MIND ZONE: CBT FOR ALCOHOLISM: The special strengths that cognitive therapy emphasis on (1) the identification and modification of beliefs that exacerbate cravings,...
MIND ZONE
Tuesday, 5 April 2016
our experience with substance abuse treatment
Our experience with substance abuse treatment is "no single
treatment approach or modality has been demonstrated to be superior to all others" .
1. There is no single treatment approach that is effective for all
persons with alcohol problems.
2. The provision of appropriate, specific treatment modalities can
substantially improve outcome.
3. Brief interventions can be quite effective compared with no
treatment, and they can be quite cost-effective compared with
more intensive treatment.
4. Treatment of other life problems related to drinking can
improve outcome in persons with alcohol problems.
5. Therapist characteristics are partial determinants of outcome.
6. Outcomes are determined in part by treatment process factors,
post treatment adjustment factors, the characteristics of
individuals seeking treatment, the characteristics of their
problems, and the interactions among these factors.
7. People who are treated for alcohol problems achieve a continuum
of outcomes with respect to drinking behavior and alcohol problems
and follow different courses of outcome.
8. Those who significantly reduce their level of alcohol consumption
or who become totally abstinent usually enjoy improvement in other
life areas, particularly as the period of reduced consumption
becomes more extended.
Sunil Kumar Jayasudha Kamaraj
Clinical Psychologist Counseling Psychologist
Founder- Mind Zone Co-founder, Mind Zone
+91 9444 297058 +91 91760 55660
MIND ZONE: CBT FOR ALCOHOLISM
MIND ZONE: CBT FOR ALCOHOLISM: The special strengths that cognitive therapy emphasis on (1) the identification and modification of beliefs that exacerbate cravings,...
MIND ZONE
MIND ZONE
CBT FOR ALCOHOLISM
(1) the identification and modification of beliefs that exacerbate cravings,
(2) the amelioration of negative affective states (e.g., anger, anxiety, and hopelessness) that often trigger drug use,
(3) teaching patients to apply a battery of cognitive and behavioral skills and techniques, and not just willpower, to become and remain drug-free, and
(4) helping patients to go beyond abstinence to make fundamental positive changes in the ways they view themselves, their life, and their future, thus leading to new lifestyles.
Sunil Kumar Jayasudha Kamaraj
Clinical Psychologist Counseling Psychologist
Founder - Mind Zone Co-founder, Mind Zone
+91 9444 297058 +91 91760 55660
Friday, 25 March 2016
Assessing the Suicidal Risks
The reason you need all this information is because:
Following a suicide attempt there is a particular risk of a repeat attempt if:
i) The attempt was pre-meditated and actively prepared for.
ii) Precautions had been made to prevent intervention by an outsider.
iii) The attempt was carried out in isolation or timed to minimize risk of discovery.
iv) Suicidal intent was communicated prior to the attempt.
iv) Final acts were completed in anticipation of death e.g., a will or suicide note.
vi) Violent or active methods were used.
vii) The person believed that the act would be irreversible and lethal.
viii) Person states that the intention of the act was to kill themselves.
ix) Person regrets having survived the attempt.
x) No action was taken to gain help after the event.
xi) Numerous previous attempts with the apparent intent to die.
Thursday, 3 March 2016
Tips to Handle the people who have Suicidal Thoughts or Acts
Here are some ways to be helpful to someone who is
threatening suicide or engaging in suicidal behaviors:
• Be aware –
learn the risk factors and warning signs for suicide and where to get help
• Be direct –
talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide, what you have observed, and
what your concerns are regarding his/her well-being
• Be willing
to listen – allow expression of feelings, accept the feelings, and be patient
• Be
non-judgmental – don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong or whether the
person’s feelings are good or bad; don’t give a lecture on the value of life
• Be
available – show interest, understanding, and support
• Don’t dare
him/her to engage in suicidal behaviors.
• Don’t act
shocked
• Don’t ask
“why”
• Don’t be
sworn to secrecy
• Offer hope
that alternatives are available – but don’t offer reassurances that any one
alternative will turn things around in the near future.
• Take action
– remove lethal means of self-harm such as pills, ropes, firearms, and alcoholor other drugs
• Get help
from others with more experience and expertise
• Be actively
involved in encouraging the person to see a mental health professional as soon
as possible and ensure that an appointment is made.
Wednesday, 17 February 2016
factors influencing suicide.....
Factors that may increase a person’s risk for suicide
include:
• Current
ideation, intent, plan, access to means
• Previous
suicide attempt or attempts
• Current or
previous history of psychiatric diagnosis
• Impulsivity
and poor self control
• Hopelessness
– presence, duration, severity
• Recent
losses – physical, financial, personal
• Recent
discharge from an inpatient psychiatric unit
• Family
history of suicide
• History of
abuse (physical, sexual or emotional)
• Co-morbid
health problems, especially a newly diagnosed problem or worsening symptoms
• Age,
gender, race (elderly or young adult, unmarried, white, male, living alone)
• Same- sex sexual
orientation
Factors that may decrease the risk for suicide are also
called protective factors. These
include:
• Positive
social support
• Spirituality
• Sense of
responsibility to family
• Children in
the home, pregnancy
• Life
satisfaction
• Reality
testing ability
• Positive
coping skills
• Positive
problem-solving skills
• Positive
therapeutic relationship
Monday, 15 February 2016
myths about substance abuse treatment
Myths about Substance Abuse Treatment
Myth #1: Drug addiction is voluntary behavior.
A person starts out as an occasional drug user, and that is a voluntary decision. But as times passes, something happens, and that person goes from being a voluntary drug user to being a compulsive drug user. Why? Because over time, continued use of addictive drugs changes your brain -- at times in dramatic, toxic ways, at others in more subtle ways, but virtually always in ways that result in compulsive and even uncontrollable drug use.
Myth #2: More than anything else, drug addiction is a character flaw.
Drug addiction is a brain disease. Every type of drug of abuse has its own individual mechanism for changing how the brain functions. But regardless of which drug a person is addicted to, many of the effects it has on the brain are similar: they range from changes in the molecules and cells that make up the brain, to mood changes, to changes in memory processes and in such motor skills as walking and talking. And these changes have a huge influence on all aspects of a person's behavior. The drug becomes the single most powerful motivator in a drug abuser's existence. He or she will do almost anything for the drug. This comes about because drug use has changed the individual's brain and its functioning in critical ways.
Myth #3: You have to want drug treatment for it to be effective.
Virtually no one wants drug treatment. Two of the primary reasons people seek drug treatment are because the family members ordered them to do so, or because loved ones urged them to seek treatment. Many scientific studies have shown convincingly that those who enter drug treatment programs in which they face "high pressure" to confront and attempt to surmount their addiction do comparatively better in treatment, regardless of the reason they sought treatment in the first place.
Myth #4: Treatment for drug addiction should be a one-shot deal.
Like many other illnesses, drug addiction typically is a chronic disorder. To be sure, some people can quit drug use "cold turkey," or they can quit after receiving treatment just one time at a rehabilitation facility. But most of those who abuse drugs require longer-term treatment and, in many instances, repeated treatments.
Myth #5: We should strive to find a "magic bullet" to treat all forms of drug abuse.
There is no "one size fits all" form of drug treatment, much less a magic bullet that suddenly will cure addiction. Different people have different drug abuse-related problems. And they respond very differently to similar forms of treatment, even when they're abusing the same drug. As a result, drug addicts need an array of treatments and services tailored to address their unique needs.
Myth #6: People don't need treatment. They can stop using drugs if they really want to.
FACT: It is extremely difficult for people addicted to drugs to achieve and maintain long-term abstinence. Research shows long-term drug use actually changes a person's brain function, causing them to crave the drug even more, making it increasingly difficult for the person to quit. Especially for adolescents, intervening and stopping substance abuse early is important, as children become addicted to drugs much faster than adults and risk greater physical, mental and psychological harm from illicit drug use.
MYTH #7: Treatment just doesn't work.
FACT: Treatment can help people. Studies show drug treatment reduces drug use by 40 to 60 percent and can significantly decrease criminal activity during and after treatment. There is also evidence that drug addiction treatment reduces the risk of HIV infection (intravenous -drug users who enter and stay in treatment are up to six times less likely to become infected with HIV than other users) and improves the prospects for employment, with gains of up to 40 percent after treatment.
MYTH #8: Nobody will voluntarily seek treatment until they hit ‘rock bottom.’
FACT: There are many things that can motivate a person to enter and complete substance abuse treatment before they hit "rock bottom." Pressure from family members and employers, as well as personal recognition that they have a problem, can be powerful motivating factors for individuals to seek treatment. For teens, parents and school administrators are often driving forces in getting them into treatment once problems at home or in school develop but before situations become dire. Seventeen percent of adolescents entering treatment in 1999 were self- or individual referrals, while 11 percent were referred through schools.
MYTH #9: You can't force someone into treatment.
FACT: Treatment does not have to be voluntary. People coerced into treatment by the legal system can be just as successful as those who enter treatment voluntarily. Sometimes they do better, as they are more likely to remain in treatment longer and to complete the program.
A person starts out as an occasional drug user, and that is a voluntary decision. But as times passes, something happens, and that person goes from being a voluntary drug user to being a compulsive drug user. Why? Because over time, continued use of addictive drugs changes your brain -- at times in dramatic, toxic ways, at others in more subtle ways, but virtually always in ways that result in compulsive and even uncontrollable drug use.
Myth #2: More than anything else, drug addiction is a character flaw.
Drug addiction is a brain disease. Every type of drug of abuse has its own individual mechanism for changing how the brain functions. But regardless of which drug a person is addicted to, many of the effects it has on the brain are similar: they range from changes in the molecules and cells that make up the brain, to mood changes, to changes in memory processes and in such motor skills as walking and talking. And these changes have a huge influence on all aspects of a person's behavior. The drug becomes the single most powerful motivator in a drug abuser's existence. He or she will do almost anything for the drug. This comes about because drug use has changed the individual's brain and its functioning in critical ways.
Myth #3: You have to want drug treatment for it to be effective.
Virtually no one wants drug treatment. Two of the primary reasons people seek drug treatment are because the family members ordered them to do so, or because loved ones urged them to seek treatment. Many scientific studies have shown convincingly that those who enter drug treatment programs in which they face "high pressure" to confront and attempt to surmount their addiction do comparatively better in treatment, regardless of the reason they sought treatment in the first place.
Myth #4: Treatment for drug addiction should be a one-shot deal.
Like many other illnesses, drug addiction typically is a chronic disorder. To be sure, some people can quit drug use "cold turkey," or they can quit after receiving treatment just one time at a rehabilitation facility. But most of those who abuse drugs require longer-term treatment and, in many instances, repeated treatments.
Myth #5: We should strive to find a "magic bullet" to treat all forms of drug abuse.
There is no "one size fits all" form of drug treatment, much less a magic bullet that suddenly will cure addiction. Different people have different drug abuse-related problems. And they respond very differently to similar forms of treatment, even when they're abusing the same drug. As a result, drug addicts need an array of treatments and services tailored to address their unique needs.
Myth #6: People don't need treatment. They can stop using drugs if they really want to.
FACT: It is extremely difficult for people addicted to drugs to achieve and maintain long-term abstinence. Research shows long-term drug use actually changes a person's brain function, causing them to crave the drug even more, making it increasingly difficult for the person to quit. Especially for adolescents, intervening and stopping substance abuse early is important, as children become addicted to drugs much faster than adults and risk greater physical, mental and psychological harm from illicit drug use.
MYTH #7: Treatment just doesn't work.
FACT: Treatment can help people. Studies show drug treatment reduces drug use by 40 to 60 percent and can significantly decrease criminal activity during and after treatment. There is also evidence that drug addiction treatment reduces the risk of HIV infection (intravenous -drug users who enter and stay in treatment are up to six times less likely to become infected with HIV than other users) and improves the prospects for employment, with gains of up to 40 percent after treatment.
MYTH #8: Nobody will voluntarily seek treatment until they hit ‘rock bottom.’
FACT: There are many things that can motivate a person to enter and complete substance abuse treatment before they hit "rock bottom." Pressure from family members and employers, as well as personal recognition that they have a problem, can be powerful motivating factors for individuals to seek treatment. For teens, parents and school administrators are often driving forces in getting them into treatment once problems at home or in school develop but before situations become dire. Seventeen percent of adolescents entering treatment in 1999 were self- or individual referrals, while 11 percent were referred through schools.
MYTH #9: You can't force someone into treatment.
FACT: Treatment does not have to be voluntary. People coerced into treatment by the legal system can be just as successful as those who enter treatment voluntarily. Sometimes they do better, as they are more likely to remain in treatment longer and to complete the program.
MYTH #10: There should be a standard treatment program for everyone.
FACT: One treatment method is not necessarily appropriate for everyone. The best programs develop an individual treatment plan based on a thorough assessment of the individual's problems. These plans may combine a variety of methods tailored to address each person's specific needs and may include behavioral therapy (such as counseling, cognitive therapy or psychotherapy), medications, or a combination. Referrals to other medical, psychological and social services may also be crucial components of treatment for many people. Furthermore, treatment for teens varies depending on the child's age, maturity and family/peer environment, and relies more heavily than adult treatment on family involvement during the recovery process. "[They] must be approached differently than adults because of their unique developmental issues, differences in their values and belief systems, and environmental considerations (e.g., strong peer influences)."
MYTH #11: If you've tried one doctor or treatment program, you've tried them all.
FACT: Not every doctor or program may be the right fit for someone seeking treatment. For many, finding an approach that is personally effective for treating their addiction can mean trying out several different doctors and/or treatment centers before a perfect "match" is found between patient and program.
MYTH #12: People can successfully finish drug abuse treatment in a couple of weeks if they're truly motivated.
FACT: Research indicates a minimum of 90 days of treatment for residential and outpatient drug-free programs, and 21 days for short-term inpatient programs to have an effect. To maintain the treatment effect, follow up supervision and support are essential. In all recovery programs the best predictor of success is the length of treatment. Patients who remain at least a year are more than twice as likely to remain drug free, and a recent study showed adolescents who met or exceeded the minimum treatment time were over one and a half times more likely to abstain from drug and alcohol use. However, completing a treatment program is merely the first step in the struggle for recovery that can extend throughout a person's entire lifetime.
MYTH #13: People who continue to abuse drugs after treatment are hopeless.
FACT: Drug addiction is a chronic disorder; occasional relapse does not mean failure. Psychological stress from work or family problems, social cues (i.e. meeting individuals from one's drug-using past), or their environment (i.e. encountering streets, objects, or even smells associated with drug use) can easily trigger a relapse. Addicts are most vulnerable to drug use during the few months immediately following their release from treatment. Children are especially at risk for relapse when forced to return to family and environmental situations that initially led them to abuse substances. Recovery is a long process and frequently requires multiple treatment attempts before complete and consistent sobriety can be achieved.
Thursday, 11 February 2016
Myths and Facts of Suicide........
MYTHS ABOUT SUICIDE
There are many myths about suicide and suicidal behavior
that have been passed down through generations of healthcare providers that
some providers still believe today and may have actually been taught. Examples of these myths are:
• Myth:
Asking about suicide would plant the idea in my patient's head.
• Reality:
Asking how your patient feels doesn’t create suicidal thoughts any more than asking how your patient’s chest feels
would cause angina.
• Myth: There
are talkers and there are doers.
• Reality: Most people who die by suicide have
communicated some intent. Someone who
talks about suicide gives the physician an opportunity to intervene before
suicidal behaviors occur.
• Myth: If
somebody really wants to die by suicide, there is nothing you can do about it.
• Reality:
Most suicidal ideas are associated with the presence of underlying treatable
disorders. Providing a safe environment for treatment of the underlying cause
can save lives. The acute risk for
suicide is often time-limited. If you
can help the person survive the immediate crisis and the strong intent to die
by suicide, then you will have gone a long way towards promoting a positive
outcome.
• Myth:
He/she really wouldn't kill themselves since ______.
• he just
made plans for a vacation
• she has
young children at home
• he signed a
No Harm Contract
• he knows
how dearly his family loves him
• Reality: The
intent to die can override any rational thinking. In the presence of suicidal ideation or
intent, the physician should not be dissuaded from thinking that the patient is
capable of acting on these thoughts and feelings. No Harm or No Suicide contracts have been
shown to be essentially worthless from a clinical and management perspective.
The anecdotal reports of their usefulness can all be explained by the strength
of the alliance with the care provider that results from such a collaborative
exchange, not from the specifics of the contract itself.
• Myth: Multiple and apparently manipulative
self-injurious behaviors mean that the patient is just trying to get attention
and are not really suicidal.
• Reality:
Suicide “gestures” require thoughtful assessment and treatment. Multiple prior suicide attempts increase the
likelihood of eventually dying by suicide.
The task is to empathically and non-judgmentally engage the patient in
understanding the behavior and finding safer and healthier ways of asking for
help.
Sunil Kumar Jayasudha Kamaraj
Clinical Psychologist Counseling Psychologist
Founder - Mind Zone Co-founder - Mind Zone
+91 9444 297058 +91 9176055 660
Warning Signs of Suicide.....
THE FIRST THREE WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE ARE:
• Threatening
to hurt or kill self
• Looking for
ways to kill self; seeking access to pills, weapons or other means
• Talking or
writing about death, dying or suicide
The remaining list of
warning signs should alert the clinician that a mental health evaluation needs
to be conducted in the VERY near future and that precautions need to be put
into place IMMEDIATELY to ensure the safety, stability and security of the
individual.
Other behaviors that may be associated with increased
short-term risk for suicide are when the patient makes arrangements to divest
responsibility for dependent others (children, pets, elders), or making other
preparations such as updating wills, making
financial arrangements for paying bills, saying goodbye to loved ones,
etc.
Contact: Mind Zone if you come across any person who are at risk for Suicide...
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