OTHER ALCOHOL & DRUG RECOVERY CONSIDERATIONS

Despite all of the possible therapeutic techniques, there are other aspects of healing that must be considered as possibilities and, in many cases, are essential for true healing.

For those who have any alcohol or drug addictions, Dr. Keith Sehnert, who was the medical consultant for the Health Recovery Centre in Minneapolis, stated that he noted the majority of patients suffered from one (or more) of five disorders:

1. Nutritional Deficits of such key substances as B-complex vitamins, basic amino acids, and key minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and calcium.

2. Food allergies to everyday table items such as corn, wheat, and dairy products.

3. Thyroid disorders, most often what we call subclinical hypothyroidism, or "sluggish thyroid".

4. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) that caused a wide range of poorly understood symptoms (anxiety, fatigue, depression, panic attacks).

5. Candida-related complex (CRC), a mysterious but common disorder resulting from an overgrowth of the yeast Candida albicans  (this condition is often triggered by excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for such conditions as sinusitis, bronchitis, and upper-respiratory infections related to heavy smoking, all common problems for alcoholics). (Larson/Sehnert p. ix)
 
6. *As an additional issue to Dr. Sehnert's list, I would also suggest that adrenal fatigue (hypoadrenalism) is another factor that is often requiring attention in addiction recovery. 

7. The role of sugar, aspartame, diet pop, colas, coffee and caffeine in addiction and anxiety.