Written by As you may have heard, British pop star Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London
home on Saturday. An uproarious social media response to her death revealed much about our attitudes toward those struggling with substance abuse.
Posts in category Addiction Stories
The Death of Amy Winehouse
Internet Rehab in South Korea
Addictive Internet use in South Korea has spawned a new treatment option: rehab. 
Internet Addiction Symptoms and Treatment: An Interview with Dr. Kimberly Young
Dr. Kimberly Young is a licensed psychologist and professor at St. Bonaventure University who founded the Center for Internet Addiction in 1995. She has written numerous books and articles on the subject, and has spoken about Internet addiction at various universities and conferences around the world. AllTreatment asked Dr. Young a few questions about the symptoms and treatment involved in addictive Internet usage.
AllTreatment: How can someone determine when their Internet usage has become addictive? Is it possible to recognize signs in a friend or loved one?
Dr. Kimberly Young
Dr. Young: Yes, there is a list of eight signs based upon psychiatric criteria to diagnose or determine if someone is addicted. Meeting five or more meets the baseline.
1. Do you feel preoccupied with the Internet (think about previous on-line activity or anticipate next on-line session)?
2. Do you feel the need to use the Internet with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction?
3. Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet use?
4. Do you feel restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use?
5. Do you stay on-line longer than originally intended?
6. Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the Internet?
7. Have you lied to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet?
8. Do you uses the Internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)?
Note: These criteria excerpted from: Internet Addiction: Symptoms, Evaluation, and Treatment by Dr. Kimberly Young. The full article can be found at http://www.netaddiction.com/articles/symptoms.pdf
AT: What is it about Internet usage that lends itself to addictive behavior? Are individuals with Internet addiction generally prone to other addictive behaviors?
DY: The anonymity of cyberspace is a big factor. Using the Internet is personal, private, and feels anonymous so when we have someone who is stressed, depressed, or anxious, using the Internet becomes a form of escape, like any other addiction.
AT: It seems that awareness of Internet addiction is out of step with its prevalence. Do you have a sense of why this may be?
DY: Yes, I have sensed this since 1995 when I first began to study the issue of Internet addiction. Not sure why this is but mainly I believe it is because the Internet is such a productive tool. It is hard to imagine someone becoming addicted to it in the same way we talk about drugs and alcohol. It can happen, as we know and many cases have been documented, yet there is still such a push to have people use the technology that it is difficult to look at the addictive qualities of the technology with the same investment we look at drug treatment. In other countries such as China and Korea this is not the case. They have been leaders in the treatment field.
AT: What forms of treatment tend to be most effective for Internet addiction?
DY: The common practice is cognitive behavioral techniques to examine Internet behavior and maladaptive thoughts that lead to addictive thinking (rationalizing that the Internet is not addictive, justifying need to engage in cybersex, gaming, gambling online, etc.)
AT: The Internet is used for so many reasons (school, work, etc) that sometimes it seems impossible to avoid. If someone is experiencing symptoms of Internet addiction, how could they go about managing these demands without fueling addictive behavior?
DY: The training or treatment I provide focuses on time management – it is a clear behavioral modification program to manage online behavior. This is the best way to learn or relearn how to use the computer. The creates a positive work-life balance so the person uses it without abusing it. The idea of treatment is controlled or moderated use. If you look under ARTICLES on our site you will see one that outlines in detail treatment of Internet addiction and how to manage online time using cognitive behavioral therapy, which is primarily what I use, and it does seem to work well with this patient population.
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Eating Disorders and Recovery: an Interview with Carrie of Moves ‘N Munchies
While most of us have heard of eating disorders, we often aren’t aware of the deep internal struggle they produce—or the steps necessary to finally regain control of one’s life. I interviewed Carrie of Moves ‘n Munchies, a blog about healthy eating, exercise, and personal wellness, who very generously agreed to share some of her experiences with disordered eating and recovery.
AllTreatment: Hello! Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and when your experiences with disordered eating began?
Carrie: Hi! I’m Carrie and I blog at Moves ‘N Munchies! I struggled with an eating disorder for 5 1/2 years (anorexia nervosa and bulimia) as well as depression. My eating disorder began when I was 11 years old due to the changes going on in my life and body as well as a very low self esteem. I began ‘dieting’ and eventually got to an extremely low weight. The doctors warned my parents that I could die within a week if I didn’t eat. I was sent to an outpatient treatment center because I was too young for inpatient care. I gained the weight back, but never received psychological help, therefore I struggled for five years on my own and during those five years I developed bulimia. My weight went up and down, but I was too embarrassed to tell my parents about my struggles. I eventually lost a lot of weight again and went to another outpatient treatment center. I got the help I really needed and worked extremely hard to finally conquer the ED as I was so sick of it.
AT: Being self-conscious about one’s body and weight is unfortunately commonplace in our society. How did you recognize that you had extended beyond “normal” worrying into disordered eating?
Carrie: Unfortunately, I did not recognize that my actions or thinking was abnormal. It wasn’t until other people intervened that I then got treatment and my mind shifted. When you have an ED you legitimately do not see your body as it really is nor do you think your eating habits are odd especially because being underweight screws with your brain so it doesn’t function properly. The ED mind controls you and takes over you to make you think that what really isn’t normal, somehow is for you. The problem with EDs is exactly that…you don’t realize you are doing wrong most of the time until someone has told you or diagnosed you. And even then you may not accept it.
AT: Eating disorders have been shown to produce endorphins in the brain, which are the same chemicals produced when engaging in any addictive behavior (drugs, gambling, etc.) In what ways do you feel an eating disorder is addictive?
Carrie: An eating disorder is extremely addictive. Starving yourself and being hungry gets you on a high. It distracts you from the problems in your life so that they don’t matter; as long as you keep starving yourself and losing weight, everything will be okay. Once you lose a pound, you get really excited…that feeling then pushes you to lose another and then another. Once you see that you can lose weight or that you are skipping a meal, you want to do more. You feel so accomplished that you want to see how much further you can take it…that’s when things go too far and the problems kick in. Unlike people who can lose weight and then stop at a healthy weight, people with EDs don’t stop…they get addicted to losing weight and being hungry.
AT: What kind of treatment did you seek for your eating disorder, and what do you think was particularly helpful to your recovery?
Carrie: The first time I developed my ED I received outpatient care. I would see a nutritionist a couple times a week where she would weigh me and put me on a meal plan to gain a certain amount of weight per week. The second time around I received a nutritionist, a therapist and a family therapist. I saw them every week apart from the family therapist who my family and I saw every few weeks. Having a therapist the second time around really helped me deal with the psychological problems I had. It was during the second round of treatment that I really pushed myself to get rid of the ED…. full recovery came from me and me wanting to change.
AT: Can you think of one thing in particular that you wish you had known that would have aided your recovery or helped you find treatment sooner?
Carrie: Yes! I wish I had been told more firmly the medical repercussions one can get from an ED. For example…I delayed my puberty and didn’t get my period until a lot later, which thinned my bones to where I have a severe case of osteopenia, almost osteoporosis. Luckily I still have until I’m 30 years old to rebuild my bones, but if I were older I would have osteoporosis forever.
AT: Are there any misconceptions about eating disorders that you’d like to straighten out?
Carrie: Yes! People with EDs cannot ‘just eat’…there are two sides to them. One side is telling them they need to eat because people are telling them to and the other is the ED telling them they are going to be fat and fail at life if they eat. It is a constant battle between the two minds inside your head. Another thing is that people with EDs should not be looked down upon. It is a disease, not a choice. They are not crazy or weird…they are ill just like any other person out there dealing with an illness.
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Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and advice with us, Carrie. I know that your courage in conquering your ED will be inspirational to those who worry that recovery is impossible.
AllTreatment’s Guide to Quit Smoking – Part 3.3
Written by 3.3 What To Expect While Quitting - Quitters Cough (day 1-20):
Quitters Cough is sometimes seen as the most disconcerting aspect of quitting. According to my physician, people quitting will often visit their doctors concerned about how hard they are coughing, and the gunk they are coughing out. While talking to your doctor about quiting is always a smart move, be assured that Quitters Cough is very common, even necessary for the quitting smoker.
The reason for this is because nicotine paralyzes cilia, the little hairs which pull junk out of your lungs. So, not only are cigarettes filling your lungs with tar, but they are disabling the sweepers which pull the tar out. When you quit, suddenly the cilia begin to function once again, and all the tar which has collected in your lungs begins to be swept clean and evacuated through fits of coughs.
Don’t worry, Quitters Cough usually lasts between 3 to 4 weeks as long as you don’t start smoking again, but sometimes it can last a few months. However gross it may seem, it is a very healthy and important process.
Closely related to this are chest pains. These dull aches in the center of my chest hit me particularly hard and had me worried for a while because I had not come across any mention of them during my research, but I have come to learn that they are normal. However, if you are ever concerned, it is always a safe bet to consult your doctor.
Even as the first and second week passes, you can expect to breath more easily and efficiently. It is important to remember that it is never to late to quit, even if you have smoked most your life, and it is certainly never too early.
Final Note:
Quitting is hard. Be sure you come to grips with that before you begin. There is no easy way to quit. Using gum or patches is not a good idea. They are expensive, and though they are advertised as quitting aids, they are actually a more pure form of nicotine than cigarettes and are just as addictive.
Just know, what ever route you take, you will have to deal with the symptoms listed above eventually. The trick is not a nicotine substitute, it is learning all you can about nicotine, quitting with a partner you can trust and rely on when the going gets tough, and preparation for the weeks ahead.
As time passes you will find it easier to breath during straining activities, you will have more energy which will remain steady throughout the day, especially if you follow the eating and exercises advice. But most of all, your peace of mind will increase dramatically.
We hope this small guide has been a benefit to you in your fight against nicotine and we wish you the best of luck.
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S. Cody Barrus
Managing Editor
AllTreatment’s Guide to Quit Smoking – Table of Contents
Welcome to the All Treatment’s Guide to Quite Smoking all collected into on easy to navigate spot. While this is not the end all tome in terms of nicotine addiction, we feel it is a great resources to help arm you in your battle against Nicotine. In this easy to understand yet informative guide, you will learn why nicotine is so addictive as we guide you through the quitting process.
Contents –
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This guide was written by S. Cody Barrus, Managing Editor
AllTreatment’s Guide to Quit Smoking – Part 3.2
3.2 What To Expect While Quitting – Trouble Concentrating/Sleeping
Trouble Concentrating/Sleeping (day 1-7):
Nicotine is a stimulant, so when quitting you experience the lack of the external stimulant your body had become used to, and as a result you might find yourself tired or worn out through out the days, and restless through the nights.
There are a few simple ways to combat this feeling of drowsiness and get back to feeling normal quicker.
First, If you skipped any meals as a smoker, it is important to try eating on a regular schedule. It is common for smokers often skip meals, especially breakfast, because nicotine keeps your body in constant “fight or flight” mode. What this means is that adrenaline is coursing through veins, releasing fatty sugars, and as a result missing a meal doesn’t feel like a big deal. When you quit, your body returns to a normal metabolism, so each meal you skip will have a greater impact on you.
To combat this be sure to eat 6 healthy meals a day, three large meals, three small meals (consider everything from an apple to a bag of nuts a small meal). Make sure no more than three hours pass between these meals. This will help boost you metabolism to its optimum level and is a healthy practice to maintain even after the quitting process.
Also, drink lots of water. This will help you maintain a constant blood sugar level as well as a high metabolism resulting in more energy and better concentration. A least a glass with every meal, and be sure to limit yourself to one or less sugary drinks in any given day to reduce the influx of useless calories and to help maintain a steady, consistent metabolism.
Pair both these practices up with regular exercise, which will result in not only more energy, but will also fight the weight gain which is sometimes associated with quitting. A good practice is to try to break a sweat every day, be it from a hard walk/hike, pushing weights, yoga, punching a bag, or whatever sort of exercise you prefer. Not only will this help during the early weeks of quitting, these are healthy practices to maintain throughout your life.
Check back Tomorrow (March 16 ) for Part 3.3 – Quitters Cough/Chest Pain
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S. Cody Barrus
Managing Editor
AllTreatment’s Guide to Quit Smoking – Part 3.1
3.1 What To Expect While Quitting – High Strung Emotions
By now, it should be no surprise that the quitting is hard, however, there are tools at your disposal, and the most powerful tool of all is knowledge. The trick to overcome the metal and physical hurdles ahead is to arm yourself for the fight by knowing your enemies battle strategy. Over the next two days, we will cover exactly that, what to expect on a day by day basis while you quit. These effects will run the gambit of assaults, from physical discomfort and sometimes even pain, to emotional stress, anger and depression.
High Strung Emotions (day 1-5):
High Strung Emotions are often cited as the most difficult aspect of the quitting process to get passed. In our last article on the addictive properties of tobacco, which you can find here, we discussed why.
Beginning on day one, you will start fighting withdrawal symptoms, and as a result you will be easily agitated, annoyed, even angry or enraged at time. Unexpected bouts of rage, as well as depression, are very common. They should be expected at any time, and you should prepare yourself, and others around you, before you deal with them.
While going through the quitting process, I used the buddy system and quit together with a good friend who I see often. This kept us accountable, and gave each other someone who knew exactly what the other was going through.
The day after he quit, this friend of mine who works retail was nearly fired when a customer asked him an innocent question and he exploded. Luckily he had told his boss he was quitting earlier that day, and so his boss intervened and my friend kept his job.
While quitting, I did not experience the anger, but the depression hit me hard. A sentement often expressed while quitting is that it is emotionally on par to losing a good friend, and a mourning process is often associated along with it.
Prepare anoyone you will be spending any long amounts of time around, including family and coworkers. Tell them that you are quitting, and let them know that fits of anger and depression are to be expected for the first few days.
However, there are a few proven methods getting past these symptoms without lighting up another smoke. First is the knowledge that these symptoms are temporary. The average craving lasts around 10 minutes before it goes away, so finding a way to power through that time is essential.
Using a buddy system works very well. Quite with another smoker, or keep in contact with an ex-smoker, someone who knows what you are going through, who wont mind a call at any time of the day to help talk you past the cravings. I found quitting along with a friend an essential step as we kept each other motivated and talked each other through the especially heavy cravings.
Keep in mind that High Strung Emotions will peak around day 2 and ease off by day 5. After this point, your emotions should normalize.
Check back Tomorrow (March 15 ) for Part 3.2 – Trouble Concentrating/Sleeping
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S. Cody Barrus
Managing Editor
Fentanyl: The New Heroin
Written by It’s 100 times more potent than morphine, 10 times more expensive than heroin, and many professionals in the addiction recovery industry haven’t even heard of it. Fentanyl is quietly making itself known in the drug world — hit by hit, and addiction by addiction.
Hospitals and other medical centers commonly use fentanyl as an opiate pain killer (similar to morphine) because it works to dull the pain center in the brain. It has been used in surgery, is included in many paramedics’ first aid kits and, unfortunately, has been abused by medical professionals in numerous cases. The powerful addictive qualities of fentanyl have led to countless addictions and some documented overdoses. It is perhaps the high cost of the drug that has kept it from becoming as popular as heroin, for example.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomma/4906491235/
Fentanyl has effects very similar to heroin. Says one previous Seattle-area user, “I just felt so good, so light, just so relaxed,” when first using the drug. Addiction comes quickly, however: the highly expensive drug is difficult for addicts to get ahold of, its abuse still lacks attention and research, and the withdrawal symptoms are extremely unpleasant.
In a recent article in The Stranger, one user was cited as saying, ”This is my absolute overall perspective on that stuff—it’s absolutely amazing, it will ruin your life, it will steal all your money, and you will still love it more than anything.”
For more information on the dangers of Fentanyl addiction, visit http://www.softlandingrecovery.com/articles/fentanyl_addiction.html.
AllTreatment’s Guide to Quit Smoking – Part 2.3
2.3 Memory
Sun Tzu says, “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.” So it is with nicotine. Not only is our enemy sly, devious, and an expert at manipulation and sabotage, he takes advantage of his conquest by multiplying them in a very crafty way. He enhances the memories of the good feelings brought about by his trickery.
First, Nicotine took advantage of the pathways in our brains which help keep us alive and used them to manipulate us (used dopamine to make the act of smoking feel necessary for survival). Second, nicotine took things one step further. When smoking, not only does nicotine bring about the flow of dopamine, but it prevents that dopamine from being flushed from the brain as it normally would. Third, it presses the record button.
The memories recorded of the reward we talked about in 2.2 are some of the most concrete memories your brain is able to record, called “salient” memories. Like a one-two punch, nicotine reinforces the false idea that it is needed for survival by recoding the dopamine overflows which can now be played again and again in your mind.
This is one reason why if you go to long without nicotine you begin to crave, your brain remembers the moments of dopamine floods, how long those floods lasted, and it knows that just one more cigarette would bring it all back. Think of normal memories of rewards (food, sex, accomplishment) as being recorded on VHS while memories associated with nicotine are burnt on Blue Ray, HD and permanent.
These are just some of the obstacles smokers are up against. Its a fight for your life, but your brain’s been manipulated to think that you are fighting on the wrong side. The fight is never an easy one, often compared to the battle of quitting heroin. The enemy does not fight fair, he slips in with false promises while he slowly whittles you down.
The battle will not be easy, but it is worth it, it is possible, and it has been accomplished by millions before you, all whom have struggled and fought just as you are struggling and fighting. Krav Maga teaches that ferocity is just as important as are tactics, so it is with the battle against nicotine. With the proper knowledge and determination, it is a battle that can be won, and the rewards are much greater than a momentary dopamine flood. Better heath, clearer conscience, less worry, more energy and more money all await you on the other side.
Check back next Monday (March 14 ) for Part 3 – What To Expect While Quitting
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S. Cody Barrus
Managing Editor