We often hear of the sheer significance of community support in rehabilitation. In the same way, we recognize that peer pressure and influence can lead one to addiction; we understand that peer support can help liberate one from it. The value of community in rehab is widely accepted, especially among addiction treatment professionals. From group counseling and 12-step programs to other aftercare programs, we at Harmony Ridge Recovery have applied this principle ourselves. Continue reading
Even if you’ve never been to rehab yourself, you probably have an idea of how it goes. Maybe you’ve seen the AA meetings in TV shows or heard about the discomfort of detox from someone who’s already been through it. But here’s the thing – rehab looks different for different people at different times and in different rehab centers in West Virginia. While it’s never easy, it doesn’t have to be uncomfortable, unpleasant, or ineffective. There are plenty of options when it comes to rehab Marietta OH; you just have to find what works for you.
The first step toward recovery – admitting that you need help – is always the hardest one. But once you have asked for help and have people in your corner, things are supposed to get easier. Whether they actually do, however, depends on the help you’re receiving. Oftentimes, the wrong kind of assistance is worse than no assistance at all. That is why it’s important to choose the right rehab center near Fairmont WV when you decide to go into treatment. You should only put your faith in the best rehabs in WV. But how will you recognize which facilities are reliable and trustworthy? And how will you know which treatment centers to avoid? There are some signs you should look out for.
Enlisting the help of a substance addiction treatment program is a significant step toward recovery, one that entails considerable strength. The thought of coming face to face with your demons and transforming your lifestyle in extraordinary ways may bring about various emotions, including hope, anxiety, and possibly fear. One of the most anxiety-provoking perspectives of substance addiction treatment for most is the therapy process. It’s natural to feel some resistance to the possibility of exposing your soul to a foreigner during counseling or individual therapy. Even more intimidating is the idea of addiction group therapy for addiction, which is an essential part of most substance addiction treatment programs. While both group and individual therapy forms are intended to help patients gain insight, learn coping skills, and how to work through challenging problems, addiction group therapy has several benefits that complement individual therapy.
Group therapy for addiction is therapy that involves two or more individuals at the same time – in addition to the therapist – rather than one person in recovery working one-on-one with a therapist. Participants in a therapy group take turns talking about their struggles, feelings, experiences, and goals. Therapy groups may be tailored to a specific recovery topic, such as how to recognize and avoid triggers, or they may be general, such as how to handle difficult family, peer, work, or other interpersonal relationships.
Recovering from drug addiction can make you feel isolated and alienated. In group therapy, you’ll connect with people who have gone through experiences similar to yours and are in addiction recovery. You may feel safer sharing your thoughts and feelings with peers who understand. If you’re considering group therapy for addiction, consider these other major benefits.
It seems like we should know ourselves better than anyone else but that’s almost never true. Our self-images are always distorted and we mostly understand ourselves through interacting with other people. In that respect, group therapy is a rare opportunity to understand yourself better. In some ways, it’s even better than individual therapy. In individual therapy, you have to rely on the feedback of your therapist, which you may disagree with. After all, therapists have their own biases and blind spots too. You may resist your therapist’s suggestions for what seem like rational reasons. However, in group therapy, you can get a greater variety of feedback. If several group members agree that you’re behaving irrationally in some way, you may be more likely to take that feedback seriously.
One major drawback of individual therapy is that most of the time, you are the therapist’s only source of information about your life. Most people don’t go into a session with the aim of deliberately deceiving their therapists but we all see the world through our own filters. We describe other people’s actions as we see them and not necessarily as they are. However, in group therapy, we are interacting with others in real time. Your parent or spouse may not be part of the group but the way you interact with group members can give the therapist insight into how you interact with other people in your life.
Most of us assume we are good communicators but few of us actually are. Most of the time, we don’t listen well and we have no idea whether someone else has actually listened to us or understood what we said. Poor communication skills have consequences for every area of our lives, including our careers, personal lives, and random interactions. Interpersonal conflict is the biggest source of stress for most people. Group therapy improves your communication skills because you are all engaged in the project of listening and understanding. If you haven’t understood someone correctly, someone else will likely jump in. Not only will you sharpen your listening and empathy skills, but you will also see how others misinterpret what you say and you will gradually learn to communicate more clearly. This is not an opportunity we normally get in our daily interactions.
Individuals suffering from alcohol or substance use disorders usually become isolated from friends, family, and the world in general. Their substance use strains their relationships and could even cause irreversible damage. Addiction group therapy allows these people to experience a feeling of connection and belonging that was missing from their lives. The recognition that they’re not alone in this struggle helps to ease their feelings of isolation, which will allow for healing and positive transformation to occur.
The group therapy process allows members to benefit from their communications with other group members, along with the interaction and input of the therapist. During individual therapy, members might question if the therapist has ever walked in their shoes and can understand what they are truly going through.
In addiction group therapy, patients will have at least one thing in common with their peers amongst the group: substance or alcohol use disorder. Another unique element of addiction group therapy is that the group itself represents a small duplicate of each other’s lives in the world outside of treatment. In other words, each individual’s strengths and weaknesses are exhibited over time in the group setting.
For example, if a group member gets defensive in response to constructive input, that struggle will resurface during the addiction group therapy process. This provides an excellent opportunity for group members to work on challenges in a secure setting. And as always, they are working with the help and support of their peers.
Group therapy sessions may be open or closed. Open meaning brand-new members can join at any time, or closed means the group members remain the same from start to finish.
Open groups can be continuous, with no specific beginning or end date, while closed groups are generally composed for a predestined number of weeks or months. Outpatient therapy groups are regularly closed groups, while inpatient and residential group sessions are usually open groups.
Therapy groups can be led by a singular therapist or co-led by two therapists. The therapists must be licensed and have experience doing addiction group therapy. The role of the therapist will be to set and augment group therapy guidelines and rules, lead the group discussions, and ensure the atmosphere is healthy and productive for all members.
The group therapist will ask questions, encourage cooperation, give feedback when needed, and observe how members interact within the group. The principal goal is to help all members benefit in a way that leads them closer to achieving their individual therapy goals.
If you or a loved one suffers from substance abuse, now is the time to get them back to a healthy lifestyle. Our treatment specialists here at Harmony Ridge Recovery Center have the tools and experience to help end addiction for good.
Whether it’s your first time in treatment or you just need some questions answered, contact us today for a free consultation.
Freedom from addiction is a hard journey. When one first quits a substance, withdrawal symptoms and substance cravings come as the first challenge to overcome. Even past this initial hurdle, individuals do experience cravings throughout and even after rehab. Still, these cravings are typically for the substance itself, not others. Then why do recovering alcoholics crave sugar as well as alcohol, or instead of it? Continue reading
Prolonged use of substances will negatively impact your health – both mental and physical. One of the most common side effects of drugs and alcohol is on the heart and the cardiovascular system. Drugs can raise or lower your blood pressure to dangerous degrees, send your heart into overdrive, and even cause a heart attack. Repeatedly putting your heart under that kind of stress can cause permanent damage. This is why the best drug and alcohol treatment centers in West Virginia never focus on psychotherapy alone; instead, rehab should help heal your body as well as your mind. Developing a heart-healthy lifestyle during your recovery in WV is an important part of that as it can prevent further damage to the heart, help you avoid heart disease, and ultimately prolong your life.
Choosing the right addiction center in West Virginia for yourself or your family member is one of the few life-changing decisions you will ever have to make. Fortunately, rehabs in WV offer a range of substance abuse treatments and services that meet the highest standards of medical and psychological support. Here we talk about criteria to take into consideration to help you choose between recovery centers in West Virginia Continue reading
Addiction and suicide present a very complex relationship. Experiencing suicidal thoughts have the power to lead and increase the risk of addiction. Similarly, addiction has the potential to increase the risk of suicide. Substance abuse and suicide also have a tricky dynamic involved with depression. It’s important to note before reading this article that there is hope, you are not alone, and numerous suicidal treatment centers are looking to deliver support and care.
Substance addiction, also known as drug addiction or a substance use disorder, is a disease that affects an individual’s behavior and brain. This is because substance addiction causes people to not be able to control their use of legal or illegal drugs.
When an individual is addicted to a substance, he or she might continue to engage in substance abuse despite the harm it may cause. Addiction can begin with the experimental use of recreational drugs in a social situation. For some individuals, from that first encounter, drug use becomes more frequent. Other individuals, especially those engaging in opioid use, might even start abusing substances because they received medications from friends or relatives who have been prescribed the medications.
The actual risk of substance abuse and addiction varies depending on the drug and how addictive it is. It also varies depending on how susceptible to developing a substance addiction a person is. There are some drugs, such as opioid painkillers, that quickly cause addiction and are, in turn, riskier to use altogether.
As time goes by, you might find that you desire and need higher doses of drugs to feel high.
Once this occurs, individuals engaging in substance abuse might discover that they need drugs to even feel sane. As such people’s drug use continues to increase, it might become progressively more challenging for them to go without the use of drugs.
When a person attempts to stop drug use altogether, that can cause severe drug cravings and make the person physically sick. When a person experiences cravings for a drug when minimizing or discontinuing use of it, that person is experiencing withdrawal symptoms. This means that that person is dependent on that drug.
Once individuals develop drug dependency, substance addiction isn’t too far behind. This is why it’s crucial to enter into an addiction treatment center for help once one feels any sort of dependency or addiction.
There are numerous signs that a person is suicidal. Similarly to every individual that is different who contemplates suicide, the warning signs that people might display are different. There are, however, “classic” suicide warning signs that some individuals demonstrate before taking their own life.
Some individuals disclose no suicidal warning signs publicly. In fact, an individual will rarely present a full range of the suicide warning signs listed here today. Many of the individuals that do display suicide warning signs though do not attempt or fall victim to the thief that is suicide.
Many individuals will give warning signs or signals of substance addiction and suicide plans. The best thing that you can do to prevent a loved one from committing suicide is to be aware of suicidal warning signs. Once you learn how to respond to such warning signs appropriately, such knowledge can indeed be very helpful.
Other warning signs of suicide include:
If you spot any suicide warning signs in a loved one, you could be faced with the heavy decision of deciding if you should say anything or not. However, it’s fair to say that an individual that talks about suicide often or shows many suicide warning signs needs immediate assistance. Luckily, there are rehab facilities that treat addiction and suicide.
You talking to the individual that is struggling with addiction and suicide will likely not make the situation worse. In fact, it instead will likely make the situation better. When you’re able to show that you care about a person’s struggle with addiction and suicide, it gives the person struggling the opportunity to open up to you and discuss his or her feelings. This, in turn, could actually prevent a person from committing suicide.
If a loved one confesses to you about his or her addiction and suicide thoughts, help enroll your loved one in professional treatment centers for suicidal patients. Also, provide your loved one with support and empathy. Let your loved one know that he or she is not alone and that you deeply care.
Substance addiction can cause suicidal thoughts in various ways. Addiction and suicide have an interconnected and close relationship along with depression. Over 90% of the individuals that fall victim to suicide struggle with depression, have an active substance abuse disorder, or both.
When you think of substance abuse and suicide, it’s imperative to understand that the relationship between the two is dangerous. Both can trigger the appearance of the other.
People that suffer from mental illness conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depression, and bipolar disorder often turn to alcohol, drugs, and gambling, along with numerous other high-risk activities as a way to alleviate their negative feelings or numb their pain. Unfortunately, though, substance addiction increases the duration and severity of depressive episodes. Thus, while one is gaining temporary relief, the likelihood of suicidal thoughts or ideation is increased. Furthermore, suicidal ideation is aggravated by the fact that addiction usually destroys or damages professional, financial, personal, and familial relationships.
The age group that is the most suicidal is young people, ranging from around 10-34. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death amongst Americans. It is the second leading cause of death among Americans in the age range of 15-34 and the third leading cause of death among Americans in the age range of 10-14.
Suicide is the intentional ending of one’s own life through one own’s actions. Suicide is considered to be one of the greatest health epidemics in the nation by numerous professionals in the medical field. In 2019, about 45,511 died from suicide in America. Suicide rehabilitation at treatment centers for suicidal patients is one of the main ways to combat this issue.
Therapy works tremendously for suicidal thoughts. Suicidal ideation and previous suicide attempts can take quite an emotional toll on an individual and the people close to him or her. It’s even possible that a person struggling with addiction and suicide can become so engrossed with suicidal thoughts that they’re no longer able to function on a day-by-day basis.
Previous suicide attempts can leave permanent scars on the person struggling with substance abuse and suicide, along with crippling injuries such as organ failure and brain injuries. Thus, the sooner an individual that suffers from addiction and suicide enters suicide rehabilitation, the better. Not only can suicide rehabilitation and addiction treatment save a life, but they can also assist people in moving past dark times in their lives.
For individuals who are struggling with suicidal ideation, a suicide treatment facility that offers inpatient treatment can be helpful. Through this type of treatment method, individuals that are struggling with suicidal ideation will be able to:
The long-term effects of suicidal thoughts can present to be extremely catastrophic for all parties that are involved. They might include the following:
There has been recent research that has indicated that for each successful suicide attempt, there are about 6-8 loved ones who are left behind. They are called suicide survivors and they are often consumed by several conflicting emotions such as:
If you are having suicidal thoughts, you can contact The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 800-273-8255. They are available for you for free, all hours of the day and night. There are so many organizations that are dedicated to suicide prevention. Countless resources are here to help. It’s paramount that you also enter into one of the many suicidal treatment centers.
The initial first step that a therapist will do if a patient is suicidal is to talk with him or her and listen carefully as the patient tells his or her story. There might be a test performed to evaluate how suicidal the individual might be. Depending on the suicide treatment facility, the individual might be asked to fill out paperwork surrounding suicide.
Therapy will be able to fully get to the root of the problem at suicidal treatment centers. One of the most effective forms of therapy there is family therapy. This is because oftentimes suicidal individuals resort to isolation. This therapy though will further remind individuals that they are not alone. Families might also be able to provide the therapist with some insight on the cause of the individual’s suicidal attempts, and what could change to make their lives better.
Once the family provides the necessary support at treatment centers for suicidal patients, they will be able to help that person from sliding back into an isolated mode. Typically, the family is asked to agree upon working with the individual to transform the family dynamics into one of mutual encouragement, light, support, and hope. Furthermore, for the individual struggling with suicidal ideation, the therapist, and the family act as a solid team to improve relationships and lives.
It’s important to remember that you are a whole person, not just a collection of symptoms, issues, and problems. By attending suicide rehabilitation, you are able to focus on becoming the best version of yourself again. It’s possible to be a person that’s free from addiction and that’s able to cope when life matters. Call now to hear more about addiction and suicide rehabilitation.
Opioid use disorder, or opioid addiction, is a medical condition that can affect any race, gender, income level, or social class. Some people begin taking prescription opioids to manage pain after a surgery or injury. And some people begin taking them to manage chronic pain. No matter what the circumstance is, prescription opioids can be addictive and dangerous, but recovery is possible. Treatment can help people get their lives back before it’s too late. No single treatment method is right for everyone, but research shows that combining behavioral therapy with medications for opioid use disorder is the most effective approach for overcoming opioid addiction.
Read on to learn more about the opioid addiction epidemic and what YOU can do to get the help you need.
Opioids, sometimes called narcotics, are a type of drug. They include strong prescription pain relievers, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, and tramadol. The illegal drug heroin is also an opioid. A health care provider may give you a prescription opioid to reduce pain after you have had a major injury or surgery. You may get them if you have severe pain from health conditions like cancer. Some health care providers prescribe them for chronic pain. Prescription opioids used for pain relief are generally safe when taken for a short time and as prescribed by your healthcare provider. However, opioid misuse and addiction are still potential risks.
People have become addicted to opioids for centuries. However, opioid use has escalated since 2000 with the development and marketing of powerful painkillers that are highly addictive and carry an enormous risk of overdose. Prescription opioid painkiller addiction has a lot in common with heroin addiction, but there are important differences that influence the kind of treatment that will be most effective. Opioid addiction is one of the most challenging addictions to overcome. But there are treatment options available that can help with the physical, psychological, and social aspects of substance use disorders.
When considering addiction treatment, it’s important to establish that it’s evidence-based. This means that the treatment has been studied and shown to be effective for many people with the condition. If all of the physical, social, and mental health aspects of opioid addiction are not addressed, the treatment is not likely to be successful and the person may relapse. Therefore, these treatments should be part of a comprehensive treatment plan that is consistently followed before, during, and after the person quits opioids.
Methadone, when administered properly, is included in treatment with counseling. It is always provided in a clinic setting when used to treat opioid use disorder. It helps to relieve withdrawal and address cravings.
The medicine buprenorphine also relieves opioid cravings without giving the same high as other opioid drugs. Prescribed by many physicians from office settings, this is typically a daily dose placed under the tongue and also can be delivered as a once-a-month injection or through thin tubes that are inserted under the skin and that last six months.
These medicines both activate opioid receptors in the body that suppress cravings and are effective and similar in safety and side effects, and typically used for maintenance treatment. They also can be used to taper a person off of opioids. However, it is common for patients to relapse, and physicians must try something different with those patients who relapse several times. Patients who are highly motivated and have good social support have a tendency to do better with these therapies.
Naltrexone is a very different medicine and doesn’t turn the opioid receptor on, but instead blocks the euphoric/sedative effects of opioids. A patient’s system must be completely free of all opioids before beginning naltrexone. It can be taken orally or as a once-a-month injection.
Naloxone can be used in an emergency situation when respiratory arrest, due to an opioid overdose, has occurred or is imminent. Naloxone flushes out receptors and can reverse the overdose but is not a form of addiction treatment.
Talk with a doctor to find out what types of treatments are available in your area and what options are best for you. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease; be sure to ask your doctor about the risk of relapse and overdose.
The success of therapy for substance use disorder varies by patient and by the severity of the disorder. And also can be influenced by complications of comorbidities, such as alcohol use or mental illness. Research has shown that there is a higher rate of substance use in patients with diagnoses such as depression and those who use other substances such as alcohol. Integrated treatment for both mental health and substance use disorders are needed in cases where these occur together. The environment and family or friend relationships can also play an important role. Some patients will repeat therapy and relapse many times before having success.
With substance abuse, when patients are ready to deal with their issues they need an open door and help immediately. The person with an addictive disorder should want to participate in treatment. Navigating that change can be challenging for friends and family members. As with most other chronic diseases, addiction is treatable. If you or someone you know is struggling, treatment is available. While no single treatment method is right for everyone, recovery is possible, and help is available for opioid addiction.
Preventing overdose death and finding treatment options are the first steps to recovery. Treatment may save a life and can help people struggling with opioid addiction get their lives back on track by allowing them to counteract addiction’s powerful effects on their brain and behavior. The overall goal of treatment is to return people to productive functioning in their family, workplace, and community.
Most people experience some kind of pain during their lives. Pain serves an important purpose: it warns the body when it’s in danger. But ongoing pain causes distress and affects the quality of life. Pain is the number one reason people see a doctor. Providing pain control for the 5% to 17% of the U.S. population with a substance abuse disorder of some type presents primary care physicians with unique challenges. When these individuals experience pain, they are less likely to receive adequate pain management than individuals in the general population. To find effective treatment options, talk to your doctor about managing your pain safely.
A conversation with your doctor can help you understand nonopioid pain management options after opioid addiction treatment. Discuss:
Having detailed discussions with your doctor about your pain management and function goals can help your doctor identify the best treatment with the lowest level of risk.
Many people are able to make significant changes in their lives and maintain remission by finding or creating social networks and environments supportive of recovery efforts. Seek out recovery supports, including mutual aid groups, recovery coaches, and peer recovery services. They can be an important part of each person’s recovery journey.
Has your addiction left you feeling helpless with no way out? Has your loved one’s opioid addiction made them unrecognizable? We understand what you are experiencing and are here to help! Addiction not only negatively impacts the life of the user, but it also wreaks havoc upon the lives of their family and friends. Things may feel hopeless at the moment, but there is a way out. Recovering from alcohol or drug addiction is feasible.
With dedication, the right support system, and choosing an accredited drug and alcohol treatment program, countless individuals have achieved and maintained sobriety. It’s truly a magical experience to watch patients transform into the confident, happy, and healthy human beings that they once were. That’s what our team does – help those who are struggling to get back on the right track!
Researching the right drug and alcohol treatment facility is the first step towards recovery. Learn more about our commitment to achieving and maintaining long-term recovery.
Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana and nicotine also are considered drugs. When you’re addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes. As time passes, you may need larger doses of the drug to get high. Soon you may need the drug just to feel good. As your drug use increases, you may find that it’s increasingly difficult to go without the drug. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense cravings and make you feel physically ill (withdrawal symptoms). The key to fighting an addiction early is to notice the addiction warning signs as soon as they appear. Today we will take a look at these signs, note where to notice them most often, and discuss what to do if you suspect your addiction is out of control.
Recognizing the signs of addiction is the first step to getting help for yourself or guiding someone you care about to rehab. For this reason, it is critical to have an understanding of the signs of addiction. There are behavioral, physical, and psychological aspects of addiction. Symptoms can only be experienced by the person with the addiction, whereas signs can be observed by other people. You can never know what someone else is experiencing unless they tell you, so if you are concerned that someone else may have an addiction, look for signs as well as for symptoms. You might see some of these signs and symptoms but not others in an addicted person, but you can still be addicted even if you do not have all of them.
Recognizing addiction warning signs in someone you know can be harder than it seems. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a chronic disease that affects the brain’s reward, motivation, and memory functions. Someone with an addiction will crave a substance or other behavioral habits. They’ll often ignore other areas of life to fulfill or support their desires.
These addiction warning signs are commonly linked. The degree of intensity for each sign may depend on how long the addiction has been going on.
A healthy person can usually identify a negative behavior and get rid of it. This is not the case with someone with an addiction. Rather than admit the problem exists, they’ll find ways to justify and continue the behavior.
If someone in your house is having a problem with drugs or alcohol, watch for red flags and addiction warning signs. Frequent use of eye drops or air fresheners can be warning signs. Finding alcohol hidden around the house or in the garage is another. Be suspicious if money goes missing or a bank account starts to get low.
Locked doors and the need for lots of privacy also can be a warning. Also take note of any missing prescription drugs from your medicine cabinet, especially pain medicines. If you spot any of these warning signs in yourself or someone you know, don’t wait to take action. As difficult as it can be to discuss addiction and substance abuse, the disease will only get worse without treatment. Start by talking to your primary care doctor, who can provide guidance on steps you can take to seek treatment, either for yourself or a loved one.
In the middle or later stages of an addiction, the negative effects will be more permanent or have long-term consequences. Someone with a serious addiction problem may allow, ignore, or trivialize these outcomes in favor of continuing their habits.
Similar events can occur in the lives of people without an addiction problem. But these can become more common when an addiction is present. Before approaching someone you think may have an addiction, determine if the problem is a result of a single incident or a growing problem with the addiction.
If you’ve observed some of these addiction warning signs and symptoms of drug use in a friend or loved one, you might feel uncertain about addressing the issue. It can be difficult to communicate your concern, especially if you are worried it might result in a conflict. Still, it is crucial to reach out.
Once you’ve taken action and hosted an intervention, you can discuss your options. In most cases, you’ll have three to choose from:
Recognizing addiction warning signs is the first step on the road to recovery, which often takes tremendous courage and strength. If you’re ready to face your addiction and are willing to seek help, you have the opportunity to build a satisfying, drug-free life for yourself. Harmony Ridge Recovery Center is here to help. Our substance abuse treatment center offers comprehensive programs tailored to your needs. Whether you need addiction treatment for alcohol or drugs, we can help you recognize your substance abuse problem and, ultimately, overcome it.
Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is...
Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is...
Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is...
Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is...
Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is...
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