Reawakening the Senses in Recovery

Regular substance use, no matter what kind, suppresses emotions and interferes with people’s ability to experience what is happening around them. Take a look at the physical implications of prolonged use and learn how to reawaken the senses once the substances leave the body.

Addiction and the Brain

The brain is the hub of all our activities. It regulates the body’s physical functions and is responsible for our thoughts, behaviors and responses to our environment. We need it to walk, talk, think, create and feel.

Drugs affect different parts of the brain by inhibiting its ability to communicate vital information. One area of the brain that is affected is the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for seeing, feeling, hearing and tasting. It is also essential for thinking, planning and making decisions.

Another area is the limbic system, which regulates the ability to feel pleasure and perceive other emotions. Many drugs cause neurons to release abnormally large quantities of dopamine and other pleasure-inducing neurotransmitters. They also disrupt the brain’s ability to regulate these neurotransmitters naturally and lead to a “crash” once the substance leaves the system.

Emotional Tolerance

The beginning stage of recovery is often likened to an “emotional roller coaster” because mood swings are common; however, remaining abstinent and working a program of recovery affords a person the ability to experience and appreciate life’s natural course. Developing coping skills and a support network should be a priority in order to tolerate stressful situations.

It is also important to participate in activities that lead to pleasure and fulfillment. Get together with a group of people who know how to have fun without using substances. Find activities that you enjoy, and pursue them.

Mindfulness

One powerful method of using the senses is to practice mindfulness, which is the active process of bringing attention to what is presently happening, both externally and internally. It involves being aware of your surroundings, thoughts and feelings. Try to do so without judging them in order to fully experience the moment.

For example, if you are out in nature, listen for birds chirping or the sound of a stream flowing nearby. Look at colors and shapes. If there is a breeze, focus on how it feels on your skin. Pick up a stone or touch the bark of a tree, paying attention to the texture. Notice your internal reactions to what is around you. Maybe you are feeling peaceful, or perhaps you are nervous about running into an animal.

During meals, pay attention to the aroma of your food. Take time to taste each bite. Is the food sour, sweet, salty or spicy? Observe the texture before you chew.

Early recovery can be overwhelming, and learning how to tolerate feelings should be a priority. It is then time to use the skills you have learned to find pleasure throughout your recovery. Make an effort to pay attention to everyday activities and look for new opportunities to find fulfillment.

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Millennials and Adderall

In recent years, Adderall has become the drug of choice for people in college and many millennials have even taken their college habit with them into the workplace. Young people struggling to keep their grades up while attending a university often turn to this medication because it is designed to enhance focus for people with legitimate issues of ADHD. For those without any illness, they feel that Adderall abuse helps them stay up long nights to study while increasing their concentration and alertness. It is so popular on college campuses that researchers have found a recent uptick in the number of young adults going to emergency rooms for Adderall-related reasons. They also found that 60 percent of non-medical use of Adderall took place among people aged 18-25.

Prescription Stimulants in the Workplace

Although young adults find that the medication helps them through college, many millennials have developed a habit that is hard to break. Even after completing their education and entering the workplace, young adults continue to use Adderall because they feel it improves their performance and is a driving factor in their success.

Recently, the National Institute on Drug Abuse has found that more workplace drug tests have been coming back positive and they are expected to continue increasing to higher rates than they have been in decades. The second most common drugs detected in these tests after marijuana were amphetamines like Adderall and Ritalin. This type of prescription drug use is more common in workplaces that are dominated by people in their 20s such as millennial-run tech companies. Drugs like Adderall are highly addictive and when people view them as the secret to their success, it can be difficult to continue working long hours in a stressful environment without their usual chemical enhancement.

Dangers of Adderall Abuse

In spite of its ability to enhance focus, Adderall can also have a number of unpleasant side effects including insomnia, increased blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, appetite suppression, headaches and anxiety. Excessive use of the drug can also cause symptoms like hallucinations, delusions and psychosis. Users of Adderall often end up in the emergency room because they experience panic attacks from taking too much.

Instances of suicide as a result of stimulant addiction has increased substantially in recent years. Because of the increase in abuse, more people than ever are now entering drug rehab specifically for the treatment of Adderall addiction. It can be difficult for people to return to the workplace after quitting the drug but ultimately getting treatment will improve their health and prevent complications caused by stimulant abuse.

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Alcoholism and Masculinity

Alcoholism and Masculinity

Historically, alcohol abuse has always been more prevalent among males than females although recent statistics have been slightly shifting. Overall, men tend to become addicted to alcohol more often than women and they tend to binge drink in greater amounts. There is an intricate relationship between alcohol and masculinity as many men feel they must drink alcohol and large amounts of it to prove their manhood or affirm that they are masculine.

Social drinking has traditionally for many years been a cultural symbol of manliness which is often strengthened by media portrayals of alcohol and men. Some theories express that men with alcohol dependencies actually have the most fragile masculine identities that they are attempting to boost by heavy binge drinking.

Male Culture and Social Drinking

Studies show that men not only consume more alcohol but they also have higher frequencies of intoxication and are more likely to form a dependency than women. Certain male subculture and environments tend to encourage excessive drinking such as Greek fraternities which support the notion that alcohol is a rite of passage for men.

Men who are able to drink large amounts of alcohol without much of a physical reaction are considered more manly than those who become sick or cannot handle their booze. Alcohol abuse and a high tolerance then becomes a way to prove masculinity in many male social circles. Research has shown that men who adhere to many of these kinds of masculine norms are actually more vulnerable to peer pressure and are insecure about proving themselves.

Masculinity and the need to adhere to masculine norms can be harmful in a number of different ways. Men who try to conform to strict male codes often experience heightened psychological strain and burden that can exacerbate their alcohol abuse. Drinking alcohol then, serves as a method of both proving their masculinity and an emotional escape from the strain of adhering to these types of male norms. The male norms and codes then appear to be closely linked to alcohol abuse among many men who struggle with their own masculinity.

Men who value other qualities such as self reliance and control may be better equipped to minimize their drinking behavior. On the other hand, men who focus more on physical strength and ability to handle substances will be more likely to test their limits and consume more alcohol than others. In many cases, these are the men who develop dependencies and struggle the most with addiction.

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The Differences Between Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab Treatment

You may be thinking about rehab treatment for yourself or a loved one. One of the first questions may be what is the difference between inpatient and outpatient treatment? The following is a guide to the general differences between inpatient or outpatient treatment.

Inpatient Treatment Programs

Inpatient or residential treatment is an intensive program for the treatment of drug or alcohol dependency. It requires the individual to live full-time at the treatment facility, typically for 30-90 days, but can be longer depending on the severity of the addiction or other underlying conditions. This physically removes the individual from the triggers that are found in the outside world in order to stabilize. Residential treatment is a good choice for someone who has previously been unsuccessful in overcoming his or her addiction or has relapsed.

Residential treatment is also a better option for those who require a medical detoxification due to the powerful physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms associated with some addictions, requiring the oversight of medical professionals. If the patient has a co-occurring mental disorder, other addiction, or additional health issues, he or she is likely best managed in an inpatient facility.

An inpatient facility provides a highly structured environment, which includes regular meetings, counseling, therapy, mealtimes, and other activities. A patient will find substantial support by living in a therapeutic community with other residents facing the same struggles. Residential treatment provides a healthy environment, mostly free from outside distractions that otherwise could prevent the patient from focusing on his or her total well-being, including physical and spiritual health in addition to addiction recovery.

Inpatient programs tend to have a higher rate of success due to being isolated in a controlled, safe and secure environment away from the temptations and triggers that led to addiction in the first place. In this way, the patient gets to practice sobriety and become accustomed to abstinence without the negative distracting influences that kept him or her in addiction before he or she goes back to the stressors of everyday life.

Outpatient Treatment Programs

Outpatient treatment is ideal for the individual who has obligations like work, school, or family that prevent him or her from taking a substantial time off away from such responsibilities. Some people also prefer privacy and anonymity regarding their addiction and do not wish to explain a prolonged absence to an employer or others.

An outpatient facility allows you to attend to your obligations while simultaneously focusing on treatment either during the day or in the evening. It provides individual and group counseling as well.. Peer recovery and support is also a significant component due to the limited safeguards and the availability of some of the same triggers and temptations that may be available by remaining in the community.

Other benefits of outpatient treatment include the availability of supportive family and friends and the opportunity to immediately apply strategies for abstinence learned in rehab to one’s daily life. Outpatient treatment may also cost less due there being no expense required for room and board.

Special care must be taken with outpatient treatment to prevent relapse, however. If the patient is in an environment in which he or she is exposed to drugs or alcohol, the individual will be at a much higher risk of relapse.

Which is best for you?

If you want to know more specifically what the differences are in programs at a particular facility, call to get more details. A qualified professional can arrange an assessment to determine the best course of treatment for you or your loved one.

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Bipolar Signs and Symptoms in Young Men

Although bipolar disorder is equally common among men and women, there are certain differences in the way that each gender responds to this mental illness. It is important to understand the distinct symptoms that may occur among young men so that they can be diagnosed early enough to prevent the disorder from getting worse. Many of the symptoms of bipolar disorder may be the same among men and women but there are unique issues to be aware of among men.

For example, men tend to develop the disorder earlier in life than women and the illness usually begins with mania first. Men are more prone to manic episodes than women and may act out more by fighting, drinking, and being aggressive. Typical mania symptoms include increased physical and mental energy, racing thoughts, risk taking and impulsive activities. Depressive symptoms include loss of energy, prolonged sadness, feelings of guilt and hopelessness and thoughts of suicide.

Severity and Frequency of Symptoms

There are certain gender differences which can cause men to exhibit behaviors due to bipolar disorder. They may be more likely to engage in substance abuse as a way of self-medicating  themselves and their tendency toward escapism can lead them to become addicted to alcohol or drugs. Overall, men tend to have more severe symptoms of bipolar disorder which put them more at risk for problems later in life if they develop the illness when they are young. Women are more prone to have rapid cycling which means that their episodes can occur more than four times a year. Men have more intense symptoms but generally their episodes occur less often. Their symptoms may include more aggressive and violent behavior especially during a manic episode.

One issue that can be problematic in young men is their reluctance to seek treatment for mental health problems like bipolar disorder. Men are much less likely to get help, often because of the stigma associated with issues like manic depression. If you think you recognize any signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder in yourself or someone you know then it is important to seek treatment as early as possible. Young men are more prone to suicide than women and about 10 to 15 percent of those with bipolar disorder take their own lives. Getting the right treatment and medication can help minimize some of the symptoms of bipolar disorder and make it possible to work and function in life in spite of the illness.

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It Takes a Village: Recovery in a Therapeutic Community

The proverb “it takes a village to raise a child” arose from the idea that children are more likely to become healthy, well-adjusted adults when they have the support of their whole community. We thrive with connections to society.

How Does This Relate to Recovery?

Recovering addicts are more successful when they have support from a therapeutic community. The community can be comprised of treatment providers or other recovering addicts. This is one reason that 12-step fellowships are highly recommended, and why they continue to grow worldwide.

What Is a Therapeutic Community?

Therapeutic Communities used to refer to long-term residential treatment centers, in which clients lived together along with therapists and supportive staff. Today the term is used more loosely and can refer to rehabs, intensive outpatient programs, day programs, recovery houses and 12-step fellowships.

The Benefits of Recovering in a Community

By definition, a therapeutic community should take a group-based approach; recovery is more successful when people work together to support one another.

In a residential setting, resources and assistance are available around the clock. Staff is present at all times to facilitate groups, engage with clients in the moment, and make sure that the atmosphere is conducive to recovery. Inpatient settings also allow people to separate from the triggers found in their natural environments.

Outpatient settings also provide support from trained staff, but this is limited to certain times of the day. Group and individual therapy sessions allow people in early recovery to learn coping skills and develop methods to stay clean in their environment.

12-step programs are comprised solely of recovering addicts, who share their experience and strength to help fellow addicts. The programs follow a structure and have a specific series of steps that empower addicts to help themselves.

How to Find the Support You Need

When you are new to recovery, it’s a good idea to observe what is going on around you. Look for people who are committed to their recovery. Find supportive people in the beginning and continue to develop those relationships as time goes on. Talking to others honestly about how you feel and asking for help when you need it are key parts of maintaining long-term recovery.

In treatment programs, utilize the staff’s knowledge and identify resources in your community. If you participate in a 12-step program, go to meetings regularly, find a sponsor and start working steps. Whatever the setting, a therapeutic community offers a recovering addict a natural support network. No one has to deal with the life in isolation.

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Top Netflix Movies/TV Shows About Addiction

There is more content than ever in the media that deals realistically with issues of addiction and depicts the struggles of recovery, relapse and the sometimes harrowing experiences of substance abuse. Netflix offers some hard-hitting dramas, documentaries and even comedies that discuss addiction and include characters that are relatable protagonists who are vulnerable to their own relationship to alcohol or drugs. The most effective stories of addiction in the media can show both the redemption of recovery and the dangers of falling into the pattern of abuse. These are some of the best movies and TV shows available on Netflix that deal with addiction.

Heaven Knows What

Ben and Joshua Safdie directed this dark drama centered around junkies surviving on the streets of New York City. This is a remarkable film in that it stars a real life former heroin addict discovered by the directors and many of her own experiences were used as inspiration for the story including her relationship with her boyfriend Ilya who died of an overdose in Central Park. Although at times painful to watch because of the subject matter, the gritty realism makes this a memorable depiction of addiction.

White Girl

This movie follows the story of a young college student who becomes entangled in substance abuse and the NY drug world after falling in love with a cocaine dealer. Cocaine begins to take over her life as she descends deeper into addiction and struggles to make enough money selling drugs to get her boyfriend out of jail. The film also takes a hard look at issues of race and privilege that can dictate who experiences more repercussions for using and selling drugs.

Flaked

Will Arnett co-created, wrote and directed this Netflix comedy/drama series which largely draws on his own experiences with alcoholism and divorce while living in Venice, CA. The show depicts the main characters regularly attending AA meetings throughout the series and coping with their sometimes tenuous relationship with sobriety. Arnett maintains some mystery about the main character’s past which draws you into his story and struggles with alcohol.

Too Young to Die

This documentary series focuses on the stories of beloved celebrities whose lives were cut short, many of them due to addiction and overdose. Episodes of the series discuss stars like Kurt Cobain, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Belushi and Heath Ledger who were all unable to escape their drug abuse until it eventually turned fatal.

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Young Men and Depression

The most common types of mental disorders experienced by young men are depression and anxiety. These issues affect one in seven young men between the ages of 16 and 24 every year. Teenage and college age men often don’t get the help they need because their symptoms of depression are ignored or written off as growing pains. It is important to learn to recognize depression symptoms in young people, particularly men because they may have more trouble expressing their emotions to others.

For young men, their problems with depression can affect their performance in school or at work, their physical health, their ability to maintain friendships and their need to use alcohol and drugs to self-medicate. Getting early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent depression from becoming a greater problem as young men begin to enter later adulthood.

Coping Methods in Men

With issues like depression, men and women tend to be affected differently when confronted with symptoms. Men may find certain unhealthy coping mechanisms that help to mask their depression and keep it hidden from others. Although the symptoms of depression among men and women are often the same – feelings of sadness or hopelessness, difficulty sleeping and lack of pleasure- their way of dealing with the symptoms can be very distinct.

Men tend to engage in escapist behavior such as working all the time or spending a lot of time on hobbies like sports or exercising excessively. They may express their depression through controlling, violent or abusive behavior or simply with irritability and inappropriate anger. Men may feel that they cannot express feelings of sadness and try to downplay their symptoms by ignoring or suppressing their depression. Unfortunately many men may also be reluctant to discuss their mental health or resist getting treatment because they worry about the stigma associated with depression.

Young men in particular may cope with their depression through dangerous methods like self-harm, drug or alcohol abuse or controlled eating. There has been a recent rise in the number of young men engaging in self-harm because they are dealing with symptoms of depression without professional help. Teenage and college age men often struggle with issues of self-esteem but may be unable to talk to anyone about their feelings.If you notice any of the symptoms of depression in yourself or others including coping behavior like working long hours, excessive exercise, self-harm, or substance then consider looking into treatment options. Getting help from a professional therapist can minimize harmful coping methods and improve the mental health of young men with depression.

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Guide to Abused Prescription Medications

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), most drugs of abuse alter a person’s thinking and judgment, leading to health risks that include addiction, impaired driving, and even infectious disease. While there are a seemingly endless number of prescription drugs available, broadly speaking, and according to the NIDA, the most commonly abused drugs fall into the following three categories:

Opioids, also known as painkillers, reduce the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain and affects those brain areas controlling emotion, which diminishes the effects of a painful stimulus. Some people experience euphoria, since these drugs also impact the reward centers of the brain. Medications in this class include hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), morphine (Kadian, Avinza), codeine, and related drugs. Their use and devastating abuse is making worldwide headlines and has reached epidemic proportions, leading Maryland Governor Hogan to Introduce Legislation to Combat Maryland’s Heroin and Opioid Epidemic.

According to a Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control report from NIDA, the total number of opioid pain relievers prescribed in the United States has skyrocketed in the past 25 years [1]. The number of prescriptions for opioids has escalated from around 76 million in 1991, to nearly 207 million in 2013, with the United States their biggest consumer globally, accounting for almost 100 percent of the world total for hydrocodone (Vicodin) and 81 percent for oxycodone (Percocet).[2]

Taken as prescribed, opioids can be used to manage pain safely and effectively. However, when they are abused, even a single large dose can cause severe respiratory depression and death. Prescription opioids have a high street market value and, when abused, are often crushed, snorted, and injected. Actors Heath Ledger and Philip Seymour Hoffman, both tragically died from accidental opioid overdose.

Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants (for anxiety and sleep disorders) or benzodiazepines, include diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax) and often prescribed for anxiety, acute stress and panic attacks. Benzodiazepines are generally not prescribed for long term use because of the risk for developing tolerance (where increasingly larger doses are needed to achieve therapeutic effects), dependence and addiction. Sudden cessation of CNS depressants can be life threatening and withdrawal must be managed by a medical professional.

Stimulants such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta are commonly prescribed for ADHD and narcolepsy and often illegally bought and sold among high school and college students who use these drugs in a misguided attempt to enhance study. As the name suggests, stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy, and also elevate blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration.

Repeated abuse of some stimulants can lead to feelings of hostility, paranoia, and even psychosis. Repeatedly taking high doses of stimulants may result in a dangerously high body temperature, an irregular heartbeat, and increased risk for cardiovascular failure or seizures.

For other drugs commonly abused, or further information and help, visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

References:

[1] IMS’s National Prescription Audit (NPA) & Vector One ®: National (VONA).

[2] International Narcotics Control Board Report 2008.. United Nations Pubns. 2009. p. 20

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The Myth Behind the Creative Addict

The belief that certain drugs or alcohol enhance creativity has been around for centuries. Beethoven and Van Gogh had exceptional talent and were alcoholics. During the 1960’s psychotropic drugs were often taken by musicians to expand their mind and inspire creativity. Even today, Silicon Valley tech workers are justifying the use of microdoses of LSD to facilitate productivity and creativity.

It is certainly likely that illicit drugs can lead to original thinking due to disinhibition associated with the drugs’ use, and artists often use them to overcome stage fright or performance anxiety as well. Drug use, however, can eventually impair the artist, rendering him unable to practice his craft without the continued use of more drugs or alcohol.

In particular, heroin increases the flow of dopamine to the brain resulting in pleasurable feelings. Eventually, the abuser will build up a resistance to heroin, requiring increasing and more frequent doses to achieve the same pleasant feelings. In time, the addict will lose the ability to experience pleasure from normal artistic endeavors. Such was the case with famous heroin overdose deaths like Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, John Belushi, and Sid Vicious.

Other artists died prematurely due to causes exacerbated by their drug and alcohol abuse like Jerry Garcia, Whitney Houston, Elvis Presley, and Ernest Hemingway. Each one of these artists, and many others, eventually found their creativity stifled. In fact, when Hemingway received the Pulitzer Prize just a few years before his suicide, he remarked in his speech that the writer “…grows in public stature as he sheds his loneliness and often his work deteriorates.” At the time of Whitney Houston’s death, she was attempting to stage a comeback after a number of years of poor performances.  Jerry Garcia’s mental and physical health had been in decline for several years before he died of a heart attack after checking into rehab again in 1995.

Creatives are unique and admirable for their special qualities. They like to take risks, they think big and are nonconformist, they like to daydream and consider the possibilities, and they are keen observers of people and life and are willing to open themselves to new experiences. These are the qualities artists need in order to write, paint, and perform. For the artist who succumbs to the lie that drugs and alcohol will heighten her creativity, she will find in time their talents stole away by addiction. To become and remain a successful artist, it takes discipline and thousands of hours of hard work. It’s difficult to motivate yourself to work when in the throes of an addiction.

If you need to foster your creativity, you will find healthier and more effective proven methods by getting outside in nature, switching up the time of day that you normally work, changing the environment that you work in, spending some time in a different creative interest, taking time for rest and exercise, and using your natural curiosity to learn something new. And if you are an artist struggling with addiction, it’s imperative you receive treatment. Make the call to get the help you need to live the healthy, creative life you deserve.

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