Addiction

The holidays are often filled with family, friends, food, games, and more. While spending time with friends and family can be fun, it can also easily get out of hand. Many people drink during the holidays to celebrate, relieve stress, socialize and more; this habit of thinking also causes people to spend too much, argue more, get in accidents, become more stressed or anxious, and not have real conversations with each other. Perhaps you are in recovery or are simply trying to cut down on drinking. No matter the case, it can be difficult to manage our original goal of sobriety during the holidays when our loved ones are indulging and want us to partake in the drinking festivities as well. Here are four nice (and effective!) ways of denying alcohol at holiday events:

Most of us know of someone with an addiction; some of us have been asked for money or other resources to help our friend or family member. When this happens, our loved one always seems to have an upsetting story or sad reason for why they need support, but they may never seek treatment. We want to help them and at first, we may even give them everything we are able to offer – but our loved one continues to ask for more and more, and eventually we become exhausted of our time, money, resources, mental and physical energy.   Setting limits is very important when living with someone who has an addiction. By setting boundaries, you are protecting yourself and your well-being while also ensuring your loved one facing the natural consequences of their own actions. For example, you may wish to inform your loved one that if they are using, you refuse to loan them money or pay their bills. If you feel that your loved one is not going to seek treatment on their own, you may wish to stage an intervention. Planning, gathering information, forming an intervention team, deciding on specific consequences, making notes on what to say, holding an intervention meeting, and following up are all important steps to reach out to your loved one. There are several reasons for why your loved one may not wish to seek treatment: 1) they don’t want everyone to know that “had to seek help” because of their addiction, 2) they believe treatment is too expensive, 3) they feel life is too hard being sober, 4) they believe they don’t really have a problem, and/or 5) they haven’t hit rock bottom yet. Educating yourself about addiction is one of the best ways you can prepare yourself to better understand your loved one and what they are going through. Educating yourself, setting limits, staging an intervention, and taking care of yourself are all steps needed when your loved one isn’t taking steps towards their treatment and recovery.

With the holidays coming up, it can be easy to feel nervous about the urge to abuse alcohol or drugs. Whether potential usage is with family or friends, or whether we may feel lonely during the holidays, the urge is still there, and it’s real. If you’ve been in recovery for quite some time or if you’re just wanting to ensure your health and safety this holiday season, sobriety can easily be achieved by remembering and following these few simple tips:

An excerpt from Tom Shachtman’s book titled, To Be or Not To Be Amish: Once the young ladies hit the cars, and the cars have pulled away from the homestead, appearances and behaviors begin to change. While riding along, each Amish girl performs at least one of many actions that have been forbidden to her throughout her childhood: lights up a cigarette, grabs a beer, switches on the rock and rap music on the car radio or CD player, converses loudly and in a flirtatious manner with members of the opposite sex. Leanne, a character from “Orange is the New Black”, grew up in an Amish community and started using meth during her Rumspringa. Outside of her character, this issue is a major concern in the United States today. According to Amish America, Rumspringa or “running around” is “a term used to describe the period of adolescence Amish experience starting at around age 16. Rumspringa seems to have caused an epidemic of addiction among the Amish community; last year, approximately 70 people – many of them youth – were arrested at an Amish party. Fox 59 reported more than 1000 people were expected to attend from Ohio and the Interstate before the party was shut down. Addiction does not discriminate. Individuals of the Amish community face the same demons the rest of us face, including addiction. According to NPR.org, Rumspringa is a time where adolescents of the Amish community can “test” out the modern world to determine if they would like to continue their path within the community. At age 16, the adolescents have not yet been baptized, so they are not officially considered members of the church yet. Many youths are encouraged to explore movie theatres, driving, malls and more – but some, with this feeling of freedom, take part in unhealthy behaviors that lead to addiction. Alcoholism, meth, heroin, and opioid addiction all impact the Amish community, just like any other community. The dangers are ever more real to Amish youth because, with this form of freedom, they are likely to take drastic action in a similar fashion people first entering college might take. At any age and in any community, addiction can occur.

Whether you’re hosting, attending, or neither, the holidays can bring about stress. Pressures of cooking the best meal, putting your “best foot forward” when talking to friends or family you haven’t seen in a long time, and managing the holidays alone can all be stressful and anxiety- inducing. With the right mindset however, anxiety and stress does not have to be a part of your holiday. Here are several wonderful tips for handling anxiety during the holidays:

Suspended receiver Josh Gordon of the Cleveland Browns has struggled with addiction for several years, missing many games and nearly all a season in 2015 due to substance abuse. On a video released, Gordon stated, “I’ve used alcohol on many, many occasions. Xanax on many occasions, cocaine several occasions, marijuana most of my life, codeine, cough syrup. Methazine is very prevalent where I'm from. It's what I grew up using." When Gordon left in mid to late October of 2016, he moved to Gainesville, Florida and got into “probably the best shape of my life.” A candid interview with GQ showed Gordon’s true thoughts about himself, addiction, and his recovery. When asked how he felt about recovery now compared to previous attempts, Gordon stated that before, he was thinking to himself, “If I plan on having any type of career, I’ll stop”, but now he is thinking to himself, “If I want any type of a life, if I wanted to live, I’ll stop.” Gordon exclaimed that his perspective changed when he started realizing the reality: that his addiction was leading him to his death and that if he truly wanted to life, he needed to do something about it. Dr. Stephen Diamond, licensed clinical and forensic psychologist, told Psychology Today, “in some ways, addiction is an extreme example of an existential challenge we all wrestle with every day: accepting reality as it is.” Josh Gordon’s previous beliefs of himself and his addiction may have held him back from truly changing his life; it wasn’t until he faced his reality that he had a clearer view of what he needed to do next. ESPN noted that Gordon had been given a year-long suspension for the 2015 season because he had four drinks on a plane. Gordon stated in a video, “I’ve been enabled most of my life, honestly. I’ve been enabled by coaches, teachers, professors, everybody pretty much gave me a second chance because of my ability.” Psych Central defines enabling as “removing the natural consequences to the addict of his or her behavior.” Enabling perpetuates addiction and shows the person there is nothing wrong or their behavior is “okay”. Many people, especially athletes and other highly-recognized individuals, may become enabled because their friends, family, and authority figures do not feel comfortable “standing up to” or “confronting” the person, although this is what they really need.

Tramadol is a pain medication that serves to moderate severe pain intensity, and is part of a class of drugs called opiate narcotic analgesics, which work by changing the way the brain responds to pain. Tramadol used to be considered relatively safe, but it is becoming clearer just how dangerous it is. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the estimated number of tramadol-related emergency visits due to misuse or abuse rose 250%, from 6, 255 visits in 2005 to 21,649 visits in 2011. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated in 2014 that tramadol has the same chemical structure as codeine. This medication has an extended form used for around-the-clock treatment rather than a “take as needed” basis. Also in 2014, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that tramadol has been placed into schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This was due to the concern of abuse, misuse, addiction and overdose of opioid analgesics. While tramadol can be safe if taken as prescribed by the doctor, it is highly addictive and can be very dangerous. Firstly, there are a wide range of side effects with this drug that can be very unpleasant: itching, headaches, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and drowsiness, to name a few. More serious side effects include seizures, serotonin syndrome, depressed breathing, fatal skin reaction, and more. Tramadol is not safe when mixed with alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, or other narcotic medications. Due to the similar chemical structure of codeine, tramadol can become habit-forming. The Wall Street Journal claims that tramadol has been known to be as addictive as morphine – when taken, the drug increases the production of neurotransmitters in the brain such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and other hormones, such as endorphins. WHO reports that tramadol enters the bloodstream immediately, with effectiveness peaking in 1-4 hours and extended-release tramadol peaking in 4-6 hours. Withdrawal symptoms begin to appear within about 12 hours of the last dose. The DEA states that 90% of people who withdrawal from tramadol experience traditional opioid symptoms.

As humans, we create our own perceptual definition of “the wrong path” but philosophically, there are simply choices being made. As a society, we have a clear distinction regarding morals; there is a right and wrong, good and evil. The nature of morality may vary depending on the person and circumstance. For example, a common philosophical question of morality is this: We typically state that stealing is wrong. If stealing is wrong, then a person should suffer the consequences, which often means that the person goes to jail. However, what if a person has no money, no family, is homeless, and is starving? Should someone go to jail for stealing a loaf of bread at the store? This question could be debated and argued from several different viewpoints; we now have food shelters so that people don’t have to make “risky” decisions such as stealing. When it comes to other viewpoints of “right and wrong” and “good and evil” common societal belief is that “right” and “good” means happy, healthy, and making choices that coincide with success, value, and goodwill. Choices that are considered “wrong” and “evil” are often choices that harms oneself and others, declines a person’s happiness and health, and doesn’t assist with the success, value, and goodwill of a person and population. Many times, if someone falls into harmful habits of addiction or is negatively affected by characteristics of mental illness, they may be viewed as “going down the wrong path”. However, as humans, we are bound to come across maladies and issues, and “the wrong path” could easily become “the right path” should a person have proper support and is able to take steps towards overcoming what is troubling them. The issue with stating that someone has “taken the wrong path” is an implied notion that the person is staying on the wrong path, never to return. This can be limiting, as being human is a series of ups, downs, and everything in between. If we can change our perspective to the fact that we are all human with maladies and flaws, we all suffer from pain, we all make choices, and we all learn from those choices, we can better help lift one another up to overcome our struggles. We all have diverse backgrounds and experiences, feelings and thoughts – therefore we all suffer from different things. The best way to “stay on the right path” is to eliminate the pressure behind being right and what that means to be on the “right path”, and just take a path. See what works and what doesn’t, learn and grow from our experiences and strive to lead a life of which we can be proud of.

Partial hospitalization typically involves the most intensive care available outside of nonresidential programs, and it could be just want you need. It is often used for people who suffer from addiction and abuse, mental health disorders, and/or behavioral health disorders. People who have already completed residential treatment and want to transition to more independent living may benefit from this form of hospitalization, and people whose needs do not require residential treatment may also use partial hospitalization. According to the Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare (AABH), partial hospitalization can be beneficial because it costs less than full residential facilitation, and those who participate in this program often need less treatment afterwards because of the intensive care they received during that time. Participating in partial hospitalization could mean that you receive the care that you need while maintaining outside responsibilities and transitioning to full, independent living. Partial hospitalization may include medical attention as well as individual or group therapy, just as they would in residential facilities. The program typically requires 6 or more hours each week, and you would continue to learn about your addiction or mental illness and even discuss your concerns with others. Here, family is even given an opportunity to attend therapy and work with you as well. However, where you would live and receive food in a residential treatment center, partial hospitalization means that you would return home each day, able to take care of your children or other home responsibilities. However, this form of treatment is not appropriate for those who suffer from severe addiction and behavioral issues, or those who are just beginning their journey to recovery and need full support. Partial hospitalization is not beneficial for those who need round-the-clock care, and if you are suffering severely from behavioral issues or other concerns, this may not be an appropriate option for you. If you have indicated initial stability in your residential program but may not be fully ready for outpatient programs, partial hospitalization may be a wonderful choice. If you are considering participating in partial hospitalization, please speak with a health care professional now. If you are currently in a rehabilitation facility, speaking with a leader in your program could be beneficial because they will be able to work with you to determine a plan of action that fits your needs.

Programs with proven results provide peace of mind and clarity to any given treatment center program. Addiction and mental illness both require experts who care about the individual person, and are willing to individualize each component of the program to best suit the client’s needs. By exploring the four strongest evidence-based programs for addiction and mental illness recovery, you can have a better working knowing of what is most effective and what may be a good fit for you. With evidence-based programs, there are 3 primary components that determine what makes the list:

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), approximately 40 million adults in the United States suffer from an anxiety disorder every year. Although only 36% of those adults receive professional treatment, many use over-the-counter medication or take medication that was not prescribed to them. Anxiety medication can be very dangerous and addicting; therefore, it’s so important to know what you are taking and how much you should be taking. The most common form of anxiety medications are benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin, Valium and Ativan – all of which work quickly and are not recommended for long-term use. The quickness of anxiety medications can help greatly with panic attacks, but many have unwanted side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, slurred speech, trouble concentrating, memory problems, headaches, and more. If a person becomes dependent, the withdrawal symptoms can include increased anxiety, insomnia, confusion, stomach pain, depression, panic attacks, pounding heart, and more. If a person takes medication that is not prescribed to them, they are at increased risk for dependency and damage to the body. Antidepressants are another form of medication typically prescribed, such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, and Celexa. Dependency may take a little longer with these types of medication, but there can still be unwanted withdrawal symptoms such as extreme depression, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, flu-like symptoms, and insomnia. Some antidepressants can make the depression worse for some people – putting them at higher risk for suicide, hospitalization, and more. If a person is experiencing hostility, restlessness, extreme agitation, or panic attacks while taking their antidepressant, they should see a doctor immediately. Anxiety medications directly affect the central nervous system, and while they may relieve short-term physiological concerns, there are alternative methods to treat anxiety.  Some people wish to combine their medical treatment with these other types, and some wish to utilize holistic methods strictly. Exercise, psychotherapy, yoga and tai chi, mindfulness and meditation are just a few excellent ways to reduce anxiety and depressive thoughts in a safe, holistic manner. Closely monitoring your medicine usage and symptoms with regular doctor check-ups is a fantastic way to ensure that you do not become dependent or addicted to anxiety medications. Utilizing holistic, therapeutic methods of treatment are also great ways to ensure that you are working through your stress and anxiety in a healthy manner. Consulting with a doctor and therapist to discuss these options may help you determine which path is most effective for you.

Anyone who suffers from an addiction knows that recovery is a challenging, lifelong process. We must constantly be aware of our stressors and triggers to note if we are in a situation where we feel the need to repeat old negative patterns of behavior. The beginning of our recovery journey can be particularly difficult, because we may fear relapsing. Relapsing is defined as the recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement. Many people who are afraid of relapsing or who have already relapsed, are scared that they failed. Relapse is a normal part of the recovery process, though, and should not be considered a failed attempt at recovery – it is merely an opportunity for us to learn and grow from our experiences. There are three main ties to relapses – physical, mental, and emotional. Emotional relapses may occur in a person and while this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will go right back to their old addictive habits, it is the first stage of the relapse process and could indicate that a relapse could occur soon. If a person is feeling anxiety, intolerance, anger, defensiveness, mood swings, isolation, is missing meetings, is eating or sleeping poorly, or is refusing help, they could be on the brink of a relapse. Mental relapses occur when a person is at war between using the drug/substance and staying sober. When this happens, the person experiences fleeting thoughts of using, and they can’t seem to stop. A few characteristics of this may be lying to the people closest to them, romanticizing using the substance/drug in the past, dwelling on people, places, or things that tie directly to the addiction, spending time with people that they used to engage in the addiction with, etc. At this stage, it can become very difficult for the person to stay sober because at this point, they may feel that they can control their addiction and that using only one more time won’t hurt them. The person may also feel that they can easily get away with using again. Physical relapses could involve the person using the substance/drug only once and then realizing their mistake, or could mean that they fall back into old habits. Once a person has relapsed, they may feel anger, shame, disappointment, frustration, and more. Relapsing does not mean that we have failed. It simply means that we are learning more about ourselves and how we react to triggers and stimuli – it provides us with an opportunity to look further into why we relapsed and what we can do to prevent this next time. This may also present an opportunity for us to enter back into inpatient treatment, or to increase our meeting attendance. Millions of people have relapsed and recovered from it. If we can view this as a learning opportunity and grow from it, we can make the most of our journey through recovery.