Do You Have a Drinking Problem?

Whether or not someone is an alcoholic can be a very sensitive topic. It can be hard to look at yourself in the mirror and be honest about whether or not you have a drinking problem.

Not sure if you have a drinking problem?
Take a minute to reflect on your life and ask yourself the following questions –
Do you feel disappointed or angry if you go to an event and there is no alcohol available?

Do you have trouble maintaining a relationship for any length of time?

Do you lose your temper all of the time?
Are hangovers and drunkenness preventing you from making it to work, spending time with your kids or saving money?

Are you in debt and you don't know why?

Do you drink alone or in secret?

Do you forget conversations or do others accuse you of repeating yourself?

Do you drink in secret or at odd times of the day or when you are alone?

Have you lost interest in hobbies, pastimes or favorite interests?

Do you have a few drinks and start quarreling?

Do you go to a bar every night?

Are you amazed by the way you can drink and drink and drink without getting drunk?

Are you unfaithful to your mate?

Do others say your personality changes when you drink?

Is everyone abandoning you, refusing to lend you money or socialize with you?

Do you have trouble meeting your commitments or responsibilities – especially financial ones?

Has your drinking sabotaged the completion of a major task or job at work, or home?

Are your kids and other family members avoiding you and you don't know why!

Have you continued to drink even though it is causing problems in a relationship and someone is asking you to stop

Do you have recurring legal problems as a result of drinking including fighting while drinking or being sued by landlords because you spent the rent on drinking

Do you drink and drive?

Are your loved ones actually threatening you with an intervention?

If you even answered yes to just two or three of these questions then it is likely you have a drinking problem.
According to information released by the World Health Organization a few years ago, alcoholism was one of the 10 biggest risks to health on a global basis.

In fact, in some developing countries, alcoholism was said to be the biggest single threat to health whereas in the industrialized West, it was the third biggest health risk!

Needless to say if you think that you or a loved one (such a teen or a spouse) had this problem then your entire family's safety and peace of mind is at risk.

Parenting Tips
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Natural Face Masks to Make At Home

If you need to clear up your complexion or help your teen get over acne or blackheads here are some simple natural homemade masks that can be applied that do not contain the harmful chemicals that commercial cosmetics do.

Rose, honey and oatmeal face mask: There are many different ways that you can make superbly effective face masks using entirely natural materials. These face masks help you to cleanse your skin far more effectively than you could ever do with just soap and water and of course, every one of them is 100% natural.

In this case, take one third of a cup of well ground oatmeal and combine it with 1/8 of a cup of rose petals. The fresher the petals are, they better it is so they should ideally be fresh off the plant. Crush them before adding to the mix.

Add to four tablespoons of runny honey (if you are using more solid honey, warm it so that it becomes liquefied) before applying the mixture to your face. Leave it on for half an hour or so (why not relax in a nice hot bath infused with rose petals as well?) before washing the mixture off with warm water.

Apple crush facial mask: As the name probably suggests, you need an apple for this face mask recipe. You also need one tablespoon of lemon juice and a tablespoon of dried herbs of your choice (for example, lavender, spinning, chamomile, sage or anything else you have available).

Drop the apple in how water and cook it until it can be mashed easily. Mash the apple and add the lemon juice and herbs, getting rid of the pulpy apple remains. Once the temperature of the mixture is cool enough to do so comfortably, apply the mix to your face as a mask.

Leave for five minutes before washing off with warm water and a washcloth or mitt…

Lemon and egg surprise: Lemon juice is another substance that you find in many natural skincare recipes. In this case, whip up an egg white until it peaks and then pop it in the freezer for 15 minutes or so.

After this, add the juice of a lemon and one puréed or grated tomato. Apply to the skin, leave for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash off with water. Do this every day for months and you will notice a marked improvement in skin quality.

Banana, cream and honey: Take one tablespoon of honey and mix it together with half a mashed banana plus 2 tablespoons of sour cream. Apply as a face mask for 10 minutes and then wipe clean with a warm, damp cloth.

Apple and tomato mask: For this one, you need two tablespoons of plain yoghurt, ½ a tomato, 1 egg white, 2 or 3 tablespoons of whole wheat flour and 2 slices of chopped apple.

Mix all of the ingredients together, spread on dry skin and allow the mixture to dry as well, which should take around 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

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