I never thought of myself as an addict, but I did end up addicted to anti-anxiety medication after developing Generalized Anxiety Disorder. At some point, the medicine stopped being a way to deal with the nervousness and panic attacks, and became something my body craved. I knew that I needed help fast. Fortunately, a local drug rehab program includes support for people like me. They helped me wean off the medication, use methods like massage therapy to help my nerves heal, and even provided ongoing counseling for our family. I don't know how I would have made it without their help. If you suspect that your medication has crossed the line from being helpful to hurtful, take heart. Let me tell you about my journey out of addiction and back to wholeness.
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Atopic dermatitis sounds like a scary, serious disease — one that might be rare, hard to treat, or not well researched. But actually, atopic dermatitis is not as ominous as its name makes it sound. You're probably more familiar with this condition than you think. You just know it by a different name: eczema. Yes, atopic dermatitis and eczema are the same things.
So, with those basics established, you probably feel a little more comfortable asking yourself this question: do you have atopic dermatitis? Take a look at these symptoms, and talk to your doctor if you suspect this issue is plaguing you.
Red Patches
The most common symptom of atopic dermatitis is red, inflamed patches of skin. These patches won't peel extensively or start looking too crusty. If they do, they are likely to be due to psoriasis, not atopic dermatitis. They tend to just be slightly puffy with irregular edges. Some patches may be big, and others may be small. The most common areas to see these patches are on the chest, inside the elbows and backs of the knees, and on the hands and feet.
Itching
Atopic dermatitis is itchy. Sometimes it can be so itchy that it keeps you up at night. You may notice the itching is worse after you take a warm or hot shower. This is because the warm shower water strips moisture from the skin, further drying it out and irritating the red patches. Applying lotion often alleviates the itching, but only for a period of time.
Raised, Fluid-Filled Bumps
Many patients with atopic dermatitis also develop some raised bumps on their skin. These bumps are only under a layer or two of the skin, and they contain clear liquid. If you scratch them or even just rub them briskly, they tend to break open. Then, it will take a few days for the area to dry up and become scabby. These bumps are often seen along the edges of the red, raised patches, but sometimes they occur independently of the patches.
Dry Skin
Most people with atopic dermatitis find that their skin, overall, is very dry. They often suspect dryness alone is the problem, but applying moisturizer only goes so far as to alleviate the dryness.
Atopic dermatitis can vary in severity, but it is not a condition to ignore. Talk to your doctor. From steroid creams to prescription moisturizers, there are plenty of remedies that can give you relief.
To get more atopic dermatitis resources, contact a local medical health professional.
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