Published on: 01 August 2019
Last Updated on: 28 January 2022
We all know that lack of sleep can have a significantly negative impact on our daily lives as trouble focusing is often the most notable effect of sleep loss. However, there are several other less-known effects of sleep loss that you should also take into account.
Surprisingly Unknown Effects Of Sleep Loss:
1. Sleep Deprivation Is A Public Hazard:
Sleep deprivation can be a significant factor in automobile accidents as a lack of sleep will slow down your time reaction quite similar to that of drunk driving. If that’s not enough to stress the health advantages of a good nights sleep, lack of sleep has been a massive factor in some of the most monumental disasters in more recent history such as the nuclear accident in 1979 at Three Mile Island as well as the disastrous nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl in 1986. Considering the lack of sleep greatly increases your chances of being involved in a car accident and work-related injuries, you should take pride in formulating a suitable sleep routine to ensure you are not endangering yourself and those around you.
2. Increased Risk Of Developing Serious Health Issues:
While chronic sleep disorders and sleep conditions will put you at an increased risk of developing serious health problems such as heart attack and cardiovascular conditions as well as high blood pressure, diabetes, and even stroke, the less serious health issues such as increased stress and anxiety are just as concerning. To improve the quality and consistency of your sleep you should consider whether or not your mattress is suitable for comfort and support. You can make use of mattress charts with a showcase of mattress sizes to better establish which mattress would be best for you. In addition to this, you should consider the benefits of natural sleep remedies, especially if you are battling to get enough sleep on a regular basis.
3. Risk Of Rapidly Aging Skin:
Even though it’s commonly known that a restless night will result in dark under-eye circles and a bit of puffiness, not everyone is aware of just how much lack of sleep can cause rapidly aging skin. According to studies, regular sleepless nights will age the rate at which your skin ages and as a result, you will notice fine lines, wrinkles, and sallow skin. The benefits of beauty sleep are definitely not a myth.
4. Memory Loss:
One of the best ways to keep your memory as sharp as possible is to get enough quality sleep as sleep deprivation has been a known culprit of memory loss. According to research conducted in 2009, brain functions referred to as “sharp wave ripples” are responsible for the consolidation of memory as these ripples are known to transfer learned information to an area of the brain where memory is then stored on a long-term basis. This brain function usually occurs while we are in the deeper levels of sleep, which means that quality sleep will, in fact, improve your brains’ ability to store information and effectively prevent forgetfulness.
Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.
Heroin addiction can be dangerous for the person itself and also other people who are around heroin-addicted people. As some international stats say, 13.5 million people in the world take opioids (opium-like substances), including 9.2 million who use heroin.
Drug addiction is a serious problem in different parts of the world. The problem gets even more serious because there is a tendency to relapse to drugs. Many people who are off drugs for the longest time, tend to drift back in after some time. If you wish to know more about the best relapse prevention plan, to helping you recover from heroin, you can contact the local recovery center in your region.
Four Effective Things To Recover From Heroin & Drug Addiction Treatment:
How does heroin works?
When a user takes a hit, greater possibilities are felt inside the brain within seconds. The human brain has receptors that suit terrifically with this drug. And when a user is at the peak of taking such drugs, they require growing skills that can help them to control the urge to use highly intense drugs, despite the brain’s vulnerability to the drug.
Red poppy plants are exceptionally beautiful, and they’re also highly profitable because it has a sticky element that can be withdrawn and processed into drugs. Among all the drugs, heroin is the most regular. However, Core-Intensive therapy, often advisable and provided named as- rehabilitation programs, these programs can help people to get out of that deadly phase.
The key is to identify the issue when and where the addiction starts and encourage people to enroll them in such programs.
We have collected for you four productive activities that can help you to recover from heroin and opiate:
How Are Drugs Deteriorating?
It is crucial to note down that maintaining soberness is not easy when addicted to heroin or any other high-intensive drugs. People with substance use disorders are 40-60 percent, and in some cases, even rehabs and detox don’t even work.
There are four primary types of programs that can help you to recover:
As the precise nature of substance-use disorders, it does not often show failure if you experience a setback. Instead, it implies that the course of treatment should be modified so that you can find a better plan that suits you.
Moreover, each addiction-free program should be personalized to meet the expectations of the patient’s unique situation best. Keep in mind what works for you when evaluating the several methods below.
Detoxification:
It is basic to understand, people with drug-disorders are given approaches to either outpatient or inpatient detox facilities without any follow-up or aftercare. However, getting only detoxification enhances the possibility of returning to overdosing or dynamic usage.
So, it is also vital to understand the significance of your diet while detoxing. You can try detoxing at home, or you can learn how to detox from ice at home but whatever method you decide, do consult the specialist. Such as eating foods like vegetables, wheat bran, beans, whole grains, and pea can produce symptoms of heroin detox, such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting less critical.
Short-Term Treatment:
This treatment is often based on a reorganized 12-step program. The actual program consisted of 3 to 6 weeks of inpatient treatment, followed by outpatient therapy and enrollment in a 12-step program.
However, this type of program might not be the perfect stream of action while trying to evacuate heroin.
Outpatient Treatment:
This type of therapy is generally affordable than residential treatment. It can differ in intensity. You must know that low-intensity outpatient treatment may be limited to drug awareness, while intensive day treatment can work the same as a residential one.
Make sure to do proper research as your chances of success depend on the efficiency of the program you select and how it benefits you.
Rehabilitation:
Therapeutic groups emphasize the idea that heroin use disorders take your life, so any attempt to rehab should socialize your whole personality. These communities aim to use residents, staff, and social and psychological areas for thriving to increase productivity, accountability, and responsibility.
There is a list of some medications that can be effective in the recovery:
Naloxone
Buprenorphine
Naltrexone
Methadone
Many other medicines help to deal with heroin addiction. However, consult the doctor before taking any medication as each has its pros and cons. Among the above, methadone is the most powerful, but consultation from the doctor is mandatory.
However, from all the programs above, it is up to you to decide which path is best suited to make yourself free from heroin!
Read Also:
4 Tips To Find An Effective Drug Therapy
Cannabis Can Help In The Fight Against Drug Addiction
How To Know If You Have An Addiction: 7 Common Signs
Is Someone You Know Suffering From A Benzodiazepine Addiction? Here’s How To Know
We hear a lot about drug abuse in the news, especially when it comes to opioids and painkillers. But, benzodiazepine abuse and addiction have also increased in recent years. In 2015, there were more than 8,000 benzodiazepine-related deaths.
Death and serious complications rarely result from benzodiazepine use alone. In most addiction and overdose cases, other drugs are also involved -- usually opiates. Whether alone or with other drugs, benzodiazepine abuse exists, and it is dangerous.
Are you wondering whether someone you know is suffering from benzodiazepine addiction? We can guide you through recognizing the addiction and offering support. Read on for answers to your questions benzodiazepines and addiction.
What is a Benzodiazepine?
A benzodiazepine is a sedative drug. Doctors prescribe benzodiazepines - also known as benzos - to help relieve symptoms of anxiety. The drugs can also help with seizures, muscle spasms, and even alcohol withdrawal.
Benzodiazepines were actually introduced to replace dangerous barbiturates. When people began abusing barbituates, benzodiazepines like Xanax, Valium, and Ativan came along. Unfortunately, people started to abuse these drugs as well.
What are Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Addiction?
Benzos work by depressing the central nervous system. This makes users feel sedated and relaxed. Over time, people may become tolerant and need higher doses, and then develop a dependence.
Chronic use of benzodiazepines can have long-term effects on physical and mental health. Dependent users may have gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal issues. They may show symptoms of depression or suicidal behavior.
Someone addicted to benzodiazepines may feel drowsy and dizzy. They may seem confused, have poor concentration, and slurred speech. If they overdose, they can become unresponsive to the point of a coma.
What are the Behavioral Warning Signs of Abuse?
Like other drug and alcohol abuse, benzo abuse may result in behavioral symptoms. People close to the addict will notice these changes. Substance abuse often shifts personal traits.
An addict may withdraw from friends and family. They may skirt responsibilities. Addicts are often secretive about their schedules.
To keep a high volume of their drug on hand, addicts often "doctor shop." They will get prescriptions from different doctors and fill them at different pharmacies. They may also borrow or steal money to pay for their drugs.
How Can Benzodiazepine Addicts Recover?
Often times the hardest step to recovery is to admit the problem. Once an addict recognizes they have a drug issue, they may be willing to get help from friends and family. They'll need outpatient care from a doctor or at a treatment center like Inspire Malibu.
To prevent withdrawal and seizers, the reduction of benzodiazepines will be gradual. This method offers more promising results than quitting cold turkey. It's also advised to see a psychiatrist throughout recovery and even after.
How Can Former Addicts Stay Clean and Healthy?
Doctors encourage recovering addicts, including those suffering from a benzodiazepine addiction, to adopt healthy lifestyles to help prevent relapses. This includes healthy eating, exercise, and other positive habits. You can learn more about healthy lifestyle habits on our blog.
Read about things to help reduce stress, unhealthy foods to avoid, and more.
Or, browse for more information on addiction and recovery. We have tips on staging interventions, information about outpatient treatment, and other topics.
Read Also:
Cannabis Can Help In The Fight Against Drug Addiction
Is Outpatient Treatment For Drug And Alcohol Addiction Effective?
You might have heard the term “functioning alcoholic” and wondered what it even means. Then you might be searching the meaning of the term and what it means to be a functional alcoholic. Then let's throw some light on the meaning of functioning alcoholic for your better understanding.
We often relate alcoholism with people who are addicted and unable to function properly in their lives. This stereotype of alcoholic individuals seems to be not accurate. This is because several individuals who are alcoholics seem to function properly and deal with their daily tasks properly.
If this is the case then why are these individuals living a regular life while being alcoholic? While other groups of alcoholic people are addicted to alcohol but cannot function properly because of their addiction.
Therefore in this article, we not only discuss what is a functioning alcoholic but also how they differ from those with more visible signs of alcohol dependency.
Perception About Individuals Battling Addiction
Your concept or perception of an alcoholic will change when you learn how a functioning alcoholic person works. They are capable of living or maintaining a normal life while battling alcohol addiction.
At one glance you might not even know this person might be alcoholic as they are capable of doing all their daily duties smoothly. Therefore, why was this term created which means someone who is functioning even when dealing with addiction?
This challenges the common stereotype of an alcoholic person who lives an undisciplined and disheveled life. The term “functioning alcoholic” could be used to describe a person’s condition but it is not officially recognized.
In the field of psychiatry, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) doesn't recognize this term officially. However, several professionals use this term to describe a specific alcoholic person's condition.
So understanding the phenomenon of the functioning alcoholic is important as it helps identify people who are going through this hardship. When you recognize a functional alcoholic you can help them get the right treatment which will get them better.
More often than not, functioning alcoholics hide their struggles with addiction while maintaining a normal facade. So, it becomes harder for you to recognize them and get them correctly diagnosed. Therefore you must read this article to know how to identify a functioning alcoholic. So that you can help them get the right treatment for recovery.
What Is A Functioning Alcoholic?
A functioning alcoholic is someone who appears to live a normal life while dealing with alcohol addiction. These individuals you will observe can do all the regular tasks and maintain a lifestyle without alcohol overriding their lives.
Even being addicted to alcohol they can hold down a job and fulfill family obligations. Not only that they can excel in some areas of their lives without alcohol overriding their entire life. Therefore, it becomes hard for you to identify these individuals who look perfectly normal from the outside while dealing with addiction.
These individuals know how to keep their professional and social lives separate from their addiction. You see, functional alcoholics are aware of their alcoholic addiction which helps them hide it easily. They become skilled at hiding their shortcomings from the world.
However, this addiction of a functioning alcoholic does not affect anyone other than themselves. It does affect their own lives if kept unchecked in the long run. As they continue to hide their struggle with alcohol it becomes much more troublesome as time goes on.
Functioning Alcoholics Live In The Grey Area Of Addiction
A functioning alcoholic lives in the grey area of addiction where addiction coexists with competence. While they are functioning like a regular individual they also hide their addiction from their friends, family, or colleagues. So, they operate much more separately than an alcoholic consumed with addiction and a normal non-alcoholic.
So how will you recognize a functioning alcoholic when they are living just like any ordinary person? You see functioning alcoholics often rationalize their drinking habits as rewards for their accomplishments. So, if they can get their work done they reward themselves. Again if they do their duty towards their family they would reward themselves with a drink.
Again their coping mechanism of dealing with the stress of daily responsibilities is through alcohol. So when they accomplish their responsibilities day-to-day they reward themselves with alcohol.
But this facade of normalcy is fragile as they become more dependent on alcohol over time. As they start to deal with life problems with alcohol, this results in psychological issues.
Maintaining a long-term facade of alcohol addiction is not the only problem a functional alcoholic faces but health problems too.
High Functioning Alcoholism vs. Traditional Alcohol Use Disorder
Traditionally you could identify an alcoholic person from their visible signs of dysfunctions. These dysfunctional problems were frequent performance issues, relationship problems, and deteriorating health.
In contrast, high-functioning alcoholics may lead seemingly successful lives, masking their dependency behind a façade of competence. They may hold prestigious positions, maintain social connections, and even drink expensive wine without raising suspicion.
Despite their ability to keep up appearances, high-functioning alcoholics often deal with a significant internal struggle. They might spend considerable effort hiding the extent of their drinking from others and themselves.
This can involve elaborate routines to cover up the smell of alcohol and secret drinking sessions. Again a functional alcoholic persistently worries about being discovered because of their addiction.
You will see that the stress of maintaining a double life can be extremely problematic in the long run. In the long-term, this coping mechanism with alcohol can only affect negatively both physically and mentally.
Along with the stress of hiding addiction with alcohol and dealing with life’s problems a functioning alcoholic is bound to break down at some point. This will lead to their worst fear of revealing their true nature.
It's this dual existence that differentiates high-functioning alcoholism from other overt alcohol use disorders. Other alcohol disorders are more visible due to their impact on an individual's life.
Recognizing The Signs Of Alcohol Abuse
There are significant risks to being a functional alcoholic despite its outward appearance. Because their pattern of drinking can be more than seven drinks per week. This leads to health risks in the long term. Again continuous dependence on alcohol to deal with life can have adverse effects on the person’s psychology.
From binge drinking episodes to the inability to stop drinking despite its negative consequences can be some of the recognized risks of alcohol addiction. They may also experience withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit or cut back on alcohol consumption.
Recognizing signs of a high-functioning alcoholic can be challenging as they are good at hiding their addiction. Therefore, it's essential to identify these individuals and get them diagnosed correctly and get these individuals treated.
It's important to note that these behaviors can be subtle and easily overlooked, especially when the individual is still managing to fulfill their personal and professional obligations. Over time you will see that the consequences of high-functioning alcoholism become visible.
Be it strained relationships, personality changes, mental health issues, and physical health problems related to alcohol abuse. You will start to see its effects on a functional alcoholic.
Risk Factors And Consequences
Certain factors can increase the likelihood of high-functioning alcoholism, including genetic predisposition, environmental influences, and untreated mental health issues.
While they may avoid some of the immediate consequences associated with traditional alcoholism, such as job loss or legal troubles, high-functioning alcoholics are still at risk for severe health problems, including certain cancers and mental health issues.
These health problems can include liver disease, heart disease, and neurological impairments that may not become evident until later in life. The psychological consequences are equally concerning, potentially leading to depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders that can deteriorate the quality of life.
Moreover, high-functioning alcoholics may face social consequences over time, such as eroded trust in relationships, marital strife, and a gradual withdrawal from social activities as they prioritize alcohol over personal connections.
Despite maintaining a veneer of normalcy, the cumulative effect of these risk factors and consequences can lead to a tipping point where the individual's ability to function at a high level is compromised.
It is crucial to recognize these long-term risks and understand that the lack of immediate, visible consequences does not diminish the urgency for intervention and treatment.
Seeking Support And Treatment For The High Functioning Alcoholic
Addressing high-functioning alcoholism requires a comprehensive approach involving medical professionals, support groups, and rehab centers in Los Angeles, specializing in addiction medicine.
Loved ones play a crucial role in encouraging their family members or close relatives to seek help, but it's essential to approach the situation with empathy and understanding. Initiating this conversation can be delicate, as it often involves breaking through a wall of denial built up by the individual over time.
Friends and family need to be informed about the nature of high-functioning alcoholism, to offer non-judgmental support, and to avoid enabling behaviors that can perpetuate the addiction.
The process of seeking support often begins with an honest self-assessment or an intervention by concerned loved ones. This step is vital in helping the individual recognize the extent of their problem and the impact it has on their life and the lives of those around them.
Professional interventionists can be instrumental in this phase, providing the guidance needed to navigate what can be a highly charged situation. Once the individual acknowledges the need for help, the next step involves finding the right treatment program.
Treatment can range from outpatient therapy sessions that accommodate the individual's work schedule. Or a more intensive inpatient program where you will be required to take a temporary step back from daily responsibilities.
The choice of treatment should be tailored to the individual's specific circumstances, taking into account their level of addiction, personal responsibilities, and the presence of any co-occurring mental health conditions.
Throughout the recovery journey, ongoing support is essential for maintaining sobriety. Aftercare programs and sober living communities offer continued guidance and support, helping the individual to reintegrate into their daily life with new coping skills and a renewed focus on health and wellness.
Support And Treatment Facilities
Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous provide a vital lifeline for individuals struggling with alcohol use disorders, offering a sense of community and understanding.
These groups facilitate peer-to-peer support and shared experiences, creating a space where individuals can speak openly about their struggles without fear of judgment.
Treatment facilities offer residential treatment or outpatient tailored programs designed to address the unique needs of high-functioning alcoholics, providing medical supervision during the withdrawal process and equipping them with coping strategies for maintaining sobriety.
These facilities often employ a multidisciplinary approach, combining medical treatment, psychological counseling, and behavioral therapy to address the complex nature of addiction. The programs may include individual therapy sessions, group therapy, educational workshops on addiction, and relapse prevention planning.
In addition to traditional treatment methods, some facilities offer holistic therapies such as meditation, yoga, and art therapy, recognizing the importance of treating the whole person.
The Importance Of Mental Health Resources
Recognizing that alcoholism is not solely a physical dependency but also a mental health problem is crucial. Access to more mental health resources, including therapy and counseling, can help individuals address underlying issues contributing to their alcohol use and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
These resources are vital in treating the emotional and psychological aspects of alcoholism, which often include stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders that may co-occur with substance abuse.
By providing a supportive environment for open discussion about mental health, individuals can gain insights into the emotional triggers that lead to drinking and learn new strategies for managing these triggers.
Therapy can also assist in repairing relationships damaged by alcohol abuse, rebuilding trust, and improving communication skills. In addition, counseling can offer guidance on how to establish a balanced life. You can set achievable goals, and create a supportive network that fosters their long-term recovery.
Treatment programs need to integrate mental health services as a core component of addiction recovery, called dual diagnosis treatment. This integration ensures that individuals receive a holistic approach to their treatment, addressing all facets of their well-being.
As society continues to destigmatize mental health issues, the hope is that more people will feel empowered to seek the help they need without fear of judgment or stigma.
Ultimately, enhancing the availability and accessibility of mental health resources is a critical step in supporting the recovery journey of functioning alcoholics. Their lasting sobriety helps improve their mental health issues.
High Functioning Alcoholics: Is There Such A Thing?
High-functioning alcoholics can often seem to have it all together, balancing significant responsibilities while battling their addiction in silence.
They are typically individuals who, despite heavy drinking, seem to lead productive lives. They often excel in their careers, maintain social relationships, and uphold daily routines.
This can make it difficult for others and sometimes even for the individuals themselves to recognize the problem. as their success often masks the underlying issues.
We can help individuals struggling with high-functioning alcoholism by raising awareness and providing support. This will help them regain control of their lives and improve their overall life.
Conclusion
It's crucial to understand that high-functioning alcoholism is a real and serious condition. When you acknowledge its existence you take the first step towards addressing the unique challenges it presents.
With the right resources and support systems, you can improve functioning alcoholic individuals to live a life free from alcohol. You can find them the help they need to recover from alcohol dependency.
Therefore you need to know about functional alcoholism and identify functional alcoholic individuals.
Read Also:
10 Reasons To Stop Drinking Alcohol Today
Can Vaping Really Help You Kick Your Smoking Habit?
The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Non-Alcoholic Spirits
Famous Alcoholics And The Symptoms Of Their Addiction
