Do I Have to Be Sober When I Enter Inpatient Treatment?
All rehab programs begin with the patient getting sober. The process is referred to as detox. Some rehab facilities require patients to complete detox on their own prior to entering rehab, but others allow patients to undergo detox at their facility. Inpatient rehab facilities offer more programs that include detox than outpatient programs, but not all inpatient programs provide detox services. Some inpatient facilities are not equipped to deal with the medical aspect of detox which is why they may refer patients to another facility or hospital before rehab.
Read more
Are Interventions Like What I See on TV?
Interventions are not only the rock bottom for the user, but also the rock bottom for his family and friends. It is when everyone gathers to establish limits and expectations for the user. A&E’s Intervention follows addicts through abuse, addiction and treatment. The entire storyline revolves around one user who struggles with addiction, and frequently climaxes with an intervention with the user’s family and friends. This depicts with considerable accuracy the intervention process, but all TV depictions will not be so honest.
Read more
What Should I Do If My Boss Is Using Drugs
If your boss is using drugs, it can be challenging to decide how to act in a way that is ethical while still maintaining your job. Accusing your boss of drug use based upon rumors or speculation can be harmful to your workplace environment and may cost you your job.
Read more
Providing Emotional Support for a Loved One during Recovery
Recovering from addiction is a challenging process. If your loved one is recovering from addiction, she will benefit greatly from the support of family and friends. In fact, a good support network can be a critical component of a successful recovery and may even make the difference between success and failure.
When emotionally supporting a recovering addict, it is extremely important to remember that your loved one suffers from a disease. Addiction is a disease that takes over the mind and will of the afflicted person. As with some other diseases, patients may have made poor lifestyle choices that contributed to the onset of the disease, but that does not mean that he is a bad person. Furthermore, much of the addictive behavior that you may have witnessed can be attributed to the disease, and it is likely that your loved one will feel bad about his past behavior once in recovery. It is critical to be supportive and empathetic and to avoid the natural tendency to judge. Keep in mind that your loved one has made a difficult decision to enter treatment, is likely to be apprehensive at the prospect of an uncertain future and can use all the support you can muster.
Read more
Interventions for Loved Ones Struggling with Trauma and Addiction
Addiction is a common challenge for individuals dealing with the physical and psychological stress caused by trauma. Soldiers, police, first-responders and victims of violent crime frequently demonstrate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) including the following:
- Flashbacks
- Anxiety disorders
- Nightmares and sleeplessness
- Emotional disorders
- Temper management problems and corresponding verbal or physical abuse
- Substance abuse and addiction
- Suicidal thoughts or actions
How Long Do Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Last?
Withdrawals are one of the most miserable parts of alcohol addiction and are often what keep addicts coming back for more. Once alcoholics start suffering from withdrawals, the easiest thing to do to stop them is to abuse alcohol again, but this is only a short-term solution. If you go a while without drinking, withdrawals will come back again. The only way to eliminate withdrawal symptoms permanently is to quit drinking. If you get treatment and quit drinking, withdrawal symptoms will leave you after a short period of time and won’t come back as long as you stay sober.
Read more
Starting a Discussion about Addiction Recovery
Adjusting to life after rehab can be difficult for anyone, especially because the recovery process is far from over. Friends and family members do not know exactly what an addict went through during and even before their treatment. Relationships may have been strained or damaged and need to be repaired, but this can be difficult due to the great feelings of discomfort. Addiction can put what seems like a mountain between an addict and loved ones. Because support from family and friends is such a crucial part of the recovery process, an addict will need to mend these relationships to succeed in long-term recovery.
Read more
Interventions for Soldiers and Veterans
Military personnel, veterans and families of soldiers must deal with the aftermath of traumatic events such as combat exposure, multiple long deployments and physical injury. Death and tragedy are unfortunately common experiences for military personnel, and the consequences of military experience can be anything but rewarding for some soldiers and veterans. The sights they have seen, places they have traveled and loneliness they have felt can lead to physical and psychological damage. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are common psychological disorders that are found in active members of the military and in veterans. Flashbacks including reoccurring images and sounds can haunt a person and lead to sleepless nights, hallucinations, delirium, paranoia, anxiety or depression. Soldiers and vets may turn to drugs or alcohol to relieve the pain, escape from reality or cope with tragedy trauma and loss.
Read more
How to Avoid Anger during an Intervention
Addiction can create a lot of friction and pain between addicts and their loved ones. When asked to confront an addict through an intervention, family and friends may not know where to begin. What should they say, how should they say it? The situation can be extremely emotional, and intervention participants may feel the need to express these emotions when speaking to the addict. One of these emotions may certainly be anger, and this is a completely natural reaction to have. When people are hurt or taken advantage of, they may want to respond aggressively in order to defend themselves. However, anger is not something that should be used when addressing an addict in an intervention.
Read more
How Do I Help Someone Who Only Contacts Me When He or She Is High?
How do you help an addict who only reaches out to you when they are under the influence? How do you convince that person to seek treatment when he or she is clearly in no mental shape to understand and respond appropriately to what you are saying? Choosing to do nothing to help can have potentially life-threatening results for the addicted person. If you are worried about addicted family members or are worried about addicted friends, it is up to you to reach out and do what you can.
Getting Addiction Help for a Friend or Family Member
The following are a few of the ways that you can help an addict get professional recovery care:
- Reach out to the addicted person’s closest friends and family members, and discuss your concerns
- Engage in conversations about staging an addiction intervention
- Hire an interventionist who can provide you with guidance and support
- Research the intervention process so that you are prepared and informed
- Reach out to a quality rehab facility to learn more about available programs
When you work with professional interventionists, you will learn all there is to know about the intervention process including what you should share with your addicted friend or family member. You will also be prepared for the reactions that you may receive from your loved one during the process. Many addicts react defensively which can lead them to say and do things that would otherwise be completely out of character for them.
After a successful intervention a rehab program will use a variety of beneficial treatments and therapies to treat your loved one’s addiction. Integrated treatment plans will work to understand the root cause of the addictive behavior and also treat the addiction itself. Many addicts develop their addiction as a direct result of trying to self-medicate the symptoms of another issue. A mental health concern like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or even posttraumatic stress disorder can be the root cause of their addiction.
Get Confidential Addiction Help
If you are worried about an addicted friend or family member, please call our toll-free helpline. We are available to help you 24 hours a day. Our counselors can help you to find interventionists or determine the next steps in getting your loved one the quality addiction care he or she needs.