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Addictions - Television
2008-02-12 18:55:00
Television addicts are a relatively new breed, especially since television itself has only been around for about 50 years, nowhere near as long as alcohol, tobacco and drugs. But make no mistake about it, television addiction is quite real and most people don't even know that they are addicted to it.Television is different from most other addictions in that it mostly stems from something lacking in the person's life rather than from an addictive personality.The sad truth is, many people have what most of us consider empty lives. They get up, go to work, come home and go to sleep. Maybe the weekends are a little different in that they might go for a drive, do some shopping or maybe even take in a movie. But the truth is, many people's lives are quite routine and quite boring. When they walk through the door at 6 pm, or whenever it is they arrive from the office, the first thing they do is turn on the television. This is especially true if the person lives alone. But the reasons wh...
More About: Television , Addictions

Break Your Addiction To Online Gaming
2008-02-11 06:06:00
The rise of affordable broadband internet access around the world has meant that an increasing number of people are spending their free time online playing games. Online video games can be a great outlet to the stress associated with our day to day lives. But what happens when a harmless pastime turns into an all consuming addiction? How do you identify when one of your loved ones has given in to their online games addiction? Can anything be done to break the video game addiction?Online games have grown in usage and popularity in recent years. Computers are in just about every home and every office. Many people in the US and around the world have increased their computer time at the expense of more traditional entertainment like television, radio, books and newspapers. One particularly interesting segment of the online games world, called casual gaming, has been at the forefront of this trend.Casual games are Flash based games that are played online or downloaded to your computer. M...
More About: Gaming , Break , Addiction

Real Drug Rehab, Not Methadone, Gives Addicts Their Lives Back
2008-02-10 06:41:00
The makers and advocates of the prescription painkiller and narcotic addiction replacement drug methadone can add yet another damning scientific review to their burgeoning collection of methadone mayhem studies. A study just in from the Oregon Health and Science University shows that sudden cardiac death is a risk even when the drug is used at "appropriate" doses to treat pain or drug addiction. This reinforces the popular view that the opiate addicts and chronic pain patients who take methadone every day should be in a safe medical drug detox or drug rehab program instead of risking their lives with methadone."For years the media has been reporting the growing methadone death-toll, but often incorrectly associates methadone replacement with drug rehab - a misnomer, since methadone for addicts is just the opposite of drug rehab. Addicts remain addicts, and instead of heroin they're hooked on methadone. Most stories report deaths from methadone overdose, but the Oregon study reporte...
More About: Rehab , Drug Rehab , Back , Real , Lives

Recovering From Addiction - Including Your Personal Finances
2008-02-09 06:06:00
Recovering from addiction is a long struggle, one that extends beyond a body free from substances. Recovery is a healing process that reaches out to your relationships, your mental health, you career and even your finances.Achieving permanent sobriety means rebuilding your life after addiction and creating a foundation upon which you can steadily stand. To do that, many people recovering from addiction need to rebuild their finances. If you're on the path to recovery, keep reading to learn how to take charge of your finances, budget for an abundant life and rebuild your credit.Many people coming out of addiction are faced with depleted savings, health bills, repossessed goods, bad credit or even bankruptcy. Before the stress of these financial burdens affects your path to recovery, you need to face your financial problems head on.First, learn to budget your money without going further into debt. Start by calculate your total family income from all sources. From there, calculate all...
More About: Personal , Finances , Addiction

Quit Alcohol Addiction
2008-02-09 06:04:00
The reason that many people tend to get addicted to alcohol is varied. Some people drink to enjoy their life and others drink when they have nothing to do, when at a party and others drink in their mournful days. Alcohol addiction can also be a consequence of the environment a person has grown up in. others may simply start to get a taste of varied alcohol flavors and different kinds of alcohols that the manufacturers dish out.Alcohol addiction is a common sight in today's generation. Especially in the youth, none of the parties are said to be complete without the involvement of alcohol. Alcohol is stated as one of the top causes of death and ailment in the list of addictions. It can cause many conditions that can get the better of your health even before you realize it.After consuming alcohol it's your liver that is targeted in the long run. This in turn guarantees that you start having problems with your internal body parts. It has been proved with recent studies that a person t...
More About: Addiction , Quit

Caffeine Addiction
2008-02-09 06:01:00
Many of us consume caffeine on a daily basis. Whether it's in the form of coffee, tea or soda, it is a substance that gives us energy and gets us through our everyday lives. What we usually do not think about is that caffeine can be addictive just like many other external, illicit chemical compounds.When we think of addictions we usually think of things like alcohol, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Caffeine almost never crosses our minds. Yet if we take a closer look we can see that the chronic intake of caffeine exhibits the same characteristics as many of the drugs previously mentioned. We will take a closer look at five different parameters that would make one categorize caffeine as a possible addiction:1) The effects of caffeine on the nervous system2) Dependence3) Tolerance4) Withdrawal symptoms5) The need for treatmentCaffeine is a stimulant that acts on the nervous system. It provides the user with a "high" or a "rush" that is often seen with other stimulants. Constant ...
More About: Addiction

Drug Detox Can Help With Prescription Drug Addiction, But Addiction Is Not
2008-02-09 01:38:00
Why are so many people dying or getting ill from prescription drugs? Although some prescription drugs cause addiction and dependency that may require drug detox, and may also lead to using illegal drugs or acquiring prescription drugs illegally, many of the deaths and events are from drugs that shouldn't be killers. So, why are they causing so much trouble? The answer may be surprising.First, let's have a look at some of the facts surrounding deaths and 'serious events' caused by prescription drugs:* 106,000 hospital patients die every year from drugs that were properly prescribed and administered, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. That's 10 times the number of deaths caused by illegal drugs, many of which could have been prevented with medical drug detox and, if needed, drug rehab.* A report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies said that medication errors and side effects account for $3.5 billion in hospital costs each year...
More About: Addiction , Detox , Drug , Prescription

Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
2008-02-09 00:47:00
Many people don't really consider alcohol a drug. After all, it is legal to drink - as long as you're of age. But the real truth is that alcoholism is a form of drug addiction just as serious and harmful as addiction to other drugs. Because alcohol is legal to drink, many people just think of alcohol as another beverage.Drug addiction is defined as an uncontrollable craving for a substance that a person feels they must have in order to live. Alcoholism is defined in much the same way. When a person has an addiction to alcohol, they can't see their life without drinks in it. The presence of alcohol has become a "given" and they are not willing to give that crutch up without a fight. The cold harsh reality is that people with alcoholism are drug addicts plain and simple.Alcoholism causes a person to think that they cannot live without the "buzz" that alcohol gives them. Alcohol has been classified as a drug by the Food and Drug Administration, so a person with alcoholism does suffe...
More About: Addiction

What Exactly Is Meth Addiction?
2008-02-09 00:35:00
As of today, Meth is the most abused hard drug on the planet. Methamphetamine abuse is now considered to be a worldwide epidemic. There are approximately 26 million Meth addicts worldwide, which is twice the number of cocaine and heroin addicts combined.When Meth is taken into the body, large surges of dopamine are released in the brain, causing an intense rush of pleasure or prolonged sense of euphoria. Over time, Meth destroys dopamine receptors, making it nearly impossible for the addict to feel pleasure without it. This causes a vicious cycle of extreme highs under the influence of Meth and extreme lows without it. Extended and chronic use can lead to psychotic behaviors, including paranoia, insomnia, anxiety, extreme aggression, delusions, hallucinations, and even death.Originating in Japan in the early 1900's, Meth has doubled in potency in the last 100 years. Cooks (Meth manufacturers) use a dangerous and volatile buffet of legal household chemicals to produce the drug. Some...
More About: Addiction

Gambling Addiction Can Ruin You
2008-02-09 00:35:00
Everyone in this world wants to make money; easy money is something that involves a hell lot of risk. Gambling is said to be the thing that can make you rich but can also make you bankrupt. When in Vegas people say nothing is better than the gambling casinos in Vegas. A place where a person might come as a pauper and leave with a money but what happens in a reverse scenario, a person that is supposed to be a millionaire might become a beggar. Gambling is a common thing with many people around who spend money on betting, some turn out to be the winners and some loose. A visit to a casino doesn't mean that it is a bad habit, it is just the testing of ones luck. But a frequent visit to a gambling station would mean that you are addicted to gambling. The legal gambling industry is on an all time high in America. Where you get gambling casinos in your home town, and the Internet that seems to have made the world small.Gambling can be of various types such as at casinos, card rooms, mobi...
More About: Addiction , Ruin

How To Stop Marijuana Addiction Positively
2008-02-09 00:33:00
Let's face it, people smoke marijuana because it feels good and often because they think it is not a big problem like other harder drugs. Humans are creatures of pleasure and if it did not feel good we would not do it. However there comes a time when the no matter how good it feels it seems like we come back to weed out of habit, it has become the norm and ingrained in our lives so tightly that when we think on how to stop marijuana addiction it up feels painful and negative.As was mentioned however we seek pleasure and we seek activities and moments that feel good and positive. This means that the negative aspects of quitting something that used to feel so good and are now comfortable and a part of our lives can seriously hamper your attempts to give up on the drug. There feels like there is no reward and only pain when giving up an addiction and a psychological addiction like pot is driven by the reward of the high. So to really be able to quit smoking marijuana you must find a w...
More About: Addiction , Stop , Marijuana

Pinball Machine Addiction - Signs & Symptoms of Pinball Machine Restora
2008-02-09 00:32:00
Maybe you are a Pinball Machine addict, Pin-Head, or you know someone who is. Whether you are into Pinball, Arcade Games or just general coin-op stuff, you still can get bitten by the same bug. One Pinball Machine is never enough and it seems that the restoration project never ends. Included herein are some signs that you have a Pinball Machine addiction.This may be the first sign of a Pinball Machine addiction. You will drive miles and miles just to play that one Pinball Machine you have been looking for, then go through $10+ in quarters and finally drive home. You may have done this for Spider Man, Family Guy or Wheel of Fortune. If you did, then I'm sure you'll make the trek for Shrek (no pun intended). You've driven miles to get to the games you love, then it is time to save on gas and start getting your own Pinball Machines to fill your game room.You start with one Pinball Machine that you absolutely have to have, or one that is in okay condition and in your price range. Sud...
More About: Addiction , Signs , Symptoms

Bulimia Nervosa - A Deadly Addiction
2008-02-09 00:31:00
Eating disorders are horrible diseases that haunt millions of people worldwide. Many do not realize how serious these diseases are, but they are indeed deadly and claim the lives of innocent people every day. Food is the basic source of energy for the human body, and unfortunately many people have an unhealthy relationship with it. Bulimia nervosa is a disease that causes the victim to eat huge amounts of food and then vomit it up in an attempt to stop any weight gain. Bulemia wreaks havoc on the body and the mind. The victims usually have low self esteem and a very bad self image, causing them to feel unattractive and undesirable. Bulemia nervosa causes people to take drastic measures in order to appear attractive. By vomiting up the large amount of food consumed, the person is trying to rid the body of calories and avoid weight gain. Needless to say, bulimia nervosa is a horrible disease that causes massive damage to the body.Bulimia causes depression, anxiety, and an extremely un...
More About: Addiction , Deadly

Women Suffer From Sex Addiction Too!
2008-02-09 00:30:00
Mandy always felt different. Much like her childhood friends, men would be pleased and amazed by her sexual desires, but they would quickly leave her, physically or emotionally. Mandy blamed the men. They simply couldn't handle her unquenchable desires. They couldn't keep up with her. They used her. She also blamed herself. If she just kept trying harder to intrigue and please men sexually, she thought, eventually she would find the right mate-one as "sexually mature" as herself.After finding that mate, her fantasy life with her husband soon crumbled into terror at his rage and his physical brutality toward her. Her depression, suicidal plans, and an uncharacteristic lack of sexual desire began to overshadow her life.In therapy, she talked about her perfect family-perfect, except for her. She divulged that when she was 5 years old and asked her father where babies come from, he gave her a detailed description of sex. She talked of hearing her parents' arguments about sex and infi...
More About: Women , Addiction

Coffee Addiction - Alternatives to Coffee
2008-02-09 00:29:00
Do you have an addiction to coffee? Do you find it hard to get through even half an hour without having another cup? Have you worn a trail between your desk and the coffee machine? Well there are alternatives which will still keep you active, without the addictive properties of caffeine.First of all, don't try to go "cold turkey" and stop drinking coffee completely and suddenly. If you do that, you're quite likely to have severe withdrawal symptoms such as sweating and shaking hands. Just take it gradually and cut down to start with. Try to reduce your coffee intake by about fifty percent in the first instance and replace those other cups of coffee with something else. Here are some ideas.Drink something else: Variety is the spice of life, so why not alternate your cups of coffee with fruit or vegetable juices, hot chocolate, or even a low calorie carbonated drink but not cola unless it's decaffeinated. How about decaf coffee? It isn't completely without caffeine but it's a sta...
More About: Coffee , Addiction , Alternatives

What Are The Effects Of Alcohol Addiction?
2008-02-09 00:23:00
Alcohol addiction has wide-ranging effects that encompass all aspects of the addict's life. Some of the potential effects of alcohol addiction could include:Physical effects - Pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, insulin resistance, alcoholic dementia, nutritional deficiencies, heart disease and in extreme cases; death.Economic effects - Loss of employment and the subsequent financial problems that follow as a result.Social effects - Social alienation due to unacceptable social behavior, marital conflict and divorce.Legal consequences - Alcohol addicts often get into trouble with the law either because of public disorder or because of drunk driving.Alcohol addiction affects not only the addict but also the addict's entire family who could experience consequences that range from neglect to domestic violence to spouse and children.Alcohol TreatmentAbruptly discontinuing the use of alcohol could result in severe symptoms including convulsions, hallucinations, seizures and shakes. In...
More About: Addiction , Alcohol , Effects

Prescription Drug Addiction
2008-02-08 23:43:00
Prescription drug addiction is often misunderstood. You may be addicted and not even know it. For example, what may have started as a prescription of painkillers for a minor back injury two years ago has turned into a full blown addiction that you can't stop even though the injury is healed. Careful consideration should go into whether or not a person is addicted to prescription drugs. There is usually a good reason of why a doctor would prescribe you or anyone else a medication. The question isn't whether or not the drug is legal, the question is: Are you abusing it?Usually an addicted person doesn't realize they are addicted until the dosage is reduced. Sometimes they will go to any length to increase their dosage so they can feel normal again or get the desired high. Many people justify their prescription drug abuse by realizing the differences between a street drug addict, who uses hard drugs like cocaine or heroin, and themselves who are only taking medications that the doct...
More About: Addiction , Drug , Prescription