Posts Tagged ‘counseling’

Legalized Marijuana: Good medicine or serious mistake?

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Marijuana’s legal status is a popular debate topic. A number of different groups, each with their own agenda, argue loudly for support from politicians and the public. It may be years before the matter is settled and the result will shape the economic, political, social and medical future of our country in ways that may be hard to predict.

Many of the questions that come up in discussions about legalizing cannabis are beyond the scope of my expertise as a counselor and therapist. However, my work with clients who struggle to break the cycle of addiction gives me both a motive and the knowledge to speak to that aspect of the issue.

Whatever arguable benefits marijuana may have, research proves that it has a negative impact on workplace behavior, mental stability, health and learning, especially in adolescents. Regular users miss work, have accidents, develop respiratory ailments suffer from memory problems and in some cases experience hallucinations and paranoia.

Like many other modern crops, the properties of marijuana have been manipulated by growers. Plants grown in the 1980s had tetrahydrocannabinal (THC) concentrations of 4%. Plants grown in 2009 had average concentrations of 10%, more than double the previous amount. THC levels are what determine the potency of the end product. When the potency increases, all the negative effects of the drug also increase, including its power to addict.

About one in ten adults and one out of six teens show a particular susceptibility to the compounds in cannabis that make it addictive. Addiction is a spiral that compels the person caught in its web to devote increasing amounts of time and money to satisfy their cravings. The addict’s resources are no longer available for healthier, more beneficial pursuits.

Breaking an addiction triggers irritability, insomnia, cravings and anxiety. Most addicts seek the help of a counselor or therapist to help them through the process. Both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Hypnotherapy have proven to be successful in helping end addiction.

If a marijuana addiction is causing problems in your life, all the big political and philosophical discussions in the world won’t change things for the better. Leave the big decisions to others. All you have to decide is to take control of your own life and health by breaking marijuana’s hold on you.

 

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What to Do When a Relapse Occurs

Monday, July 11th, 2011

Nobody hopes for a setback, but sometimes they happen anyway. Life is full of surprises, and human beings are not perfect. For those in recovery from substance abuse or addiction, a relapse can be especially upsetting. However, it does not necessarily mean recovery is over. With the help of addiction or substance abuse counseling, it is possible to get back on track.

When a relapse occurs, skip the unproductive act of beating yourself up. Instead, take corrective action right away:

  1. Refocus. Your mind (and even body) may be racing. Take a few deep breaths and recall why you got on the road to recovery to begin with. If you have them, return to notes or journal entries about your first steps. Notice how far you have come already.
  2. Regroup. Set up a counseling appointment, attend group therapy or get to a 12-step meeting if it is part of your program – the sooner, the better.
  3. Reach out. Your support system is there for a reason. Those close to you will consider it a privilege to help during a time of need. Call or visit someone you trust and talk to him or her about what has happened.
  4. Restart. Begin recovery again today; do not wait.
  5. Reassure yourself. Relapse causes feelings of shame. When you address these feelings, you diminish their power and break the ongoing cycle of shame and abuse.
  6. Repair relationships. Address any issues that the relapse may have caused between you and loved ones.
  7. Reflect.  What triggers and red flags led to the relapse? Think about where, when and with whom it happened. Write down your observations in order to identify patterns that can be avoided in the future.

If you follow these steps, you will turn your relapse into a learning experience. Instead of dooming you to failure, it becomes part of the process of positive self-transformation.

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With Compulsive Gambling on the Rise, Watch for Warning Signs

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

One of our local business papers, Vegas Inc, recently covered a study of compulsive gambling conducted by the University of Buffalo’s Research Institute on Addictions. Although controversial, the study’s findings serve as a good reminder of particular challenges faced by compulsive gamblers living in Las Vegas, and how addiction counseling can help.

The study represents one of very few comprehensive looks at compulsive gambling in the United States. It found that percentages of compulsive gamblers in the general population are higher than most experts have always thought – even higher than percentages of alcoholics in some age ranges.

Critics of the study argued that the methodology was flawed, and that the researchers might have been comparing apples to oranges when it came to comparing compulsive gamblers and alcoholics.

Nevertheless, local experts on gambling addiction agreed on a couple points: first, Las Vegas has higher rates of compulsive gamblers than the rest of the U.S. in general due to the widespread availability of gaming; second, the rate of compulsive gamblers in the overall population could be rising due to the pervasiveness of online gaming.

Regardless of the study’s outcome, these two points serve as a good reminder that we live in a risky time and place. When it comes to gambling, Las Vegans must be particularly diligent about evaluating their own behavior.

If you gamble frequently – either in a casino or online – ask yourself these questions about it from time to time: Is my gambling affecting my work life or relationships? Have I lied about or concealed my gambling to someone important? Am I unable to stop gambling when I know I should?

Answering “yes” to any of these questions indicates that you might need to address your behavior. Counseling is an excellent way to get an objective opinion and outside help if you do have a problem.

Because of where I practice, I never assume the worst about any client that comes to me with concerns about gambling. Living in Las Vegas also means that we enjoy forms of entertainment unavailable in most other places. I provide a safe environment for everyone to tell their own story, and I listen to it carefully before deciding whether treatment is needed.

There are both good and bad apects to living in “Sin City” – like anywhere. The widespread availability of gaming does not have to be a problem for you, if you can address it early… and objectively.

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Comfort as Obstacle to Growth

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

The word “comfort” evokes images of peace and reassurance, so you might be surprised to learn that comfort zones often stand in the way of desired transformation. Even people who are working diligently to solve their marriage, couple, substance abuse or addiction problems can find themselves relaxing into familiar habits that impede their growth.

Your comfort zone does serve a purpose in your mental and emotional well-being. It offers a safe space where you can relax and explore what’s going on in your world. Spend too much time in this space, however, and the rest of the world remains undiscovered – including areas that contain keys to achieving your goals.

Consider the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. In this metaphor, the cocoon is the comfort zone. Although it nurtures and protects the creature through an amazing process, the transformation isn’t complete until the butterfly spreads its wings and leaves its shell behind.

For humans, the metamorphosis achieved through therapy is usually not this dramatic – or quick. Instead, we grow by expanding our safe space little by little over time.

Finding the chinks in your own cocoon, gradually breaking through them and facing a new world can be frightening, so it requires a commitment. Certain tools, such as hypnotherapy and counseling, can help by allowing you to identify deeply buried patterns and triggers that are holding you back.

If you can maintain your resolve through the difficult task of moving into the unknown, a wonderful reward awaits you. Stick with it, and someday you may be surprised to find you’ve grown into a beautiful creature, ready to take flight.

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