When most people think of addictive behaviors, they picture drug abuse or alcohol addiction, but for addictive personalities almost anything can be habit forming. The psychology of addiction is complex and kind of twisted, but it is a reality for millions of people world wide. For these poor, unfortunate souls, every day is a struggle. People who suffer from addictive behavior get rid of one bad habit only to fall for another one.
Alcohol and drug rehab is often the start of changing a life paralyzed by addictive behaviors. The first thing is to break out of your current addiction. A treatment center is really the best way to start doing this. Through meditation, a healthy diet, daily exercise and a variety of other tricks, most people can get past an initial drug habit and become clean and sober. With addictive behaviors, that is only the start of the problem.
The big problem is that it is quite easy to fall back into your addictive behaviors as soon as you are out of the treatment program. Anyone can stay drug free when they are being treated and supervised by doctors who help them to stay on a strict schedule. Having the strong will and the wherewithal to stay with it when you are on your own is another thing altogether.
The best thing to do is to find some higher power. There has to be something at the core that you can cling tightly too when you feel lost in temptation. For a lot of people, this higher power is God. If you feel like God is watching you all the time, it might be a lot easier to stay clean and sober. I know that it has made a big difference for me. Whether I am being watched by doctors in the clinic or God in heaven, I have little problem staying sober. It is only when I feel like I am alone that the psychology of addiction gets the best of me again.
Having a support group of some sort is every bit as important as having religious faith, if not more. Whether you go to narcotics anonymous or simply have a family who is there to look after you, a supportive community will make a huge difference. We all feel weak now and again. Those are the times when it is most important to be vigilant in your fight against addictive behaviors.
posted in Comfort, Disease, Medical |
Parents who have a child diagnosed within the autism spectrum of disorders are hard pressed to find treatments that actually work. There are a number of different approaches but only a few have proved to be effective in the successful treatments for autism and related pervasive developmental disorders. Two successful approaches are Applied Behavioral Analysis and sensory integration.
Autistic disorder is a relatively new disorder as far as diagnostic classification is concerned. The condition first appears as an actual diagnosis in the 1980’s. Autistic disorder is one of five pervasive developmental disorders that have emerged on the diagnostic scene in the past three decades. There is little wonder that treatments for autism are still in development.
Autism was previously lumped in with mental retardation. The two conditions are very different. Treatments for autism are vastly different from treatments for mental retardation. Unfortunately, many people still look at pervasive developmental disorders in the same light as mental retardation.
One significant method among the various treatments for autism is Applied Behavioral Analysis. In a nutshell, this approach breaks tasks down into small steps. The student is given a direction or command and if he gives the appropriate response, he is immediately rewarded with something that is very motivating for him. This helps the child know which response to repeat. For example, many therapists begin with a “come sit†at the table command. The therapist uses as few words as possible so there is less information to process. If the child sits at the table, he gets praise, a treat or a game. The reward system is prevalent is most treatments for autism.
Sensory integration is often rewarding in itself. This is one of the most popular treatments for autism simply because it is enjoyable. Autistic individuals have difficulty processing some sensory information. Basically, they don’t know what to block out and what to absorb so their senses can become overwhelmed. A child may have difficulty processing movement because his system is blocking out the information he needs. When sensory integration is used as treatments for autism it helps the child process motion by engaging him in activities like swinging or spinning. These activities help him focus on movement. They also prove to be enjoyable for the therapist and for the child.
Applied Behavior Analysis is a wonderful tool for teaching appropriate behavior like eye contact and waiting turns. Sensory integration is a wonderful tool for teaching a child how to navigate through his environment. Together, these treatments for autism have helped many autistic children function to their greatest capacity.
posted in Children, Disease, Health, Medical |