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Show JOHN;: Presented as a Community Service Ser-vice from Intermountain Health Care. John Waterbury Is Director Direc-tor of Community Services with Intermountain Health Care. Letters Let-ters and responses to the Dear John Column may be sent to him at: IHCH, 21st floor, 36 S. State, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111. - v- - 1 i By John Waterbury According to Max Schneider, M.D., when chemical dependency develops in an individual, many of the same disorders dis-orders also develop in the family. In other words, when one member of a family gets sick, the whole family gets sick. Somatic disorders are the actual damage that occurs to the organ as a result of alcohol and drug intake. Psychosomatic disorders are the problems that occur even though alcohol and drugs are not taken into the system. sys-tem. They are not imaginary, but are the result of emotional emo-tional and psychological stresses that result from being around the alcohol and drug abuser. Somatopsychic disorders occur when damage to the organs creates changes in the brain which affect feelings and emotions. When the chemically dependent individual and the family members are treated for chemical dependency, future medical treatment costs go down for the whole family. GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM Dependent , S Esophagitis Diarrhea ; r Gastritis Constipation Peptic Ulcer Bulemia Pancreatitis Anorexia Hepatitis Malabsorption Bowel Problems CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM Dependent Hypertension Irregular Heartbeat : Stroke Applies to both dependent and family) SKELETAL SYSTEM Dependent Family Accidents Physical abuse by the dependent. ; Fractures Preoccupation with life problems Bruises results in self injury (falling, tripping etc.) URINARY SYSTEM Dependent Family Irritable Bladder Bed-Wetting Prostatitis SEXUALITY : Dependent Intimacy and Performance Problems Sexual Acting Out : Hormone Disruption Emotional Problems j Feelings become blocked ; NERVOUS SYSTEM Concentration Problems Headaches Sleep Disorders Denial Fear Depression Impaired Judgement Suicide To restate the obvious: when one member of a family ; develops chemical dependency, the whole family gets sick. And conversely, when the family gets help, the chemically dependent person has a better chance of getting well and staying well. Confidentially: It is not so important where you are, but in which direction you are moving. |