trying new things are a normal part of growing up. For some children, this exploration includes experimenting with alcohol. Remind your child about the real risks of underage drinking, and make sure he or she knows how you feel about underage drinking.
6. When children worry about things like grades, fitting in, and physical appearance, they may use alcohol as a way to escape their problems. Encourage your child to get involved in sports or other extracurricular activities as a healthier way to cope.
7. If children grow up in an environment where adults drink excessively, they are more likely to drink themselves. If you choose to drink, set a good example by drinking in moderation, and make sure your child knows that underage drinking is not acceptable.
8. Children who are disruptive, hyperactive, or depressed are at a higher risk for alcohol problems. If you feel that your child's social issues could lead him or her to abuse alcohol, consider having your child see a drug and alcohol counselor.
9. Most children feel pressure to be popular and fit in. Many try alcohol when they are in a social setting where "everyone else is doing it." Help boost your child's confidence by helping them learn different ways to say "no," and reminding them that real friends wouldn't pressure them to drink.
10. Children who come from a family with a history of alcoholism are at an increased risk for alcohol dependence. If alcoholism runs in your family, have an honest discussion with your child, and make sure he or she understands the seriousness of the disease.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
What is AddicitiveThinking?
I have decided to alter my blog posts a little, by adding to the content more information about sign's, symptoms and behaviours of alcoholics and addicts. Generally I don't like to label anyone as an addict or alcoholic, it's more successful if the addict can come to his own diagnosis and seek the help that he needs.
Intervention is a word that people like to use, thinking that it will bring the addict to 'his senses' especially for family and friends who have had their lives destroyed by a sufferer.
I will be writing about intervention in a later post, because interventions are not so simple and can delay the correct treatment necessary for the addict.
I hope that these future posts will be of help for the suffering alcoholic/addict who might just be 'sick and tired of being sick and tired' and also to any family member of the addict who might be just plain sick and tired of him.
******************************
The phenomenon of abnormal thinking in addiction was first recognized in Alcoholics Anonymous, where the highly descriptive term 'stinkin thinkin' was coined. Old timers in AA use this term to describe the 'dry drunk,' or the alcoholic who abstains from drinking but behaves in many other ways much like an active drinker.
For example: I knew of a young woman who was procrastinating turning in her term paper for school. When I asked her why she hadn't finished her paper, she said:
"Oh but I've finished it."
"So why haven't you handed it in then?" I asked
"Because I need to do some more work on it," she said.
"But I thought you said it was finished," I remarked
"It is," she said
Whilst this statement appears illogical to most people, it can make perfect sense to someone who thinks addictively. Further more, although distorted thinking does not necessarily indicate addiction, the intensity and regularity of this type of thinking are most common amongst addicts.
To recognize the statements .... "the paper is all finished" "I have more work to do on it" are contradictory. These contradictions can be very subtle and to 'normal' thinking people they can be confusing but very convincing at the same time.
HOW ADDICTIVE DISEASES RESEMBLE SCHIZOPHRENIA
Sometimes people with an addictive disease can be misdiagnosed as schizophrenic, because they may have some of the same symptoms.
For the addict/alcoholic there is hope of getting back on track but for the schizophrenic treatment is much different and usually medication is prescribed to stabilize the patient.
Being confronted by the addictive thinking though can be tough especially for a family with a late stage alcoholic (drug addict) they see the sufferer whose life is steadily falling apart; perhaps the addicts health is deteriorating, family life is in ruins, and job is in jeopardy. All these problems are obviously due to the effects of the alcohol or drugs, yet the addict appears unable to recognize this and he will come up with other 'quite plausible' excuses as to why the drinking or drugging have nothing to do with any of his problems. This is stinking thinking mixed in with the next symptom of Denial!!
If you are suffering from alcohol or drug abuse please seek help. These blogs are not intended to be a medical source to 'cure' you of your addiction.
Intervention is a word that people like to use, thinking that it will bring the addict to 'his senses' especially for family and friends who have had their lives destroyed by a sufferer.
I will be writing about intervention in a later post, because interventions are not so simple and can delay the correct treatment necessary for the addict.
I hope that these future posts will be of help for the suffering alcoholic/addict who might just be 'sick and tired of being sick and tired' and also to any family member of the addict who might be just plain sick and tired of him.
******************************
The phenomenon of abnormal thinking in addiction was first recognized in Alcoholics Anonymous, where the highly descriptive term 'stinkin thinkin' was coined. Old timers in AA use this term to describe the 'dry drunk,' or the alcoholic who abstains from drinking but behaves in many other ways much like an active drinker.
For example: I knew of a young woman who was procrastinating turning in her term paper for school. When I asked her why she hadn't finished her paper, she said:
"Oh but I've finished it."
"So why haven't you handed it in then?" I asked
"Because I need to do some more work on it," she said.
"But I thought you said it was finished," I remarked
"It is," she said
Whilst this statement appears illogical to most people, it can make perfect sense to someone who thinks addictively. Further more, although distorted thinking does not necessarily indicate addiction, the intensity and regularity of this type of thinking are most common amongst addicts.
To recognize the statements .... "the paper is all finished" "I have more work to do on it" are contradictory. These contradictions can be very subtle and to 'normal' thinking people they can be confusing but very convincing at the same time.
HOW ADDICTIVE DISEASES RESEMBLE SCHIZOPHRENIA
Sometimes people with an addictive disease can be misdiagnosed as schizophrenic, because they may have some of the same symptoms.
- delusions
- hallucinations
- inappropriate moods
- very abnormal behaviour
For the addict/alcoholic there is hope of getting back on track but for the schizophrenic treatment is much different and usually medication is prescribed to stabilize the patient.
Being confronted by the addictive thinking though can be tough especially for a family with a late stage alcoholic (drug addict) they see the sufferer whose life is steadily falling apart; perhaps the addicts health is deteriorating, family life is in ruins, and job is in jeopardy. All these problems are obviously due to the effects of the alcohol or drugs, yet the addict appears unable to recognize this and he will come up with other 'quite plausible' excuses as to why the drinking or drugging have nothing to do with any of his problems. This is stinking thinking mixed in with the next symptom of Denial!!
If you are suffering from alcohol or drug abuse please seek help. These blogs are not intended to be a medical source to 'cure' you of your addiction.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
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