Addiction

The drug counseling community has reported an increase in relapse since the beginning of the global pandemic, so we know isolation is affecting those suffering from addiction. Regardless of COVID-19, engaging in addiction treatment and the recovery process can be difficult. There may always be issues with motivation, time management, or financial resources that prohibit you from seeking or completing treatment. But how do you deal with recovery during a global pandemic? More importantly, how do you prevent relapse after treatment with the potential to not be able to engage in a structured aftercare program or in-person therapy?  Here are 3 ways to deal with urges and unwanted emotions while in social isolation:

Substance abuse can have a powerful effect on both the mind and body - they have learned that drug use is “good” because of how dopamine influences addiction. Dopamine is released in your brain to promote the repetition of activities that produce joy and fulfillment. When a person uses a drug, their dopamine level is higher than average. The brain trains itself to seek out those substances, which leads to addiction. These compulsions are hard to overcome, especially for those fresh out of detox. However, there are various ways you can deal with cravings after treatment is complete.

The term “functioning addict” is commonly used, and the idea that drug users can complete everyday tasks is popular and partially true. However, the idea that being a functioning addict is somehow better than being a non-functioning addict or even socially acceptable is a myth. The truth is, all drug use will affect life in one way or another, whether it is immediate or in the long-term. All drug use is harmful to the body, to relationships, and to society as a whole.  We know that a non-functioning addict cannot complete standard tasks every day because of their drug use. Someone who can’t make it to work because they are too intoxicated would be an example of a non-functioning addict. In no way is being a functioning addict healthy. The idea of functioning addiction is considered a myth for many clinicians. Even though a person seemingly goes about obvious tasks without error while using, it doesn’t mean that their life isn’t being affected in a less obvious way. Many people see tolerance as a factor in becoming a functioning addict. After prolonged use, the body becomes used to the drug’s effects, and some people find it easier to function than others. People who are in denial about their addiction seem to fit into the group of functioning addiction. If a person is less honest with themselves and others about their addiction, they can better convince themselves and others that it doesn’t even exist; an out of sight out of mind mentality. However, denial is only a short-term out. With time, most addictions become more apparent.

Sometimes, toxic habits turn into addictions. Casual, social drinking may turn to drinking daily by yourself. Using substances to self-medicate can quickly turn into an addiction. Using drugs floods the brain with dopamine, causing the brain to seek ways to find that feeling again. When this occurs, someone may continuously seek out substances. The brain tells an individual it needs more dopamine, resulting in regular substance use to feel high. The habit provides a physical or emotional function, eventually resulting in addiction. There are ways to retrain our brains not to be compelled to use. However, it is not an immediate outcome. A person must take small steps to create patterns. It takes an average of 66 days of repeating the same behavior to make a habit. Therefore, it may take around 66 days to break that habit. A person must identify their triggers to avoid them. Recognizing these cues is the first step in breaking addictions. Keeping a journal of your cues and learning what triggers which cravings may help break the habit cycle.  Replace old habits with new ones. If you have a habit of using because you are stressed, practice mindfulness instead. Mindfulness is as easy as practicing breathing exercises or meditating. Meditation may be challenging to practice in the middle of a craving. However, you don’t have to close your eyes and sit still to meditate. Taking a walk through the park or around your neighborhood are effective ways to meditate. Ask yourself what you need at that moment. Do you need to destress, or do you need to use?

Sometimes finding motivation for what we know we need to do is hard. It can make us even more depressed or anxious about change if we feel we have no motivation for it. Maybe we wonder what is really wrong with us. Is this really just our personality? Probably not. Finding motivation is a challenge for everyone whether it’s a constant challenge or just an occasional thing. We can actually inspire motivation through change, even if that seems backward. There’s a lot of science that goes into the process of changing ourselves psychologically. The stages of change are important to understand when it comes to motivation inspired by change in recovery.

Recovery from substance use disorders can be challenging at any point in time, let alone during a global pandemic. Telephone appointments or support groups may not be appealing, lacking the immediacy of in-person connection, which can be so important in recovery. The stresses we’re all experiencing right now are most likely amplified for those with substance abuse and mental health disorders. This disorder in our lives may make our triggers stronger or more prevalent. Our emotional wellbeing may be suffering. Our motivation may be depleting. It’s important to find ways to cope and prevent relapse when our routines are disrupted. Recovery from substance use disorders is a perpetual process for some as they come to understand there is always a chance of relapse, whether it is immediately, months, or years after their treatment ends. Addiction is a progressive disease, and without proper support, relapse is always possible. Here are some tips to help prevent relapse if you’re not able to participate in therapy at this time:

Self-care seems to be the first thing that suffers when in the throes of addiction. Even in recovery, it can be hard to motivate ourselves to take care of daily dietary and hygiene needs. These problems are exacerbated when there is a co-occurring mental illness. Our brains rely on healthy food consumption to obtain the proper nutrients needed to support brain chemicals, such as neurotransmitters and amino acids. Prolonged drug use creates permanent brain changes, and maintaining a healthy diet can make a huge difference when trying to heal your brain.

The day you complete a recovery program can be an incredibly joyful experience. At the same time, it can be pretty scary. You may be in a structured in-patient treatment facility or regular outpatient appointments, but the idea of suddenly tackling recovery and sobriety alone can cause a lot of stress. This is why it is important to develop an aftercare plan for an easier transition. The purpose of an aftercare plan is to support your transition from recovery, prevent relapse, and meet goals.

Using experiential therapy in recovery has become increasingly popular in recent years. In these therapies, a patient uses creative tools to re-create situations or emotions from the past. Experiential therapy recreates experiences that bring subconscious feelings, urges, or behaviors into a person's conscious awareness. These techniques are not used in recovery on their own, but often supplement parts of treatment programs to provide a patient with tailor-made treatments. It's hard to create a formal definition of experiential therapy because so many therapeutic methods can be used. Baecause of this, there are a lot of misconceptions about these techniques. Whichever technique is used, experiential therapy should provide insight into the nature of a person's behaviors and feelings.

There has been a rise in social acceptance of marijuana use within the past decade. Eleven states have some form of recreational marijuana, and 47 states allow use for medicinal purposes. It’s not as cut and dry as it may seem, and there are a lot of important considerations when using marijuana regularly. There have been studies that show a link between prolonged marijuana abuse and mental illness. Of course, there are a lot of factors that play a role, including the amount of drug used, the age at first use, and genetic vulnerability.

Insomnia or difficulty with sleep can affect the body dramatically. It is common to experience irregular sleeping patterns as a symptom when an individual suffers from mental health disorders or trauma. The inability to get good sleep can lead to a decline in physical health and mental health.

When some of us hear the word God, we immediately experience a split second of judgment. We either determine that the word is good or bad. For some of us it has to do with how we were raised. We may have been raised in a very religious household. This instilled some sort of fear or bad connotation when mentioning God. For others we went the other extreme. Nobody had told us what to believe and we were left searching and wondering a lot of the time. Sometimes we felt as if God abandoned us because the things we asked for wouldn't come true. Sometimes we felt we didn't deserve other things that occurred. There are also those who are in the middle and those who don't believe in God at all.