According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin^®), hydrocodone (Vicodin^®), codeine, morphine, and many others.”

When a person becomes addicted to opioids, their brain experiences a rush of dopamine. These reward pathways, over time, come to expect their “fix.” Addiction may eventually lead someone to engage in dangerous or erratic behavior and isolate themselves from friends and family.

Substance abuse is typically accompanied by mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. But, because both depression and substance abuse engage the same brain mechanisms, they often respond to the same treatment approaches.

Treatments for Opioid Addiction

There are many different paths to recovery, and what works best for one individual may not be the best solution for someone else. Some advocate for natural recovery, which is when an individual achieves improved physical, psychological, and social functioning on their own. Other individuals find healing through the support of community or peer-based networks, while still others opt for clinical-based recovery through the services of credentialed professionals.

Depending on which path the individual chooses, treatment can include a variety of components, which are often used in conjunction with other treatment options. Come components include:

• A medically-supervised detoxification
• Medications that reduce or counter the use of illicit substances or may target accompanying anxiety and depression.
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) can help an individual recognize their behavior patterns and learn coping tools to deal with their addiction in healthy ways.
• Group therapy can support individual recovery and prevent the recurrence of substance use.
• Family therapy can help addicts fix any damage done to family relationships and create a healthy space to encourage support.

Besides cognitive behavioral therapy, another specific type of therapy that works particularly well with addiction is called Gestalt therapy. This style of therapy stresses taking ownership of your life and working within your present-moment experience to see how and where you fit in your interconnected web of relationships. For these reasons, it can be a critical tool in helping people beat their opioid addiction.

Opioid addiction is a treatable condition and complete remission is entirely possible with the right tools and support. If you or someone you know would like to explore treatment options for a substance abuse issue, please feel free to get in touch with me.

References:

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/addiction
• https://blogs.psychcentral.com/addiction-mental-health/2018/04/addiction-and-gestalt-therapy/
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/199211/overcoming-addiction

Instances of gambling addictions have risen sharply over the last few years. In fact, in the United States alone, over 5 million people reported having a gambling addiction that required treatment.

Gambling addictions are classified as impulse-control disorders, types of progressive addictions that can negatively impact a person’s life physically, psychologically and socially. People who live with a gambling addiction may experience symptoms such as anxiety, distress, intestinal disorders, migraines and even depression.

How is a Gambling Addiction Diagnosed?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, states that for a person to be diagnosed with a gambling addiction, they must experience at least four of the following in the last 12 months:

• A desire to gamble with larger amounts of money to feel the same high.
• A feeling of restlessness or agitation when attempting to stop gambling.
• More than one unsuccessful attempt to stop or reduce gambling.
• Obsessive thinking about gambling.
• Gambling as a means to self-soothe.
• Lying to cover up gambling activities.
• Gambling even after a major loss.
• Experiencing social, relational, or work problems as a result of gambling.
• Relying on others to get money for gambling.

Treatment

Individuals who have been officially diagnosed with a gambling problem are typically offered three types of treatments:

Medication

Antidepressants and mood stabilizers have been shown to be somewhat effective at reducing the symptoms of the addiction. Some antidepressants have even been shown to reduce the urge to gamble. While medications should never be used long-term, they can be beneficial short-term for those suffering from extreme symptoms.

Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps individuals reduce their urge to gamble by helping them to discover their own behavior and where these urges stem from. CBT works because it gets to the root of the problem and changes the way the individual feels and thinks about gambling.

Self-Help Groups

Many individuals find it helpful to find a supportive addiction group, either online or in their local area.

Like other addictions, it will take time and effort to recover from a gambling addiction. But once you learn how to work through the addiction, you’ll come out the other end a person who feels happy and peaceful.

If you believe you or someone you know has a gambling addiction and would like to explore treatment options, please get in touch with me. I would be more than happy to discuss how I may help.

SOURCES:

• https://psychcentral.com/lib/treatment-for-gambling-addiction#1
• https://www.addictions.com/gambling-addiction-treatment/
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/15929#triggers

Watching your local news or checking your social media feed, you’ve probably heard about the opioid epidemic, the nation’s current public health crisis. As death tolls from the crisis continue to rise dramatically every year, this is not an issue to be taken lightly or ignored.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 42,000 people died from an opioid-related overdose in 2016. Nationwide, 45 states have seen a 30% increase in opioid overdose from July 2016 to September 2017.

What Are Opiates?

Commonly prescribed to alleviate severe pain, opiates include prescription pain killers such as oxycodone, dilaudid, codeine, hydrocodone, and fentanyl, among others. The illegal street drug heroin is also classified as an opiate. Opiates are highly addictive, and it’s possible to become addicted to them unintentionally.

Signs of Opiate Addiction

As someone begins to abuse their opioid prescription, they will develop a tolerance to the drug. They will need increasingly larger doses to experience the same benefits. As their tolerance grows, they will become physically dependent on the drug; they will experience the unpleasant feeling of withdrawal when they aren’t taking it. If the opiate abuse continues, they will develop a psychological dependence that will cause cravings for the opiates, at which point they are in the throes of opiate addiction. Below are some signs to look out for if you suspect a loved one may be abusing their prescription.

– Drowsiness: Nodding off at inappropriate times, or appearing drowsy or sedated is a sign of physical addiction to opiates
– Change in sleep habits: As a person abuses opiates, they may sleep for longer periods of time. If they’re experiencing withdrawal, they may be unable to sleep.
– Weight loss: Opioid addicts tend to lose weight due to metabolic changes brought on by the drug abuse.
– Mood swings: Irritability, dramatic shifts in mood, or emotional outbursts.
– Social withdrawal: An addict may isolate or socially withdraw. They might also start spending less time with family, and more time with people you don’t know.
– Flu-like symptoms: Opiate withdrawal can cause flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue.
– Doctor shopping: An opiate addict will go to several doctors in order to obtain multiple prescriptions. Multiple prescriptions will result in extra pill bottles; an addict may attempt to hide them in the trash.

Finding Help

If you’re concerned that a loved one may be abusing their prescription, speaking to an addiction specialist or health care professional is an important next step. They can provide you with the referrals and direction necessary to ensure that your friend or family member receives the appropriate help as quickly as possible.

Are you or a loved one struggling with opiate addiction and need help? Call me today and let’s schedule an appointment to talk.