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Insomnia Linked to Substance Abuse in Adolescents

A study in the Oct. 1 issue of the journal Sleep shows that adolescent insomnia symptoms are associated with depression, suicide ideation and attempts, and the use of alcohol, cannabis and other drugs such as cocaine.

Findings suggest that the presence of insomnia in adolescents increases the risk of developing mental health problems and also may increase the severity of these problems. Results indicate that adolescents who had symptoms of insomnia were 2.3 times more likely to develop depression in early adulthood than adolescents without symptoms of insomnia. Specifically, at baseline, the insomnia group was more likely to use alcohol, cannabis, and non-cannabis drugs, and was more likely to suffer from depression, suicide thoughts, and suicide attempts. The insomnia group also had a greater risk of developing new incidences of depression and suicide attempts after excluding participants who suffered from these specific psychopathologies at baseline.

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The TurnAround Mom Tells How She Neutralizes Toxic Intensity- The Mother of All Addictions

Feature Articles - Profile

Written by Carey Sipp

Wednesday, 02 January 2008

Toxic intensity — self-induced anxiety — is addictive, and has tremendous relevance for today’s debt-laden, overweight, oversexed, overmedicated, jonesing for a drink society — and that includes me. Toxic intensity is everywhere: people are driving too fast; they are running late; they are compulsively shopping. These are the people who hide and down a tumbler of vodka, or cut themselves, or worse. Unless something is done to break the cycle, this will continue, because toxic intensity is only a cover, a diversion, just like any other addiction. Despite the fact that anxiety is painful, it is anxiety that keeps addicts from feeling the true source of their pain, whether it stems from their own inadequacies, or feelings of guilt.

If there is a high level of toxic intensity in your home, your children are likely to re-create it with self-destructive behaviors. People re-create what they know from childhood because even if it is bad, it is what they know, and people find comfort in the known. If your children hear arguing and verbal abuse, they become accustomed to it, and when they get into relationships of any kind (friendships, romantic relationships, work), they may attract someone who is toxic for them, unaware that they are being abused or abusing others until the pain almost kills them. Toxic intensity can be created with violence, addiction, gossip, abuse, money mismanagement, rushing, obsessive thinking, overwork, or any other destructive, compulsive behavior. Breaking this addiction takes work in setting and keeping boundaries, and in coming to love peaceful times.

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