Alcohol and Anxiety
Alcohol Related Anxiety Alcohol and Anxiety are closely linked. We have all heard the line “I need a drink”. This line is often used by people who are high strung, who might have had a bad day, and they need something to relax themselves. Alcohol is an anti-anxiety agent. A very effective anti-anxiety agent. For …
Alcohol Withdrawal: Shakes
Alcohol Shakes A classic sign or symptom of Alcohol Withdrawal is the alcohol shakes. Alcohol shakes can occur a number of hours after the last drink of alcohol. Members of the healthcare profession refer to the shakes as tremors. Alcohol Shakes or tremors can be a mild to moderate sign of alcohol withdrawal or can …
As Another Bill Sees it, Musings….
Sobriety for an alcoholic or addict is not possible without healthy connections. Trust is a two-way street. We expect the person suffering from an addictive disease to be upfront about their use, to be truthful. We rarely ask ourselves, why should this person trust us to tell the truth? I believe most clients suffering from …
Not Leaving Las Vegas
The film starring Nicholas Cage, Leaving Las Vegas, about a chronic alcoholic who makes a decision to drink himself to death is a lasting impression about Las Vegas, Nevada and the futility of alcohol treatment. I’m not leaving Las Vegas, in fact I am going to Las Vegas! Going to Las Vegas to assist an …
Psychological Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Psychological Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms; Physical symptoms and emotional symptoms. A person dependent on alcohol will have physical withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms were pretty well covered in a previous post and we can revisit them. I wanted to talk about other symptoms that can be classified as either “physical” or “psychological”. When we make a decision to …
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A Lesson Learned: Never Give up Hope
Are some cases hopeless, or should we always have hope? Sandy was coming in again. She was being admitted to the dual diagnosis unit at the psychiatric hospital where I was employed. I knew Sandy well. She had thirty-eight (38) previous alcohol detoxes documented at this hospital. Thirty-Eight! And that was just at this hospital, imagine …
As Another Bill Sees it: Slips / Relapses
It is rare for an alcoholic or drug abuser to maintain sobriety the first time they make the attempt. Bill Wilson speaks about this in the following quote. “”About this slip business — I would not be too discouraged. I think you are suffering a great deal from a needless guilt. For some reason or …
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Hope for Everyone
A well known actress has “tweeted” her fans to acknowledge she has failed a drug test, thus violating terms of probation. A well known celebrity has made a plea deal to avoid jail or prison time for her recent escapades in Las Vegas. In both these situations, I find hope. The actress, in her tweet, …
Campral (Acamprosate) For Alcohol Craving
Acamprosate is the generic drug name of Campral. Campral is one of the few drugs approved to treat alcoholism. Campral is used to decrease the likelihood of alcohol relapse. All medications that are approved for alcohol related disorders have the caveat that the medication must be used in conjunction with other non-drug related therapies (psychotherapy, …
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Celebrity going to Jail for DUI of Marijuana
There is a report today that a celebrity in England, with a history of addiction treatment, has been found guilty of driving under the influence of Marijuana when he crashed into a storefront. He was sentenced to prison and will end up spending at least four weeks in jail. I had a recent discussion with …
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