Understanding Substance Abuse in Women

Substance abuse affects men and women differently. Though men are more likely to get addicted to drugs or alcohol, women are more susceptible to suffering from its medical, social and legal consequences. Compared to men, women use these substances for different reasons and respond differently to them. Simply put, when it comes to abusing harmful substances and understanding their effects, gender does play an important role.

Many women also start abusing substances after being introduced to them via a partner or a friend. In addition to citing socio-economic pressures like gender bias in terms of salary and familial responsibilities, some women turn to substances for weight management issues as well. For instance, there are more women who smoke nicotine to keep their weight under control.

In addition to using addictive substances differently, their response is peculiar too. For example, as women are more likely to suffer from chronic pain and be prescribed more painkillers, they can quickly become dependent on prescription drugs than men with increased chances of doctor shopping, overdose and suicide. As per national statistics, overdose from prescription painkillers continues to be the most under-recognized and growing problem among women.

Women exposed to higher risks

Some of the issues that may lead to women abusing drugs or alcohol may include physical/sexual abuse, childhood trauma, stress and the inability to cope, socio-economic concerns and mental health issues. As a result, substance use disorders (SUD) may manifest differently in women. For instance, in addition to causing an addiction and painful withdrawal symptoms, it can impact a woman's reproductive cycle, create complications during pregnancy and even lead to an early onset of menopause. There's also a greater risk of an infant being born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a condition characterized by a set of problems when babies are exposed to drugs in the womb. While men can externalize their stress in the form of aggression and anger, women are more likely to internalize it leading to mental health disorders like anxiety and depression.

Women also tend to be more sensitive to the effects of drugs or alcohol for biological reasons. For instance, as compared to men, women achieve higher concentration of alcohol in their blood and become impaired quickly. They are also vulnerable to alcohol-related organ damage and trauma resulting from alcohol-related violence than their counterparts. Heavy drinking by females exposes them to the risk of breast cancer as well besides leading to other complications like heart disease and brain damage.

Need-specific diagnosis and treatment

Since there are many differences between men and women in terms of cause and effect, substance abuse treatment for women should address their unique needs, incorporate approaches that recognize the gender differences, provide additional support to mothers and use effective, evidence-based treatment for pregnant women. Stigma surrounding drug and alcohol addiction causes a significant barrier in seeking treatment, which should be taken into account as well. Women's role as mothers, caregivers and family role models add to their burden that can dissuade many from seeking professional help and improving their health.

One of the effective ways to deal with SUDs is to understand the reasons and the risk factors involved. Research indicates that as compared to men, women are less likely to get treatment due to the fear of losing friends or family, fear of embarrassment or shame or the fear of being punished by the authorities. There also needs to be ample community support to help them access health care services as early as possible. In addition to providing child care, family services and good prenatal care, there should also be an increased focus on increasing women's engagement in care. The treatment programs should incorporate one-to-one counseling or therapy, access to support groups as well as aftercare programs to help them achieve sobriety and avoid relapse.

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Dealing With Loved Ones Having a Drinking Problem

Alcohol is a highly addictive substance, which leads to consequences that are not limited to the alcoholics alone, but also affects the ones around them. Acknowledging the fact that a loved one has a drinking problem is a challenging task, giving rise to several unpleasant emotions, such as irritation, frustration, shame, anger and self-blame.

Many times, people ignore the reality of the deep-rooted problem and are often in a denial mode, which can cause more damage to the family members and the alcoholic.

Tracy is the daughter of an alcoholic mother. She hardly remembers her mother being sober. A few months ago, her mother was admitted to the emergency room on account of acute cirrhosis of the liver, a result of drinking 350 units of alcohol per week for 15 years. Thoughts ran wild in her mind about how she too was responsible for this day and was consumed by a sense of overwhelming guilt that she failed to recognize the danger signs ahead of time. In fact, she never bothered to deal with the problem, and showed her anger and ignored the reality.

Tracy was speechless when she overheard the doctors saying that chances of survival were bleak due to multiple organ failure. She wished if she had made an effort to address the whole situation in a positive way.

What to avoid while dealing with an alcoholic

Coping with a loved one's addiction to alcohol can be an emotional rollercoaster. It is normal to feel awkward, and somewhat embarrassed while speaking to someone close about his or her addiction. Just because the alcoholic happens to be someone close, there is no guarantee that he or she will wholeheartedly cooperate with the individual offering help. It is a general observation that alcoholics deny that they even have a problem, but patience and perseverance go a long way in tackling such worrisome situations.

As in the case of other people, alcoholics differ in terms of needs and the manner in which they respond to treatment. Many times, it becomes difficult to identify the real reasons of addiction, as well as a person's willingness to seek counseling and treatment. However, it is important to consider the following points while dealing with an alcoholic loved one:

• Preaching abstinence or threatening to punish only makes matters worse.
• Emotional appeals may heighten feelings of guilt and the urge to drink.
• Protecting alcoholics from the adverse outcomes of their behavior is not advisable.
• Hiding bottles or sheltering them from possible situations involving alcohol is not a viable solution.
• Heated arguments with someone high on alcohol are of no use.
• Giving alcoholics a company by joining them for a drink is a big mistake.
• Assuming responsibility for someone else's behavior may not help.
• Sobriety cannot be forced, as it is a matter of choice.
• One needs help and encouragement to stay sober.
• Recovery does not happen overnight, rather, it is an ongoing process.

Road to sobriety

Accepting a drinking problem can be unpleasant and stressful for the entire family, not just for the alcoholic. But there is no reason to feel ashamed. Alcohol addiction affects millions of families across social classes, races, religions and cultures. It takes patience, trust and support to be sober again.

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How to Cure a Food Addiction (By Belen Campugan)

Directions to Treat Food Addiction

You may tell yourself, "I'm not subject to nourishment; I essentially love an OK sweet, occasionally." Well, I'm here to tell you that sustenance addiction is genuine; it impacts a greater number of people than you know, and producers truly arrange sustenance things so they are as addicting as could be permitted. Yes, that perfect solidification of salty, sweet, and tasty was made to confirm you keep touching base at for extra. That is the reason I created The Hunger Fix, in light of the way that I have to change the beguilement that is settled against you.

Here are six methodologies to cure food addiction:

1) Take the test. To begin with, you need to see whether your relationship with sustenance is a strong one. Take the my sustenance Addiction Quiz. This is a phenomenal assessment made by Yale University pros to survey your relationship with nourishment. Experts acknowledge that the bigger piece about people who are overweight or huge have some level of nourishment addiction. Regardless, anyone of any age and size can have this issue.

2) Know your staples from your treats. Our brains are altered to hunt out the delightful prize of customary carbs like berries from a thorn or veggies from the earliest starting point. We appreciate strong fats from avocados, olive oil, and fish and lean meats. Our brains drive us to scavenge around to discover these sustenances so we have lively essentialness (from carbs) and continuing fuel (from fat). This normal whole sustenance has overseen us since the start of time. Our brains were changed in accordance with the taste of these prizes. Now and again, we'd like a treat that contained more normal sugar (grapes) or fat (dairy or meat). This mix of staples and treats transform into our normal equality of strong supplements. Burst forward, and now we have makers creating "hyperpalatable" nourishments overflowing with sugar, fat, and salt. Likewise in light of the way that they are ubiquitous, humble, and adequately accessible, less people cook. Grab and go is right away the best approach.

3) Rein in your prize, center. Right when the hyperpalatables fight with standard sustenance, your cerebrum's prize, center, which secretes the delight compound dopamine, gets caught. Insulin levels go up and you have to push an always expanding sum. The greater part of a sudden that bowl of fresh berries can't fight with the über prizes of a Pop-Tart or a chocolate-covered breakfast bar. An intermittent treat, for instance, a birthday dessert, moreover prompts a dopamine surge, yet then your cerebrum settles down to more run of the mill levels of dopamine. In any case when you can get your included hyperpalatable sustenances without stopping for even a minute and you start the day with that sugary/oily/salty cake and grande sugary coffee drink, you wind up with an unending want extra.

4) Recognize the "False Fix." After the relentless presentation and usage of these hyperpalatables, which I insinuate as "False Fixes" in The Hunger Fix, your cerebrum truly changes. The brain can't persevere through this level of hyperstimulation. Appropriately, it reduces the amount of dopamine receptors so you presumably won't feel it as overstimulation. That is the inspiring news. The appalling news is that by doing this, your normal serving of sustenance is no all the more as compensating. You wind up not feeling as fulfilled and satisfied. You know the choosing result. Not satisfied, you wind up with second and third and fourth partitions, pressing on weight along the way.

Nevertheless hold up, there's extra: meanwhile, your prize center is always caught, the mind's CEO, the prefrontal cortex (tap your sanctuary and that is the spot the PFC is put), is becoming hurt and debilitated. The PFC can no more help you control main thrusts or stay focused and vigilant. That is the reason, when some individual is in full-on addictive mode; parity is an easily proven wrong issue. Dynamic and weighty new studies underpinned by the National Institutes of Health financed have showed that the psyche yields of sustenance addicts show the same changes and mischief as those of a cocaine customer. Furthermore, for your information, look at also exhibits that table sugar (sucrose) is more addictive than cocaine.

Great, what's the result? Science-based detox and recovery from the nourishments and refreshments that you know are making you lose control and overeat.

5) Know your enemy. Make a summary most of your False Fix sustenance that you know will lead you to comprehend of control and overeat. As you get prepared to detox, look around you and stock the persons, places, and things that enable your nourishment addiction. This isn't virtually trading up False Fix sustenance for Healthy Fixes. It's in like manner about taking a gander at your entire lifestyle so you can make new, healthier choices to support your recovery. You're not going to change everything overnight, so you'll start with less, however compelling steps to ensure possible, whole deal accomplishment.

6) Remember these words: MIND, MOUTH, and MUSCLE. That will help you form how you'll detox and recover.

Start doing it right now! No more procrastination for a new healthier you.

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