My personal term for people who love addicted people (or codependents) is Second hand Addicts. This is because, although they do not drink, drug, or otherwise mood alter, they are just as profoundly affected- and sometimes even sicker than the addict is.

In addition, I would go so far as to say that we addicts and codependents, only know two ways of living and the entire sphere of our existence lives in these ‘polar opposite’ ways of being. To clarify, Addicts and Second Hand Addicts either attack or defend, control or be controlled, manipulate or be manipulated, step-on or be stepped on. In short they are either the action- usually aggressive- or the reaction. Now this same phenomenon can be said to exist in all people to some extent, but with an addict (alcoholic) or codependent, action/reaction is about the only way we live. And I lump myself in both of these groups as a former codependent who has experienced the struggle with food addiction.

Now many of you therapists and 12-step attenders will balk when I say former codependent. You are well aware that codependency does not go away, and is a life-long problem. And I was aware of the very same thing until I took a course called The Landmark Forum.

Now those of you in the recovery world balk because you know what it means to fight the endless battle against dangerous codependency in both the addict and the Second Hand Addict.

But the reason codependency can be erased with scarcely a trait in Landmark courses is because all Landmark Education courses cause people to put the past in the past. And all codependent traits have been created in such a person’s often sordid, dis-empowering pasts. And you should know that the tools of Landmark Education complete people’s pasts so powerfully that you would almost believe that past had never occurred.

I can only tell you from my experience what it is like. This year I struggled greatly with finances. I tried to add another job but did not get an interview for a whole year. Then in a landmark Course I put the past in the past. That week I had three interviews and I now have several possibilities for a job to choose from.

Now the past that was in my way was a complete blind-spot to me and I could not see it- even in years of therapy- until I sat in that course at Landmark Education.

And that is what the Landmark Forum does. It turns on a dimly lit light-bulb in your brain.

So do the Landmark Forum, whoever you are. And if you deal with addicts and codependents, and they are healthy enough of mind, have them do it to. You can visit my blog for the website. Then let me know that you did it and how it went. Or better yet, email me and I will personally register you for the course. It would really make my day to have you get something so meaningful for your life.

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The brain, and consequently the mind, of a traumatised person functions differently from that of a non-traumatised person. And since all perception of massage is mediated via the nervous system, it follows that a traumatised person’s experience of a massage may differ from that of a non-traumatised person. The statement ‘massage is relaxing’ may not apply.

To be more specific, trauma is a word that has become overused and devalued much like stress has become. A person might say ‘I’m traumatised, my email program isn’t working!’ Even if a person is involved in a shooting, car accident or some genuinely traumatic event, it doesn’t mean they themselves will become traumatised.

With rest, time and the support of others, many people recover from trauma without suffering mental distress or ill health. But some don’t recover and develop post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The functioning of their brains and central nervous system (CNS) are altered.

Simple Trauma and Complex Trauma

Babette Rothschild, a leading trauma expert, divides trauma into 2 major areas. Simple trauma refers to a single event or series of events that are not related and the effect of this on an adult whose life experience has been fairly ordinary up to that point. This person’s CNS gets stuck in fight and flight.

The second main category is complex trauma. This refers to chronic events early in life when a child’s brain is developing, such as ongoing abuse or negect. In this case there is a failure of development of the top down pathways that transmits information from the cerebral hemispheres to midbrain and hypothalamus to brain stem. Instead the bottom up pathway is permanently switched on i.e from brain stem to hypothalamus to cerebrum.

For a sufferer of complex trauma, the information relayed from sensory receptors and proprioreceptors stimulated by massage arrives at the cerebral hemispheres, the part of the brain that registers meaning, but then fails to have any impact on the autonomic nervous system or the hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal axis. (Alan Schore).

Relaxation Can Be Undesirable

It’s similar to the brain being stuck in the general adaptation syndrome but in addition the trauma brings with it dysfunctional thought processes. These may included flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, inability to relax because of the fear of what might happen by lowering the mental defenses, and inability to switch the incident off.

Massage is always thought to be desirable, but the physical relaxation it brings induces mental relaxation. This may not be what the trauma patient requires.

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Those who suffer from chronic and consistent panic may feel that they’re at their wit’s end in treating the condition. Some are hesitant to take medication or sit through lengthy therapy, but as an alternative there are many panic disorder support groups. These groups consist of people just like you who suffer from panic to one degree or another and who are just trying to get support and encouragement for the condition.

What can you expect from panic disorder support groups? Most are guided by someone that also suffers from chronic panic attacks but that has learned to control or treat them, and so knows the importance of facing the disorder head-on. Members of the group typically come from all walks of life; panic does not discriminate against the rich or poor or choose any particular race or age group.

If you’re hesitant about exploring panic disorder support groups because you assume everyone there will somehow be different than you or smarter or richer or poorer or for whatever reason, it’s time to set that thinking aside. People of all education levels, employment options, and ages can suffer from panic, so you’re sure to find many people who are just like you and that are working to face this condition.

You may also find quite a bit of helpful advice and encouragement from panic disorder support groups. Many members have learned new ways of thinking that help them tremendously when facing a panic attack. Remember that there is no one right or wrong way to deal with panic, so by listening to the experiences and advice from the many different members of panic disorder support groups you may find that someone says something that helps you in particular or that is especially effective for when you experience panic.

They can also talk openly and freely about how panic disorder has affected their life so that you understand that you’re not alone and have no need to feel guilty or ashamed for how panic has done the same for you and your family.

There’s nothing to fear about panic disorder support groups and they’re very effective for many, so why not give one a try today? It might just the thing you need to start living panic free.

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It seems that in just about every department or large chain store and pharmacy there is advertising pinned up for stop smoking aids. There are literally hundreds of brand names all stacked together in aisles across the world giving the ’soon to be ex-smoker’ a multitude of choices.

But with so many ‘guaranteed’ options available, how does one choose the best stop smoking aid? Well, invariably, you do what most people do and choose to remain a smoker.

One could argue that all you need to do is pick one type of aid, try it and if it doesn’t work then move on to the next one. I guess if it was that easy and feasible to do so more people would stop.

It definitely isn’t easy to quit but it is simple. There isn’t some magic pill or gum or stop smoking spray. The intention for the most part with a quit smoking aid is to get you on the path to recovery. The best place to start is with the most popular offerings.

1. Nicotine Chewing Gum

Nicotine gum is a chewing gum that delivers nicotine into the bloodstream with the intention of aiding in gradual smoking cessation. Each piece of gum typically contains 2 or 4 mg of nicotine, roughly equivalent to 1 or 2 cigarettes. Your dosage would depend on your smoking habits.

2. Lozenges

The nicotine lozenge is much the same as the nicotine stop smoking gum and is also available in the two strengths, either 2mg or 4mg. They are available in a variety of flavors and in the same way you would suck on a lozenge to relieve a sore throat you would suck on the nicotine lozenge to release nicotine into your bloodstream.

3. The Nicotine Patch

Nicotine patches come in several steps so that smokers can gradually reduce their nicotine dependency. Patches come in 21mg, 14mg, and 7 mg. So, for example, if you smoke a pack per day or more you would start with the 21 mg patch. After a period of time, usually several weeks you would then move on to the 14mg and so on until you no longer need them.

If you are looking to quit smokeless tobacco you can also use any of these quit smoking aids. If you chew tobacco you may prefer to make use of the nicotine chewing gum as this may give you the same sensation and so be easier when trying to quit.

You may try a certain type of quit aid and it may not work for you, either because of your lifestyle or because of your personal preference. Don’t worry about this; it is normal for those trying to quit to try various options The point is to try whatever it takes to stop.

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