The goal of treatment must be complete abstinence from the substance for life. Almost always, people with substance problems resist this goal, hoping instead to return to a state of “controlled” substance use. Although there is an occasional person with Substance Dependence who can eventually go back to social use, this goal is totally unrealistic for the vast majority of users. Becoming dependent seems to reflect a fundamental inability— mediated at the brain level—to just have a little bit, without need­ing more. You may have periods in which you control your drug intake by setting up stern self-imposed limits (“I’m only going to have one joint tonight.”,  “As long as I don’t drink alone, it’s okay.” , “No drugs after 10 P.M.”). Invariably, and before very long, there are seemingly endless and irresistible reasons to bend a rule slightly (“I’m under a tremendous amount of stress.” “I’m celebrating a promotion.” “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.”

“This is a special party.” , “I am cured of my depression and can now control my use.”,  “Therapy helped me understand why I lost control.” , “Getting sober was easy—I can always do it again.”)… Soon there is an escalation to the previous pattern of dependency. After another crisis, there may be a new and totally sincere resolve to reassert control, set new limits, and the cycle begins anew. The only way to avoid being trapped by substances is to avoid using them altogether—and this means for your entire life.

Maintaining abstinence is hard work. You may have spent much of your adult life intoxicated or preparing to become intoxicated. It is not just a matter of giving up an old life, it is equally a challenge to create a new one. The good news is that most people feel much better once they stop using drugs. However much fun the substance intoxication was at the start of the game, ingesting a daily quotient of a toxic brain poison takes its toll. The side effects accumulate with time, the highs diminish. By the time people get around to quitting, their substance use is geared to just getting back to neutral, not to feeling good.

Withdrawal is a tough hurdle—and can sometimes last for weeks or months in mild form—but once cleared you will feel better than you have in years. Substance use is a classic case of behavioral conditioning. You become hooked in the first place because the substance reinforced plea­sures, you stay hooked because of the punishments of withdrawal, and it is hard to stay abstinent because reminders of the highs provoke powerful craving. The smell of particular smoke, the sight of a certain park bench, being around old friends, the sound of certain music—all of these can trig­ger memories that induce drug craving and “conditioned” withdrawal symptoms. It will feel as if your brain receptors are crying out to be fed. Identify and systematically avoid such situations to the extent you possibly can because they are a lure that can drag you down. If going to parties or bars gets you drinking, avoid them—or go late and leave early. Stick to food rather than drink. Stay away from people who get you into it.

If you can’t avoid your triggers, at least formulate a plan to deal with the craving once it begins. Immediately contact a trusted friend from your AA group or assistance from Alcohol Rehab Florida. Exercise, leave the party, read a magazine, eat a meal—whatever it takes for you to nip the need in the bud. Even if you have a “slip” from time to time, don’t be too hard on yourself. Recognize that such slips are com­mon (if not inevitable) and do not necessarily signify a total descent back to dependence. Most illnesses have a relapse from time to time. Pick yourself up and start over again.

Family or marital therapy is often helpful, and is sometimes necessary. Family members have often been placed in the role of “enabler” by the person with Substance Dependence. The negative effects of a person’s dependence invariably create enormous strains in relationships, both inter-personally and financially. Recasting family members from victims to active participants in the treatment is crucial for success. Self-help groups for fam­ily members of substance users (Al-Anon, for example) provide wonderful support. A total family “intervention” may be necessary to confront the person’s denial about the extent and harmful effects of the substance use.

The problem is mainly due to water retention plus an accumulation of toxins in the body, which have weakened the connective tissue just below the surface of the skin. It is much less common In female athletes who have very low body fat.

Some Helpful Tips

• Massage in any form is beneficial as it increases circulation and lymph drainage. if you are not able to treat yourself to a massage on a weekly basis, invest in a skin brush, which increases circulation and helps eliminate toxins from the body. Skin brushes are available from all health shops and the Body Shop.
• Detox body oil (juniper, rosemary, grapefruit and fennel) helps detoxify and firm the body by improving microcirculation, oxygenation and elimination. Juniper and fennel are natural diuretics.
• Begin taking more exercise to improve on circulation and eliminates toxins, Rebounding in yoga could be helpful too in  your quest to reduce cellulite.
• If you need to lose weight, do it gradually as losing weight is an on-going process. Furthermore, losing weight too rapidly and quickly could makes the appearance of cellulite look worse.

Foods to Avoid

• High-fat foods, refined carbohydrates such as mass-produced cakes and biscuits plus meat pies and pastries.
• Foods with a high salt content such as tinned foods, pre-packaged foods and take-aways, which also tend to contain a lot of saturated fats.
• Also avoid too much coffee and alcohol, which place a strain on the liver, which is already struggling to deal with the toxins from your diet. The more you take care of your liver, the more your skin will improve.

Eating Healthily

• Eat plenty of complex carbohydrates like beans, lentils, fruits, vegetables, and brown rice. These foods help increase the rate of metabolism, making fat deposits less likely and increase elimination of toxins from the body.
• Make sure you drink plenty of water and add organic seeds like sunflower, pumpkin and linseed to fruits salads and cereals.
• Pectin in apples helps to absorb and eliminate toxins – eat an organic apple daily.

Useful Remedies

• The herb gotu kola is by far the best-researched and most successful remedy for cellulite when taken orally. Try 500mg 3 times a day for 2-3 months.
• A multi-vitamin and mineral daily.
• Horse chestnut cream, gel or lotion applied twice a day reduces some of the swelling and discomfort and helps to strengthen the connective tissues, which tend to be damaged when you have cellulite. Available from all good health stores.
• Cellulite tincture contains bladderwrack, alfalfa, horse chestnut, dandelion and gotu kola to improve micro circulation, elimination and oxygenation, as well as speeding up the metabolism.