"We make a living by what we get. But
we make a life by what we give." Winston Churchill
One of the basic psychological needs of all human
beings is the need to feel acceptance from others. It feels good to
believe we have a place to belong, a place to fit in and be productive.
At times, fear gets in the way of our getting this basic need met in a
healthy manner. It is the fear of rejection that makes us afraid to
give of ourselves. The person who is reluctant to share at a meeting or
really open up with their counselor may be holding back because of this
fear. When we share, we reveal who we are and what we have done, and
where we want to go next. This kind of opening up and being vulnerable
to others is scary. We think we are inadequate and if others knew the
truth, there is no way they would have anything to do with us. So, we
clam up. Or, we can actually be a bit arrogant and have such a grand
and inflated self-image that we cannot possibly live up to it in
reality. Deep down, we know that others know the truth, so we clam up
or we just talk and talk without really saying anything or sharing the
truth.
Smoking May Hinder Recovery
A new study suggests that smoking may interfere
with the brain's ability to recover from the effects of chronic alcohol
abuse. Researchers found that after one month of sobriety, recovering
alcoholics who smoked showed much less improvement in brain function
and brain health than those who did not smoke. Comparing the brains of
alcoholics who smoke with those who do not, the researchers used a form
of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), called spectroscopic imaging, to
measure two markers of brain cell function and health. The scans showed
that after one month of abstinence from alcohol, significant positive
increases were found in both the markers of brain function and health.
However, the researchers did not find the same pattern or magnitude of
recovery in recovering alcoholics who smoked. In fact, they found a
decrease in some of these indicators of brain cell health and function
in areas of the brain that deal with sensory processing and
manipulating objects. Tests of the participants' brain function,
including learning and memory, attention and concentration, and overall
processing speed also revealed that nonsmokers' increases in these
markers were associated with improvement in function. Researchers say
these results are preliminary and further study is needed to confirm
these results. If those results are confirmed, smoking cessation may
need to be added to the treatment plan for recovering alcoholics.
With humility and acceptance comes the
willingness to give what we have of ourselves right now, without
waiting until we are more eloquent or more accomplished, or more of
anything. What we have to share is what someone else may need to
receive. By focusing more on the needs of others and less on our fears
and games, and ego, we learn to give without reluctance or hidden
agendas.
--Rick B.
Meth Linked to Increase in Risky Sex, Disease
Crystal meth abuse and Internet "hook-ups" are fueling risky
sexual behavior, contributing to an increase in syphilis cases in
Atlanta and other cities, according to federal officials. While
gonorrhea has fallen to record lows, syphilis and chlamydia are on the
rise, posing serious health threats to men and women. In 2004, Atlanta
had the second-highest rate of syphilis, after San Francisco. Atlanta
reported 283 cases of syphilis or a rate of 34.6 cases per 100,000
people. The national rate is 2.7 cases per 100,000. While progress has
been made in preventing, diagnosing, and treating sexually transmitted
infections in recent years, health officials said several factors could
explain the upward spiral of both infections, after declining. Reported
increases of chlamydia, which can cause ectopic pregnancies and
infertility in women, may be a result of better detection and
awareness. Rate of sexually transmitted infections have historically
been highest in the Southeast. Mississippi, Louisiana, and South
Carolina have the highest gonorrhea rates in the new report. The states
with the highest rates of chlamydia are Mississippi, Alaska, and
Louisiana. Among cities, Detroit and St. Louis lead in both categories.
The Center for Disease Control research shows that methamphetamine
abuse and meeting sexual partners on the Internet are contributing to
the rise in the rate
of both syphilis and chlamydia. Both behaviors
lead to risky sex. Many STI's have silent symptoms and remain
undiagnosed. That, in addition to the lack of adequate testing, leads
researchers to estimate there are about 19 million STI infections each
year, almost half of them among people ages 15-24. It is estimated that
75% of those who are currently infected with a sexually transmitted
infection or disease do not know they are infected.
adapted from Cox News Service
HIV Testing Offered
Almost every Friday, a member of the HEI
department from the Greater Dallas Counsel on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
are here to offer free HIV testing. The test is called
"OraQuick Advance". The test is based on saliva and you get your
results in 20 minutes. The test is 99% accurate. All you do is come in
and asked to be tested.
Guilt and Shame
If guilt had a voice, it would say, You made a
mistake! If shame had a voice, it would say, You are a
mistake! Which voice are you hearing? Why not make an appointment with
your counselor to talk about what ever is on your mind and how your
recovery can be better?
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How many times can you hit a 700 pound gorilla in
the head with a bat? Once!…said the gorilla.
Dr. Candace McDaniel
8021 East R.L. Thornton Fwy, Suite A
Dallas, Texas 75228