Tragedy always brings sorrow, no doubt.  In the aftermath, though, we can take lessons from those working to prevent tragedies from repeating.  Efforts to support victims of the Ft. Hood shootings on November 5, 2009, are generating valuable lessons for those in need of mental health treatment and alcohol and drug treatment, and their loved ones.  Seek help.

Those who suffer from mental health disorders, alcohol dependence, or drug addiction generally do not ask for help at the first sign of problems.  They may also suffer co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders.  In any of these cases it is likely that problems will mount before they ask loved ones for help, if ever.  It is fair to say they are simply incapable of seeking help until it is too late.

To individuals who don’t have a problem with alcohol, drugs or their mental health, this may seem odd.  When a problem can’t be solved individually, it is easy to ask someone for help.  So if an individual in need of help is incapable of asking for it, others will generally not offer it because in polite society that may be rude.

Mental health and addiction professionals continually seek ways to get early help to individuals in need.  A simple suggestion to the public is in the excerpt below from an article on the Behavioral Healthcare website.  "Look to your left, look to your right and look within and basically determine who needs help."  This is true for veterans and the general public alike.  

-- Begin external content –

Fort Hood, TX — Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, III Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, announced the formulation by post leaders and health experts of a behavioral health campaign plan addressing the psychological and emotional needs of the community during a special live broadcast Monday night.
***
"Frankly, I believe as tragic as this incident may be, there could be some goodness that comes from this," he said, "and that is, in fact, that we could establish a baseline for our real mental health needs here at Fort Hood."
***
"First and foremost, seek help if you need it," Cone said. "If you're suffering from the effects of this incident you need to come forward and let us help you with it.

"Look to your left, look to your right and look within and basically determine who needs help," he added. "We've got the resources here right now. We've had a huge surge in the number of behavioral health providers that are available and we can accommodate the number of folks we think will come forward."

--Source: http://www.behavioral.net/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=news&mod=News&mid=B20DF0482CF84DBA94F725711F709DD7&tier=3&nid=5BEF728A0CC140559D990B97AB53F240 –

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles has the resources to provide mental health treatment for veterans and others as part of our commitment to integrated behavior healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one needs help for alcohol dependence or drug addiction, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

The disease process of alcohol dependence includes a relapse component.  Relapse can occur at any time for alcoholics, if they are not taking measures to avoid it.  Summer provides many scenarios that may lead alcoholics to relapse.  And for those who recently completed alcohol treatment, it is critical to take steps to avoid relapse.

For example, they tend to seek a “cold one” for relief from the heat.  Drinking water is a great substitute for alcohol, and is more refreshing.  Read on to see all of the benefits that come from drinking water in the summer months.

Water, Water, (and more) Water

Staying hydrated is always important, particularly during the summer months and during extreme hot weather.  But we cannot just drink anything; we are supposed to be drinking water. Eight glasses of odorless, tasteless, boring water. 

How is it that something as bland as water can be so important to our health and wellness? Now that we can go to the store and find diet soft drinks, “smart” water, sports drinks, and low calorie juices, why is it that something as simple as plain water is so essential to our health?

As it turns out water serves many functions in the body that no other type of drink can replace.  Up to 60% of the human body is water, the brain is 75%, blood is 82%, and lungs are nearly 90% water.  Only water can:

1. Regulate body temperature. When you are hot, your body sweats. When the sweat evaporates off your skin, your body is able to cool.
2. Moisten tissues. Drinking water can help prevent the discomfort of dry eyes, noses, and mouths.
3. Lubricate joints. When you are well hydrated your cartilages glide smoothly, reducing the risk of pain during daily exercise.
4. Protect vital organs. Water acts as a “shock absorber” to cushion organs from damage.
5. Prevent constipation. When you do not drink enough water your body takes it the water it needs from the colon.
6. Flush toxins from the kidneys and liver. When you drink water it runs through the liver and kidneys, washing out waste.
7. Dissolve minerals and vitamins. Many vitamins and minerals we eat are water-soluble meaning they are broken down in water and then used by our body.
8. Carry nutrients to cells throughout the body. Water is able to move throughout the body carrying nutrients to the organs where they are needed.

For additional information regarding how much water you should drink in a day, and to learn more about signs of dehydration go to: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles makes a daily effort to find treatment news articles that we can share with our readers in the alcohol and drug treatment community.  The external content was found among other articles of equal informational and educational quality.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley, and in Santa Ana.

When people seek alcohol or drug rehab, they know there is a problem.  But for the unfamiliar, the idea of getting help for drugs or alcohol can cause fear and embarrassment.  This is one reason that it is very important to risk no hesitation in entering rehab once the problem is identified.

It’s like removing an adhesive bandage.  The pain, fear and embarrassment, does not need to be severe, but it can be intense.  The duration of the pain is in the hands of the sufferer.  Getting help with alcohol or drugs in Los Angeles is like a fast yank of the bandage.  Not doing so is like a slow, agonizing pull.

At Tarzana Treatment Centers, for example, admissions staff can help calm fears very quickly.  And the embarrassment is soon relieved through an understanding of the disease of alcoholism and drug addiction.  Due to drugs’ and alcohol’s effects on the body and brain, wounds need to be exposed to the alcoholic or drug addict before they can be healed.  And healing can begin immediately for those motivated.

Procrastinating over a phone call to rehab extends and intensifies pain in two ways.  First, the physical suffering due to alcohol and drug withdrawals only gets worse and occurs more frequently.  Second, legal, financial, and relationship problems continue to build, promoting the cycle of drinking or drugging to forget.

Tarzana Treatment Centers staffs addiction counselors in our alcohol and drug detox units so healing can begin before entering residential or outpatient rehab.  The is part of an integrated behavioral healthcare plan in alcohol and drug rehab.  We also provide help with alcoholism and drug addiction by making available mental health treatment, HIV/AIDS services, and Native American services.

At the first sign of alcoholism or drug addiction problems, please call Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles, California at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley, and in Santa Ana.