Stop Destructive Self-Talk From Killing You!

Stress. Depression. Anxiety. They’re powerful words that conjure up all kinds of images and prejudices in our minds.
People who suffer from these illnesses find it hard to cope with life. They can feel deeply unhappy, they can find no joy in anything life has to offer, and of course, their levels of self-esteem, confidence and self-respect plummet.
But how can this happen to someone?

Let’s concentrate on how these illnesses affect the way we value the self. Of all of the destructive patterns of behavior these illnesses cause, the way a sufferer talks to the self is the fuel that maintains their illness.

I have experienced depression from two sides. For 5 years, a series of traumatic events triggered a personal nightmare I believed would never end. One of these events came when my lover was diagnosed with depression. At this time, I too had entered into the spiral of anxiety-induced depression. Both of these experiences have given me an insight into how sufferers destroy any value of the self.

Let me give a couple of examples. With my partner, if I’d arranged an evening out with friends, she’d say:

"No, I won’t come, you go without me. I never have anything interesting to say. I just bore people. They’ll find me an effort to be with. I’ll stay here."

If I made a mistake, I’d say to myself:

"I’m useless. I’m no good at anything. Everything I do I get wrong."

This self-deprecation then spreads into other areas of life.
You begin to criticize the way you look, the decisions you make or don’t make, and you focus solely on the downside of life. Each time a little bit of self-worth, a little bit of self-respect and a little bit of self-confidence are eroded.
Eventually, they are lost completely. When I reached my lowest point, having lost everything and everyone I loved, I’d say to myself:

"If I died tomorrow, no one would know and no one would care."
So, what helped me to come out of the fog?

Well, the reason I thought I’d become depressed was because of a series of traumatic events occurring at the same time.
I was wrong. The root cause of my depression lay in the ways I reacted to them. One of the ways I’d reacted was to blame myself for events I couldn’t control. The more I blamed myself, the more I beat myself up. The more I beat myself up, the more my self-esteem decreased.

The phrases I have used to briefly illustrate self- deprecating phrases we continually use against the self are mild. I’m sure you realize that many people use much stronger phrases than I’ve given here. The point is that these phrases would be totally unacceptable to say to others. You wouldn’t tell a person that they were boring, an effort to be with and that everyone found their company dull and it would be better for everyone else if they kept away from people.

Agreed?

Yet, if I say to people:

"Pay yourself compliments. Accentuate your good in all areas of your life. Write down your good points, your triumphs, your achievements. Remind yourself as often as possible about all the good you have done."

They look at me like I’m an alien and say they’d feel stupid. Or uncomfortable. Or even embarrassed.

Yet they don’t feel any of these emotions when they talk to themselves using emotionally charged, self-deprecating phrases! And like rust upon metal, these phrases gradually erode your self-esteem and your confidence.

OK, here’s the bottom-line. I’d like you to inscribe what you are about to read into your mind over and over again until it is permanently etched there:

It is NEVER acceptable to talk to myself in a way I know is inappropriate and even offensive if I spoke in the same way to others.

Time for me to sign off, but before I do, here’s a phrase I say to myself every single day without fail. Please use it, it is very powerful:

"If you put yourself down, down is where you will stay."

Drug Rehab

A Drug is any substance that is taken to suppress an unwanted condition. Extremely chronic or habitual use of such substances to alter states of mind or body, other than for a medically wanted purpose, is called drug abuse.

The inappropriate use of drugs is drug abuse. There are many illegal drugs on the market, which are potential sources of drug addiction. These may be classified into Narcotics, Depressants, sedatives, stimulants and steroids.

All kinds of drugs can be abused, including illegal drugs (Cocaine, heroin), prescription drugs (tranquilizers or pain killers) and off-the-shelf medicines like cough mixtures.

Anabolic steroids are abused by athletes and sportsmen to build up their bodies. Nicotine in cigarettes and caffeine in coffee can be abused. Narcotics include morphine, opium, heroin and methadone.

Depressants are alcohol, barbiturates and sedatives.

Stimulants are drugs such as Cocaine, and amphetamines, hallucinogens and marijuana.

An individual is said to be addicted when he becomes physically and mentally dependent on any of these drugs and experiences withdrawal symptoms when the drug usage is stopped or reduced.

Drug Rehab is the umbrella term given to the process of medical and psychotherapeutic treatment for abusers of illegal and prescription drugs. Most Drug Rehab programs teach patients to interact in a drug-free environment. They are asked to avoid the company of others substance abusers.

Drug Rehab is sometimes a part of the criminal justice system. Persons convicted of minor drug offenses are sometimes sent to Rehab centers instead of prison. The treatment of drug addicts has two major areas--behavioral therapies and medical therapies. Behavioral therapy includes counseling and family support, and medical therapy is administering certain drugs to counteract withdrawal symptoms.

The drug treatment program consists of different methods according to the needs of different persons. The first step is Detoxification, when the individual is systematically withdrawn from addictive drugs, overseen by a doctor who takes care of the physiological effects. After this there is a choice of various programs according to the severity of the problem.

An outpatient drug-free treatment program consists of individual and group counseling and no medication. Short-term residential programs have a 3-6 week inpatient treatment that resembles the 12-step program of groups like Narcotics Anonymous. After this, the patient joins an outpatient program or a self-help group.

Therapeutic communities provide 24-hour care in a non-hospital setting. Patients stay for 6-12 months in a highly structured program. They are usually long-term addicts with highly impaired social functioning. There are also Maintenance programs for certain drugs like heroin to stop withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and use alternate drug (methadone) therapy.

In sum, Drug Rehab must aim at rebuilding the life of the drug addict. This is possible only by educating the addict and his family through psychotherapy. Through Drug Rehab programs tailored to their needs, drug abusers can learn to control their conditions and live normal, productive lives.

Home Drug Testing

Home Drug Testing: Important Things to Know When Using an At-home Drug Test Kit

Sometimes recovering addicts want to prove to their family or friends that they are not using drugs. Many turn to at-home drug testing kits, which are easy to use and provide immediate information. Proving that you are clean is a very important issue and you want to make sure your drug test provides accurate results. Here are some tips to help you make the best choice:
Choose a Test That Has Been FDA-Cleared

There are lots of home drug-testing kits on the market, but many of them are not FDA-cleared. The FDA reviews performance data to assure that the drug test meets current standards for accuracy and reliability. Tests that are not cleared by the FDA may not meet current laboratory standards. If the FDA has not reviewed a drug test product, consumers cannot be assured that the results of that drug test are as accurate as with an FDA-cleared test such as First Check Home Drug Testing Kits.
Types of At-Home Drug Testing Kits

There are many home drug testing kits available. Most are based on urine samples or saliva. There are kits that test for a single drug including amphetamines drug tests, barbiturates drug tests, cocaine drug tests, marijuana (thc) drug tests, meth drug tests and opiate (heroin) drug tests.
You can also get at-home drug test kits for panels of drugs. Combinations range from 2-panel drug tests for marijuana and cocaine to 12-panel drug tests for marijuana, cocaine, opiates (heroin), meth, Ecstasy, amphetamines, PCP, benzo's, barbiturates, methadone, tricyclic antidepressants, and Oxycodone.
How to Collect a Urine Sample for Testing
It is vital that you follow the directions on the at-home drug testing kit exactly. Be sure to fill the urine cup to the recommended level. Usually the results appear after a specified number of minutes. Wait the specified time to read results. Typically, results are not valid after the time limit.
Understand the Limits of Drug Test Results

Accuracy of a drug test depends on a variety of factors, including how soon the test is administered after ingestion of the drug and the amount of drug in the system relative to the cutoff concentrations levels (i.e. established minimum levels).

Some drugs stay in the system longer than others. Drugs like coke and meth stay in the system up to 2-4 days while PCP stays in the body 7-14 days. Heavy marijiana users may still test positive up to 40 days after the last time used.

False positives may result in the case of testing for amphetamines, if you drink a lot of caffeinated beverages or take cold medications containing pseudoephedrine. Other over-the-counter and prescription drugs may also react with various drug tests. It is important to read all information with the home drug testing kit so you are aware of what may cause false positives.