Reaching out for Help When With Addiction

One of the hardest parts of overcoming addiction can be reaching out for help. Many people experiencing addiction don’t know how to tell others about their struggles; there are numerous reasons for this.

Some people are embarrassed to tell loved ones about the problems they’re having. Others are in denial about the severity of their problem. Some just don’t know how to articulate how they’re feeling.  Regardless of how difficult it is, getting help for addiction is an essential first step in recovery.

Importance of Getting Help Right Away

It’s never a good idea to procrastinate from seeking help for addiction as it’s a progressive disease. Drug addiction and substance abuse tend to snowball and become more significant and problematic as time goes on. No one wakes up one day randomly and is a full-blown alcoholic or drug addict. The sooner you get help, the sooner you’ll get your life back. 

Recognizing Signs That You Need Help

In order to get help with your addiction, you first have to establish that you are suffering from substance abuse. Below are four common signs of addiction to look out for in yourself: 

  • Obsessive thoughts about drugs or alcohol
  • Lost interest in previously enjoyed activities
  • Declining health
  • Difficulty sustaining relationships with friends or family

Of course the list above is not an exhaustive list of signs of addiction. Substance abuse can take shape in many forms depending on the severity of your addiction and types of substances you’re abusing. Always consult a healthcare professional when seeking help for your physical and mental health. A good rule of thumb with addiction though is: if you have to question whether or not you have a substance abuse issue, you probably do. 

Tips for Getting Help

Once you have recognized that you do indeed suffer from addiction and substance abuse, the next step to getting better is seeking addiction treatment. Asking for the help you need can provide you with a great deal of relief. It will also get the most important people in your life on board in efforts to overcome the problem.

So, how do you get help with addiction? 

Identify the best person to talk to

Deciding who the best person to confide in about an addiction problems is important. You want to discuss substance abuse issues and the need for addiction treatment with someone who’s going to be supportive and positive. 

Write a letter

A lot of people dealing with drug abuse struggle to talk about their situation openly. You might at first want to bring the issue up with a loved one, but then you might find yourself repeatedly backing down.

If this is the case, consider the benefits of writing about your current struggle in a letter. Writing a letter gives you the chance to make sure that you’ve included all the details you need to before you send out this letter to seek help. If you find writing easier than talking about your drug addiction problem, this might be the best way to ask for help. 

Let your healthcare provider know

In addition to talking about what you’re going through with loved ones, you should also discuss addiction with a doctor. Your doctor needs to know if you’ve been consuming excessive amounts of drugs or alcohol lately.

Your doctor should also be aware of any conditions you’re suffering from that could be aggravated by substance abuse. He or she can, therefore, recommend any precautions you need to take to protect your health during this difficult time. 

Explore resources

There are fortunately many addiction resources available to help those who are dealing with substance abuse. Explore available resources on the Internet and at your doctor’s office. Take advantage of resources like counseling so that you take a proactive approach to recovery.

Take Advantage of Addiction Treatment Solutions

Having someone to talk to is important in overcoming addiction. Recovery resources like True Help Network are extremely valuable. By giving us a call, you’ll be connected with an addiction specialist who can help you get started on your recovery journey. Give us a call today to see how we can help you find the best possible addiction treatment! 

Southern California Sober Activities

Overcoming addiction is a difficult but ultimately lifesaving and rewarding process. For millions of people struggling with addiction or recovery from addiction, it can be hard to find fun activities to occupy your time. Finding activities that do not involve drugs and alcohol is crucial to recovery. Knowing a few different activities can help you to determine what you want to do, and can help you on your road to ultimate recovery.

Why Being Active Is Important in Sobriety

Being active is one of the most important elements when it comes to maintaining your sobriety. Hanging out with the people that you used to surround yourself with while getting high can be a slippery slope, one that often leads to relapse. Taking the time to keep your mind and body busy can truly make a difference in the overall success of your sobriety, and can help you to stay on the right track no matter what.

When it comes to both physical and social activity following sobriety in Southern California, it is important to not only find things you like to do and that you want to do but to also to find activities that are going to keep you away from the things that might lead to relapse. Staying away from temptation is as important as staying away from those people and situations that caused you to use drugs or alcohol in the first place.

Trampoline and Indoor Parks

One fun activity to do in sobriety is to find an indoor trampoline park like Sky Zone. Sky Zone and similar indoor parks offer trampolines, rock climbing, dodgeball, single participant sports, and even multiple participant sports as well.

Trampoline parks are a great way to help burn off extra energy that can often lead to people using again when they are bored or when they have too much time to think. It is also a fun and easy way to get some great exercise and to just get the blood pumping. Trampoline parks are a great way to spend time with family and friends, away from the distraction and possible relapse that can come from being alone, or from hanging out with people that you hung out with before you got sober.

Amusement Parks

If you are not an indoor person, or if you simply feel like something like a trampoline park is not for you, going outside can also be a great distraction and Southern California is absolutely gorgeous and has plenty to offer. Amusement parks like Disneyland, Six Flags, and Universal Studios, are all wonderful for getting out and spending some time in the sun while having a great time.

Theme parks can be a fantastic way to spend your day and to just have some fun and forget about your worries. It can also help you go back to childhood perhaps, and to more carefree times. 

The Great Outdoors

Yet another way to have fun in sobriety taking advantage of the beautiful Southern California weather and natural elements that the landscape has to offer. Going to places like the Bridge to Nowhere or the Devil’s Punchbowl, along with any number of other fantastic parks and naturally occurring elements, can be super therapeutic. You’ll be able to marvel at the beauty of your surroundings.

Hiking nature trails are a great way to clear your head. Hiking is fun to do with family and friends or alone. Physical activity is a great way to stay sober, have fun, and get healthy. 

Family & Friends and Life in Recovery

Often when people begin their road to sobriety, they have to cut ties with the people they would use drugs or alcohol with. For those connections that you do keep, making sure to keep them healthy is important. Spending time with family and friends that are aware of your sober journey, and that want to help encourage you, can be great motivation. Going to the beach, going to see a movie, or just spending time with those that love you and those that want you to succeed is a way to have fun. 

Addiction Treatment Solutions Is Here For You

Addiction recovery is an impressive feat and taking the time to find fun things in sobriety will make a big difference in your overall recovery. Addiction Treatment Solutions is a free concierge service in the addiction treatment industry. We effectively match struggling addicts to addiction treatment. Reach out to us today to start your recovery journey!

Cocaine Addiction: A Guide To Quitting

Overcoming an addiction to any substance isn’t easy by any means and can be a different experience for everyone. Withdrawal symptoms vary depending on the substance you’re addicted to, some people require long term inpatient treatment, and some people can find success in sobriety by going to only outpatient treatment. If you or a loved one are starting down the path of addiction treatment for cocaine, keep reading for some insight on what you’ll be going through.

But First, What is Cocaine?

Cocaine, also referred to as “coke”, is an illegal drug that is the second-most popular recreational drug in the world after cannabis. Derived from coca leaves, the drug is most commonly used in powder or crystal form and can cause short-lived high energy, intense joy, and decrease feelings of pain. It is also highly addictive, and many users report feeling surprised after how few repeat uses it took to start craving the drug.

A major issue facing many cocaine users today is that the drug is readily available and considered socially acceptable in many social circles. This stems from the drug’s peak use in the 1980s, but it remains high today. Long-term users in particular who are trying to quit may face a peculiar set of social challenges as a result, and many feel pressured to either keep using or be faced with changing jobs or social groups. 

That said, cocaine is considered to be a dangerous drug, and long-term use can cause serious damage to the brain, heart, nasal passageway, veins and other parts of the body. Overdose on cocaine is possible, as users often keep increasing the amounts they use (and the frequency). The National Institute on Drug Abuse also reports that long-term users become less able to experience natural feelings of joy and happiness, because the neuron receptors in the brain begin to adapt to cocaine instead. While this can sound scary, the good news is that by understanding how cocaine works, we can find the key to learning how to beat addiction. 

Signs and Symptoms of Abuse

“Am I actually addicted to cocaine?” is a common question that many users ask themselves repeatedly before recognizing they actually have a problem. The truth is that this form of drug abuse can result in a variety of signs and symptoms:

  • Long periods of alertness or staying awake
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Paranoia
  • Dilated pupils
  • Loss of appetite or changes in eating habits
  • Schedule changes / frequent inability to be on time
  • Extreme excitement
  • Irritability 
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Confusion
  • Nasal problems

Long-term use (as well as high amounts of cocaine done at once) can also result in a range of even more serious issues, including both legal problems and detrimental health effects. Users may experience headaches, heart palpitations, increased blood pressure, nausea, and/or fever-like symptoms. Some people may also experience seizures or even slip into a coma. All of these signs and symptoms can indicate an overdose and should receive medical attention as soon as possible, followed by entry into an addiction treatment program. 

How To Quit

Recovering from a cocaine addiction can be challenging, but it is far from impossible. The fact that you are reading this already indicates that you recognize there is a problem, and that is the first and biggest step in quitting. Be proud of yourself for wanting help! 

The next steps involve actually overcoming your cocaine addiction. While ceasing use is obviously the biggest part in this, many people struggling with cocaine addiction find it useful to do some mindful thinking about how their addiction came about in the first place. For example, many users report that the first cocaine high was the strongest, most pivotal one they experienced. Their subsequent use was then often an attempt to recapture that feeling, but they later recognized that reaching it was impossible.

Many people also first used cocaine in social settings, where they wanted to fit in with the group and strengthen their bond with certain people. In this case, it’s important to recognize that interacting with groups who support unhealthy activities like cocaine use is not in your best interest, and you should surround yourself with friends and family members who actually care about your help and support your decision to quit. 

When it comes to actually stopping cocaine use, it’s strongly recommended that you do so in a medical setting and/or have medical professionals nearby who can help you. As you’re probably aware, quitting almost any drug can result in withdrawal symptoms. These may include:

  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Anxiety / Depression
  • Sweating / Chills
  • Auditory / visual hallucinations 
  • Fatigue
  • Changes in eating habits

It’s important to realize that, while unpleasant, all of these symptoms are temporary and will go away. The best way to manage them is by going through an established cocaine addiction treatment program with caring staff members who will ensure your safety. In order to help prevent relapse and achieve long-term recovery, it is also important that you participate in therapy, surround yourself with healthy, positive people, and avoid triggers that can cause future drug abuse. 

Need Help? We Got You Covered

You don’t have to go through quitting cocaine alone. At True Help Addiction Treatment Solutions, we offer free addiction treatment placement that can pair you up with the right program. We will be there for you throughout your time in treatment, offering support every step of the way. We strongly believe that having a solid support network is key to ending drug abuse and achieving long-term sobriety. 

If you have a loved one who is struggling with drug abuse, we also offer intervention services that can help. Contact us today to learn more. 

Tips For Preventing A Relapse

You’ve probably heard of a relapse, but what does it mean exactly in terms of addiction recovery? The truth is that someone is not simply “cured” once they complete an addiction treatment program. Instead, completion of the program is only the beginning toward a long road of making healthy choices and changing their life for the better. This is not an easy process, especially for those who have been suffering from addiction for years. Addicts can relapse and go back to using drugs or alcohol, particularly when stressed or feeling discouraged.

Relapse is actually very common. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimates drug and alcohol relapse rates to be between 40 and 60 percent. However, even those who have relapsed can still recover. If you or someone you care about is struggling with recovery from addiction, it’s important to make preventing future relapse a priority. Following these important tips will help:

Focus on Long-Term Recovery

Relapse is most common among those who complete initial detox and treatment without a long-term recovery plan. While a lot of emphasis is often placed on detox and the initial stages of addiction treatment, the real focus should be on aftercare. While aftercare may involve continued therapy and medical treatment for many people, it can really be summed up as the life that follows addiction.

This is the perfect time to make tangible life goals. These can be reconnecting with old friends and family, pursuing new interests, giving back to the community, etc. It’s all about making active decisions to do things other than substance use and taking steps each day to become the person you really want to be.

Make Overall Health a Priority

Relapse is less likely if an addict works to improve their overall health and fitness. Adopting a healthy, well-balanced diet has been shown to help regulate mood and reduce unhealthy cravings. Likewise, working out multiple times a week boosts endorphins, which elevates mood.

And while focusing on health, it’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with relapse warning signs your body can send in advance. These can vary from person to person, but if you start noticing mood swings, increased stress, or even symptoms similar to withdrawal, don’t be afraid to reach out to an addiction counselor for help.

Build a Strong Support Network

Throughout recovery, you need to know that you are not alone! Having healthy-minded people you can rely on is important in staying sober. Sadly, this also may mean having to cut ties with people who do not support a healthy lifestyle or even encourage drug abuse. Friends and family members who care about you and have your best interests at heart will encourage your mission to stay sober, and they will do what they can to help prevent you from relapsing.

Many people also find success in continuing therapy after their initial addiction treatment. Whether this therapy is one-on-one with a counselor or in a group setting, it is another way to help build a solid support system.

Your own support network will be strongest when it consists of both people who understand exactly what you’re going through (i.e. people you meet in therapy settings) and friends and family members who know your personality. Make sure everyone you are associating with knows of your desire to not engage in alcohol and drug abuse. And when it comes to those closest to you, don’t be afraid to let them know how you would like to be handled should you slip and relapse (or want to relapse).

Learn to Recognize and Avoid Triggers

Pinpointing what “triggers” you to want to use substances and learning to avoid them is also crucial to recovery. For most people, this is a mix of different things. Common external triggers are people, objects (such as drug paraphernalia), or situations that can prompt mental associations of drug abuse.

While many of these triggers often come from stressful situations, some people feel urges derived from positive situations as well (for example, wanting to ‘celebrate’ a work victory with drinking or drug use). In these cases, a change of setting / environment may be best. Going along with this, physical places can be considered external triggers as well, and they are best avoided.

Internal triggers are more challenging to manage because they come directly from your feelings associated with drug abuse. Aftercare is often so tough because it is learning to live without the drug and the happy feelings it gave you while “high”. The solution here is to, therefore, learn how to gain happiness and feelings of joy from healthier activities.

Let Us Help You!

Don’t give up even if you do relapse. For many people, picking themselves back up after relapse and getting back to sobriety is actually an important part of learning to stay substance-free in the long run. Whether you’ve already gone through addiction treatment and are struggling or you’ve recently recognized you have a problem, we’re here for you.

At Addiction Treatment Solutions, we pride ourselves on being a free drug abuse treatment placement service. We work with a variety of inpatient and outpatient programs, and we’re available 24 hours a day to help you.

 

Finding Addiction Treatment: Near Me

Addiction is a serious disease. Whether you’re addicted to drugs, alcohol, or both, the best thing you can do is seek professional help. You can’t quit alone and more importantly, you shouldn’t have to do it alone. One of the best parts about treatment programs is having the support of others who know exactly what you’re going through.

It can also be detrimental to one’s health to quit using drugs or alcohol alone. Certain drug withdrawals can cause serious health complications or can even be fatal. The first step to seeking treatment is establishing if you’ll benefit from it. 

Who Needs Addiction Treatment?

There are a few questions you can ask yourself to help determine if you need addiction treatment. If you answer yes to at least one of the questions below, you may want to seek professional help.

  • Have you tried unsuccessfully to quit using drugs or alcohol?
  • Do you feel like you can’t have fun unless drugs and alcohol are involved?
  • Is your drug or alcohol use harming your relationships with friends and family members?
  • Have you been messing up at school or at work due to drug and alcohol use?
  • Have you ever broken the law to get money for drugs or alcohol?
  • Have you been arrested as a result of your addiction?
  • Have you ever overdosed?
  • Does the idea of running out of drugs or alcohol scare you?
  • Have you ever taken one drug to get over the effects of another?
  • Have you ever tried a drug without knowing what it is or what it will do just to get high?
  • Do you want to stop using drugs or alcohol but don’t know how to? 

Addiction manifests in many forms. While the questions above aren’t a definitive yes/no “I need treatment” checklist, it’s a good start to get you to self reflect.

How Can Addiction Treatment Benefit You?

If you do decide to seek treatment, there are several ways it will help you. For many people, going to treatment is actually the only way to enter recovery. 

  • Detox: Detoxing from drugs or alcohol is very difficult. Detoxing can affect you physically and mentally. Most people who try to quit without the aid of a detox program can’t handle the process and end up using again. If your treatment program requires you to detox, this will be the first step of treatment. There will be medical professionals guiding you every step of the way making you as comfortable as possible. 
  • One-On-One Therapy: During treatment, you’ll work with a mental health professional on a one-on-one basis. In these sessions, you’ll get to the root of your addiction and find out what led you to become dependent on drugs and alcohol in the first place. When the cause is uncovered, you can work to treat whatever led you to addiction in the first place.
  • Group Therapy: During group therapy, you’ll sit with other clients in treatment, listen to their stories, and also share your own. Listening to other people who are in the same situation as you can be very beneficial during your recovery process.
  • Family Therapy: It’s not uncommon for addiction to affect your relationships with those you love. If you are going to be successful in your treatment, you’ll need a strong support system when you go home. You can work on resolving your issues with your family and repairing your relationships during family therapy sessions.
  • After Care Services: Completing treatment is just the beginning of the recovery process. After care services include sober living, continued therapy, 12-step meetings, etc. These things will help you stay sober when you go home or start a new life post treatment. 

What Program Will Work For Me?

The program that will work best for a person depends on them. Everyone’s addiction is different. Some people can be successful in their recovery through an outpatient program, while others need intense 24/7 treatment plans. Different treatment facilities offer different levels of care. Luckily there are trained professionals who can help you determine your course of treatment.

Addiction Treatment Solutions

Addiction Treatment Solutions wants to help you figure out the level of treatment you need to start recovering from your substance abuse. We’re a free addiction treatment placement service designed to help those struggling with addiction find the right treatment program for them.

Addiction Treatment Solutions offers a comprehensive matching service that helps with admissions, transportation assistance, insurance verification, and care management. Everyone is different, and everyone’s addiction is different. Addiction Treatment Solutions will look at you and your addiction as an individual, and help you find the best treatment plan.

We offer treatment placement for detox, residential inpatient treatment, PHP, IOP/OP, and sober living options. If you are ready to take control of your life, give us a call today. We can help you start a new life that is healthy and substance-free.

How To Help a Loved One Struggling With Addiction

Addiction is one of the most frequently overlooked medical conditions in the healthcare system. There’s a perception that somehow issues related to addiction are not the same as other medical concerns. This is not the case. Addiction is a disease and it’s important for society to recognize how serious it is. One of the major impacts that addiction and drug abuse will have is that it tends to take other people down with it. Other people are impacted by a single person’s struggles with addiction. If you know someone struggling with addiction, we’d like to share some ways you can help them. 

What is Addiction?

Addiction is a medical condition where the body is conditioned to believe that it needs something, like drugs or alcohol, to survive. If someone suffers from an addiction to alcohol or drugs, they’ve tricked the pleasure sensors in the brain. The brain believes it needs those pleasure centers to be triggered by drugs or alcohol on a regular basis in order to feel alive. These are the pleasure sensors that release neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. These are the chemicals that make someone feel good. Aside from drugs and alcohol, other habits that can be addictive are gambling, food, and sex. 

The reason not everyone who’s engaged in the above becomes addicted is because some people’s brains are more resistant to this rewiring. Some people might not even find these activities to be pleasurable. 

How to Tell if Someone is Suffering From Addiction

If someone is having issues with an addiction, the signs and symptoms often show up in the collateral damage. One way addiction and drug abuse is going to impact someone is professionally. They’ll often be unable to focus in a setting where they don’t have access to drugs or alcohol, resulting in a poor job performance. Many people who suffer from addiction will actually lose their jobs.

Addiction impacts relationships. An addict’s old friends might fall by the wayside because that person spends all of their time getting high. It’s common for addicts to make new friends who are also addicted to drugs or alcohol while in the throws of their addiction. 

An addict’s family also is affected by their drug or alcohol use. As financial difficulties start to manifest due to the person’s addiction, family tensions run high. Family members are also going to get upset because their loved one is not spending any time with them. The addiction has totally consumed their life and everything else has been sacrificed. While it’s common to get angry, it’s important to remember that your loved one needs help and isn’t being hurtful intentionally.

How to Help a Loved One with Addiction

If a loved one is struggling with addiction, it’s important to be there for them. Let them know that they’ll never be abandoned. Knowing that they are not alone can make a tremendous difference in the outcome of addiction treatment. Then offer resources to help. This could include a shoulder to cry on, meals, or even access to a hotline. This is going to help someone start the process of recovery.

It’s important to ask for help from trained professionals. Friends and family members are going to be integral to the recovery process; however, it’s just as important to rely on help from objective, medical professionals who specialize in the treatment of addiction. Like the addictions themselves, treatment options come in many shapes and forms. It’s important to find the resources that are right for someone’s addiction treatment needs.

Start With us at Addiction Treatment Solutions

At Addiction Treatment Solutions, we provide an addiction treatment placement service free of charge that assists individuals and families struggling in finding the right treatment for their needs, 24/7. We provide a comprehensive treatment matching service that includes admissions, insurance verification, transportation assistance, and care management that will be with you during the entire duration of your treatment program. If you or someone you know is looking for help with addiction, feel free to contact us today to learn more about how we can help you. We would be honored to help you with your addiction treatment needs.