The Harm of Porn

Adam Savage is ffrom mythbusters.  Adam Savage gives advice on fighting the new drug: porn.  Going to this website by clicking on Adam Savage and there is an interesting article, with plenty of links to sites to fight porn.  

It answers questions like: What should I say to y kids when they find porn?  How do I talk to my kids about sex?  How does the internet hate women?  What is the cost of porn?  How to put porn in context?  

You Are an Influencer

From Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services

Friday is International Overdose Awareness Day.

This flyer has introduced me to Naloxone, a medication that can counteract the effects of opioid drug overdose.  Too late for the display at Farmer's Market, but not too late to remember the Overdoe Awareness Day.

VMC Farmers Market

751 Bascom Ave, San Jose, CA

Wednesday, August 29, 10AM to 2PM

International

Overdose

Awareness Day

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day.

Everyday, we see lives around us being changed and lost to

overdose. Overdose does not discriminate – it could be you or

someone you love, a friend, colleague or your neighbor.

Come join us to understand how this affects each one of us.

We will be providing educational resources and distributing

Naloxone, the life-saving opioid overdose medication.

To†join†our†coalition¨†receive†opioid†education†or†host†a†free

Naloxone†training¨†contact†sccoopp@hssÆsccgovÆorg

Find†us†online†at

https∫ØØwwwÆsccgovÆorgØsitesØbhdØinfoØopioid

facebookÆcomØSCCoOOP

It's time to remember. It's time to act.

April: Alcohol Awareness Month

This is an article from Infomail for valley Medical Center
Alcohol Awareness Month
The Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Prevention Division wants you to know the April is Alcohol Awareness Month.  Did you know that drinking too much alcohol increases people's risk of injury, violence, drowning, liver disease, some types of cancer, and causes an all-told 100,000 alcohol related deaths every year?  the good news?  We can all do our part to prevent alcohol abuse and take action to prevent it, both at home and in the community.  For more information about Alcohol Awareness Month visit www.ncadd.org.
Below are a few ideas on how to prevent alcohol abuse:
Be careful using alcohol as a reward to deal with life pressures, find other ways to handle stress and unwind
Encourage friends and family members to make small changes, like keeping track of their drinking and setting limits
Choose a day or two each week when you will not drink.
Limit the amount of alcohol you keep in your home
Don't drink when you are upset
Make a list of reasons now to drink excessively
Talk with underage children in the home about the risks of alcohol
Keep a well-balanced life

Magazine Article: Self-regulation and Stress Coping at the Foundation of Resilient Recovery

Self-regulation and Stress Coping at the Foundation of Resilient Recovery by Stephen Sideroff, Phd, Counselor: the Magazine for Addiction and Behavioral Health Professionals, October 2016.
I found this article very fascinating.  It is presented in two parts really.  The first is how childhood effects someone's vulnerability to addiction and relapse.  "High levels of early childhood stress alter and impair neural mechanisms of self-regulation and functioning."  He is mostly talking about attachment issues, and how impairment in attachment "impairs endorphin brain circuitry" which in turn makes it more difficult to self-soothe.  It is also partially why stress can lead to relapse in adults.  Substances become a substitute for self soothing.
The second part of the article deals with the model for self regulation as a way to teach individuals how to self-regulate rather than turning to drugs.  This is a nine-step process.  It focuses on three areas, relationships, balance and mastery and engagement with the world.  This concepts are presented as things to learn:
1. Relationship with Self.  Being able to have positive and loving self-talk is essential.  Much of the author's work involves relearning this internal script.
2. Relationship with Others.  Healthy relationships should have a ratio of at least twenty positives to one negative.  He suggests relationship with less than a five to one ratio may need to be discarded.
3. Relationship with Something Greater.  This of course is the core of 12-step programs.
4. Physical Balance and mastery.  Relaxation techniques should be a part of any recovery program.  Being able to be at peace with yourself is essential.
5. Mental or Cognitive Balance and Mastery.  The perspective of an addict is frequently flawed.  Maintaining a positive attitude is essential to recovery.
6. Emotional Balance and recovery. Emotional reactivity negatively impacts resilience.  A brain is easily high jacked by reactivity.  A four step guide: 1) Become aware of emotions and accept them. 2.)Sit with emotions and recognize what they are about and whom they involve. 3) Expressing emotions in the contest of acceptance.  It is ok to be sad or angry about past events.  however it is not always possible to change the past.  Sometime accepting reality is needed.  4) Let go.  Once a feeling has been expressed, it is important to let go, and not continue to expect the impossible.
7. Presence.  This is about our ability to be in the moment.  This also deals with how you project into the world, which is charisma.  This can involve a change of posture.
8. Flexibility.  Flexibility is the ability to adapt.  Awareness of patterns is essential to being able to confront them, and adapt other ways of coping.
9. Power: The Ability to Get Things Done.  This is having realistic expectations, and setting goals, but understanding new learning is a growth process.  Having more power leads to more freedom, and less dependence, and then increased confidence in one's self.

The Forgotten Addiction: Gambling

 Sometime we forget gambling is an addiction that can have dire consequences.  It can lead to depression, guilt debt and shame.  It can also have negative health consequences due to too much smoking and increased obesity, poor sleep, poor eating and not exercising.

Story of Overcoming Addiction

Here is a story from the Manteca Bulletin about overcoming drug addiction and the help of HOPE Ministries in Manteca.  This is very good.

The link is no longer bailable

**Candy Flavored Tobacco?

This is a pamphlet I picked up at the Health Fair for employees of Valley Medical Center.  I am not sure which booth this was from, but it is published by Journeyworks Publishing.

 Making tobacco look like candy, or adding flavors deemed to be "cool" does not make nicotine any less deadly.  Much of this business has to do with making tobacco seem more appealing.  IN the end tobacco is a very addictive product, and this type of marketing targets those who are most vulnerable. These are things to avoid at all costs, don't be fooled

All tobacco products have nicotine, nicotine is a drug, it effects your body and causes you to crave more.  addiction to nicotine will cause you to want it all the time.  

Addiction, Mental Health and Stigma

**Step 12: Service - Erik’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

Step 12 - Service: Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, share this message with others and practice these principles in all you do.

Here we have the story of someone who over doses on drugs, and then jumps off a three story balcony.  He is rebuilding his life by serving as a facilitator.
My own nephew had problems with drugs.  After he was able to maintain his recovery, he too served as a facilitator, and in doing so was able to help many people who were having problems.  

**Step 10: Daily Accountability - Adrienne’s Story about Cocaine Addiction...

This is a story of a labor and delivery nurse, who is also a Cocaine addict.
You can't help if a bird lands on your head, but you don't have to let it make a nest there.
I can do scary things; I can do hard things.
Step 10 - Daily Accountability: Continue to take personal inventory, and when you are wrong promptly admit it.

**Step 9: Restitution and Reconciliation - John’s Story on Drug Addiction ...

Through the process of reconciliation we can receive God's mercy.  This individual relates the difficulties he had in putting his life back together.
Step 9 - Wherever possible, make direct restitution to all persons you have harmed.

**Step 8: Forgiveness - Larry’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

Larry describes giving and getting forgiveness as a poison draining from your body, from your heart and mind.
Step 8 - Seeking Forgiveness: Make a written list of all persons you have harmed and become willing to make restitution to them.

**Step 7: Humility - Holly’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

Finding Humility can be hard, but a necessary part of recovery.  In this story, Holly begins her climb to recovery after a suicide attempt.
Step 7 - Humility: Humbly ask Heavenly Father to remove your shortcomings.

**Step 6: Change of Heart - Aram’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

This portrays a man who turns to drugs to deal with the grief of the death of his parents, and the murder of his younger sister.  He goes through the steps; but feels something is still missing.  He then comes back to step 6:
Step 6 - Change of Heart: Become entirely ready to have God remove all your character weaknesses.
It is difficult to turn your weaknesses over to God.  
He finishes with what he says is an African proverb, "If there is no demon within, the demon outside can do us no harm."

**Step 5: Confession - Moroni's Story about Addiction Recovery

https://youtu.be/0brsdTeKef8

Moroni's story about addiction from a young age and how was able to make headway by confessing his wrongs.

Step 5 - Confession: Admit to yourself, to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to proper priesthood authority, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs.

**Step 4: Truth - Austin’s Story about Addiction Recovery

Step 4 - Truth: Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of yourself.
One thing to remember about step four is that being truthful in your inventory includes taking an honest look at your strengths as well as your weaknesses.

**Step 3: Trust in God - Sharon’s Story about Crystal Meth Addiction Recovery

Step 3 - Trust in God: Decide to turn your will and your life over to the care of God the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
This story presents a middle age woman, who is obsessed with losing weight.  As a result she tries crystal methamphetamine and becomes addicted.  She struggles with pride, and applying step three.  She does not want others to tell her how to do things.  This is a very good presentation.

**Step 2: Hope - Preston’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

Step 2 - Hope: Come to believe that the power of God can restore you to complete spiritual health.
This short portrays a young man who is hooked on heroin and cocaine.  He and his brother were drug partners.

**Step 1: Honesty - David’s Story about Sex Addiction Recovery

Here is the first of twelve videos presenting the twelve-steps form a Mormon point of view.  These videos are available through Mormon.org.  This step is a struggle with honesty.  "Step 1 - Honesty: Admit that you, of yourself, are powerless to overcome your addictions and that your life has become unmanageable."  I do not know if these are people telling their own stories or actors making the presentation.  The wife seems very familiar.