Treatment Archives - Page 17 of 31 - Enlightened Solutions

When Anxiety and Fear Make You an Enabler

Written by enlightened solutions on May 24, 2018. Posted in 12 Step Program, Mental Health. Leave a Comment

When your loved one has a drug and alcohol addiction, you could become full of anxiety and fear. The constant worrying can be detrimental to your physical and emotional health. The anxiety and fear can disrupt your normal daily routines and can make you an enabler. When you enable someone, you unintentionally encourage your loved one’s self-destructive behavior.

If your loved one has a drug and alcohol addiction, you need to avoid enabling his or her dangerous behavior. There is a difference between enabling and being a supportive. To avoid enabling, you need to set boundaries to protect yourself. Although this can be hard to do, you need to take care of yourself first. When you stand firm in your boundaries, your loved one with the addiction will know what is and is not acceptable.

Remind yourself that your loved one’s addiction is not your fault and you are powerless over their addiction. Accept that you cannot change his or her behavior. It is entirely up to your loved one to respect your boundaries, go to detox and treatment, and work on his or her recovery.

Anxiety and fear can unknowingly contribute to your enabling. When your loved one is addicted to drugs or alcohol, you can go through a range of emotions. The anxiety and fear can be overwhelming. When levels of anxiety and fear are this intense, you could feel emotionally drained. Enabling your loved one could reduce levels of anxiety and fear, but you are contributing to his or her destructive behavior.

To avoid becoming an enabler, learn more about the behavior of a person with a drug and alcohol addiction. Go to group therapy, attend AA or Nar Anon meetings, or join a drug and addiction forum online. Meet other people who have loved ones with an addiction to drugs or alcohol and listen to their experiences. Talk to families coping with their loved one’s addiction. Meet with a therapist or counselor who specializes in drug and alcohol addiction.

Do not shame or degrade your loved one’s behavior. That can lower their self-esteem and lead them to use more drugs and alcohol. Set boundaries, do not enable him or her, stay positive, and encourage them to get treatment. This will show that you care about and love them.

Recovery is possible and healing will take place in mind, body, and spirit. Enlightened Recovery Solutions offers a holistic based, 12-step inspired, clinically proven program for alcoholism and co-occurring disorders. Call (844) 234-LIVE today for information on our partial care programs.

Are you Powerless Over Alcohol?

Written by enlightened solutions on May 23, 2018. Posted in Addiction, Alcoholism. Leave a Comment

The first step to recovery, according to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), is to admit that you are powerless over alcohol and that your life has become unmanageable. This crucial acknowledgment is often the hardest for many people, as those who struggle with alcoholism frequently find themselves in denial about the severity of their problem.

Damaged relationships with family and friends, job loss due to unreliability or poor performance, and disruptive sleep patterns that impact overall health are just a few of the ways alcoholism can wreak havoc. Financial issues often arise as well, with money being spent on alcohol at the expense of essential needs and responsibilities.

What Does it Mean to be Powerless Over Alcohol?

It means recognizing that one’s drinking has become uncontrollable and that attempts to moderate or quit have repeatedly failed. This concept highlights the overwhelming compulsion to drink despite the negative consequences it brings, such as health issues, damaged relationships, and financial problems.

Individuals who are suffering from alcoholism often find themselves prioritizing drinking over important responsibilities and activities, and their lives can become consumed by the need to drink. The emotional and psychological toll includes feelings of shame, guilt, and helplessness, which can worsen existing mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Accepting this powerlessness is a crucial step in recovery, as it allows individuals to seek the necessary help and support to regain control over their lives and work towards sobriety.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol, similar to other drugs, has a potent impact on the brain by generating pleasurable sensations and dulling negative emotions. These effects can drive individuals to repeatedly consume alcohol, despite the potential risks to their health and well-being.

Untreated Alcoholism

This dilemma represents a significant public health challenge, as it often goes unnoticed or ignored due to social stigma, denial, or lack of awareness. Individuals struggling with alcoholism may not seek help due to feelings of shame, fear of judgment, or a belief that they can manage their drinking on their own.

The reluctance is compounded by the fact that alcohol is a socially accepted substance, making it difficult for many to recognize the severity of their addiction. Furthermore, access to treatment can be hindered by socioeconomic factors, lack of healthcare resources, or insufficient support systems.

Untreated alcohol abuse remains a significant public health crisis in the United States, leading to devastating consequences for individuals and communities. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, an alarming 140,557 Americans die from the effects of alcohol annually, underscoring the lethal impact of this condition.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this issue, with over half of Americans reporting an increase in their alcohol consumption during lockdowns. This surge in drinking behavior has heightened the risks associated with alcoholism, contributing to a rise in alcohol dependency and related health complications.

Without intervention, individuals remain trapped in a destructive cycle, underscoring the importance of increased education, accessible treatment options, and supportive communities to address untreated alcoholism effectively.

Alcoholism contributes to many physical and mental health issues and even death.

Many people with an addiction to alcohol feel guilt, low self-esteem, and shame. When a person admits that alcohol is affecting his or her life, they can start recovery. The first step is about powerlessness over behavior that makes the individual’s life unmanageable.

Alcoholism affects millions of people worldwide. Individuals struggling with this condition often find themselves powerless over alcohol, which can lead to a host of serious health issues both physical and mental health.

Physical Health Issues

Liver damage
Cardiovascular problems
Digestive issues
Neurological damage

Mental Health Issues

Depression and anxiety
Increased risk of suicide
Social isolation and relationship issues
Cognitive impairment

A person with alcohol addiction feels powerless because his or her behavior changes in ways that would not happen when sober. The mental obsession and physical cravings increase after the first drink, causing the person to drink more.

Examples of Powerlessness Over Alcohol

A person is powerless because even though alcohol consumption can cause physical harm or death, he or she continues to drink. When a person is powerless over alcohol, he or she:

Cannot stop drinking once they start
Drinks under any circumstance, every day
Craves more and more
Loses the ability to function
Cannot drink safely
Cannot control what they say or do after drinking
Becomes irritable when not drinking
Physically craves alcohol
Drinks despite prior consequences

Cravings can become very strong for a person who has an addiction to alcohol. The brain’s function and the person’s physical health are affected. The brain controls our movements, thoughts, critical thinking, coordination, speech, and walking. When alcohol is consumed, the brain’s neurotransmitters, which send messages to other parts of the body, are disrupted.

Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol causes delayed reactions, loss of coordination, slurred speech, and inability to walk. The brain becomes physically dependent on alcohol to function, so when alcohol is not consumed, a person can become irritable, angry, depressed, anxious, and agitated. Do you know the 10 signs someone needs treatment for an alcohol problem?

Admitting to being powerless over alcohol will help a person to recognize that he or she does not have control over their drinking. Denying there is a problem only allows the person to continue their destructive behavior. Providing these examples of powerlessness over alcohol can help an individual to start recovery.

Overcoming Alcoholism

There are several effective treatment options for alcohol addiction. At Enlightened Solutions, we offer a comprehensive approach customized to the severity of the addiction and the presence of any co-occurring disorders. Our addiction professionals highly recommend a multi-staged recovery program to ensure the best outcomes.

Medical detox – Our professionals closely monitor and treat withdrawal symptoms immediately to prevent severe health risks.
Inpatient or residential treatment – We offer intensive care in a live-in facility for 30 to 90 days, with specialized programs for those with additional mental health or behavioral issues. This phase is often followed by a step-down level of care.
Outpatient treatment – We offer flexible outpatient options such as Partial Hospitalization (PHP), Intensive Outpatient (IOP), and standard Outpatient (OP). These programs allow clients to apply recovery skills in real-life settings while receiving support in therapeutic groups.

Reclaim Your Life. You Don’t Have to Stay Powerless Over Alcohol.

You don’t have to stay powerless over alcohol. Recovery is possible, and healing can transform your mind, body, and spirit. At Enlightened Solutions, we offer a holistic, 12-step inspired, clinically proven program for alcoholism and co-occurring disorders.

Reach out today to learn more about our personalized treatment plans and partial care programs. Start your journey to a healthier, happier life with Enlightened Solutions.

How is Journaling Good for Addiction Recovery?

Written by enlightened solutions on May 22, 2018. Posted in Addiction, Recovery. Leave a Comment

When a person is in recovery from a drug or alcohol addiction, they may be encouraged to keep a journal on a regular basis. Writing has many benefits for a person in recovery. Journaling is a helpful tool for the healing process. Stress is lowered, anxiety decreases, and blood pressure improves. Journal writing helps a person in recovery during his or her tough times and keeps track of his or her success. Journaling is a healthy way to keep a person’s mind busy and reduces the risk of relapse. Writing will also help a person feel like he or she is not alone.

Journaling is a therapeutic tool that improves self-esteem and critical thinking skills. A person learns from his or her experiences. Keeping a journal in recovery allows him or her to express their feelings at that moment and reflect on previous times to see how things changed. Journaling helps a person in recovery to learn more about themselves and discover their interests in activities or hobbies.

Recovery from drug or alcohol addiction is one day at a time and is a lifelong process. During an individual’s journey, there are challenges and obstacles to overcome. He or she can use journaling to record their recovery struggles and accomplishments. When he or she is journaling their recovery, they see their success in sobriety, which encourages positive reinforcement.

Journaling helps a person in recovery to prioritize goals and responsibilities and track his or her setbacks and improvements. When a person in recovery is journaling, he or she can identify and cope with triggers and avoid high-risk situations. Keeping a journal allows him or her to focus on the present and not ruminate in the past. He or she can concentrate on how they feel about past events, in the present.

When an individual writes a journal, he or she learns how to deal with stress, anxiety, or pain without drugs or alcohol. Journal writing helps to develop substance-free ways of coping with stress, anxiety, or discouragement. Keeping a journal allows a person to reflect on situations and attitudes that help them remain strong and positive in his or her recovery.

Strategies to Cope With Alcohol Cravings

Written by enlightened solutions on May 21, 2018. Posted in Alcoholism, Recovery. Leave a Comment

After treatment for alcohol addiction, you need to develop strategies to cope with cravings for alcohol. Now that you started recovery, you are at risk of relapse at any time. The possibility of relapse increases when you are around people, places, and things that remind you of drinking alcohol. The cravings for alcohol can be very uncomfortable and can occur often during the first several months of sobriety. Set a plan to avoid these situations when cravings are strong.

Any strong reminders can encourage you to remember of the pleasurable effects of drinking alcohol. When these memories are invoked, you will seem to forget the horrible destructive behavior caused by drinking alcohol. There are some ways to cope with alcohol cravings and avoid the things that contribute to them:

Remove yourself from the situation. If you are in a place or with a person who is a strong reminder of your drinking alcohol, leave. Go to the bathroom, go outside, or just leave and go somewhere else.
Call someone. This can be anyone, as long as your mind is distracted from the intense cravings you have for alcohol.
Think of something different. Think of anything that preoccupies your brain so you can suppress the cravings.
Self-talk. Remind yourself that you cannot have a drink because you are staying sober. Repeat to yourself and remember why you are staying sober.
Eat something sweet. Alcohol contains a lot of sugar so your body could be craving sugar instead of alcohol.
Drink a lot of water. When you drink a lot of water throughout the day, the cravings for alcohol will lessen.

Avoid people who are associated with your drinking alcohol and friends who would drink with you. Sometimes you can unintentionally be encouraged to have just one drink. Distract yourself with music, a walk outside, exercise, or yoga. Discover your interests or hobbies. Join a book club, kickboxing class, or do some gardening. If you are creative, participate in an art class, write articles for your blog, or join a sport.

Many healthy activities can divert your attention away from your cravings for alcohol. The cravings are temporary. The strong urge you feel to have a drink will go away. The cravings can be much easier to cope with when you know what to avoid and have a plan to distract yourself.

Does Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Lead to Substance Abuse?

Written by enlightened solutions on May 18, 2018. Posted in Drugs & Alcohol, Mental Health. Leave a Comment

A person’s mental health condition can influence his or her drug or alcohol abuse. Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety can contribute to a person’s substance abuse because he or she can temporarily escape reality. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental disorder that causes depression, intense anxiety, and intrusive memories or flashbacks that interfere with life. Many people develop PTSD from childhood abuse, military combat, natural disasters, and sexual assault. First responders are at risk of PTSD because of on-scene tragedies, accidents, or crimes.

People with PTSD often turn to drugs or alcohol to suppress his or her pain. Abusing drugs or alcohol with PTSD creates a dual diagnosis – one from an impairing psychiatric disorder and the other a substance addiction. A person with PTSD abuses drugs or alcohol as a way to seek temporary relief from the reality of daily life. He or she uses more and more to escape from painful memories and flashbacks, and increase the risk of drug or alcohol addiction.

A person with PTSD and substance addiction has a dual diagnosis and needs to get treatment immediately for his or her mental condition and addiction. A medical professional or medical team monitors the combined treatment and medication if needed. Many drugs can worsen symptoms of PTSD and cause physical impairment, overdose, or death. Alcohol abuse damages the brain’s function and causes physical damage to major organs in the body. Alcohol affects a person’s critical thinking, vision, speech, coordination, movement, and can cause overdose or death.

A person with PTSD is at high risk of substance abuse but when a medical professional treats the PTSD, the risk for substance abuse lessens. When a person has PTSD, he or she can have angry outbursts, feelings of helplessness, aggressive behavior, and restlessness. Individuals who are diagnosed with PTSD and drug or alcohol abuse often experience other disorders such as depression, chronic pain, chronic illness, or attention deficit disorder.

People living with PTSD often relive the traumatic event, have nightmares, and can become socially withdrawn. A person with PTSD can feel ashamed or guilty from the trauma and be reluctant to seek help. When a person with PTSD and substance abuse goes to treatment, he or she needs intense support and encouragement from family and friends. A dual diagnosis can be difficult to treat, but recovery is possible.

Social Drinking and Alcoholism

Written by enlightened solutions on May 17, 2018. Posted in Addiction Recovery, Alcoholism. Leave a Comment

Social drinking is a term used for people who like to drink alcohol on occasion. A person who drinks socially knows their limit with alcohol. His or her day is not consumed with thoughts about drinking and when they will get their next drink. People describe a social drinker as a person who usually drinks with other people at social gatherings or during special events or activities.

Social drinking puts the person at high risk of developing an addiction to alcohol. A person with alcoholism does not know when to stop and thinks about drinking all the time. He or she cannot control their limit and sometimes drink until they black out. Many people who think they are social drinkers are actually high-functioning alcoholics.

A person with an alcohol addiction can develop serious physical and mental health problems. Drinking alcohol can cause brain damage and affect the brain’s normal activity. The brain controls a person’s body. Alcohol interrupts the brain’s neurotransmitters, which act as a line of communication for the body to function. Alcohol affects the body’s organs and can lead to liver failure, heart disease, cardiac arrest, and high blood pressure.

Social drinking can lead to alcoholism. Over time, a social drinker could need more and more alcohol to feel euphoric effects. People who drink regularly build a tolerance to alcohol and need more to feel pleasure from the brain’s release of dopamine. A social drinker with an underlying mental condition is at risk of developing an addiction to alcohol. A person with depression, anxiety, or PTSD may drink to escape reality.

The term, social drinker, can give a false perception of a person’s alcohol addiction. People with alcoholism may unintentionally think they are a social drinker and not realize their drinking is a problem. Different factors can determine a person’s risk of alcoholism such as his or her physical condition, mental health issues, and genetics. Other things to consider are the duration, how much, and what kind of alcohol consumed.

People with an addiction to alcohol are usually in denial about their problematic drinking. An addiction to alcohol ruins relationships, causes harmful effects on the body, and can be fatal. Alcoholism can affect the brain and cause brain damage or memory loss. There is help for people who have an addiction to alcohol. Just because social drinking sounds less harmful does not mean drinking alcohol is safe.

Reasons for a Revolving Relapse

Written by enlightened solutions on May 16, 2018. Posted in 12 Step Program, Addiction. Leave a Comment

After spending some time in sobriety, your loved one relapses and starts the recovery process all over again. He or she goes through treatment and is adjusting to their new sober lifestyle, but relapse another time. The cycle seems to never end. This is known as revolving door syndrome and happens for several reasons.

Relapse occurs if the person with the addiction is not in treatment to save his or herself. They may go to recovery to win back the trust of family and friends, but not to get better. The individual can feel ashamed and guilty of their relapse, which leads them into entering rehab again.

Sometimes a person is court-ordered to get treatment. He or she will enter rehab to avoid penalties, and relapse shortly after treatment ends. For treatment to be successful, a person must want to get better on his or her own will. Nobody can force sobriety on a person with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Friends and family can gently encourage their loved one to get treatment and offer love and support, but cannot shame a person into going.

A person going through treatment can have a lot of fear and anxiety about life without drugs or alcohol. Their entire lifestyle must change including friends, acquaintances, things, or anything that has an attachment to the person’s lifestyle of substance abuse. The individual must take a lot of time to discover his or herself and explore other interests to fill in the time that was used for drugs and alcohol. These feelings can be overwhelming for a person in treatment and lead to a relapse.

The person in recovery can have unrealistic expectations. A full recovery is more than just quitting drugs or alcohol. Recovery is a lifestyle change and is a lot of hard work. The person needs to develop a new life with healthy habits and coping skills. This will help him or her to be productive with establishing new routines.

If a person in recovery goes back into the world without a plan, he or she is at high risk of a relapse. Without new habits and routines, an individual can go back to using drugs and alcohol to cope. The relapse cycle will continue if the person in recovery does not want help and if he or she does not work toward a goal for living in sobriety.

Medication Assisted Detox: The Controversy and the Facts

Written by enlightened solutions on May 15, 2018. Posted in Addiction, Addiction Recovery. Leave a Comment

When an individual with an addiction stops using a substance, withdrawals occur and can be so severe that the person goes back to using their drug of choice to relieve the symptoms. Withdrawals can last for up to three weeks and cause the person to be physically sick. The individual feels they need their substance of choice to avoid withdrawals.

One method of recovery which reduces the severity of withdrawals and helps the person to eliminate their cravings for their chosen substance is medication assisted detox. It has caused controversy because it replaces one drug with another to relieve symptoms of detox. Medication assisted detox can be used for meth addiction, alcoholism, and other substances.

Opioids gained popularity in the late 1800s and early 1900s as a remedy for pain relief. During that time, not much was known about the substance being addictive. Opioids are prescribed by medical professionals every day, but people can become addicted. People who are addicted sometimes turn to other drugs, such as heroin, because it costs less than prescription medication.

Currently, we are in an opioid epidemic with overdoses happening more frequently. In an attempt to avoid more overdoses, medication assisted detox offers a more comfortable way to experience withdrawals.

Emergency response officials in various jurisdictions are able to administer a medication called Narcan, an opiate antidote to save the lives of overdose victims.

Advantages of medication assisted detox:

The medication administered to the person with an addiction is supervised by a medical professional.
It lessens the excruciating pain caused by withdrawal symptoms. The individual feels more comfortable and is more likely to follow through with treatment.
It helps medical professionals monitor the effects of its use.
The withdrawal timeframe is reduced and can help the addict on the way to recovery.

Medication assisted detox is one of the best ways to help an addicted person move forward with treatment and recovery and avoid an overdose.

How to Help a Loved One With Addiction and Depression

Written by enlightened solutions on May 14, 2018. Posted in Addiction, Mental Health. Leave a Comment

When your loved one has an addiction to drugs or alcohol and a mental illness such as depression, he or she has a dual diagnosis, which is more difficult to treat. Coping with a loved one’s addiction is very overwhelming and stressful for family and friends. When your loved one has an addiction and depression, things get even more complicated.

When a loved one has a dual diagnosis, there are ways you can help. Listen and learn about addiction and mental disorders to educate yourself. This allows you to better understand your loved one’s dual diagnosis. Setting boundaries is important. If you live with your loved one and are not comfortable with drugs or alcohol being around, set boundaries and stick to them.

Plan an intervention when your loved one is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Include family and friends who are impacted by the individual’s behavior. Everyone involved should write down how the loved one’s addictive behavior makes them feel. When a person is addicted to drugs or alcohol, he or she might not realize the serious consequences of their actions. Talking about it in intervention can help. Use positive and encouraging words to let your loved one know how much you care. When people use negative, belittling, or shameful language, that only reinforces any guilt, depression, or shame the person already feels.

Many people with anxiety or depression turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with their condition. Anxiety is a persistent, dreadful fear that a person cannot control. Depression can linger for years and puts a person in a constant, overwhelming sadness that interferes with sleep, work, family, friends, and his or her self-worth and self-esteem. When a person has anxiety or depression, he or she might turn to drugs or alcohol to cope. The problem with that is drugs or alcohol can heighten the psychological symptoms of mental illnesses.

When you understand the relationship between addiction and depression, you can help your loved one in his or her recovery process. Being there for your loved one will help him or her see that you are there for them in their time of need. Compassion, understanding, and encouragement will help your loved one on his or her journey to recovery.

How Depression Influences Drug or Alcohol Addiction

Written by enlightened solutions on May 10, 2018. Posted in Addiction, Mental Health. Leave a Comment

Depression is a mental illness that interferes with many aspects of a person’s life. Everyone has a bad day every now and then, but depression is more than that. Depression controls the way a person thinks and feels. It consumes a person’s perception of reality and distorts everything the individual does, thinks, and feels.

Many people with depression turn to drugs or alcohol to escape from the intense feelings of loneliness, worthlessness, and fear. The pleasurable euphoric feelings are temporary and the drugs or alcohol can worsen the symptoms of depression. Drugs and alcohol increase the risk of suicidal thoughts.

Depression is treatable with the appropriate medication prescribed and managed by a medical professional. A person with depression should not do drugs or drink alcohol, especially while on medication. All medication comes with a warning label that lists side-effects and dangers of mixing the drug with alcohol. Harmful or deadly interactions are caused by mixing medication with drugs or alcohol.

Alcohol is a depressant and causes lethargy, sadness, and hopelessness. Many people with a mental illness or disorder drink alcohol and put their lives at risk for health complications.

Alcohol affects a person physically and mentally. When a person is addicted to drugs or alcohol, the neurotransmitters in the brain release dopamine and creates a pleasurable euphoric effect. Drugs and alcohol eventually take over the brain’s control of body movement, thinking, coordination, and memory.

When a person loses control of his or her body, there is an increased risk of accidents and death. He or she needs to go to a specialized treatment program for depression and drug and alcohol addiction to avoid the devastating effects. Depression is treatable with help from a medical professional. Individual counseling, group therapy, and medication are some of the useful tools for treating depression.

The individual also needs to enroll in a program designed to treat drug and alcohol addiction. Programs are tailored to the person’s individual needs because everyone is different, and so are the effects of the drugs and alcohol. Depending on the amount used and type of drug, the duration of treatment can vary from person to person. Depression and addiction to drugs and alcohol are treatable. Everyone deserves to enjoy living a healthy, substance-free life.

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