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January 10, 2023

Health

Getting Addiction Treatment

It’s a major decision to choose to enter treatment or not. You might be worried about having to spend time apart from your loved ones, how you will pay for the treatment, or even the unfavorable reputation that addiction and recovery have. You might wonder if you should try to get sober on your own in light of this.

Even though it’s understandable to be hesitant, therapy can benefit you in a variety of ways and significantly raise your chances of making a successful long-term recovery.

The environments created by treatment facilities are inviting and cozy, and they provide resources for sobriety like:

    • Safe detox from alcohol or drugs.
  • meetings for support and tested therapies.
  • ongoing guidance and assistance.
  • programs for long-term wellness.
  • Advice on preventing recurrence.

If a substance is abruptly stopped using, several substances, including alcohol and benzodiazepines, can result in fatal withdrawal symptoms. Any risky symptoms can be managed and comforted under medical supervision. The root causes of your use must also be addressed in order to prevent the cycle from continuing. Rehab facilities are made to support you at every stage of the procedure. They can develop a special treatment plan after determining your unique demands.

Your personalized strategy is influenced by a number of factors, including:

  • how serious your addiction is.
  • the kind of drug you were dependent on.
  • co-occurring disorders’ existence
  • social circles and family structures

The Perils of Solo Detoxing

A person who develops an addiction to alcohol or drugs has a physical or mental dependence on that substance. This indicates that their body and mind have adapted to the drug’s presence. Rapid withdrawal will result in an imbalance and withdrawal symptoms that can be anything from moderately uncomfortable to fatal.

Typical signs of withdrawal include:

  • Anxiety
  • Hallucinations
  • Suicidal or depressive thoughts
  • seizure or trembling
  • heart attack
  • Dementia tremens

With the assistance of qualified experts who have experience with detoxification and understand how to do it safely, drug or alcohol addiction is best treated.

Medications that call for medical detox

Doctors and nurses will be on hand to monitor your heart rate, collect vital signs, and make sure nothing goes wrong while you’re undergoing medical detox. When it comes to some medicines, especially for heavy users, this monitoring is even more crucial.

The following substances may require medical detox for addiction:

Even if this isn’t a complete list, misusing any of the substances listed above can make you more dependent on a closely monitored medical detox. There are also particular drugs available to aid in the process of detoxing from a substance. These drugs reduce overall withdrawal symptoms by simulating the effects of addictive substances without producing a high.

Rehab Programs

There are just two primary types of rehabilitation: inpatient and outpatient, despite the wide variety of therapies, environments, and treatments available.

Treatment in Hospitals

This entails staying in a facility that is constantly supervised. The advantages include living in a healthy environment, receiving individualized treatment, and having access to ongoing training and education. Being separated from a hazardous environment also reduces temptation.

No-Inpatient Care

A individual receiving therapy in an outpatient environment spends the day in a facility but is free to go home at night. The advantages include being able to continue working or attending school and having friends or family by your side every step of the way.

The Value of Assistance During Recovery

Even if you believe you can safely detox on your own, it’s crucial to take into account the social benefits of enrolling in a treatment program. Support from others who share your beliefs is not only energizing, but it also might spell the difference between recovery and relapse.

One 1970s experiment demonstrated the link between substandard housing and substance usage. Bruce K. Alexander, a Canadian psychologist, discovered that rats kept in isolation and darkness preferred drug-laced water to plain water and developed addictions very quickly. But when given access to open areas and other rats with whom they might interact, nearly none of the rats opted to drink the medication water.

The ability to connect with others can make all the difference when trying to stop using alcohol or drugs. Relationships with family, therapists, sponsors, or other people in recovery can offer the support and sway need to maintain sobriety.

It’s essential for the former user to have dependable social support during their recovery in the following ways:

Emotional

a confidante with whom they may share their feelings, engage in uplifting discourse with, or lean on in times of need.

Physical

This form of assistance might range from doing errands to providing financial support.

Positive Comments

praising a user’s accomplishments, acknowledging their growth, offering helpful feedback, etc.

Education

This may entail giving the person resources to consult throughout their rehabilitation and relapse prevention advice.

Will Entering a Rehab Facility Aid My Long-Term Recovery?

Treatment facilities offer the resources for long-term recovery through relapse prevention advice, support groups, ongoing counseling, and healthy lifestyle modifications. You are opening the door to long-term sobriety by deciding to allow a medical expert assist you with substance misuse treatment.

A significant and crucial step for your future is making the challenging decision to quit drinking. If you’re prepared to begin, speak with a treatment professional right away to learn more about your options.

Helpful Resources

Addiction Treatment Programs

Rehab Programs

Addiction Treatment Programs

Idaho Addiction Programs 

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Health

Five Ways to Get High Without Drinking or Drugs

You can still get high even when you are sober. When I first gave up alcohol and drugs, I thought I was committing to a life without pleasure. I resignedly thought, “The party is over.”

But it wasn’t much of a party at that point. I wasn’t using alcohol and drugs to feel good, but to feel nothing at all. I was at a point in my addictions where I needed drugs just to get through the day.

I spent a lot of my early sobriety curled up in bed with a pint of Haagen-Dazs and Netflix. Sugar and television were the only things I knew how to do to get the dopamine rush I needed every day to get away from my emotions. However, a hangover caused by sugar and loneliness is not that different from a hangover caused by alcohol and cocaine. Even though I still occasionally indulge in a pint, I’ve learned how to achieve the same euphoria through healthier activities that don’t leave me feeling drained and exhausted the following day.

1. Dancing

It doesn’t follow that you can’t use marijuana even if you’re sober. I mistakenly believed that when I first gave up drugs and alcohol, I was committing to a life of misery. With a dejected resignation, I thought, “The party is done.”

The party wasn’t much of one at that time, though. In order to feel nothing, not good, I was abusing drink and narcotics. I needed drugs to get through the day because of my addictions at that point.

I stayed in bed with a pint of Haagen-Dazs, Netflix, and me in my early recovery. My only known means of obtaining the daily dopamine surge I had grown reliant upon as a kind of emotional escape were sugar and television.

2. Exercise

Similar to drug use, any form of exercise causes a real dopamine rush in the brain. I like running more than yoga or team sports, yet other people prefer them. I not only get a physical high while running and right thereafter, but I also feel better all day long. Additionally, it’s a fantastic technique to get rid of those sporadic ice cream binges. Additionally, the appearance-only advantages of exercise, such as weight loss, are also quite satisfying.

3. Giving back to others

People who volunteer actually have higher self-esteem and are happier overall, according to studies. Doing good feels nice, whether you’re helping out at a nearby homeless shelter or just calling a buddy to see how they’re doing. It’s simple to overlook this. Humans have a tendency to want to pursue pleasure in more self-centered ways. However, helping someone out produces a longer-lasting emotional high than any medication.

People who volunteer actually have higher self-esteem and are happier overall, according to studies; doing good feels good.

4. Laughter

Even though it may seem obvious, laughter is a terrific natural high. Humor frequently originates from a dark place, and addiction provides plenty of fodder. In 12-step groups, hearing laughing may be immensely reassuring. Hearing about your own experiences from someone else’s perspective is also amusing. I’ve often laughed myself out of breath when sharing stories and experiences with other addicts in recovery. Laughter is empowering because it gives your pain back its power.

5. FOOD THAT UPLIFTS MOOD

Every time you eat particular foods, you’ll feel better and be healthier. However, resist the urge to reach for the sweet donut or the tub of ice cream in the refrigerator as soon as you start to feel depressed. There are numerous delectable, healthy options that will boost your mood and offer you a natural high. Delectable seafood including crabs, salmon, mussels, and oysters are a few examples. Oranges, walnuts, raw honey, dark chocolate, and coconut are also acceptable snacks.

6. TRAVELING

Traveling can be thrilling because it gives you the chance to see other civilizations, delight your senses with cuisine from other cultures, and encounter various artistic mediums. It also gives you the ability to visit amazing historical monuments and locations that might not even exist in your own country. These new places offer surprising and amazing discoveries that make them very unforgettable.

The best thing about travel is that it needn’t be expensive. You don’t have to spend all of your hard-earned money on pricey trips when staying home could be just as satisfying because there are numerous affordable solutions accessible. Additionally, traveling can energize you for life!

Helpful Resources

Drug and Alcohol Detox Programs 

Drug Abuse Therapy

Addiction Rehab Programs

Sober Living Homes

 

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