Addiction Treatment Archives

Can You Convince Someone to Go to Rehab?

Written by Jacob on February 3, 2023. Posted in Addiction Treatment, Recovery, Rehab.

Drug and alcohol addiction impacts the lives of not only the person with addiction but their loved ones as well. Family members, co-workers, employers, and friends might wonder how to convince someone to go to rehab.

Getting a loved one to rehab isn’t easy. And, ultimately the decision is up to the person in need of recovery. At Lexington Addiction Center in Kentucky, we’re here to help those who struggle with addiction get the best treatment possible. We also provide support to their loved ones throughout the treatment process.

How to Convince Someone to Go to Rehab

Discussing rehab with a person who is addicted can be an emotional process. Therefore, you need to consider a few things before approaching your loved one. Instead of bringing up the subject of rehab out of blue, it is best to take a proactive approach. That way, you are prepared and less likely to allow emotions to overwhelm you.

The following tips can help you convince someone to go to rehab:

Learn About Addiction and Treatment

It is crucial to learn about your loved one’s addiction and treatment options. First, by learning about addiction, you gain an understanding of the problem. Oftentimes, family members and friends might come across as judgmental or perplexed. They might say things like “why can’t you just stop?” or “you’re choosing to be addicted.”

The truth about addiction is much more complex. Your loved one never intended to become an addict. No one does. The following can help you learn more about addiction:

Watch videos or read stories that recovering addicts and their loved ones have posted online to share
Research addiction online, especially the specific substance your loved one uses
Attend an open AA or NA meeting, which is open to observers or others who aren’t in recovery themselves

Next, learn about treatment options. By learning more about how addiction is treated, you can come up with options that your loved one might be more receptive towards. Many treatment centers offer specialized treatment services that might suit your loved one’s needs better than others.

In addition, ask yourself the following to better understand what level of treatment is appropriate for your loved one:

Have they been in treatment before or is this the first time?
If they were in treatment before, did they complete the program? If not, why?
Have they been sober for a time and are currently relapsing?
Do they have a co-occurring mental health disorder?
What substance are they addicted to? Do they use multiple drugs?

Learning more can also help you to gain control over your “knee-jerk” emotional responses to your loved one’s behavior.

Keep Your Emotions in Check

Addiction and rehab can be emotionally charged topics. You want to be sure that your own emotions are in-check before approaching a loved one. Of course, when the intervention occurs, emotions will come out. Therefore, you also want to plan how you will deal with these emotions in the moment.

First and foremost, you need to come from a place of concern. Talking to someone about rehab is not about shaming or blaming them. Rather, it is about recognizing a problem and helping your loved one get the help they deserve. The following can help you get your emotions in check:

Talk to a trusted person about your concerns. You might want to consider someone outside of the situation so that they can be neutral and let you talk openly or vent.
Discuss your feelings and emotions with a professional. Therapy can also help the loved ones of those addicted. Family members are especially prone to struggle when they live with an addict.
Attend a support group for friends and family of addicts. There are many support groups for the loved ones of addicts. Al-Anon is one of the most well-known, however, there are several other groups as well. Many groups now meet up via online chat platforms.
Plan what you will do if your emotions do become overwhelming. Preparation is not just about preventing emotional outbursts. It is also about what you will do if emotions start getting out of control. For instance, you might need to take a break to calm down while another loved one jumps in.

Connect With Professionals and Plan an Intervention

Contact an addiction treatment center to learn more about how to convince someone to go to rehab. Many treatment centers will offer valuable information for you, even if you aren’t a client or your loved one chooses another facility. It’s best to make connections and pick a few treatment centers that you think your loved one would attend. That way, when you do have an intervention, you can present options for them or point them in the right direction

Some centers even offer professional interventionists to assist you in an intervention. Planning an intervention with professional guidance is always best. However, if you can’t find a professional interventionist, most prospective rehab centers you are recommending to your loved one will often offer advice and tips over the phone.

Remember You Might Not Succeed

While you might have learned all you can about how to convince someone to go to rehab, the choice will not be up to you. If your loved one doesn’t want help, you can’t force them into it.

However, it is important to remain positive and remember that getting someone into rehab is also a process. And, you might need to have several conversations over the course of months or years to succeed. Just remember, the next time you talk to them about rehab might be the time they finally choose to go.

Help a Loved One Find Rehab Today

Talking to a loved one about going to rehab isn’t easy. However, you don’t need to do it alone. Lexington Addiction Center in Kentucky is here to help you and your loved one through the treatment process. We’re available to answer your questions about your loved one’s addiction and treatment needs. Contact us today to speak to our team.

The Link Between Addiction and Divorce

Written by Jacob on January 13, 2023. Posted in Addiction Treatment, Divorce, Family Therapy.

Those who suffer from addiction to drugs and alcohol tend to have problems in all areas of their lives, and marriages do not go unscathed. The correlation between addiction and divorce can be pretty evident. Spouses tend to be on the receiving end of the addicted person’s frustrations, and this can take a toll on the marriage and potentially lead to divorce if proper help is not received and recovery is not achieved and maintained.

How Addiction Affects Marriages

Loving someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol can take a toll on a person. So can trying to maintain the relationship when it can be pretty apparent that the substances have such a strong hold on the spouse, and the family seemingly comes as a second to them. Feeling like drugs and alcohol come before you in a marriage can make it feel like you don’t matter, or that your spouse doesn’t love you. This can lead to serious arguments.

The longer that the drug and alcohol abuse goes on, the more of a toll it can take on the marriage. Oftentimes, someone who has been abusing drugs and alcohol prior to entering the marriage continues to abuse the substances after marrying. Something led the husband or wife to turning to drugs and alcohol in order to cope. Breaking that cycle can be difficult.

When these unhealthy coping mechanisms continue and progress, the spouse who isn’t suffering with the substance abuse problems can sometimes feel defeated. Resentments can begin to develop, and the marriage can begin to exhibit signs of trouble. Addiction and divorce correlation begins here. There are times when the sober husband or wife tries to stick by their spouse’s side, helping them as they try to get clean and sober. Then, if they relapse, or hide the fact that they are still using and drinking, it can lead to trust issues. There’s many different ways that a correlation between addiction and divorce can be seen.

There is also dissatisfaction in the relationship. If there are marital problems, often it is seen that one or both spouses can turn to drugs and alcohol as a way of coping with the feelings associated with the changes in the relationship. This will only add strain on the relationship, and could lead to both addiction and divorce.

Seeking some sort of counseling or support from people who are going through the same things can be highly beneficial in learning ways to cope with the effects of the addiction on the marriage.

How Addiction Related Divorce Can Affect Children

Unfortunately when addiction and divorce happen, there are often children caught in the middle of it all. They watch as their parents struggle to maintain a civil household, often for the childrens’ sake. This is a time of learning and change for all parties involved- including the kids. The effects of divorce on children can be long term. It can affect their academic performance, due to distraction and confusion surrounding the family dynamic. In such cases, family therapy may be necessary.

The addiction and divorce can also cause feelings of guilt. Oftentimes, children believe the divorce is as a result of something they did. It can be difficult for them to differentiate issues between their parents and issues involving them.

Those who grew up in a household with addiction and divorce also tend to turn to self destructive behaviors. This can mean they participate in criminal activities or abuse drugs and alcohol themselves, to cope coping with the unresolved trauma of divorce.

Can Divorce Lead to Drug and Alcohol Abuse?

Divorce is an emotionally trying experience for anyone going through it. Changes in family structure, the financial stress that comes with lawyers and relocation—they can really pile up. It is common or people to turn to drugs and alcohol to deal with their emotions during divorce. This uptake in substance use can often lead to abuse and dependence. When this happens, it is another problem for the person dealing with the divorce.

Using drugs and drinking can cause more problems, and lead to worse consequences. These unhealthy coping mechanisms often only add fuel to the fire, and make the emotional turmoil worse. In such cases,

Help for Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Lexington, KY

If addiction is affecting your marriage, and you want to change your life, there is help. Professionals are available at Lexington Addiction Center trained in helping you to learn to live life without drugs and alcohol. You don’t have to continue to suffer with addiction, and you can stop the self destructive cycle. Contact us today and let us help guide you to starting a new life.

Is Addiction Hereditary?

Written by Jacob on January 6, 2023. Posted in Addiction Treatment, Mental Health, Trauma.

Whether addiction is hereditary has been a commonly asked question over the years. There’s been studies on the subject, there’s been statistics released, and still the question remains. Is addiction hereditary? The short answer is yes, addiction has been linked to genetics. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 20th century that addiction was even recognized as a disease. Now, the thought process surrounding addiction is still ever changing. Understanding the link between genetics and addiction is vital for those who have suffered with substance abuse and for those who have loved ones who have.

Understanding Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Addiction is a monster that can be difficult to beat. In many cases, people turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with situational feelings, and end up not being able to stop drinking and drugging. This is because the brain and body become dependent on the substances. When this happens, it can be hard to break that cycle. Oftentimes people need to seek professional help in order to end drug addiction and alcohol addiction. Other times, they continue to use drugs and alcohol and end up with some severe physical and emotional consequences. No matter the situation, drug and alcohol addiction is a disease and the question can be asked, is addiction hereditary?

Is Addiction Hereditary?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, there is a link between genes and DNA and your susceptibility to drug and alcohol addiction. They say that about half of it can be hereditary. While there is a link to genetics, addiction is more complicated than that. Just because there is a genetic predisposition to developing a substance abuse problem, does not mean it is a definite thing that’s going to happen in your life. It just means that you are more prone to developing a substance abuse problem. On the flip side, just because you do not have a predisposition does not mean you won’t. Addiction does not discriminate, and anyone can be affected.

To see how addiction can be viewed as hereditary, there are studies that show differences in dopamine in the brain. Higher levels of dopamine can cause poor impulse control, and lower inhibitions toward substance use. Dopamine is viewed as the reward center in the brain, responsible for feeling pleasure. So, when it gets affected by drug and alcohol use, it can make it easier to continue to turn to drugs and alcohol for a sense of pleasure.

Other Factors Contributing to Addiction

Even though it is said that addiction is hereditary, there are other factors that can be attributed to addiction. As previously stated, anyone can be affected by addiction. It is a disease of the mind and the body. There is a physical dependence, and a mental craving associated with drug and alcohol addiction. Knowing other factors, other than addiction being hereditary can help to avoid or identify substance abuse problems.

Trauma

Trauma can be a main factor for substance abuse problems. Traumatic events happening in life, whether in early childhood, adolescence or adulthood, can harm a person psychologically. It can cause flashbacks and anxiety so severe that, seemingly, the only way to feel any relief is to self medicate with drugs and alcohol. This can lead to dangerous consequences. Being that studies show addiction is hereditary, those with a predisposition to substance abuse have a higher risk of turning to drugs and alcohol to cope with traumas.

Environment

The link between drug and alcohol abuse and environment can easily be seen. Oftentimes, children who grow up in homes where there is substance abuse, physical or emotional abuse, or neglect are often seen to begin using drugs and alcohol as a way of coping with their feelings surrounding their upbringing. Whether addiction is hereditary or not can also play a role in the environment affecting someone’s use of drugs and alcohol to cope.

How You Can Help

Regardless of the situation, there is help. Drugs and alcohol can drastically change a person’s behavior and personality. If you have suffered from addiction, the best thing you can do is be open with your family about it. It can help them to be more aware of their possible predisposition to drug and alcohol abuse. If cancer or diabetes ran in your family, you would do everything you can to warn the others in your family of the risks of developing these diseases, right? Think of it that way. Warning them could help to keep them healthy.

Finding Help for Addiction in Lexington, KY

Drug and alcohol addiction is a beast and affects all aspects of the addict or alcoholic’s life. It can take the most functional person and turn them into a monster. If you or a loved one are struggling with drugs or alcohol, there is help for you out there. We at Lexington Addiction Center can help guide you through the early stages of getting clean and sober, and help you to learn to live a life free from drug and alcohol addiction. Contact us today and let our team help you begin this process.

Childhood Trauma and Adult Addiction

Written by Jacob on December 16, 2022. Posted in Addiction Treatment, Mental Health, Trauma.

There is continuing research being done on addiction. Research topics like genetics are often heard of. But what about the correlation between childhood trauma and addiction? Is there a link there? Childhood is the formative years for your sense of right and wrong, what your perception of love is, and your general reaction to situations. Having trauma occur during these years can alter the way the brain forms and functions, and this can lead to detrimental repercussions in later years, long after the trauma has occurred.

What is Childhood Trauma?

Childhood trauma is when an event occurs in childhood that can be emotionally painful to the child. The events that occur often have long lasting effects on the physical and mental well-being of the child in the long run. Having traumatic events occur during the formative years, whether a single event or repeated, can cause a child to feel they have lost all sense of control and safety. These feelings can interrupt the development of the child.

How Childhood Trauma Affects the Brain

While biology and genetics are a vital part of brain development, the brain has what is known as neuroplasticity and this means that it can change and adapt to any given situation. So when any sort of traumatic event occurs, it can lead to the brain’s make-up changing. Trauma during the early years of life, while the brain is beginning its formation, can alter the formation of the brain. This can lead to difficulty in behavioral and emotional reactions. These changes can carry on into adulthood.

Does Childhood Trauma Affect Addiction in Adulthood?

Many people who struggle with an alcohol addiction or drug addiction have experienced some kind of trauma. A lot of those traumas were experienced in childhood. Having tragic and harmful things happen during childhood and feeling that sense of losing control can cause someone to turn to drugs and alcohol as a way to feel like they have gained some semblance of control. This is a false narrative, as drinking and drugging can lead to addiction and once addiction has been reached, the sense of control has been lost.

Using drugs and alcohol to cope with the feelings associated with childhood traumas is unhealthy. The link between childhood trauma and addiction can be seen by the number of addicts seeking recovery who say that the things that happened during childhood, like molestation, abuse, and neglect, led them to feeling a sense of unworthiness and not feelings wanted or loved. These feelings trigger a need for individuals to, somehow, gain those feelings. Whether it be codependence or substance dependence as a way to feel like they don’t feel that way.

The number of addicts looking to get clean and sober who cite childhood trauma as the reason for them using drugs and alcohol is staggering. It is vital to sort out and learn ways of coping with these unresolved traumas in order to curb addiction and prevent relapse once the drugs and alcohol have been removed.

Can Addiction Be Treated?

The short answer is yes. Childhood trauma and addiction are both treatable conditions. When it comes to ending the addiction, it is highly recommended to have medical supervision for various reasons. One being that there can be side effects, medically, of the drug being stopped. These are known as withdrawal symptoms. Everyone experiences withdrawals differently, and no one symptom is associated with any specific drug. There are some pretty generalized symptoms of withdrawal that can be seen across those experiencing withdrawal. Not all are necessarily seen in everyone, however most of these symptoms are associated with those ending drug and alcohol abuse:

Increased blood pressure
Muscle cramps and aches
Restlessness
Headache
Confusion
Nausea
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Insomnia
Seizures
Dehydration
Increase or decrease in appetite

Having medical supervision during this time can be beneficial to preventing medical events that have long lasting repercussions. Being medically monitored by professionals can allow for these blood pressure spikes to be handled. It can also help to maintain someone’s comfort during detox, medications can be dispensed to help counteract some of these extremely uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and allow for someone to get through the detox process, and begin their journey of recovery.

Additionally, having the addiction professionals available in an inpatient setting for therapeutic purposes can help to begin the process of healing from childhood traumas and addiction traumas. Being able to turn to someone trained to help process feelings and emotions, as well as traumas can help keep someone from acting on impulse and giving up on finding recovery. There is help for both childhood trauma and addiction that may have stemmed from it.

Help for Childhood Trauma and Addiction in Lexington, KY

Trauma that stems from childhood can be extremely detrimental in the later, adulthood years. Resolving them can lead you to a healthy lifestyle. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, or have experienced childhood trauma, there is help out there. Here at Lexington Addiction Center there is hope. Contact us today and our team of professionals can help to guide you to a place of peace and serenity.

What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?

Written by Jacob on December 9, 2022. Posted in Addiction Treatment, Co-Occurring Disorders, Mental Health.

What are co-occurring disorders? We know there are substance use disorders, and there are mental health disorders. But what about when someone suffers with both mental health and substance abuse? That is what co-occurring disorders are. These disorders affect countless people across the world, and affect both men and women. But what exactly does it mean to suffer from co-occurring disorders? What is the treatment? How does one “fix” it? Here we will give answers to some of the more prevalent questions surrounding this type of disorder.

What are Co-Occurring Disorders?

As previously stated, when there are substance use and mental health disorders coexisting within one person, that is what co-occurring disorders refer to. This can mean one disorder and one substance being abused, or it can mean any variation of multiple mental health and substance abuse issues existing at once.

Those who struggle with mental health tend to turn to drugs and alcohol more often than others in order to manage the symptoms of their mental health conditions. Conditions associated with co-occurring disorders often include:

Anxiety
Depression
PTSD
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
Bipolar
Schizophrenia

These are just a few of the mental health conditions often seen in conjunction with substance use disorders, and they can lead to the use of any combination of drugs and alcohol. Oftentimes, those who struggle with mental health turn to drugs and alcohol to help them to manage the symptoms they may be experiencing from the mental health concerns. This is not the best solution, however, to the addict or alcoholic, it may seem like the fastest way to find relief.

Some Common Co-Occurring Disorders

What are co-occurring disorders that are commonly seen in addicts and alcoholics? Well, there is no definitive substance that is associated with specific mental health concerns. However, there are some more commonly seen substance and disorder combinations.

Depression

Those who suffer from depression are more likely to turn to drugs and alcohol as a way of self-medicating. Those who turn to alcohol are oftentimes attempting to “drown their sorrows” and trying to heighten their mood. Others use drugs to feel the “high” that they produce, rather than the lows of depression. This helps to relieve the negative thoughts and feelings they may be experiencing due to the depression. Using drugs and alcohol to self-medicate is what leads to addiction.

Anxiety Disorders

When it comes to using drugs and alcohol as a way of coping with anxiety, the feelings produced by drugs like benzodiazepines or opiates can help to ease the mind almost into a state of sedation. This leads the person to believe that they are “feeling better” when in reality, they are just masking the symptoms and creating an addiction. The same rings true with alcohol, the calming effects can seem as though they are a cure to what the person is feeling when it only causes more harm.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

It is common among those who struggle with PTSD that drugs and alcohol are used to cope with the symptoms. It can make the person feel like they are OK, without the stress often seen with PTSD.

Dual Diagnosis

What is a co-occurring disorder compared to a dual diagnosis? Well, they are very similar. However, co-occurring disorders tend to refer to mental health conditions coexisting with substance use disorders while dual diagnosis refers to two or more completely separate diagnoses. As an example, a person can have different ailments caused by drug and alcohol addiction, this would be a dual diagnosis. For what a co-occuring disorder is, the drugs and alcohol would be used to self medicate the symptoms of whatever mental health concerns exist.

In simpler terms, what co-occurring disorders are is when the mental health treatment and addiction treatment happen together, in order to manage them.

How to Treat Co-Occurring Disorders

In recent years, it has become common practice to treat mental illness and substance use disorders together. This is due to the fact that they are intertwined and impact one another. When only the substance use or only the mental health is treated, it does not “cure” the other portion of these co-occurring disorders. The best way to address these coexisting conditions is for medical professionals to guide you through the process.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Lexington

If you or a loved one struggle with co-occurring disorders, there is help. Here at Lexington Addiction Center, we provide care that addresses all facets of addiction and mental health. Reach out to us today and let us help guide you to a healthier lifestyle.

Xanax and Rebound Anxiety

Written by Jacob on December 2, 2022. Posted in Addiction Treatment, Mental Health, Xanax.

Xanax is a drug used to treat anxiety. But what happens when you stop taking it? Xanax and rebound anxiety are tied together being that once someone stops using Xanax to treat the anxiety, there can be a recurrence of the symptoms of anxiety. Learning how to combat this and cope with the side effects of quitting Xanax is important for those looking to stop taking the drug. The right treatment plan can make managing these symptoms easier.

What is Xanax?

Xanax is a drug used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It belongs to the benzodiazepine drug family. It is a Schedule IV controlled substance. This means that it has a medical purpose, but has a risk of being abused. Xanax abuse can lead to dependence and addiction. Xanax was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat anxiety disorders because it helps to calm the brain activity in someone struggling with anxiety and panic disorders. This helps to ease the symptoms anxiety causes and alleviate the stress to the body.

Being that Xanax slows the brain activity, this can lead to slurred speech and motor functionality. It can also change the chemistry within the brain, and alter the productivity of GABA. When this happens, and someone stops taking Xanax, the brain has to rewire itself to regular production of this essential amino acid, and relearn what is normal production rather than what is produced artificially with the Xanax.

Xanax helps those who struggle with these mental health disorders enjoy a greater quality of life. Panic disorders and anxiety can be debilitating to those struggling. Having a medication that can help ease the uncomfortable feelings and help with sleep as well make it easier to function normally can almost seem like a dream come true. But this drug comes with the risk of dependence and, inevitably, withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped.

Symptoms of Xanax Withdrawal

Symptoms of Xanax withdrawal can be uncomfortable to endure. Some of the symptoms associated with Xanax withdrawal can lead to lifelong repercussions and even be fatal. The most common symptoms associated with Xanax withdrawal are:

Muscle cramps
Increased anxiety
Headache
Nausea and vomiting
Restlessness
Irritability
Spikes in blood pressure
Higher pulse rate
Seizure

Some of these symptoms can lead to fatal results. Having professional medical monitoring when withdrawing from Xanax is essential to maintaining a state of comfort and controlling these symptoms that can lead to fatality.

What is Rebound Anxiety?

When someone stops taking Xanax, there is a risk of experiencing increased anxiety. Withdrawal from Xanax and rebound anxiety can go hand in hand. When the brain is used to having the effects produced by the drug, taking it away can cause the anxiety to return at the same level, or sometimes even worse.

You may ask yourself, “Why stop the medication if it is going to make anxiety worse?” First, Xanax has the risk of abuse and dependence. What happens if the drug is unavailable? A person runs the risk of having adverse effects because they can’t get their medication. Xanax and rebound anxiety both have risks, but the rebound anxiety can be managed with non narcotic medications and holistic methods. It is all about being properly cared for in the proper setting to successfully and safely detox from the medication to manage the symptoms.

How Long Does Rebound Anxiety Last?

Rebound anxiety usually begins within 24 hours and up to four days after the last use of the drug. Once the rebound anxiety kicks in, the individual experiencing this symptom of withdrawal may also experience some insomnia. These symptoms can also be accompanied by things like shakes or tremors, sweats, and muscle cramps. The rebound anxiety can last up to two weeks from the last use.

This time frame is vital to be medically monitored to prevent relapse on the drug. While anxiety may continue after the two week period has been surpassed, the intensity and severity of rebound anxiety shouldn’t be felt at that point.

How to Get Through Xanax Withdrawal

Being medically supervised and monitored when withdrawing from Xanax is highly recommended. As previously stated, some of the symptoms of withdrawal can be fatal. And at the worst, all of the symptoms are uncomfortable. Having the capability to speak to medical professionals and address each symptom individually can be a vital component to successfully maintaining recovery from Xanax addiction.

The addiction to Xanax and rebound anxiety associated with withdrawal can be best addressed in an inpatient treatment setting with medical professionals as well as mental health professionals that can address the underlying mental health concerns once the drug is stopped.

Help for Xanax Withdrawal in Lexington, KY

If you are struggling with Xanax addiction, or know someone who is, there is help available. At Lexington Addiction Center, we have a team of professionals trained to manage the symptoms of withdrawal and aid in your recovery. Contact us today and we can help you begin your recovery journey.