Kara was a true pro.  Here’s how it went:

1. 1. She sent me a Word doc. with questions about my food cravings, general health, family/personal medical history and personal habits.
   2. I completed the questionnaire and returned it to her before our phone call.
   3. During our first phone call, we talked about my major craving (COFFEE!) and both the emotional, physical and mental beliefs behind the food addiction for about 15 minutes.
   4. Kara then guided me through a series of questions and taught me to self-apply particular accupressure points.
   5. As I held acupressure points and repeated key phrases that I had chosen, the strength of former thoughts and beliefs lessened.
   6. The next day, my craving for caffeine (COFFEE!) was gone.

Kara holds food craving sessions over the phone and works out of direct experience.  She told me:

” I had food cravings for years, and studied nutrition to ‘try’ figure them out, then Chinese Medicine.  I now help others with their food cravings. I mostly use my acupressure technique with my patients…Although I have a great technique for working with cravings, I find that there is a lot shame around food cravings that make it hard to reach those that could benefit from my work.”

Each of Kara’s phone sessions take about an hour, but she recommends that you allow an extra fifteen minutes just in case you go deeper into a particular direction. Also, you’ll need privacy and you may feel tired or energized after the session, so plan the time after accordingly.

After our first session, Kara worked with me both via email and phone for another 20 minutes…to help wrap up our session.  I admire her simple, yet effective method and believe that you can really dig down deep to help resolve cravings.  But, what happened the next days after our sessions?  My initial thoughts and beliefs about my food addiction were replaced by others!  And my “need for coffee” returned.

In general, I feel that acupressure for food cravings is effective.  However, in my personal experience … there is no end to the complexity and  mystery of the mind.  Thoughts spring from a place deep, deep inside of ourselves…and dissolving the power of one thought will lead to the strengthening of another.  Anyone who has observed themselves in meditation can confer.  So, where does this leave us?

I don’t really know.

Working with Kara helped me first of all make conscious thoughts that I did not know I held about coffee.  Suprised me.   And I DID feel the effect of these thoughts losing ground.  In the end, I think that anything that helps us get to know ourselves better is valuable…worth our time and energy.  So, acupressure for food cravings might just be a “practice” instead of a one or two-timedeal.   What do you think?

Opinions welcomed.

Kara’s contacts: 415.819.8172

kara@thefoodcravingsolution.com

www.thefoodcravingsolution.com 

©2009 addictionblog.org. All Rights Reserved.

1. An increase in emotional disorder symptoms
2. An increase in and behavioral disorder symptoms
3. Declines in verbal memory performance
4. Somatic complaints
5. Attention problems such as hyperactivity, ADD or ADHD
6. Detrimental school performance (as video game usage increases, GPA and SAT scores decrease)
7. Family interaction problems such as less positive parental relations
8. Significant reduced amounts of slow-wave (REM) sleep
9. Modifications in visual selective attention
10. Playing violent video games is a significant risk factor for later physically aggressive behavior

SOURCES:

Pediatrics 2008 Nov;122(5):e1067-72
European Psychiatry 2008 Apr;23(3):212-8
Journal of Psychiatry Research 2008 Mar;42(4):253-8
Pediatrics 2007 Nov;120(5):978-85
Cyberpsychology & Behavior 2007 Aug;10(4):552-9
Psychological Science 2007 Jan;18(1):88-94
Pediatrics 2006 Oct;118(4):e1061-70

CONSIDERATIONS:

Males are more attracted to, and more likely to become “hooked” on video games than females which has been found to generalize across very different cultures. So being male significantly predicts computer gaming.  It’s also possible that aggression and narcissistic personality traits can predict game addiction, whereas self-control is negatively correlated with game addiction.

©2009 addictionblog.org. All Rights Reserved.

I want to re-visit a 2007 study sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development that focused on the relationship between time spent in video game play and other activities.  The study surveyed 1400+ teenagers and tweens aged 10-19 and found that ONLY 36% of them played video games between 1-1.5 hours a week.  But when these teens DID engage in playing video games, they tended to avoid the “distractions” of responsibilities like homework.

Furthermore, although gamers surveyed DID NOT spend less time than non-gamers with parents and friends, and seem to not be socially isolated…if they game without friends on the weekends, they also spend less time  with their friends in other activities. So, gamers seems to attract gamers. Sound like an addict model to you?

By far the most conclusive point of the study is concern regarding gamers’ neglect of school responsibilities (reading and homework). “Among gamers, on school days in particular, female gamers spent 34% less time doing homework and male gamers spent 30% less time reading. ” - Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 2007;161(7):684-689.

It seems to me that video gaming, although not endemic, has the power to pull and attract teenagers into a certain way of relating with one another.  The same way my husband relates to his cousin when they battle it out on the FIFA football field.  And that, although manageable, video gaming does have consequences even when a teen is not “addicted” to the activity.  I’m interested in learning more about the academic and social outcomes of gaming as interactive media and technology become more and more a part our modern lives.

How do you think video games play do or do not influence adolescent development?  Or adult development, come to think of it … ?

©2009 addictionblog.org. All Rights Reserved.

1. excessive use of the internet or staying online longer than intended (frequently associated with a loss of sense of time or a neglect of basic needs)
2. withdrawal accompanied by anger, tension, and/or depression when a computer is inaccessible
3. the need for better computer equipment, more software, or more hours of use in order to achieve the same effect
4. negative consequences of use, including arguments, lying, poor achievement, social isolation, and fatigue

So, how can you screen for internet addiction?  Basically, here are seven questions to ask yourself or a loved one.  If you answer yes to at least three of these questions, you might consider asking for help.  Or then again, maybe even one “yes” would constitute a look at your internet use.

• Are you spending more and more time on the Internet just to get the same level of satisfaction?
• Do you experience withdrawal symptoms (depression, agitation, moodiness) when not on line?
• Do your Internet sessions last longer than planned?
• Do you spend a great deal of time on other Net-related activities,such as buying related books, talking about the Net and trying new software?
• Despite adverse effects (family problems, failure to complete work) do you continue to use the Internet?
• Have your attempts to cut down or stop met with failure?
• Are you giving up important social or occupational activities in order to spend time online?

©2009 addictionblog.org. All Rights Reserved.

So what can you do to make up for the imbalance caused by drinking too much alcohol?

1. Water, water and more water.  Avoid coffee, tea and sodas that will dehydrate you further.

2. Take an electrolyte supplement such as a potassium - magnesium tablet.

3. Drink an electrolyte sports drink to replenish the salt and sugar lost when your body processes alcohol.

4. Take a multivitamin and with special attention to increased doses of C and B complex vitamins.

5. Eat some eggs.  They contain cysteine which breaks down the hangover-causing toxins.

6. Take N-acetyl-cysteine, an amino acid, for the same reason.

7. Take aspirin that is free of caffeine or acetaminophen.

8. Try plant extracts like prickly pear cactus supplements before drinking to prevent hangovers.

9. Allow time to help you recover. Your body needs to process alcohol intake as it was designed to.  So, suck it up and wait.

10. Abstinence.  Need we say more?

BONUS: Banana smoothie cure for a hangover

• 1 frozen banana
• 6 strawberries
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 can V-8 tomato juice
• 1-2 cups  soy milk
• 2 spoons honey
• nutmeg or cinnamon to taste

©2009 addictionblog.org. All Rights Reserved.

Title: Acamprosate in the Treatment of Pathological Gambling
Conditions: Pathological Gambling Disorder
Link: http://ClinicalTrials.gov/show/NCT00571103
_______________________________________________________________

2

Title: Descriptive Study of a French Sample of “at Risk” and Pathological Gamblers
Conditions: Pathological Gambling
Link: http://ClinicalTrials.gov/show/NCT00360321
_______________________________________________________________

3

Title: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Studies in
Pathological Gambling (PG) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Conditions: Pathological Gambling; Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Link: http://ClinicalTrials.gov/show/NCT00211822
_______________________________________________________________

4

Title: A Pilot SMART Design for Pathological Gamblers
Conditions: Pathological Gambling
Link: http://ClinicalTrials.gov/show/NCT00685724

________________________________________________________________

5
Title: Effectiveness of Sertraline in Treating Pathological
Gamblers With a Diagnosis of Alcohol Dependence - 1
Conditions: Alcoholism; Gambling
Link: http://ClinicalTrials.gov/show/NCT00249431
__________________________________________________________________

6

Title: Brief Therapies for Problem Gambling Substance Abusers
Conditions: Gambling
Link: http://ClinicalTrials.gov/show/NCT00685048

__________________________________________________________________

7

Title: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pathological Gambling
Conditions: Pathological Gambling
Link: http://ClinicalTrials.gov/show/NCT00337753

__________________________________________________________________

8

Title: Impulsivity in Pathological Gambling
Conditions: Pathological Gambling
Link: http://ClinicalTrials.gov/show/NCT00580567

___________________________________________________________________

9

Title: Memantine Treatment Study of Pathological Gambling
Conditions: Pathological Gambling
Link: http://ClinicalTrials.gov/show/NCT00585169
___________________________________________________________________

10

Title: Detecting a Reward Signal in the Motor Cortex
Conditions: Healthy
Link: http://ClinicalTrials.gov/show/NCT00422071
___________________________________________________________________

©2009 addictionblog.org. All Rights Reserved.

To file a complaint visit ftc.gov/complaint or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.

2. File a complaint with Your state Attorney General. Find a list of state AGs at naag.org.

3. Check in with the Better Business Bureau. File a complaint about a business, website, or non-profit or charitable organization at complaint.bbb.org.

4. Register with your local consumer protection office. Find an office near you at consumeraction.gov. Look under “Where to File a Complaint.”

©2009 addictionblog.org. All Rights Reserved.

Internet addiction is a general term used to describe several subtypes.  These can be broken down as follows: Internet pornography, Internet gambling and gaming, social networks such as MySpace, Facebook, chat rooms, and instant messaging, and finally, Internet auctions and shopping can be another subtype such as addictions to eBay or online malls.  Overall, the compulsive use is Internet is the main feature.  People usually stay online longer than intended and their use causes problems in their lives, be it to their personal or professional lives.  The disorder is gradually gaining recognition in the US, it is already established in countries such as China, Korea, and Taiwan, where Internet addiction has reached, by some observations, epidemic proportions.

2. What are some of the most obvious signs of internet addiction?

The obvious signs are compulsive use of the Internet for non-business or non-academic purposes.  Someone who uses the Internet to chat at 80 hours a week or uses Facebook for 80 hours a week or plays online games for 80 hours a week (or more) can be considered excessive users.  The main criteria of addiction is to ask how the behavior causes problems.  What kinds of hard does the behavior produce?  This varies depending upon the person.  A college student might be kicked out of school for playing online games too much and not studying enough.  A 50-year-old man might be terminated from his job because he chats during work hours or looks at online pornography from his work computer.  A homemaker might risk marital separation or divorce because she is having an online affair.  The issue or sign here is that the online use has created a problem in the user’s life.

3. What should a parent/partner/employer/friend do when s/he recognizes signs of internet addiction?

The biggest issue is recognizing the problem.  We live in a technology-rich culture.  People are expected to use the computer.  The answer lies in how much is too much.  There are no cut offs or time limits to define addictive or compulsive use of the computer.  There are only guidelines to how the behavior can negatively impact one’s life.  Usually, a spouse or parent or friend are the ones to notice a problem first.  They are the ones who say, I think you have a problem, but like any addict, denial is a certain response.  It is easy to minimize how much time a user spends online in our computer-savvy age but the reality is that someone can suffer from an addiction to the Internet.  Getting the addict into some form of treatment is the first step - so confronting the addict with their addiction, helping them to see that a problem exists, are also first steps to treating the problem.

4. What are the treatment options for internet addicts?

Right now, in the US, they are fairly limited.  Centers specializing in Internet addiction recovery are emerging, but with our current healthcare crisis, not at a fast-enough rate to treat all the new cases. Countries like Korea have over 140 treatment centers but the US has been slow to respond to the problem.  In this case, when an addict is confronted with having a problem such as Internet addiction, seeking help from any qualified professional is the first step.  Looking up referrals in the local or state health association would be the best place for someone to begin to identify good treatment professionals.  Other places to contact are addiction hospitals and clinics, especially to evaluate the person for other possible clinical problems such as depression or anxiety-related syndromes.

5. Where do you see the most growth in internet addiction?

I have seen a tremendous amount of growth in the number of people addicted to multi-user online role-playing games such as World of Warcraft or EverQuest or Final Fantasy.  These games seem very addictive.  They are more than video games but interactive, social environments.  They create a society or culture within each game that a player can adopt to…and allows each player to create a character within this environment.  The issue of video gamed addiction has grown so much that the American Medical Association, who have estimated approximately 5 million children may be addicted.

6. Who are internet addicts?  What’s the demographic? (age, gender, socio-economic, location, etc.)

There is not a typical profile of an Internet addict.  The demographics vary, usually based on the type of problem a user is having.  Anyone with a computer and Internet access can become addict, very much like drug or alcoholic dependence, one type of person is not usually suspect.  However, given the vast types of Internet addiction, some profiles can be formed regarding who is more likely to become addicted.  Children and teenagers become more addicted to online games and Internet gambling.  They often feel more comfortable spending money online, engaging in fantasy worlds, or making new connections with other players.  Adult males are more likely to look at online pornography, adult females are more likely to look at chat rooms and instant messaging to form new relationships. Some are based on age, some are based on gender, but these would be the largest profiles we could talk about.  Location, such as what country someone is from, or social-economic status has not been formally studied.

7. Finally, what professional programs, features or services do you plan for the coming months/years that we should know about?

Early detection is key to understanding and treating Internet addiction.  If you go to www.netaddiction.com, you will see an array of self-tests to help determine if you or a loved one may be addicted.  We invite you to look over the site to read articles and gain a deeper understanding of the problem, much of the literature is new, but it is a fast-changing field.  We at Netaddiction.com strive to provide updated and current information regarding this emergent field.  We also provide support groups and treatment options.

©2009 addictionblog.org. All Rights Reserved.

Gambling
Gaming
Social networks
- Chat rooms
- Email
- Facebook
- Instant messaging
- MySpace
- Texting
Online auctions
Pornography
Shopping

In the United States, accurate estimates of the prevalence of the disorder are lacking and internet addiction is only gradually gaining recognition.  However, IAD has already been clinically established in Asian countries such as China, Korea, and Taiwan, where Internet addiction has reached, by some observations, epidemic proportions. An estimated 10% of China’s 40 million young web users are believed to suffer from internet addiction, for example (according to a 2007 report on the implementation of the Law on the Protection of Juveniles)

However, all do not agree that Internet addiction disorder (IAD) is a new type of addiction

At the moment, internet addiction is not recognized as an impulse control disorders to be clinically outline in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition…the handbook for psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health professionals that diagnose addictions.  Why not?  Well, experts do not agree whether internet use constitutes a pathological behavior that meets criteria for an independent disorder, or represents a symptom of other psycho pathologies.

What do you think?  Is internet addiction for real?  Do you know any internet addicts?  Should the mental health community address a growing trend or is overuse of the internet simply a product of an evolving world?  Opinions are welcomed.

©2009 addictionblog.org. All Rights Reserved.