10 WARNING SIGNS OF ADDICTION

What warning signs will Drug and Alcohol use have on a person’s body and personality?

 

There is no easy way to figure out if you or your loved one is struggling with an addiction. As you will see, many of the signs and symptoms of substance abuse listed below are also symptoms of mental health issues, including depression or anxiety disorders. Call Aurora Alcohol and Drug Centre today and our highly skilled staff can help you determine next steps for you or your loved one.

1. Changes in Physical Appearance

Drug and alcohol use will have a recognizable impact on a person’s body. Physical symptoms of substance abuse include:

• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
• Development of unusual sores on the body
• Bruises and/or cuts
• Burns, particularly those on hands or face
• Facial redness or irritated skin
• Frequently irritated eyes
• Development of tooth decay or gum problems
• Strange smells on clothing

2. Sudden Health Problems

Common health-related symptoms that can arise from substance abuse are:

• Unexplained exhaustion/tiredness
• Irregular sleeping patterns
• Recurrent nosebleeds
• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Headaches
• Memory loss
• Cotton mouth (excessively feeling thirsty all the time)
• Constant sickness

3. Unexplained Personality Changes

It is important to look for strange, unexplained personality changes that don’t quite make sense, such as:

• Sudden lack of motivation
• Loss of conscience or inhibitions
• Boisterous, loud behavior
• Out of character withdrawal, over excitement, or hyperactivity

4. Mental Instability

Drugs can sometimes trigger a psychological imbalance. This can be seen when the user begins to:

• Hear voices
• Perform actions driven by paranoia
• Act compulsively
• Lose their ability to concentrate or focus

5. Emotional Instability

Depressants and stimulants are designed to help improve a person’s emotions. That is why drugs and alcohol can often activate:

• Depression
• Mood swings
• Difficulties in managing anger

6. Changes at School or Work

At school or work, the following are addiction red-flags:

• Lateness
• Unexplained absences
• Problems and complaints reported by peers, teachers, bosses or co-workers

7. Changes at Home

Around the house, the following are addiction red-flags:

• Locked doors
• Excessive use of perfumes or air fresheners/odor-neutralizers
• Missing prescription medications, alcoholic beverages, household cleaners and other products

8. Activities

Substance abuse often becomes the highlight of life for addicts, overshadowing the activities that use to bring them happiness. Changes that should cause concern are:

• Lost interest in most or all of their favorite activities
• Breaking promises or making excuses (uncharacteristically)
• Disappearances

9. Change in Possessions

Addiction often causes a person to lose sight of everything else. When looking at their living space or what they hold dear, be concerned if you notice that someone is:

• Selling personal items for cash
• Stealing
• In possession of pipes or improvised drug apparatuses

10. Relationships

Things to look out for where relationships are concerned:

• New friends they don’t want you to meet
• Increased flirtatious or promiscuous behavior
• An abrupt breaking of long-term ties with their friends and family members

People who exhibit some or all of these 10 warning signs of addiction may be suffering from a drug, alcohol or addiction problem. 

Source: www.addictionhelp.com//10warningsigns

AURORA SENTRUM se VOORSITTER aan die woord

Aurora vier 50 jaar se bestaan, en ons vier die groot geleentheid deur oor en weer geluk te wens.

 Ons is mos maar almal op soek na geluk.  Baie hoop dat rykdom en finansiële vryheid die ding sal doen, ander meen weer as ons verhoudinge tog net kan reg loop sal alles beter gaan. 

 Wat sê die Here, waar is hierdie skaars iets met die naam van geluk te kry?

Mat 5: 3 Antwoord as volg: “ Geseënd is die wat weet hoe afhanklik hulle van God is, want aan hulle behoort die koninkryk van God”.

Gelukkig wees, geseënd wees het niks met goed te doen nie, dit het alles met jou ankers te doen.  Waar en in Wie is jy geanker?  Nee, dit vra nie van ons om supergelowiges te wees nie, net om te weet waar ons geluk lê.

En daarom kan ons saam met Thomas À Kempis bid:

Here, vandag voel ek weer minder seker as gister.

Wat sal tog van my word?

Ek word so maklik ontstel deur klein verliese.

Ek werk so hard vir so min geld, en tog

Gee ek so bitter min aandag aan my verhouding met U,

- wat my skatryk sou kon maak.

Ek gee soveel aandag aan onbelangrike dinge

Dat ek feitlik heeltemal vergeet wat regtig belangrik is.

Ek raak die pad saam met U skoon byster

Wanneer ek so verstrengel raak in aardse belange.

Ag, Here help my om tot my sinne te kom.

Sit my voete weer terug op die pad na U toe.

 

Dalk sal ons goed doen as ons Oswald Chambers se gedagte ook onthou:

“Ons sien gebed as ‘n instrument om dinge vir onsself te verkry; die Bybelse idee is dat ons vir God daardeur moet leer ken.”

Ds Jannie Smith

 

Van links na regs:

Santie Froneman. Jannie Smith, Gert Kruger, Jurie Wessels, Louina Le Roux, en Santie Pruis

Erkenning aan Volksblad vir die Foto

Ten Tips for Addiction Recovery

Addiction recovery can be a long and complicated process. However, there are several tips to make the journey to long-term sobriety easier:

1. Work with a treatment specialist or treatment center to get the help and support you need to recover.

Treatment for addiction to alcohol or drugs generally requires professional help to overcome the entrenched habits and behavior patterns of addiction.  Begin with a therapist and explore the addiction treatment options for your unique needs.


2. Seek out support groups such as those offered through the SANCA programs for ongoing recovery support.

Staying away from the addictive substances and behaviors requires a daily commitment to abstinence.  This is much more attainable when you are surrounded by a network of supporters and others who understand what you are dealing with and are available to offer encouragement when you feel tempted to relapse into your addiction.


3. Develop self-acceptance through practicing compassion toward yourself.

Mistakes and regrettable behavior go hand in hand while in the middle of an addiction.  Often, the seeking of our preferred substance or addictive behavior (gambling, sex, food, etc) has been our chief objective. It badly clouded our judgment regarding who else might be hurt in the process.  An important component of recovery involves learning how to be a better friend to ourselves. 
We need to develop a positive regard for our unique self that is realistic and recognizes our own value regardless of how we look, perform or how others feel about us.  A strong sense of self and a commitment to living with integrity and self respect are essential in sustaining recovery long term.


4. Get treatment for co-occurring disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Often, the addict unknowingly has been self medicating an underlying mood disorder such as depression or anxiety. This must be addressed in order to avoid falling back into the addictive behavior.


5. Practice mindfulness and living in the moment.

The addict or alcoholic may find that worry about the future and regret and sorrow about the past consume them when they are not under the influence of their substance.  New coping skills must be employed immediately to make day to day living more tolerable and the ups and downs of life more acceptable. 
Learning to live in the moment, to be present now to the sights, sounds and experiences of today can be a powerful grounding tool when emotionally distressed.  Also, deep breathing exercises and meditation can also assist in calming frayed nerves and help one to stop mind tripping into the past or the future.


6. Listen to and honor your feelings. Learn to tolerate uncomfortable feelings.

The person suffering from drug addiction or alcoholism can be disengaged from their emotional state to avoid dealing with uncomfortable feelings.  Learning to tolerate uncomfortable feelings is crucial to long term recovery from addiction.


7. Avoid triggering events and people until you feel secure enough in your recovery that the temptation will not overwhelm you.

It may be helpful to stay away from former places where you used to practice your addiction, such as bars, parties, etc.  Give yourself time to develop a deep and lasting commitment to recovery behaviors before placing yourself in situations that may cause you to crave your addictive substance or behavior.


8. Accept your addiction and practice abstinence

Denial is a hallmark of addiction. The belief that “I am not that bad, I will quite tomorrow, etc” characterizes the mindset of a practicing alcoholic or addict. This denial must be confronted and shattered. Acceptance that you are not able to tolerate ingestion of this substance or engaging in a specific addictive behavior is an important daily step.


9. Have a relapse prevention plan.

Relapse or slips are an all too common problem for those in recovery from an addiction. Changing long held destructive behaviors with drugs and / or alcohol can be extremely difficult. If a relapse happens, it is important to remember that all is not lost and that the same skills that helped you become sober and clean before are available to you right now, to pick up and re­commit to your recovery journey.


10. Develop faith and trust in God and let go of what you cannot control.

A hallmark personality trait of those that struggle with addiction is a tendency to feel the need to control people, places and things. An uncertain outcome can be extremely anxiety producing for the addict or alcoholic. This often results in attempts to manipulate others, events and situations to obtain the desired outcome of the individual.
This comes at a steep cost, as the loved ones, coworkers and friends of the sufferer typically object to this controlling behavior and pull away from the person. Learning to trust in a wise and all loving God can be a powerful tool in resisting the unhealthy urge to try to control life. 

Source:
 http://www.addictionhope.com/recovery/self-help-tools-skills-tips/top-10-ways/

The 6 Steps To Beating Your Caffeine Addiction - By James

Have you ever felt jittery and stressed, all because you drink too much caffeine?

Ever noticed how many calories are in coffee? Maybe you’ve tried to cut down but it’s too hard.

Caffeine is one of the most researched substances in the world. It has benefits, and it can be harmful.

It’s all about moderation, but the more we consume the more our body builds a tolerance.

If we’re not careful we can overload our adrenal glands and become stuck in a cycle of fatigue.

Also, caffeine can greatly affect our quantity and quality of sleep each night.

1. Substitute With Green Tea

Start substituting one of your daily coffees with a cup of green tea.

Continue substituting little by little.

• If you drink 4 coffees a day, begin by drinking 3 coffees and one green tea.
• A day later (or a few days – depending on how tough going it is) move that down to two coffees and two green teas.

Green tea still contains caffeine but in far less amounts – and is also an all-round healthy drink.

 

2. Addressing the Social Experience

Part of coffee drinking is the experience of sitting at a café in good company and savoring the drink. Somehow paying R20 for someone to bring out a cup of hot water with a tea bag dangling out of it just doesn’t measure up.

Find cafés that offer tea infusions or herb tea in plungers.

I’m talking about the ones that bring out little pots of real herb tea (not tea bags). The experience is completely different to staring at a cup with a tea bag in it. Most herb teas are caffeine-free.

 

3. Use Other Milky Drinks

For many people, coffee means a big milky latte. There’s something about clutching that hot milky drink that is therapy in the morning.
Try substituting with Hot Chocolate, Chai Latte, or even a hot vanilla almond milk. Unfortunately hot chocolates tend to be very high in sugar, so go easy!

 

4. Take Care With Carbs

Do you struggle with afternoon fatigue? That awful period after lunch where you cannot concentrate or struggle to stay awake and alert?
It would be wonderful if we could all hunker down under the desk and take a nap – but most bosses would not be impressed.

Here’s a clue:  

Do not eat a carbohydrate heavy lunch.

Make sure your lunch has a strong protein component in it. Something like a tin of tuna, or some nuts.
I used to think I was doing my body a favor by eating a huge low-fat sweet bun (along with a large bread roll). An hour later I was struggling to stay awake.

 

5. The Power Nap

Napping at work is not going to make your boss happy – but if you are in an environment where it is possible – try it.

Researchers have shown that a power nap is more helpful than a cup of coffee.  

The optimal power nap is a 20 minute siesta taken at about 2.30pm.

 

6. Addressing Habits

Often our food and drink choices are very habitual. We accompany certain activities with certain food and drinks.
If caffeine consumption is linked to a routine, you will need to address the routine. Do it one small step at a time.

 

 

Source:
https://healthyeater.com/quit-caffeine-coffee

 

 

 

 

 

International Day Againgst Drug Abuse and illicit Trafficking

26 June is the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

 

Drug abuse in South Africa is nothing new but the problem is on the  rise. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 15% of South Africa’s population have a drug problem. This high level of drug abuse costs South Africa over R20-billion a year. These statistics have earned the country the dubious reputation of being one of the drug capitals of the world.

Dr. David Bayever from the Central Drug Authority (CDA) said “The drug problem in South Africa remains very serious with drug usage being twice the world norm in many cases…and we are only dealing with what we know about.” 

The South African National  Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, SANCA has a awareness campaign during SANCA Week 24 - 30 June 2016. SANCA challenge you to decorate a tree with yellow ribbons and other materials to show your support against drug abuse.

Are you up for the challenge? 

Take a stand against Alcohol and Drug Abuse

 

Let it Go!

The 23 of June is 

International Let it Go Day

You know those nagging regrets and grudges that tug at your soul weeks, months or even years after the people, jobs or situations which once made them important ceased to be part of your life? Yes, there was a time when you felt you had to take every opportunity to demonstrate to your ex, you former workmates or classmates how well you were doing without them but isn’t it finally time to move on and let go of the negative emotion pulling you down.

That is exactly what Let It Go Day is all about; a national day when you know you are not in taking the brave step to cast away all those hang-ups from a previous chapter in your life.
Let It Go Day is the perfect occasion to stop wasting your energy on negative feelings from the past and instead focus on building yourself a positive future.

What do you need to let go? 

Anger? Regret? Hurt? Addition? 

The inability to Forgive? 

 

Are you struggling to let things go?

Ask us we will help you to regain happiness in your life