It's Never Too Late - Even Older Adults Can Overcome Unhealthy Habits (Drugteststrips)

One needs to adopt a healthy lifestyle to lead a happy and peaceful life. However, many unhealthy habits creep into our lives due to one or the other reasons. Alcohol or substance abuse is one such unhealthy habit that is common in older adults.

Alcohol and substance abuse habits have profound implications on the health and well-being of older adults. The intention of this article is to make older adults understand that it is never too late to overcome unhealthy habits.

Unhealthy habits like substance abuse are very dangerous
Substance abuse increases the risk of damage to vital organs like heart, brain and lungs. Substance abuse not only has a negative impact on the individual's health but also poses serious threat to his financial and social status. Many older adults are destroying their lives by continuing to abuse alcohol or illicit drugs due to lack of awareness of the harmful effects.

Millions of adults are abusing illicit drugs - SAMHSA
When it comes to substance abuse, we often think that large numbers of teenagers are abusing drugs. But the fact is that millions of older adults too are abusing drugs today. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated that there were around 4.3 million illicit drug abusing adults (50 years and above) in 2009.

Older adults are more vulnerable to adverse effects
Substance abuse gives rise to economic, social and health related problems, irrespective of the age of the person. However, age-related changes make older adults more vulnerable to adverse effects. Because of the changes that happen in the mind and body, the resistance power in older adults decreases making them more vulnerable to adverse effects of drug abuse. Drug or alcohol abuse is the common cause of physical and mental health problems among older adults.

Common misconceptions
There are many misconceptions about substance abuse among older adults that prevent them from getting rid of the habit. Some of the common misconceptions are:

*Stopping at this age won't help - damage is already done
Many substance abusing older adults assume that stopping unhealthy habits at their age will not help. They believe that the damage is already done as they are abusing drugs from many years. However, this is a wrong assumption. By staying away from harmful habits, older adults can not only prevent further damage, but also possibly recover from the damage.

*Difficult to come out now
We will often hear older adults saying, "I have been abusing drugs for a long time and it is very difficult to avoid them now." They need to understand that a strong will-power, commitment and proper planning can help them overcome unhealthy habits.

Substance addiction is preventable
It is a misconception that prevention of substance abuse at an older age is impossible. Determination for leading a healthy life is enough to turn away from unhealthy habits. However, one needs to design and implement a proper plan to get rid of unhealthy habits. Expert and scientific counseling from professionals at rehabilitation centers can make it easier for the abusers to overcome the addiction. Further, encouragement from family and friends can motivate them to avoid indulging in substance abuse.

Enhance the daily routine - older adults should move to a better lifestyle
Establishing a routine or including in a current routine some activities that promote well-being can reduce the adverse effects of substance abuse in older adults. Such activities could help physical, spiritual or mental well-being. Healthy diet should be an essential part of their daily routine. Walking, bicycling, or practicing yoga can also be helpful. Though it is difficult to change an existing lifestyle at once, slowly but steadily adding good activities one at a time is far more easier to implement.

With proper awareness on issues associated with aging and substance abuse, and by practicing a healthy lifestyle, older adults can improve their health as well as their quality of life.

Processing ...

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

On Top of the Mountain

It is autumn in Australia now, yet by some fluke of nature, the weather on Easter Monday was simply beautiful. So much so that after we had eaten lunch, my wife Shoko suggested we take a drive to Sky High in the Mount Dandenong’s. Sky High, a tourist attraction, is advertised as having something for the whole family including an exquisite English garden, an adventurous maze, trail walks in the Dandenong Ranges National Park, and simply amazing views.

With there being few daylight hours left, I raced upstairs, accessed Google Maps, typed in Sky High’s address and selected ‘Get Directions.’ Google Maps popped out detailed instructions on how to proceed from our house to Sky High. I printed the instructions and after grabbing snacks and drinks, we piled into the car and were on our way.

Here is the final section of Google Maps’ instructions:

14. Turn left at Old Coach Rd 0.2 km
15. Turn right to stay on Old Coach Rd 0.3 km
16. Sharp left to stay on Old Coach Rd 0.5 km
17. Turn left to stay on Old Coach Rd 1.0 km
18. Sharp right to stay on Old Coach Rd 0.3 km
19. Sharp right at Ridge Rd 1.7 km
20. Sharp right at Observatory Rd 0.6 km

Estimated driving time was one hour and eleven minutes.

That seemed pretty straight forward, but to my surprise, upon reaching Old Coach Road we found a relatively steep, winding, unsealed road littered with loose sand and stones. Steep slopes adorned one side of the road and a sharp decline was on the other, both covered with trees. May I point out here that I do not like driving on unsealed roads - especially steep winding ones?

Neither does Hannah, my eleven year old, who said, “I don’t feel well, Papa.” Winding mountain roads make her nauseous.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be off this road soon,” I reassured her.

I did not mention that I felt ill at ease myself. Although driving slowly, thoughts that the car might slide towards that sharp drop were foremost in my mind. I asked the Lord to help me drive and keep us safe, and then focused on the task of driving, taking it moment by moment, mindful that it would be over soon.

Thinking this unsealed road to be the only route to Sky High, and aware that only one other car was following us, I concluded that Sky High must not be a popular attraction, and would probably be virtually deserted. Yet as we turned onto Ridge Road, the last leg of the journey to Observatory Road and Sky High, we were surprised to find a sealed road clogged with other cars. I began to suspect that there might be another route to Sky High.

Arriving at Sky High’s entrance a moment later, a crushing wave of vertigo obliterated my balance and I collapsed over the top of the steering wheel.

I have otosclerosis, a genetically inherited disease that causes calcification of the bones of the middle ear. Although this causes hearing loss and terrible tinnitus, I am one of the lucky 25% who has the complication of otosclerotic inner ear syndrome. This means that from time to time, especially when I eat, I experience moments of severe rotatory vertigo.

I clung to the steering wheel like a drowning man to a life preserver, waiting for the dizziness to abate, as it always does. To my consternation, although the sensation faded enough for me to be able to sit up again, it did not go away like in the past. Instead, I was still giddy and my head felt like it was deep under water. I paid the entry fee to gain entrance to Sky High and then drove carefully to a car park.

When we clambered out of the car I was surprised to see hundreds of other people present. That settled it - there must be another, easier way to this mountain top other than the route we used!

My kids needed the toilet, so we headed off towards the toilet block. I was finding it difficult to stand yet alone walk, since my balance was so out of whack. I saw an elderly man lying on his side on the grass, being soothed by his wife. That was exactly what I wanted to do.

My daughter suddenly began to cry. I was touched, and thought, ‘Oh, what a lovely girl, she’s sad because of the hard time I’m having.’ “What’s the matter, Hannah?” I asked, preparing to reassure her that I was basically all right.

“I don’t like mountain roads, they make me nauseous!” was her reply.

My ego came crashing back to earth – seems like I was not the centre of the world after all. “Don’t worry, Hannah, with this many people here, there’s got to be a better way off this mountain, and I’m going to find it!” If driving up that unsealed road was that nerve racking, I had no intention of driving down it if there was another way!

I felt pretty awful as we went off to explore the mountain top; the dizziness and oppressive weight upon my mind remained constant. But why? Was the altitude causing this otosclerotic inner ear syndrome? Or was the disease swinging into the next phase. Fearful thoughts tried to trip me up, saying, “What if it doesn’t stop, what if it’s permanent like the tinnitus?”

I did not pay heed to the “what if” fears. Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” And that’s what I was going to do. And although these terrible physical sensations made me want to lie down until they (hopefully) went away, my experiences with depression had taught me that there was another way. And that was to acknowledge that I was going to feel this way for some time, and did not need to let it incapacitate me. Instead, I would enjoy being on top of this mountain with my family while leaving the disturbing sensations churning away like background music.

We had a great time exploring Sky High Maze. When we went the right way we found large metal stamping boxes upon which to stamp the cards we had been given. We had to collect four stamps. My daughter, Miss Show-off, said, “Look, we don’t have to find our way through the maze, just listen to the sounds of the other stamp boxes and follow the sounds!” Suddenly navigating the maze was easy.

After that we took turns knocking down cup pyramids, wandered through the English Garden, and into the Secret Garden. This was surrounded by tall hedges and contained a gazebo. Hannah sat us on the grass and led the family to pray for my ears. I was so proud of her. After having our snack, Hannah and Timmy raced around the garden like headless chickens.

Next came a six-hundred-meter bushwalk that meandered through a forest loop.

Finally it was time to go home. An examination of the Melways map book confirmed that there was another route to and from Sky High – using a four lane, sealed road! Guess which route we used to get off the mountain? We learned then that you cannot trust Google maps - they give you the shortest route from A to B, but not the best route.

And to my amazement, as we began to drive back down the mountain (using that lovely sealed road!) the dizziness vanished as quickly as it had come. My balance returned, my head cleared, and I drove home very much relieved. Thanks to Jesus for helping me overcome my handicap, we had a wonderful time on top of the mountain, and praised God for His blessings.

1 John 5:3-5 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

All verses from NIV.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad