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
The first step to sobriety is admitting that you have a problem and seeking help for it. This can sometimes feel impossibly difficult. But the truth is that the difficult part actually only starts there. Rehab is a journey that takes a lot of time and effort. So you are likely to experience a lot of stress while in rehab. This is perfectly normal and the therapy you receive as a part of your treatment will help you deal with it. However, it is a good idea to also rely on stress relievers that can help during alcohol and drug rehab in West Virginia. This can make your stay at the addiction treatment center easier and more pleasant!
Addiction is a serious medical condition that requires professional treatment. So if you are struggling with substance abuse of any type, there is no shame in asking for help. You are not alone in this fight. At Harmony Ridge Recovery West Virginia, you will find a community of compassionate and caring specialists who will support you on your journey to recovery. Our evidence-based addiction program can be covered by insurance, both private and public. In fact, we are one of the only drug rehab centers in WV that accept Medicaid. This makes us a viable treatment option for anyone who’s struggling, no matter what their income is. If you are still unsure about what your insurance plan covers, feel free to contact us. Our insurance and admission specialists will be more than happy to help you work out a payment plan that fits your specific needs and capabilities. Continue reading
If you grew up in a home with a parent who misuse alcohol, you’re probably familiar with the feeling of never knowing what to expect from one day to the next. When one or both parents struggle with addiction, the home environment is predictably unpredictable. For many people in recovery, the struggles caused by growing up with a parent living with an active addiction continue to plague their abilities to live balanced and emotionally healthy lives. A child who grows up with a parent or caregiver who drinks heavily and/or uses drugs is never a priority. They also don’t have the positive example and guidance they need to learn how to take care of themselves, build healthy relationships, and get a strong emotional start in life. As a result, adult children of alcoholics, or ACOAs, often face a number of characteristic difficulties in adulthood. Each of these issues can make it harder to find peace and balance, and many ultimately turn to the use and abuse of substances as a means of handling those challenges.
If you’re a child of an alcoholic, that doesn’t mean that everything on this list will apply to you. Though because the experiences have common features, it’s likely you will recognize at least a few items from this list.
Impulsive behavior: Adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) will often impulsively make a choice or respond to a situation without thinking through the consequences or considering other options. Ultimately, this means that they will spend a lot of time trying to fix the problems that result and/or covering up the consequences.
Inconsistency: ACOAs have a difficult time with follow-through and often overcommit in their work and home lives as well as in personal relationships. Though they often feel the need to take care of everyone and everything around them, they will find it difficult to follow through and make good on their commitments.
Perceived victimhood: ACOAs have a hard time identifying the role that their choices play in the evolution of their lives and relationships. Instead, they often blame the people around them for the consequences of their choices, often defending themselves by saying, “Well, you did X, so I was FORCED to do Z.” Because they have a difficult time acknowledging their mistakes, they often repeat them since they are unable to learn from them and make better choices next time.
Self-Isolating: This trait is a common effect of other traits and maladaptive behaviors. ACOAs tend to both push other people away and isolate themselves. In many cases, it is part of a coping strategy they use to self-soothe. Although it is an unhealthy response to emotional turmoil, it is one the adult child of an alcoholic may learn. Unfortunately, self-isolation persists into adulthood even long after the individual is out of the environment that created the original stress.
Approval Seeking: ACOA traits also include seeking approval from the people around them and becoming people pleasers. They may not realize that their other behaviors that deter people and hurt their relationships are problematic. However, since they have trouble maintaining relationships, they often seek approval as self-assurance.
Other common characteristics of adult children of alcoholics include:
Growing up in an alcoholic home can be unpredictable. A parent’s problematic drinking behavior can have a gradual or cumulative impact on a child’s development. While each family touched by alcohol abuse is unique, one clinician asserts that there are certain ‘rules’ of behavior and beliefs that members in alcoholic homes may adhere to.
The limits and restrictions that were placed on you may have caused you to adapt in ways that felt necessary to ensure your survival and safety. As a child, you didn’t have an option to make a different choice because you weren’t developmentally able to do so. You were not given the chance to learn healthier behavior patterns as you were growing up, and this can ultimately harm your mental health. Here’s how you can cope as an adult child of alcoholics.
Many adult children find that seeking professional treatment or counseling for insight into their feelings, behaviors, and struggles helps them achieve greater awareness of how their childhood shaped who they are today. The process is often overwhelming in the beginning, but it can help you learn how to express your needs and cope with conflict in new and constructive ways.
Experts recommend therapy and 12-step meetings for help coping with the effects of growing up with an alcoholic parent. Psychotherapy may help you understand the impact your parents’ alcoholism has had on you and the choices you are making. Look for a licensed mental health professional with experience working with adult children of alcoholics or with addressing trauma.
Al-Anon is a free support group for family members and friends of people with alcoholism. It uses a 12-step program. Meetings are held in communities across the U.S.
As an adult, you can’t go back in time and force your caregivers to make the right choices. However, you can seek treatment and advocate recovery no matter your age. Fortunately, many ACOAs don’t follow in their parents’ footsteps. They learn to heal through a combination of methods. Then, they thrive. If you’re a child of an alcoholic, experts recommended you follow four steps:
Psychotherapy can help you explore your past and connect it to the present. Understand the impact your parent’s alcoholism has on you and the decisions you make, even to this day. This exploration is not meant to assign blame — it’s designed to acknowledge and accept reality.
Support groups, such as Al-Anon or ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics), provide a space to talk about alcoholism and its effect on your life. You can meet people experiencing the same pain you are and challenge subconscious beliefs. ACOAs often internalize fears like, “No one wants to hear what I have to say,” or, “People will always walk all over me.” Support groups are also an excellent resource for step four, which is learning new skills to cope. If you feel isolated or embarrassed, support groups are a space where you can let go of that shame and feel free.
Without the right treatment for emotional issues, or addiction treatment for those who develop an addiction, life can feel like a series of disappointments for ACOAs. Being an adult child of an alcoholic can be a confusing and stressful situation. ACOA traits and behavioral tendencies can leave them feeling down, exhausted, and confused. Since relationship troubles are common, many people also feel alone but have trouble knowing how to ask for help.
Has your addiction left you feeling helpless with no way out? Has your loved one’s 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. Researching the right drug and alcohol treatment facility is the first step towards recovery.
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.
Alcohol abuse is nothing to shake a finger at. In fact, it is one of the most abused substances in the United States. Not only do many people binge drink and abuse alcohol, but alcohol abuse is also responsible for 88,000 deaths per year. In addition to this already hard pill to swallow, alcohol can also increase the risk of dementia (it is important to note that dementia is not the same as Alzheimer’s). This is extremely dangerous because dementia, as opposed to Alzheimer’s, encompasses several conditions that influence a loss of memory. Not only that, but it also has an impact on cognitive and social function. Thus, alcoholism and dementia often go together.
Dementia refers to a group of conditions characterized by the impairment of memory, decision-making, language skills, problem-solving skills, and others. Some individuals may succumb to the popular belief that dementia is just a part of aging. This is not the case, although dementia is common in those who are aging.
Although Alzheimer’s is not dementia, it is the most common form of dementia. There are many forms of dementia, including the following:
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if someone is suffering from dementia. This is because dementia varies from person to person. In a general sense, however, some recognizable symptoms of dementia include the following:
Some other, more specific symptoms of dementia in a loved one may include the following:
Abusing alcohol for a long period can lead to permanent damage to the brain. There are terms associated with those who suffer impairment in learning, memory, and overall cognitive function as a result of alcoholism. These terms are Alcohol-Related Dementia (ARD) and Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS). WKS is associated with low levels of thiamine, a B vitamin that helps convert food to fuel.
In some cases, it’s difficult to say whether or not a person’s alcoholism and dementia are correlated. It is worth noting, however, that excessive drinking is dangerous.
Alcohol-related dementia (ARD) is a form of dementia related to drinking alcohol excessively. Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS) is a particular form of ARD. In fact, the combination of Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s Dementia is the most prevalent form of ARD.
These conditions oftentimes form together, but in some cases, individuals just develop one of these cases. Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s Dementia form together because of the same root cause: a thiamine deficiency. This relates to alcoholism because alcohol abuse prevents a person from getting a proper dose of this vitamin.
Karsakoff’s Dementia has a detrimental impact on cognitive function in the brain and characterizes itself with a plethora of symptoms. It is worth mentioning that these symptoms last longer than Wernicke’s Encephalopathy. Wernicke’s Encephalopathy usually causes stumbling, loss of motor skills, abnormal eye movements, and confusion. In contrast, Karsakoff’s Dementia is longer lasting due to the severe lack of thiamine.
Some symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome include the following:
It’s important to note that just because someone is suffering from Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome doesn’t mean that the condition will last forever. This form of dementia could resolve if a person were to cease his or her alcohol abuse. With some people, however, there does exist the possibility for this condition to become a more permanent struggle. Thus, it’s imperative to look out for symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoffe and contact a care facility if a loved one is experiencing them.
People that suffer from both alcoholism and dementia are at risk of significant memory loss. This has all to do with the medications someone could be taking for his or her dementia. It could also have to do with other medications a person could be taking.
Usually, combining alcohol with medication is not a very good call. Mixing the two could prove to be very dangerous. Memory loss could also be influenced by drinking alcohol, period. This is especially true when someone is experiencing the later stages of dementia. It doesn’t even have to be that frequent. For example, senior citizens who binge drink twice a month are 147% more likely to decline cognitively than those who don’t. They’re also 146% more likely to have memory problems compared to those who don’t.
In addition to all of this, 78% of individuals diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder have a variation of dementia or cognitive issues. Not only that, but those who drink alcohol excessively increase their likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s by 300%. This particular disease is responsible for anywhere between 60-80% of dementia cases.
When it comes to treatment for ARD or WKS, there are many options to consider. Some treatments for these diseases include medically-assisted detox, traditional inpatient rehab, and more.
WKS is a difficult disease to live with and overcome due to the severity of how it affects the brain. With the proper treatment, however, an individual with WKS could turn things around for him or herself.
Nearly a quarter of those who suffer from Korsakoff syndrome who seek treatment recover successfully. 50% of those who participate in treatment improve, but don’t recover completely. The remaining 25% continue to suffer from WKS.
Although one never knows which statistic about his or her level of recovery from WKS, seeking out treatment for the illness is always worth a shot. After all, we are more than just statistics and numbers – we are human beings that deserve happiness.
Some other, more specific forms of treatment for alcohol use disorder treatment may include the following:
Inpatient residential treatment is a method of care in which those participating suffer from more severe cases of alcohol use disorders. The inpatient residential treatment option typically lasts anywhere from 28 days to six months.
Those who participate typically spend their days attending treatment (whatever that may look like for them), participating in some form of therapy (individual, group, family, etc.), and spending their free time utilizing a facility’s amenities. When an individual participates in an inpatient recovery program, it means that he or she stays overnight, 24/7 with the supervision of professional medical personnel.
Outpatient treatment for alcohol use disorder is a direct contrast to inpatient treatment (as far as its foundational processes are concerned). Those who participate in an outpatient recovery program are typically suffering from milder forms of addiction. In some cases, outpatient treatment may allow an individual to bridge the gap between the walls of an inpatient facility and the world outside of rehab.
People who participate in outpatient treatment programs will spend anywhere from 10-12 hours throughout the week in therapy. This therapy, however, is done in such people’s own time, apart from a treatment facility. Individuals that participate in outpatient programs can carry more of the responsibility that comes with day-to-day life.
Medically assisted detox is a method of care that, in a nutshell, helps an individual curb his or her symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Some of these alcohol withdrawal symptoms include the following:
The symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol are sometimes too much to bear for those suffering from substance use disorders. Oftentimes, individuals will return to alcohol abuse when they know it’s destructive just so that they can curb the symptoms of withdrawal.
In cases like these, though, for those suffering from substance use disorders, it’s imperative to remember that alcohol withdrawal is not the end-all-be-all. Official addiction treatment is also necessary. Some facilities provide medication that will help relieve the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal during detox and addiction treatment.
Holistic treatment for alcohol addiction is when a facility provides methods of care that aim to mend the entirety of a person (mind, body, and soul). Some of these holistic practices include yoga, hiking, swimming, art, and other methods. The idea of holistic treatment is to treat the entirety of an individual to help him or her overcome a substance use disorder.
Alcohol abuse is not an easy road to walk down. Whether you’re a victim, or whether you’re suffering from alcohol abuse, there is help available.
At Harmony Ridge, we desire that you find the care you’re looking for. It’s not easy to navigate the ins and outs of a substance use disorder. What’s even worse than this is suffering from alcoholism and dementia simultaneously. Regardless, we at Harmony Ridge are equipped to help you by whatever means necessary.
If you or a loved one is suffering from alcoholism and dementia, you can contact us here.
It’s important for every person to develop healthy eating habits, but it’s crucial for people who are recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction. Even short-term addiction can take a huge toll on the body as it is forced to work overtime to eliminate toxic substances and defend itself against the damage they do. Achieving nutritional balance is essential in repairing the harm addiction does to the body. Alcohol and other drugs might offer short-term pleasure, but chronic substance abuse can inflict tremendous amounts of damage on the body. In general, substance use can exact a toll on health in a couple of ways. Indirectly, substances result in detrimental lifestyle changes including eating a diet of low-quality foods and irregular/sporadic eating. Certain substances can also impact physical health directly by injuring major organs and disrupting other crucial systems throughout the body. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about using nutrition to your benefit as you heal from addiction and healthy eating for addiction recovery.
Substance abuse has a major impact on long-term health and nutrition. Many people may know the harsher effects of drugs and alcohol on the body, such as liver disease from alcoholism. However, substance abuse extends well beyond this and can create a variety of impairments in physiological functions of the body, including the ability to absorb essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals.Substance use disorders can make you especially vulnerable to nutrient deficiencies, for a number of behavioral and biological reasons—but healthy eating for addiction recovery can help correct your nutrient deficiencies and greatly improve your odds of successfully achieving recovery and maintaining it long term
People who abuse alcohol typically do not pay attention to nutrition. Even those who were formerly healthy tend to let their good eating habits go as they become more consumed with the need to find and drink alcohol. This creates a two-fold nutritional problem because even if someone does manage to eat healthfully and get all their nutrients, alcohol prevents them from being fully absorbed.
Alcohol abuse also causes severe harm to two critical digestive organs: the pancreas and liver. The pancreas makes enzymes necessary for digesting fats, proteins and carbs. It also produces hormones essential for balancing blood sugar. The liver breaks down toxins, including alcohol, and if it stops working correctly due to heavy drinking, the alcohol will circulate in the blood for longer and cause more damage to the digestive system.
Opioids — Including heroin, morphine and prescription painkillers, opioids can cause gastrointestinal difficulties, including constipation. The side effects of these would be the same as those noted above in the alcohol category.
Stimulants — Such as cocaine, crack and methamphetamine suppress a person’s appetite, which may cause a significant amount of weight loss and malnutrition. They may also refrain from drinking fluids, which can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
Marijuana — Due to the nature of this drug, a person may be inclined to eat greater amounts of food as the result of an increased appetite, which can lead to weight gain. Oftentimes, the foods that these individuals eat are fat, sugar and calorie laden.
Addictive substances and behaviors can make healthy eating for addiction recovery more difficult in a number of ways. They can also prevent you from getting enough nutrients despite a normally healthy diet. When you don’t get enough of a particular essential nutrient in your body, you develop a nutrient deficiency. Addictive substances can interfere with healthy eating and cause nutrient deficiencies in the following ways.
The human body needs 13 different essential vitamins to stay healthy. They are categorized by fat solubility or water solubility. Fat-soluble vitamins are:
The water-soluble vitamins are:
Consuming a full suite of vitamins is essential because it:
If you’re in recovery, following a balanced diet can help repair the past damage caused by substance abuse. Proper nutrition will also help alleviate symptoms of withdrawal (such as headaches and stomach upset), reduce cravings, and boost your energy levels.
Here are some tips to follow when handling healthy eating for addiction recovery.
In detox and the early stages of recovery, dehydration is a common concern. It’s recommended that you drink 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce of water for each pound of body weight. For example, a 150-pound woman should try to drink 75 to 150 ounces of water per day.
If you don’t like the taste of plain water, try making infused water by adding fresh fruit and herbs to a pitcher of water and chilling it for several hours. Watermelon and mint, citrus and cucumber, or strawberry and basil are a few popular combinations you can try.
During recovery, one common mistake that people make is replacing their abused substance with fast food or sugary sweets. These foods create temporary feelings of satisfaction, but can result in weight gain along with making you feel bloated and sluggish. It’s best to reserve these items for special occasions only.
You may also want to avoid beverages containing caffeine during your recovery. Caffeine provides a temporary energy boost, but can result in mood fluctuations that make it harder to resist cravings for alcohol or drugs.
Whole grains are those that contain the bran, germ, and endosperm instead of losing nutrients while being refined. Whole grains are packed with insoluble fiber, which keeps you from being constipated and helps control your appetite. They’re also high in antioxidants and packed with essential nutrients.
Whole wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal, and air-popped popcorn are the most common types of whole grains. However, more adventurous eaters may want to branch out and try options like quinoa, bulgur, millet, and buckwheat.
Many people in recovery are intimidated by exercise. Some have never been athletic and others have gotten so far out of shape, they are afraid to begin exercising again. Not to worry. Whatever your fitness level may be, you can get your body moving with no need for expensive equipment or snazzy workout clothes. All you have to do is move around. It really is that simple. Healthy eating for addiction recovery begins with what you put into your body and ends with what you do with those nutrients.
Because people in recovery from addiction tend to think in extremes, many think they need to go out and join a gym, run five miles, or start working out excessively to exercise. This is not the case. Just start out slow. Get your body moving. Go for a walk. Ride your bike. Go hiking at a local park. Dance around the house. Find a low-impact exercise on YouTube and work up a sweat from the comfort of your own home. Just get moving! Do your best to engage in at least 20 minutes of exercise three times a week.
You don’t have to try and make big changes all at once. Just like recovery, implementing healthy practices happens one day at a time. Take it slow and work on thing at a time. Before you know it, you will have made significant changes in your life.
Going forward, we encourage you to take care of your body through regular exercise and healthy eating habits to promote lasting happiness and healing. Remember, it’s the only one you’ll ever get! If you need help with addiction recovery Harmony Ridge Recovery Center is here for you every step of the way! Contact us today to learn more!
As the calendar year comes winding down and the holidays start wrapping up, a new year is approaching. With it comes new possibilities and the chance to start fresh. For someone in recovery from addiction, the New Year can be a welcomed time to set new sobriety goals. Setting realistic New Year’s Resolutions in Recovery can also help them turn a few weeks of sobriety into a lifetime of clean living. While recovery goals and rehab resolutions are not always easy, they’re definitely worth the effort. Freeing yourself from addiction can provide you with a new lease on life, enrich your relationships and give you more time and energy for the activities that bring you joy.
New Year’s resolutions in recovery have always had a close and complex relationship. The New Year encourages people to take a look at what they can do to fight the disease of addiction. Often it’s the addict who resolves to get themselves treated in the New Year. Other times it’s a loved one who takes a more active role in getting their friend or family member help. Sometimes a person in recovery takes a look at their life and wants to strengthen their recovery effort.
While most people habitually make New Year’s resolutions in recovery, it’s especially valuable for people in recovery to develop healthy goal-setting strategies. To create effective New Year’s resolutions you’ll be able to keep, remember the acronym SMART, which is short for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
Unrealistic expectations inevitably lead to frustration and disappointment, which can threaten your sobriety. If you make a resolution to stay sober but fail to work a plan with specific steps guiding you there, you are likely to succumb to stress, pressure, and disillusionment.
Unrealistic expectations are often unfulfilled, which may cause you to give up, deciding it is too difficult to remain sober. Building strong, long-term sobriety takes a lot of work. If you expect the journey to be easy now that you have completed a rehabilitation program, you are setting yourself up for failure. Accept that recovery is a long-term process. As you set and achieve goals that are small yet significant, you are instilling positive lifestyle changes that will permanently enrich your life.
No two people in recovery are exactly alike. But how can you stay inspired to maintain your sobriety for the 365 days of 2022 and far beyond? Consider these ideas.
Somewhere along the way, we have forgotten the importance of celebrating our successes. As soon as we achieve a goal or reach a big milestone, rather than taking the time to bask in the glory of your achievement, we’re already going after our next goal. In the fast-paced society we live in today, it’s easy to get caught up in this vicious cycle. But taking the time to celebrate your successes is an integral part of the process that you don’t want to skip. Every day look at how far you’ve come on your path to long-term sobriety. Of course there will be challenges along the way, but resolve to focus on all successes – no matter how small.
Regular exercise helps improve your strength, stamina, and energy levels while releasing natural endorphins. If you’re currently leading a sedentary lifestyle, try walking or bike riding after dinner and some invigorating yoga in the morning.
When you’re in addiction it is impossible to focus on the needs of others, but being in recovery demands that you understand how to be of service to yourself and others. Small acts of kindness like volunteering at a soup kitchen, helping your neighbor move or playing with animals at the local shelter will boost your self-confidence and generate a stronger relationship with your community.
Grateful people are happier people—this seems like wisdom you might find on a bumper sticker because of its obvious truth and positive feel, but research on gratitude also backs up this statement. When you have a moment when someone does something for you that fills your heart with grateful feelings of warmth, it can feel wonderful. But you don’t have to wait for circumstances to bring this feeling to you—there are things you can do in your life to proactively create feelings of gratitude for yourself with the experiences you already have in your life, and create new experiences that will bring more feelings of gratitude to your life and to the lives of those around you. And with this gratitude comes several benefits, among them an increased resilience toward stress!
Especially if you just left inpatient treatment, there is a lot you are still learning about yourself and about living in recovery. A helpful New Year’s resolution in recovery may be to journal regularly. Not only is journaling therapeutic in many ways, but also it can help you track your good days and bad as well as note relapse triggers. Journaling may also help you determine when you may be at risk of relapse and alert you to getting outside help before it is too late.
Addiction is often caused in part to destructive and negative thought patterns that may even be built on faulty logic or become wildly exaggerated if unchecked. One of your New Year’s resolutions in recovery should be to challenge your negative thoughts whenever you feel them starting to spiral out of control. Make an effort to examine toxic thoughts when they pop into your head and break them down. You should also challenge yourself to look at the bright side. This change in thinking can drastically improve your outlook on life.
While sobriety may be your top priority in the New Year, there may be additional resolutions that can help benefit your recovery. Practices like gratitude journaling, regular check-ins with loved ones, and daily exercise are part of a healthy lifestyle and can help prevent relapse. For this reason, not every goal you set needs to focus solely on sobriety. Instead, include various resolutions that will promote happiness, boost self-esteem, and improve your relationships.
Remember that long-lasting change requires consistency, and getting into the groove of a new routine is one of the biggest hurdles when it comes to achieving New Year’s resolutions.
Adjusting to a new way of living isn’t easy and often requires some accountability. Some days will feel more difficult than others, but the support of a Harmony Ridge Recovery can help you overcome the moments when you feel like giving up. This is why it’s so important to not only share your goals with your support system but to work at rebuilding trust in your relationships.
As the calendar year comes winding down and...
As the calendar year comes winding down and...
As the calendar year comes winding down and...
As the calendar year comes winding down and...
As the calendar year comes winding down and...
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