Drug Rehab Center-beneficial And Marvelous Treatment Programs

Now, Drug addiction is treatable disease. However, it makes physiological and psychological dependencies. It is particular about drug user to break away from the dependency. Drug addiction takes a lot of work. It can be difficult. Sometimes it has a painful process but it is true that the proper treatment can bring happiness for many people. It is guessed that approximately millions of patients in different parts of the world reveal many types of symptoms of drug addiction. Drug Rehab Center is ready to help millions of patients successfully conquer the dependency.
This is very important time to defeat a drug addiction. The drug users need to get help from a reliable rehabilitation center in their region. It is not easy to get rid of drug addiction. Thats why a number of your friends, loved ones as well as the health professionals in rehab facility will help and enable to understand the main root cause of the. At Drug Rehab Center the professionals will take care and help the user acknowledge their drug use has gotten out of the their control.
Drug Rehabilitation centers have various types of blissful treatment programs for patients. The programs can help to reduce the dependence of a person. A number of treatment programs can help to get rid of the addiction and treat the problems. If someone is struggling with alcohol and drug, they need to help and go for alcohol rehab therapy that can save your life and your loved one life. This bright idea can bring happiness in your entire family. When you are looking for Drug and Alcohol treatment Centers in your city, it is not a big problem. This is easy to find out a reliable alcohol rehabilitation center for you and your loved ones. There are numerous rehab centers who offer you enjoyable treatment programs in your region. Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers offers numerous individuals on drug which want treatment.
A number of drug rehab centers are catering and offering trustworthy treatment programs in nook or corner of the world. This is a great hope for addicts. Lucrative programs have become a kind of wonderful tendency for all rehabilitation centers in this place. But they have different missions in different parts of the cities. The centers take care and help the addicts to live a normal life. They have several techniques and make use their attempt to help addicts. Alcohol drug rehab presents counseling, coaching and medication.
These days, it is not easy to find out the right drug rehab center. You can do the first thing contact a rehabilitation center professional and facility department by cell phone or via email. You need to know and gather more information about the center in your area. Remember! Always choose the best reliable drug rehab for you or your loved one. Drug and Alcohol treatment Centers announces residential treatment programs. In this center individuals can get rigorous treatment programs including educational groups, treatment planning, group therapy, individual therapy, relapse prevention groups, psycho-education groups, and specific components. The programs tailored each individual patients based on their needs.

Inpatient Drug Rehabilitation Services

Getting help for addiction isn't an immutable process. There are three main types of treatment when it comes to drug or alcohol rehabilitation used by inpatient drug rehab facilities. Generally, all three of these methods will be used in conjunction, but sometimes only one method might be needed. There may be more of an emphasis on one over the other two as the primary form of treatment, or there may be an even balance of all three. Depending what the needs of the dependent person are, the mixing of these services varies.

Medical Services

The first method of treatment is medical services. Inpatient drug rehab facilities usually employ a wide array of professionals, from medical doctors and nurses to psychiatrists and therapists. One of the biggest elements of this treatment is medically supervised withdrawal, more commonly known as detox. Withdrawing from a drug can actually be very dangerous, as it an cause seizures, hallucinations, or pain. That being said, coming off a drug is safest when it can be monitored by medical professionals who can eliminate withdrawal symptoms and help speed the process.

Dual Diagnoses

Many times those who are addicted to a substance also may have other illnesses, such as depression or bipolar disorder, which have the potential to make things more difficult. With dual diagnosing, medical doctors and therapists can help patients recovery physically and mentally from addiction in conjunction.

Counseling

Another method of treatment is counseling. Generally, counseling involves a professional psychotherapist with a specialization in addictions and usually takes place in a small group setting, with other victims of addiction participating as well. Through teamwork and cooperation, encouragement and advice is given from the therapist, as well as from others. Personal problems are confronted, with subjects ranging from family issues, gender issues, and meditation. As a method of coping and rehabilitating, group therapy provides a constructive and positive experience that aims to keep recovering people going in the right direction. It also shows that addicts aren't alone, that there are plenty of people who struggle with the same problems.

Education

Finally, education services are used to teach dependent people just what is going on with their bodies and addictions. Education is hugely important, because many times, those who are addicted to a substance don't realize just what it is doing to their body. Addiction is a disease, and learning about it can help addicts rise above and eventually defeat it. Learning the warning signs of addiction is important, because then addicts can monitor themselves and know what is causing their urges. Usually education is based around a 12-step program, which combines medicine, therapy, and psychiatry. Through the help of these professionals and the participating group, education can be a powerful tool in helping dependent people get back to their lives.

The Right Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center For You

Friend, I wanted to tell you that you need professional assistance from a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center to overcome your drug addiction problems. This is the only way you can be sure of getting the right drug or alcohol rehabilitation.

The fact that you will not be able to moderate yourself is one thing that most people are unable to accept easily. Even though you want to remain firm and dependable on yourself, what can you do to help yourself? What kind of drug rehabilitation facility will you adopt? How informed are you about the drug rehab program that best fits you?

Although so many drug rehab treatments are available, only a few can be found on the Delray Beach city in Florida. The question therefore is how to find the best rehab therapy that can keep you stable until your drug rehab treatment is over

Presently, there is a dearth of drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers on Delray Beach, Florida.

Some of them provide the best drug rehab program in the state. The drug rehab centers now have outpatient facilities rather than the usual "locked down blue wall" old fashioned rehab centers. This gives the facility a more relaxed atmosphere. Experts believe that you might be unsure of the right rehab center that suits you, which is why you need assistance and all necessary tools to keep you away from drugs until you leave the rehab premises.

It is therefore important to ask yourself these questions before you can choose the right rehab center:

1. Will you be able to accept living at home or be in a relaxed environment as you go through your rehab program?

2. How long will you stay in a rehab facility to regain stability?

3. If you are an out patient, which schedules will suit you most?

4. Are you reacting well to rehab support and challenges?

4. Which therapy should you accept? Is it individual or group therapy or both?

5. Can you share a room with others or be alone?

7. How much do you have for your rehabilitation program?

There are other factors you should also consider when choosing the right rehabilitation center. For example, if you cannot be comfortable with an outpatient appointment, then go for an inpatient rehab facility.

If your belief is disturbing your consideration for a secular rehab program, then look out for a faith-based rehab program. Faith-based rehab programs have actually helped a lot of people.

Also look out for a rehab center that can offer continuous medical care after your rehab program. The rehab center you choose can be an "intermediate home" or an open house group therapy rehab program.

Most Delray Beach drug rehab programs offer patients the best facilities to keep them relaxed and focused on their abstinence. These patients are assured of their privacy and undergo some stages of recovery through the drug rehab program.

Therefore to stop taking drugs or alcohol, you must choose the right drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Do not forget the fact that you cannot moderate yourself, seek professional advice today.

Hunt For The Right Drug Rehab Clinics

The news often reports about drug rehab recently. You read or watch about celebrities checking into drug rehab centers or facilities, well known or not. Getting to finish at least one month in a drug treatment facility is almost considered as an award. However, what the real problem is is the ratio among the individuals we get to read in the newspaper and/or watch on TV and the many others who really need rehab. The problem is choosing the right rehab clinic that is going to help you get back on the saddle.

For many patients, choosing the right rehab clinic depends on the place that will be right according to their present circumstance. Any person with a high level of family and work commitment will be more inclined in selecting out-patient rehab programs. Those who want to get over their addiction to drugs with dangerous withdrawal symptoms could be worked out better when using in-patient treatment facilities. Meanwhile, the choice of the right rehab clinic depends on the scientific approach that the centers take.

Relapse prevention

This specific aspect used to be for alcoholics only but has been a success for those addicted to cocaine. In this type of rehab program, therapy for substance abuse stresses on the learning of new and way better behavior replacing the ignorance of a past worse habit. Cognitive behavioral treatment along with a drug-abstinence approach is utilized in aiding patients to learn self-control and resistance to surrounding temptations.

Matrix model

Such a model suits stimulant addicts very well. A patient is taught to handle symptom of addiction and the indications of relapse as well as tell them what they are like. Therapists work with patients and they will also introduce them to different types of self-help programs. Likewise, the former will be testing the latter's urine and/or blood on a regular basis to make sure that patients' stay free of drugs. Stress is given on boosting patients' self-esteem and renewing self-worth. There are many addiction facilities that make use of this model effectively.

Supportive-expressive therapy

This type of drug therapy is best for those who deal with addictions to heroin and cocaine, respectively. Therapists, along with patients, will work in the creation of an environment wherein addicts are comfortable in talking about what they've experienced before going to rehab as well as the situations and behaviors that led them to addiction. Aside from that, therapists will also be working with patients in developing ways that will aid the patients in dealing with circumstances that give them the tendency to use drugs.

Given these methods, choosing the right rehab clinic is going to be about what will suit the patients the most. It is relevant to note the persons' personalities and the situations they are presently in. all these could be applied to both in- as well as out-patient drug rehab centers. Just take into consideration all possibilities in choosing the right rehab clinic. Patients are more probable to be sober and stay such when programs match their individual personalities and the circumstances they are in.

Drug Rehab - Detoxification

Drug rehab clinics across the United States help thousands of addicts achieve lasting sobriety every year. With the realization that addiction is a neurological disease, drug rehab specialists have been able to develop a variety of effective and proven therapies for substance abusers. Addiction is not curable, but addicts and doctors can work together to create long-term strategies for staying clean.

Although most rehab clinics create personalized treatment plans for their patients, almost every recovering addict must undergo the rigors of detoxification. Typically lasting five to fourteen days, detox is a process designed to wean addicts off of their physical drug dependencies. This is a painful but necessary step in preparing rehab patients for their clinical therapies.

When people with severe drug dependencies first seek help, they are typically analyzed by doctors at special medical facilities. These treatment centers are often different from the actual rehab clinics where inpatients live and receive addiction therapies. The main purpose of these initial assessments is to determine the amounts of toxic substances within patients' bodies. Doctors can then decide how long detox will take and what medications may be necessary.

The next step in detox is simple but painful - deprivation. Though addicts may arrive at detox clinics having used drugs just hours earlier, they are denied their addictive substances long enough for their bodies to adjust. Addiction causes the human body to rely on drugs for normal functioning, so the brain must adapt to living without them. This process usually takes one to two weeks.

Virtually all addicts experience withdrawal during detox. Because their bodies are still dependent on drugs, unfulfilled cravings cause painful symptoms. Patients often report depression, anxiety, and feelings of hopelessness. They also experience physical symptoms such as sweating, irregular heart beats, and nausea. Rehab specialists have developed several mental and emotional techniques for coping with these symptoms, but medication is sometimes required.

In some cases of addiction, withdrawal symptoms can actually be life-threatening. This is especially true for people addicted to heroin, morphine, and other opiates - some of the most powerful and addicting substances in the world. Withdrawal symptoms for these drugs often include seizure, heart palpitations, and even cardiac arrest.

To mitigate the risks of these symptoms, many doctors have begun using rapid detox methods on heroin addicts. Instead of waiting for up to two weeks of these dangerous symptoms to pass, they induce days' worth of detox in just hours using specialized medications. This process can still be dangerous, but it has proven very effective at quickly getting through detox and into their longer-term treatment programs.

Contrary to what many laypeople believe, detox does not cure addiction - nothing does. However, a successful detox allows addicts the freedom to manage their drug cravings enough to productively engage their treatments. Drug rehab programs typically involve counseling sessions which are mentally tough and emotionally intense. Patients must be rid of their immediate compulsions to use drugs in order to take full advantage of these therapies.

Drug rehab center in Orange County

Drinking alcohol has many patterns that is there are many ways a man takes liquor. There's a very decent manner when a man drinks but does not cause any harm to the people around and the society. In such type of drinking they have a hold on their mind they keep a control over their brain and does not depend on people around. Alcohol is an addiction which sometimes can cause severe major health problems too. Alcohol cause much damage to liver and kidney. People suffering from stone problems are strictly said to avoid alcohols. So people when being very much addict to it are then send to treatments. Such type of patients are then said to be alcohol rehab.

 

They are thus given may treatments to cure them. Alcohol addicts cause much harm to themselves and the society too hence they should be irradiated from the society. Such people who are addict to alcohol must be first given a chance to improve themselves, many people try to come out of this but they become helpless and they do also undergo depression.

But even after they are not having any improvements they are then send to counselors so that due to special counseling they can have some improvements.

 

There is a typical kind of treatment given to alcohol rehabswhich is known as drug rehab in orange county. In this type of treatment the men and women who are addict to alcohol are kept in complete homely environment. Even the persons or the patients staying at home can take this treatment. A very homely environment is given and the members of the family here serves as nurse to take care of them. In the orange county rehab the men and women are given alcohol / drug screening every 72 hours. Here they can be at their homes while they will be given the treatment regularly day and night.

 

There are many components of this therapy there is regular assessment, treatment and after care planning, access to all facilities and treatment programmers, individual and group therapy. With the help of such type of environment and the special components which are applied here can bring a major change to the people suffering from alcoholism. There are many other types of such treatment programs also which can give a good support to the alcoholic people and helps them to come up from it.

Four Main Phases of a Drug Rehabilitation Program

Are you a drug addict who is striving hard and doing all hit and trial methods as the part of your drug rehab program? Well, it is very necessary and essential to make a point right here. Do not just go for any type of rehab treatment program which is offered by any unprofessional rehab center in your area. On the contrary look for the rehab treatment center which is professional and manages smart and effective rehab treatment course. Almost every rehab center offers similar kind of drug rehab program. However, the mode of implementation of the program is what makes one rehab center unique from the other. Only an organized and professional rehab center will offer you phase wise drug rehabilitation program that will prove useful for transforming your identity into that of a healthy and prosperous individual.

4-Phases of Drug Rehab Program

Phase -1 – Patient Assessment – This is an elementary phase of drug de-addiction where the patient is assessed on different parameters by the rehab center counselor before starting with the actual de-addiction program.

Here the counselor will ask questions from the drug addict about his likings and disliking, and the kind of environment the drug addict usually lives. A counseling session will also be taken with the addict’s parents for guiding them on how to behave with the addict. Based on the preliminary assessment made, the future course of de-addiction program is followed. If the counselors feel that drug addict’s behavior is not extreme and doesn’t require intensive care, the addict is referred for daily visits; otherwise he is admitted to drug rehab center.

Phase-2 – Behavioral and Psychological Therapy – This is the second phase of drug rehab program where behavioral psychologists play their role in understanding the psychology of a drug addict under different set of conditions. Based on the behavior as shown by the addict during assessment, the behavioral psychologist will chart out a plan to make step wise alteration in the mental and physical behavior.

Phase-3 –Medication - This is the third phase of rehab program where a doctor will prescribe the medications to the addict. The decision to prescribe the medication by the doctor will be based on assessments made by counselor, behavioral psychologist apart from his own observations and medical examination. Medication will continue even after a drug addict has been discharged from rehab treatment center. The potency of medication is gradually decreased after seeing the improvement in the condition of addict.

Phase -4 – Aerobic Exercises - This is the fourth phase of drug rehab program. The addict is put on light mental and physical exercises to detox the body. This may continue for long.

Follow a phase wise drug de addiction program as against an integrated de-addiction program so that you do no recluse back to the horrendous stage of drug addiction.

How Does Drug Rehab Work?

Drug and alcohol rehab centers require serious commitment on the part of both the patient as well as the staff at the center. The road to recovery can be quicker when the addict is sincere and dedicated about rehabilitation. Selecting the right drug rehab center or alcohol rehab program can make all the difference. Your chances for effective treatment will be greatly reduced if you select the wrong program.

Drug rehab treatments vary from one place to another depending on the type of addiction. Various aspects of addiction will be concentrated upon by the alcohol rehab programs. Also depending on whether the drug addiction is street drugs or prescription drugs, treatments can vary. Both psychotherapeutic and medical treatments may be offered by a reputed drug rehab center.

In case of drug rehab program, the first step involves making an evaluation of the addict. The patient's eagerness to join the rehab program will be determined. This can play a vital part in determining the success of the program to a great extent. Counsellors and specialists will get the complete profile of the person being treated and will try to find the exact cause for the addiction. The physicians and counsellors will try and figure out what caused the addiction in the first place, whether it is related to marital problems, job stress or other reasons. Staffs at the drug treatment center also work with the family members of the patient so that treatment proceeds smoothly and effectively.

The rehab program will also concentrate on the withdrawal aspects whether the withdrawal is from drugs or alcohol. This will be followed by the detoxification process which is absolutely essential to ensure complete recovery of the patient. Although this process may be accompanied by unpleasant reactions, it is however a necessary part.

Since people with drug addiction can ignore other important aspects of their lives such as diet or exercise, a tab will be kept on these aspects also. Proper nutrition will be provided to the patient, who may suffer from nutritional deficiencies. The rehab treatment center will assign prime importance to the diet of the patient.

If a person known to you is addicted to drugs or alcohol, the best way to give assistance is to make them seek help immediately. They can overcome their problems only with help because addiction can get worse with time. You must be able to convince them that they can overcome drug addiction permanently only with help and counselling. You can show that you care by enrolling them for a drug rehab or alcohol rehab program. Help for a drug and alcohol addict is just a click away!

5 Tips To Make Your Guitar Mixes Rock!

Now I know there are thousands of variables involved as well as opinionated ways of doing this, that's why I'm going to tell you 5 tips I use to make my guitars stand out to help make my mixes sound huge!

1. Double Track Your Rhythm Guitars:

You can easily thicken up the sound of your mixes by doubling your guitar tracks. Yes I know this is not really a 'mixing' tip but when you use both guitars in the mix it can beef up your guitar tracks. PRO TIP: You can even play around with changing the tone slightly on the second track to add even more emphases on certain characteristics of the playing. Say you want one to be more beefy and use another for note clarity. Just one of many ways you can use that to your benefit.

2. Pan Those Tracks:

The next step is to pan those rhythm guitars you tracked. I like to start at hard panning them both, one left one right. If they are sounding too separate bring them more to the middle, 70-80 is a good area where I like to put my guitars, especially for the slower parts. Faster more intricate playing can benefit from going all the way left or right. Panning these guitars helps separate the sound and clear up the middle for other instruments (i.e. kick drum, bass guitar) that need to be there. Turn that pan knob and immediately hear the results.

3. High Pass Filter Your Guitars:

OK yes, I know this is situational depending on the tone/style of guitar you are tracking. But in most times I mix I like to roll off some of those lows to clear up the bottom section and help your guitars not 'fight' so much with the bass and kick drum. I like to start in the 100,200k area and roll it off accordingly to the mix. Let your ears do the work, roll it off as you listen to a section and when you hear the guitars start to'thin out' back off a hair and Voila! You now have cutting clear guitar.

4. Did Someone say Plug-ins?

Yes you read that correctly. But dude, I thought you are always preaching 'crap in crap out, get it right from the source and you wont have to fix anything come mix time??!' Yes you are correct. I do live by that, but remember music and mixing is an art form. There are rules, but there are not. Weird right? I like to look at using plug-in's like using salt when cooking. You don't want to add too much because it will taste bad, but using just enough will make whatever your eating taste much better! Don't be afraid to add a little compression, or tube saturation/distortion to give your tracks get a little more omph! Experiment, you might find something you really like!

5. EQ Subtraction

The last tip here is my all time favorite, and yes it does play off of tip number 3. Subtracting EQ in certain bands is an ideal way to let other instruments in your mix cut through in return making everything (including your guitar tracks) sound bigger, cleaner and overall better. Especially with high gain guitar tracks cutting some of the lower (or) higher mids out is a good way to tone it down and get your guitars working in cohesion with other primary instruments. Don't be afraid to get the scalpel out and start cutting EQ like your a mad surgeon. Just remember to do it while you are listening to your mix, never solo your guitars and start cutting that would not be pretty.

The Oath of the Horatii

The Oath of the Horatii by Jacques-Louis David is both an excellent example of French Neoclassical painting (click to read more on Neoclassicism from the Met) and of a very strong composition within a painting.  David chose this subject for his first royal commission.  Neoclassical themes had been popular since the Renaissance and in the mid-18th century
Neoclassical art is defined as a style that was strongly influenced by the art and history of ancient Greece and Rome.  While at the French Academy David won the Prix-de-Rome and spent several years in the city during which time he was strongly influenced by Ancient Roman art and architecture.


The Oath of the Horatii is an interesting story, the battle between the Roman Horatii family and the Curiatii family from a neighboring city was told by the Ancient Roman author known as Livy.  The Horatii brothers are swearing allegiance to Rome on the swords that their father is holding up.  All are ready to die to defend their country.

The Oath of the Horatii, Jacques-Louis David, 1784, Louvre, Paris

This is an enormous painting measuring nearly 11 feet high by 14 feet long and the figures were shown as life sized. The focal point for the viewer is the raised hands and swords of the oath, even if the viewer doesn't know the story it can be easily inferred that this is a dramatic event. 

The setting is very sparse and the sparseness works well in framing the events and not detracting from the figures.  To the right we can see the women of the story, their mother and sisters, who are obviously in despair.  This foreshadows the events to come and serves as an interesting counter balance to the strength of the brothers.  One of the sisters was engaged to a man from the rival family and she knows that someone she cares about will most certainly die in the battle.

Why would such an ancient story, one that wasn't a frequent theme be painted in late 18th century France? 

There were several reasons that Neoclassicism became popular at this time.  Visually it was quite a contrast with the frivolous Rococo style that had currently been in fashion.  It was favored by royalty as Neoclassical work reflected the power of the Roman Empire.  It was equally favored by both the American and French Revolutionaries as it tied into themes of self sacrifice and the Roman Republican period.

The ruins of Pompeii were rediscovered in the mid 1700's and in the following years the site was excavated; this led to a new understanding of and enthusiasm for Roman culture.  The 18th century is commonly referred to as "The Age of Enlightenment" and many of the great intellectuals and philosophers were influenced by the rational philosophies of their Classical counterparts.

The Tennis Court Oath, Jacques-Louis David, c-1791, Louvre, Paris
pen drawing with sepia ink wash

While The Oath of the Horatii was commissioned by the French King, David was actually very much on the side of the revolutionaries in the 18th century.  He created the above drawing of the Tennis Court Oath, where nearly 600 members of society gathered less than a month prior to the storming of the Bastille and vowed to remain together until a French Constitution was written.

David was clearly influenced by his earlier composition for this sketch, which he later turned into a painting.  The raised arms created another strong central focal point for the viewer.  Even without knowing the history behind the work the viewer can discern that an emotionally charges and dramatic event is unfolding.  Just as in the other work a symmetrical architectural background frames the scene.

The Oath of the Horatii, Armand-Charles Caraffe, 1791
Pushkin Museum, Moscow

 Armand-Charles Caraffe was a student of David's and he also painted a version of this theme.

Compare the two paintings, by looking at the two very different ways that the artists chose to arrange the figures we can see that the David painting is much more dynamic.  The theme of the Oath that the Horatii family took wasn't a common one and Caraffe would certainly have been influenced by David.  However by reversing the direction of the brother's hands the composition doesn't have as strong of a focal point.  Dramatic tension was also created in the earlier version by the use of chiaroscuro (modeling form with strong darks and lights).

Caraffe does a good job of depicting this and created an interesting work, but Jacques-Louis David's version has remained one of the most iconic images of Neoclassical French painting.

Long Term Drug Rehab Helps Prevent Chronic Relapses

People who repeatedly fail in their attempt to stop using drugs by entering drug treatment programs, whether inpatient or outpatient, should seriously consider long term drug rehab. Except for those individuals who can easily afford long term inpatient treatment or who have insurance which covers long term rehabilitation, most people do not enter a long term drug rehab facility on their first attempt to recover from drug addiction. The expense and the need to be away from family and work related responsibilities prevent many people from seeking long term drug rehab even though they understand that it is more effective.

There are two main reasons why drug rehab is more effective than short term rehabilitation programs. it's more effective is that drug treatment cannot truly begin until the reason for a person's addiction is established. The reasons are as varied as the people seeking treatment but several themes typically appear. Some people turn to drugs to avoid dealing with a short or long term unpleasant situation. This can be anything from an abusive family relationship to the sudden death of a loved one. Other people turn to drugs as a way to ease the symptoms of a treatable mental illness. Long term drug rehab allows the therapists and counselors at treatment facilities to help a drug addict determine why they turned to drugs in the first place in order to form an effective treatment plan. This process takes time.

The second reason why drug rehab is more effective is that it takes time for a person to recognize and learn how to deal with situations that would make them turn to drugs in the past. Some people need to learn techniques to deal with stress, peer pressure, or mental illnesses. Naturally, the same techniques will not work for everyone it's affords individual the time to discover what techniques will work best for them.

A drug addict's life, when the addiction has been long term, not only difficulty facing problems in a healthy manner, but poor health as well. A long term drug rehab facility will have the necessary tools to treat the psychological and the physical aspects of addiction. These tools may include a regimen of physical activity and a healthy diet. A person who feels poorly because of poor health is not likely to get as much out of treatment as one who physically feels up to the challenge.

There is no set period of time for working through all the issues of drug addiction as every person is different. There is one thing that is certain; anyone who leaves a drug treatment facility before they are ready to live their lives drug-free will relapse. The temptations are too great after being in a controlled environment. Even after long term drug rehab, after care is essential. The combination of long term drug rehab and regular counseling afterward does not guarantee that a person will not begin using drugs again, but it does greatly improve their chances of remaining drug-free. The best drug treatment facilities allow a person to work on their addiction problems at his or her own pace, without imposing time constraints; this is the type of facility which gives drug addicts an even greater chance of overcoming drug addiction permanently.

Long term drug rehab allows a person to complete a full drug detoxification process if necessary. This is the process of flushing any remaining traces of physically addicting drugs from the body as these trace amounts will cause the body to crave more of the drug. Drug detox may be done in a hospital or at a drug rehab facility if it is necessary.

Objectives of Drug Rehab Centers

Drug addiction is one of the most severe social crimes that can ruin the society. It can be defined as a terrible situation when the people, especially the boys and girls of the young generation, get habituated of taking harmful and intoxicating alcoholic products and narcotic items like cocaine, heroin, and brown sugar. All these products are extremely harmful and they may even cause death if taken in excess quantity. The situation is nearly going out of control and there is an immediate need of doing something worthwhile to improve the situation for the betterment of the people as well as for the entire earth. The present scenario shows that the situation is improving as lots of efforts are put behind this with a serious note.

As complex as a disorder is, the drug abuse is described as an intensive drug usage.  The People who are dependable over drugs are overwhelmed by drug and alcohol usage contributing to negative consequences which is quite unreasonable to acknowledge.

Ironically, people continue to indulge in drugs and alcohol despite harmful effects. As discussed by the scientists, the prospective disorder affects the metabolism and the functionality of the brain which is responsible for such an incessant overindulgence in drugs and alcohol which is referred to psychic disorder.

The repeated drug usage affects the brain which causes long-lasting changes on traditional brain functions. These changes interfere with the patient’s ability to think clearly, exercise good judgment, control behavior, and feel normal without drugs. These changes are also responsible in large part for the drug cravings and compulsion to use that make addiction so unprecedented.

The establishments of drug rehabilitation are positive meant for improving the situation as these organizations are working relentlessly in the service of the drug addicts.

The objective of these drug rehab centers, especially like the Christian drug rehab centers and the Christian drug and alcohol rehab center is to make the people get free from the claws of the drugs and narcotics. The Christian alcohol treatment rehabilitation facility is highly efficient as it is specially derived to make the drug addicts get freedom from the bondage of drug and alcoholic drinks. The Christian drug treatment comes along with a religious sentiment that really works as appositive factor to help the people to think about their weaknesses towards drugs and they start thinking seriously about leaving alcoholism and drugs.

This objective is seriously supported by the ideas of providing rehabilitation to the drug addicts as they need some help after leaving drugs. This situation, when they are free from the drug abuses, they feel a certain type of weakness and at that particular time, the drug addicts look for some support from around themselves. The Christian drug treatment programs help these people to stand on their feet and face the world according to their understandings. The Christian drug recovery programs are very successful in handling these rehabilitation issues as they maintain a high success rate in this job. The Christian alcohol rehab centers design personalized treatment procedures for the drug addicts and the way of treatment continues to a stipulated period.

This period is also determined by the attending doctors. The determination of the medication, treatment and period is done and administered strictly by the authorities. Generally, the drug addicts are given admission to the treatment centers or are released from the Out Patients Departments (OPDs). This is also determined by the attending doctors in the OPDs. Certainly, the objective is to provide more attention to those patients who need more care and attention in the treatment centers.

Article Source: http://goarticles.com/article/Objectives-of-Drug-Rehab-Centers/5262997/

Choosing The Right Drug Rehab Center

Many people in the past, especially drug addicts, dreaded entering drug rehabilitation as the treatment they received was harsh and unsympathetic. Kindness was not usually exhibited to drug addicts as society viewed them to be evil or bad, instead of being sick. Today, there are only a few people who harbor such ideas, whereas most have accepted the reality that there are already modern and humane methods to address a problem such as drug addiction.

In current treatment programs for drug abuse, there is a kinder and more compassionate approach. Genuine kindness and concern for their well-being is now a primary focus of these programs. Hence, when faced with drug cravings, can a person enter into a private or government-run rehabilitation center. It is an excellent way to begin a patients recovery efforts by aiding his/her capacity to identify and deal with possibilities of drug relapse and re-addiction when out again in the real world.

Well-reputed drug rehab centers for their effectiveness are known to provide one-on-one therapy sessions, in which such sessions attempt to work on a patient's psychiatric problems. Moreover, these sessions would also even provide lessons in meditation and yoga, and additional access to other psychiatric specialists. These benefits being offered by different rehab centers make choosing quite difficult.

There are also some personal considerations in choosing a drug rehab center. This points to the imperative that a patient should think of his/her recovery since it is the pressing need above everything else. Being self-concerned is apparently the best way to gain from rehab as if the results are to no avail, it would lead to dejection and future therapy would not even be considered. Further, many people worry whether they could afford to be treated since they do not have access to ample insurance. Nonetheless, there are insurance companies that may grant residential support in an instant.

There are also a number of companies which may the patient to follow certain processes before he or she can enter a rehab facility, which includes outpatient treatment. Many rehabilitation facilities often discuss the costs for a patient and a certain level required in committing to rehab. Well-renowned rehab centers would usually advertise patients who have had success in putting away with their addiction and are living their lives free from drugs. While in rehab center, a support system in the form of family and friends is also essential for a patient to recover.

Apart from a reputation of treating it clients with success through its advertisements, this should not be the only meter stick in choosing. Contacting people who have undergone or are informed about the effectiveness of a rehabilitation center is also an useful way to properly choose. Lastly, consider that a smaller rehab center also has a greater probability for a one-on-one therapy which is critical in the later of stages of treatment.

Ways To Find An Effective Drug Rehabilitation Center And Programs

Drug addiction is one of fatal disease which is causing problems for the people especially teenagers in all over the world. People who are addicted to any form of addicted always find themselves trouble in their personal as well as professional life. The condition are getting bad from worse because there are lots of people who gets admitted in a reputed drug rehab center are mainly the young generation and most of them are addicted to prescription drugs. With the enormous growth of addicts for last few years as the numbers of drug treatment center in the state which makes prosperous business for some of them. As there are numbers of treatment programs available for drug additions this makes a daunting task to select an appropriate one from them. Other than that, if you start searching for any alcohol rehab center or drug treatment center on the web, you will find millions of result that makes sometimes more confusing. Sometimes it appears that there is no hope for the drug addicts to find an effective treatment program which suits their needs. But, here are some important informations about the best drug treatment center and their programs which will certainly help you in selecting an appropriate one.
Drug Rehab Colorado provides the drug treatment facility for the inpatient or live-in patients as well as outpatient treatment programs. Depending upon the nature of addiction you have to decide that what kind of treatment program will be suitable for you. If you are seeking a treatment center for any serious addiction to any drugs or alcohol then inpatient treatment program will be the best options to go with. Otherwise, if you are suffering from any mild addiction then you must go with outpatient treatment program. Choosing an appropriate treatment program will certainly help you in terms of having successful recovery. No matter treatment program you choose, the first and foremost treatment that most of the treatment center provides detoxification for treating an addicts. This is a process where patients body is detoxified from the toxins materials with the help of various medicines. This method is generally used by the treatment center to make them ready for other rehabilitation program. Once the patients body is detoxified they offer other drug treatment program in these treatment centers. Depending upon the nature of addiction they offer inpatient and outpatient treatment program.
Inpatient treatment program: This treatment program often called as residential treatment program because the patients have to live in treatment center for few weeks in order to get proper medication and care. Most of the addicts generally like inpatient treatment program due to the environment provided by these alcohol drug rehab center or any drug treatment center helps them in getting away the stress of the outside world and focuses on healing. And Outpatient treatment programs are suitable for the people who have small children and other responsibilities to handle with. In this method of treatment, the patients have to visit the treatment center frequently in order to get proper medication and care.
Therefore, for the purpose of selecting an appropriate drug rehab center always keep follow the above path for successful recovery and treatment.

Trompe-l’oeil in art

In January of 2010 I saw a really interesting exhibit at the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence: Art & Illusions: Masterpieces of Trompe-l'œil from Antiquity to the Present.  That exhibit got me to start thinking of the role of  trompe-l’oeil in art.  “Trompe-l’oeil” is French for to trick the eye, it is more than just a realistic work of art but it is something created to fool the viewer or at least make the viewer question what they are seeing.  It is a work which creates an optical illusion, however the term “Trompe-l’oeil” is used to describe a variety of illusions in art.  Some are entertaining and some create quite sophisticated illusions.

There have been many examples throughout time: Ancient Roman, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque as well as modern and contemporary examples.  Let's look at a few of them to compare.

Still life with glass bowl of fruit and vase, wall painting, Pompeian painter c- 70 AD,

The National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Italy

In the wall paintings uncovered at Pompeii and Herculaneum there are many examples of trompe-l’oeil.  The most typical were similar to the example above showing still-life objects sitting on a "shelf" they were created to show off the skill of the artist and to amuse the viewer.  There were also several mosaic floors created as a trompe-l’oeil showing discarded fish bones.  This skillful works also alluded to the wealth of the owner of the home.

It was said in Ancient Greece that there was a contest between two painters, Zeuxis and Parrhasius.  Zeuxis painted grapes that were so realistic they fooled birds into trying to eat them.  However Parrhasius won the contest as he even fooled the other artist; he had painted a pair of curtains and Zeuxis thought that his painting lay behind the curtains.

I don't know if the story is real, but regardless it demonstrates that trompe-l’oeil has been a part of art for centuries.

Painting of a false dome, Andrea Pozzo, 1685, Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio, Rome, Italy
photo- © Jean-Christophe BENOIST/ public domain, via Wikimedia Commons  

Painter Andrea Pozzo cleverly created a false dome within the church of Sant'Ignazio in Rome.  The illusion works perfectly if the viewer is standing in a certain area, they would look up and see a "dome" which is in fact a flat surface with a fake dome painted in.  It is clever as no one would be expecting this type of trompe-l’oeil in a church.  However if the viewer is standing in another area the trick doesn't work.

Architectural trompe-l'oeil gallery, Francesco Borromini, Palazzo Spada, Rome, 1638 

Trompe-l’oeil in art can also be found in sculpture and architecture such as this example by Borromini done earlier in the century. This gallery is a tour de force of trompe-l’oeil in which shrinking rows of columns and a rising floor create the illusion that the gallery is four times longer than it is.  The illusion is made through the use of light, spacing of the columns and the fact that the two archways are vastly different heights.

At first glance Borromini’s gallery is quite long, leading to a statue at the end.  The statue is about three-quarters the height of the distant doorway.  However when I visited a guide walked from one end to the next to show our group of students the illusion; at the far end she was the same height as the statue, but as she walked along the path we saw she was only about a quarter of the height of the first archway.

This can be explained when you realize that the two doorways are of different heights.  However since Borromini constructed this with seemingly perfect perspective, the false perspective tricks you into believing that both doorways are of the same height if you walked from one to the other.

The Staircase Group (Portrait of Raphaelle Peale and Titian Ramsay Peale), Charles Willson Peale, 1795,

oil on canvas, Philadelphia Museum of Art; The George W. Elkins Collection

 In this work early American painter Charles Willson Peale creates a trompe-l’oeil by painting life size portraits.

“To enhance the illusion, he installed the painting within a doorframe in his studio, with a real step in front. Rembrandt Peale, another son, recalled that his father's friend George Washington, misled by Peale's artifice, tipped his hat and greeted the two young men as he walked by.”*

*Darrel Sewell, from Philadelphia Museum of Art: Handbook of the Collections (1995), p. 267.

Again the Art & Illusions: Masterpieces of Trompe-l'œil exhibit was one of the most interesting art exhibits I have seen: 150 objects related to illusion. Examples really did “trick the eye” into thinking surfaces weren’t flat, objects were coming off the canvas, the canvas was  a piece of wood, or a cabinet with open doors, or something was sculpted rather than painted.  Some  were truly remarkable and I wanted to reach out and touch them as the illusion was so convincing.  

I actually did get tricked with a Duane Hanson sculpture. Hanson was a late 20th century American “hyper-realist” who sculpted people and used real objects in his sculptures, in that exhibit it was a mom pushing a stroller. I didn’t really look at “her” I thought it was a mom pushing a stroller until the person next to me got so close they set off an alarm and then everyone turned to stare and I was truly startled that they weren’t real.  They had her set up as if she was a spectator looking at a painting, which added to the illusion.

That is probably why trompe-l’oeil has worked well and has endured to the present day, because so many examples really do fool the viewer.

The San Jose Drug Rehab and Addiction Scene

San Jose is the third largest city in California and is the throne (county seat) of Santa Clara County. Sitting in the San Francisco Bay area and being home to over 7 million people this area has seen its share of drug abuse and addiction activity. Addiction and the societal problems that go along with it is a serious problem through the region. There is a significant need to create more comprehensive measures to increase the level of awareness concerning these issues on many social strata.

The overall outlook on drugs is increasingly apathetic with countless failed attempts by law enforcement to improve, or reduce drug abuse and addiction statistic many feel there is too much money being made. San Jose, California is no different as marijuana is the most commonly abused drug in California. Treatment admissions for marijuana addiction are high and increasing. According to the California Alcohol and Drug Data System, marijuana treatment admissions rose from 20,143 in 2000 to 23,531 in 2003, with treatment admissions skyrocketing up nearly 1/3 in 2010.

Methamphetamine, supplied by Mexican drug cartels and Asian gangs is widely available. The drug continues to be a huge source of the problems with substance abuse in this area. Methamphetamine abuse rates seemed to be leveling off in the 1990's with just fewer than 20% of arrestees testing positive for the drug. The rate increased drastically from 2000 to 2003 with just over 35% testing positive. In recent years, like San Diego, meth abuse among women in San Jose is alarmingly high with over 40% of female arrestees testing positive for meth.

Mexican drug cartels have black tar heroin readily available and is the only kind of heroin obtainable in the San Jose area. Heroin addicts who cannot obtain the drug often take clonazepam to stave off withdrawal symptoms. Heroin abuse and addiction is one of the hardest drugs to overcome as the withdrawal symptoms are significantly worse than very a severe case of influenza. Although The National Drug Intelligence Center reports show cocaine abuse falls behind methamphetamine and heroin, cocaine is the next drug threat in Northern California. Both powder and crack cocaine is steadily abused in this region, but little cocaine in either form is sold in San Jose.

There are many resources for drug abuse and addiction treatment near San Jose. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration directory of treatment facilities show 384 substance abuse and drug rehabilitation programs within a 100 mile radius of San Jose. Most of these treatment options are outpatient counseling and rehabilitation programs, methadone maintenance programs or short-term drug rehab programs. There are other longer term drug rehab available in the Northern California area that consist of non-denominational Christian or Bio-Physical/Cognitive/Educational drug rehab programs. The Christian based programs vary between 12-18 month inpatient rehab programs with Bio-physical programs averages a 4-6 month residential stay in treatment.

Seek Help With Drug Rehabilitation Centers And Family

Hospitals are loaded with patients that have overdosed on addictive drugs; illegal and prescription. The trend has pointed upward at of the end of the last decade with no end in sight. Although the main culprit seems to be cocaine and heroin, legal drug abuse has taken on a new life. How can we hope to deal with all these kinds of drug abuse? There are many options available in this country thanks to the recognition of addictive personalities. Some people are in fact, born with inherent traits that make them easier targets for drug and alcohol abuse.

Knowing about addictive personalities is the first step toward resolving the various issues that come with this scenario. Over the years we have learned a few things about drug addiction and people prone to addiction, in fact, many of the top drug rehabilitation centers in this country are focused on exactly this type of situation. The staff members at these facilities are fully trained to help these personalities and help them cope with this undocumented disorder. There was a time when many people thought that people choose to be addicted to drugs and that stopping was just as easy as starting. We have matured since then and now we recognize different levels of addiction.

The fact remains that many of us are addicted to drugs whether we have addictive personalities or not. It just so happens that those born with certain traits are more prone to their addictions, thus; it is often much more difficult to break tough addictions. Daily treatment is necessary for extreme conditions and only a top notch drug rehabilitation clinic can provide this kind of attention.

We simply cannot ignore the cry for help addicts are shouting. Getting them help from drug rehabilitation clinics is only the beginning. The problem is only beginning to be looked at during this stage. Family and friends must take part in the recovery. If one of these elements is left out than it will be an extremely difficult battle for the user. Several support systems are needed to ensure any kind of success; it is up to you to do your part in helping your friends in need of drug rehabilitation. Many families dump their afflicted family member into these facilities and then let the magic happen; but full rehabilitation does not happen this way. Get involved by attending the center where they are being treated.

A History of Drug Rehabilitation

Drug rehabilitation refers to the various medical and psychotherapeutic options available in combating drug addiction. Drug rehabilitation aims at enabling an individual rid themselves of the shackles of being addicted to a drug. By ensuring a person overcomes drug addiction, rehabilitation also eliminates the social, legal, financial and physical liabilities that drug addiction brings along. There are various approaches to drug rehabilitation, including detoxification which is aimed at helping one cope with withdrawal symptoms. There are also therapeutic sessions for dealing with the psychological side of addiction.

The famous Alcoholics Anonymous or simply AA is the first recorded shot at drug rehabilitation. Founded in the 1930s by two reformed alcoholics, AA has been of great help to people seeking drug rehab programs to fight their drug addiction problems. Though it was initially based on concepts of theology, the pioneers of AA also put into practice input from some of their atheist members. Since Alcoholics Anonymous proved so successful, the same concept was applied to many other addictions such as gambling, overeating and even narcotics. Alcoholics Anonymous stresses heavily on the role of support groups in the journey of drug rehabilitation.

Along the way, various people have emerged with different ideas of revolutionizing drug rehabilitation. Some have come up with ideas to form religious based drug rehab centers while others opt to go the secular way. This provides people who are seeking rehabilitation with various options to choose from. When choosing a drug rehab center one should go for one that they are comfortable with. It is therefore important to research on the founding principles of a drug rehab center before signing up for a rehab program.

There have been attempts by several groups in the country to propagate awareness of drug addiction and drug rehabilitation in learning institutions through various means and methods. Some of these groups have hit a brick wall where the concerned school officials feel that the groups are teaching concepts that they do not agree with. However, it is important to note that overall the awareness of the effects of drug addiction to drugs and the available drug rehab programs has increased. Information on rehabilitation is readily available on the internet and as such, it is easier for young people to stay informed on the options available in the case of drug rehabilitation after being addicted to drugs.

Society is also more receptive towards rehabilitation of former drug addicts. In the years gone by, checking into an institution to get your drug problem fixed would earn one a lot of labels and misconceived judgment. Today's modern world has embraced the idea of giving drug addicts a second chance to prove themselves by giving them a fresh start, free from drugs. The drug rehabilitation cause has been greatly aided by all those celebrities who have stood up and admitted to having drug problems. When people see their role models admitting to being human and making wrong choices, then the stage is set for their own admission. In a nutshell, one can conclude that the drug rehab center is an institution that has come a long way.

Christian Drug Rehab Offers Hope to Those With Chronic Pain

Prescription drug addiction has become an epidemic in the United States in recent years. While pain pills have seemingly overtaken illegal drugs in popularity, pain drug rehab has changed in recent years. Many christian people become addicted to prescription pain drugs because they are suffering from chronic pain. They never expected to become addicted, they just wanted to find some blissful relief from their pain. But their dependence spirals out of control, and they quickly recognize their addiction and the need for pain drug rehab.

An addiction to prescription drugs affects every aspect of your life - your relationships, your career, your finances and perhaps most importantly, your health. Making the monumental decision to regain control of your life and recover from prescription drug addiction will not be easy, but it will be worthwhile. The critical first step is the detox process, and this step must be completed before a treatment program can begin.

Pain pill detox does not have to be mysterious or frightening. Inpatient pain pill detox is comfortable and safe, and there will be caring, dedicated people to help you every step of the way. Getting the damaging toxins from the pain pills out of your system will help restore your body to a balanced existence. There may be some unpleasant withdrawal symptoms as the drugs are emptied from your body, but a staff of physicians and nurses will be available around the clock to ensure that you are not in pain or otherwise miserable.

Many people addicted to prescription drugs shy away from pain pill detox because of the fear of unknown - the fear that the pain pill detox will be a worse hell than the addiction to the pain pills. That does not have to be the reality. There are quality inpatient pain pill detox programs that exist to debunk the myth that detox is a horrible, painful experience. Inpatient detox programs want addicts to feel empowered by their journey. Therefore, the programs try to ensure that the addict will not be discouraged by the detox process..

Treatment centers have evolved with our changing times, and now christian drug treatment offers addicts the opportunity to recover from their addiction to prescription pills with unique treatments. Addicts are discovering new and imaginative ways to find pain management and regain control of their everyday lives. Pain drug rehab is now offering addicts acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga, meditation and tai chi as empowering therapies to help in managing chronic pain. Successfully finishing a pain drug detox program will help boost an addict's chances of having a lasting recovery from their addiction.

People who find themselves addicted to prescription pain pills often believe there is no hope for a life without chronic pain. However, christian drug rehab in the 21st century teaches addicts that there are positive and enjoyable alternatives to pain management. Many pain drug rehab programs also provide their patients with opportunities to explore music and art therapy, pet therapy, and individual and group therapy - all of which have the end goal of teaching patients to cope without a dependence on prescription pain pills.

Victoria Bradenton is an author and speaker on the subjects of addiction and substance abuse treatment. In cooperation with The Christian Treatment Center, she is active in the national recovery community.

Continuous Narrative in Art

What is meant by the "Continuous Narrative" in art?  Many artworks contain a "narrative" or representation of an event.  The continuous narrative is a way to tell an entire story within one artwork, the same characters show up repeatedly in order to give a timeline of events in the story.  Often the same groups of characters are shown right next to each other in the same painting or sculptural frieze. 


These side by side scenes can be thought of as pre-cursors to modern day comic strips.  They weren’t shown in different panels, but this would have been understood by contemporary audiences to be telling a story.

Column of Marcus Aurelius, detail, bottom three bands of helical relief 
Emperor's campaigns against the Germans and the Sarmatians. 180-185 A.D., Rome

photo- © Simone Ramella / public domain, via Wikimedia Commons  

This was used as far back as ancient Assyrian and Babylonian art and remained popular throughout much of art history to depict an entire event from start to finish.  The Column of Marcus Aurelius in Rome has one long sculptural frieze that winds up the entire length of the column.  The column shaft measures nearly 100 feet (29.62 meters) long.

It is nearly impossible for a viewer on the ground to look up and see the entire story and know what is going on.  The sculptors took this into account and made each band slightly wider as it wound up the column.  The heads of the figures were also shown slightly larger than proportionally correct so that they could be recognized from below.

As this column shows several military battles where the Romans were triumphant, the same soldiers and military commanders are shown over and over again.  Objects such as trees, rivers, horses and architecture help separate and frame each scene.

Column of Marcus Aurelius, c-193 A.D., Rome

photo- © Matthias Kabel / public domain, via Wikimedia Commons  

The technique of continuous narrative was used frequently in Renaissance painting.  A good example of this can also  be found in the large devotional panel by Gentile da Fabriano which shows the adoration (seen below).  

 Adoration of the Magi, Gentile da Fabriano, 1423, Uffizi Gallery, Florence

egg tempera and gold leaf on wood panel

The main scene shows the three Magi (or three wise men) as they have come to give gifts to the newborn Christ child.  However the Magi are shown in miniature in the scenes above, from the first time they see the Star of Bethlehem to the entire journey they make.  We can see the star several times as well and it ends up glowing like a golden orb over St. Joseph's head in the central scene.

In the detail (below) we can see a close up of the left arch of the painting and can make out the three Magi seeing the Star of Bethlehem for the first time.  In each of the other two arches the viewer can follow along with their journey.

Adoration of the Magi, Gentile da Fabriano, 1423, Uffizi Gallery, Florence

detail of the central upper register of the panel 

St. Peter is seen three times in the fresco below.  This fresco by Masaccio is especially interesting as the story does not occur from left to right as in most examples, but jumps from the center to the left and then to the right.  This biblical story was very well known, so the contemporary viewer would not have been confused by this.  The story begins in the central portion of the frame when the tax collector asks for the temple tax and Christ tells his apostles that they need to find money to pay the temple tax, he turns to Peter and tells him to look in the mouth of a fish in order to find the coin.  This event of course is a miraculous one.

Part two of the story takes place just to the left of the main action, St. Peter is wearing the same blue robe but has set his golden sash aside for a moment while he looks for a fish in the sea.  Then part three of the story jumps over to the right hand side where after finding the coin as Christ has said, St. Peter pays the tax.  Again to help the viewer keep track of St. Peter, he is shown wearing his blue robe and gold sash and the tax collector is the only person wearing a short tunic.

The Tribute Money, Masaccio, 1425, fresco, Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence

In his famous fresco cycle in Santa Maria Novella the artist Ghirlandaio has also used continuous narrative.  Remember from earlier blog posts that Ghirlandaio was in fact the teacher of Michelangelo.  Michelangelo was a student in his workshop during the time that these frescoes were being painted, so he would have worked on these as well.

In the panel showing the birth of the Virgin Mary, the birth is concentrated in the lower right hand portion of the frame.  However the Immaculate Conception (which refers to the fact that Mary's mother St. Anne was impregnated by just a kiss from her husband Joachim) is shown to us in the top left hand portion.  Therefore St. Anne is shown twice in the same room.  However that was understood by all to have occurred at two different times within the same story; even though each event took place nine months apart.

Immaculate Conception and Birth of the Virgin Mary, Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1485-90
Tornabuoni Chapel, Santa Maria Novella, Florence

In our final example (below) we are seeing the Rest on the Flight Into Egypt.  The artist David shows us that this is his theme rather than a typical portrait of the Virgin and Child by showing the holy family in the background in the woods.  By seeing two versions of Jesus and the Madonna, one in the foreground and one in the background, the viewer understands that they are both scenes in the same story.  The riding of the donkey is always understood in Renaissance painting as being part of the flight into Egypt from the Biblical story.

The use of the same figures in one panel, which David employs quite subtly in this work, is yet another example of the continuous narrative in art.

Rest on the Flight into Egypt, Gerard David, 1512-15

oil on wood panel, Museo del Prado, Madrid

Now that you have learned about the use of the continuous narrative in art you will certainly notice many other examples.

Songwriting - Understanding the Purposes of Verses, Choruses and Every Other Section of a Song

It's important to understand that each section of a song typically has a role to fulfill. If you know the purpose of each section in your song, you'll be better prepared to write a great song. Of course, most songs won't use all of the sections listed below, but knowing the purpose of your sections is crucial to understanding how to put together a solid song.

Verse

Lyrically, the verses of your song will move your story forward. The chorus or refrain is likely to have the same words each time, so the verse is your chance to keep your ideas moving along.

Chorus

Think of your chorus as the big idea for what your song's all about. That's partly why your title is most likely to show up in your chorus. Your title also sums up what the song's about. Melodically, the chorus will be the catchiest part of your song. This is what people will have stuck in their head long after your song is over. That's another reason it's good to have your title in the chorus. When people get your chorus stuck in their head, they'll easily know what your song is called and can find it later when they want to hear it again.

Pre-Chorus

The pre-chorus is an add-on before the chorus. It usually repeats the same lyrics each time, the same way a chorus does. Musically, a lot of times it creates a nice build up to what's coming in the chorus. Katy Perry's "Firework" was a good example of that, as you saw above.

Bridge

The bridge is a departure from what we've heard in a song, previously. This goes for both the lyrics and the music. Lyrically, it's an opportunity for a new perspective. Musically, it's a chance to offer the listener something they haven't heard before to keep the song interesting.

Refrain

In the verse / verse / bridge / verse song structure, the refrain is the line that draws all the attention in your verses. It's usually at the beginning or end of each verse and is often the title of the song.

Hook

The hook doesn't necessarily refer to a specific section of a song, except to say it's the catchiest part of a song. Most of the time, it will be your chorus, if your song has one. If your song doesn't have a chorus your hook will most likely be your refrain. As hit songwriter, Clay Drayton, says "A fish knows the hook... Once it's in you, it's hard to get it out."