Drug Detoxification Process Explained

Medical professionals often define addiction as a chronic disease in which drugs force a physical dependence. In most cases, until a point where a patient is unable to adequately function without their drug of choice.

While the primary goal of the detoxification process is to eliminate the drug, abruptly separating oneself from it can result in life-threatening withdrawal symptoms depending on the substance.

Additionally, detoxification should solely be viewed as the first step towards recovery. While toxins can be expelled from the body with medication, this does not suffice in the overall treatment process.

Detoxification is the first step that caters to the physical symptoms rather than addressing critical psychological issues. A comprehensive treatment will address all these issues eventually.

First Stage of Drug Detoxification

Here’s the truth:

The initial stage of the drug detoxification program will be tough – because of this, the presence of a medical professional is necessary.

Amongst some of the most common withdrawal symptoms, you may feel anxiety, sweating, insomnia, chronic muscle aches and agitation.

It should also be noted that, in some cases, more extreme behaviors are also a possibility. These include violent outbursts, symptoms of psychosis, or even symptoms off other mental illness.

We understand that it seems like a frightening situation to be in. However, remember that in the end, it will all be worth it, as you will live better and feel better.

A Three-Step Process

Detoxification is not a straightforward task, but instead, involves a three-step process: evaluation, stabilization and preparation.

Evaluation

The preliminary step is designed as a basis or foundation for any further treatment needed in the future. During an assessment, physicians do tests and are mindful of finding any drugs in the patient’s system.

They also measure the patient’s concentration and identify any potential mental or physical disorders. This in-depth assessment is meant to ensure that medical professionals choose the adequate treatment, based on the individual’s unique set of needs.

Stabilization

The second part of the detox process involves the discontinuation of any drug abuse by using medication-assisted treatments. Of course, this is all done while professionals lend their knowledge and expertise in providing psychological support.

The ultimate goal is to create a stable, sustainable and substance-free life. So, these professionals will educate patients about the steps needed to achieve that and what is expected of them during and after recovery.

This is the stage in which doctors often involve the patients’ family and friends as moral support.

Preparation

The final piece of the puzzle is designed to stress the importance of follow-up treatment and the dangers of failing to adhere to a continuum – in many cases resulting in a relapse.

All the while, health professionals obtain a written agreement from the patients, stating that they are involved and willing to continue their treatment even after the drug detox process.

This third part is arguably the most crucial step in the detox process, as it touches upon other more important matters, including the preparation for active rehab in the real world.

Often, family members and friends will also be involved in the preparation stage, as love and support are invaluable to the overall recovery process.

Types of Drug Detoxification

It’s essential to note that there are many different types of detoxification options that might raise the interest of patients.

As a general rule of thumb, the severity and intensity of the withdrawal symptoms will act as an influence as to which type of detox you should opt for.

Inpatient Detox

Previously considered the most popular choice, inpatient detox is a means of ensuring that adequate medical care is available in case of an emergency. This is one of the main reasons why inpatient detox has been named the most effective method of eliminating drug abuse habits.

In this scenario, patients will be admitted to a clinic where he or she will have around-the-clock support by medical professionals.

Outpatient Detox

Gaining popularity nationwide, outpatient detox is an alternative for those whose addiction is less severe.

This option is for those who are able to detox in the comfort of their own home. Those who have pressing work or family commitments that don’t allow them to be away from home for extended periods of time will also find this more suitable.

Opioid Detox

Opioid detox can occur in outpatient and inpatient treatment through medication options that allow the safety and comfort of the patient. During this type of detoxification process, medications will reduce opioid dependence and alleviate any adverse withdrawal symptoms.

Generally, medical professionals use methadone and buprenorphine. These are renowned as effective partial or full opioid agonists that can stabilize a patient’s condition instead of further damaging their mental or physical state.

Opioid detox involves the patient being gradually weaned off the drug – reducing the intensity of withdrawal symptoms.

Different Lengths of Time

As mentioned in the above paragraphs, the detox process will ultimately depend on the severity of the addiction and the drug in question.

Due to this, you may find that there are different options available, especially regarding the overall length of time needed to complete the treatment.

These can include:

Short-term Medicated Detox

This option incorporates the use of a short-term medication plan. During this plan, the patient is subject to specific medications designed to relieve any harmful withdrawal symptoms.

Long-term Medicated Detox

Typically used for treating opioid addictions (i.e., heroin), long-term medicated detox involves receiving the correct dosage of medication to stop the patient from experiencing withdrawal symptoms entirely.

The dose will gradually be lowered until the individual is completely free of any drug use habit. In other words, this is very similar to the Opioid Detox that was mentioned above.

‘Cold Turkey’ Detox

The following approach encompasses cutting off the use of all substances and drugs at once, while medical supervision is on hand – in case of emergency, severe pain, or discomfort.

However, the downside is that patients will experience all withdrawal symptoms, in all respects. Additionally, no medication will be available to comfort or relieve these side effects. As a result, this is the most difficult form of detox.

Conclusion

Detoxification is the first step to a more complex process meant to keep a patient from resuming the habit of drug use. A successful recovery is dependent on taking care of your mental state. In addition, support groups and therapy sessions are also essential in achieving a substance-free life.

In fact, it has been documented and researched that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can curb the negative behaviors by recognizing and avoiding triggers that would otherwise cause you to relapse.

To reiterate, this process may be hard, but it will be more than worth it once you’re able to think clearly, get your life back on track, and move forward towards achieving your goals and dreams.

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How a Drug Addiction Rehab Can Turn Your Life Upside Down

As we all know, a drug addiction problem is not to be taken lightly. Not only is your life and livelihood at risk, drug addiction can have serious problems for everyone else around. Oftentimes, addicts are unaware that they have an actual problem and many live in denial, believing that that they can stop at any time.

From failing health to destitution, or even death, substance abuse may seem like an easily surmountable problem. But unfortunately, that is far from the case. This is because drug addiction can easily spiral out of control, leaving addicts a shell of their former selves.

However, thanks to a combination of counselling and modern drug rehabilitation techniques, substance abuse can now be dealt with in a compassionate and caring environment. Here, we look at 5 ways drug addiction rehab can turn your life around.

The Recovery Process Begins

We start off with a brutally honest fact:

Rehab shouldn’t be fun and games. The start of recovery is emotionally and sometimes physically painful, full of frustration, often accompanied by the grieving of the loss of the substance of choice as if it was a dear friend.

Gradually, as time moves on, you will begin feeling stronger and better as your system cleanses itself. Each step feels lighter and you start to feel as if a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. Along with this, you start taking pride in the fact that you wake up each day feeling healthier and stronger than the last.

This is a tremendous boost for your self-esteem and will significantly improve your mental health as you journey onwards to recovery. On the long term, you will start to discover that your immune system has drastically improved and your appearance starts improving as well.

You Will Be in a Supportive Community

The counsellors and staff at any rehab center consist of a mixture of highly-trained professionals and people in recovery who have volunteered their time to help treat other individuals.

Thus, in a rehab center, you will find that you are surrounded by non-judgmental, extremely supportive people who all want to see you recover.

Often, people with substance use disorder have been ostracized and humiliated by society and even friends and family, referred to as junkies, losers, and addicts. That makes it even harder for them to get better because they will just feel bad. This is why in a drug rehab center, you will be able to recover and renew yourself in a supportive environment.

Rehab centers are especially important because there, you will receive all of the encouragement you need to turn your life around.

Along with this, in a drug rehab program, you will find yourself encountering other like-minded people who are also on the road to recovery. The bonds that you will form with your fellow patients can be a source of strength for you too, as you kick the grip that addiction has on your life.

You Feel Happier

Substance abuse is often used as a means to cope with the realities of life, or to escape from some form of trauma that was encountered in the past.

Unfortunately, the happiness or sense of relief provided by addictive substances is a fleeting happiness. In fact, when the high is gone, you will be left in an even worse place.

This artificial happiness becomes harder to attain with each fix, as your body builds up tolerance. Consequently, this leaves many addicts frustrated and depressed, as drug addiction can be a painful emotional disease to cope with.

This is further compounded during the withdrawal period where everything comes crashing down.

Fortunately, a drug rehab program will allow you to eliminate your dependence on such substances. Along with this, you will achieve a sense of satisfaction, as you find that you are able to take control over your life and perhaps rediscover what it feels like to be truly happy.

You Will Bring Your Life Back on Track

Whether you’re looking for your next fix or scrounging up the funds to pay for it, when you’re in active addiction drugs will be at the forefront of your life. Eventually, what seemed like an innocent habit has spiraled out of control.

Friends, family and even children become neglected or even hurt, as you find that addiction has become an all-consuming hunger and your goal in life is simply getting your hands on more drugs.

Accordingly, you find that your thoughts are constantly clouded and your judgment warped by drug addiction. On the long-term, you will find that everything important in your life has disappeared. Thus, leaving you in a lurch with only your substance of choice as a companion.

However, this does not need to be your future. At a drug rehab center, dedicated counsellors will work with you to help you overcome this problem in your life. Detox sessions will purge all addictive substances from your body and will cleanse your system.

From here, you will be able to identify the root cause of your addiction and fight it. As a result, you will be able to refocus on what is truly important in your life.

You Begin to Feel Things Again

Substance abuse provides addicts with a temporary feeling of extreme euphoria or a “high,” which leaves addicts desperately trying to recreate this feeling once again. Thus, this is what makes substances like cocaine, heroin, meth or even alcohol so addictive. They provide an unnatural euphoria that clouds your mind and leaves you out of touch with reality.

A drug rehab program allows you to break from the habit of addiction and frees you up to truly enjoy life’s little moments. After you have freed yourself from your habit, there will be moments where you truly feel in tune with the world. A feeling where a cool summer breeze, or a warm ray of sunlight leaves you with a natural euphoria that no drug will be able to replicate.

Drugs leave you insulated from all the pleasures and sensations that the real world has to offer. Instead, it will only leave you feeling drained and exhausted.

In contrast, the natural highs of this world such as breathtaking summits or even the embrace of a loved one, leaves you with a feeling that recharges you.

These happy little moments aren’t temporary and they will keep you feeling good for a long time.

Conclusion

A drug problem is a crippling disease that consumes you emotionally and physically. On the long-term, the temporary highs from drugs will leave you drained and broken. However, there are plenty of drug rehab programs out there that will help you find recovery and will help you build an entirely new life.

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7 Rewards of Staying Sober

Although the benefits of drinking less alcohol and staying sober are obvious, not many people are rational enough to think about it after downing a few glasses of wine or a few cans of beer.

You have to be aware that alcohol addiction can be dangerous and even life-threatening. In fact, it proves that the power of having a “just one drink” mentality can destroy one person physically and mentally.

Many people often take things for granted, like staying sober throughout the day. Truth is, this may be difficult for some. There are many healthy lifestyle habits that are proven to be rewarding when you stay sober, which we will further discuss below.

Sober People Are Healthier

This may sound like a no brainer, but alcohol abuse can cause serious damage to your body. Long term drinkers have a higher chance of getting liver and kidney damage, as well as heart diseases and stomach problems.

Short term symptoms also include excruciating headaches, insomnia and lack of body coordination. Furthermore, mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression and mood swings are also found to be associated with heavy drinking habits.

If we remove alcohol from our lifestyle, we are bound to have better health and bodies. You may find it difficult at the start, but after getting through the first part known as the initial detox, your body will be cleansed.

Afterwards, your health will improve gradually and you will have more energy and feel better.

Your Relationships Are Strengthened

Staying sober will bring about the most unexpected benefits and one of them is the strong relationships that you will forge with the people who matter the most.

Leaving the influence of alcohol is similar to leaving the bad influences and fake friends in your life. Without them, you will only be left with people who truly care about you.

Moreover, drinking too much can strain your relationship with your family and loved ones as well. This is because they often have to take care of you and try to fix the problems you have caused while intoxicated.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best rewards if you stay sober, as it is life-changing. People will slowly enter your life and these will be the ones who genuinely love you and have seen you through your highs and lows.

Sober People Are Smarter

If you weren’t aware before, excessive drinking will damage your brain cells. No one has unlimited brain cells, so we should all strive to cherish them instead.

Staying sober will allow you to experience mental clarity; you will be able to focus for longer periods of time and live a more balanced life as well.

Have Better Focus

As briefly mentioned, staying sober will help you focus a lot better. However, not just physically, but also in terms of life achievements.

Having better focus means you will be able to commit energy and time to goals and other things. It can be work, or a hobby, or a new resolution.

Without alcohol to affect your clarity of mind, you’ll be better poised to focus and achieve what you want in life.

In fact, according to a research done by “Psychology Today Magazine,” people tend to like themselves more when they are sober, as they are more likely to be in tune with their goals.

When your mind is clear, you will be able to recognize and organize your priorities in order to reach your dreams. Hence, always think twice before you proceed to take another shot, glass, or can. Stay sober to be better equipped with focus so you can enjoy success in life.

Helps You Save Up Money

Alcohol can add a fair bit to your monthly budget. It’s common for people who are in the mood for some drinks to unknowingly overspend. You may have experienced it at one point where you’re out with friends and have spent more money on alcohol than you expected.

Furthermore, people who stay sober have better control over their finances and financial stability. With lesser money spent on alcohol, you will be able to use that money to pay your bills or basic necessities instead.

Additionally, staying sober can actually help you at work. People who overdrink are often late for work, unable to focus and make mistakes on the job. This may cause unsatisfied bosses and even job loss.

Prevents Alcohol Anxiety

Some people may drink to ‘gain’ courage, but what they gain the next morning when they wake up is only anxiety. The anxiety of not knowing what exactly happened when they were drunk and what they did.

Without alcohol, you will never feel alcohol anxiety again. Instead, you wake up feeling fresh and energized to get going for the day.

People who stay sober also tend to follow their schedules, such as hitting the gym, going out with friends and not do things at the very last minute.

Journey Towards Self-Discovery

Without the influence of alcohol, you will start to focus more on yourself and discover new traits. Drinking too much will only suppress your actual personality and bring out another distorted version of you that you think is your representative.

It is a blessing to truly know and learn about yourself. Most people tend to realize that they are actually introverts without the influence of alcohol.

Others might have spent years drinking and thinking that they were extroverts without ever taking the chance to know themselves. Or, you may even discover that you’re a natural extrovert without the need for alcohol.

Staying sober can show you a different and fresh perspective about your character. Self-discovery will allow people who stay sober to lead a more fulfilling and healthier life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many benefits and rewards for staying sober.

Once you stop drinking, you will start having a healthy body. After that, you will be able to start eating well to maintain your healthy lifestyle.

The bottom line is:

Staying sober is a long-term solution to financial stability, mental well-being and being smarter.

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Benefits of Involving Family During Addiction Treatment

An addiction or disorder usually begins due to social interaction. In fact, whether we know it or not, families can be unwittingly involved in the process of addiction.

As the addiction gets more serious and the condition worsens, the addicted individual may start cutting off relationships within the family.

They start to lose the ability to communicate and interact with the people around them. Of course, since each member of our family is important to us, we have to make sure that we are there for each other.

During such a crucial period, it is essential for the family to get involved.

Why is Family Integration Important?

Some people may think that it is the individual’s responsibility to seek help. In some cases, they may even blame each other for the addiction. But, as we all know, blaming won’t get us anywhere and won’t help anyone.

That is why in family integrated treatment, it focuses on involving each household member to gain mutual understanding and support.

The journey to recovery is always a long and tiring process. So, it is important to have ample support from loved ones – family therapy is one of the best ways to do so.

Family Integrated Treatment VS Self-Care

More often than not, self-care is thought to be a selfish move. Some people might believe that self-care is going to deprive another person of getting more help.

This is especially the case when they believe that that person requires more help and assistance.

However, that is not true. Often times, when more household members are involved, the problem of the addiction can be solved from the root cause. For example, someone’s addiction could have started as a coping mechanism caused by constantly fighting parents.

This is why involving loved ones during addiction treatment is extremely important. It will teach each household member what role they can play to help cure the addiction and be involved in the recovery process.

Family integrated treatment comes in many different forms, such as group outing days, counselling sessions, or even individual calls to provide support. All of these different activities were designed all for the betterment of the addicted.

Allows Family Members to Understand Better

One of the most common causes of conflict is that close relatives do not understand the actions of the addicted individual.

Undoubtedly, it can be hard to come up with a logical explanation of their behavior, as their reasoning ability has inevitably decreased. Thus, learning how to deal with it may be harder than you expect.

For example, loved ones should learn how to refuse giving money to the addicted for their unhealthy habits in a peaceful manner.

Scientifically developed, the family system model has helped loved ones to form patterns and routines of behavior that are not controlled by the addiction.

Sometimes, household members even encourage an unhealthy habit unknowingly. By understanding what triggers the addiction and relapses, family members can support the individual and prevent it from happening again.

With professional assistance, loved ones are unlikely to trigger the addiction. Instead, they will provide a strong foundation for support and help in the recovery process.

Realistic Expectations Will Be Formed

Sometimes, the addict may seem to be distant from their loved ones, as he or she is unable to provide financially or bond emotionally to the rest. If family members fail to be educated about the addiction, they may end up disappointed.

This will only result in frustration from both sides and slow down the recovery process. With better understanding and education, both members of the family and the individual will be better equipped to build a support system with little tension and more realistic expectations.

Stop the Stigma of Addiction and Treatment

Although our society has progressed greatly in the past decade, there are still some countries where addiction and treatment are rarely discussed. Hence, including close relatives during treatment will reduce or even remove the stigma.

It’s important to remove this stigma, as it ties down addicts who are afraid of judgement from others.

However, remember that the addiction will not go away by itself. Ultimately, the addicted individual will always need to step in and take charge of his or her life. The sooner it is done, the better it is for them and their family.

Open Discussions Within a Safe and Neutral Forum

The presence of the therapist can make a difference. Without them, the session can end up being unproductive and chaotic. That is why the role of the therapist is to mediate the conversation.

This is so that the session is healthy, useful, uplifting and without harmful accusations.

Furthermore, there may be negative or unhealthy family relationships that form with the addicted loved one. In that case, therapists can suggest activities to restore the family structure.

As a professional, they will always be respectful towards household beliefs and will not go beyond the line.

Families Draw Closer to One Another

Everyone makes mistakes and that is a normal part of human life. Although recovery is a difficult and time-consuming process, having a family support system will help one think through decisions. Ultimately, they will help the addicted household member make better choices.

Each member will face challenges and they will see every one of them work hard to overcome it. Seeing everyone do their best to contribute to the family will bring about joy and admiration too.

With cooperation and teamwork, each and every one in the household will ultimately understand their role and place in the family system. That is when they feel a sense of belonging.

Making a Real Difference

Compared to individual therapy, family integrated therapy can heal your entire family – this is very important in the long term. This is because the relationships built between the recovering individual and their loved ones are often the most cherished ones.

It is essential for them to know and be a part of the recovery journey. This is the real difference loved ones can make in the recovery process.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many benefits to involving family in the process of addiction treatment. Although it is less common, it does not mean that this option should be eliminated completely. It’s important to remember that family is always the strongest source of strength and support.

With their involvement, the family member who is being treated will learn to be a stronger person and have a better relationship with each member of the family. What’s more, he or she will remember that they are not alone in the recovery process.

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5 Benefits of Group Therapy for Addiction Treatment

When you are suffering from addiction one of the biggest benefits is to ensure that you have a good support network around. Your support network could be your friends, family and loved ones or if for whatever reason they aren’t available, or you need extra support from others who are going through a similar situation to you, group therapy may be the answer.

The idea of participating in group therapy might seem intimidating but it is not as bad as it seems with many participants are often surprised by how rewarding their experience can be.

Groups generally meet once or twice a week for 60-90 minutes. How much people want to reveal about themselves is very individual, but there’s security in knowing that what’s said in the group, stays in group. These groups tend to consist of 2 to 12 participants and are led by one or more group facilitators to ensure you get the best guidance in the recovery process.

What benefits can you get from group therapy while you are going through addiction therapy?

Support

Hearing from others with similar issues helps you see that you’re not alone in having challenges, whether you’re grappling with panic attacks, depression, or another mental health issue. Many people experience a sense of relief.

This is where group therapy can be far better than simply talking with your loved ones as other members of the group have experienced similar situations to what you may be going through. This support can be an incredible benefit to your recovery process.

In addition, the therapists that are in attendance of the group meetings will give you an insight into your mind and thought process. This perspective into your own mind can be a helpful addition to your recovery process.

Sounding Board

These groups provide a perfect way to share real-life situations you may be experiencing. If for example, you talk about a fight you had with your partner, group members may see things in the way you present it that you don’t.

Hearing from other people about how you come across can be very powerful. You get a wider range of perspectives on your situation, and that can help you deal with your problems better. This sharing of situations can be invaluable during your recovery process.

Additionally, you may find that a situation someone else is having may be similar to yours. Hearing how they are dealing with it and the advice they are given to solve their problem may work for you as well.

Propel You Forward

These groups can ensure you carry on moving forward in your recovery process. Hearing how other members successfully overcame their fear of flying or how they confronted a family member over drug abuse can be very encouraging. Patients often push themselves harder when they see what others are doing.

Seeing others succeed in a situation similar to your own will give you a mindset of “If they can do it, why can’t I?” This is a mindset that will continue to push you forward past your addiction recovery and onward through anything you do in life. Whether it be in your career, your social life or your love life.

Social Skills

Groups not only help to ease that sense of isolation but also give the opportunity to practice re-engaging with people. By participating in a group, you see that you can get along with others.

When you are in a group of people who have had a similar life to yourself, you may find you have other similarities. Building up a social circle is incredibly important when putting your life back together after suffering from drug addiction.

However, bear in mind where you have met these people, if they being to fall back into bad habits they may influence you to do the same. This is something you must be able to recognize in somebody to distance yourself and protect your recovery.

Thanks to the social practice you will experience in the group, once your treatment is finished you will have a far easier time in creating social connections outside of the group. This will lead to more friends and a potential partner down the line who will support you in life.

Learn About Yourself

Every person in the group holds up a mirror and you get to see yourself through their eyes. It’s a way of uncovering the blind spots that may be blocking your ability to overcome your issues.

Knowing your limitations and triggers will ensure you know if you are going to relapse and situations to avoid so you don’t find yourself in situations that could tempt you back into bad habits.

Furthermore, knowing yourself will help you through all aspects of life. Knowing what you can do and what situations affect you, you can ensure you stay in environments that will keep you happy, healthy, and on a path to lasting recovery.

After reading this article, the hope is that you will now see the benefits of group therapy.

Remember talking to your friends and family is a big help but if you also add group therapy into the mix you will have a much better chance of staying healthy and sober.

To get the best out of group therapy you should try to take a pledge. Each group should have participants sign a contract that spells out what’s expected of them. Knowing this can help you overcome any fears about participating.

Additionally, if you participate you can get more out of it. You might have days when you don’t feel like talking, and that’s fine, but the more you contribute, the more you’ll find it will help you.

Finally, try to share. Your experiences might be meaningful to someone else, and you’ll find that helping others helps you, too.

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The Most Common Side Effects of Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol addiction can be an awful condition for a number of reasons. Whether it be the strain on your finances and the struggles of holding down a job, the pressure it puts on your relationships and your reliability to the people you care about or the time you waste looking for that next drink.

Most importantly, however, what alcohol dependency does to your health is the scariest aspect. Alcoholism can cause you to suffer from an extreme liver disease which can lead to death. Alcohol addiction is a very real threat and should not be taken lightly.

So if you or someone you know suffers from this disease it is imperative to get help as soon as possible. This will cause a new set of problems however in the form of Alcohol Withdrawal.

This article will inform you of what alcohol withdrawal is, the mild and major symptoms of the affliction and how you can lessen these symptoms for a smoother ride to recovery.

What is Alcohol Withdrawal?

Drinking alcohol heavily for weeks, months, or years, may have both mental and physical problems if the drinking is to stop or seriously decrease. This is called alcohol withdrawal. Symptoms can range from mild to serious.

Drinking only once in a while is unlikely to cause withdrawal symptoms when you stop. But if you’ve gone through alcohol withdrawal once, you’re more likely to go through it again the next time you chose to stop drinking.

Alcohol has what doctors call a depressive effect on your system. It slows down brain function and changes the way your nerves send messages back and forth. This is what causes the sensation of being drunk.

Over time, your central nervous system adjusts to having alcohol around all the time. Your body works hard to keep your brain in a more awake state and to keep your nerves talking to one another allowing you to function as best you can.

When the alcohol level suddenly drops, your brain stays in this keyed up state and that’s what causes withdrawal.

Mild Symptoms

Mild symptoms usually show up as early as 6 hours after the last drink that was consumed.

This can cause feelings of anxiety, shaking hands, headache, nausea, vomiting, insomnia and sweating, all of these symptoms are minor nuisances individually but the effect they have all together can put such a strain on the body that anybody would struggle to function in everyday life.

These feelings may sound familiar to you if you have had a particularly heavy night of drinking. This is, of course, a hangover. A hangover is a minor case of alcohol withdrawal and it gives you a taste of what would be to come if an addiction to alcohol were to occur.

More serious problems, however, range from hallucinations about 12 to 24 hours after that last drink to seizures within the first 2 days after you stop. You can see, feel, or hear things that aren’t there and this can be an incredibly difficult aspect to deal with as you are already in a vulnerable frame of mind.

Serious Symptoms

Those who suffer more severely with withdrawal symptoms, normally due to an addiction to alcohol, are affected by delirium tremens, or DTs as you’re likely to hear them called. DTs usually start 48 to 72 hours after you put down the glass. These are severe symptoms that include vivid hallucinations and delusions. Only about 5% of people with alcohol withdrawal experience these extreme symptoms.

Additionally, a person who suffers from serious symptoms will also suffer from a state of confusion, a rapidly racing heart, high blood pressure, a fever and incredibly heavy sweating. These symptoms can be incredibly distressing whilst confused and hallucinating. It is incredibly important that a person must not suffer these alone. If you are experiencing anything similar to this following a session of drinking, please contact your doctor and/or seek medical help as soon as possible.

How to Help

Unless suffering from a serious health condition or having had serious withdrawals in the past, an individual suffering alcohol withdrawal probably won’t need more than a supportive environment to help them through. This kind of environment should include a quiet place, soft lighting, limited social contact, a positive atmosphere, healthy foods and lots of fluid intakes. This ensures a calm, peaceful environment to get through this affliction.

If a rise in blood pressure, pulse, or body temperature is noticed, or if serious symptoms like seizures and hallucinations are apparent, a doctor could suggest inpatient care and drug treatment.

Common medications include benzodiazepines to help treat symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. Anti-seizure medications and antipsychotics, along with other drugs may also be required depending on the severity of the symptoms and depends on the individual.

Conclusion

If you find yourself in a situation where you become dependent on alcohol the best advice would be to seek medical help immediately.

Treating alcohol withdrawal is a short-term fix that doesn’t help the core problem. When you talk to your doctor about symptom relief, it’s a good idea to discuss treatment for alcohol abuse or dependence. The doctor can give you the advice to help you stop drinking.

Treating alcoholism can improve your life dramatically. Doing so will mean no longer will you be dependent on constantly finding a drink for yourself, allowing you to get into a better place financially. You will also find you are feeling much healthier and the risk of serious illness is reduced incredibly.

Quitting will give you more time with your family, more money to spend on what you may enjoy and the risk of death will no longer be hanging over your head.

It is not an easy task to quit, with withdrawal symptoms being one of the harder obstacles to overcome. Getting in contact with a healthcare professional can change your life today.

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5 Ways You Can Help a Family Member Addicted to Drugs

Without a doubt, drug addiction is a killer. When someone you love is addicted, it can be absolutely devastating – addiction causes strain on the family, relationships

Those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol often don’t even realize the intensity of this self-inflicted insanity until it has taken much of their lives and their happiness away from them. There is help and answers out there for those who seek them.

It is important to remember that for your loved ones who are suffering, you can influence them but you cannot control what they do. This article will give you the support and advice you need to aid your family members through this difficult time in their life.

Hopefully, these 5 suggestions will help your loved one on the road to recovery.

Educate Yourself

You can’t help fight an enemy you don’t understand. The first step is learning about addiction: the signs, the treatments, the relapse triggers and ensure you talk to your loved ones about drugs and alcohol from an early age. Of course, education is no guarantee of healthy choices, but it can be a powerful tool in preventing drug abuse and finding a way to recovery.

If your loved one goes into treatment, it is a good suggestion to participate in any family programs that are offered. The education and encouragement offered by a drug rehabilitation center can help you support your loved one and take care of your own needs at the same time. You can then continue to be a source of support and accountability post-treatment when drug cravings and triggers heighten the relapse risk. It’s strongly recommended that you put in place a family recovery contract when a loved one returns home from treatment or sober living. If the addict doesn’t live at home, a recovery contract is important with fewer stipulations, but not imperative.

Take Care of Yourself

A critical lesson is the importance of being good to yourself, regardless of where your loved one is in their addiction or recovery. You can’t control another person, but you can make healthy decisions for yourself in order to have any hope of being able to support and encourage your loved one.

For some people, family meetings provide a safe place to get education and fellowship with others who are facing similar struggles, while others prefer seeing a therapist privately.

There’s a lot of pain and grief involved when you love someone with a substance abuse problem. Your other family members and friends may not process things in the same way as you and may have their own ideas about how to handle the situation.

Handle the situation in the way that is right for you. Don’t let others influence the way you are managing the situation.

Talk About It

Talking about the problem can be healing both for the person trying to overcome addiction as well as their loved ones. A person with a drug problem may be reluctant to come to you and ask for help, but if you can tolerate the lies and manipulation, an open dialogue is your best chance to be there for them when they need you most.

For loved ones trying to take care of themselves, nothing is more toxic to your healing than shame. Many people struggle with addiction in their family but are too ashamed to talk about it.

Bottling everything up will lead to stress and frustration. This will inevitably, eventually bubble over and you will take it out on people who don’t deserve it or worse still, you will take it out on the addict you are trying to help, potentially causing a relapse.

Reserve Judgment

Drug addiction is a chronic and progressive disease, which is also characterized by the possibility of relapse, being what it is there is no cure for drug addiction – although it can be controlled. So in the event that a drug addict does relapse and returns to using drugs again, be accepting of this basic reality. It is a possibility, not a rarity that means the drug addict is hopeless, but also not a requirement of recovery.

If relapse does occur, being proactive is vital to getting the individual back to treatment. The reason being that the disease of addiction is progressive, meaning it continues to get worse and the addict will typically pick up where they left off, which puts them at a greater risk than ever of overdose and/or death.

Approaching the individual, being understanding and support will show them that you are a trustworthy person to interact with.

The Can’t Do’s

First, you cannot make them quit. You can stage an intervention, and you may be successful, but you cannot force someone with a substance abuse problem to quit. Even in states that allow involuntary treatment, you can’t make someone get sober – forced treatment has been shown to be ineffective.

Second, even if a loved one goes to drug rehab, you can’t do the work of recovery for them and you can’t prevent relapse. For many, even those who ultimately maintain their recovery long-term, relapse is a common part of the process. Like other chronic diseases, it’s not unusual for those struggling with addiction to be needing multiple episodes of treatment.

Finally, to avoid enabling, loved ones have to set boundaries and once you’ve laid out your boundaries, allowing them to be violated destroys your credibility and perpetuates your loved one’s addiction. Boundaries can be basic, for example, the person has to be clean and sober if they’re in your home. If the boundary is broken, calmly state, “We talked about this and this doesn’t work for me” or “I love you but I can’t go down this road anymore” and then following through with the consequence. Holding firm to your boundaries may mean disengaging for a period of time, or indefinitely.

Supporting a family member who is suffering from addiction is an incredibly difficult and exhausting task.

If you want to support your loved ones through their addiction, prepare for challenges, find support groups, and learn about addiction and recovery from books, articles, and public events in your community.

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