MEDITOLL.COM

Step one was to acknowledge I was powerless and unmanageable. The first part is a conclusion I drew about myself after learning the facts about my disease as outlined in the Big Book. After honestly relating my experiences drinking to the "Doctor's Opinion" and the first three chapters I concluded, "Yes, I am an alcoholic. I have a problem with drugs and alcohol."

The second part is an agreement I make with the fact that yes, my life is unmanageable. I have a problem living. Not surviving or getting by, but actually living the life I always wanted to live. One without the constant fear, guilt, and remorse I lived with while drinking. A life without constantly fighting everyone and everything to have things my way. One I didn't have to prove myself to anyone or live up to anything.

Until I could admit that I was both powerless over drugs and alcohol and my life was unmanageable, I wouldn't need to try and be sober. It's that simple. I believe this is what our book refers to on page 30 when it says "We had to concede to our inner most selves that we were alcoholic. This is the first step in treatment." I was confusing wanting to be sober with wanting the consequences of my drinking to go away. For me, I knew I was alcoholic, but my life just wasn't unmanageable enough. When I admitted complete defeat was when I hit my bottom and was able to begin true recovery.

I was so self-sufficient it almost killed me. I lost everything I cared to lose and kept trying one more time to feel that ease and comfort which comes at once by taking a few drinks. The problem was I just couldn't get to that place anymore. I was stuck in self-pity. I went to treatment, I was doing aftercare, attending meetings daily and couldn't stay sober. I wanted to be sober and feel at ease and comfortable. That's the big dilemma for me getting and staying sober. The only tool I had to make life livable was alcohol and it quit working. I had to find a new way to do things.

I had a chance to be with my family Thanksgiving after a year of tough love. It was a weekend I will always remember. We were hiking in the mountains and I was overcome with the presence of His beauty and the unconditional love of family. I was filled with gratitude and the sense that I didn't have to live in the pain of my drinking ever again. My eyes opened to the possibility of a sober, happy life. I was powerless over alcohol and my life was unmanageable. I had taken step one. I was ready for recovery.

So what do I do? I work the remaining steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with a sponsor who has worked them. Not a drug and alcohol treatment center, not aftercare, not an Oxford House, not 90 meetings in 90 days, not anything else. Those things are helpful tools but by themselves they cannot keep me sober. If I could just not drink no matter what--as it is often suggested to newcomers, I wouldn't have a problem! It isn't easy, but nobody said life is. I had to quit feeling sorry for myself, grow up and take action to save my life. As soon as I recognized that and quit fighting it got a lot easier.

May all of you struggling with that first step find your way. Make this your bottom and get on with the joy of living in recovery.

 

Only a migraine sufferer understands the pain. Regardless of how the migraine starts the end result is the same - excruciating pain that renders you helpless. Walking hurts, breathing hurts. Even thinking hurts.

People often discount migraines without any true understanding of the suffering a migraine can inflict. They treat migraine sufferers like hypochondriacs or drama queens. This is simply not so. There are any number of painkillers and pills available to help curb the pain. The issue here is that many of these painkillers require repeat prescriptions and involve an ongoing cost. The other side effect of many of the prescribed medicines is that they can help with the pain of the migraine headache itself but tend to have a "knockout" effect on the sufferer.

Most migraine sufferers will be familiar with the "where did the day go?" effect of many of the stronger painkillers. There are natural remedies to the migraine plague. They're simple and cheap (if not free). None of these are to replace prescribed medication but can be used in conjunction with your medication to bring relief about faster. They also complement each other.

Dark Room

If you suffer from migraine headaches and an attack begins then find the quietest, darkest spot in your home and lay down there. The area or should also be relatively warm to allow you to relax faster. Your eyes should remain covered but open. This usually means using some sort of blindfold but a scarf, long handkerchief or other material works just fine. Keep your eyes open as much as possible because experience has shown that shutting your eyes to try and cope with the pain uses extra facial and jaw muscles that can just increase the problem and not cure it.

If an attack has already begun then follow the same routine and take whatever prescribed medication you have.

Relaxed Breathing

A migraine attack generally brings on a sort of anxiety attack in the sufferer. They know how much it's going to hurt so their heart rate increases. This increase in blood flow makes the problem worse. Once you've retreated to the quiet, dark area and covered your eyes from any possible stimuli then breathing is the next area to focus on. You must let your breathing relax. Panicked breathing will increase the pain you're already experiencing.

To allow your breathing to relax follow these steps:

1. Take a long slow deep breath and exhale equally slowly.

2. Again take a long, slow deep breath. As you're slowly inhaling focus on the sensation of the air filling your lungs. Feel the air filling your body. Once you've inhaled as much as is comfortable again exhale slowly. As you're exhaling focus on the sensation of the air leaving your lungs and escaping through your mouth. Breathe out completely.

3. Repeat the process of inhaling slowly, focusing on the sensation of the air filling your lungs and exhaling slowly 4 or 5 more times.

4. By the fourth repetition you should notice that your breathing is far more relaxed and calm. Your heart rate should now also have lowered back to a resting rate and you may even feel slightly sleepy. If so embrace that feeling and allow yourself to fall asleep.

Lavender Oil

This is the final step in the process. Lavender oil is renowned for its medicinal properties and this is doubly so for migraine headaches. Lavender oil is cheap and completely safe to use. Only use pure Lavender oil for treating migraines - lavender scented fragrances or scented oils are useless. It must be the purest lavender oil you can find.

If you feel a migraine attack coming then grab your lavender oil. Place a single drop of pure, undiluted lavender oil on each temple or behind each ear. Also place 2 or 3 drops of undiluted lavender oil on the pillow you're going to rest on.

Combined with a quiet, dark room and the deep breathing technique the lavender oil provides that final "punch" in the natural treatments. The scent of the oil will relax you and simply inhaling lavender infused air helps to ease the pain of a migraine almost immediately.

By Niall Roche

Do you ever find that you have become stressed out by all the pressures of life and don't know what to do?

Have you ever wished that you could find a way to reduce stress? The good news is that you can reduce stress in your life. Follow the four steps below to reduce stress:

1. The first step to reduce stress is to consider the things that annoy you the most.

A good way of identifying your main stressors is to keep a diary for two weeks.

Each day keep a list of the things that caused you tension or anxiety. Make a note of how, when and where those situations occurred. Consider what things continue to regularly cause you stress.

To help you to get started making your list here are some to the things that experts consider are the main causes of stress in our lives:

At the end of each day consider how you handled those stressors. Make a note of how you felt physically and emotionally, and think about whether your reaction improved the situation or made it worse. Consider what action you could have taken to improve situation and determine to take that action if a similar situation arises.

2. Meditate on positive things that happen each day

Take some time to look back over everything that you were grateful for today. This could include a delicious meal, an uplifting conversation with someone, a project that you've completed or anything that made you smile or laugh. Develop an attitude of gratitude - you'll feel much better.

3. Understand yourself better as a person.

Understanding yourself better as a person will help you to find and then eliminate the root causes of your problems. This will reduce stress and reduce mood swings resulting in a happier life.

4. Determine which things give you the most joy.

The beauty of your life is you choose who you want in it and what you want to do with it. To help you get started find a pen and sheet of paper and set aside some time, at least an hour, when you're likely to be undisturbed. Quieten your mind and meditate on the things that give you the most joy. Write down whatever comes into your mind and then go through your list and put them in an order of priority. Then do them. It could include visiting somewhere that you've always wanted to see or anything else that would bring you joy.

Conclusion

You can reduce stress in your life. Follow the four steps above and you will experience less stress and more fulfillment and happiness in your life. You will be able to remove the emotional problems that you are experiencing and that are stopping you from succeeding. You will find that life is no longer controlling you but you will be free to take control of your life.

The result is that you will feel happier and more fulfilled so what are you waiting for.

By Brett P Walker

The causes of teen depression are very similar to that of adult's depression. The death of a friend or family member, the death of a pet and loss of a relationship can all be catalysts for Depression. Feelings of guilt, failure, and worthlessness may also lead to Depression.

Abuse, chronic illnesses, and physical/learning disabilities can also cause depressive feelings.

Symptoms of teen Depression are also very similar to those of an adult. There may sleep or diet changes and withdrawal from friends, family, and favorite activities. Their moods may frequently change. Their self esteem is virtually non-existent and they may feel guilt, real or imagined. They can't make decisions, become overly sensitive to criticism. There is a pervasive sense of sadness about the teen who is depressed.

Treatments for teenage Depression can include medications known as anti-depressants.

These medications all work in different ways but are very effective. Unfortunately they also come with very serious side effects. A decision regarding medication can be made with the advice of your child's doctor. Children under the age of 21 should be monitored closely if they on antidepressants because they can cause your child to have suicidal thoughts.

Psychotherapy should be a part of the treatment plan. It can help your teen to learn different ways of solving problems and recognize and change negative thinking. It is important to find a psychiatrist and/or therapist that can develop a rapport with your child.

Part of treating a teen for depression is ruling out any physical causes. Hypothyroidism and Anemia can cause depressive feelings in teens. If nothing is found as physical symptom, other options for treatment should be explored.

Herbal Supplementation is an option with teens. They are all natural. They have few if any side effects. If your child is taking any other prescriptions for other conditions the herbal supplement may reduce the effectiveness of those medications

Conclusion

Treatments (for) teenage depression are very similar to adult treatments as are the causes of Depression. Help is available to you to help you help your teen. It is important that you let your teen know that you love them and that you are there for them. Monitor them closely when they are taking antidepressants because they can cause suicidal thoughts in children up to the age of 21. There is hope for your teen. Recovery is possible.

Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure, that is, the blood pressure is higher than normal or at an elevated state. Hypertension tends to affect the working age group that is often associated with high-stress conditions in the workplace. If hypertension is not controlled, those suffering may become a huge burden on the health system due to serious health problems. Hypertension is classified into two types, primary and secondary. Primary hypertension is high blood pressure that shows no specific cause. However, certain diet drugs can be suspect. Hypertension is not caused by tension or stress, even though some believe it is. Secondary hypertension may be the result of an underlying or dormant disorder. It is estimated to affect more than 50 million Americans and is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular and renal disease. It is also a leading cause of stroke, heart disease and kidney failure.

Hypertension can exist in several different forms and symptoms do not appear until it is severely high. It is common in older people and is widely associated with vascular dysfunction in the coronary circulation. When there is excessive pressure against the blood vessel walls and persist over several weeks to months, hypertension is diagnosed. Pressure inside the eye causes both retinopathy and ocular complications. Hypertension can be a serious condition since it can cause damage to many body organs including the kidneys, eyes and heart, among others.

Hypertension is the single most autonomous and important risk for cardiovascular disease, as well as congestive heart failure and even kidney failure. Other factors credited to hypertension are high salt intake, obesity and genetic vulnerability. It can continue for years and not be detected due to lack of symptoms, unless damage has occurred. It is a medical condition that can be a symptom of a dormant disease. The worst effects of hypertension are on the heart, kidneys, eyes and brain. Hypertension is a leading cause of deaths in adults, is a major health care problem and is the single most significant contributor to stroke, one of the biggest killer diseases known to man.

Shortness of breath upon exertion is the most common symptom of pulmonary hypertension and virtually everyone who has the condition develops it. Symptoms may include mild fatigue, dizzy spells, fainting, rapid heartbeat, ankle or leg swelling, bloating, tremors, stooped posture, slowness of movement as well as muscle rigidity. Primary pulmonary hypertension is found two times more often in women as men over age thirty-five. During pregnancy, primary hypertension may be most responsive to dietary calcium.

Diagnosis is by physical examination and renal imaging or measuring the blood pressure. Just about every physical examination includes checking the patient's blood pressure. A doctor may suspect pulmonary hypertension in people who have an underlying lung disorder. Portal hypertension is implied by the presence of known chronic liver disease such as enlarged spleen.

Treatment varies according to the stage of the disease. Hypertension is controllable with treatment, which may require periodic adjustment. The treatment is often associated with weight loss and increased exercise, but a doctor should be consulted even in cases of pre-hypertension. Hypertension is a very serious condition and should be taken seriously by both patient and doctor. It is commonly treated with drugs that decrease cardiac output and controlled with medications, dietary and lifestyle changes such as giving up smoking, lowering cholesterol and salt intake and exercising on a regular basis. Treatment of patients with primary hypertension is usually directed at the underlying disease. Treatment of high blood pressure significantly reduces the risk of heart problems and stroke. Opening the obstructed renal artery, with or without a stent, usually relieves hypertension.

Some patients may experience excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, morning dry mouth or headaches, chronic nasal obstruction, irritability, depression or impotence. Patients with a diabetic nerve injury will improve if their diabetes is better controlled. Those patients that are overweight, have high stress levels and high intake of caffeine or alcohol, smoke or do not exercise regularly must change their lifestyles to decrease the risk for hypertension. Patients who experience extreme dips in blood pressure at night and extreme surges in the morning, as a rule, stay in the hospital overnight to quickly resume normal activities.

Alcoholism has a number of definitions, depending on who is defining it. To those who witness it firsthand, it seems like a form of escalating madness. Even within the medical community there are differing viewpoints about alcoholism. Psychiatrists may focus on the psychological components of alcoholism and an alcoholic's interaction with life and society. Other doctors may view alcoholism purely as a physical addiction and choose to treat it with drugs. Usually both approaches are used, particularly with advanced alcoholism. Various political and religious groups may choose to view alcoholism in a different light. Due to the failure of prohibition few politicians would condone a return to it, however even today some jurisdictions do limit public drinking to maintain public order.

The abuse of alcohol is probably as old as agriculture, when human beings first made alcohol. Some people believe that alcohol production became a way of purifying water. This would have protected early humans from the risks associated with catching intestinal parasites from drinking water.

Some human genes seem to cause some individuals to fail at producing chemicals within their brains that alcohol can mimic. This is what is meant when an individual is considered to have a genetic vulnerability to alcohol addiction. There have been several genes identified that are linked to this vulnerability.

Although there may be a genetic vulnerability to alcohol abuse in some people, few experts on the subject would consider genetics to be the sole cause of alcoholism. The social groups that the individual belongs to and the culture within those groups in relation to drinking, may also have an impact on the drinker. These social groups would also include relatives. It may be difficult to separate a genetic vulnerability and a tendency in some families to drink on a variety of occasions and maybe frequently. To say it runs in the family may not be identifying much in terms of exact causes.

There seems to be ample evidence to suggest that social behaviors of some groups, as well as psychological vulnerabilities of some people, can contribute to the development of alcoholism. The vulnerability of an individual may be enhanced by poor emotional health. Emotional health can be effected both by external events in an individual's life and by their personal reaction to these events. Examples could be unhappy employment or job loss, the decay of or loss of a romantic relationship, or even health problems. Part of the issue is the problem itself, but a portion of the responsibility lies with how the individual chooses to cope with the problem.

The damage to the body, brain, social life and finances of an alcoholic can be devastating in the long run. The longer that the alcoholism goes on, the greater the resulting damage will be. With exception to drinking and driving convictions, modern societies have no mechanism to compel an alcoholic to seek treatment - regardless of how much damage they've done to their lives.

Cures for alcoholism always carry with them the potential of failure; a percentage of alcoholics will always start to drink again. Some organizations, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, favor complete abstinence. Others recognize that some renewed drinking, as long as it is moderate, is not necessarily a failure.

Grappling with alcoholism is a life long struggle for those who suffer from it. Unfortunately those who wrestle with this illness may suffer considerable damage before summoning the resolve to attempt recovery. Science and medicine continue to make advances in coping with alcoholism, but the real effort is in the life and resolve of each alcoholic trying to get better.

By Michael Russell