Veganism and Vegetarian Effects on Mental Health

There have been a number of different studies carried out in an attempt to find the correlation between certain types of diets and mental health issues. Findings differ in terms of the effects of being vegan or vegetarian on mood and mental well-being. While some researchers find that these kinds of diets can promote more physical health and positive mood, other studies have found a correlation between restrictive diets and depression.

One study about diet and mental health took a sample of 4,000 individuals with a wide range of ages from 18 to 65 to get a broad perspective. Researchers used mental health diagnoses based on standardized clinical interviews that assessed for categories of psychiatric problems. The mental illnesses they tested for included depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and somatoform disorders (mental illness which causes pain and hypochondria).

The researchers examined the rates of psychiatric symptoms over the previous month, year and over the subjects’ lifetimes. A small minority of about 1 percent identified themselves as strict vegetarians and another 4.5% said they were predominantly vegetarian. Within the study the vegetarians were more likely to be female, unmarried, younger and highly educated which are all demographics associated with both meat avoidance and the prevalence of mental disorders.

The results of the study showed that while most of the vegetarians did not suffer from mental health problems, they were actually more likely to have mental disorders than non-vegetarians. The risk factor for mental illness appeared to be higher in all four categories of disorders for both semi-vegetarians and strict vegetarians. According to their findings vegetarians were twice as likely as non-vegetarians to have an anxiety disorder and five times more likely to have an eating disorder.

Connections or Cause and Effect?

Although this study and a handful of others may indicate that there is a connection between mental illness and diet, it does not mean that avoiding meat causes mental health problems. Researchers involved came up with a few hypotheses as to why there is a connection between vegetarianism and mental health issues. They tested whether a vegetarian diet usually preceded mental illness symptoms which would indicate a cause and effect relationship.

Findings from the study showed that mental health issues most often preceded the person’s decision to avoid eating meat except in the case of eating disorders.

Researchers ultimately concluded that there was little evidence suggesting that a vegetarian diet actually causes any mental health problems.

What is interesting about vegetarian or vegan studies is that although people who follow this diet are more likely to have mental health issues they tend to have better physical health overall. They usually smoke or drink less than average, exercise more and care more about the ethics and quality of their food. In this particular study, vegetarians were also less likely to eat fast food than the general population.

In spite of better physical health, vegans and vegetarians have a 15 percent higher level of predisposition to depressive behavior. Vegetarianism is also quite common among eating disorder patients. About 45 to 54 percent of patients seeking treatment for anorexia reported practicing some type of vegetarian diet. However, many studies conclude that a vegetarian diet does not necessarily cause an eating disorder and a patient usually has ED symptoms prior to avoiding meat.

Mental Health Traits and Vegetarianism

It is unclear as to the reason why mental health problems are associated with a vegetarian diet or why avoiding meat may increase the risk for certain mental disorders. Scientists theorize that certain psychological factors such as personality traits which make people more prone to choose a vegetarian lifestyle may also make them predisposed to mental health problems. People who tend to be fastidious about their diet, concerned about health and perhaps neurotic about food may be more likely to have symptoms of depression.

The feelings and traits that drive a person to choose to become vegetarian may also make them them suffer from mental health issues. In other cases giving up meat can be a direct consequence of a disorder such as in the case of hypochondria or an eating disorder.

Anorexic individuals often use a vegetarian diet as a method of restricting or being able to eat less in social situations. For some individuals with eating disorders, their vegetarian diet is a part of their tendency to eliminate and avoid certain foods for fear of gaining weight. Hypochondriacs may become vegetarian because they feel that it will improve their health or believe that meat is bad for them.

There are many different theories as to why a vegetarian diet may be linked to mental health problems. Most research concludes however that the diet itself does not induce any mental health symptoms or cause a disorder to develop. Many vegetarians are able to enjoy the physical health benefits of their diet without any repercussions to their psychological well-being.

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It’s Football Season: Let’s Talk Depression and NFL

Top NFL players enjoy a hefty salary, fame and the adoration of fans but life isn’t always perfect for former football stars when it comes to their mental health. When their careers end many NFL players are left with damage from multiple injuries and issues of depression. Research has uncovered that a significant percentage of ex-players suffer from depression and many even cope with suicidal thoughts.

Many players have opened up about their very serious struggles with depression. Eddie “Boo” Williams, former tight end for the New Orleans Saints publicly shared his story in which came very close to taking his own life. The ex-NFL star laid across railroad tracks awaiting a train to pass over him until a homeless couple helped him and convinced him to get up.

This kind of story is unfortunately very common for retired football stars who lose not only a major source of income but also a large part of their identity when they no longer play the game. NFL players dedicate much of their lives to their sport and when it comes time to retire they are left with very little to fall back on. Their daily routines, financial situation and sense of purpose suddenly disappear from their lives once they quit playing.

Former star running back, Eddie George has said that even though he had his life set up fairly well when he retired by starting some businesses and having some steady income he still struggled with the void he was left with. Someone who has been an athlete their entire lives with a strict training schedule will wonder as George did, “what am I going to do tomorrow?” Without their athletic routine they feel lost and empty.

Coping with Symptoms and Stigma

Ex-NFL players often struggle with clear signs of depression such as isolating themselves and withdrawing from their social connections. Many of them describe a sense of withdrawal from the high of being a celebrated athlete and experiencing the daily adrenaline rush of the game. The feeling of withdrawal and loss can be devastating and many players like Eddie Williams end up wrestling with thoughts of suicide.

What often makes the situation worse for football players is that they feel reluctant to seek help for fear of appearing weak or less masculine. Athletes often must deal with the stigma surrounding depression and for the sake of keeping up with their macho image may avoid getting the help they need or talking about what they are going through.

Football players are often taught to put up a facade so that they don’t appear vulnerable to other players. Help-seeking behavior can carry a stigma for athletes but it is necessary for people who are dealing with mental health problems to discuss their issues. Having conversations about their depression and the things that are troubling them can start the process of healing.

Head Injuries and the Link to Depression

Although football players are strongly affected by issues of identity, finances and losing their routine there are other problems that can factor into their mental health. Recent studies have shown that the multiple head injuries that many football players suffer from can be linked to issues with depression. NFL players often experience several concussion throughout the length of their career and these injuries can have dire consequences on their long-term health.

Multiple concussions can lead to a condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease that can cause a number of different issues. Repeated blows to the head can cause a protein to form in the brain that spreads and kills brain cells resulting in CTE. The symptoms tend to appear in a patient’s late 20s and 30s often years after the initial head trauma.

Patients with CTE often struggle with maintaining a stable mood and also begin to have behavioral problems as well. They may begin to have issues with:

– impulse control

-aggression

-depression

-paranoia

Later as the disease progresses they may have problems with:

-memory loss

– confusion

-impaired judgement

-progressive dementia

These symptoms have a strong connection with many of the mental health issues that former football players face. Not all retired players suffer from issues with CTE or struggle with depression but researchers have found that it is a common problem.

Because of these growing issues, the NFL has created more and more programs to aid former players who have suffered from head trauma or are experiencing symptoms of depression. More players are also speaking out about these issues to break down the stigma that prevents others from getting the help they need to recover. For ex-athletes the best choice is to get involved in a recovery program because depression can be managed and reduced with the help of professional treatment and therapy.

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Is Elon Musk Struggling With Depression?

The founder of Tesla, Elon Musk has recently opened up about his personal life and mental health problems in a series of public tweets. The successful engineer and businessman admitted that he suffers from issues of depression which continues to affect his everyday life. His reality, he said, is a mix of “great highs, terrible lows and unrelenting stress” as a result of his battles with mental health.

Musk replied to user tweets reacting to his admission of personal struggles, one of which asked if he was bipolar. He initially responded yes but then followed up the tweet saying “maybe not medically”. Musk has never been diagnosed by a psychiatrist but his high pressure job may be causing him to experience what feels like manic depression due to the highs and lows of his life.

As the creator of his own company, Musk knows that he willingly chose a stressful job and believes that the struggles he experiences are what he signed up for as an entrepreneur. He has major responsibilities that impact other people which puts him at risk for high amounts of stress leading to anxiety, anger and depression. Psychologists believe that high power jobs and executive positions can often lead to isolationism and various mental health challenges.

Entering the Business World and Creating Tesla

Elon Musk was born in South Africa and as the son of an electromechanical engineer he had many natural gifts. He developed an interest in computing and taught himself computer programming at the age of 12. He went to college in Canada where he studied physics and economics and instead of continuing to pursue a PHD he decided to pursue his aspirations as an entrepreneur.

Musk started a few businesses over the years including a web software company called Zip2 along with his brother as well as an email payment company called X.com which merged with the company Confinity, ultimately becoming PayPal. Musk was CEO of PayPal for a period of time and when it was acquired by eBay in 2002 he received $165 million. Musk also founded SpaceX which develops and manufactures space launch vehicles and was awarded a contract with NASA in 2006.

The Tesla company had already been in early development before Musk took over as CEO and product architect following the financial crisis of 2008. Tesla Inc has been successfully creating and selling electric cars, something that Musk has become passionate about as part of the effort to reduce the effects of global warming. Since taking over Tesla, Musk has been involved in several other projects related to clean energy and transportation including SolarCity and Hyperloop.

Success, Stress and Mental Health

With his involvement in so many different projects, it is not surprising that Musk has to cope with the ups and downs that come with these various pursuits. As an executive, it can be difficult to find the time or space to handle mental issues especially with so many people depending on you. There is often a stigma associated with problems like anxiety and depression that makes it hard for top level professionals to admit that they are dealing with more than they can handle.

Many people in high power positions worry that if they admit to having a disorder like major depression or bipolar disorder they will lose their credibility and it might affect their career. They may fear that asking for help and support or even seeking treatment may make them look weak. They also may fail to take time off to address their personal problems because the stakes are too high.

From what Elon Musk has revealed in his tweets, it seems like the stress of his career has taken its toll on him and he has not yet received any help from a professional. Musk admitted that he channels all of his good and bad energy into his work as a way of coping with his emotions. He said that his solution is to “take the pain and make sure you really care about what you are doing.”

Like Musk, many executives are still highly functional in spite of their mental health problems and believe they can power through their feelings. The reality is that they can still benefit from treatment even if their problems do not necessarily affect their jobs. Instead of suffering in silence and escaping pain through hard work, this type of personality can still get help and balance their work life.

Elon Musk has taken a brave step by admitting his issues with mental health on Twitter and speaking candidly with people on the site about what he goes through. Speaking out about mental illness can help reduce the stigma especially for those in high power jobs that worry how depression might affect their careers.

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Ed Sheeran on Drinking and Performing

Pop star and songwriter Ed Sheeran is known for his energetic solo performances with only an acoustic guitar and a loop pedal as his accompaniment. Since he shot from obscurity to become one of the biggest selling artists in the world he has experienced the rollercoaster of sudden fame. Sheeran is a fun-loving party boy but admits that although he is usually upbeat he can sometimes spiral and allow his drinking to get out of hand.

Like any pop celebrity, Sheeran must deal with the pressure of being in the public eye and a lack of privacy that at times can become overwhelming. He loves to drink with friends and hit the clubs and parties hard as often as possible to cope with the stress and feel a sense of normalcy. Although his drinking is mainly social it can be a way for him to cope with other problems that often accompany his level of success.

There have been times in the past where Sheeran admits that his alcohol habit become a problem. In 2013 when he landed a gig opening for Taylor Swift on tour and moved to Nashville he felt lonely and strange living in a different town where he didn’t know anyone. He began to drink very heavily to the point where his songwriting partner became worried and asked him to slow down a bit for his health.

These days Sheeran mainly drinks with friends in his home in West London where he feels most comfortable and doesn’t have to worry about paparazzi or fans invading his privacy. He has his own full bar at home where he likes to mix drinks for people including his celebrity friends that come to hang out.

Anxiety and Drinking at Home

Sheeran has admitted in interviews that he recently started getting problems with anxiety while in public crowds. He even attempted to go to a Game of Thrones cast party and couldn’t handle being there around the big group of people and left immediately.

Later that night a few of the Game of Thrones cast members showed up at his house and he felt at ease, making them drinks at his own bar. He admitted that he can handle a group of 20 or 30 people in his own house but out at a pub among strangers he experiences anxiety which is something he never struggled with before. He goes out less and less, favoring his own personal bar as a drinking spot.

Sheeran has struggled with fame and the way that it affected his friendships and close relationships. After Forbes revealed that he made over $57 million in 2015 he began to receive calls and texts from people in his life asking for money or to buy them a new car. It got so out of hand that the singer had to quit using his smartphone and switched to an iPad and flip phone to communicate with close family members.

Growing up and Becoming a Musician

Sheeran was bullied as a child for his red hair and noticeable stutter which many of the other kids would imitate and mock when he spoke. He learned to handle the abuse by being tough having a sense of humor. He believes he took up music as a way to feel loved and accepted by other people for his talent.

The singer dropped out of high school and moved to London when he was 16 to perform at open mics and busk on the streets. He was eventually discovered by Ben Cook, the head of Asylum records, who saw a clip of him online and liked the way people responded to his music. In 2012 his career took off when he started touring with Snow Patrol and later with Swift who was a fan of his songs and co-wrote a ballad with him.

While on tour with Swift, Sheeran began to experience a level of fame he was not used to and ended up becoming romantically involved with a number of different pop stars. However, contrary to many tabloid headlines Sheeran never dated Swift and the two remain good friends and supporters of each other’s music.

Coping with Fame

Now that Sheeran is one of the biggest pop stars in the world, he experiences invasions of privacy  on a daily basis. He is sometimes freaked out by the unwanted attention and gets anxiety when people stare at him or even secretly film when he is out in public. He often deals with his anxiety by drinking and admits that he drinks almost every single day.

Although he knows his drinking sometimes gets him into trouble, the singer doesn’t believe he has a problem although he admires some of his celebrity friends who are sober and in a good place. The 25 year old wants to enjoy his career while he still can in spite of the ups and downs of fame.

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Justin Bieber Cancels Tour Puts Mental Health First

Fans were disappointed when pop star Justin Bieber canceled the remainder of his “Purpose” world tour last month. At the time he claimed that he would miss the remaining dates due to “unforeseen circumstances”. Just last week he offered an emotional apology to fans explaining some of his personal issues had interfered with his ability to continue the tour.

While many were upset by his decision to quit the tour, others praised his honesty in speaking about his desire to heal his mental health before resuming his performances. Bieber wrote an open letter in which he discussed some issues with “broken relationships” as well as bitterness, jealousy and fear which he says took over his life.

This isn’t the first time that the singer has had to cancel events due to his mental health. After canceling some meet and greet dates in March 2016 Bieber admitted in a post on Instagram that he had been feeling spiritually drained and unhappy because of the pace of his career. He said that he felt exhausted to the point of depression and overwhelmed by the pressure of meeting people’s expectations.

The pressure of fame and being one of the biggest pop stars in the world seems to catch up with Bieber who has taken breaks from his music career in the past. He has been in the music business since he was a child and now as an adult wants to take more control over his mental health. Bieber admitted that he can let his insecurities get the best of him at times but reportedly is feeling better after taking a break from performing.

Bieber’s Struggles with Fame and Depression

In 2015, Bieber began to speak openly about how his mega star status has affected his mental health in a candid NME magazine interview. Only 21 at the time, Bieber described how with his success came depression, isolation and betrayal. He said that in spite of his fame he felt he was struggling to get through the days just like anyone else.

The star has also said that he feels sensitive to the way the media treats him and believes they tend push him when he’s down. He feels pressure to live up to Bieber “brand”, a wholesome image that he can’t always be. Whenever he makes mistakes he feels the media will rip him apart.

He also said in the interview that he experiences extreme low points especially on the road where it can get lonely. Being followed by fans and paparazzi everywhere he goes can make him feel depressed and isolated and he would not wish his level of fame on anyone.

The singer has also had ups and downs due to his issues with ADHD for which he had been taking medication. He was taking Adderall to help him focus better on everyday tasks but found his ability to sleep suffered. He felt that his prescription medication was giving him anxiety and insomnia so he eventually stopped taking Adderall and found a natural sleep aid to help him.

Taking Care of His Spiritual and Mental Health

One of the reasons Bieber cited as to why he chose to cancel the remaining dates was a desire to focus on spiritual growth. He said that he wants to have a sustainable career as well as sustainable spiritual life so that he can be the person he wants to be. Many believed that his involvement in Hillsong Church might have something to with his decision to cancel the dates.

Bieber is close friends with Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz and the star appeared in a Hillsong conference in Sydney earlier in July. The church is said to merge christianity and culture and Lentz has been described as a “rock star pastor”. Bieber reportedly lived with Lentz and his family for a few months in 2014 to work through some of his issues.

In spite of rumors that Bieber cancelled the tour for religious reasons, he denies that Hillsong church is related to his break from music. Lentz asserted that he did not advocate for the singer to cancel his remaining dates. Bieber quit the tour in order to recover from intense exhaustion and repair his physical, mental and spiritual health by taking time away from the pressure of fame.

The singer expressed gratitude for the tour and for his fans on his letter posted to Instagram. He indicated how much he wants to return to his music career as a better person after focusing on  his health. Bieber’s manager released a statement saying that the tour was shut down because the singer’s “soul and well-being” come first.

Fans will await the singer’s return and many have expressed sympathy for the star’s personal struggles, hoping that he will recover from his problems with depression.

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Is Underage Drinking and Substance Abuse Ignored at Concerts?

A recent concert featuring Chance the Rapper highlighted an ongoing problem with underage substance abuse that has gone largely unaddressed. At a show in Connecticut where the rapper was headlining, 90 people were hospitalized and police say that most of the patients were underage teens that were suffering from severe alcohol intoxication.

The situation took place at the Xfinity theatre in Hartford, Connecticut where radio station Hot 93.7 was presenting a concert. The 90 people hospitalized is much more than average for the theatre which typically deals with around 20-30 people being transported for emergency care. Following the incident Hartford police met with staff members of the theatre and agreed to increase enforcement at future events to prevent underage drinking.

It can be difficult to prevent underage drinking at concerts where people under the age of 21 are permitted. Teens can’t legally purchase alcohol at the venue but this usually does not stop them from showing up intoxicated to shows. Many underage teens may drink outside prior to the concert, find ways to sneak in alcohol to the concert or have a friend over 21 buy them a drink.

It is a problem that can’t be easily addressed as it could involve having to use a lot of police and security resources to spot underage drinkers especially at a large concert or stadium level venue. Prevention tactics could include a breathalyzer test and pat down prior to entry into the concert which would put extra strain on the venue.

Alcohol and Drug Use and Festivals

One of the more challenging problems comes from weekend long festivals which draw huge crowds in the summer months including many underage music fans. Drug use has become rampant at such festivals where many attendees bring in drugs like molly and ecstasy to enhance their experience. Drug and alcohol use can be especially dangerous at summer festivals because of the intense heat and tendency to develop severe dehydration.

There have been a number of instances of drug related deaths at festivals including two women who passed away at the Hard Summer music festival in 2015. Music festival deaths have increased in the past decade and studies show that 13 percent of those deaths are due to alcohol and drug use.

Because teens are allowed to attend most outdoor festivals there are also many cases of underage drinkers being hospitalized in these situations especially among teen girls. Local hospitals around Grant Park where Lollapalooza takes place often see room after room of kids coming in from the festival for treatment for severe intoxication. Hospital workers say that many teens come in with blood alcohol levels at 4 times the legal limit.

Although attendees are not allowed to bring alcohol into festivals like Lollapalooza, many find ways to sneak it in or simply drink heavily before the event. There are also stories of underage drinkers planting alcohol somewhere in the park before the event and then recovering it later when the festival begins.

Preventing Underage Intoxication

At most concerts and festivals there are already measures in place discourage underage drinking or drug use but with the amount of people in the crowd it can be difficult to combat the problem. Unfortunately, teen drinking and drug use is both a law enforcement problem and a public health issue that needs to be addressed more strictly to prevent the types of hospitalizations and even deaths that can sometimes occur at music events.

In 2015, New York’s Governor Cuomo attempted to crack down on underage drinking at concerts in the state. He started “Operation Prevent” to take a more proactive approach to teen drinking and drug use, encouraging law enforcement to make more arrests at concerts. His goal was to stop avoidable tragedies and prevent young people from making bad decisions.

Cuomo’s team included investigators from the DMV, State Police, the State Liquor Authority, and local law enforcement who performed sweeps of concerts throughout New York to find fake IDs and make arrests. Police made dozens of arrests at various shows including 55 arrests at a Future concert at Darien Lake. Cuomo believed that making more arrests would help to discourage young people from attempting to purchase or drink alcohol illegally.

These types of efforts can make teens less likely to drink at concerts for fear of the consequences. If underage drinking and drug use is ignored then the problem will only continue to grow and more young people will be hospitalized every year. Education about the dangers and effects of heavy drinking may also help discourage teens from trying to become intoxicated at concerts.

When young people are more aware of the consequences of their drug and alcohol use both in terms of their physical health and getting in trouble with the law they will be more likely to attend a concert sober.

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Pregnancy and Addiction

 

When women become pregnant they must make a number of sometimes tough changes to their lifestyle for the health of the baby including giving up things like alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine. This can be a difficult shift in their usual habits for most women but what about for those who struggle with a serious addiction? Women with either an alcohol or drug problem who suddenly become pregnant must make the choice between quitting their addiction or risking their child’s health.

Any substance that a woman consumes while pregnant can be transferred to her baby by passing through the placenta which is the organ that provides nutrition and oxygen in the womb. Toxins from alcohol and tobacco can interfere with the baby’s development and certain illicit drugs transfer to the baby and cause them to develop a dependency. Unfortunately many children are born dependent on drugs due to their mother’s substance abuse while pregnant.

In order to have a healthy pregnancy women must be very careful about what they eat, making sure to have a healthy diet and get enough rest and light exercise. Even adhering to a strict healthy regimen, there is still a chance for pregnancy complications. Needless to day, drug use and addiction while pregnant can dramatically increase the risk for these kinds of complications.

Possible Complications Due to Addiction

Having a healthy infant can a challenge in many situations but drug use while pregnant can lead to a lot of potential issues.

-Miscarriage and Stillbirth
Health problems and other issues can cause a child to pass away inside the womb before coming to term. A miscarriage occurs when a baby does not survive before the 24th week of pregnancy. A stillbirth occurs when a baby reaches the 24th week but is born with no sign of life. Drug and alcohol abuse as well as smoking can greatly contribute to the chances of a miscarriage or stillbirth.

-Placenta Abruption
This is a condition in which the placenta separates from the uterine wall before labor causing serious developmental problems. It is infrequently caused by a sudden impact to the abdomen but is much more commonly caused by smoking or drug and alcohol use during pregnancy.

-Premature Labor and Birth
Health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and drug addiction can cause a baby to be born about 3 weeks earlier than the due date. Babies that are born prematurely have many complications with their health including difficulty breathing, eating and drinking. Premature babies require intensive medical support for weeks or even months after they are born.

-Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to a number of disorders caused by alcohol reaching the baby through the umbilical cord. Babies can be born with various physical deformities and learning disabilities due to alcohol use.

-Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Opioid use during pregnancy has become a growing problem in the U.S. and can cause the baby to be born with a dependency. Neonatal abstinence syndrome occurs when the child is born addicted to opioids and experiences withdrawal symptoms after birth including vomiting, sweating, seizure, trembling and more.

Recovering from Addiction while Pregnant

Not only does alcohol and drug use cause serious health risks to the child, addiction while pregnant can also be dangerous to the mother. Pregnant women need to take special care of their health to cope with the physical stress and strain of carrying a child. Women who abuse drugs while pregnant are more likely to experience serious health issues that can put their life at risk.

In order to have a safe and healthy pregnancy, it is crucial for any woman suffering from addiction to get professional help. Health professionals can assess the situation and develop a treatment plan that will improve her physical health and allow her to stay abstinent from drugs and alcohol. They can help place the mother in the right detox center and treatment program that will meet her physical and emotional needs.

It is important for a pregnant woman to be closely monitored throughout detox to prevent seizures or any of the more dangerous symptoms of withdrawal that could affect her health. By going through detox, they can rid their body of any chemicals or toxins that could harm the baby and avoid any type of dependency for the child.

Most specialized addiction centers will treat women who are pregnant and give them the care they need to remain sober throughout their pregnancy. After their child is born, women in recovery should continue to attend support group meetings or an aftercare program to ensure that they can avoid relapse in the early months of motherhood. With the right kind of treatment pregnant women can avoid any drug use and safely give birth to a healthy and happy child.

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