Youth And Addiction

The youth of any generation are the clay of which future adults emerge.
The youth today are the special ones who have the world literally in the palm of their hands. There is so much information bombardment. The minds that are already highly impressionable are spoilt for choice . There is also an excessive experimentation , use ,abuse and addiction to drugs and alcohol seen amongst them.
The incidences of dependency and addiction to substance amongst them is increasing by leaps and bounds. In India the legal age for drinking hard liquor is on an average 21-25 years.. But we see drinking beginning at as young an age as 14-15years.
Probable reasons for use
Young kids begin drinking with the intention of doing something taboo, then they discover it lowers their inhibitions and it seems to be more fun. Many times seeing their parents drinking and getting intoxicated on a regular basis makes them think this is as a norm. Family history of addictions, dysfunctional families , childhood abuse,  emotional traumas, a need to “fit in” may incline them towards using .
Effects on the Brain and Risks involved:
The brain of a human being develops till age 21years.Adolescents tend to binge drink to begin with i.e. having large quantities of alcohol in a short span of time. This results in affections of thinking , learning and memory as the hippocampus[ the region that is responsible for this] gets damaged.. The pre-frontal lobe of the brain gets damaged affecting the abilities of planning, reasoning , decision making and impulse control.
Risk behaviors increase in the form of being promiscuous and have unsafe , unprotected sex, fights, violent crimes, homicides, suicides, accidents due to DUI etc. Sexual assaults and date rapes increase. Grades are affected.
The patterns of drug consumption have also changed. Alcohol  intake is not to savor the taste but to to get completely “wasted” . Marijuana today is no longer just “ a herb” but comes in very potent forms and adulterated with chemicals too. We have treated too many young people with addiction to only marijuana and have their lives wasted by dropping off studies and being non productive.
Marijuana gets one acquainted with dealers and users who deal in other drugs, thus it becomes  a “gateway” for further use. A naturally curious adolescent and young mind craving for new experiences does not even realize before it is engaged and engulfed in usage of drugs that are  addictive even on single use.
Today heroin is laced wth fentanyl, Nbome is sold as LSD, mefedrone as cocaine etc and these are extremely addictive and potentially very fatal.
The young of today are thus looking fro answers  in drugs/alcohol , fanaticism  etc… the world gets more virtual and real time communication with family diminishes . A grounding within themselves is lost. This intelligence, curiosity and drive if it can be channelized through meditative practices inwards, then there can be tremendous progress in every sphere in life, physical, mental and spiritual and the world can progress. Else it is going to be a zombie world where a substance  is taken for everything from waking up[coffee], to work, to stay alert [adderal] , to stay calm[alprazolam] to sleep [alcohol,valium] and would be apocalyptic.
We at AH look at helping our young clients to be self sufficient pro-life individuals who do not find the need to use drugs/alcohol through our Alternate Life therapy program involving meditation, introspection and counseling.

http://anatta.in/youth-and-addiction/

GOING BEYOND EMOTIONS

Man lives in his mind.
Most of his activity revolves around the mind. As a result the body has been neglected and the unity of mind body has been shaken. The result- stress, emotional angst etc... we color every experience with emotions , thus deluding us from reality.
Have you ever eaten something very delicious and wanted to hold on to that taste ? For that, if you stay hungry and do not brush your teeth the whole day..what do you think will happen? The next morning, you wake up hungry, stinking  and grumpy and the taste that one so wanted to hold on to is now only in the mind...  this is exactly what we do with our emotions .. Whether happy or sad, we tend to hold on to them till they raise a stink....
We find ourselves living in more than one mind at a time trying to think why another person behaved in a particular manner , what will people think  if I did this etc. ; living in one mind itself is tiring , imagine living in multiple minds- exhausting!
In addiction  , the addict is at an advantage because the problem is so in the face that he has to do something about it. With the rest of the world the proverbial carpet is ever present.
But do things actually get brushed under the carpet? The incidents will, but the emotions are held on to in a conscious or unconscious form either suppressed or repressed... which then colors all our responses to incidents in our lives.
Thus, we can conclude that it is our emotions that are behind every so called “ issue” in our lives. “Gurus” tell us go beyond emotions, detach ourselves from emotions, be in the present, renounce our relations, material things etc but can we “renounce” our minds? And HOW do we go beyond all our emotions?
Our mind never allows us to see reality as it is, for, it takes us to the past and the future [ both non -existent]  thus enabling us never to  be in the present. A story- two monks come across a woman waiting to cross a river. One of the monks volunteers to help and carries the woman across, lets her down and goes his way. The younger monk begins arguing for 3 hours about how could the monk touch a woman , it is forbidden in their sect and is a sin… the older monk quietly tells him,  I dropped off the woman 3 hours ago..I see my friend, that you are still carrying her... this, is what we do with all our emotions.
The ability of going beyond emotions is inherently present within each of us, we only have to become aware of it and live it.
A few methods we incorporate :
Writing
The writing is in a prescribed manner. We write all the incidents in our lives as they happened  , without embellishments or adornment  of philosophy and retrospective analysis. It is describing the incident as it happened. Then, to make it more interesting write down the emotions you felt at the time separately. Also add the emotions you feel now when writing the incident. If you sit with yourself for at least 45mins everyday and keep writing all the incidents in your life in this method ; slowly you will realize that you develop a detachment from the emotions one has held on to over the years.
Meditation
Regular practice of meditation releases suppressed and repressed emotions stored in our cellular memory and changes the structure of our brains, reducing the size of the areas that cause emotional fluctuations thereby changing the responses to stressors around us ; the areas of our brains that regulate compassion and empathy increases in size. Meditation keeps us in the present moment.
Yoga
Yoga balances the interiority of an individual ,keeping one in the present enabling an increase in awareness of our body and mind.
Being present
Extending this practice of being present to everything we do in life. While eating eat , while drinking water drink, while walking, walk.... cut out the multitasking.
Being present and doing all of the above to do so , eventually, helps us to deal with incidents in our lives without attaching emotions to them and seeing them in all their reality and we learn to truly “respond “ instead of “ reacting”.

We at Anatta enable this ability to go beyond emotions to surface and provide the tools to maintain it because we are one of the finest rehabilitation treatment centers in India.
Get speedy recovery from drug and alcohol addiction with the top drug rehab center as well as top alcohol rehab in India. We are only a phone call away.

MEDITATION

In life if we zoom in closely all crises are emotional crises...we do not see reality as it is but always tend to colour it with emotions that results in ”stress” or distress. In addiction too, once the person is in rehabilitation treatment centres and the substance is stopped and in the treatment process the real issues that crop up are all of emotional unmanageability.
We assume that over the years we have “dealt with” past injuries or incidents that have affected us. Then why does illness strike us? Why is it that we react untowardly to a situation that does not call for such a reaction? This is because the emotions that we thought we have dealt with have only been suppressed or worse, repressed for they have been stored in the cells of our body. Cellular memory has been discovered by science today.
Today it has been proved that the ancient eastern sciences of meditation enable one to attain a balance which is the result of actual structural and biochemical changes that take place in the brain due to meditative practices proved by the advent of advanced CT and functional MRI machines and other technical devices..
Meditation techniques are a bridge towards actual meditation. They are very scientific and developed over centuries by those who have attained.
They have been developed based on pure experience and observations of being aware and taking us beyond emotions.
Effects of Suppression of Emotions
Once any emotion is triggered, if the flow is impeded by suppression of the same, the energy that has resulted in the release of so many biochemical actions on the body and brain is unable to retract these changes. As a result, the chemicals bring about a change at the cellular level and can come up eventually with physical ailments like hypertension, migraines and even cancer in the long run. Psychological ailments like anxiety neuroses, depression, personality disorders might result. In the current scenario of society, meditation might not be directly possible due to these various suppressions and repressions that block the flow of natural energy. Hence the process of catharsis is very essential.
Active meditations enable this catharsis to take place in a guided manner making way for an experience of a meditative state.
What is meditation? Meditation is not sitting with closed “concentrating” on the breath or something. Let us try an experiment—close your eyes and be “aware” of the breathing that is happening in your body.. it is an involuntary process..be aware of it through the rise and fall of your abdomen for a few moments..open your eyes.. Were there any thoughts in your mind for that time? No? You just experienced a state of meditation. This state of ‘no mind’ is the state of meditation .Regular practice of different techniques takes us to that state and eventually we realise that we take life moment to moment and respond instead of reacting.
Current Scientific Studies on Meditation
Researchers at Harvard, Yale, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found the first evidence that meditation can alter the physical structure of our brains. Brain scans they conducted reveal that in experienced meditators increased thickness in parts of the brain that deal with attention and processing sensory input & associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress is seen. Likewise, the area of the brain that is responsible for emotional reactions-the amygdala is seen to reduce in size. Thus, though the stressors in the environment remain the same the responses to them change. Thus meditation is also very psychotherapeutic!

Conclusion
Science is still in a fledgling stage to discover the actual Meditative state. However, the individual experience of the state is the only proof required. But for a person with addiction, Anatta Humanversity being a drug & alcohol rehabilitation center will get a person out of the addiction in the best possible manner. Moreover, this alcohol rehab center has branches all over India.

ADDICTION AND SOCIAL OSTRACISM

Addiction to alcohol/drugs is one of the oldest ailments known to mankind as intoxicating substances have always been around since time immemorial used for recreation, celebration, religious, ritualistic shamanic practices etc.
 There was a time when people were ostracized for being part of a particular race, caste, creed or disease across the world.
Addiction to alcohol/drugs is such a disease that the person afflicted is ostracized by immediate family apart from society at large.
A client’s daughter shared that friends were not invited home as she was ashamed of her drunken daddy. Most times the alcoholic in a blackout says and does things that he has no memory of the next day ... he realizes this by the look on his wife’s face. The addict at least has the excuse that he is under the influence of the substance. What is the excuse of the families who shout, scream and treat them as though they were lepers / untouchables?
People avoid family members of addicts as they do not want to “get involved”. There are sniggers behind their backs and bullying and insults to their faces.
Till even the first part of the 20th century those addicted to substances were relegated to “mad” houses. Today too they land up at psychiatric offices wherein they are given medication for behavioral issues resultant to substance use- further damaging the individual, as many consume both, the substance and the medication. 
Social invitations decline once an alcoholic gets repeatedly drunk and creates ruckus at functions....  the employee is sidelined for promotions and loses his job over a drinking problem.
The family hides the addiction even from doctors resulting in progression of the illness and sure death.
The person is looked upon in disgust disdain and as a discard... hastening his journey to the grave.
Do we treat someone with any other illness like this – would we treat a family member or friend who is a diabetic or hypertensive like this? Or do we look at treatment options for them? Would we not help a family who has a member suffering from any of these illnesses with knowledge of doctors we know or Treatment facilities we are aware of?
Why this ostracism? Just as anyone with any illness does not ask for it, neither is addiction a disease that is asked for- the substance controls and consumes the person afflicted... if left untreated will be 100% fatal and result in Death.. like any other systemic disease.
As a society, let us wake up to the awareness of this disease and realize there is help available… let us arm ourselves with the knowledge of the same. Treatment that is seen to work the best is Residential, Non medical, Voluntary, using Counseling and alternative healing methods like Meditation ,Yoga etc.
We at AH facilitate this process to enable the individuals afflicted /affected by Addiction to alcohol/ drugs go beyond them and towards a fulfilling life!  We have doctors who are specialized in drug & alcohol rehabilitation.
Share the solution- the problem is known to all- awareness of the solution is what is required-  be socially responsible- someone somewhere might find help and You might be instrumental in saving Lives..  AH is one of the best alcohol addiction treatment centers.

MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT ADDICTION AND TREATMENT

Among the hundreds of myths surrounding addiction and treatment, the following are especially relevant to individuals who are beginning to question the true nature of their relationship with addictive substances and are considering the possibility of seeking treatment.
•    Myth: Addiction is a bad habit the result of moral weakness and over-indulgences.
•    Fact: Addiction is a chronic, life-threatening condition, like hypertension, and diabetes.
•    Fact: Addiction has roots in genetic susceptibility, social circumstance, and personal behavior.
•    Fact: Certain drugs are highly addictive, rapidly causing biochemical and structural changes in the brain. Others can be used for longer periods of time before they begin to cause inescapable cravings and compulsive use.
•    Myth: Bad, stupid, and crazy people are most susceptible to becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs.
•    Fact: Addiction is an equal opportunity disease. It does not discriminate in any way against any class of people. It strikes equally among individuals in all ethnic, socio-economic, intelligence, and emotional wellness categories.
•    Myth: If an addict has enough willpower, he or she can stop abusing alcohol and using drugs.
•    Fact: Few people addicted to alcohol and other drugs can simply stop using them, no matter how strong their inner resolve. Most need at least one course of structured substance abuse treatment or drug and alcohol rehabilitation to end their dependence on alcohol and other drugs. Some achieve sobriety through participation in community-based support organizations (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous), but relapse rates under this condition are very high. The most effective approach is one that combines residential treatment, community-based support and rehabilitation treatment centers.

•    Myth: Many people relapse, so treatment obviously does not work.
•    Fact: Like every other treatment, addiction treatment cannot guarantee lifelong recovery. Relapse is often a part of the recovery process; it is always possible--and treatable.
•    Myth: Once sobriety is achieved, whether with or without the benefit of treatment, most individuals can eventually return to social use of alcohol and/or drugs.
•    Fact: Addiction is a chronic condition that does not disappear, even after extended periods of sobriety. This is caused by neuroplasticity wherein a pathway is formed in the brain due to repeated use of a substance which is triggered everytime the substance is used. This is true regardless of the individual's drug of choice, level of self-control, or length of abstinence.
•    Myth: An individual who is addicted to one drug or family of drugs can undergo treatment for and recover from addiction to that particular drug and still use other drugs with impunity.
•    Fact: Cross-addiction nearly always occurs when an addict tries to switch drugs, regardless of the reason. Cross-addiction invariably takes the form of one or the other of two possible outcomes: 1) The individual quickly becomes addicted to the second substance, or 2) The individual returns to the original drug of choice while under the influence of the second one.
•    Myth: We have reached the limits of what we can do to treat addiction.
•    Fact: Treatment of addiction is an ever progressive field. Today's treatment providers are being challenged to stretch their knowledge base and find more effective approaches to prevention, intervention, and alcohol addiction treatment. 


We at Anatta Humanversity offer a Client specific , non medical, voluntary treatment process that incorporates Meditation , Counseling processes as cornerstones .

It is our experience that true recovery happens only in freedom.

ADDICTION TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Addiction to alcohol and illicit drugs has always been spoken about, prescribed medication has remained silent but IS also a frontline addiction..

Addiction to prescription drugs is on the rise in India and across the world.

There are drugs to sleep, there are drugs to wake up, there are drugs to perform, there are drugs for pain , there are drugs to focus in exams , there are drugs to treat various physical ailments which are being abused on a large scale-pain medications, cough syrups etc etc..

There is a chemical maelstrom brewing  in the brain and body of a large population of humanity addiction to which is as life threatening as addiction to alcohol and illicit drugs . Even more so as, because as they are “ prescription meds” they are thought to be “ safe” and far less harmful.

In the west addiction to prescription drugs are rampant amongst teenagers who hold  “Pharm parties” wherein a punch bowl is filled with medicines  pinched from the medicine cabinets of  their parents. The kids then take turns going to the punch bowl grabbing  a fistful of tablets and eating them most times with alcohol. Several times due to the ignorance of the kind of medicines consumed and the drug interactions between them or side effects and the combination with alcohol proves fatal.

Several times Psychiatrists and some Drug rehab centres prescribe medications for various disorders and the patient continues on them without a follow up and ends up getting addicted to them.

In Prescription medications addictions the most common classes of drugs involved are:

Opioids [for  cough,  pain] eg Oxycodone ,Hydrocodone,  Codeine cough syrups etc

Central Nervous system depressants [ for anxiety ,sleep disorders] eg alprazolam, diazepam, pentobarbital sodium etc

Stimulants [ ADHD medication etc] eg Methylphenidate[ADHD med] , Amphetamines etc.

Medical consequences of prescription drug abuse include the following.

   Opioids  can cause an increased risk of choking , low blood pressure, a slowed breathing rate and potential for breathing to stop as they suppress the respiratory center in the brain, or a coma.

Eg.When abused, promethazine-codeine cough syrup presents a high risk of fatal overdose due to its effect of depressing the central nervous system, which can slow or stop the heart and lungs. Mixing with alcohol greatly increases this risk. 

Withdrawals from opioids-  Restlessness, muscle and bone pains, Insomnis, diarrhea, vomiting, involuntary leg movements.

          Sedatives and anti-anxiety medications (anxiolytics)  can cause memory problems, low blood pressure and slowed breathing. Overdose can cause coma or death.

Abruptly stopping the medication may be associated with withdrawal symptoms that can include hyperactivity of the nervous system and seizures.

Stimulants can cause dangerously high body temperature, heart problems, high blood pressure, seizures or tremors, hallucinations, aggressiveness, and paranoia.

We at Anatta provide drug & alcoholrehabilitation and  have come across several clients who have been treated with psychiatric medications for their addiction wherein the person afflicted finally uses both the substance of their choice and the prescribed medications thereby ending up with multiple addictions.

We are one of the best rehab centres in India who treat these clients non medically after tapering off all their medications incorporating various meditation techniques that are psychotherapeutic along with Counselling and other techniques that take the person within allowing healing to happen.