Tracee Dunblazier GC-C with the American Academy of Grief Counseling has presented to the grieving world both personal and academic an excellent and thorough text on grieving.
In her book, “Transformative Grief: An Ancient Ritual for Healing in Modern Times”, Dunblazier presents an up to date and thorough look at grieving in modern life. She presents all of the necessary information behind the science of grieving but also expands and illustrates its impact in the modern world.
Grief is transformative but one must understand the nature of grief and loss to properly transform. Please also review Tracee Dunblazier’s new book
There is extensive information on the basic types of grief, the grieving process, healing and implementing grief into one’s existence. She also explores issues in grieving that lead to complications. In addition, she elaborates on examples of grief found in the modern world, ranging from recent wars to 911. Ultimately, Dunblazier looks to unlock the mystery of grief and help individuals properly face grief and loss in a healthy way. Understanding that grief, loss and dying and death are parts of life itself in an imperfect world is a critical element of her work.
She states,
“Transformative Grief is the embodiment of the profound collision of Heaven and Earth through humanity—alchemizing and empowering us by divulging the truth
on every level. As we shed our illusions about grief and sorrow as being detrimental to our health or being more powerful than we are, we will open to the beauty
of accessing our strength from the deepest recesses of our mind, body, and spirit through grief. Beginning on the day of our birth, we have each been seeded with spiritual
information that will be revealed by grief throughout our lives. It is our willingness to process daily these subtle ebbs and flows of emotion that guarantees the removal of energy that is unnecessary for us to harbor, and to disclose what is valuable for us moving forward.”
Tracee Dunblazier’s work touches the important aspects of grief and loss while reminding everyone that grief is not something to be avoided or denied. It is far from a pathology, but indeed a natural reaction to loss itself. It has the power to transform and change oneself. Learning to incorporate loss in life hence is an important skill in living itself.
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Grief Counseling.
We here at AIHCP congratulate Tracee Dunblazier, GC-C on her comprehensive work and achievement and pray it will help many others learn to incorporate loss properly into their lives.
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ADHD is a common diagnosis for kids who struggle in school, but what happens when kids grow up and struggle in their offices, communities, and relationships?
Adults with ADHD have difficult challenges, and many turn to drugs and alcohol to cope.
In this article, we’ll look at how and why that is.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is largely responsible for the pleasure that you feel when you accomplish something. A sense of accomplishment boosts you and makes it easier to take on your next tasks. For people with ADHD, this doesn’t happen the same way.
Adults with ADHD have a different reward system than neurotypical adults. A normal work routine, including meetings, might be somewhat boring for an office manager who is neurotypical, but it could send someone with ADHD into a spiral.
Without feeling like they are accomplishing anything important to them, and receiving the dopamine boost that goes along with that, it becomes increasingly hard to concentrate.
Having ADHD and needing to do things you don’t want to do and aren’t interested in can be extremely difficult, and even painful.
There are legal substances that can provide a lot of help to adults with ADHD. Coffee can help to stimulate the brain to produce more neurotransmitters, and legal CBD can help to relax the nervous system and provide the restful sleep that adults with ADHD need to maintain good brain health. Know more about it here.
However, there are many adults with ADHD who turn to alcohol and drugs – not just to cope with the pain of having ADHD as an adult in a world designed for neurotypical people, but to help manage an unruly brain that won’t seem to follow directions.
Why do ADHD Adults Turn to Drugs and Alcohol?
It’s important to note that every adult with ADHD was once a child with ADHD, and it is typically in pre-adolescence or adolescence when substance abuse problems or tendencies first arise.
An 8-year longitudinal study found that at the age of 14.9, 40% of ADHD subjects and only 22% of control subjects had used alcohol (Barkley et al. 1990). This suggests that alcohol and other drugs are more appealing to people with ADHD in early adolescence.
A different study found that at age 25, alcohol use was roughly equal between ADHD adults and control groups, but we know that early and intense alcohol use is a risk factor for later alcohol and drug problems.
Growing up is when most people start to face increasing demands on their time and attention, which is also when young adults with ADHD begin to face significant struggles and shoulder the shame that comes from not being able to act or be like everyone else.
ADHD adults use drugs to cope, practically and emotionally.
In a practical sense, drugs and alcohol change the brain and produce the mental states that people with ADHD are looking for. When you are unable to feel happy or concentrate, a cup of coffee can help. So can other drugs. When you can’t seem to calm down or regulate your energy or emotions, alcohol can help. So can other drugs.
Neurotypical adults might be able to take a deep breath and restore calm and focus, but this just doesn’t happen for ADHD adults, who struggle to regulate themselves.
On an emotional level, it is easy to blame yourself for your problems as someone with ADHD. An inability to focus can be mistaken as a lack of interest or care. Disinterest in boring and unrewarding tasks can come across as laziness.
Adults with ADHD have to deal with a disabling inability to focus, as well as being blamed personally for that inability to focus.
In a culture that values constant productivity and readiness, adults with ADHD often struggle to regulate their attention and emotions and use drugs or alcohol as tools to cope.
Recovery for Adults with ADHD and Drug Problems
Although alcohol and other drugs might relieve temporary symptoms of ADHD, they invariably make life worse.
This is not just for all of the reasons that you’re familiar with – the cost, the health impacts, the social impacts, etc – but also because alcohol and most other drugs are harmful to the brain and end up making symptoms worse in the long run.
A healthy brain releases more neurotransmitters that help focus and attention. An unhealthy brain doesn’t regulate itself well. When you start messing with your brain’s reward system, it makes it even harder to set things right.
If you or someone you know is an adult with ADHD and a drug or alcohol problem, find a treatment solution that also addresses the impacts of ADHD. True recovery requires solutions to multiple problems.
Author Bio: Fay Smith
Fay Smith worked in communications for five years before settling down with her husband. She’s now a mother of two young children and takes care of three lovable Pomeranians. Fay Smith is a regular contributor on various health and wellness sites. She also works as a freelance writer and researcher on wellness topics, such as alternative treatments and CBD.
Please also review AIHCP’s Attention Deficit Consulting certificate program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program in online and independent study and open to qualified professionals.
Anxiety is a constant source of stress like symptoms but without an actual stressor present. Anxiety persists beyond the stressor and can sometimes be due to no stressor at all. Anxiety can be a response also to past trauma that leaves the person in a constant state of fight or flight. Obviously anxiety can cause numerous health issues putting the body constantly on red alert and be damaging to forming social bonds with other people.
Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Program, as well as its Crisis Intervention Program and see if the programs meet your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Stress or Crisis Management.
Upon a worrisome visit to the doctor, eventually in one’s life, one will come to the grips of existential crisis, where one must deal with a life or death illness, or hear the terrifying words, that one is dying. For some, these words come earlier in life, for many, later, and for some, death can come like a thief in the night. Those who are granted the ominous warning are given a blessing and a curse. A blessing to prepare oneself and others, to put things right and affairs in order, but also a curse in knowing the clock is fearfully clicking to a deadline that is unavoidable. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification.
There is a myriad of emotions and feelings that one goes through when a terminal illness is announced. An existential reality of one’s own finite nature is made rawly known to the intellect. What was once considered an abstract but real concept suddenly becomes personal and intimate. One comes to the conclusion that death will concretely and definitely happen. It is no longer a future imaging of how but becomes a concrete concept of now and here. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Courses
A terminal diagnosis brings oneself to one’s final chapter in life. It is a scary time but there are ways to face death. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification
How one perceives life and existence itself plays a large role in the existential dread of this bad news. Levels of fear and anxiety are measured and varied in regards to one’s own existential beliefs. Someone who is profoundly convinced of life after death and molded by an undying faith, may feel a sense of fear, but also a sense of hope and reward, while one who holds empiric and only observable phenomenon as a basis for existence, may feel a deeper dread of creeping into nothingness. Some individuals are less attached to the temporal reality and are able to sense a stronger sense of purpose and peace beyond the observable world. Those of this deeper faith, whether rightly placed or not, will react quite differently to the bad news of approaching death than one of lesser or no faith.
Fear of the unknown still exists even if in the smallest grain to the faithful. So naturally, the evolutionary push to exist when challenged will spring forth within the soul a type of fear. The fear of the unknown still exists for those of faith, but the levels of fear that may surround one who is terminally ill, differs greatly in intensity. One of faith upon the announcement of bad news will definitely still feel a sense of fear and be forced to reckon with the unknowable. This type of fear is a natural reaction. Since one’s conception, the urge to exist is programmed within the body. The urge remains a strong driving force.
For those facing death, a general fear may also be replaced with a more acute fear of the now. Fear of sharing this news, or keeping it to oneself. Fear of the disease itself and what this particular disease may do to one’s body during the final phases. Oneself may fear the pain, the treatments, the side effects and quality of life or even the fear of leaving family and children without one’s guidance and protection. Obviously these are grounded fears to one who has come to a firm acceptance. While initially one may be swarmed with questions and options, one may soon find oneself consumed with collecting as much information about the disease or condition, understanding pain management or reviewing various extraordinary measures to preserve life. Understanding the enemy can sometimes qualm some fear and even give a glimpse of hope. One finds oneself with more power over fear when one faces the enemy across oneself. Some individuals face the enemy, while others choose to live in fear and hide from it. One in the end accepts how they will face death, either with a strong will, or a broken one. Accepting death but facing it with a strong will despite fear is the true definition of courage.
Due to this natural fear of death, even among the most spiritual and religious, one when faced with this terrible thought will undoubtedly deny it. Elisabeth Kubler Ross who worked with the terminally ill observed this natural human reaction to reject bad news initially. Something so frightful at first refuses to be processed by the brain. Bad news is met with an equally powerful rejection of it. As one receives this bad news then, one will probably initially reject the sentence of death. How long this reality takes to sink in may differ among some. Some may seek additional medical opinions, until all options are removed. Others will proceed with elaborate alternative therapies in hope of a cure. For some, hope can be a evolutionary device for survival. It definitely is not something to rejected but when hope blinds oneself to such an extent that is masquerading as denial, then it can become problematic to oneself and prevent oneself from dealing with the reality of death.
Death itself is a process that many run and flee from. Evolution to survive engrains this feeling into oneself. Yet, if one stops and realizes that death is a process one must face, then maybe one can allow oneself the process of dying properly. Many cultures value a good death. A good death is as part of life as birth. Dying well, handling oneself well and maintaining dignity is critical to the last chapter. Long term denial strips one the opportunity to handle affairs, repair relations, prepare the mind body and soul and live the final chapters. So, absolutely, upon terminal diagnosis, one will feel fear and denial and this is OK. What one does not wish to continue to entertain is a long term denial. Hope should not be squashed, but denial should not be masked as hope either.
Oneself may think if one ignores the horrible diagnosis that it will go away. For this reason alone many in denial, may keep a terminal diagnosis as a secret from friends and family. One will ignore checkups and important procedures and postpone wills and other critical business at hand. These types of secrets are part of denial at its core. Oneself may feel as if one is sparing others grief, but this type of internalization of bad news only denies the reality and creates less time for others to express love and accept reality.
Following this diagnosis, other emotions may erupt within oneself. As Kubler Ross points out in her famous stages of grief, one experiences far more than denial upon the initial announcement of bad news. One will experience also a range of emotions with the first minutes or days or weeks or months. Anger is a powerful emotion that may erupt. One may find oneself angry at God, or others. One may feel one’s life has been stolen or cut short. Others may become jealous of others who were granted better health. Again, in grief, one cannot deny these initial feelings, but understand them and see where this anger comes from. While one may feel like they may be treated unfairly, one cannot allow anger to turn into envy and become caustic within one’s very being. There is little time left with a terminal illness and negative emotions and negative energies while acknowledged should not be permitted to fester, unless one wishes for the soul to also suffer with the body.
With the lamenting of death, some will feel greater melancholy. How long one grieves the impending loss of life, like fear itself, varies upon the spiritual nature and resilient nature of oneself. One should clearly come into contact with the sadness of loss of one’s physical life, but again, like anger, it is important to evaluate the emotion within its proper degree. Some may go into a deep depression or no longer wish to live. Oneself may recede to the shadows well before the date of death. When sadness of this level overtakes oneself, then one must realize that the diagnosis is now taking more life than it originally took before. The intense grief is taking what is left. It is stealing the final days of sunshine, family memories and expression of love.
With such deep emotions, sometimes it may be good to express these feelings. Some may find solace in their family and friends, but others may feel a fear to cause them more pain. While this is noble, in many ways, family and friends wish to help one carry this cross. Oneself should not feel isolated to the point where one has none to share the fear and emotions of dying. An additional option is finding others in support groups or other social venues where others of like diagnosis can meet and share emotional fears and acute physical symptoms. A good balance between sharing with family and other like diagnosed individuals can play a great tool in helping one face the emotions of one’s diagnosis.
Kubler Ross pointed out that many may also bargain. As if one has a final say with the grim reaper, oneself may feel the need to negotiate with the angel of death. This sense of powerlessness is lessened with bargaining and creates an illusion as if oneself can negotiate the final days. Oneself may ask, if I can only have an extra year, or have only this procedure instead the other procedures. This illusion of power and control over death is merely another way oneself may try to create one’s own ending. Instead of focusing on “ifs”, oneself should focus on the realities and what can be done within the time given. Less time bargaining and more time doing is a far better way to accept the angel of death.
How will you face the angel of death and one’s own existential reality when the time comes? Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification
Upon this terrifying news of one’s own impending death, one can react in a multitude of ways, intellectually and emotionally, but while no emotion is initially to be ignored, there is clearly a better way to face death. It is up to you, the person facing the terminal illness, how you will face the final chapter in your life and no-one else but you can author that chapter.
If you would like to learn more about death and dying, or about AIHCP’s certification programs in Grief Counseling and Pastoral Thanatology, then please review AIHCP’s online programs. The Grief Counseling Certification and Pastoral Thanatology Certification Programs are both online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification.
Breathing is life itself in the East. Each breath is critical to existence and plays an important role in balance. In meditation, proper breathing is critical. Proper breathing can reduce anxiety and stress and return the body to a sense of calm. This is why breath work is an essential element in the meditative process. With proper breathing, one can find a balance with self and life and ease away from the loud noise of the temporal world. Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Certification
4-7-8 breathing is an excellent breathing technique to utilize. Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Program
The article, “How To Do the 4-7-8 Breathing Exercise” from Cleveland Clinic’s healthessentials looks closer at the 4-7-8 Breathing exercise and how it can benefit someone. The article states,
“The 4-7-8 breathing technique is a style of intentional breathwork that can calm your mind and body. Though popularized in 2015 by integrative medicine specialist Andrew Weil, MD, it has ancient roots in the yogic practice of pranayama, or focusing on the breath.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Certification as well as AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Certification and see if they meet your academic and professional standards. The programs are both online, independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Meditation or Stress training.
Malpractice due to misdiagnoses or late diagnoses is a big cause of death for patients. A study showed that 1 in 3 misdiagnoses lead to death or permanent disability. This points to the extreme importance of having a competent doctor and educating oneself. It is important to be always be aware and seek second opinions if serious. Legal Nurse Consultants may later play a key role in helping identify malpractice, but it is far better to be educated and aware when something may not be feeling right. Please also review AIHCP’s Legal Nurse Consulting Certification
Medical error and malpractice can have deadly results. Please also review AIHCP’s Legal Nurse Consulting Certification and see if it meets your goals
The article, “1 in 3 misdiagnoses results in serious injury or death: study” by Jacqueline Renfrow looks at the dangers of misdiagnosis and looks at a variety of stats. She states,
“The research, funded by the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine, analyzed more than 55,000 malpractice claims from the Comparative Benchmarking System database. Of the diagnostic errors causing the most harm, 74.1% were attributed to just three categories—referred to in the paper as “The Big Three”: cancer (37.8%), vascular events (22.8%) and infection (13.5%).”
Please also review AIHCP’s Legal Nurse Consulting Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Legal Nurse Consulting.
Stress management can help lower cortisol levels. Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program
Cortisol is released into the body during times of stress. This short term boost to the body is useful but over long periods of time it can damage the body. It is important to reduce cortisol output by managing stress and eating properly. Stress Management is key in keeping the body’s response systems in control. Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program
The article, “Your 5-Minute Read on Lowering Your Cortisol Levels” from healthline takes a closer look on how to monitor and lower cortisol levels. The article states,
“While cortisol is essential for a variety of functions in the body — including regulating the stress response — consistently high cortisol levels due to chronic stress can lead to health issues. Taking steps to manage your stress levels and maintaining healthy habits like eating a well-balanced diet, exercising, and getting enough sleep, are some things that may help. If you’re experiencing persistent health issues or chronic stress and nothing seems to help, it may be a good idea to talk with a medical professional about your symptoms.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Stress Management Consulting.
Aruyveda medicine is trending in health and wellness conversations across the nation. Individuals look hard to find ways to compliment their conventional treatments. Ayurveda provides individuals with a variety of holistic remedies for prevention and cure of numerous illnesses. Integrative and Holistic Healthcare Professionals can help individuals properly utilize Ayurveda and its many supplements with conventional treatment. Please also review AIHCP’s Integrative and Holistic Healthcare Practitioner Program
Ayurveda can have many positive benefits for health. Please also review AIHCP’s Integrative and Holistic Healthcare Practitioner Program
The article, “What Is Ayurveda, and Why Is It Trending So Big Right Now?” by Brittany Burhop Fallon looks at Aruyveda and why it is so helpful to so many. She states,
“Ayurveda is wonderful and comprehensive system of holistic medicine developed 10,000 years ago by the Tamil Siddha yogis in the South of India,” says Martha Soffer, internationally acclaimed Ayurvedic Panchakarma expert and founder of Surya Spa. “Their goal was to extend and revitalize their lives and to give them the greatest chance for enlightenment. ”
Please also review AIHCP’s Integrative and Holistic Healthcare Practitioner Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Holistic Nursing.
Many individuals who find themselves addicted to alcohol feel as if they have no control. They follow the addictive impulses and habits of drinking everyday. They feel powerless and unable to break the cycle. However, it is possible to overcome any addiction, including alcohol. One is not powerless to past behavior and impulses but can a play a true role in overcoming this type of addiction. Substance Abuse Counseling and support groups or one way individuals can face addiction and help with recovery.
Overcoming addiction is a choice and life style. Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Counseling Program and see if it meets your needs
The article, “Alcohol Addiction: A Rational View to Change Your Life” by Michael Edelstein looks closer at how individuals can overcome alcohol addiction. He discusses many misconceptions regarding addiction and drinking. In many cases, individuals label themselves or feel as a failure, but he reassures everyone that they do a play an active role in their recovery. He furthermore lists a cognitive thinking skill others can apply when they feel the urge to drink. He states,
” You are powerless. This means you’re compelled to drink. This would be true if someone forced you to drink at the point of a gun. Then, we may say you’re powerless. But under normal circumstances, you’re a free agent with free will. You can choose to use or choose not to use. Addiction is a choice.
He continues…”There is no evidence I must escape this discomfort. Drinking may feel good for the moment but will surely feel really bad later. There is no “must” commanding me to drink, all musts are a figment of my imagination. I don’t have to act on it.”
Alcohol Addiction: A Rational View to Change Your Life. Michael Edelstein, PhD. Psychology Today. August 18th, 2022
Addiction is a complex phenomenon that is characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, despite negative consequences. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder that is associated with changes in brain circuitry that underlie impaired control over behavior. Individuals with addiction often report feeling unable to control their use of substances or engagement in behaviors, even when they are aware of the harmful consequences. The development of addiction is thought to be a result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
In particular, drinking has its own addictive issues. Alcohol addiction is a serious problem that can lead to a number of negative consequences. If someone is struggling with alcohol addiction, it is important to seek professional help. Alcohol addiction can cause physical and mental health problems, and it can also lead to financial and relationship problems. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, please seek help from a professional.
One problem with drinking is the fact it is a social practice. This leaves an individual in the constant shadow of individuals drinking or viewing beer commercials without notice. Because it is an acceptable practice in society, many individuals find constant temptation to fall or relapse back into drinking.
Alcohol Recovery
The process of recovering from alcohol addiction can be a long and difficult one. There are many different aspects to recovery, including physical, psychological, and social. The first step in recovery is usually detoxification, which can be a difficult and uncomfortable process. After detoxification, the individual will need to work on rebuilding their life and making healthy choices. This can include things like therapy, support groups, and 12-step programs.
The 12 step program is a set of guidelines that are designed to help individuals suffering from addiction. The program is based on the belief that addiction is a disease that can be effectively treated by following these 12 steps. The steps include admitting that you have a problem, admitting that you are powerless over your addiction, and making a commitment to change your life. Other steps involve taking a moral inventory of yourself, making amends for your past actions, and adopting a new way of life. The original twelve steps were developed by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a method of recovering from alcoholism.
Family members can help the addicted. The alcoholic is likely experiencing a great deal of shame and guilt related to their alcoholism, which can make it difficult for them to seek help. As a result, the he or she may need support in order to begin the process of seeking treatment. Additionally, the he or she may need assistance in managing the financial and practical aspects of treatment, as well as emotional support throughout the process.
Unfortunately, sometimes relapse can occur. A relapse is a return to drug or alcohol use after a period of sobriety. This can happen after days, weeks, or even years of being clean and sober. A relapse can be triggered by a number of factors, including stress, anxiety, boredom, and feeling isolated from others. People who are in recovery from addiction are at risk for relapsing, and it is important for them to have a support system in place to help them stay on track. Relapse does not mean one is a failure or that all the hard work is ruined, but shows that recovery is a life long process.
Conclusion
In conclusion, addiction is a serious problem that plagues many people. It is important to get help if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction. There are many resources available to help those who are struggling. With the right help, addiction can be overcome. Substance Abuse Counseling is an excellent way to fight addiction as well as support groups.
Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Substance Abuse Counseling. After completion of the required courses, one can then apply for the four year certification.
Additional Resources
“Neurocircuitry of Addiction” George F Koob & Nora D Volkow. Neuropsychopharmacologyvolume 35, pages217–238 (2010). Access here
“Alcoholism”. American Addictions Center. Access here
“Alcohol use disorder”. Mayo Clinic Staff. Mayo Clinic. Access here
“What is addiction?. Adam Felman. Medical News Today. June 3rd, 2021. Access here
Alan Wolfelt, PhD, works in the grief field and has added extensively to the healing process in grief. His Ten Touchstones designed for Grief Groups, as well as individuals, aim at pinpointing important phases during the healing process. These phases help the bereaved to learn to live with the loss, integrate it and move forward. It does not dismiss the loss nor emotions, but asks one to embrace upon the life long grief journey.
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Grief Counseling
