Symptoms of Addiction

Symptoms of Addiction

There are many types of addiction and many substances – and other things – that people can be addicted to. If you or a loved one are addicted to any substance, the sooner you get into drug rehab the better your chances are of getting over it and going on to lead a normal and healthy life. Sadly, in most cases people try to hide their addiction from those around them and continue to act normally, even when that is almost impossible.

There will always be symptoms of addiction for those who care enough to find out what to look for and who look deeply enough to find them. Here are some of the symptoms of addiction to alcohol or drugs. Some of these will only be known to the addict, while others can be recognised by parents or friends.

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5 Positive Reasons Why Funerals Are So Important After The Loss Of A Loved One

Whilst what funeral directors do as part of organising funerals involves many practical matters, such as planning the route, arranging for the required number of cars, and even booking the church for a religious funeral, they also have a role that involves advising, counselling, and consoling those who have been bereaved.

Following the death of a loved one, especially a sudden death, the immediate family of the deceased will be experiencing an array of emotions, including grief, anger, despair, and confusion, to name but four. Given that a funeral director might be one of the first people a family speaks to outside their immediate circle, it is safe to say funeral directors can help them in many ways.

One way that might manifest itself is in explaining to the family, not just in practical terms, such as how a funeral can be organised, but in a more meaningful and mindful way as to why the funeral is so vital in helping them move on from the loss of their loved one. Here are five reasons why a funeral is meaningful for those who have lost a loved one.

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What are Ancient Grains?

Have you heard of Ancient Grains? This is a modern term created to help us distinguish authentic grains that have not been manipulated by modern agriculture as opposed to high-yield mass-produced genetically modified grains. Ancient grains contain higher amounts of amino acids, vitamins & minerals & fibre than today’s genetically modified processed grains.

The Best 5 Ancient Grains

1. Senatore Cappelli

Senatore Cappelliotherwise is known as Italian durum wheat. This large, more rigid golden wheat is ideal for whole-grain traditional Italian pasta recipes. Senatore Cappelli is the entire grain & should not be confused with common wheat used in baking bread. This wheat ancestor still contains gluten & is not recommended for coeliac or wheat sensitivity.

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6 Physical Signs of Money Stress

6 Physical Signs of Money Stress

Your financial advisors may tell you that some of the most noticeable signs that you’re struggling with your money are that you don’t have enough of it to cover your bills and you’re not finding it easy to prioritise your payments or even consider retirement planning.

However, the signs of money stress can go far beyond what’s immediately apparent by looking at your accounts. It can start to present itself as physical signs of stress, such as these below.

Headaches

Anything can cause a headache, such as a sensitised brainstem and triggers like particular food and beverages, exercise, and travel. However, money stress is most certainly something that can see the onset of a headache.

A study involving 267 people experiencing chronic headaches determined that in 45 percent of cases, a stressful event preceded it. Stress intensity was also thought to be linked to an increase in how many headaches some people experienced each month.

Sickness

It can sometimes feel like you’ve just got over a cold or the ‘flu before you’re immediately back under the bed covers once more. A weakened immune system that makes you more susceptible to some illnesses can be caused by stress.

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9 Ways Playing Virtual Darts Can Boost Your Health And Wellbeing

Augmented Reality for Darts: Unlocking a New Dimension of Fun

You may have heard about a recent phenomenon that has seen new venues sprout up in various towns and cities, and that phenomenon is augmented darts. It marries up state-of-the-art technology with the traditional game of darts which has been around for over 100 years, to create an activity that is fun, fulfilling, and in many cases highly competitive when a virtual darts league match is being played.

There are lots of reasons why people might play virtual darts with the majority of them being associated with a social occasion, however, virtual darts does provide several benefits for both your physical and overall wellbeing. Read on and we will explain nine of these so that the next time you are invited to play virtual darts, you can do so with the knowledge that apart from having fun, your wellbeing is also being catered for.

It Gets You Moving: We are not going to insult your intelligence and suggest that playing virtual darts is on the same physical level as jogging or swimming, however, it is certainly better than sitting in front of the TV, and you do have some physical activity when throwing and walking to and from the dartboard.

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Important Advice For Parents Of Toddlers Who Do Not Speak

One of the reasons why parents of a toddler will contact a speech therapy centre for advice is when they fear their child has language issues as they are not speaking. For parents of toddlers who show no inclination to speak it can be worrisome, especially when other toddlers the child mixes with, seem quite happy to chat away, even if not everything they say makes perfect sense.

The first advice we would give is that if your toddler has reached 18 months and is not saying any words, then have them assessed by a speech pathologist. What a speech and language assessment will do is indicate if a toddler requires speech therapy.

If your toddler’s assessment indicates speech therapy for them, please do not panic. Children all develop at different rates and each element of their development will differ from other children of a similar age. Simply needing speech therapy does not mean your child is in any way “backward” or has learning deficiencies that will hinder their long term education.

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How Family Of New Zealand Citizens Can Obtain A Visa To Live And Work In Australia

How Family Of New Zealand Citizens Can Obtain A Visa To Live And Work In Australia

Given the close geographical, cultural, and political ties that exist between Australia and New Zealand it is of little surprise that the Australian immigration regulations and criteria that apply to the family of New Zealand citizens differ somewhat from those for citizens of other countries. This is a positive although it can sometimes lead to confusion, especially when some New Zealanders are not aware that the process for their family applying for an Australian visa is different.

The routes towards living, working, and studying in Australia as they relate to visas provide numerous ways family members of New Zealand citizens can make Australia their home. One such visa is the New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa, which has the subclass number, 461. This is also sometimes referred to as the New Zealand Partner Visa as it is used primarily by the partner or spouse of a New Zealander who lives in Australia. For more specific and in-depth information relating to your specific circumstances, we would recommend speaking directly to expert migration agents.

Requirements For the New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa

There are several requirements and criteria that must apply before someone is eligible to apply for this visa.

Relationship Status: The applicant for this visa must either be

  • The spouse of a New Zealand citizen
  • The de facto partner of a New Zealand citizen
  • A child of a New Zealand citizen

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7 Medical Conditions That Can Be Diagnosed By Providing Free Health Checks For Your Removalists Staff

7 Medical Conditions That Can Be Diagnosed By Providing Free Health Checks For Your Removalists Staff

Every removalists and office relocations employer should be aware that the health and well-being of their staff play a key role in the success of that business. A workforce that is healthy, both physically and mentally, and which is aware that their employer genuinely cares about their well-being, is going to feel a greater obligation to do their best and work their hardest.

On the other hand, if employees know that their employer sees health and safety as an inconvenience and a cost, rather than a means of investing in their staff and their business, they are going to feel unappreciated and demotivated about their work, which has implications for their mental health.

Assuming you are a removalists employer that falls into the former category, rather than the latter, presumably, you are happy to read about additional ways you can ensure the well-being of your staff is catered for. This includes a desire that all of your employees remain physically fit and mentally healthy.

One of the best ways this can be achieved is by providing your staff with free health checks. These can either be carried out in your workplace via mobile health professionals, or via a scheme that allows them to be seen by a health professional such as their GP, or another health provider.

This should be done with the view that these health checks can identify any health conditions which may occur. The key is that many of them can be treated much more effectively if they are diagnosed early and any applicable treatment started sooner, rather than later.  Some of the most common, and most serious medical conditions can be diagnosed via occupational health checks provided by employers, and here are 7 of them.

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5 Important Facts About Dental Implants

5 Important Facts About Dental Implants

Whenever you are considering a treatment or a procedure for a medical condition, including those related to your oral health, finding out as much as you possibly can about them has many advantages. This is certainly in the case of dental implants because most people assume that all they need to know about them is that they will replace their missing tooth or teeth.

Whilst that is certainly the most important reason why you would opt for dental implants, you should never base your decision solely on that fact alone. Instead you should try discovering as much as you can about them, so that before, during and after the procedure you are fully aware of and prepared for all eventualities.

We say that, not to alarm you, nor to imply that dental implants have any inherent danger, but nevertheless the more you know about a medical procedure the greater your peace of mind and the less chance there is of you being surprised when a specific facet of dental impacts comes to your attention.

To aid you along the path to knowing as much about dental implants as possible, we thought it would be useful if we pointed out some of the lesser known facts about dental implants from a dentist. They are lesser known, not because anyone has tried to hides these facts, but merely because they are not mentioned as often when dental implants are being discussed.

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Are You Eating Functional Foods?

Are You Eating Functional Foods?

Functional foods are certain foods which are nutrient dense but also serve another purpose or ‘function’ in our bodies. These foods provide health and wellness benefits by reducing risk of certain diseases or health issues. Some basic examples of functional foods are fruits and vegetables which provide our bodies with nutrition but also contain other active components to provide our bodies with further benefits (more…)

What Effects Can Workplace Bullying Have on Health?

What Effects Can Workplace Bullying Have on Health

People who maintain strong mental health and a positive state of mind are much more likely to have an enjoyable, fulfilling life. However, there are numerous things that can impact mental health, including workplace bullying and discrimination.

Despite numerous laws designed to prevent these from happening, they remain common. And they affect thousands of Australian’s every year. In fact, recent studies estimate that as much as 11% of the Australian workforce suffer some form of bullying or harassment, but only a few ever reach out to employment lawyers for help.

In order to deal with the mental health issues this can cause, it’s important to understand them. In the following article, we’ve explored some of the main effects workplace bullying could have on your mental and physical wellbeing.

Mental Health Effects

There are countless mental illnesses that can be exacerbated or triggered by workplace bullying. Understanding them and why they occur is key to preventing and dealing with them. Some of the most common mental health effects of harassment include:

Post traumatic stress disorder – Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a severe illness that can impact the fundamentals of day-to-day life. If you love your work and enjoy what you do, PTSD could hit you hard if your workplace suddenly becomes somewhere where you’re targetted and taken down regularly.

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Caring for Your Dental Implants

Caring for Your Dental Implants

When you get dental implants from your dentists, you may not think you need to stay on top of your oral care routine as much as you used to. After all, the teeth aren’t real, so surely, they don’t require as much attention? The opposite is true. Your dental implants may not be your natural teeth, but they do need proper attention to keep them in the best condition possible. These tips below may help.

After the Procedure

The immediate aftercare of your dental implants is as crucial as the ongoing care. In the first 24 hours after your procedure, refrain from moving around excessively and keep your head elevated. You may also like to keep an icepack on your face for short periods and eat only soft foods.

Avoid rinsing your mouth, and take any medications prescribed by your doctor for pain and infection control. If you notice bleeding, bite down on the sponges that your dentist would have placed in your mouth to assist.

Use a Different Toothbrush

You may be used to using an ordinary toothbrush with your regular teeth, but that might have to change. Some hard-bristled brushes can scratch your dental implants, which means swapping to a nylon toothbrush can be the best thing you can do for your teeth.

A nylon brush tends to be gentler on your teeth than other models and is less likely to scratch your implants.

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7 Criteria Which Determine If You Are A Candidate For Lasik Eye Surgery

7 Criteria Which Determine If You Are A Candidate For Lasik Eye Surgery

There is no doubt that the popularity of laser eye treatments such as Lasik eye surgery is increasing as more and more people wish to end the need to wear glasses and contact lenses to correct their vision. It has proved to be a success for millions around the world, and the fact that the recovery time and any discomfort is minimal makes it an ideal choice for everyone.

We say everyone, but we should caveat that by saying everyone who is suitable for Lasik eye surgery. Unfortunately, not every individual will be a suitable candidate, given the number of criteria that have to be met before a surgeon will consider doing the procedure. The experts at insighteye.com.au have let us know some of the criteria – here they are and what they mean.

Healthy Eyes

The first criteria, and probably the most obvious is that your eyes must be in a healthy condition. Incidentally, the fact that your vision needs to be corrected in the first place does not make them unhealthy. What does, are conditions such as dry eye syndrome, conjunctivitis eye injuries, and eye infections, all of which make Lasik eye surgery questionable, and even if it is possible, the recovery time may be longer.

Your General Health

The main concern with regards to your overall health are any conditions or medications that you might be taking that could interfere with or compromise the healing process taking place in your cornea, following Lasik eye treatment. Conditions that can weaken the immune systems include type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, although there are many others.

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Choosing the Best Eye Doctor for Your Cataract Surgery

Best Eye Doctor for Your Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is the process by which a cloudy, aged lens is removed from the affected eye by means of an incision. It’s a commonplace surgery that millions of people go through each year.

Still, complications occasionally arise, and even without any trouble the idea of having a lens removed often causes patients understandable discomfort. Therefore, it’s important for you to select a surgeon you can trust to perform your cataract removal surgery. The following list of suggestions should help you choose the right surgeon for your needs.

Consider the Types of Eye Doctors

It’s important to understand the difference between optometrists and ophthalmologists, because depending on your class of eye doctor they may or may not be able to perform your cataract surgery.

Optometrists are qualified to perform eye exams and vision tests, but they are not able to perform surgery. Ophthalmologists have medical degrees and they are certified to perform surgery.

Both classes of eye doctor may serve as your personal eye care physician, but if you are seeing an optometrist, you will have to be referred to an opthamologist for your cataract surgery. If you are seeing an opthamologist, he or she will be able to perform the surgery directly.

Be sure to make note of which type of eye doctor you’re selecting when you make your plans for cataract surgery.

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How to Care for Dental Implants

Care for Dental Implants

If you are one of three million Australians who is missing teeth, then you may think there isn’t a lot you can do about it. After all, you still have plenty for chewing, and don’t you only get dentures when you’re missing most of them? While you may not need traditional dentures, your dentist is here to let you know that there is much value in dental implants and over-dentures.

Dental implants are single teeth with roots installed in your jaw bone. They look, feel, and function like regular teeth, and no one needs to know they aren’t yours. If you’re considering getting dental implants, then you’ll be pleased to hear the maintenance process is as effortless as for your real teeth. Read on to find out how to care for implants.

For a Single Implant

If you have one implant, then you will be relieved that the process for cleaning it is not all that much different from your other teeth. Use a soft-bristle brush and clean the tooth (and your other teeth) at least twice per day.

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5 Benefits of Invisalign Braces

Invisalign Braces

Many people with imperfect teeth may feel it’s something they have to be satisfied with for life and decide they might need braces. Fortunately, a visit to your local dentist can see you armed with the knowledge of many different straightening options available. One of those options is Invisalign.

Invisalign is a custom-fit applicator that straightens your teeth over time using the same principles as traditional braces. However, they have many advantages over their metal counterparts. Read on to find out more about Invisalign and why it could be right for you.

Invisibility

One of the more obvious Invisalign benefits, especially when you compare it to traditional braces, is its invisibility. Even while you’re slowly straightening your teeth, no one will be any the wiser. Invisalign is a clear tray that doesn’t detract from your face. There are also no wires or brackets. Therefore, if you don’t have any dramatic straightening to complete, Invisalign may be right for you.

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Why You Should Replace Your Extracted Tooth

Tooth Extraction

If you’ve seen your dentist for tooth extraction, or you’ve lost a tooth through accident or injury, it’s in your best interests to not have a gap for long. Even though it might not seem like a priority, replacing your extracted tooth is in the best interests of your overall oral health, and here’s why.

It Can Affect Your Chewing Ability

The loss of any tooth can be more than only an aesthetic problem. If you lose a tooth either through a dentist extracting it or an injury or accident, you will find it’s now challenging to chew. In fact, if you lose a molar, you will notice it’s even harder. Your molars are key players in eating, and by removing them, your other teeth have to work far harder.

Malocclusion

When you lose a tooth or teeth, you may find that your other teeth begin filling the gap where they once were. As your teeth shift into the free space, you can then discover that you have trouble chewing and biting and can even develop an under-bite or over-bite. If you decide you would like to see your emergency dentist and replace the tooth, make the decision sooner rather than later as it can be a more complicated procedure once those remaining teeth decide to shift.

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3 Different Kinds of Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, “eating disorders are serious emotional and physical problems that can have life-threatening consequences for both females and males.” The trouble with getting treatment for sufferers is that they go to a lot of trouble to hide or disguise their symptoms and frequently deny that they have any problem – because that is what they believe.

Here are 3 different types of eating disorders.

  • Bulimia Nervosa – This is characterised by episodes of binge eating in between using various ways and means to control eating or losing weight. The latter may consist of deliberately vomiting, using laxatives, fasting or doing excessive exercise. This becomes a compulsive cycle that makes the person will feel out of control and this can lead to feelings of shame, self-disgust and guilt. They will also have low self-esteem. While a person with BN does not necessarily lose weight, their weight can vary as they gain some and then lose some, depending on what stage the cycle is at and how long it lasts for. While this sounds like BN is not serious, it can indeed cause many serious health problems from chronic sore throat and indigestion through to ulcers, osteoporosis, infertility and risk of heart failure.

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Obesity – How Big an Issue?

obesity

When I hit menopause, the weight started creeping up. Whereas I was used to being able to lose 3-5 pounds if I didn‘t eat for a few days (as when I had a cold or such), my metabolism seemed to have changed quite drastically. Now if I didn‘t eat for a few days I would put weight on! I found that to be an affront to common sense. It certainly doesn‘t agree with the calories in-calories out concept! What it did seem to do was to establish a new bodyweight for me, whether I liked it or not.

According to Professor Peter Saunders(1), the calorie theory is only partly correct. If things were as simple as that, our weight would fluctuate a lot more than it does. The theory says that if you left out 300 calories at breakfast you would lose ten pounds a year. But that doesn‘t always happen. The body has mechanisms to control both weight gain and weight loss, either by varying the appetite or by adjusting its metabolic rate. It is generally assumed that the obese eat more than those of normal weight. Research has shown that this is not always true; in some cases fat people eat less than those of normal weight(3). In addition, says Prof Saunders, not only does heredity matter but also our entire life experience from the moment we were conceived, and even what our mother ate while pregnant!

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Sickness or Health? Not an easy choice

Sickness or Health

You probably wonder what on earth I mean by the headline. Who would choose to be sick? Doesn’t everyone want to be healthy? Isn’t that an obvious choice? Well, on first take, yes, but if we look at how society sets things up, we might do a double take.

Let’s start with childhood. You have to go to school, no matter what. If you ever have a day where you just really don’t feel like going, that is not a good enough reason, and you have to go. Except if you’re sick. Ah, then everything changes. You get to stay home in bed, or wherever, and watch TV all day. Your mom or dad might even stay home with you, and bring you books or games or special yummy foods. Your sickness is rewarded, you get extra attention and cuddles, and you don’t have to do what you don’t want to do that day.

When you grow up, it’s not so easy. But you can have a nice job, good pay, and good benefits. Among your benefits are sick days. You get sick, seek medical advice, you get to stay home, and you get paid anyway. What a deal! Who wouldn’t want to get sick once in a while? Fortunately, if you did that every day you’d get bored, so work is then a welcome entertainment. But you’re going to make sure you get to take every single sick day you’re entitled to. Otherwise, you’re losing money, no? So here is another very common way in which sickness is rewarded.

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The Fine Line: (W)holism and Science

holistic-healing

There are so many interesting things going on in the world today, especially in the fields dedicated to understanding what human beings are like and how to keep them well. In trying to understand ourselves, we have currently two different models: on the one hand, the scientific reductionist model, and on the other hand, complexity theory.

The reductionist model, which is also generally thought of as the “scientific” approach, reduces everything to its constituent parts, and then studies those parts. It studies the trees instead of the forest, the cells instead of the organs, the DNA instead of the whole being. Molecular biology is a perfect example.

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Why Dieting Often Doesn’t Work

Why Dieting Often Doesn’t Work

Many people have tried dieting over and over again with the same results – nothing. Or if they lose a little weight they put it on again as soon as they go off the diet. This is a natural thing to happen, because once you go off that diet you start eating unhealthy choices again; foods that are high in fat, sugar and calories.

In some cases, dieting doesn’t work because you really don’t keep to it. You may think that you are on a diet, but in actual fact you sneak that snack in order to reward yourself for keeping to a diet you don’t especially like. You may even make that extra snack part of the diet and think it won’t matter – but it does. A diet has a controlled number of calories and if you exceed this then you cannot expect to lose weight to any great extent.

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6 Things to Know about Behavioural Addiction

Most people think of addiction as something to do with drugs or alcohol that needs the person to go into drug addiction recovery. While this is true, there are other kinds of addictions that require a different type of treatment. Behavioural addictions fall into this category. People can be addicted to things such as gambling, porn, eating, exercise, working and even shopping.

All these are called behavioural addictions because the addict is not ingesting a harmful substance, but it’s the behaviour in pursuing the thing and doing it that causes them and other people problems.  Such people get hooked on doing the thing that gives them a high and they can’t seem to stop even when they know they can’t afford to continue (in the case of gambling or shopping) or even when the thing interferes with their relationships or health ( porn or over-eating).

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How to Get Fit Without Really Trying

health benefits of being fit

Much is said about the health benefits of being fit. When you are truly fit your body can work the way it was meant to and you will enjoy your life a whole lot more. You won’t have to puff and gasp every time you go up stairs, you will have the endurance to cope with all the busyness life throws at you and your body will be able to throw off flu and colds more easily. The latter on its own is well worth the exercise you need to do to get fit.

However, it is not easy to find time to get fit. If you are a mother of toddlers who also works outside of the home you will never have a minute to call your own. Don’t despair; you too can get fit – if you are not already. Simply lifting that toddler up and down will give you arm muscles that you didn’t know you could have without intensive workouts in the gym.

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The Trouble with Addiction

Trouble with Addiction

Many people think that drugs such as ice or cannabis are the only substances that cause addiction, yet experts claim that alcohol is the most common substance that people get addicted to. If you listen to respected rehabs no matter what it is, successful drug rehabilitation is usually the only way to break an addiction and have any chance at a normal life, free of being tied to taking a substance that will soon cause ruin and eventually end in death.

The trouble with most addictions is that people don’t want to believe that they have no control over the amount they take or frequency of use. They deceive themselves and others into believing that they could stop any time they want to; it is just that they do not choose to stop – yet. In fact, if they really tried to stop, they would soon find out that it was impossible to do so.

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