Friday, September 16, 2016

Am I an Alcoholic? Self-Test

Am I Alcoholic Self-Test?
(Questions Provided by National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc)

Do you try to avoid family or close friends while you are drinking?
YES or NO
Do you drink heavily when you are disappointed, under pressure or have had a quarrel with someone?
YES or NO
Can you handle more alcohol now than when you first started to drink?
YES or NO
Have you ever been unable to remember part of the previous evening, even though your friends say you didn't pass out?
YES or NO
When drinking with other people, do you try to have a few extra drinks when others won't know about it?
YES or NO
Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable if alcohol is not available?
YES or NO
Are you more in a hurry to get your first drink of the day than you used to be?
YES or NO
Do you sometimes feel a little guilty about your drinking?
YES or NO
Has a family member or close friend expressed concern or complained about your drinking?
YES or NO
Have you been having more memory blackouts recently?
YES or NO
Do you often want to continue drinking after your friends say they've had enough?
YES or NO
Do you usually have a reason for the occasions when you drink heavily?
YES or NO
When you're sober, do you sometimes regret things you did or said while drinking?
YES or NO
Have you tried switching brands or drinks, or following different plans to control your drinking?
YES or NO
Have you sometimes failed to keep promises you made to yourself about controlling or cutting down on your drinking?
YES or NO
Have you ever had a DWI driving while intoxicated or DUI driving under the influence of alcohol violation, or any other legal problem related to your drinking?
YES or NO
Are you having more financial, work, school, and/or family problems as a result of your drinking?
YES or NO
Has your physician ever advised you to cut down on your drinking?
YES or NO
Do you eat very little or irregularly during the periods when you are drinking?
YES or NO
Do you sometimes have the shakes in the morning and find that it helps to have a little drink, tranquilizer or medication of some kind?
YES or NO
Have you recently noticed that you can't drink as much as you used to?
YES or NO
Do you sometimes stay drunk for several days at a time?
YES or NO
After periods of drinking do you sometimes see or hear things that aren't there?
YES or NO
Have you ever gone to anyone for help about your drinking?
YES or NO
Do you ever feel depressed or anxious before, during or after periods of heavy drinking?
YES or NO
Have any of your blood relatives ever had a problem with alcohol?
YES or NO

Disclaimer:  The results of this self-test are not intended to constitute a diagnosis of alcoholism and should be used solely as a guide to understanding your alcohol use and the potential health issues involved with it. The information provided here cannot substitute for a full evaluation by a health professional.

To Take the actual self-assessment online and see your results go to:


Ms. Therese Schmoll treats many alcoholics in recovery in her practice.  To schedule an initial consultation, please call her office at (310) 281-6977. 

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Worldview Survey


(This survey is to be used for entertainment purposes only.)


Rate your world view:

1. I am optimistic about my future?
a. strongly disagree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

2. People who care about me tell me that I have a lot of positive view points?
a. strongly disagree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

3. If something can go wrong for me, it will?
a. strongly disagree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

4. I expect more good things to happen to me than bad?
a. strongly disagree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

5. I hardly ever expect things to go my way?
a. strongly disagree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

6. I rarely count on good things happening to me?
a. strongly disagree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

7. When something misfortunate happens to me, I begin to think that more
misfortune will come my way?
a. strongly disagree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

8. I am more likely to see the strengths in myself than the weakness in myself:
a. strongly disagree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

9. If something can go wrong for me in the future, it will:
a. strongly disagree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

10. When I do not succeed at a new skill, I think that I am “stupid?”:
a. strongly disagree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

11. When some misfortune happens to me, I think that it is “my fault?”
a. strongly disagree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

12. I encounter more unhappy experiences than happy experiences?
a. strongly disagree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

13. Things go my way most of the time?
a. strongly disagree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

14. In uncertain times, I can expect the best?
a. strongly disagree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

15. If something misfortunate happens to me, I expect the same outcome in
a similar situation?
a. strongly disagree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

16. I rarely count that good things will happen to me?
a. strongly agree;
b. disagree:
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

17. I see myself with more weaknesses than strengths?
a. strongly agree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. agree;
e. strongly agree

18. During times of transition, I expect the worse?
a. strongly agree;
b. disagree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. disagree;
e. strongly disagree

19. Over the last several years I have had more positive experiences than I have had negative experiences:
a. strongly agree;
b. agree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. disagree;
e. strongly disagree

20. Over the last several years I have had more negative experiences than I have had positive experience:
a. strongly agree;
b. agree;
c. neither agree or disagree;
d. disagree;
e. strongly disagree

Here is how to score your answers:

For numbers: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 19 assign points to your answers as follows:

a. 1 point;
b. 2 points;
c. 0 points;
d. 3 points;
e. 4 points

For numbers: 3, 5, 2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 18 and 20 assign points to your answers as follows:
a. 4 points;
b. 3 points;
c. 0 points;
d. 2 points;
e. 1 point

So, what is your world view?

Point Scale

80 points-60 points: Optimistic: You tend to take the most hopeful views of a matter; 59 points-39 points: Realistic: You tend to look at the actual existence of a matter; 38 points-20 points: Cynical: You tend to find fault in the matter; 19 points-0 points: Pessimistic: You tend to take negative, skewed view of a matter.

Survey Created By: Therese L. Schmoll, M.A., LMFT MFC50082.


Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Interesting Information about Adult Children of Alcoholics

Interesting Information about Adult Children of Alcoholics



Some adults who survived a childhood raised by an alcoholic may experience problems with the development and maintenance of interpersonal relationships as they mature. Many adult children of alcoholics continue to support the “don’t talk” rule and deny that there were problems in the homes of their youth. Others may admit that drinking took place in their home but the drinking has had no impact on their current lifestyles. In his book, A Primer on Adult Children of Alcoholics, Dr. Timmen L. Cermak lists sixteen characteristics that adult children of alcoholics (ACoAs) frequently display. In brief, these characteristics are:
• Fear of losing control. ACoAs maintain control of their feelings and behavior. In addition, they try to control the feelings and behavior of others. They do not do this to hurt themselves or others, but because they are afraid. They fear their lives will get worse if they lose control and they become uncomfortable and anxious when they cannot control situations, feelings and behaviors.
• Fear of feelings. Since childhood and continuing as adults, ACoAs have buried their feelings (especially anger and sadness). In addition, they’ve lost the ability to feel or express emotions freely. Eventually they fear all intense feelings, even good ones such as joy and happiness.
• Overdeveloped sense of responsibility. ACoAs are hypersensitive to the needs of others. Their self-esteem comes from how others view them. They have a compulsive need to be perfect.
• Guilt feelings. When ACoAs stand up for themselves instead of giving in to others, they feel guilty. They usually sacrifice their own needs in an effort to be “responsible.”
• Inability to relax/let go/have fun. Having fun is stressful for ACoAs, especially when others are watching. The child inside is terrified; exercising all the control it can muster to be good enough just to survive. Under such rigid control, spontaneity suffers.
• Harsh, even fierce, self-criticism. ACoAs have very low self-esteem, regardless how competent they may be in many areas.
• Denial. Whenever ACoAs feel threatened, their tendency toward denial intensifies.
• Difficulty with intimate relationships. To ACoAs, intimacy equates to being out of control. It requires love for self and expressing one’s own needs. As a result, ACoAs frequently have difficulty with sexuality. They repeat unsuccessful relationship patterns.
• Living life as a victim. ACoAs may be either aggressive or passive victims. They are often attracted to other “victims” in love, friendship and work relationships.
• Compulsive behavior. ACoAs may work compulsively, eat compulsively, become addicted to a relationship or behave in other compulsive ways. ACoAs may drink compulsively and become alcoholics themselves.
• Tendency to confuse love and pity. Because they don’t differentiate between these two emotions, ACoAs often “love” people they can pity and rescue.
• Fear of abandonment. In order not to experience the pain of abandonment, ACoAs will do anything to hold on to a relationship.
• Tendency to view issues in terms of black or white. When they are under stress, the gray areas of life disappear
 • Tendency toward physical complaints. ACoAs suffer higher rates of stress related illnesses (migraine headaches, ulcers, eczema, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.) than the general population. To help adult children of alcoholics to heal from their past, The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention recommends that these individuals:
• Become involved in Al-Anon and/or Adult Children of Alcoholics meetings, and in individual therapy;
• Develop support systems - Do not share your decision with people who will question you or belittle your decision; Learn how to ask for help. If you feel that your life is described by these characteristics, please know that you are not alone. Help is available!

Resources:
Books:
Adult Children of Alcoholics: Expanded Edition. By Janet Woititz. (HCI Publishers, 1990.)
Healthy Parenting: An Empowering Guide for Adult Children.
Edited by Janet Geringer Woititz, Ed.D. (Fireside Books, 1992.)
Websites:
http://www.adultchildren.org
http://www.nacoa.org/
Children’s Program Kitavailable from NCADI

http://store.health.org/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=17245

Friday, July 1, 2016

How Young Children Can Cope With Anxiety






When young children experience anxiety, even the most well meaning parent can fall into the trap of not wanting the child to suffer and in some cases making the condition worse.

Psychologist, Clark Goldstein, Phd, at NYU Langone, identifies steps to help you, as a parent, and your child cope with the anxiety cycle.

(1) Understand that your goal is not to eliminate the anxiety, but help your child manage it.  Most parents do not want to see their child unhappy or anxious. However, removing the triggers/stressors is not the answer. Helping your child cope with symptoms of anxiety and learning to manage these symptoms may help your child's symptoms over time.

(2) Do not avoid a situation because it makes your child anxious.  If you remove your child from the situation that has triggered the anxiety, he/she may not learn how to cope with the situation. Talk your child through the situation until he/she is calm.

(3) Express positive, but realistic expectations. Making empty promises to a child around his/her fears may not be helpful to your child’s personal development.  Instead, you may want to express to your child that he/she will be OK facing the fear. This approach may give your child the confidence he/she needs to work through the situation.

(4) Respect and acknowledge your child's feelings. As a parent, it is important to understand that validating your child's feelings does not mean that you are in agreement with them. You do not want to downplay your child's fears, nor do you want to bring too much attention to them. Listen and be empathetic and help him/her understand what it is triggering his/her anxiety. Encourage your child to face his his/her anxiety.

(5) Talk your child through his/her fears.  It might help your child to answer the questions that may challenge his/her beliefs: "What proof do you have that this situation will happen? If this situation does happen, what options do you have to help yourself?” 
 
(6) Model healthy ways of handling anxiety. You can teach your child how to handle anxiety, by showing them how you handle anxiety yourself. Children are very retentive and will listen/see how you act in certain situations. If you handle a stressful situation in a calm manner, your child will learn this as well.

Symptoms of anxiety may often illicit other feelings in children which may include frustration and anger.  Your child may even present as if he/she is confused and lacks concentration. In summary, if your child is experiencing symptoms of anxiety, these tips may help: 1. Let your child know that he/she is not alone. 2. Normalize your child’s fears; 3.  Allow your child to talk about his/her feelings around the situation that is triggering the symptoms of anxiety; 4.   Encourage your child to face his/her fears. These techniques may help your child lower his/her stress level as well help your child manage more effectively his/her symptoms of anxiety.

Goldstein, Clark Phd. (What to Do (and Not Do) When Children Are Anxious) http://childmind.org/article/what-to-do-and-not-do-when-children-are-anxious/

Ms. Schmoll has helped many children ages 3-10 years old identify and manage their symptoms of anxiety.  Her office is located at 9171 Wilshire Blvd.,, Penthouse, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.  If you think that your child may benefit from psychotherapy services, please contact Ms. Schmoll for a consultation at (310) 281-6977.