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Informative Articles

An Introduction to Bach Flower Essences Part II – The Seven Helpers
The 12-7-19 Method of Bach Flower Classification Dr. Edward Bach, developer of flower essence therapy, classified the original 38 essences he used in his practice according to the 12-7-19 method: the Twelve Healers, the Seven Helpers, and the...

DEA Busts 4600 Online Pharmacies: A Word of Caution
Copyright 2005 David Altfeder In September 2005, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) shut down more than 4600 illegal online pharmacy web sites and arrested 18 people who ran those sites. The illegal pharmacies shipped a range of...

Does Your Life Lack Meaning?
Vera sought out counseling with me because her doctor advised her to discover the emotional causes of her chronic fatigue. Vera, a successful stockbroker, was in a loving 18-year marriage. On the surface, everything in her life was fine. She had...

Drug Addiction Treatment Centers: A Fresh Start
You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the resource box is included, and you do not take credit as the author. You must send a courtesy copy of your publication or a website link to,...

Giving Up In Dealing With Your Fears Is Not An Option
Your fears, anxieties, and other problems have the best of you and you don't know where to turn for help. At some point you feel totally helpless as you struggle each day. What do you do? As a layman and an author of a Managing Fear book, there...

Join a Support Group and Reduce Your Stress Levels
When you are facing a particularly difficult time in your life, whether it's because you're struggling with an addiction, or perhaps because someone you love is an addict, or if you are finding life hard because you have just been diagnosed with a...

Stop Patching Yourself Together
Have there been times in your life when you have resorted to quick fixes like chemical patches or pills to help you stop overeating, smoking, or other similar addictions that are ruining your health? If you are like me, you have discovered that...

The Real Truth about your Sweet Tooth
Question: My mom always said my sweet-tooth was to blame for my weight problem (I can't seem to lose weight!), but my best friend says I should listen to my body and eat whatever I want because it knows what I need. I'm not sure what to do! Does...

The Role Self-Love Plays in Operating a Successful Business, Part 2
We ended Part 1 with two questions: If self-love is so crucial to building a healthy self-esteem and helping us to be happy, what prevents more of us from deepening our self-love? What keeps so many of us stuck in painful, hurtful, sad...

To Diet or not to Diet, that should be the question!
To Diet Or Not To Diet? That Should Be The Question! Diet information is everywhere. In advertisements, on TV, in magazines; the bookstores are crammed with books on many different diet options - The South Beach Diet, The Atkins Diet, Weight...

 
 
 
Self Medicating and Your Anxiety

Self Medicating and Your Anxiety

This article is going to talk about self medication with street drugs. Let's first take a look at the street drugs that people commonly use, specifically pot and alcohol. Marijuana is commonly used by itself or in combination with alcohol. Pot can give you a calming effect after it is inhaled. Depending on the amount and strength it can also have the opposite effect on your physical health. Increased respirations and heart rate can be expected. Mentally, pot use can lead to psychological dependence, paranoia, which in turn can lead to extreme levels of anxiety. The whole idea of engaging in an illegal activity can increase your anxiety and keep it there as long as you are involved in this activity. Getting caught with dope, getting arrested and jailed can increase your anxiety. Does this all sound like common sense? Well yes it is, you don't need a PHD in psychology to figure this out. Prolonged stress leads to anxiety and it is inevitable it will happen. Think back to when you did something you said you would never do. Likely you had feelings of guilt, worry and that physical rush (pounding heart, inability to concentrate, increased breathing), to conclude this is another reason to stay away from street drugs, it just a poor choice. See how long you can put your body and mind through this and I can guarantee it won't be long before you are leading a tough battle fighting anxiety not to mention the physical damage you are putting your body through. Sure we always hear about how safe pot is

 


and that it should be legalized, but for an anxiety sufferer or someone dealing with mental health issues it's a devastating choice. Now let's take a look at alcohol and your mental health. In small amounts (1 drink per day) studies have shown alcohol to be beneficial to your general health, but there is a fine line and not everyone can drink alcohol on a daily basis without having physical damage to your body or a psychological problem in the form of an addiction. When first consumed, alcohol acts like a mild stimulant. You may feel euphoric and energetic. As we consume more our body cannot process the alcohol as quickly as we consume it. As the amount increases it begins to depress body systems which ultimately can lead to coma and death. Long term use of alcohol damages organs in the body, creates family issues, employment problems that can lead to poor mental health. Without treating these addictions you will never be able to control your anxiety. Alcohol will make you depressed and lazy. It will make you make excuses for your behavior. Alcohol use will hurt people you love but will mask your guilt and shame. If you have an addiction get treated for it. Stop making excuses and being in denial, you are only putting off the inevitable, a long hard life of mental health and physical problems. Written by Psychiatric Nurse Web Publisher for the site www.anxietyhelponline.com December 20/2005

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Written by Psychiatric Nurse Web Publisher for the site http://www.anxietyhelponline.com December 20/2005