Tuesday, December 17, 2013
December 17 v 25 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB
A foolish son is a grief to his father,
And bitterness to her who bore him.
STEP : 8 Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
These two verses from today's Proverb and Step 8 have really got me thinking about my past. Some of us are lucky to still have their moms and dads . My poor Dad , I cant imagine the sleepless nights I caused him ,how much embarrassment my dad suffered from the neighbors every time the police came looking for me. The arguments I must have caused between mom and dad and the strain that I put them under , wow I cant believe this ones got me tearing up. I have said sorry ,but I was not specific , I just automatically assumed they got it. This ones got me and I will have to write them a letter so I can get it all out. Contemplating all the pain I have caused others I now know it was Mom and Dad who have suffered the most. Though I put them through a living hell on earth they never gave up on me and that is a debt I could never repay.
A foolish son is a grief to his father,
And bitterness to her who bore him.
STEP : 8 Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
These two verses from today's Proverb and Step 8 have really got me thinking about my past. Some of us are lucky to still have their moms and dads . My poor Dad , I cant imagine the sleepless nights I caused him ,how much embarrassment my dad suffered from the neighbors every time the police came looking for me. The arguments I must have caused between mom and dad and the strain that I put them under , wow I cant believe this ones got me tearing up. I have said sorry ,but I was not specific , I just automatically assumed they got it. This ones got me and I will have to write them a letter so I can get it all out. Contemplating all the pain I have caused others I now know it was Mom and Dad who have suffered the most. Though I put them through a living hell on earth they never gave up on me and that is a debt I could never repay.
Rise in ADHD Diagnoses Linked to Drug Company Promotion of Treatments
By Join Together Staff | December 16, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Healthcare, Prescription Drugs & Youth
The dramatic rise in the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) coincided with a two-decade campaign by drug companies, aimed at doctors, educators and parents, to promote pills to treat the disorder, according to The New York Times.
Almost one in five boys of high school age, and 11 percent of school-age children overall, have received a medical diagnosis of ADHD in the United States. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found an estimated 6.4 million children ages 4 to 17 had received an ADHD diagnosis at some point. This represents a 16 percent increase since 2007, and a 53 percent increase in the past 10 years.
Dr. Keith Conners, a leader in the fight to legitimize ADHD, is very concerned about the increase in diagnoses. He notes the number of children on medication for the disorder has risen to 3.5 million, from 600,000 in 1990. He called the increase “a national disaster of dangerous proportions.”
“The numbers make it look like an epidemic. Well, it’s not. It’s preposterous,” he told the newspaper. “This is a concoction to justify the giving out of medication at unprecedented and unjustifiable levels.”
The drug industry is now focusing its efforts on adult ADHD, which could become even more profitable than the children’s market, the article notes.
While ADHD is acknowledged to be a legitimate disability that can interfere with success at school, work and personal life, many critics say the effort to treat every child with signs of ADHD has led to too many receiving the diagnosis and medication.
According to the article, drug company marketing portrays ADHD as including relatively normal behavior, such as carelessness and impatience, and has often exaggerated the medications’ benefits.
The Food and Drug Administration has cited every major ADHD drug, including Adderall, Concerta, Focalin, Vyvanse, Intuniv and Strattera, for false and misleading advertising since 2000.
Monday, December 16, 2013
December 16 v 9 TWELVE STEPPING WITH POWER IN THE PROVERB
A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
But the Lord directs his steps.
STEP 3 : Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to
the care of God as revealed in the Bible.
Before the twelve steps and my faith in God my heart was full of brokenness and pain..No matter how hard I tried to live life right ,I would just mess it up . Alone and helpless is what I felt every time I tried to get sober . My plans were evil ,always trying to get even with society for all the wrong in my life . My resentment , anger , and pride blinded me to the fact that even though God was there , I did not need Him . My life became desperate ,everything I owned I lost ,homeless is where my plans left me. With the last ounce of life left in me , I cried out to Him and took step one . Realizing in a moment of clarity for the first time in my life , I needed God and to my surprise , He was with me the whole time but in my blindness I just could not see or feel Him. No I can't explain it but at that moment of surrender all the pain , sorrow, guilt , shame and fear that was choking the life out of me suddenly released me. For the very first time in my life I felt free .My heart felt complete ,and I knew it was time for step three .That was thirteen years ago and the Lord is directing my steps .My life now is not perfect but it is good and I look forward and feel so blessed with getting the opportunity with every new day. The Proverb is true and Step 3 is a must and I pray and work tirelessly in a hope that you will discover GOD and get set free as I did.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Explore these resources for more information about alcohol problems in Veterans.
Learn more about how problems with alcohol may be related to other issues such as relationship problems, depression, trouble sleeping, chronic pain, and posttraumatic stress.afterdeployment.org
Take an anonymous and confidential online assessment to evaluate the alcohol-related symptoms you are experiencing and hear from other Veterans and service members dealing with similar issues. http://www.afterdeployment.org/web/guest/topics-alcohol-drugs
VA’s Substance Abuse page
Read more about VA’s programs and services for Veterans dealing with alcohol problems. http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/res-vatreatmentprograms.asp
Vet Centers
If you are a combat Veteran or experienced any sexual trauma during your military service, bring your DD214 to your local Vet Center and speak with a counselor or therapist—many of whom are Veterans themselves—for free, without an appointment, and regardless of your enrollment status with VA. http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/vetcenter_flsh.asp
VA Medical Center Facility Locator
This website will allow you to search for VA treatment programs located near you that address alcohol problems. If you are eligible to receive care through the Veterans Health Administration, you can enroll in one of VA’s treatment programs. http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isflash=1
Alcoholics Anonymous
For meeting information, contact a local A.A. resource that provides meeting times and locations. Use this link for a list of meeting resources by state and province in the U.S. and Canada. http://www.aa.org/lang/en/central_offices.cfm?origpage=373
How to Talk to Your Kids When You Think They’re Using Drugs By Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S.
Associate Editor World of Psychology
You suspect your teen is using drugs. Maybe they’re not acting like themselves. Maybe they’re cutting school or shirking other responsibilities. Maybe their grades are dropping. Or their behavior is worsening. Maybe they’ve started hanging out with a bad crowd.
Maybe they’re being secretive and have even stolen money from your wallet. Maybe their physical appearance has changed with rapid weight loss or red eyes. Maybe you’ve noticed a change in their sleep habits, energy level and mood. Maybe you’ve actually found marijuana or other drugs in their room.
Naturally, the thought and possible confirmation of your child using drugs trigger a rush and range of emotions: anger, frustration, disappointment, sadness, fear.
If you think your child is using drugs, how do you approach them? Where do you start?
Two parenting experts shared their insight below.
1. Be direct and calm.
“This issue is too serious for subtlety,” said John Duffy, Ph.D, a clinical psychologist and author of the book The Available Parent: Radical Optimism for Raising Teens and Tweens. He suggested readers approach their kids “directly and immediately.”
Avoid letting your anger and frustration spill over into the conversation. According to Lisa Kaplin, Psy.D, a psychologist and life coach who teaches parenting classes, “The best way to approach your child is with delicacy, not drama. If you approach them with panic, anger, aggression or accusations, you can be sure your child will tell you absolutely nothing.”
Yelling, threatening and lecturing your child typically leads them to withdraw, sneak around and lie, she said.
Duffy also suggested approaching your child “from an emotional space of genuine concern for well-being.” He understands that being calm and centered is a lot to ask of parents. “But it is, without a doubt, the approach that works best in my experience.”
It’s common for kids to deny their drug use, or to respond casually (e.g.,” It’s just pot, and I don’t smoke it that often, anyway”). If this happens, “give a brief response in which you tell them that you do not want them to use drugs of any kind,” Kaplin said. Reiterate your house rules about drugs and alcohol use and “the consequences that come with that behavior.”
2. Talk when your child is lucid.
Don’t try to have a serious conversation when your child is drunk or high, Duffy said. “This might seem like common sense, but I have worked with many parents who have attempted to lecture an inebriated teenager.”
3. Ask open-ended questions.
It’s more likely that your child will be honest, and talk about their drug use if you ask open-ended questions. According to Kaplin, these are several examples: “Can you tell me more about that? How did you feel in that situation? What will you do if that happens again? How can I help you with this?”
If your child admits to using drugs, again, “ask them with open-ended, non-judgmental questions about what drugs they have used, how often, and if they plan on using again.” You also can ask “for their input on how to proceed.”
4. Don’t punish your child.
Avoid punishing your kids, Duffy said. It rarely works. For instance, “Taking a cell phone away will never keep a drug user away from using.”
5. Show your support.
If your child reveals their drug use, “Thank [them] for being honest with you,” Kaplin said. Let them know that you’re “here to help them. Tell them you love them.”
6. Get your child treatment.
It’s key to take your child to see a qualified therapist who specializes in working with teens and young adults. When talking about professional help, don’t negotiate with your child, or take “no” for an answer, Duffy said.
Instead be brief, firm and clear, he said. Duffy gave the following example of what you might say to your child: “It is clear to us that you have been using something, and we are really concerned for your safety. As your safety is our domain as Mom and Dad, we are going to pull rank here and schedule an appointment for someone for you, and all of us, to talk to about this issue.”
Depending on the situation, you can “give [your child] options regarding therapists or treatment centers,” Kaplin said.
Even if your child is over 18 years old, Duffy suggested having a similar conversation. While you can’t force your older child to attend therapy, you can leverage other things, such as your financial position, he said.
It’s also important to get clear on your limits, communicate them to your adult child and follow through, Kaplin said. For instance, “can your child still live with you if they’re using drugs? If not, when must they leave and will you help them with treatment or other living arrangements?”
Knowing your child is possibly using drugs is stressful, scary and painful. And it can be incredibly hard to have a calm conversation. If you feel yourself losing control, take a break, and return when you’ve cooled off. Whether your child admits to using drugs or not, having them see a qualified therapist is critical.
Further Reading
Here’s more on symptoms of teen substance abuse, what parents can do, and reasons your child might use drugs and how to help them.
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