There are three factors that are combining to make marijuana the most commonly used illicit drug in America.

1. The popular press.

2. The devotion and militarism of marijuana smokers themselves.

3. The progressive legalization of the drug.

Skipping the rhetoric of legalization, an individual’s right to abuse themselves etc., I believe it is more productive to look at scientific evidence. Is marijuana dangerous to a person’s health? The scientific facts unequivocally say it is. Skip the socio-politico debate, your body is not designed to operate under the influence of marijuana.

Short-term effects of marijuana usage:

The chemical in marijuana that actually gets a person high isdelta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. It acts on cannabinoid receptors in the brain.

The location of these receptors is important in determining what affects marijuana smoking has on behavior. These cannabinoid receptors are most numerous in the parts of the brain that affect pleasure, memory, concentration coordination and time perception. This makes sense since these are the typical behavioral indicators of someone who is high on marijuana. THC is a poison.

Long-term effects of using marijuana:

Research has shown that marijuana’s adverse impact on learning and memory can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off. Marijuana contains approximately triple the amount of tar found in cigarette smoke and marijuana smoke contains 50–70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than does tobacco smoke. Marijuana. Is that in the THC affects the immune system which can cause many body malfunctions. Studies have shown that there is increased risk of difficulty with narrow logical development in babies were born to mothers who smoked marijuana during their pregnancy.

Long-term marijuana abuse can lead to addiction; that is, compulsive drug seeking and abuse despite its known harmful effects upon social functioning in the context of family, school, work, and recreational activities.

Technorati Tags: Cannabis, Cannabis smoking, marijauna, Tetrahydrocannabinol

What is addictive thinking? Well, the answer is actually quite simple. It is the bridge that allows us to deny what we intellectually know to be true and allows us to continue to engage in addictive substance use.

Intellectually, virtually every addict knows that drinking and drugging is not good for them. At some level they realize that their life is in shambles, they are putting poison in their bodies, health, relationships, and finances are rapidly deteriorating. These are intellectual facts that are difficult to ignore. But the reality is that an addict wants to continue drinking and drugging. How can they make this possible when they know is not a genius thing to be doing?

The answer is to employ addictive thinking.

Addictive thinking is simply the BS, blather, and fantasies that make it appear to be okay or even logical continue to drink and drug. Here are some examples:

1. I’m not that bad.

2. I deserve it.

3. I don’t have a problem, you have a problem.

4. Nobody can tell me what to do, I have a right to do whatever I want.

5. The only person I’m hurting as myself.

6. This is the only way I can have fun.

These addictive thoughts are repeated so often the addict actually believes them to be true. The strange thing about addictive thinking is the one coldly in a reasonably challenged, they fall apart and disintegrate quite readily. For instance, let’s take this statement “I deserve it”. On the surface it appears to make sense but do you really deserve the poisoning your body? T. really deserve to be inflicting pain and hurt on the people you love? Do you really deserve to have low self-esteem, shame and anger as a daily companion?

The trick to combating addictive thinking is to challenge the veracity and reality of the thought. Ask yourself is this really true? One defining principle of addiction that makes challenging addictive thinking very difficult is that addictive thinking and denial go hand-in-hand. The deeper the entrenchment of the addictive thoughts and thought processes the deeper the denial and the more difficult to break through.

• Dopamine: why it’s so hard to “just say no” (psychologytoday.com)

Technorati Tags: Addiction, addictive-thinking, substance-abuse

Is self hypnosis a effective tool? Do you have goals you want reach? Are you interested in improving yourself? Can I really stop those bad habits? To the answers to these and many other self hynosis questions read further.

Self hypnosis is usually thought of as a person listening to an audio program intended to induce a willingness to absorb suggestions centered around a specific topic such as weight loss, stop smoking, etc. Unfortunately, this kind of self hypnosis is generally prepared by someone who has never even met the person being hypnotized.

For example, if you sunburn easily, that last thing you want to hear about is a slow walk on a hot beach. In this case, the “self” in self hypnosis simply means that you listen to it by yourself. How do you incorporate self improvement to hypnosis? To be able to go about self improvement, there are certain aspects in you that should be addressed. Using hypnosis, the negative aspects that are serving as hindrances to improvement must be removed entirely.

To be really effective self hypnosis should necessarily be designed and created by the very person who will ultimately use and benefit from it. Unlike the mass-produced hypnosis, this self hypnosis is made for the exact purpose the person desires, including the exact words and phrases that mean the most to that particular person.

The true self hypnosis is thus crafted by the person to suit his or her own needs. The benefits derived could only be accomplished with such a personal, one-of-a-kind hypnosis. In this case, the “self” in self hypnosis really means what it says.

Below is a short view of the self hypnotic process. Though lots of variations of this method have been used, these are the basic steps you have to go through in order to hypnotize yourself to accomplish self improvement.

1. Position your goals from the most important goal to the less important in that order. If all possible, your goals should be measurable.

2. For each goal, you should formulate fitting suggestions which means you have to convert your goals into specific instructions to your subconscious mind on how to achieve each goal you want to reach.

3. Relax yourself. Use the first few minutes of your self hypnotic session to get as relaxed as possible. Try to forget all your problems.

4. Start your hypnotic initiation phase by saying and repeating out loud the hypnotic words you have chosen, thinking of these words or listening to a hypnotic tape or CD customized for your hypnotic needs.

Before you start up your self hypnotic exercises you should make a time schedule for it. Do your hypnotic sessions every day, five minutes a day is enough. Repeat your suggestions as often as possible during the day. Measure your progress. Are you closer to your goal now than you were before you started? Ask yourself.

If you answer negative to these questions, you must rethink and reorganize your train of thoughts. This is the only way you can find out if this method is really helping you in achieving your self improvement goals. If you want more help. There are good sites out there. You might want to tryamazing hypnosis resources. Self improvement is now within your reach.

Todd Schuyler writes about topics that will motivate you to reach your goals. Do you want to use the power of self hypnosis to stop bad habits or self improvement? You need to visit self hypnosis success secrets to learn how to self hypnotize effectively.

Technorati Tags: hypnosis, hypnotize, Positive Attitude, Self-Improvement, stop bad habits, stop-smoking

Some rules of addiction recovery are Golden, they should be taken into account forever instead of forgotten. These are useful and important trail markers to guide us and help us stay always on the right track.

As you define your goals, begin looking for the Golden Rules that connect with it. Chart your course by these Golden Rules and permit them to steer you to achievement and success.

Golden Rules, the 5 best ones for building a social support network.

Golden Rule # 1, you cannot do it on your own. The key reason why you might like to do that is gathering a large and varied support network is crucial. Remember, every time you tried to quit and stay sober alone, it failed. Addiction is a disease of isolation; recovery is about connection with others.

Golden Rule # 2, find and utilize people who are successfully in long term recovery. Follow those are actually doing it not just talking the talk. This might affect you down the road because without friends, isolation can take over. Isolation and boredom are breeding grounds for addiction.  Be sure and remember that there are millions in recovery and you could be one of them if you do what they do.

Golden Rule # 3, try out a few different support groups. 12 step meetings have been found to be very effective. Just about every treatment center recommends them as a foundation of social support. Why? They work. There are various reasons you should do this carefully. It is important because if the first meeting you go to doesn’t suit, you may give up on the entire idea of support groups instead of simply finding one more to your liking

Golden Rule # 4, Make sure that the professional support people on your life such as counselors and doctors know the whole story. Addiction causes changes in our body and mind; do not keep addiction history from them.

Golden Rule # 5, Enlist the support of your family but realize they cannot be your only support. Addiction is a family disease and they may have their own issues to work on such as anger, enabling or codependency. You may accomplish this by opening communication with them and setting some limits and boundaries. You need to work on your issues. They need to work on theirs. They may help but cannot take them on and solve them. This may make a difference to you as it empowers your own recovery and is a method to keep you accountable.

Follow these golden rules to develop a large and varied social support network and you will probably find your life easier, your progress rapid as well as your successes more frequent. Addiction recovery can certainly be done with the aid and support of people around you. Alone, it is next to impossible.

Technorati Tags: addictions, Codependency, substance-abuse, Support group, Twelve-step program

Tobacco is an addictive mood altering substance and for alcoholics and drug addicts in recovery, it is a no-no.Studies have shown that smokers of cigarettes relapse back into drug and/or alcohol at a much, much higher rate than non-smokers.

When people are addicted, they have a compulsive need to seek out and use a substance, even when they understand the harm it can cause. Tobacco products—cigarettes, cigars or pipes, and smokeless tobacco—all can lead to addiction. Everyone knows that smoking is bad for you, and most people that do it want to quit. In fact, nearly 35 million people make a serious attempt to quit each year. Unfortunately, most who try to quit on their own relapse—often within a week.

Is Nicotine Addictive?

Yes. It is actually the nicotine in tobacco that is addictive. Each cigarette contains about 10 milligrams of nicotine. Because the smoker inhales only some of the smoke from a cigarette, and not all of each puff is absorbed in the lungs, a smoker gets about 1 to 2 milligrams of the drug from each cigarette. Although that may not seem like much, it is enough to make someone addicted.

Is Nicotine the Only Harmful Part of Tobacco?

No. Nicotine is only one of more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which are poisonous, found in the smoke from tobacco products. Smokeless tobacco products also contain many toxins, as well as high levels of nicotine. Many of these other ingredients are things we would never consider putting in our bodies, like tar, carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde, and nitrosamines. Tar causes lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial diseases. Carbon monoxide causes heart problems, which is one reason why smokers are at high risk for heart disease.

Technorati Tags: Addiction, Tobacco, tobacco addiction, Tobacco smoking

One of the fascinating things about studying addiction is that nobody can agree on a definition.

The biopsychosocial model of looking at addiction is an attempt to broaden the older, traditional view of addiction as strictly a medical problem. It was thought that by forcing people to look at it in a multidimensional aspect accuracy of diagnosis and treatment could be improved.

The medical people had their spin on it, the 12-step people had their definition, and neurobiological scientists are starting to discover new features. A more comprehensive way of looking at things is the biopsychosocial model of addiction. What exactly is that?

Well, the clue is in the name. It is an attempt to describe the complexity of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social features of addiction. They are basically saying they each component is insufficient unto its own to explain addiction.

The biological aspects take into account the genetic and inherited components of addiction, as well as the effects of addiction on the body itself. It also includes the neurobiological and neurobehavioral theories and studies, that are becoming predominant studying addiction. With the advent of brain scanning technology such as MRI scans, CAT scans, and SPECT scans, a whole new world of knowledge is opening up.

Psychological components of the disease of addiction are related to the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors surrounding and generated by addiction. Psychologists have looked at addiction through psychoanalytic theory, social learning theory, classical conditioning theory, as well as personality theory. The psychological component has gained importance recently because of the fact that people diagnosed with addiction more often then not have a co-occurring mental health diagnoses such as depression, anxiety, or disordered eating.

The social component of the biopsychosocial theory of addiction focuses on families and relationships. Unquestionably addiction has a negative effect on how the addict relates to the world and people around him. Socail theories include family systems theory, social systems theory, and even cultural or anthropological theories.

Viewing will addiction in a multidimensional way is instrumental in getting a well-rounded view of both the problems generated by addiction and the areas that need to be addressed in treatment. Recently, some people have added the spiritual component to this multidimensional approach actually making it a biopsychosocialspiritual look at addiction.

Technorati Tags: Addiction, Biopsychosocial disease, Biopsychosocial model, substance-abuse

Most people who have no direct connection with using drugs find it very difficult to understand the illness of addiction and the process of drug abuse recovery. And, to make matters worse, there are some common generalized myths about drug addiction and drug use that have become firmly rooted in society. In this article we will take a look at some common myths with the object of dispelling them.

1. The person using the drugs is bad and makes a choice for that lifestyle.

The choice to initially experiment with the drugs is definitely within the user. But then certain factors assert themselves that are beyond the control of the drug addicted person, such as genetic factors. At some point in using drugs they “crossed the line” into addiction. At that point they have lost the ability to control their use of drugs, and the phenomenon of obsession and compulsion to use take over their entire life. They prioritize drug use above all else, even family and work. Ironically, it does not mean they do not love their family, they are mesmerized by the drug.

2. Stopping drug use means just saying no.

While ultimately the goal is to never use drugs, being in complete abstinence, is not as easy as simply saying no. In order to be successful, the person must be physically detoxed from the drug. They need to address triggers and situations which led them to use drugs to begin with. Next they need to find a new way of life, living skills, and communication skills to handle the ups and down of life without resorting to drug use. If drugs were providing relief to life situations, we need to work on skills to handle life situations. This takes time and education.

3. You can’t force people into treatment; it has to be their own choice.

Eventually the person has and must make the ultimate decision to become abstinent and stay sober, this is true. However, studies have shown that people entering treatment through interventions, the power of a court order, or other involuntary means have the same outcome rates as people who voluntarily entered treatment. Many people who are “forced” were backed into a corner to enter treatment come to the realization while they are there that their problem is significant. They may become agreeable about dealing with it. The fact is, treatment works.

4. Once a person completes treatment or rehab they are done.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact of the matter is that maintaining longtime abstinence and sobriety involves a lifelong process of maintaining awareness. A metaphor might be riding a bicycle uphill. As long as you apply force and effort you will continue to move forward uphill, but as soon as you stop peddling the pull of gravity is toward falling down or a slide toward the bottom. A drug addict’s natural pull is to use drugs. There must be a constant effort and awareness applied against that natural tendency.

Technorati Tags: Addiction, drug abuse recovery, drug-abuse, drug-addiction, Drugs

The fancy psychological term for this quick and easy motivation tool for helping people to help themselves with alcoholism and drug addiction recovery is called decisional balancing. It may sound complex, but it is really very simple.

Decisional balancing simply means weighing the costs and the benefits of using or drinking. The object of this quick exercise is to list the pros and cons, the pluses and minuses of using or continuing to use alcohol and drugs.

Simply sit down with a piece of paper and pen and draw a line down the center of the paper forming two columns on the first column lists benefits or pluses of drinking and driving and the next column lists drawbacks were negative consequences of drinking or drugging.

Then just do a brain dump. Just start writing don’t worry about how important or how silly anything sounds just get it all out. We will look at content later.

In the benefits column you might have things like it numbs the pain, I like to get high, it helps me to forget, I feel like I can do more, it helps me to get in. In the negative consequences site you might have it costs a lot of money, I went to jail, it might be causing my depression and anxiety, my health is going down, destroying my relationships.

Now that you have the lists done, they’re a couple questions to ask yourself. The first question is how different are the two lists? Compare the two columns and see if the benefits are still outweighing the negative consequences. Most people will find that the benefits that they use to get out of drinking and drugging I’m no longer occurring, while the negative consequences for the minuses list is growing and growing.

The next couple of questions you should ask when comparing the two lists is how much time does the drinking and drugging occupying your life? Are you spending the vast majority of your life either looking for the high, getting high, or recovering from the high? You might even be doing it to the point where you gave up activities which he used to find enjoyable. That is a sign of addiction.

The final important question to analyze an answer is are you addicted to the drinking and drugging and are you objected to the lifestyle you are currently maintaining, or trying to maintain? How is it working for you?

If the answers to these questions are causing concern it might be time to ramp up the motivation to change. One of the most insidious background features of drug and alcohol addiction the fact that it keeps us” stuck”. We come to believe that we have lost the power to change. But that is not true. The ability to change ourselves and our reaction to life in the situations around us is a fundamental quality of being human.

Is it time for you to change?

Technorati Tags: Addiction, Alcoholism, decisional balancing, drug-addiction, substance-abuse

There are a lot of smokers that are generally shunned away because of their habit. Well, what if you could enjoy a cigarette regardless of where you are, and not have one person say anything about it? An electronic cigarette will give you the ability to smoke whenever you desire to.

These cigarettes are known by many different names such as
smokeless cigarette ore-cigarettes . These electrified cigarettes are actually making the world a better place. The electronic devices are designed to simulate smoking, and a lot of smokers actually feel as though they are engaging in smoking, every time that they smoke one of these devices.

The cigarettes look, feel and even taste like the real thing. Aside from all of these features that these cigarettes have, they are also a lot safer for you to use. The electrified devices actually do not burn any tobacco at all, thus making them highly effective and safe to use.

Individuals that choose to smoke these cigarettes inhale water vapors instead of smoke. These vapors include nicotine, propylene glycol as well as a tobacco scent that is simulated as well. When you begin to suck with your mouth, the water vapors are released into your lungs, which emulate an actual smoking sensation.

The electronic devices do not have any glue or tar added to them. Aside from not having any additives added to these tubes, there is also no tobacco that has been added either. Without any tobacco added to these tubes, your chances of obtaining cancer are actually diminished.

People also can smoke these cigarettes wherever they want to. The cigarettes do not emit any type of smoke out of them. So, you can easily smoke one of these vapor filled tubes in any place that you desire. Everything is locked inside of the tube that the devices come in, the only way to release the water vapors is to suck on the tubes. The vapors will not release harmful toxins into the air.

The electronic devices come with refillable nicotine cartridges. Aside from having these cartridges, you can also decide on the type of nicotine that you want to consume. The nicotine flavors range from regular, menthol flavored and even an apple or strawberry flavored nicotine product as well.

Believe it or not, there are a lot of people that have managed to find a way to cease their smoking habits. These electronic devices are not meant to be a smoking cessation, but they are meant to be a smoking alternative. With the ability to be able to change the nicotine strengths that you consume, you will be able to gradually decrease your nicotine consumption.

Nicotine patches and other oral pills typically do not individuals quit smoking. However, with these electronic devices assisting you with your desire to quit, you will still be able to treasure smoking a cigarette without being adversely affected by the additives that are put into these cigarettes. You will be able to satisfy your desire to smoke, and also help curve some of your tobacco cravings.

Find more information and details on the benefits of using an electronic cigarette today! When you want to add distinction to your experience, using a Blu Electronic Cigarette will give you the unique look and feel of a regular cigarette.

Technorati Tags: consumer products, quit smoking, Self-Improvement, shopping-product-reviews, smoking, stop-smoking

It is impossible for someone to stop using drugs or alcohol, and get clean and sober against their will, until they are ready to do so.

From their family’s point of view, this is a very difficult thing to accept. The often equate continuation of drug or alcohol use with a lack of love. For instance, they say to the addict, ‘If you loved me you would stop”. The addict doesn’t stop; so the only conclusion to be drawn is that the addict no longer loves the family. This is a misconception. The reality is the love is still there, but the obsession and compulsion which are integral parts of addiction I become so strong they will overrule emotions, logical thinking ability, and common sense.

From the addicted person’s point of view hearing, the message hundreds of times that they need to stop drinking and drugging will simply cause them to shut that person out and listen to nothing at all. One reason addicts become isolated is that they simply do not want to hear what they know is true, that they need to stop drinking and drugging, it is killing them. They attempt to shut out the world except for sources of drug and alcohol supply.

Unfortunately, there seem to be two ways that an addict becomes receptive to help. The first is that a tragedy this up close and personal occurs. It is like a slap in the face that gets their attention. They lose a job, a spouse walks out, they become injured or shot. The second way that some addicts become open to receiving help is they simply get ‘sick and tired of being sick and tired’ this happens very slowly over time, it usually takes years. Neither scenario is pleasant to consider for either the addict or the family, but it is reality.

Family members usually believe they have a duty to save their loved one. The reality has no one can say an addicted person except that person. Recovery is an inside out job. At a certain point family members have to let go, and detach with love. If they become too involved, they can actually become an enabling factor in the continuation of the drug use. There is a saying that family members can ’love them to death’.

If you have a loved one or friend who is actively involved in drugs or alcohol in his refusing to acknowledge their problem or get help, if you think you might be too involved we recommend you getting help for your situation. Seek counseling. There support groups that are designed to provide information and social support for families of people involved in alcoholism and addiction. We recommend Al Anon and Nar Anon. if your loved one will accept help, get help for yourself.

What Is Comorbidity?

“Comorbidity” is a term used to describe two or more disorders or illnesses occurring in the same person. They can occur at the same time or one after the other. Comorbidity also implies interactions between the illnesses that can worsen the course of both.

Is Drug Addiction a Mental Illness?

Yes, addiction changes the brain in fundamental ways, disturbing a person’s normal hi­erarchy of needs and desires and substituting new priorities con­nected with procuring and using the drug. The resulting compulsive behaviors that weaken the abil­ity to control impulses, despite the consequences, are similar to hall­marks of other mental illnesses.

How Common Are Comorbid Drug Addiction and Other Mental Illnesses?

Many people who are addicted to drugs are also diagnosed with other mental disorders and vice versa. For example, compared with the general population, people addicted to drugs are roughly twice as likely to suffer from mood and anxiety disorders, with the reverse also true.*

Why Do These Disorders Often Co-occur?

Although drug use disorders commonly occur with other mental illnesses, this does not mean that one caused the other, even if one appeared first. In fact, establishing causality or even directionality (i.e., which came first) can be difficult. However, research suggests the following possibilities for their co-occurrence:

Drug abuse may bring about symptoms of another mental illness. Increased risk of psychosis in some marijuana users suggests this possibility.

Mental disorders can lead to drug abuse, possibly as a means of “self-medication.” Patients suffering from anxiety or depression may rely on alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs to temporarily alleviate their symptoms.  
These disorders could also be caused by common risk factors, such as—

Overlapping genetic vulnerabilities. Common genetic factors may make a person susceptible to both addiction and other mental disorders or to having a greater risk of a second disorder once the first appears.

Overlapping environmental triggers. Stress, trauma (such as physical or sexual abuse), and early exposure to drugs are common factors that can lead to addiction and other mental illnesses.

Involvement of similar brain regions. Brain systems that respond to reward and stress, for example, are affected by drugs of abuse and may show abnormalities in patients who have certain mental disorders.
Drug use disorders and other mental illnesses are developmental disorders.

That means they often begin in the teen years or even younger—periods when the brain experiences dramatic developmental changes. Early exposure to drugs of abuse may change the brain in ways that increase the risk for mental disorders. Also, early symptoms of a mental disorder may indicate an increased risk for later drug use.

“If you want to create an addict, abuse them as a child.”

That quote will always stick in my mind. I was at a professional conference for drug addiction education when the presenter made the correlation between addiction and child abuse. It has now come to light that there is a growing trend among parents’ to use drugs to quiet or calm down their children. To me, this is child abuse at its worst.

Exactly what lessons are parents teaching their children about drugs? What damage are they doing to their developing brain and biological systems? I get sad, terrified and angry just thinking about it. Here is an excerpt from a recent study and press release:

“Child abuse is a serious problem that affects nearly one million children a year in the United States alone. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Department of Health and Human Services classify child abuse into four categories including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. None of these categories, however, clearly includes the abusive use of drugs on children. A study soon to be published in the Journal of Pediatrics investigates the malicious use of pharmaceuticals and attempts to shed light on this under-recognized problem.

Dr. Shan Yin from the University of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Poison Drug Center at Denver Health reviewed cases of pharmaceutical abuse reported to the National Poison Data System between 2000 and 2008. Dr. Yin included reports of the malicious use of alcohol, painkillers, cough and cold medicines, sedatives and sleeping pills, and antipsychotic medicines.

Of the more than 1400 cases studied, nearly 14% resulted in moderate to major consequences, including death. Nearly one-half of the abused children were exposed to at least one sedative. An average of 160 cases, including two deaths, was reported each year. Motives and legal findings were unavailable for these particular cases; however, motives for the abusive use of drugs generally are varied, and can include punishment, amusement, or a wish for a break from childcare responsibilities.”

It is my belief that as a society, we are becoming more and more accepting of medicating discomfort and normal behavior rather than illness and disease. Even in popular TV shows the old phrase “go chill out” has become “go take a Xanax”. The trend is creating more and more people struggling with addiction.

Technorati Tags: Child abuse, drugs for children, Pharmaceutical drug, Psychological abuse

Can you easily discuss with anyone and go away an excellent impression? Using good dialog subjects will empower you to make small talk and converse with anyone. You will depart a fantastic impression. You can come up with good conversation topics fast. An attention-grabbing matter is one you each have an interest in. I may be really fascinated about soccer, but when my accomplice has not seen a recreation in three years, thats an terrible topic. Dialog Matters and Questions

Convey up great conversation topics and you will impress the other person and it will likely be easier to build the relationship. How does a person always know what to say? Use just a few of these concepts

Conversation Matters from Current Occasions

Look at the newspaper everyday. Search for attention-grabbing tales, opinions, or feedback that you’re focused on and would seemingly curiosity others. When you see a novel story, make note of it and use it later.

I may say, “Did you see the story about the man who won the lottery twice? What would you do with all that money?”

The web is full of good dialog topics. Learn fascinating stories. Look at blogs. Do this and you will be updated on whats happening. Typically I’ll search for fascinating info or tidbits of information that can be of curiosity to others in my next conversation.

Observe to see their reaction. If they are interested within the matter, maintain chasing that topic. Otherwise, I’ll deliver up another topic Dialog Questions about their Life

Every individual has one topic they often enjoy speaking about. It’s themselves. Ask questions and present curiosity in their life. That is one key having good dating dialog topics. Show curiosity in your companion by asking varied questions.

What do you consider….?” What are some plans you’ve got for the long run?What do you love to do in your free time? Steer the dialog in the direction of topics of their life you are interested in. If you’re fed up with sports, don’t ask about their favorite teams.

Search to keep away from asking questions which are too personal. The other individual may start to resent you as none of us want too personal of questions! Ask Good Conversation Questions

One good dialog questions will start conversation and turn a boring dialog into fascinating small talk. For those who might live anywhere on this planet, where would you reside and why?

In case you gained Survivor, how would you spend the money?

For those who can have any skill, which one would you get?

Whereas some topics spark conversation, others will kill it faster than a cup of water on a candle. Here are just a few subjects to avoid.

Any Matter The place you Complain

Keep away from blaming and being down on life. Nobody likes to be around an individual the place the glass is all the time half empty.Focus on the optimistic so you will depart an excellent impression.

Uninteresting Matters

Watch your dialog partner. Are they interested? If not, higher swap topics. What could also be interesting to at least one, is just not interesting to the following person.

Silent pauses will creep into your conversation. Stop them by using these conversation subjects and you will go away a great impression! These work whether or not its a dialog on a date, teaching ESL, or advancing your career.

Need Extra Friends, Confidence, and the Capability to Talk with Anybody? Check out Instant Conversation Success Get more Good Conversation Topics

Technorati Tags: communication, friendships, making friends, Relationships

Editor’s Note: Being able to read and share success stories makes it worthwhile. Loriann sent me her addiction recovery story to share. She posted in the “Share A Story” page, but I thought it deserved to be front and center. – Bill Urell Ed.

Loriann’s Personal story: Remember, recovery brings hope.

Gratitude and Grace

How do I feel about myself today after 22 years in recovery? I can sleep. I can go to sleep at night, right out, with out taking anything.

Being able to sleep gives me the energy to get up in the morning and be a part of life. I have learned that getting up on time is an important factor in my being a productive member of society. Going to bed on time, and being able to sleep is just as important. In the early months of recovery sleep did not come easily to me for a while. I was told I wouldn’t die from losing sleep. Getting some sober time was promised as the answer to my difficulties. Thank God I hung in there and stayed clean waiting to see that staying sober would change my life for the better. We have to give clean time, time to change us.

This means a great deal to me. I never could sleep before getting clean. I laid awake and suffered, thinking of all of my insurmountable problems. I’d think and think instead of sleep. My mind played movies for me every night in living color. I’d lay in bed and re-live any embarrassment or shame from the now showing selection of my mental movie collection. The program of recovery has showed me how to clean up my act. I don’t experience embarrassment and shame on a regular basis in my new live.

My brain chemistry is balanced. I live without drugs or alcohol. No more getting high and then coming down hard. Hurt feelings are no longer the status quo.
I roll through my life suiting up and showing up. I do my part as a human being. From the time I wake up in the morning, anytime symptoms of the dis-ease start to come on me, I keep reminding myself to think, how I can be of service. The Big Book of AA says some symptoms of the disease of addiction are ‘becoming bored, restless, and dis-content.’ I know I have to watch out for these feelings.

The hours of the day when I am awake are mine to enjoy. I now feel like I lead my life, I’m at choice about what I am going to experience. In active addiction my life leads me. I just watched as things happened to me. All thinking was centered in the getting and using and finding ways and means to get more. The disease of addiction talked to me all of the time. “Ok Loriann, you just stay high while we go to divorce court. While you are working on getting money to use, we are now going through eviction.” The disease told me “you drive better drunk, so now we are going to jail.”

Taking step 1 of the 12 steps made me realize I was powerless over drugs and my life had become unmanageable. Step by step this new way of thinking gave me the freedom to have power in the other parts of my life. Working the steps and going to meetings quieted down the voice of my dis-ease. I am free to choose how I act and even how I think. I’m learning to put a positive spin on most everything. I feel so much better because of positive thinking. I declare myself as happy, joyous, and free .
I have come to believe that I gave up enough of my life to fret, worry and discord. I have changed my mind and choose to walk on the path of hope, good works, and taking very special care of my precious self.

Most of my life I was shy. More than shy I was afraid of people. I could only communicate by being rough and tough, or a desperate victim. Raising my hand and sharing in meetings taught me that I do have something to say. The people in the meetings starting responding to me differently when I was able to share about the new solutions I was learning.

If you are wondering what going to all of these meetings can possible do for you, know that all of us had this same question. It’s a new way of spending our time with people. It is healthy to be around other people who are in the process of making a difference in their own lives and the lives of others. The people in the meetings are talking about what they are doing to cope. As alcoholics and addicts we know plenty about the problems of life. We know all about what we do not want. Solution is the message of the program. Meetings are a life style. I go most everyday because that is what I believe will keep me clean and sane.

Getting commitments in meetings and eventually being a part of service taught me about how to interact. In service to AA & NA we learned how to operate a business meeting according to standards but we all said the serenity prayer before we started. In service you find plenty of differing ideas about what is the best way to carry the message of recovery. The message I got out of this was to accept the things I can not change. It is better to be happy and healthy than it is to be right. I learned preserving the power of the group conscious was more important than a personal victory. The lessen I learned in all of this is humility. Humility is not to be confused with humiliation. Humility for me has been about valuing my ability to be a part of systems that benefit me and others. I am able to be an important part of the system with out it being all about me. This is a whole new attitude and out look on life.
Going to meetings and working a program has taught me so many useful skills. One way to love my job is to be responsible. The ability to respond comes along with the ability to be awake for the time I am being paid to respond to my company’s needs. Part of being responsible is to wake up on time with a good attitude about being of service. Another part of this recipe is to go to bed on time. Being able to wake up happy and get excited about my plans for the day is a skill not luck. Taking good care of my brain has become very important to me.
Life in addiction was filled with “Oh, I can take it.” I used to say “When it’s too tuff for everybody else, it’s just right for me.” That is a philosophy of the past that no longer serves me. Recovery has taught me if a gentle flow with life is what I desire, it is most reasonable to treat my self and others genteelly. We reap as we sow.
Swimming up stream all the time proved to be undesirable. I am very much my own person. When I feel I disagree with an established pattern within my scope, I change my own action. Lighting one candle, let change begin with me.

As I write this story I have been married for 28 years. My husband and I have also come a long way in learning how to be loving partners in peaceful co-existence. We have come to know through an abundance of trial and error how to support each others’ individual life experience with out one life defining the other. I walk beside my husband giving as much love and respect as I can muster. When his walk is not a part of my highest good it gives me another opportunity to individuate and have personal strength within my self. In the course of a long term marriage (or even a new relationship) people don’t always live up to who they want to be. My husband is my dear friend as often as I let him be and as often as he is able to be. I appreciate the time of love and support we have been able to share with each other over the years.

I married my drug connection whom I met in a bar at 6:00 AM. We were married 6 years before recovery. Even after we got clean we have not always been sober together. That’s the way it is and reality has to be acceptable to me if I am to know peace. All in all my marriage is the best part of my life.

I’m not afraid anymore. Fear was my number one feeling. The feelings of anger and rejection all turned out to be based in fear. I got to take a look at these old feelings and events with a sober head. While writing my steps I came to know a lot of the unrest I went through was all a bunch of fear. Some of the 12 step writing helped me like a road map. Writing the steps established a state of grace in my thinking. I went back over things and started to see that everybody does the best thing they can think of to do in each moment just like I have. I began to forgive others; I have since then forgiven myself. I feel safe and sure. I love myself. I passionately enjoy being alive.

Observing the passage of time and events with out judgment is such a gift of serenity. What happens does not have to be judged as good or bad. Very often now I can understand that what ever happens is neither good nor bad but all just part of life experience. That kind of level headed, art of just being, allows me to feel safe and happy to be me.
My journey to serenity has been about rounding off the rough edges of my personality. Somehow I took on a mistaken idea that I had to make a big production out of everything to feel alive or to be noticed. In recovery I know it is so important to be slow to anger and quick to forgive.

I like the idea of keeping my side of the street clean. The light I shine on all of my days gives me energy to create my own intentions. I take the time to formulate what I want to happen then take the action to support my intention. My big deal is to trust. Trust the process of the program of recovery.

I have learned how to love myself so much, that I can love you and carry the message of hope in recovery. I’ve come a long way, baby. I don’t know why I had to walk the crooked path. The why of the past isn’t as important to me, as it once was. What I know is true is that my way has been made clear before me. The crooked path has been made straight.
In my years as a member of the recovery community I have seen so many people come and go. It appears to be much easier to get clean than it is to stay clean. Only the diligent make it for any period of time. Meeting makers make it. The absolute joy is the miracles that have unfolded before my eyes. I also know the ones who have come and stayed in the program. We share our lives together. By sitting in meetings with these people we do the wed and the dead together. It is said NA means Never Alone.

I have young people in my life. I remember hearing about their conception. We all worried about the parents’ sobriety. Could they handle a child? Could they step up to the plate and be parents? I have seen everything that could happen has happened to the parents and the children of recovery. Some couples stayed together, some did not. In my 21 years of recovery I have seen life find a way and the next generation is here, ready or not, life goes on. Some of the children were raised by clean parents of sprit. I know program kids who are so healthy they shine brightly. I know program kids who have died all ready.

I believe the kids of those who stayed clean are innately better off than the kids of those who have continued in the struggle. The best thing of all that I know is, that it’s all good. We are each on our own path. Every one of us is on an individual journey as we evolve to our ever increasing diversity. I believe we are all born perfect, whole and complete individualized expressions of love.

When I was a kid, I woke in the morning to see my family and receive my nurturing. Then I wanted to run, and jump, and play, and live my freedom in bliss. I was compelled to love and have as much fun as possible.

Somewhere along the line I decided my parents maybe were not the perfect teachers, nor the most intelligent, most loving, most beautiful people in the world.
As I had held belief in parental perfection belief as absolute truth, I was crushed to find I they may have had faults. I was so angry and hurt by the knowledge of their humanness that I decided they appeared to have more serious faults than most others. These childhood condemnations lead me to loose faith in all established systems and a rebellious spirit became my constant companion.

The first thing I heard in my recovery program was your resentments will kill you. Then in Alanon I heard “It doesn’t matter, doesn’t matter, and doesn’t matter.” I knew I was on to something. The fact that every little detail of life was not my business gave me a new idea that forgiveness of others was possible. These revelations lead me to begin to understand self forgiveness was recommended. As I took in these earth shaking concepts they showed me the way I had been thinking was way off. I was promised I’d find peace if I could change my mind.

A large portion of my spare time is spent maintaining my spiritual condition. I go to work and I go to meetings, or to my church. I talk on the phone to people who are not using and who want to help me in my recovery; I listen to peaceful music so I can have some meditation. Good food, the decorations in my clean house, exercise like walking my dog on trails I like, this kind of stuff keeps me together. I find my way out of continuing to do things that I don’t like. I don’t take part in actions that upset me. Taking care of business doesn’t have to include suffering. There is a solution.

My well being is of top priority. Doing what is important to me in a way that I can feel good about myself makes it possible for me to stay clean. Being mindful of other people’s feelings is a part of recovery too. Do no harm. Be polite.

Living our lives trying to make others happy is often one of the key ingredients in the addictive process. This is the selfish part of the program. While recovery is about being of service, and learning how to give; it is also about taking care of yourself so you have something to give. We must always replenish the well. We can’t give away something we haven’t got. Being of service is not about being a martyr. Stretching beyond our comfort zone is how we grow. There are many paradoxes in the program we must be willing to be a little uncomfortable and try new things, but then find a way to be comfortable in this new action. We can be of service without trying to be who other people want us to be. My adjusted attitude can make what was once impossible very doable. We must find a way to be kind to ourselves and others.

Faith is an action in that way. My thinking is powerful. Another one of the great gifts of recovery is the ability to realize that this is my life to live as I choose. I take the action to go to meetings and be at the center of the heard. I am not floating around the edges of the safety and happiness zones. I go to church and make sure people know I am there. I love relationships. That’s my favorite thing. I go to meetings and most often speak up and share, I thank the speaker, and stay after the meeting is over to talk to people.
In recovery I have been taught that my shyness was some kind of self centered fear. My life was controlled at one time by the fear of what people will think of me. As I listened in meetings I came to understand that everyone spends most of their energy thinking about them selves and not so much about me. Some of what I hear shared in meetings teaches me what to do and some of it teaches me what not to do. It’s all good. Meetings are not something I take only when I need them. What ever that means!

For me I feel that I have found my life’s meaning. Addiction was a primary part of my existence for so long even before I stated using, addiction was around me. I have replaced it with recovery being primary. My main job has been and continues to be carrying a message of hope to addicts and their families. Work is what I do in between
meetings to pay my bills.

I went from a broken lost soul to a woman of power. What a transformative journey. Maybe your addiction story is similar or very different than mine. Getting clean and sober is possible for all of us. The lie is dead, we do recover. The clean and sober part is only the beginning that opens the door to changing our thinking. What I think about myself and how I think about others has truly changed. I have learned how to live walking the path of serenity and good will. For this I am grateful.

Today I work in treatment. I love my work. I am an interventionist. I belief in my message that addicts do recover and recovery is a much better life than active addiction gives me the confidence to get on a plane and go do this very personal work with people I have never even met.

Find out more about drug and alcohol intervention by visiting Loriann and her husband at http://www.wirecovery.com/

Natural remedies for depression have received a recurrent interest as contemporary culture has become more enthused about herbs and therapies used in times past. While serious depressive problems are linked to bi-polar and other organically caused issues, there is a vast array of typical individuals who can benefit from natural treatments to lift general depression. Medical doctors suggest that most people within the course of their lifetime will experience an episode of moodiness or depression that may need some attention in order to resume normal emotional patterns. “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee…” (Isaiah 43:2) Most experts agree that depression is a complex presentation of emotional, psychological and physical causalities that can be difficult to isolate. There are also general natural health suggestions that can be followed that will help any individual deal with general depressive symptoms.

There are many effective ways to deal with depression, including exercise, talk therapy, medication, natural supplements, and lifestyle choices. Learning about the treatment options will help you decide what measures are most likely to work best for your particular situation and needs. There are no quick fixes or instant cures, but if you’re willing to work on yourself and stick with treatment, you’ll find yourself out from under depression’s shadow sooner than you think.

Some of the most commonly used herbs that have been used for generations include St. Johns Wart, ginseng, and gingko biloba. St. Johns Wart is one of the natural remedies for depression that has been used widely for years and has seen a heightened use of it as an alternative to anti-depressants. It is one of the leading herbs for depression that has been thoroughly tested as well as rates high among its users. For people who are experiencing moderate to mild symptoms, St. Johns Wart has proven to lessen the symptoms 50% or more with no common side affects. The comparison of St. Johns wart to prozac or other drugs has fared well with users who wish to avert symptoms of these medications which include restlessness, sexual dysfunction and other problems. A recommended dosage is 900 mg. a day of the herb is suggested. Some can drink it in tea form, but it is recommended to be careful with this because of the lack of standardization in dosage.

Benefits include more restful sleep, less anxiety symptoms, better blood circulation throughout the body, and a defence against viruses. Other herbs for depression that have met with great acceptance are ginseng and gingko biloba. Ginseng is widely known for its popularity in China for thousands of years. Used for a variety of ailments, ginseng is now growing very popular in the US for its anti-depressant properties. Ginseng provides a quick remedy for mental alertness, a lift from depression and fatigue. Many elderly patients benefit from this herb as it provides mental acuity, especially for those suffering from Alzheimers or hardening of the arteries. This natural remedy can be taken most easily in tea or capsule form and will provide a general lift to cognitive functioning. Ginseng can be taken in dosages from 800 mg. to 2 grams by an adult. Caution is to be exercised for those who are taking blood thinners or aspirin since this herb affects circulatory functions. Too much ginseng can elevate blood pressure, so wise usage of the herb is recommended.

Gingko biloba is also associated with mental acuity, making it quite popular among the contemporary culture that values natural remedies. Gingko biloba is one of the foremost herbs for depression used by many consumers and is the best selling of all herbal supplements. This herb helps improve circulatory health and has been shown to improve mental alertness, depression and overall physical health. The anti-oxidant properties of the plant provides protection for pulmonary and vision health. Since there is no standardized process that is required by the FDA at this time to insure a quality product, be sure to check for less than 5 ppm of gingkolic acid that appears in any supplement. This is a pharmaceutical standard set for safe consumption of this plant. Ginkgo biloba can be found in many forms throughout local health food stores, drug stores, or online health establishments.

Get social support. The more you cultivate your social connections, the more protected you are from depression. If you are feeling stuck, don’t hesitate to talk to trusted family members or friends. Asking for help is not a weakness but a sign of strength. Treatment takes time and commitment. All of these depression treatments take time, and sometimes it might feel overwhelming or frustratingly slow. That is normal. Recovery has its ups and downs.

Danny smith is a highly experience web author on Depression Remedies and has over 5000 articles under his belt. He also has a series of website that he maintains. The latest one is http://www.treatdepressionathome.com come by and checkout all the information and Depression Treatment review ideal health Trump Network.

Technorati Tags: depression, family, help