Is alcoholism a disease?
July 29, 2008
Is alcoholism a disease? Most people don’t believe so, because it simply doesn’t have that kind of aspect one assumes a disease would have. Diseases have to do with germs, not substances, right? Wrong. Alcoholism certainly is a disease, and has been recognized so by medical professionals and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.
Because of this, nine out of ten primary care physicians in the United States fail to correctly diagnose alcohol abuse even when their adult patients present classic early symptoms, according to a survey by the Center on Addiction and Drug Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. The doctors responding to the survey cited lack of adequate training in medical school, residency or continuing medical education courses; skepticism about treatment effectiveness; discomfort discussing substance abuse, time constraints and patient resistance.
That is an example of a simple mental obsession — a thought process over which you have no control. Such is the nature of the disease of alcoholism. When the drinking “song” starts playing in the mind of an alcoholic, he is powerless. He didn’t put the song there and the only way to get it to stop is to take another drink. The problem is the alcoholic’s mental obsession with alcohol is much more subtle than a song playing in his mind. In fact, he may not even know it’s there. All he knows is he suddenly has an urge to take a drink — a physical compulsion to drink.
The severity of these withdrawal symptoms is usually dependent upon how “chemically dependent” the chronic drinker has become. Those who drink heavily on a daily basis of course have developed a high level of dependency, but even those who drink daily, but not heavily and those who drink heavily but not daily, can also be chemically dependent upon alcohol.
The scenario has been played over and over many times. After a particularly damaging or embarrassing binge, the hungover person will make an oath to himself and others to drink “never again” and quite often is sincere about quitting. But with the onset of withdrawal symptoms, also comes the “craving” for more alcohol. The body is telling the drinker that it “needs” alcohol. As the physical symptoms of withdrawal begin to increase, taking another drink simply becomes less painful than not taking one — or so it seems at the time.
There is no way to predict how any individual will respond to quitting. If you plan to stop drinking and you have been drinking for years, or if you drink heavily when you do drink, or even if you drink moderately but frequently, you should consult a medical professional before completely cutting yourself off from alcohol.
Some of the psychological symptoms are: feelings of jumpiness or nervousness; feelings of shakiness; anxiety; irritability or easily excited; emotional volatility, rapid emotional changes; depression; fatigue; difficulty with thinking clearly; having bad dreams. Some of the physical symptoms are: headache - general, pulsating; sweating, especially the palms of the hands or the face; nusea; vomiting; loss of appetite; insomnia, sleeping difficulty; paleness; rapid heart rate (palpitations); eyes, pupils different size (enlarged, dilated pupils); clammy skin; abnormal movements; tremor of the hands; involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids.
Wrinkle Creams: Are They Really Effective?
July 29, 2008
The question, “Do wrinkle creams really work?” is something that has been argued throughout the years. As soon as wrinkle creams were introduced into the market, people began asking this question.
You will have to make a couple of considerations before this question can be answered properly. There are some facts that should be known before you can understand how and why wrinkle creams may or may not work.
To find out the truth about wrinkle cream, you can buy all the wrinkle creams available on the market. Try them and see if they do solve the problem of wrinkles. If that sounds too much work, you can continue reading this article and find out now.
To really answer the question, we should fully understand the problem of wrinkles. Just continue reading, and you will learn how wrinkles are formed, how they can be fixed, and what you should look for in a wrinkle cream.
So How Do We Get Wrinkles?
Let us first look at the causes of wrinkles. Many factors affect the smoothness, elasticity, and vibrancy of our skin. The most common cause of wrinkles is simply aging.
As we age, our skin produces less collagen. Collagen is a natural protein manufactured by our skin. It gives younger skin its smooth, firm appearance. When we grow older, our decreased collagen production usually leads to dull, saggy skin. We also regenerate our skin cells at a lower rate.
But other factors can speed up the aging process. When skin is exposed to too much dryness or sunlight, wrinkles can form. The impact of these natural causes can be lessened through good skin care. There are also some unnatural causes of premature wrinkling.
Certain lifestyle choices can lead your skin to wrinkle prematurely. Smoking and not getting enough rest can cause your skin to age before its time. If you are under a great deal of stress and not getting the proper rest your skin will pay the price.
What Should Be In A Wrinkle Cream?
The ingredients a wrinkle cream will determine if wrinkle cream works. The basic things wrinkle creams must have are moisturizing ingredients and sunscreen. As you have just found out; the skin’s ability to retain water weakened as it ages. That is why it is important for the anti wrinkle cream to be able to compensate this lack of moisture.
The sunscreen is very important to protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun. Your wrinkle cream should also contain vitamins to nourish the skin as well as antioxidants. The antioxidants can do a great deal to repair the skin’s cells.
If a wrinkle cream is to be effective, it must contain these ingredients. It should also be right for your type of skin. A good protection for your skin with a sunscreen is also essential to prevent further damage. A good wrinkle cream will not eliminate the wrinkles that are already on your skin. It can reduce their appearance and hold them off for a few more years.
So now you know that wrinkle creams do work - if you choose one that suits your needs. If you have questions or concerns, see your dermatologist. They will be able to recommend the best product for your skin.
Important Garage Bench Buying Tips
July 29, 2008
Garage benches are absolutely vital parts of your garage if you plan on using it as a home workshop. By installing a workbench you will make it easy to complete projects without having to crouch on the floor! By using a workbench you will be much more accurate. You don?t need to buy a workbench if you don?t want to. It is possible to make your very own bench from a plan or buy a kit.
Choosing a workbench
It?s quite easy to find workbenches, you can find them in a number of different styles and designs. They are also available in many different sizes of benches available. You will be able to find quality benches at the majority of local home improvement stores. You can also build a bench by yourself rather than buying one from a shop. Workbench plans are easy to come across, they can be found on the internet and in books.
Table workbenches are designed to be very heavy duty and can be very long lasting for regular daily use. Most of these workbenches have a hardwood top and a set of metal legs. Sometimes the table surface may be made out of metal depending on the purposes of the table. These have nothing underneath.
There are also cabinet style work benches. These utilize the space under the bench with drawers, shelves and cabinets. This provides you with a lot more storage space which is after all what most people are looking for.
If you use power tools often then you should consider a power strip bench. These come with a power strip which allows you to easily plug in up to 9 different power tools. These have surge protection built in to protect your tools from damage.
Building Your Own Workbench
If you can?t find everything you want in purchased work bench then you should consider making your own. You can find kits that include all the materials you need in order to succeed. Using one of these kits you have more flexibility to create the perfect bench for you.
If you don?t want to buy a kit then you can build your own bench by purchasing all of the materials separately. This way is slightly more complicated but does allow you even more flexibility. Plans are available for free on the internet.
To produce the best workbench possible you should be sure you use high quality hardwood, or high quality hardwood plywood. You should coat the surface with a number of coats of polyurethane varnish in order to protect the bench from damage and spills.
Making Room
To make room for your work bench you will need to tidy your garage up and organize it. You should work out exactly what you need to keep in your garage, then start tidying it up. Discard anything that you don?t need, if there are any part used tins of paint then consider getting rid of them. If anything is too good to throw away but you don?t want then try donating them or giving them away.
It is possible to use your walls to store things. Cabinets can be fixed to the walls of your garage to provide much more storage space for everything. Chemicals and paint can be stored easily in cabinets. You should also put sharp tools higher up out of the reach of children. For large items you could consider using cabinets with locks on. Organizing tools in drawers make things easy to find, small items are great in draws.
Questioning Religion on the Web
July 29, 2008
Growing up, your may have heard your mother mention religion as being among the topics of unacceptable conversation. Everyone has a view on the topic, yet everyone is just as passionate about the correctness of their own view. One can easily see why discussion on the matter can turn into anything but.
If we have so much to say, and we are so passionate, why can’t we express ourselves? Can we go somewhere and open up? Can we learn from others?
For this kind of expression, the web is becoming a great source. Here are a few observations as to why,when using an anonymous advice forum as our platform-
The public is drawn to free advice sites when they have a question. A person on the street would bristle when approached about a topic like religion. Most people just aren’t prepared to talk about things of a personal nature. Finding people who want to talk is the first step in getting a good conversation going.
No one knows who you are on an anonymous advice site. If nobody knows who you are, then you don’t have to censor yourself. These sites allow the freedom to let a person really express how they feel, and really understand how other people are feeling.
Finally, free advice sites contain a lot of different topics that can turn into all sorts of new discussions. You may end up talking about something you’d never considered before, when you went to the site to post something entirely different.
Expanding the means by which you express your views, can only lead to expanding your own thoughts. Free advice sites are a terrific start. Maybe this user will see you on a forumn like the one we used below.
About the author: Visit www.stickysitch.com for free advice
Psychic Advice for Newbies
July 29, 2008
Astrology advice articles have been re-read for many years in order to let assist people in learning about their future. These horoscopes have been used in bringing loved ones together. Many psychic advice astrologers like to get astrology psychic readings because it gives them the chance to learn and to bring spiritual hope to people that feel as though their hope is at a loss in their lives. A horoscope expert reader can easily help people to grow closer to their own inner spiritual life. A free psychic advice article reader can really help themselves to find the desired help that they have been waiting for through reading horoscope articles. It can also help you to find the destiny in which you have been wanting for so many years now. An astrology type psychic is someone that has been trained by their own spiritual nature. They have been trained on giving live astrology readings to people that are in need of their psychic advice services.
Psychic advice has been used by the early British as well as Indian households. These psychic advice sessions are known for predicting the future and for allowing people to see what is in store for their future. Most people like to get tarot card readings on a daily basis because people truly like watching an astrology reading bringing insight into peoples lives that need it the most. Many people that get astrology readings do so because they are looking for their spiritual destiny and their outlook on life itself. Many people that choose to get a psychic advice reading do so because they have a lot of information that they would like to obtain.
There are many different types of psychic advice readings. There are astrology advice readings and clairvoyant psychic readings. Psychics have even used runes and other types of psychic readings. People that get a live psychic advice reading usually do so because they are searching for answers in their love and money situations. There is no correct reason to get an astrology type of psychic reading. You mainly have to get a unique psychic advice reading because you find it to be of the greatest interests for you in your life. Do not try to get a tarot card reading because you are trying to find your spiritual destiny. Instead, you should get a live psychic reading because you are trying to find a way to discovering why you are here and what you must do to grow closer to your spiritual karmic nature. Always try to give to others and do not be afraid to stop giving from your heart. The more that you give, the more probable your astrology reading is to become. Karma knows what to give out and what to take away.
Many people that have gotten astrology advice readings in the past have done so because something inside of them told them to get a psychic advice reading. It is fine to explore the psychic gift inside of you and the psychic advice field one step at a time.
Child Safety Car Seats - How To Chose?
July 29, 2008
The safety of children is always a big concern of parents, especially when traveling in a vehicle. Every state now has a law that mandates all cars must have child safety car seats and children under a certain age must be in them when the vehicle is in motion.This is a very important law and should be heeded at all times.
There have been too many vehicular accidents over the years that have proved fatal to young children. This proved to be unacceptable as time went on. Measures were taken to insure the safety of babies and young children when riding in a moving vehicle. Laws were also made to enforce these measures.
Child safety car seats became the answer to protecting children when they were traveling in a car, truck, van or any other moving vehicle. These seats were designed to keep the children safe in the event of an accident. The statistics show that children sitting in these specially designed seats had a much higher survival rate than those who were not.
Older babies can be turned forward to face the front of the car. However, these children still need to be in the back seat. Always make sure they are buckled in correctly, and never give them any sharp edged toys or suckers with sticks. If you happen to hit the breaks too hard, these objects can cause great harm.
When the baby becomes a toddler, you will need to look at child safety car seats designed for them. Purchase the one you feel will best suit your needs. Also research a little into what other consumers have to say about the effectiveness of this particular car seat when it comes to actually being safe for your child.
Safety is the main concern when looking for a child’s car seat. Always make sure your child can fit in the car seat and that the straps don’t cut into the child’s neck or shoulders.It will not be a very pleasant trip for anyone if your child is uncomfortable.
Child safety car seats for toddlers allow them to face the front seat, thereby affording a better and more interesting view of the outside world. This position usually is much more entertaining for them, and lets them feel less isolated since they can see their parents from this angle. The feeling of being a part of the group can make for a more peaceful trip as they will be happier.
As your child gets older, there will eventually no longer be a need for car seats. However, there are still some places that require any child under the age of 13 to remain in the back seat as a passenger. When they are this age, they will need to be fastened securely by a regular seat belt. Now you can start worrying about when they get their drivers license in 3 years.
Healing Biser Acne The Healthy Way Forever
July 28, 2008
Some of us get acne with all the red bumps and scars that are left behind after all the poking and pinching, applying different things hoping they will go away.
You have to fix it from the inside. When you fix what is broken inside, the body can fix what is broken outside. The Biser Acne Cure can help.
Acne starts when we are teenagers, and hormones are only part of the problem. As we become bothered by our new afflictions, we find that we are getting even more acne bumps! We then pick at them and tear our skin apart trying to get rid of them.
Sometimes picking and pinching the acne will cause scarring and then leave long lasting reminders of our skin problems. For some of us the acne will continue as we get older and even into adulthood leaving us feeling ashamed of having acne as a teenager. This can continue for a long time if we don’t find a way to stop it.
One of the big factors that can have huge affect on your acne is how healthy and well balanced your body is. When your body is balanced its immune system can fend off bacteria and other infections that can cause acne to attack your skin.
Maintain a balanced body for strength and optimal health, if we allow it to become unbalanced through stress and other negative emotions, then we weaken ourselves and we are more likely to get sick in any number of ways, including acne.
All of us can take control of our situation and lower the emotional stresses on the body that allow our bodies to function the way they are supposed to function.
The revolutionary Biser Acne Cure. This is a multi-step method that will help you regain control of your life and finally cure yourself of the acne that symbolizes one of the problems you have to deal with each day.
Stop right now and recognize that what you are have been doing is not working. If it was working, then you would not have acne because your body would have no problem dealing with the bacteria.
Stress and a unhealthy body can lead to strained immune systems and all sorts of illnesses for us.
You must take control of the thing that is creating stress in your life, own it, dominate it, and do not allow it to control you any longer.
You must think “outside the box” and find new ways to obtain emotional balance. For example, take a class that you never thought you would ever try.
Always surround yourself with positive people, because being around positive, happy, calm people can and will help you become positive, happy, and calm. These type of people always will radiate positive energy, and positive energy can become very powerful. When you are in control of your stress you become at peace, your body’s natural balance will return and your acne will begin to disappear.
On-Line Dating - What Turns Men Off
July 28, 2008
On-Line dating can be a very effective way to meet quality men. However there are a few “rules” that women should take heed to if they don’t want to turn off a potential mate, especially one they are interested in.
You have chosen an online site and you have joined it. Congratulate yourself for taking this important step. You have chosen a picture and written a inviting profile. When you get callers or writers, spare all the gory details of your life when first begin corresponding with them. Be interesting but don’t overload them with your all your life’s up and downs. Please don’t tell them how many times you have been dumped or dumped other guys in your life.
For example, if he asks how many siblings you have, he is NOT asking for the details of your interaction with them. He really just wants to know how many you have. Say you have 2 (or whatever is true) and then ask how many he has.
Get to know the guy some on the first conversation or email. Ask him about himself. Don’t just talk about yourself. Many people believe another person is “a very interesting person”, when they are allowed to talk about themselves to that person. Be a good listener, especially in the beginning.
Lying will get you in trouble. If you have children you will not be able to hide them in the closet when you finally meet your online date. If you are skinny, don’t say you are curvaious and vice-versa. Any lies you tell on-line will eventually, come to light as you continue to meet more people.
One of the ten commandments comes strongly into play strongly when you write your profile and correspond with anyone wanting to connect with you, through dating on-line. “Thou Shall Not Lie”. This might be the most important rule in on-line dating. Untruths have a tendency to rear their ugly little heads at the most inappropriate times. When they do, you could lose the change of developing a great relationship, with someone whose company you have been enjoying.
Maybe you have been alone for a while, or have had some “bad relationships”, but still don’t make yourself look desperate. Desperation or even appearing to be desperate turns most people off, especially men. You don’t want to scare them away, by being clingy or too easy.
It is not necessary to play games with your callers. Be yourself. Don’t give up. I dated on-line for over a year before I met my husband. We have a great family life and have now been married for several years. Keep at it. You will meet you soul mate.
Stop Drinking Alcohol - Best option for your health
July 28, 2008
There are so many people out in the world who are addicted to alcohol, and don’t know that there is a way of stopping, and that it will surely be in your best interest to do so. How many people drink after work, until they go to bed, wake up with hangovers, go to work, and do the same thing all over again? Or, we have the weekend drinkers who refrain during the week, and get smashed on the weekends. Usually these weekenders proceed to make fools of themselves in front of family, friends, and neighbors. They think they’re the life of the party, but it’s more like the clown of the party. How many purses have been lost or stolen when one doesn’t remember what they did with it? How many cars have been lost in parking lots? How many drunk driving accidents have killed, hurt, and maimed? How many people lose their family because of alcohol? They get a drunk driving ticket, lose their job, lose their house, and their family moves on without them?
It may be difficult for this patient to initiate a phone call to such a group at this stage. If the physician knows of a sympathetic, recovering (preferably female) alcoholic who would be willing to meet with the patient and offer her support, he or she might offer a suggestion such as, “I know someone with a similar situation and background as yours. Would you mind if I asked her to call you?” Although it is tempting to enlist others to encourage this patient to stop drinking, great care has to be taken not to disclose her medical problems without her consent, not only for medicolegal reasons, but also to retain her trust. Leaving a voice-mail message for her son at home, where she would be likely to hear it, could undermine these goals.
Can I drink alcohol if I am pregnant? No. Do not drink alcohol when you are pregnant. Why? Because when you drink alcohol, so does your baby. Think about it. Everything you drink, your baby also drinks. Is any kind of alcohol safe to drink during pregnancy? No. Drinking any kind of alcohol when you are pregnant can hurt your baby. Alcoholic drinks are beer, wine, wine coolers, liquor, or mixed drinks. A glass of wine, a can of beer, and a mixed drink all have about the same amount of alcohol. What if I drank during my last pregnancy and my baby was fine? Every pregnancy is different. Drinking alcohol may hurt one baby more than another. You could have one child that is born healthy, and another child that is born with problems.
Most parents of teenagers who are old enough to get their driver’s licenses don’t have a professional race car driver who can make an impression on their kids. But the good news is that as parents there are many things you can teach your child that will have the same effect. Don’t push kids who are not ready. Most teenagers can’t wait to get behind the wheel for the first time because they know that driving will give them new freedoms. But if your child resists getting a license at 16, let him know that he can wait until he feels he is ready. And if you feel your child should wait until 17 to drive, when he will be more responsible, don’t let your child pressure you into letting him drive just because other kids drive at 16.
Alcoholism is a devastating disease that effects millions of people every year. Recognizing alcoholism in yourself or someone else can be difficult. Alcoholism is defined as a disease that allows a persons use of alcohol to interfere with their life and the basic functioning of their daily tasks, needs and responsibilities. The clinical way of looking at alcohol is by examining the amount of alcohol a person consumes. A women who drinks more than seven drink per week or more than three drinks a day and a man who drinks more than 14 drinks per week or four drinks in a day would be considered an alcoholic. A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof liquor.
If possible, STOP DRINKING. Not only will it help with your snoring, but it is also thought that drink anything more than, in “moderation”, is detrimental to your health. At the very least stop drinking 4 - 6 hours before going to bed. This grace period will allow your body a chance to for the effects of the alcohol to wear off and reduce theeffects that it may have on your sleeping, helping you to sleep without snoring. Sedatives such as sleeping pills behave much in the same way as alcohol, and amplify the affect if you take them while drinking, causing your body to relax its muscles and inducing many of the same symptoms as alcohol.
Are you getting love-handles? If you’re like many men, you have probably found yourself expanding in places you rather would not. Are you sitting stationary at work all day, then go home and drink some beer, eat some pizza and watch late night TV while letting your love handles get out of control. Don’t feel bad, cause you’re not the alone. obviously if you’re seeing your mid-section expanding it’s probably time to get up and start strengthening your abs. Some simple things you can do to lose those love handles forever are: stop drinking so much beer! OK, all kidding aside, you may want to control your eating habits, introduce some basic resistance and aerobic training along with ab exercises. And since we are talking about beer, you may want to reduce your beer (alcohol) intake.
Guidelines For Getting Maximum Effect From Spiritual Retreats
June 17, 2008
The correct way of going about a spiritual retreat can mean the difference between obtaining great benefit from such retreats, and only a mediocre stay where little is learned. Luckily there are a few key points of advice that will give the benefit of such retreats a large boost in effect.
First, it’s important to understand what a retreat actually is. Retreat means to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life in a sense of seclusion. To achieve this, anyone going on a spiritual retreat should try to cut off ties they have to the outside world. This will let consumers focus on the act of achieving benefit from the spiritual retreat, rather than answer to obstructions in their path.
Meditation is such an important part of the spiritual healing and betterment process, that it is a good idea to know how to do so before engaging in a spiritual retreat. This enables those who opt for the spiritual retreat to focus more on the spiritual aspect rather than learning how to meditate or fully take advantage of the experience. This is a logical way to keep investment prices effective.
Another factor not many take into effect is the fact that some spiritual retreat centers cater to specific interests. Opting for a specific interest retreat will increase the chance that a certain stereotype of a certain demographic has in order to get the most out of the spiritual journey. An example would be the gay and lesbian community, who can enjoy specific retreats just for them.
A concern that some consider before going ahead with options in spiritual retreats is the option of having one’s aura read. Getting a proper aura reading will give one an idea on not only their present conditions and emotions, but a look on what they need to work on in order to better their current lifestyle or situation. Having this information handy before arriving at a spiritual camp is a good idea for maximum learning and enjoyment.
Lastly, it is important to keep one’s mental health stable before engaging in a retreat. It is possible to get all aforementioned topics healed or fixed at most retreats, but if you can do such things at one’s home, there is more time to work on more advanced topics at said retreats. But then again, it’s always possible to make return visits. In fact, it’s recommended! Going to spiritual retreats on a common basis will allow consumers to keep their lives on the right track to a better life- both spiritually and in vital life lessons learned at such retreats.
Final Thoughts
There is much to keep in mind when trying to get the most out of a spiritual vacation. Being prepared in every way possible is a good idea to make the most from a visit. And always keep in mind that return visits are highly recommended- and should be taken where applicable. After all, benefits can be obtained over a continual basis rather than just one time. Nevertheless, always keep in mind the previously mentioned topics, and maximum efficiency will be obtained from such spiritual retreats.
