The Causes of Drug Addiction
Posted on April 4, 2012 |
Addiction is a disease that affects the lives of so many people, the numbers are staggering. Even more alarming is the fact that many addicts are in denial, which means that the number of people struggling with drug or alcohol addiction in our country could be far greater than we actually know.
The addict of drugs or alcohol is generally in a state of denial and believes that he or she can stop at any time. This is not true. Once an addict has begun the cycle of denial, they have entered the realm of addiction. Although they know it is wrong and they know the effects that drugs and alcohol can have on them both mentally and physically, they put these negative effects and consequences out of their mind and continue to use. This is the quagmire of addiction. How, then, does addiction work? Let’s take a brief look at what some of the determining factors are.
FROM A SCIENTIST’S POINT OF VIEW
Compulsion is the main aspect that propels an addict through their addiction. Addiction manifests itself in different ways, and can sprout up seemingly out of nowhere. Science has been studying addiction for many years now, attempting to locate the addiction centers to see exactly how they work. The trouble with this is that addiction is a very individualized behavior, slightly different with every individual it affects.
Psychological addiction is when an addict believes that he or she needs the substance they abuse to be able to function. Whether it is a drink to calm their nerves or a line of cocaine to give them a pick-me-up, the psychological addict honestly believes that they are fine, but that they require these substances to feel balanced. Although not as serious as a physical addiction, psychological addiction is very strong and debilitating for addicts nonetheless.
Physical addiction is when the addict’s body requires certain amounts of a drug to be able to function. This is quite common with users of crack cocaine, methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, and even alcohol. The addict has used these substances for so long and so frequently that there body is unable to function properly without certain levels of drugs and/or alcohol in their system. Without the drugs or alcohol, the body begins to experience withdrawal. Withdrawal is a painful process in which the body begins to shut down and violently crave the drugs that it needs in order to function.
GENETICALLY SPEAKING
According to some scientists, a person’s genes can determine whether or not they have a propensity for addiction. There are even some in the scientific community who have gone so far as to claim that certain ethnic backgrounds are more at-risk for addiction than others. Whether this is true or not, statistically speaking, familial traits do seem to play a role in the addictive behaviors of individuals. This could also be because those who have sought treatment in the past recognize it at earlier stages than those who have not had to deal with addiction in their families.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Environment has a lot to do with how individuals behave. Many addicts grew up around other addicts, whether in the immediate family or with those that they spent a lot of time with during their development. Neighborhoods where drugs are prevalent naturally have more addicts than “clean” neighborhoods, although no one is immune to the problem of addiction.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The fact of the matter is that addiction cannot be traced back to one factor. There are usually several precipitating factors that ultimately help to spawn an addict. A combination of genetic or family history, combined with an environment in which the potential addict is exposed frequently to drug and alcohol abuse compounds the likelihood of addiction in an individual. The important thing to remember is that addiction is a disease. No one chooses to become an addict; there are many factors involved. Seeking help and beginning a rehab program of recovery is the best way to fight back.
What Is Forensic Psychology?
Posted on April 4, 2012 |
In recent years forensic psychology and related topics such as criminal profiling have been the subject of a whole host of books, films and television series. While this has undoubtedly raised the profile of forensic psychology, the subject has often been presented in a distorted, sensationalised and inaccurate way.
With this very much in mind, this article outlines what you need to be aware of in order to provide a satisfactory answer to the question, what is forensic psychology?
When my students arrived for their first lecture, I would always start by giving them 10 minutes to write down an answer to the question what is forensic psychology? Before reading on, why not quickly write down what you think forensic psychology is.
The reason I did this was because despite the fact that every single undergraduate psychology student (about 180 of them) chose to do the forensic psychology course, not one of them came to see me in advance to ask what the course was about. Now bear in mind students chose their optional courses well in advance of the start date, and in order to make an informed choice they were all strongly advised to speak to the lecturer running the courses they were interested in before making a final decision.So why the no show?
I suspect, actually I know because I discussed it with the students afterwards, that they didn’t feel they had to find out what forensic psychology is, because they already had a preconceived idea.
I mentioned that at the start of the first lecture I would give students 10 minutes to write down an answer to the question what is forensic psychology. What I didn’t mention, however, is that after about 2 minutes I would ask for their attention and apologise for forgetting to tell them that they weren’t allowed to use the words serial killers or silence of the lambs in their answer. It was usually as this point that most of the writing in the lecture theatre stopped.
If you’re thinking I would have stopped writing as well, please contain your disappointment and don’t rush off just yet. The answer to the question, what is forensic psychology may not quite be what you thought, but that doesn’t mean that the subject has to be any less engaging.
The first thing to appreciate when addressing the question is that even psychologists in the field are divided as to what the answer is. The division of criminological and legal psychology within the British Psychological Society argued for twenty years as to whether their members should be entitled to call themselves Chartered Forensic Psychologists. It was finally agreed that they should, however, there still remains a great deal of debate and controversy surrounding the issue.
The central problem is that its members are drawn from a wide range of disciplines, so it is always difficult to state what the boundaries are when you talk of Forensic Psychology.A fragmented discipline?
Psychologists in the prison/correctional services. Clinical psychologists in special hospitals & the psychiatric services. Educational psychologists. Occupational psychologists. Academics
Now while it is important to acknowledge that this fragmentation of role exists, it is just as important to realise that these different groups are linked to forensic psychology because their work, expert knowledge or research activity is somehow connected with the law.
This legal connection makes perfect sense when you consider that the word forensic comes from the Latin forensis, which literally means appertaining to the forum, specifically the imperial court of Rome. So in essence:The debate as to what is and what isn’t forensic psychology rests primarily on the nature of psychology’s relationship with the legal system.
Let me give you an example, imagine 2 clinical psychologists meet at a conference and they begin talking about the work they do. The first psychologist tells the second that she recently gave expert testimony in court arguing that the defendant in a murder case was criminally insane; the judge and jury agreed and having been found guilty on the grounds of diminished responsibility the defendant was going to be sent to a secure psychiatric unit. Now there’s a coincidence the second psychologist says I work in the unit where they’re sending him, so I’ll be dealing and treating this guy when he arrives.
So here you have a situation where two psychologists are linked to the legal system by way of a legal decision and you could argue, therefore, that both deserve to be seen as engaging in Forensic Psychology. However, there’s a crucial difference.
The first psychologist actually helped inform the legal decision based on her psychological knowledge and expertise. The second psychologists’ involvement on the other hand arose as a consequence of a legal decision that she had no direct influence over.
My preferred forensic psychology definition acknowledges this key distinction, namely:That branch of applied psychology which is concerned with the collection, examination and presentation of evidence for judicial purposes’ (Haward 1981).
If you adopt this definition you are stating categorically that Forensic Psychology relates to:The provision of psychological information for the purpose of facilitating a legal decision (Blackburn 1996).
So in the case of our two psychologists, strictly speaking only the first can be said to be engaged in Forensic Psychology.
Not everybody would agree with this, because there is a school of thought that would claim that any activity that links psychology to the law deserves to be described as Forensic. I’m not going to try and convince you which is right, although I do have a strong opinion on the mater; the main thing is that you know that this debate exists.Summary
In answering the question, what is forensic psychology we have discovered that:
In essence, forensic psychology refers to the application of psychology within a legal context.
The debate as to what is & what is not forensic psychology relates to the nature of this legal application & the level at which it is applied.
And this debate raises a number of questions that you need to think about. In particular:
The boundaries of forensic psychology?
The role of the forensic psychologist?
The credibility of forensic psychology.
To find out more about the fascinating world of forensic psychology visit www.all-about-forensic-psychology.com
The Law of Attraction and Manifesting
Posted on April 3, 2012 |
Law of Attraction is a school of thought which came up in the late 19th century. The theory believes in identification of ones aim and thinking towards its fulfillment. Thinking, according to the Law of Attraction, does not merely mean intensive thinking about the goal, but its realization. The Law of Attraction also states that we are capable of bringing about remarkable changes in our lives, by through effective thought management and rightful utilization of our positive energies.
The law of attraction has exploded in popularity in the last few years, with hundreds of thousands of people reading books, articles, and any little tidbit they can get their hands on, and they have been realizing that the secret law of attraction can truly improve their lives for the better.
But the fatal flaw that the majority of these people make is they think that the secret law of attraction doesnt take any work on their part. They think that if theyre really good at manifesting their thoughts into reality, they dont have to do any work the universe will wait on them hand and foot.This isnt true! The law of attraction does not let you get out of working hard for your dreams! Nothing will replace good, old fashioned hard work. The secret laws of attraction will not get you out of working.
When you use the secret law of attraction and harness the power of the universe, you open doors for yourself. You get opportunities that you wouldn’t otherwise have by stepping forward in faith. In order to achieve your dreams, you must take opportunity, and allow the universe to lead you towards happiness, wealth, power, love whatever your dream is.
For example.
A mans girlfriend needs to get her car fixed. Its going to cost $500.00 dollars. The man says, If I win the lottery, Im going to get my girlfriends car fixed. He could go get the car fixed now, but his argument is that he only has $1,000.00 in the bank it would take half of his savings just to get the car fixed, and what if he needs to get his car fixed after that?
That is not the right way to use the law of attraction instead, in order to properly use the power of the universe and take full advantage of the law , you must pay for your girlfriends car to be fixed forst and then opportunities will arise that you must seize as they are presented to you, and then you will truly be able to use the law of attraction. You will be able to live your dreams. How much ‘belief’ in this thing do you really have though?
“Manifesting implies making evident or proving the presence of something. The word, commonly associated with the new age and new thought theories, refers to a sense of faith for ones will, mental integrity and power that is capable of translating all of ones dreams into reality. Manifesting is one of the principal credos in the Law of Attraction.
The Law of Attraction points out that human mind has a general tendency to crave for more, to reach for the unreachable and gain the maximum in life. Quite often, this is not possible because of circumstantial reasons, but mostly it is the mental laxity which is responsible. The inability to realize ones true end in life is also a potential reason. The Law of Attraction aims at resolving all of these issues by manifesting. The theory helps you to understand the goal of your life and then provides the means to attain it. According to the Law of Attraction, it is only when an individual has this knowledge of their goal in life that they are able to move towards achieving it. So, spend some quiet time on a chair by yourself for 10 or 15 minutes close your eyes and ask your ‘self’, “What am I ‘meant’ to be doing”, take note of what comes into you consciousness. This can be somewhat scary, but it helps you to understand and therefore, to see reality more clearly and manifest the things to help you fulfill your purpose..
When you realise what your purpose is you will be on a course of action to materialize your dreams. This happens as your thoughts to reach the goal attract the means to attain it. Manifesting is one of the key factors that contribute to the immense popularity of the Law of Attraction. It is only through Manifesting that the simple cause and effect characteristic of the Law of Attraction is most clearly explained.
Addiction Psychology
Posted on April 3, 2012 |
Addiction Psychology
an edited extract from ‘Understanding Addiction’
Addictive logic is summed up in the phrase “I want what I want and I want it now.” Emotional needs often feel very urgent and compulsive. Such emotional logic works to satisfy this urgency even if it is not in the best interest of the person.
At the very heart of the addictive psyche is the false belief that the objects or events associated with the addiction can bring genuine spiritual and emotional satisfaction. Becoming an addict is a gradual process in which the addict becomes emotionally seduced into believing that he or she can find satisfaction through the object or event – be it sex, gambling, alcohol, work etc.
The truth is that we only get temporary relief from these objects and events, but we don’t get real long-lasting satisfaction from them.
All of us have issues, pains, frustrations, and memories we would rather not have to face. At times, we have all used objects or events to avoid facing these. Addiction, however, becomes a lifestyle in which the person loses control of the use of these objects and events and gets locked into an emotional avoidance of real life. Addicts keep delaying life issues as a way of nurturing themselves.
All of us have the potential to form addictive relationships with any number of different objects or events, especially during stressful times when we would welcome a promise of relief and comfort. However, avoiding reality and responsibility by the addictive use of objects and events is ultimately an ineffective way of healing pain and anxiety. The mood change created by acting out an addiction is very temporary, and only creates an illusion of real satisfaction.
For example, the food addict binges after a fight with his partner and finds the illusion of peace. For the moment, he feels full, both physically and emotionally instead of empty. During such moments, there is an intense sense of comfort. In a similar way, the compulsive gambler gets lost in the action and feels excited, confident, and sure of herself. This time she knows she has picked a winner.
Slowly, addicts start to depend on the addictive process for a sense of well-being and personal identity. Their lives become ruled by the pursuit of their addiction.
Addiction starts out as an emotional illusion that is entrenched in the addict before others around the addict or even the addict himself realizes that an addictive relationship has been formed. The addict starts to build a defense system to protect the addictive belief system against attacks from others, but only after the addiction is well established on an emotional level. On a thoughtful, intellectual level, the addict knows that an object cannot bring emotional fulfillment. Alcoholics have heard the old saying “You can’t escape into a bottle.” Workaholics know “there’s more to life than just work.” Addictive spenders understand “money can’t buy happiness.”
The illness of addiction begins very deep within a person and his or her suffering takes place on an emotional level. Intimacy, positive or negative, is an emotional experience that is not logically evaluated. Addiction is an emotional relationship with an object or event, through which addicts try to meet their needs for intimacy. When looked at in this way, the logic of addiction starts to become clear. When compulsive eaters feel sad, they eat to feel better. When alcoholics start to feel out of control with anger, they have a couple of drinks to get back in control.
Addiction is very logical and follows a logical progression, but this progression is based on an emotional logic, not intellectual logic. A person who tries to understand addiction using intellectual logic will become frustrated and feel manipulated by the addict. Talking one-on-one with only a counsellor and without a support group is usually ineffective in convincing addicted persons to end their destructive, addictive relationships.
Addictive logic can be summed up in the phrase “I want what I want and I want it now.” Emotional needs often feel very urgent and compulsive. Such emotional logic works to satisfy this urgency even if it is not in the best interest of the person.
For example, a compulsive gambler tells himself he is done gambling for the week. Shortly, however, he has a rough day at work and feels uneasy, so he looks over his racing form to try to ease his feelings, still telling himself he won’t gamble anymore this week. While reviewing the racing form, he starts to hear his emotional logic telling him he has found a sure bet. “Why didn’t I see this before?” he says. “It would be crazy for me to miss this opportunity!” Thus, he becomes pitted against himself – one side believing in his ‘sure thing,’ the other reminding him of his promise not to gamble for the rest of the week. Inside, the emotional pressure builds. Because addiction involves the deep need to have emotional needs met and emotional pressures relieved, he finally must give in to his urge, especially after he has convinced himself he would be stupid not to grab this opportunity.
Thus addictive logic pits the addict against himself or herself.
Iva Advice Debt Uk: a True Benefactor in Desperate Times
Posted on April 2, 2012 |
In UK, government approved debt solution which is savior if you are about to file bankruptcy. IVA advice debt UK is a legally binding agreement for 5 years which clears 70% of debt.
After an IVA is agreed, debtors will not be disturbed by the creditors and the existing debt interests will also be frozen. Any remaining debt after 5 years will be wiped off.
IVA advice debt UK is efficient and has trained advisors. They help many families who have huge debts to become debt free. IVA in UK gives free advice on debt and takes action within 24 hours of your enquiry.
IVA advice UK helps to change all the existing debts to only one monthly payment. It avoids the severe situation like bankruptcy. Your repayments become affordable and you can easily pay the amount. It is better than a consolidation loan.
It is necessary that you follow the rules and regulation of the IVA advice debt UK as they are. The major problem is that maximum borrowers are not aware of the debt advice in UK. If you are confused, they will provide you with all the information regarding bankruptcy and debt management. Online service is also available. Online advice debt works faster and thus helps you to become debt free faster.
IVA advice debt UK is legally binding agreement for 5 years which clears 70% of debt. It is efficient with trained advisors and helps many families to become debt free. IVA in UK gives free advice and starts taking action of your debts within 24 hours. IVA makes multiple payments into a single monthly payment. Online advice debt works faster to free you from debt.