How to Cure Your Drug Addiction Without Entering a Drug Rehab Program
A drug addiction is strongly desiring to take a drug that makes you feel good. For example, snorting cocaine makes you energetic, alert, euphoric, with increased mental clarity. Once you’re addicted to a drug, abstaining from it becomes a nightmare. For example, abstaining from cocaine can cause agitation, depression, extreme fatigue, anxiety, angry outbursts, lack of motivation, vomiting, shaking, irritability, muscle pain, and disturbed sleep.
Thorndike’s Law of Effect
Simply put, what keeps you addicted is that taking the drug makes you feel good, and avoiding it makes you feel awful. This coincides with Thorndike’s Law of Effect: If a reward follows a particular behavior, that behavior probably will be repeated; if a punishment follows a particular behavior, that behavior probably won’t be repeated.
For example, feeling good is your reward for snorting cocaine; feeling awful is your punishment for avoiding cocaine. So what are you going to do? This is why it’s so difficult to abstain from an addiction.
You have a drug addiction and can’t quit. Now what? Don’t despair; there’s a way out. The trick is seeing your addiction differently – seeing it for what it really is.
Unemployable, Lonely, and Sick
Though taking your drug makes you feel good immediately, it makes you feel awful in the long run. For example, snorting cocaine will eventually cause health problems such as heart disease, heart attacks, respiratory failure, strokes, seizures, gastrointestinal problems, convulsions, nausea, blurred vision, chest pain, fever, muscle spasms, and coma. If you think that these health problems are bad, long-term cocaine snorting causes social problems such as lying, stealing, absenteeism at work, and sometimes even prostitution.
So basically, long-term cocaine use causes you unemployment due to your work absenteeism, loss of friends and family due to your lying and stealing, and sickness due to cocaine’s damaging effects on your body. Cocaine ultimately transforms you into a loser – unemployable, lonely, and sick!
Other popular recreational drugs such as crack, heroin, crystal meth, Vicodin, ecstasy, and OxyContin also ultimately transform you into a loser – unemployable, lonely, and sick!
Thorndike’s Law of Effect Revisited
Now let’s revisit Thorndike’s Law of Effect: If a reward follows a particular behavior, that behavior probably will be repeated; if a punishment follows a particular behavior, that behavior probably won’t be repeated.
Being unemployable, lonely, and sick is your punishment for taking your desired drug over time; being employed, loved, and healthy is your reward for avoiding your desired drug over time. So what are you going to do?
Classical Conditioning
Wait a minute! Reading this article won’t help you! Once done reading, you’ll go back to snorting cocaine, smoking crack, shooting heroin, popping OxyContin, or whatever it is you do.
That’s why I’m introducing a powerfully effective self-help intervention that you must do regularly. This self-help intervention is called Classical Conditioning. Simply put, Classical Conditioning consists of pairing a particular feeling with a particular event over and over again until they become automatically associated with each other.
Let’s say that you have a cocaine addiction and want to quit. So instead of feeling good after snorting cocaine, you want to feel awful. What makes you feel awful? Electric shock? Okay, we’ll use this.
So each time you snort cocaine, you give yourself a severe electric shock. You feel awful each time. Eventually, you’ll automatically associate snorting cocaine with feeling awful – without the electric shock! Thus, curing yourself of cocaine addiction.
Nevertheless, electrically shocking yourself isn’t socially acceptable and will attract unwanted attention. We need something more discreet. What’s more discreet than the hidden thoughts inside your head? Can you use your thoughts to make yourself feel awful? Let’s see.
You just snorted cocaine and want to make yourself feel awful for doing it. So you think, “By using cocaine, I’m making myself into a complete loser. I’m now becoming totally unemployable, lonely, and sick. Worthless. Useless. A hopeless piece of crap. Good for nothing.” How do you feel? Awful, right?
So if you think along these lines each time you snort cocaine, you’ll eventually learn to associate snorting cocaine with feeling awful – without using your thoughts to make yourself feel awful! Thus, curing yourself of cocaine addiction.
Points to Ponder
This article is tailored to those addicted to hard drugs such as cocaine, crack, heroin, crystal meth, Vicodin, ecstasy, and OxyContin. Nevertheless, the intervention discussed here can be used, with some minor adjustments, to overcome addictions to the softer drugs.
For example, smoking cigarettes doesn’t necessarily cause unemployment or loneliness. But it does cause health problems such as emphysema, heart disease, stroke, cancer, birth defects, green teeth, and spider veins. So rather than thinking of yourself as becoming unemployable, lonely, and sick each time you smoke a cigarette, you just simply think of yourself as becoming sick.
Conclusion
In the past, drug addiction was seen as an overpowering and unmanageable disease. And the addict, using his own willpower, was seen as powerless against this disease. Therefore the addict was encouraged to join a support group that might lead him to a spiritual awakening.
Currently, drug addiction is seen as self-destructive behavior maintained by the reward of taking a drug (feeling good) and the punishment of abstaining from it (withdrawal symptoms). Given this, a scientific intervention such as Classical Conditioning can effectively cure it.
Though I’m scientifically inclined, I do believe in the power of prayer; since I’ve seen it work in my own life. So by all means, pray to be free from your addiction; then go forth and free yourself with Classical Conditioning.
The Guaranteed Cure for Failure, an electronic publication, costs just $19.95 and is available through http://www.theguaranteedcure.com
The Guaranteed Cure Company, founded by Al A. Gammate, specializes in cures that cure.
How To Get Rid Of Body Acne
Many of us have gone through acne flare-ups in our teens. However, some of us may still get acne in our adult years. Those who have acne on the face are likely to have acne on the body. Body acne is often found on the back and chest, and sometimes on the arms and legs. Just like with facial acne, the development of acne scars are highly possible on the body.
The skin on the body is more active in terms of producing oils, sweat, and hormonal levels. It is also more exposed to irritants such as when the skin is constantly rubbing against clothing. When you sweat from daily activities or exercise, the sweat and oils tend to accumulate on your body’s skin pores, giving bacteria an opportunity to proliferate and cause irritation, infection, and inflammation. This article will show you some ways on how to get rid of body acne.
Practice Good Hygiene
One of the first things you can do to eliminate body acne is by getting into a daily cleansing regimen. Practice good hygiene and shower everyday and after you exercise. Doing this can flush out a good amount of bacteria and excess oils that clog up the pores. However, do not over-wash, as this can make the sebaceous glands in your skin to produce excess sebum. Moreover, use gentle cleansers with no added fragrances or other additives that can irritate and dry the skin. Exfoliate every now and then with a body scrub or loofa to get rid of dead skin cells that clog pores and cause body acne.
Hydrate Inside And Out
After taking a shower, make sure to moisturize with a body lotion, preferably with sunscreen. Lotions keep your body supple and hydrated, preventing excess dryness that causes body acne. Drink enough water (8 glasses daily) to flush out toxins and improve blood circulation. A body free of toxins and with good blood circulation helps nutrients and oxygen reach the skin effectively.
Make Lifestyle Changes
Eat more fruits and vegetables, as these contain antioxidants that fight against free radicals that damage skin. Continue to exercise, as exercising helps flush out toxins through sweat.
Get Proper Treatment
Another key to getting rid of body acne is by using the right treatment. You should find a treatment that cleanses pores, soothes inflammation, and gets rid of dead skin cells at the same time. Treatments like the ZENMED Body Acne Combo contains acne-fighting agents that do all those important tasks. For instance, you can use the Botanical Acne Mask and Spot Treatment to suck out excess oil in the skin, kill bacteria, unclog pores, and improve absorption of other treatment agents; at the same time, you can use the Botanical Body Acne Wash to slough off dead skin cells and improve blood circulation to achieve clearer, younger-looking skin.
Using a combination of products can enhance results. In addition to that, practicing good hygiene, hydrating your body, eating healthy, and exercising regularly can make you achieve even better results.
Cavyl is an avid researcher of skincare products and runs a successful blog dedicated to providing reviews, tips and information for the benefit of the customer. For more great free tips, please visit my blog at http://www.skincaretreatmenttips.com
Acne Treatment, Myths, and the Causes of Acne
Many misunderstood notions exist about acne in general, and especially about its proper treatment. And these are leading reasons why so many sufferers often end up using the least helpful acne solution for themselves. Thus, it is extremely vital that you as a patient, learn about the real causes of acne in order to be able to find the best acne treatment that will address your particular skin condition the first time around. Why waste money and time on ineffective acne solutions?
Bear in mind that acne treatments for teenagers are quite different in nature than from those given to most adults who suffer from some form of skin condition. The hormonal activity in those teenage groups vary. As a precaution, it is best you take any oral medication as a solution only after you have sought the advice of a certified dermatalogist. Remember that an experienced dermatalogist is required to be able to prescribe a precise medication that fits your unique skin condition as well as body type.
It’s a very good idea to begin an acne remedy as soon as possible after learning that you are suffering from acne. You can begin an acne remedy by utilizing cleansers and exfoliation. Cleansers will help remove only stuff from your pores. Then, exfoliation will do the rest of the work: remove the oil that cannot be wiped off by the cleanser. This will also help in maintaining your skin pores clear so your skin can breathe.
Acne develop into blackheads, whiteheads, and comedones. Acne does not happen because of dirt as it is sometimes believed. Acne is caused from too much secretion of oil sebum by the sebaceous glands found in the hair follicle. So the sole mission of sebum is to remove dead cells from the body.
It is well known that the hormone androgen is a very significant hormone that supports the healthy function of the human body, which actually causes acne. When this hormone comes into contact with the sebaceous gland, it creates sebum; in the circumstance of people who suffer from acne, the sebaceous gland is sensitive and end up producing additional sebum; this is what causes acne.
At the earliest phase of any acne treatment, this process must involve the maintenance of the skin’s level of cleanliness and hydration for utmost effectiveness. What may contribute to this? Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is a great way for cleaning your body from the inside, as well as cleansing the skin through gentle cleansers and exfoliating it will help a lot.
For the vast majority of acne sufferers who are currently experiencing a mild form of acne, the above described step will often solve the skin problem. In addition, exercising will also help you to sweat and therefore, do a lot to maintain clear pores; these are very simple non-prescription treatment anyone with acne can employ. If you decide to use cream as an acne treatment, only use creams that contain benozoyl peroxide and salicylic acid in its formulation.
Make a sound practice only to use an acne treatment on areas where your skin have been affected; bear in mind that applying creams and medications on areas where your skin have not been affected will only cause your unaffected skin to become dryer.
Always consider natural, safe, and non-medication treatments before using a prescription.
If you want to learn more about the common causes of acne or FAQs of acne, visit http://www.acneway.com
The Skinny On Acne Scars And Their Treatment
Even though you’ve gotten rid of your acne, scars become a second problem. Moreover, if acne is not treated properly, it can come back and you become prone to more acne scars. Scars are actually the result of an impaired healing process in the skin. The good news is there’s definitely a way to get rid of acne scars.
The main goals of an anti-scar treatment should be to reduce skin irritation, reduce inflammation, promote healthy healing in the skin, exfoliate rough and broken skin, and sooth the skin. Infections from bacteria, viruses and fungi can irritate the skin and therefore impair its ability to heal properly, thus the result of scars. Inflammation causes oils and bacteria to rupture and cause scarring.
Many products contain ingredients that may help acne scars. However, if the skin doesn’t absorb them easily, they become ineffective. Products like the ZENMED Scar and Hyperpigmentation Treatment Kit contain naturally based ingredients that can easily be absorbed by the skin. The kit’s Skin Eraser topical treatment absorb into broken skin and repair tissue underneath. This way, scars are eliminated effectively, along with other skin conditions such as melasma and discoloration.
There are many other ways to treat acne scars. You may apply topical treatments, but exfoliation is just as important. Exfoliate at least once a week. If you just keep on applying topical treatments, they won’t be able to slough off dead skin cells effectively. When dead skin cells accumulate on your skin, your skin pores become clogged. As a result, redness and inflammation occurs and your skin becomes highly susceptible to scarring.
For effective sloughing of dead skin cells, use skin care systems or kits. What’s great about skin care systems is they contain cleansing and exfoliating properties that work together to effectively treat and prevent acne scars. The Scar and Hyperpigmentation Treatment Kit also contains an exfoliating product called the Microdermabrasion Complex. This product has micro-spheres that eliminates dead skin cells without the irritation.
The problem with a lot of exfoliating products is that they have large beads, which can do more harm than good to the skin. What is special about the Microdermabrasion Complex is not only does it give your skin a clearer complexion, but also allows the Skin Eraser to absorb deeper into the skin. This makes the kit effective on both old and new scars.
Using these types of products can dramatically change your complexion from dull (due to discoloration from scarring) to smooth and radiant. However, preventive measures should also be taken alongside the use of these products to ensure the health of your skin. One of the best ways to prevent future acne scars is by making lifestyle changes. You can start eating more fruits and vegetables, taking in more fiber, drinking enough water, and exercising regularly.
The skin is a quite complex system. When treating acne scars, make sure you not only reduce the appearance of scars, but also treat what lies underneath to prevent future scarring.
Cavyl is an avid researcher of skincare products and runs a successful blog dedicated to providing reviews, tips and information for the benefit of the customer. For more great free tips, please visit my blog at http://www.skincaretreatmenttips.com
Acne Treatment – Essential Information For Clearing Severe Acne
Under the best of circumstances, trying to find an acne treatment that works for you can be difficult. Most treatments for severe acne can be harsh on the skin, causing further irritation, but you can’t let your acne go untreated either, as that risks the possibility of acne scarring.
One of the oldest acne treatments for severe acne is Accutane, or its generic counterparts, which are a derivative of Vitamin A. Accutane is extremely effective for getting control of severe acne, and can sometimes virtually bring an end to acne breakouts. The drawback is the toxicity of Accutane, which causes a long list of undesirable side effects.
Essentially Accutane causes your oil glands to shut down during the treatment period, which typically lasts four to five months. Because you are not secreting any oils, your skin becomes very dry, which many users report as feeling like a sunburn. Accutane users also report that nosebleeds are very common, as well as hair loss. It has also a tendency to make users feel very depressed. Although Accutane can get acne problems under control, the side effects make it an option that should be used sparingly.
Antibiotics as an acne treatment are also very effective. There are a variety of antibiotics used, but, like Accutane, some forms have some undesirable side effects. Minocycline, one of the oldest antibiotics used to treat acne, has a reputation as being the most toxic. Doctors still prescribe it since the body is slow to build up immunity, but they are increasingly using other, more gentle, antibiotics despite the tendency for users to build up immunity.
If you suffer from severe acne, you might opt for a more direct acne treatment. Intra-lesional corticosteroid injections made directly into the cystic nodule have proven to be most effective. The injections act quickly, helping to reduce the swelling much in the same way cortisone injections would for an injured knee or back, though they do create discoloration. Although the treatments work well, intra-lesional corticosteroid injections are only successful on existing cystic nodules.
Lasers have also become a popular acne treatment recently. Not only can lasers treat acne, they can also remove acne scarring. However, because these lasers are currently unregulated, anyone can purchase and legally use these lasers. The danger is that an inexperienced practitioner may overexpose a patient to the laser, causing permanent damage.
There are two types of lasers, ablative and non-ablative. Ablative lasers are the oldest and strongest variety, and they essentially vaporize the outer layer of skin, much like removing a tattoo. When this outer layer of skin grows back, acne scars and wrinkles are greatly reduced. The extreme heat produced by ablative lasers cause your oil glands to shrink, which prevents breakouts.
Because your skin is burned off, treatment from ablative lasers will make your face red and sore for several weeks. Non-ablative lasers are newer and gentler than older lasers.
Non-ablative lasers also shrink the oil glands, but since they do not vaporize your skin, there is usually no soreness or visible side effects. Non-ablative lasers also promote collagen growth, so they also remove acne scarring. Because non-ablative lasers are less harsh, they will require more than one treatment session, while an ablative laser treatment consists of only one session.
Severe acne has never been pleasant and the acne scars reach much deeper than what a person might see on the surface. The long-term effects of acne are damaging, both physically and psychologically. There is hope and more than one type of acne treatment to choose from, though do be aware of potential risks.
The Healthy Lifestyle Company brings you the latest information on acne treatment. Visit our Acne Article Index, http://www.healthylifestylecompany.com/acne/ and listen to our “Understanding Acne” audio recording. http://www.healthylifestylecompany.com/acne/acne-treatment-for-severe-acne.html