Substituting substances: Cross addiction may prove more harmful

Substituting substances: Cross addiction may prove more harmful – Sovereign Health

Posted on July 23, 2022July 23, 2022 by admin

Life is not a bed of roses, rather it is full of ups and downs and one needs to look at positivity to carry on. Many believe that a few glasses of alcohol or a sniff of weed can help reduce anxiety or grief. But it doesn’t really happen so. It not only makes the person dependent on alcohol or drugs, but also gives him a life full of behavioral problems. And, while trying to get rid of their compulsive dependency on drugs, some people might swap one substance for another, believing it to be less harmful. However, this cross addiction poses more problems and also delays the process of recovery.

Cross Addiction: Subject of further probe

The extent of harm caused due to replacement of one addiction with another depends on the kind of addiction and it is still a topic of further study in psychology. But cross addiction is being considered a disaster as it disallows an addict from taking full control over his choices and decisions in life. The Psychology Today quoted research neuroscientist and psychologist Dr. Nicole Avena as saying, “Though still somewhat controversial, the theory of cross-addiction is gaining more traction as research into the subject expands.”

The original compulsion gets replaced with a new compulsion, triggering a new and vicious cycle of addiction and disorder. The new compulsion, just like the earlier addiction, results in physical and mental dependency and withdrawal from the same may seem almost impossible. Valium for alcohol, alcohol for heroin, and marijuana for cocaine are just a few examples of such a cross addiction.

While substituting one kind of psychedelic drug for another or alcohol, people suffering from depression or anxiety believe that they are resorting to coping mechanisms less harmful than the previous ones. Addicts fail to realize that any kind of narcotic or substance use has the capacity to stimulate dopamine in the brain. The substance might be changed, but the pattern of addiction still remains the same and therefore, the risks continue.

The biggest risk factor associated with cross addiction is that while the addict may be recovering from one kind of addiction, he might be prone to getting addicted to other more powerful substances, such as opiates. Cross addiction is also viewed as one of the biggest causes of relapse. There could be many factors responsible for cross addiction.

Effects of cross addiction

The belief that replacing harmful substance with alcohol or nicotine reduces the harm makes more people hook on to addiction without realizing its ill effects. Some of the ill effects of cross addiction are:

Cross addiction leads to relapse as the underlying compulsive behavior has not changed as opposed to the change in substance.
The substitution behavior remains temporary; the person concerned has the tendency to switch back to the drug he was earlier addicted to.
The recovery process gets delayed or blocked due to cross addiction.
Symptoms associated with addiction return.

Seeking recovery

It’s hard to believe that your loved one has been replacing one addiction with another. Seeking appropriate help is necessary as the roots of addiction and cross addiction are keys to sobriety in the long run. The pain and problems associated with substance abuse in the long run cannot be ignored. The mode of addiction and symptoms may differ with change in substance, but the compulsions remain the same.

Complete recovery is possible. At Sovereign Health Group, we design individualized treatment programs for each client to facilitate safety and maximize comfort during the treatment process. We incorporate a wide variety of strategies to ease discomfort and speed recovery. For more information, call 855-683-9756.

Confronting the ugly truth about drugs – Sovereign Health

Posted on July 23, 2022July 23, 2022 by admin

Confronting the ugly truth about drugs

Nearly 50,000 Americans lost their lives to substance abuse in 2014, which is double the number recorded in 2000. In fact, the number of Americans who died of fatal drug overdoses was more than the number of deaths in road accidents in the country, according to a recent report by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC).

Five U.S. states, including West Virginia, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Kentucky and Ohio, reported the highest number of deaths due to drug overdose.

Deaths attributed to drug overdose

The CDC report also revealed that more than six out of 10 drug overdose deaths were due to addictive drugs, including heroin and prescription painkillers. In a statement to usnews.com, CDC Director Dr Tom Frieden said, “The increasing number of deaths from opioid overdose is alarming. The opioid epidemic is devastating American families and communities. To curb these trends and save lives, we must help prevent addiction and provide support and treatment to those who suffer from opioid use disorders.”

In the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, researchers state that Oxycodone, which includes brand-name drug OxyContin, and hydrocodone, which includes brand-name drug Vicodin, continue to be among the most commonly prescribed narcotic painkillers and are responsible for more overdose deaths than any other narcotic. Besides, there has been a spike in the number of deaths caused by overdose of heroin.

Is America losing the war against drugs?

The American government is busy arresting drug peddlers and smugglers, implementing laws to curb drug abuse, setting up rehabilitation centers in all cities, focusing on research and issuing prohibitory decrees in its attempt to wipe the drug slate clean. But all efforts of the government seem to be failing as the country makes strenuous and conscious effort to dispel the stigma surrounding substance abuse.

Understanding the truth behind drug addiction

To win the struggle against drug addiction, it is important to understand the circumstances that force a person to turn towards narcotic needs. Why do people take drugs? What is it that they lack? What drugs are easily available? These are some of the questions that need to be answered as Americans fight a battle against the risk factors associated with drugs.

Currently, the government is engaged in making strategies for prevention of illicit drug use and addiction, making available treatment facilities for the affected people, countering drug production and trafficking within the territory of its state, administering and executing new laws to curb drug flows across its borders and creating alternative livelihoods for the affected people.

Easy availability of drugs

The overdose epidemic in the past years was mostly due to prescription painkiller overdoses apart from a recent rise in heroin overdose. The CDC found that drug addicts usually move to heroin from prescription drugs due to lower price and easy availability. Frieden said, “The CDC report also shows how important it is that law enforcement intensifies efforts to reduce the availability of heroin, illegal fentanyl and other illegal opioids.”

Way to recovery

It is necessary to focus on the needs of the victims of drug abuse. Drug addicts usually end up feeling lonely, empty and irritated during their recovery period. The treatment to de-addiction lies in understanding the addiction. Sovereign Health Group offers detoxification treatment for substance abuse, including narcotic abuse. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, call 855-683-9756 for more information.

Confronting the ugly truth about drugs – Sovereign Health

Posted on July 23, 2022July 23, 2022 by admin

Confronting the ugly truth about drugs

Five U.S. states, including West Virginia, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Kentucky and Ohio, reported the highest number of deaths due to drug overdose.

Deaths attributed to drug overdose

Is America losing the war against drugs?

Understanding the truth behind drug addiction

Easy availability of drugs

Way to recovery

CVS stores to sell naloxone over the counter in 12 states to reverse opioid overdose – Sovereign Health

Posted on July 23, 2022July 23, 2022 by admin

CVS stores to sell naloxone over the counter in 12 states to reverse opioid overdose

CVS stores will now sell naloxone, a drug used to reverse opioid overdose, without a prescription. This recent decision will allow the general public to purchase this medication over the counter in California and 11 other states.

Opioid use and abuse

Opioids, also known as narcotics, are used to treat severe pain after surgery, a serious injury or cancer-related pain. Because these pain medications have been overprescribed, today there is an opioid addiction epidemic. In recent years, acceptance for prescription opioid use has dramatically increased for the treatment of chronic, non-cancer pain such as back pain or osteoarthritis. But opioids are extremely addictive and addiction causes many people to overdose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each day 44 people in the United States die from prescription painkiller overdose.

Opioids alleviate pain but also cause other effects on the body. Opioids are known to cause constipation, dry mouth, sedation and, if taken in excess, respiratory depression or slowed breathing, which leads to death. Withdrawing from opioids also leads to severe side effects, although they are not life threatening.

Naloxone use and administration

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that acts to counteract the effects of common opioids like morphine, Vicodin and oxycodone. Naloxone can be used to reverse opioid overdose by acting on the central nervous system and allowing normal breathing in a person who overdosed. It can save someone’s life by causing opioid withdrawal.

Naloxone is an injectable drug that was once only administered by health professionals. Now people can purchase the drug at CVS without a prescription and administer it themselves. Naloxone can be injected into the muscle, into the vein or under the skin, or sprayed into the nose. Injectable naloxone comes in a lower concentration (0.4mg/1mL) than the nasal spray version (2mg/2mL). As a temporary drug, naloxone wears off in 20 to 90 minutes and has no addiction potential.

Two sides to naloxone

Since naloxone causes opioid withdrawal, side effects do occur with this medication. Opioid withdrawal includes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps and gastrointestinal cramps. Unlike opioid intoxication, withdrawal is not life threatening even though it is extremely painful and one of the worst withdrawals a person will experience. Although naloxone may save lives, it’s important to know that this benefit does not come without harm. As with every medication, become educated on the uses and side effects before taking it.

Sovereign Health Group offers detoxification treatment for substance abuse, including narcotic abuse. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, call 855-683-9756 for more information.

Written by Kristen Fuller, M.D., Sovereign Health Group writer

Couples yoga to treat addiction – Sovereign Health

Posted on July 23, 2022July 23, 2022 by admin

Couples yoga to treat addiction

Alcohol and drug addiction can be described as checking out of the moment or escaping from the present. Recovery, on the other hand, focuses on tuning in to the present or living in the moment. Although many recovery centers, therapy groups and individual programs exist across the globe to aid struggling alcoholics in their journey to recovery, multiple studies have shown that yoga has helped many addicts through recovery. One such study is “A narrative review of yoga and mindfulness as complementary therapies for addiction,” published in a June 2013 Complementary Therapies in Medicine. Yoga and other meditation practices help alcoholics focus their attention on one thing at a time and allow them to practice mindfulness.

Many couples are in recovery programs together. Partner yoga is a newly emerging practice to bring couples together through the sense of touch and awareness. Couples behavioral therapy is also used as a treatment regimen for couples who are recovering from addiction. Many recovery programs have even made specialized treatment therapy groups for couples who are trying to break the addiction cycle from drugs and alcohol.

How yoga aids in recovery

Yoga is a type of Eastern medicine that helps align all aspects of one’s life, including the spiritual realm, physical realm and mental realm. The Eastern perspective on addiction is that it’s not an isolated ailment, but rather a condition on the continuum of human suffering.

Yoga cultivates bodily awareness in a kind, nurturing way. It allows students to start connecting with their body and breath and learn to sit and look within. Compassion for oneself arises and with it, a new ability to deal with stressful situations, leading to positive change. New coping strategies and changing patterns start to emerge, bringing about change both on and off the mat. A gentle, physical yoga practice will bring steadiness to the mind and help detoxify the body.

The theory behind couples yoga

Partner yoga encompasses the most common yoga poses — such as the warrior series, savasana, cobra, downward facing dog and the arm balancing postures — and uses these postures to connect with one’s partner through touch. Holding hands, staring into each other’s eyes and focusing on each other’s breath can release oxytocin, which is a hormone in the body that helps form stronger emotional bonds between two people.

When partners form deeper bonds, they learn how to respect each other and use better communication tools. Yoga teaches couples to practice observing their emotions, rather than reacting to them. When people become more skilled at noticing and sitting with their anger, jealousy and hurt, something amazing happens: Instead of smashing dishes or becoming defensive in response to those difficult feelings, they are able to sit with these emotions, take a step back and communicate their feelings more effectively. Learning how to focus and transform negative feelings into motivation and positive outcomes can help couples who are going through alcohol and drug recovery together.

An adjunct therapy

Addiction is a negative behavior, and learning how to be mindful and live in the moment through meditation and yoga can bring a lot of clarity when trying to become sober. Couple yoga therapy is a great way to learn mindfulness and can be used as an adjunct therapy for those couples who are undergoing treatment for addiction.

Sovereign Health Group is an addiction, mental health and dual-diagnosis treatment center, that offers complementary therapies such as yoga. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, Sovereign may be able to help. For more information, call 855-683-9756 .

Written by Kristen Fuller, M.D., Sovereign Health Group writer

Drug overdose deaths soar among U.S. youth, says study – Sovereign Health

Posted on July 23, 2022July 23, 2022 by admin

Drug overdose deaths soar among U.S. youth, says study

Drug overdose deaths have increased dramatically among teens and young adults in the United States over the past decade, a recent study by a non-profit health advocacy group says.

The Trust for America’s Health’s Reducing Teen Substance Misuse: What Really Works report paints a grim picture of the drug overdose death rates among people aged 12 to 25 across the U.S., which has more than doubled during the past decade. The death rate has climbed from 3.1 deaths per 100,000 in 1999-2001 to 7.3 in 2011-2013.

The increase in youth drug overdose deaths has been largely attributed to the nation’s prescription drugs epidemic and the rise in heroin use by teens and young adults in the past 10 years. “More than 90 percent of adults who develop a substance use disorder began using before they were 18,” Jeffrey Levi, executive director of the Trust for America’s Health, said in a press release.

According to the report, the rise in prescription painkillers misuse has been a major contributing factor to the increase in heroin use by teens and young adults. A rising number of young people addicted to prescription drugs is switching to heroin as it’s cheaper and easier to access. And 45 percent of people who use heroin are also addicted to prescription painkillers, the report says. “These twin epidemics have contributed to the recent tragic rise in overdose deaths,” Levi added.

The report noted a considerable rise in death toll from drugs in 35 states. The rates have soared in specific regions of the U.S.

According to the report, West Virginia had the highest rate of drug overdoses from 2011 to 2013, at 12.6 deaths per 100,000, well above the national average. On the other hand, North Dakota had the lowest rate at 2.2 deaths per 100,000. In five states – Kansas, Montana, Ohio, Wisconsin and Wyoming – overdose death rates more than quadrupled.

Between 1999-2001 and 2011-2013, drug overdose deaths more than tripled in 12 states (Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Utah and West Virginia), while in 18 states (Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina and Tennessee) drug death rates more than doubled, the report says.

According to the report, drug overdose was the major cause of injury death in 2013, which surpassed even fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. In the same year, prescription drugs were also responsible for more than half of all drug overdose deaths (22,700 fatalities), of which 71.3 percent involved opioid painkillers alone. The report further states that males were more than twice as likely to die of a drug overdose as females and young adults (19 to 25) are at a higher risk of a fatal overdose.

The report focuses on 10 indicators of policy strategies that could help prevent and reduce substance abuse among the American youth. The programs range from supporting healthier schools and communities to limiting access to substances as well as providing positive support and treatment.

Reflections on friendship, part 2: Keeping virtual and real-life sober friends – Sovereign Health

Posted on July 23, 2022July 23, 2022 by admin

Reflections on friendship, part 2: Keeping virtual and real-life sober friends

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” – Walter Winchell

Friendship is one of the most important bonds and journeys throughout life. Sometimes friendships can be challenging to maintain because of physical distance and other priorities, or sometimes people are going through tough times and might think that their friends will not understand. Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter are social media sites that provide ways to find old friends, make new ones and keep up with current relationships that don’t get enough time on a regular basis.

Sobriety is a challenging milestone to attain and, along the way, many friendships are unfortunately broken. Addiction can take over people’s lives and cause them to forget about the important people. As a result, friendships are broken and become difficult to mend. Staying sober is difficult for those who are surrounded by social-drinker friends or even other addicts. Meeting friends through recovery is a great way to keep a social circle of sober friends.

Just like Facebook and Twitter, multiple online social networks exist for sober people in recovery. These sites not only support individuals in recovery but also support online friendships. Intherooms.com is a popular social networking site that allows people in recovery to connect to others without ever leaving their living room. Launched in October 2008, this site helps those in recovery obtain sober friends and find sponsors. Hazeldensocial.org and friendsofbillw.net are also recovery websites that allow online friendships between sober individuals to flourish.

Having friends who are in recovery can be challenging at first for social drinkers. Although going to a bar or sharing a drink with them might not be possible, there are plenty of fun sober activities to do with friends in recovery. The most important step to maintaining friendships with individuals in recovery is to support them through the recovery process and to keep an open and honest relationship. After all, friendship will always have trials and tribulations, and getting through these difficult times can make the friendship even stronger in the end. Maintaining friendships through recovery is possible, especially with all of these great virtual options.

Sovereign Health Group recognizes the importance of building and maintaining sober friendships in addiction recovery. If you or someone you know struggles with addiction, read more articles in this friendship series and contact 855-683-9756.

Written by Kristen Fuller, M.D., Sovereign Health Group writer

E-cigarette use reaches new high with middle and high school students – Sovereign Health

Posted on July 23, 2022July 23, 2022 by admin

E-cigarette use reaches new high with middle and high school students

Adams_iblog_SA_Ecigarette use reaches new high_20150420

Electronic cigarettes have become the new, improved cigarettes. They are designed to be the healthy alternative to cigarettes: nicotine delivered at self-proportioned levels, plus a variety of flavors and vapor instead of smoke.

Electronic cigarettes are usually built of three parts, a cartridge which holds the liquid substance known as vapor, a vaporizer that works as a heating device for the liquid vapor and a battery to charge the vaporizer. Debate has surrounded this electric counterpart and if there should be regulations in place to restrict usage. It is argued they can be a gateway to wean those addicted to smoking cigarettes. Yet, many people are merely replacing an addiction for a “smoke free” option that can actually increase the amount of nicotine some people inhale.

The issue at hand is not as focused on the use of e-cigarettes with adults, but with teenagers, and the accessibility of electronic cigarettes. Stores that sell electronic cigarettes can even reduce and limit the amount of nicotine in the vapor pen. This means teenagers can breathe in flavored vapor with almost no nicotine. Still, does the advent of e-cigarettes promote the habit of smoking?

The statistics

A study conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products, measured the use of e-cigarettes in middle and high school students from 2011 to 2014. High school students’ use of e-cigarettes spiked from 2013 and 2014 going from 4.5 percent in 2013 to 13.4 percent in 2014. With an increase in middle school students use moving from 1.1 percent in 2013 to 3.9 percent in 2014.

Director of the CDC, Tom Frieden M.D., M.P.H., commented on these results with, “We want parents to know nicotine is dangerous for kids at any age, whether it’s an e-cigarette, hookah, cigarette or cigar.” Even though electronic cigarettes seem to be the lesser of two evils, do they present danger for addiction?

The methods of restriction

The fact remains that e-cigarettes contain nicotine and other chemicals which can be harmful to the body, even if they lack the smoke from burning tobacco leaves. Thus, the FDA is working to regulate and restrict the usage of electronic cigarettes and other tobacco products used by teenagers.

Mitch Zeller, J.D., director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products affirms, “These staggering increases in such a short time underscore why FDA intends to regulate these additional products to protect public health.” The FDA is working to implement new regulations on all tobacco-based products, in response to the surge in use. These products are gateways to use of stronger products with nicotine and tobacco. With such a drastic increase in use among children, it is for their benefit to restrict usage.

Possible plans for addressing this is through distribution and marketing of tobacco products. The CDC has plans to initiate programs to control the price of tobacco and support media campaigns. The purpose is not to control teenagers and their decisions, rather to guide them and parents in understanding the dangers of nicotine use. On the slippery slope riddled with drugs and gateways to drugs, there needs to be control and limitations. With limitations in place, teenagers can grow up understanding and acknowledging the dangers of these products and trends.

There are numerous options available for those who are trying to quit smoking. Talk to your doctor about which options are right for you:

Proper use of pharmaceutical products to help stop the cravings such as nicotine gum
Strong counselor and a support group
Logging the amount of money you would spend on cigarettes, e-cigarette cartridges and such to learn how much you could save
Many people smoke to relax them and help them transition between daily stressors and tasks; there are natural drinks designed to help keep you calm and focused like “Just Chill”
Others smoke out of boredom or for a little pick-me-up; there are gums which offer stimulus for the oral fixation and are infused with Vitamins B6 and B12 to offer that subtle increase in energy

These are only a few of the options available to those who need help to break an addiction or habit to cigarettes. E-cigarettes introduce teenagers to the habit of smoking and once again revamp the notion that smoking is still cool. Ironically, the e-cigarette fad arguably belittles the last 30 years of health promotional ads which taught otherwise. The uphill battle begins anew for the Department of Health and clinicians to educate on healthier and cheaper alternatives to e-cigarette use; hopefully the simultaneously growing trend of natural supplements in our diet, health and wellness will gradually replace the trend.

Dangers of intravenous drug use – Sovereign Health

Posted on July 23, 2022July 23, 2022 by admin

Dangers of intravenous drug use

As is commonly known, most substance abuse does not begin with intravenous drug use. This is because smoking and ingestion of the substance may provide an opportunity to use the drug for those that are wary of using a needle. However, as dependence develops, using drugs that eventually cause tolerance may lead to seeking out a stronger alternative. Though needle use is perhaps most commonly associated with heroin, there are a number of illegal drugs that may be injected for their effects. Injecting in and of itself proves a number of dangerous occurrences within the body.

Signs of use

An intravenous drug user will often have injecting supplies in a kit that they keep close to them are possessively tucked away. Supplies may include a candle, flame or lighter. A spoon or tinfoil may be used for cooking. The substance will then be heated and mixed with water so that water dissolves in it. Drugs will then be drawn through the filter into the syringe. This may be done with controlled substances such as heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and more. A vein may often be located through the use of a tourniquet. Though methamphetamine and cocaine are usually not heated beforehand, this may present its own set of problems. Bacteria may be more likely to flourish when a substance isn’t boiled, thereby burning off some bacteria.

Some may prefer to use the needle to administer drugs because of paranoia of being discovered due to lingering smells from smoking a drug.

Disposal of needles is also a significant concern for the addict and communities alike. Such needles should never be disposed of in an area where they may be in reach of children or pets. This is one reason why a concealed kit may often be used by those who choose this form of drug abuse.

Health symptoms and effects

The danger of intravenous drug use its often prolonged effect after long term dependence. This can include health complications such as cardiovascular illness. There is also the risk of infection, as well as a potentially fatal overdose. Oftentimes, a skin infection is the result due to repeated injections over a sustained period of time. Bacteria also worm their way in with the drug. Proper cleaning and sterilization of a needle will reduce the likelihood of infections like abscess.

It is probable that the majority of intravenous drug users will eventually suffer permanent scars of the muscle tissue. Prolonged sobriety doesn’t reverse track’s appearance following repeated abuse. Round shaped scars are common and unfortunately are often a focus of stigma as a result. The heart may suffer inflammation as a result of injecting controlled substances or any residual bacteria. There are dangers with letting the resulting illness, endocarditis, go untreated. Using needles in drug abuse also opens the possibility of contracting diseases, such as hepatitis or human immunodeficiency virus, HIV. Drug overdoses increase in likelihood when a drug is abused intravenously. Eventually, injection becomes the preferred method of delivering heroin and other opiates. When injecting is no longer possible due to damage done to the veins over time, then the user may have someone else administer the drug instead. The fact that needle possession is illegal in most states may lead to troubles with law enforcement if authorities become aware of the abuse. Many will share needles because of this, in which case cleanliness becomes a more serious issue. Bone and skin infections are possible. Sexual activity presents its own risk if a drug abuser happens to be infected with a virus or bacterial infection. Injecting controlled substances may cause a weakening of the immune system as well.

One infection that is common with disease is septicemia, or blood poisoning. This may occur when a significant enough amount of toxins flood the bloodstream. Multiple organ destruction may result if proper treatment is not eventually sought. Not taking care of one’s health may also be a factor. Be aware of symptoms that may indicate blood poisoning, such as fever, chills, increased blood pressure, chills and skin discoloration. Medical attention should be sought as soon as possible following such signs.

Societal effects

Oftentimes, those who are recovering from intravenous drug use may face a strong stigma due their dependence. Corrupt law enforcement officials may take advantage of these drug abusers. Some may not seek out treatment because they are worried about being humiliated about their substance dependence. In the meantime, if use continues, then it will only continue to be more of a problem.

Solutions

Sovereign Health helps the individual minimize the risk of relapse by customizing programs with cutting edge, evidence-based treatment. Sovereign Health offers programs accredited by the Joint Commission and several facilities are dually-licensed to treat mental health disorders and substance abuse. To learn more about our programs and enrollment, call our Admissions Team at 888-530-4614.

By Sovereign Health Writer, Ryan McMaster

Too busy? 5 steps to break the cycle and find joy in recovery – Sovereign Health

Posted on July 23, 2022July 23, 2022 by admin

Too busy? 5 steps to break the cycle and find joy in recovery

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Recovering from alcohol abuse or drug addiction is one of the most difficult things to do. It is not a quick-fix, move-on and forget-about-it type of thing; instead it is a lifelong journey of sobriety that takes time and effort. Attending meetings, keeping in touch with others in recovery and taking personal time to reflect are necessary components to staying sober. It can be extremely difficult to stay sober and find time amid busy schedules to enjoy life.

Living in a fast-paced environment that is inundated with multitasking, to-do lists, agendas, meetings and technology can make it difficult to juggle work, family, a social life and time for oneself. People wake up exhausted and go to bed exhausted. Many are overworked and don’t take time to go on vacation or enjoy the things they like to do. Yet self-care and taking time to enjoy life are key to maintaining lifelong recovery.

It takes effort and initiative for people to make time for themselves. People in recovery need this personal time, because often the stresses of life can cause relapse. Physical, spiritual, mental and emotional well-being are all important for personal growth. Knowing one’s true passion, gifts and what one has to offer the world, and aligning one’s life accordingly, will allow a fulfilled life lived intention and passion. That takes time to oneself to discover.

Keeping busy to an extent is important while trying to stay sober. It keeps individuals from thinking about drinking or using drugs. Keeping a routine gives a sense of purpose in life. However, overbooking and constant multitasking can lead to increased stress levels, causing people to forget to the take time off and enjoy life. The following are five simple steps to regain control of a life that is too busy:

Learn how to say “no.” Sometimes people take on too many projects because they are scared to say “no,” and this creates more stress and panic when they find it difficult to complete all of the tasks. Whether it is at work or in one’s personal life, it is important to know one’s limits and how much work one can manage
Set aside an hour a day for personal time. Make time to go to a group meeting, exercise, enjoy the outdoors or whatever is re-energizing. There are 24 hours in a day, so taking one hour for oneself is the least one can do
Learn to live in the moment. Whether it is a craving for alcohol, frustration at work or experiencing happiness, accept these emotions without judgment. Recognize these emotions and be mindful of what is happening bodily while experiencing them. Using critical thinking skills and practicing mindfulness can prevent relapse or engaging in some other regrettable behavior, such as sending a heated message or email
Practice gratitude. Instead of complaining about waking up early, going to work or maintaining sobriety, take a moment to be thankful for each day, for being able to earn a paycheck and for trying to become or remain sober. There is always someone else in the world who is going through a darker day. Being grateful for what one has in life is key to happiness
Discover what makes produces happiness. Sometimes people go through life without even discovering what truly makes them happy because they are so busy. Like a rat on a wheel or a child on a merry-go-round, repeating the same daily routine can make people dizzy and cause them to lose sight of what makes them happy

If you or someone you know needs help becoming sober, Sovereign Health Group might be able to help. Sovereign Health helps the individual minimize the risk of relapse by customizing programs with cutting-edge, evidence-based treatment. Sovereign Health offers programs accredited by The Joint Commission and has several facilities which are dually licensed to treat mental health disorders and substance abuse. To learn more, call the 24/7 helpline at 855-683-9756.

Written by Kristen Fuller, M.D., Sovereign Health Group writer

Get Help Today

Get Help Today

Deaths attributed to drug overdose

Is America losing the war against drugs?

Understanding the truth behind drug addiction

Easy availability of drugs

Way to recovery

Get Help Today

Deaths attributed to drug overdose

Is America losing the war against drugs?

Understanding the truth behind drug addiction

Easy availability of drugs

Way to recovery

Get Help Today

Opioid use and abuse

Naloxone use and administration

Two sides to naloxone

Get Help Today

How yoga aids in recovery

The theory behind couples yoga

An adjunct therapy

Get Help Today

Get Help Today

Get Help Today

The statistics

The methods of restriction

Get Help Today

Signs of use

Health symptoms and effects

Societal effects

Solutions

Get Help Today