Treatment

As we progress through recovery, we learn more about ourselves; we learn more of what matters to us, what we struggle with in life as well as our personal beliefs about ourselves and life. Essentially, life is a classroom with so many different lessons – and for many people in recovery, the concept of boundaries is a bit blurry. Even after seeking treatment, it’s common for those in recovery to deal with cravings to use again; people, places, situations and emotions can spark that feeling to return to substance abuse, because that’s what’s made us feel comforted in the past. With this new stage of life, however, it’s important that you develop certain boundaries with yourself so that you can stay on the road to success. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), highlights the work of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in forming a relapse prevention plan, which truly helps those in recovery establish healthy boundaries with themselves. A scenario of a person who previously struggled with alcoholism, for example, may work on identifying several factors:

We’re not given a “Book of Life” when we’re born, and if that were the case, a lot less people would struggle with mental illness, addiction, and other painful experiences because we’d have already taken the right steps to seeking help. It just doesn’t work that way – and, unfortunately, it’s typically not until we’re well into adulthood that we begin recognizing distressing symptoms. Even as adults, we may believe that this is how life really is – and we may not seek any help at all. If this is something you can relate to, it’s important to know that seeking treatment is not only going to provide you with more answers regarding your day-to-day experiences, but it will also help you prevent any conditions you have from developing further.

Valium (generically named diazepam) is a drug used for its calming properties; medically, it’s typically prescribed to help treat anxiety, muscle spasms and seizures. If not taken directly as prescribed, however, a person can become dependent on this drug, later developing an addiction. Just last year, WebMD reported that drugs like Valium and Xanax, along with other benzodiazepines, are being misused by around 1 in every 5 people who take the prescription drug. Drugs like valium are becoming used twice as much by adults than what was previously reported; by getting a clearer grasp on what Valium is, how it can affect a person and what a person needs to do to seek help, we can hopefully provide more support for our loved ones who are struggling with addiction.

Therapy is an incredibly important part of addiction recovery because it gives you a chance to face some of your internal battles, but it can be really nervewracking if you don’t feel all that comfortable sharing details of your life with someone you don’t quite know yet. Comfortability in therapy takes time, but once you’ve reached a steady dynamic with the person you’re working with, you’ll feel much better moving on to more deeper parts of your mind. In 2017, writer Jas T explained how uncomfortable he felt in therapy via The Mighty, a website that publishes relatable stories on addiction, mental illness, recovery and more. He stated, “Before my first-ever meeting, I was so anxious about seeing the college psychologist that I had a panic attack. I still remember my first few meetings. I did not say a single word or all I could say was, ‘I don’t know’. It was mostly my psychologist doing the talking.” If this is something you’re currently going through, know that you’re not alone – and there are some tips to help you ease into the idea of therapy. Tip #1: Write out what you’d like to talk about, or even just how you’re feeling before entering the session. By doing this, you’ll be a bit prepared for what you’d like to work on. It gives you session a foundation to build off of, and you don’t even have to feel nervous about what to say because you already have it prepared. If you’re too uncomfortable explaining it all outloud, you can even have your therapist read it themselves. Tip #2: Jot down thoughts or realizations as bullet points. This may help you before, during and after your sessions so that you can get a clear sense of what you’re experiencing in therapy. It will also hep simplify some of the thoughts you don’t want to forget. Tip #3: Find a therapist you feel comfortable with. If you don’t feel comfortable with your therapist, ask to try a different person. Get to know your therapist and spend some time building a dynamic with them. It may feel awkward at first, but it’s completely normal.

12-Step support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) receive much of the spotlight when it comes to addiction recovery, but did you know there are alternative groups that a person can become involved in? A common thread amongst non-!2 Step support groups is the open concept of religion and spirituality, whereas many 12-Step support groups promote these areas as being vital to healing and growth. As Very Well Mind emphasized in 2017, those who do not find prayer and other religious messages to be of importance may find non-12 Step programs to be more their style; each person is different, however, and not one model of support can truly fit everyone – that’s where various non-12 Step programs come into play.

Addiction recovery is such a sensitive, vulnerable process – because with so many factors at play, a person requires an integration of treatment methods personalized to fit their needs in order to achieve optimal results. Treatment centers used to focus strictly on Western methods of treatment – such as through medication and intervention programs to address substance use disorder (SUD) concerns. Over time, however, it was noted that not everyone responds well to solely these types of treatment – and by integrated a variety of other approaches, those seeking treatment may be able to receive more personalized care. Holistic approaches to addiction recovery have been widely used in the Eastern world – massage therapy, acupuncture, yoga and more are seen as not only excellent ways to help a person heal from the tolls addiction can have on the mind, body and spirit, but they also help a person take preventative measures from developing other mental illnesses along the way. A 2014 study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research explains that it’s this bridge between the Eastern and Western medicine that resolves many gaps for people in recovery. Of course, these holistic approaches to treatment can be a little worrisome for those who are unfamiliar with them. In 2017, Amy Cook, a contributor to Thrive Global, explained that holistic modalities such as aromatherapy can help reduce symptoms of depressiona and anxiety, and at the very least, provide an incredibly relaxing effect on a person who may be quite stressed from everything they’ve been going through. Julie Aiken, CEO of Ameritech, a healthcare college, explained, “Patients may be experiencing trauma that impairs their psychosocial health and certainly spiritual distress. A holistic nurse will assess the whole person and direct care individually for the patient that will facilitate the patient’s innate healing abilities.” With a combination of both traditional and holistic treatment practices, those in recovery are bound to reap the most benefits.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has emphasized that nearly 21-29% of patients who are prescribed opioids misuse them, and between 8-12% of patients go on to develop an opioid use disorder (OUD). Opioid prescriptions are used to treat pain – whether from an accident, an injury, or a medical issue .Whether used from prescriptions or used recreationally, however, the mind and body become used to the euphoric effects that opioids create, and that’s part of what can make the healing process in recovery quite uncomfortable. If you’ve been struggling with opioid addiction, it’s important to know that your mind and body are going to go through certain changes in recovery – but that doesn’t mean that healing isn’t possible. By learning more about what you may experience in recovery, you can take proper actions to ensure you’re supported in the best ways possible during this transition.

Every couple has their problems, but addiction can escalate a relationship to heights they’ve never seen before. When one person in a relationship is struggling with addiction, the entire dynamic can change – and this places the success of the relationship at risk. A 2019 study published in the journal Zero Three emphasizes the effect that this can have on families – such as through parenting and infant experiences – but what about for couples? How do those in intimate relationships manage the ups and downs of substance abuse?

Sometimes we feel more than what we let out into the world, and writing therapy gives us an opportunity to explore it through pen and paper. Even on a more personal level, writing can help alleviate a lot of stress – a 2016 study published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior found that even writing expressively through Facebook and using various social networking activities online can help alleviate symptoms of depression. Those in addiction recovery may find that writing therapy can open many gates to thoughts and emotions they’ve suppressed over the years, but what happens when that gate just doesn’t seem to open? Let’s take a look at some of the most common problems experienced with writing therapy:

When we walk into therapy, we typically don’t know what to expect. All that we know is that we have a lot of issues that we want to work on – because in the past, we’ve used alcohol or other substances to cover up the pain we’ve been experiencing. This pain may have derived from recent events, or could date back all the way to childhood; nonetheless, it weighs heavily on the mind, body and spirit. Therapy is an excellent place to explore our thoughts, emotions and sensations – because it’s a safe place where people can talk out how they’re feeling with a third party who respects them and wants to help them work through these issues. If you’ve recently begun your journey to recovery, know that therapy can be one of the most transformational aspects of your life if you let it- - and the right therapist will be able to serve as a roadmap to take you where you need to be (given that you put in the work, of course).

Anger is a natural human emotion, and it’s not always bad; there have been many momentous occasions in which anger has propelled a person to stand up for their rights, to take action against a wrongdoing in the best way possible, or to create something that sparked change in the world. Anger does have a dark, dangerous side, however – and for many people recovering from alcoholism, anger can feel like a festering, infectious tornado that just keeps building and building until something is about to break. This is for many people a beginning phase of sobriety – because while sobriety can bring about increased energy, sharpened mental focus and more, there’s still a major change that the mind, body and spirit are going through – and that’s where “dry drunk” comes into play. In 2018, Ben Freeland shared his story of struggling with his first year of sobriety. He explained to Medium some of the positives of his first year in sobriety, along with the negatives: “…A sharp contraction in your social life, newfound awkwardness in longstanding relationships with friends and family, and, of course, the rage. The unfettering, unrelenting, oftentimes blinding anger. The kind of rage that makes you want to put your fist through absolutely everything.” “Dry Drunk Syndrome”, more clinically called “Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome”, is characterized by many as:

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that was primarily created to help treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). With DBT, the focus is still placed on problematic thought patterns with an aim to develop newer, more beneficial thought patterns – but in addition to this, a person is led to practice acceptance and validation in the changes that take place throughout this process. Many disorders – such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and more – can come with “black and white” thinking, which makes it challenging for a person to accept all of the “gray” areas that come with life. A 2016 study published in the journal Behaviour, Research and Therapy found that DBT does help improve the emotion regulation challenges that many people (such as those with BPD) face. With technology becoming such a prominent feature in health fields, apps are starting to emerge which can further support a person’s recovery both in and out of treatment. A 2018 review highlights this app called Pocket Skills, which essentially helps individuals engage in DBT and practice the skills learned through this in their own environment. Pocket Skills seems to cover a variety of areas that may be beneficial for someone looking to apply what they’ve learned in therapy, such as: