Drug Addiction and PTSD

More than half of all people dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder also have drug or alcohol problems. The high percentage of war veterans dealing with PTSD makes treatment of related drug and alcohol problems vital.

People dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) see their mental health issue manifest itself into other problems. One of the most common issues that people who suffer from PTSD deal with is drug and alcohol addiction. Many people who wind up in a drug addiction center have suffered from a significant trauma at some point in their lives and use drugs and alcohol to dull the pain and mask their memories.

Recent research into PTSD and drug addiction supports the belief that there is a connection between the two disorders. A 2006 study suggested that more than half of all people with PTSD have an alcohol problem while 35 percent of all PTSD sufferers also abuse drugs. This research has been supported by other studies which have uncovered data which points to a similar connection between PTSD and addiction.

Unfortunately, the number of patients who show signs of PTSD while entering a rehab center is growing. A major reason for this is the high number of veterans returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan who have witnessed traumatic events and are dealing with PTSD. For some patients, this can be combined with physical injuries to lead to prescription drug abuse - a doctor at the VA Hospital in San Diego recently said that one in 50 recent war veterans are addiction to prescription pills.

Even for returning war veterans without physical wounds, the emotional scars of war can be too much and push them to the type of substance abuse that ends with them in drug rehab. Of course, PTSD doesn’t just impact returning soldiers — any person who has gone through a traumatic, life-changing event can experience PTSD. People dealing with PTSD can often be detached from their friends and family and deal with bouts of irrational rage and distress. This can lead to them using drugs or abusing alcohol as a way to “numb the pain” they have dealt with and lead them to a dangerous addiction which requires a visit in drug and alcohol treatment.

When people with PTSD are in an addiction program, it’s important for them to receive treatment for all of their issues. However, this does not mean that the treatment has to take place independently of each other. Many therapists and drug treatment counselors are turning to a more holistic approach which encourages dealing with all of the related issues at the same time in order to bring more rapid and long-lasting closure to PTSD symptoms and related drug and alcohol addiction problems.

Why Addiction treatment works?

Addicts and non-addicts often hear the phrase ‘alcohol rehab center’ used in the movies, amongst friends and in the news as well these days but keep their opinions (either cynical or positive) to themselves. Truth be told, it has become a method by which celebrities get attention but the thing is that it works well for those who really need the treatment.

For one, addiction treatment should not take a one size fits all approach as each patient comes with their unique reasons for addiction even though the drugs taken can be the same. Of course, the root cause of the addiction is determined through counseling, and therefore, the patient is put into a program that caters just to what he needs.

A fully equipped drug rehab center understands the importance of being caring but firm with the addicts in question, while keeping in mind that the process of de-addiction might not be comfortable for the patient but will help him to recover well enough to function normally as productive member of society once the period of aftercare begins.

Take for example, Cirque Lodge, which is located in the Rock Mountains (Sundance, Utah) and is away from the hustle and bustle of city life as well as the dangers of addiction. Once an addict spends time there, resisting drugs when they come back to the real world becomes easier.

Good Soy or Bad Soy

Vegans and health enthusiasts depend on soy consumption for their protein supply, but more and more people are recognizing the hazards of soy over its benefits. First, take a look at soy-based infant formula, which is an alternative for babies who cannot tolerate animal milk. Apparently, a recent study showed evidence that these soy-based formulas for infants actually contributed to low immune systems, and thus more frequent infections and diseases among babies given this type of formula.

The Proceedings of the National Academy of Science published an article in May 2002 to question the real deal about soy. In an experiment, researchers injected test mice with soy daidzein and isoflavones and the result was decreased thymic weight, or shrinking of the thymus gland. What is the relevance of this? The thymus gland has a lot to do with immune system responses, and if it atrophies or shrinks, it means, it won’t be able to do a good job of protecting the infant from diseases or infections. In fact, Naomi Baumslag, a Clinical professor of Pediatrics at the Georgetown University Medical College, encourages parents to breastfeed instead of resorting to soy-based infant formulas.

Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Georgetown University Medical College, Naomi Baumslag, an expert on breast feeding, explains numerous reasons for parents to avoid soy infant formula: According to the professor, soy contains excessive amounts of phytoestrogens, manganese, lectins, enzyme inhibitors and phytic acid. These substances can also be found in legumes and grains which are frequently eaten in third world countries where wheat and rice are too expensive. These substances block zinc and iron absorption, so the effect is malnutrition and disorders caused by nutrient deficiencies.

    Another link to hereditary obesity a new study has…

    Another link to hereditary obesityA new study has brought startling facts to light. Omega fatty acids have long been touted as substances that the body needs. In fact Omega 6 and Omega 3 are recommended as critical substances for good health as they are polyunsaturated fatty acids. But according to the study, imbalances in the intake of these substances can have undesired results.An excess of the Omega 6 in relation to Omega 3 can cause your children to have weight problems. The study tracked the ratios of these fatty acids that are consumed in Western Europe and America and discovered alarming news. In Western Europe the ratio has climbed to 15 to 1 from 5 to 1 and in America it has climbed to 40 to 1. When an analysis of breast milk was conducted in America, it turned out that it contained a ratio of 18 to 1 whereas the old ratio was 6 to 1.Gerard Ailhaud, a biochemist and lead researcher of the study, said that the study proves that Omega 6 was a fat producing bomb. The study could offer a solution as to why obesity has spread far and wide in richer nations across the globe. It could also explain why America’s population has faced an exponential growth in obesity.The study was mainly based on tests that were carried out on four generations of mice. They were fed a diet which mirrored the ratio of Omega fatty acids found in developed countries.