Liquid Courage

Imagine a bottle filled with an elixir of courage that could be taken whenever needed with no ill effects to your mind and body.  Certainly sounds like a gift from God! I wish it was true but as we all know too well, nothing in life that is valuable or desirable comes free and easy. While I was writing a blog on this topic, an article titled “Liquid Courage” written by Randall W. Forsyth in Barron’s Weekly (February 18, 2013) captured my attention. He cited a study in the journal Science about fish swimming in a river in Sweden contaminated with benzodiazepine (Xanax) that made them bolder, greedier and more efficient feeders compared to a similar type of fish that lived in clean water. The author stated that the chemically contaminated water was tantamount to “liquid courage” for those fish. However, losing their inhibitions made these fish dangerous by feeding on other beneficial species as well as more susceptible to attack by predators.

Two years ago, a patient came to my office who had struggled with his alcohol addiction. He was a sensitive, timid, socially shy individual with low self-esteem. He recognized that alcohol lowered his inhibitions and transformed him into a talkative, confident and socially assertive individual. He said alcohol was his liquid courage.

However, the alcohol-induced appealing transformation came with a hefty price tag which was a loss of clarity and clouded judgment. In actuality, alcohol turned him into a bold but reckless individual. He liked being cool, but hated to lose control. His Alcohol Addiction cost him his job, marriage, credibility and driver’s license. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I told him that if he wants to conquer his alcohol addiction, he must first stop looking for an easy way to foster his courage. Of course, this is easier said than done. The right way to boost his courage and self-esteem is to be the best he can be and make the most out of the talents, tools and opportunities bestowed upon him by Our Maker (Nature). Once he accepted this fact, he reached his turning point and was able to perform to his satisfaction. Alcohol no longer served as a crutch.

Honest, honorable and hardworking individuals will never resort to artificial means to boost their self-esteem, courage and confidence.

By Balasa Prasad M.D.

Welcome to the Turning Point Blog

Conquer Your Stress With Courage, Clarity & Confidence

Stress is the principal nemesis of human beings and an equal opportunity tormentor. Stress dampens the spirit of an individual and distracts him from reaching his goals. Ongoing globalization, rapid technological advances and a fragile worldwide economy have raised stress levels to a new high for millions of people all over the world. People from all walks of life feel the pinch of these events and helpless to turn their lives around for the better.

Conquering stress and taking charge of one’s destiny will be the turning point in one’s life. The unique breakthrough of this book is the ‘The Turning Point Program,’ designed to guide a stressed out individual step by step with examples to identify the source and neutralize stress forever.  Individuals usually look at stress from their own and the world’s perspective, and therefore are unable to grasp the dynamics of stress and to conquer it. This book also introduces a new, ground breaking concept called Naturization, which is the missing link in the fight against stress. Naturization provides a third perspective, nature’s perspective, a key and an invaluable tool to conquer stress.

“Dr. Prasad, one of the country’s most successful and original addiction specialists has now offered us a road map for kicking stress.”
Steve Kroft - 60 minutes CBS News correspondent

"A highly personal and insightful account of new approaches to conceptualizing stress and its reduction. This book will be of interest to both general readers and professionals focused on stress disorders."
Fred R Volkmar, M.D. - Irving B. Harris Professor
Director - Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, Chief of Child Psychiatry Yale New Haven Hospital

"Dr. Prasad makes a strong case not just for managing stress but for banishing it altogether from your life. I agree completely that any stress is bad stress, no matter what the headlines tell you.  This new book will show you that the stress-free life is indeed possible."
Robert Epstein, Ph.D., former editor-in-chief, Psychology Today
author of “The Big Book of Stress Relief Games”
About the Authors:
Balasa L. Prasad, M.D, is a psychiatrist and anesthesiologist who for over 30 years has helped hundreds of patients overcome their addictions at his behavior management clinic in Mount Vernon, New York. He has also written “Stop Smoking For Good” and “Stop Gambling For Good and “Stop Overeating for good.” He has been featured in the New York Times, New York Post, “O” magazine, Elle Magazine, Inside Edition and “W.” He lives with his family in Westchester County, NY. Visit www.theturningprogram.com for more information.

Preetham Grandhi M.D, Is an Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist working at New York Children’s Psychiatric Center - Bronx Campus, New York. He has incorporated his experiences and complex views of psychological phenomenon from both an Eastern philosophical and Western psychiatric perspective. He is the author of “A Circle of Souls,” an Award winning murder, mystery thriller.

About Cedar Fort: Cedar Fort, Inc. has built a solid catalog of uplifting fiction and non-fiction books that are known across the globe. The company continues to seek ways to serve better. This includes improved production values and Internet access. CFI’s staff continues to grow with many talented people. For more information visit www.cedarfort.com or call 1-800-SKYBOOK