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Why Is Alcohol Relapse So Common?

Written by Jacob on November 18, 2022. Posted in Alcohol Addiction, Relapse, Support.

When you take the first steps to recovery to get help for your alcohol use disorder (AUD), it is only natural to feel good about the progress you make as you complete detox and your initial partial hospitalization (PHP) or intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment. However, one question on most people’s minds when recovering from AUD is, “Why is alcohol relapse so common?”

What Is Alcohol Relapse?

Alcohol relapse is when you stop following your aftercare treatment, which could include attending meetings, following a structured routine, and returning to drinking. This “slip-up” could be a one-time occurrence where you find yourself weak and give in. A single occurrence, while considered a relapse, is often called a lapse because it is a singular event.

A complete relapse is when you fall back into your old habits and resume drinking at your former levels and frequency of use. In other words, a full relapse is like you never underwent detox and addiction treatment for your AUD.

Why Is Alcohol Relapse So Common?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, between 40% and 60% of people experience a relapse within their first year of AUD treatment. Part of the reason for such high relapse rates is some people feel overconfident in their ability to remain sober. Unfortunately, this overconfidence can leave them underprepared to properly manage their triggers and cravings.

Another reason for high relapse rates is that people stop working on their programs. They may skip meetings and individual therapy sessions. They might stop following their structured routine and slowly slip back into former habits, like not exercising or eating unhealthily.

Other causes for relapse include:

Not Being Aware of “Hidden” Triggers

Triggers are those things that can bring about cravings for alcohol and prior alcohol use. They can be related to objects, people, locations, and events. Some people do not fully uncover their triggers during rehab, especially during the first year of recovery. Some remain “hidden” away, leaving themself vulnerable because they have not yet developed effective coping skills.

Placing Oneself in Situations of Extreme Anxiety and Stress

In the past, the way an individual dealt with extreme anxiety and stress was to drink. However, now that a person is working on their sobriety, it can be very challenging to remain sober when put into similar situations. Even though meditation, yoga, and mindfulness can help, when anxiety and stress become too much to manage, it could result in relapse.

The Recovery Environment Is Unsupportive and Unhealthy

In some situations, it is the recovery environment the person returns to after AUD treatment. For example, if there are other people in the household with substance use problems, it can leave the person feeling vulnerable as they can feel pressured to give in. In addition, when there is a lack of support in the home, it can make it seem like the person in recovery is all alone. Even though they know they are not the only person recovering from AUD, the sense of isolation in one’s home can be enough to cause a relapse.

Does the Risk of Alcohol Relapse Ever Decline?

Fortunately, the longer an individual can remain sober, the lower the risk of alcohol relapse. According to research data provided by the National Library of Medicine, approximately 60% of those recovering from AUD maintain their sobriety for life once they reach this milestone. Furthermore, the risk of alcohol relapse during year two drops to around 22%. Should a person make it to year three sober, their risk of relapse drops to about 10% for years three, four, and five. After five years, the risk of relapse is still possible, but it is less likely to occur.

What Should I Do If I Relapse?

If you relapse, it is essential to move past the relapse to get back on track with your AUD recovery using the following tips:

Discontinue drinking and undergo medically supervised detox as soon as possible. Even if you only resumed drinking for a short time, you can still experience unpleasant and intense withdrawal symptoms. So, going through supervised detox is recommended.
Do not beat yourself up because you “slipped up.” It is easy to blame our shortcomings and hold ourselves accountable by being very harsh on ourselves. However, this is counterproductive to recovery. Instead, accept that you have relapsed and seek support to become stronger and reduce the risk of relapsing again.
Work on uncovering “hidden” triggers. It is essential to continue to identify triggers throughout your recovery journey. The more undercover, the better equipped you can become at managing them effectively.
Continue working on your coping skills and methods. To become more resistant to relapse, you must constantly improve your coping skills and methods. If you find some are no longer effective, discard them and replace them with new ones.
Enhance your relapse prevention plan. Your relapse prevention plan should help prevent relapse. However, when it does not, you need to re-evaluate it and make changes to strengthen it.
Re-establish and maintain support networks. You are not alone in your recovery. Nor are you the only person who has ever relapsed. Seek the support you need through your support network.

AUD Relapse Detox and Addiction Treatment in Murfreesboro, TN

If you relapse and want to take the steps to get back on track with your recovery, Tulip Hill Recovery in Murfreesboro, TN, is here to help. We offer personalized AUD relapse detox and addiction treatment programs. Get the help and support you need by contacting us today.

A woman discusses the Signs you need rehab. A woman discusses the Signs you need rehab.

The Long-Term Effects of Addiction on Children

Written by Jacob on November 11, 2022. Posted in Alcohol Addiction, Drug Addiction, Mental Health.

Addiction does not just affect the person suffering from a substance use disorder (SUD). Instead, addiction impacts those around us, including our spouses, partners, parents, friends, and children. Unfortunately, the effects of addiction on children can be long-term and have far-reaching consequences on their mental and physical health and well-being.

How Many Children Are Exposed to SUDs?

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, one in eight children lives with at least one parent with a substance use disorder. In addition, one in thirty-five children lived in a household where at least one parent has a drug use disorder. Furthermore, one in ten children lives in homes where at least one parent has an alcohol use disorder.

In two-parent homes, the research discovered that around 6.1 million children lived in homes with at least one parent suffering from alcohol use disorder. Also, 2.1 million children lived in homes with at least one parent suffering from drug use disorder.

Among single-parent homes, 1.4 million children were raised by a parent with an alcohol use disorder. Additionally, about 540,000 children were in homes where the parent had a drug use disorder.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Addiction on Children?

Addiction impacts children differently depending on their family dynamic, the number of siblings, and support from friends and adults outside the some, such as teachers. It also depends on whether they see their parents drinking excessively or using drugs in front of them. Regardless, it is crucial to understand the effects of addiction on children.

Increased Risk of Abuse

In households where at least one parent has a SUD, they are three times more likely to physically or sexually abuse their children, as reported by the National Institutes of Health. The research also concluded that when a parent with SUD physically or sexually abuses a child, approximately 50 percent will commit some type of crime and be arrested while a juvenile.

Furthermore, about 40 percent of these children are likely to commit a violent crime, such as physical assault or sexual assault.

Physical and Mental Effects

Physical and mental effects can begin when the child is still in the uterus and not yet born. Women who drink and use drugs while pregnant risk having children with development issues, congenital disabilities, and other long-term mental health concerns.

Other effects children can experience include:

Isolation
Loneliness
Anxiety disorder
Malnutrition
Dental problems
Hygiene problems
Depression
Self-Harm
Self-Destructive behaviors
Violence and anger issues
Increased risk-taking
Developmental issues
PTSD

Emotional Effects

Many children experience the emotional effects of addiction as well. They can have attachment and relationship problems at home and when attempting to form friendships and relationships with their peers. This is in part to what they believe is normal behavior based on their own at-home experiences.

For example, they can believe that physical or sexual assault is normal and how your show affection towards another. Furthermore, they can have issues expressing their emotions and not fully understanding their feelings. For instance, they may lack empathy towards others because they do not understand this feeling.

Behavioral Effects

The behavioral effects of addiction on children can cause them to have to take on adult roles and responsibilities. For example, tweens and teens will often have to take on the role of being the primary caregiver for younger siblings. They may also have to pay bills, shop for groceries, do laundry, prepare meals, and manage the home.

Conversely, tweens and teens may turn to substances to deal with the added stress and anxiety of living in a home where addiction is present. As a result, they could develop a substance use disorder themselves.

Younger children can act out negatively, such as throwing temper tantrums. This is their way of letting others know they require attention, even if it means getting in trouble.

What Can Be Done to Help Children?

In recent years, child welfare services have become more involved with removing children from homes where SUDs are present. In 2000, only 18.5 percent of children were removed from their homes. However, as more has been learned about the effects of addiction on children, this number has grown to 38.9 percent as of 2019, according to the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare.

There have also been efforts to raise awareness about child safety. For example, the entire month of November is Child Safety and Protection Month. Throughout the month, parents and those concerned about the welfare of children can access a wide range of resources and topics ranging from making the home child-friendly to how to help children in homes where they are neglected and abused.

Furthermore, there are more resources for children to get help, including teachers, drug rehab centers, coaches, school counselors, religious leaders, and various SUD support organizations like Alateen.

Parents can also take an active role by seeking help for their addiction. Part of their addiction recovery treatment needs to include dedicated treatment for the entire family, such as family counseling and individual counseling for children.

Detox and Addiction Treatment for Families in Murfreesboro, TN

Tulip Hill in Murfreesboro, TN, provides detox and addiction treatment for families where one or both parents struggle with substance misuse. Our family programs can be personalized to fit your family’s specific needs to help start the healing process and recovery. For further information or to start detox and treatment today, contact us today.

man with polysubstance abuse man with polysubstance abuse

What Is Polysubstance Abuse?

Written by Jacob on October 7, 2022. Posted in Alcohol Addiction, Drug Addiction, Substance Addiction.

What is polysubstance abuse? In recent years, misusing popular drug cocktails, consisting of a mixture of more than one substance, has become popular among teenagers and young adults. The practice of polysubstance abuse provides a more intense high than misusing a single substance. However, the trend is equally dangerous and can lead to accidental overdose and death.

What Is Polysubstance Abuse?

While misusing drug cocktails is one form of polysubstance abuse, it does not fully define this term and associated behaviors. To get a better idea of what polysubstance abuse is, you need to understand the following behaviors:

The person simultaneously misuses two or more substances. For example, they may drink alcohol while also snorting cocaine.
The misuse can be international or unintentional. Sometimes a person does not know they are misusing multiple substances, like when they believe the heroin they are using is pure, but it was mixed with fentanyl.
The misuse can include mixing both illicit and legal substances. For instance, they could smoke marijuana laced with ketamine.
The person does not discriminate or favor one substance over another. So, for example, they could mix alcohol with MDMA one night and snort cocaine and take Adderall another night.

In addition, many people suffering from polysubstance abuse tend to engage in binging behaviors. Furthermore, they are addicted to getting high, not any one particular substance. So, they will take just about any combination of alcohol and drugs.

Common Polysubstance Combinations

While most people with polysubstance use disorder do not discriminate regarding what drugs they take or whether they drink alcohol, certain combinations are more commonly taken than others.

Alcohol and Cocaine

Alcohol is a depressant, and misuse lowers inhibitions while making one feel relaxed. Mixing alcohol with cocaine, a stimulant, increases energy levels while boosting one’s euphoric state.

Opioids and Benzos

Both opioids and benzos are depressants. Opioids can make you feel happy, relaxed, and euphoric. Combining benzo with opioids can enhance these effects.

Cocaine and Heroin

Cocaine can make you feel excited, full of energy, and very alert. Heroin can cause a sense of detachment and relaxation. Mixing the drugs can lower one’s inhibitions while causing a euphoric state.

Signs and Symptoms of Polysubstance Abuse

The signs and symptoms of polysubstance abuse can be difficult to notice, mainly because of the substances being misused. However, some of the more common signs and symptoms could include the following:

Changes in appetite
Weight gain or weight loss
Mood swings
Changes in energy levels
Changes in sleep patterns
Watery eyes
Runny nose
Poor decision making
Engaging in more risky behavior
Lowered inhibitions
Overly talkative

In addition, as dependence and addiction become more prevalent, the individual will feel and believe they cannot function without being under the influence of multiple substances.

Dangers of Polysubstance Abuse

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), roughly half of the drug overdose deaths in 2019 resulted from mixing multiple drugs. Drug overdose deaths that year amounted to 70,980, as reported by the National Vital Statistics Rapid Release division of the CDC. Therefore, around 35,490 overdose deaths occurred as a result of polysubstance abuse.

Dangers of Mixing Multiple Stimulants

Stimulants like cocaine, MDMA, and meth increase heart rates and can increase the risks of heart attack and stroke. They can also make it difficult to breathe and cause tremors and seizures.

Dangers of Mixing Multiple Depressants

Depressants, such as opioids and benzos, slow down breathing and heart rates. Mixing multiple depressants can result in passing out, coma, heart failure, and respiratory failure.

Dangers of Mixing Stimulants and Depressants

Some people believe that if they mix stimulants with depressants, they can counteract the effects of the substances. However, what actually occurs is one substance can hide the effects of the other substance. As such, one can believe the substances are not working and take even larger doses, resulting in accidental overdose.

Detoxing from Polysubstance Abuse

Detox withdrawal symptoms occur as soon as the substances start to wear off and leave the body. As they do, the withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on how long polysubstance abuse has been occurring.

Common withdrawal symptoms could include:

Headaches
Blurred vision
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Excess sweating
“The shakes”
Seizures
Muscle spasms
Muscle and body aches and pains
Abdominal pain and cramping

Furthermore, withdrawal symptoms can worsen and become more intense the longer one goes without substances. Therefore, attempting to detox from multiple substances by quitting “cold turkey” is highly discouraged.

Instead, medically supervised detox in a clinical setting is highly encouraged to detox from polysubstance abuse safely. This type of detox provides 24-7 supervision with access to healthcare professionals to help reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, you often have access to the treatment facility’s amenities, such as psychiatrists, therapists, counselors, activities, exercise equipment, and prepared meals. So, you can start to take the steps to live your life drug-free while completing detox.

Polysubstance Abuse Detox and Addiction Treatment in Murfreesboro, TN

If you are ready to take the first steps to overcome your polysubstance abuse, detox and addiction treatment are available in Murfreesboro, TN, at Tulip Hill. We offer personalized treatment programs in a caring and supportive environment to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you find your recovery path from polysubstance abuse.

How Long Does Alcohol Withdrawal Last?

Written by Jacob on February 17, 2022. Posted in Alcohol Addiction.

The answer to “how long does alcohol withdrawal last?” varies depending on factors such as the severity of the alcohol addiction and the alcohol abuse. However, from the point of view of someone who is experiencing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, it may seem never-ending.

Be rest assured, though, that while alcohol withdrawal symptoms and alcohol withdrawal syndrome may feel like they will last forever, the reality is that they will resolve within around eight days, and you can make a long-term alcohol abuse recovery.

What Are Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal depend on the amount of alcohol consumed, frequency of alcohol consumption, and whether you have already been through withdrawal in the past.

The team at Tulip Hill knows what it is like trying to help someone achieve sobriety. We are dedicated to helping you climb out of the pit of addiction with all of the services at our disposal – you don’t need to go through alcohol withdrawal alone.

If you only drink small amounts of alcohol, you may well only experience mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:

Anxiety
Shakiness
Irritability
Loss of appetite
Nervousness

On the other hand, if your alcohol intake is very high and you have an alcohol addiction, you could experience much more severe symptoms, such as:

Fast heart rate
Tremors
Disorientation
Hallucinations
Seizures
Vomiting

Delirium Tremens (DTs)

Delirium tremens is the most severe symptom of alcohol withdrawal, and they generally occur in people who have been drinking high volumes of alcohol for a long time. Although treatment is available for DTs, they cause a series of unpleasant effects that can be life-threatening.

Risk factors for DTs include:

High amounts of alcohol consumed in the weeks before withdrawal
Previous episodes of alcohol withdrawal
Previous experience with severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms
Underlying health issues
Being an older person
Having a mental health problem
Being in poor general health

Symptoms of DTs include:

Impaired consciousness
Agitation
Aggression
Irritability
Confusion
Trembling
Sweating
Tachycardia
Nausea
Vomiting
Hallucinations
Tremors or seizures

If you have been a heavy drinker for several years, you should not suddenly stop drinking. Instead, it is in your best interest to complete a medical detox at a rehab center, such as ours. Doing so will guarantee your safety while going through alcohol withdrawal, and medical detox will also ensure that you have support and guidance from medical professionals if you experience severe symptoms.

How Can I Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms?

Experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms can be extremely unpleasant, and it is natural to want to reduce the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal in some way. Fortunately, there are a number of different ways that you can do this.

Medication

Medication can be of enormous relief to people experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. The most common types of medication for alcohol withdrawal include:

Benzodiazepines. Ativan (lorazepam), Valium (diazepam), and Xanax (alprazolam) are some of the most commonly used medications for alcohol withdrawal symptoms. They reduce anxiety, decrease insomnia, and lessen the risk of experiencing seizures from the DTs. These drugs can themselves be addictive and dangerous, so you should only take them under medical supervision.
Barbiturates. Phenobarbital might occasionally be used, but for the most part, their use has been phased out and replaced with benzodiazepines.

Exercise

While it is not recommended that you do any exercise when experiencing the worst of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, you can consider some light exercise once you are out of the woods. This will help make you feel better by getting your blood flow going and starting the healing process for your brain.

Great exercise ideas include:

Walking. Consider taking a walk around the block or in the park. This has the added benefit of getting you out of the house and helping you to feel a little closer to the human race again.
Yoga. No need to do 90 minutes of headstands. A slow, steady, and short yoga session gets your body moving and has the advantage of also being meditative.
Weight training. You won’t be setting any personal bests, but anything to move your body around will move you back towards feeling good again.

Food and Drink

Nutrition is a massive part of feeling better when you are in alcohol withdrawal. In some instances, you may find it difficult to keep anything down during the initial stages of alcohol withdrawal, but try eating something nutritious when you can. After all, when you are drinking, you do not necessarily make the best dietary choices, and alcohol actually depletes some vitamins from your body.

If you cannot eat a big meal, try a piece of fruit.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms (PAWS) – Continued Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Getting through acute alcohol withdrawal is a great achievement, but it is not the finish line. After dealing with the initial withdrawal, you may begin to experience PAWS. PAWS are a continuation of alcohol withdrawal symptoms that come in waves and can last for up to two years after you have gone through withdrawal (though, for some people, it can be over in a few months).

While not as bad as severe alcohol withdrawal, PAWS can drag on. This is a common reason why people relapse, and it is worth bearing this in mind. If you are in early recovery and do not feel good, don’t reach for a bottle, as what you are experiencing might well be PAWS. Instead, take a look at this list of things you can do to reduce PAWS.

Exercise

Many people in early recovery find enormous relief from exercising. Not only does exercise help reduce PAWS, but it also helps boost brain functioning, which can be a little haphazard when you have recently stopped drinking.

Meditation

People talk about the benefits of meditation all the time, and for good reason. Meditation rewires the brain after addiction, lowering rates of stress and depression, increasing feelings of connectedness, and just making us feel better all around.

When you first start meditating, try a few minutes a day. Once you feel comfortable with that, increase the length of time a little. Remember, though, meditation should be enjoyable, at least some of the time.

Supplements

Certain supplements can help you in early recovery. Try:

Vitamins and minerals. When consuming alcohol, we usually don’t look after ourselves very well. Eating infrequently or eating food that is far from nutritious leads to our bodies not having the things that they need to function. Alcohol itself can deplete some vitamins, so it is always worth topping up when you are new to recovery.
Ginkgo Biloba. This herb can be used to increase the amount of blood that flows to your brain, which helps boost your memory, something that doesn’t always work very well after stopping a chronic alcohol addiction.
Milk Thistle. This herb can help your body to repair liver damage, which is frequently a problem following substance abuse.

Find Help With Alcohol Withdrawal in Murfreesboro, TN

Alcohol withdrawal may seem challenging, but with the help of a medical professional, you can make a lifelong recovery. Although there is no set answer when determining how long alcohol withdrawal lasts, if you have had a severe alcohol dependence problem, you should consider seeking alcohol withdrawal treatment, where you will be able to receive a medical detox.

If you have been drinking alcohol for a long time and are now looking to stop drinking, please contact us today. We have a wealth of treatment facilities available for you to take advantage of. We can also provide medical attention and various treatment options to help you secure a sober life. Contact us today to learn more.

woman with a headache woman with a headache

How Long Does Withdrawal Last?

Written by Jacob on February 15, 2022. Posted in Alcohol Addiction, Detox.

When a person abruptly stops using a substance such as alcohol, prescription drugs, or recreational drugs, withdrawal arises. During withdrawal, physical and mental side effects are experienced.

How long withdrawal lasts and when symptoms begin can vary. Factors that affect this include the substance used, duration of usage, and a person’s general health and well-being.

In most cases, though, people begin feeling initial withdrawal symptoms two to three days after using drugs or alcohol.

Find out more about withdrawal here, or contact us today to learn more about our withdrawal treatments.

Detox

Withdrawal symptoms are a normal part of detox, which is the first stage of recovery for a substance use disorder or drug addiction. During detox, harmful toxins leave the body, enabling many people to begin to overcome the effects of drug abuse physically. However, the length of time it takes to detox varies depending on the drug a person is detoxing from.

Detox can be completed at home via an outpatient facility or by attending an inpatient treatment facility. Depending on the facility and the severity of the addiction, those in recovery can either complete a natural detox or medical detox.

Medical detoxes are carried out via inpatient treatment facilities. Here, medical professionals provide medical supervision and prescribe medication to help alleviate withdrawal symptoms and ease the detox process.

Depending on the severity of drug abuse, detox may see a person gradually taper off of using certain drugs. Tapering use means progressively using a lower quantity or strength of a substance until use stops completely.

When a medical detox is sought, withdrawal symptoms are generally less severe. However, the symptoms experienced depend on the substance.

Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms vary depending on how severe addiction is. However, they typically include:

Nausea
Fever
Vomiting
Insomnia
Hallucinations
Seizures
Anorexia
Tremors
Rapid heart rate
Convulsions

Light to moderate drinkers often experience mild symptoms that alleviate somewhat quickly. In contrast, severe alcohol withdrawal often requires medical attention, especially as fevers, seizures, tremors, hallucinations, and convulsions can be life-threatening.

Even those who abuse a small amount of alcohol are at risk of experiencing withdrawal symptoms, so medical detoxes are usually recommended to anyone hoping to reduce their alcohol intake.

Opioid Withdrawal

In America, three million people are thought to have an opioid use disorder. Those living with this condition usually abuse opioid drugs such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, heroin, and fentanyl.

As opioids are highly addictive substances, people often build up a tolerance quite quickly. This means that they need to take a higher dose to feel the drug’s effect. Sadly, taking an increasing amount of opioids to feel the same effects often leads to opioid dependence, causing many people to rely on the drugs.

Though sometimes overlooked, opioid dependency can arise when prescription drugs, such as those prescribed by medical professionals, are abused. An addiction can also occur when illicitly bought drugs are taken.

Unfortunately, when drugs like heroin and fentanyl are taken, there is a high overdose rate. In fact, over 70% of drug overdose deaths in America in 2019 involved an opioid.

When withdrawing from opioids, relapse can be common as withdrawal symptoms are unpleasant, although not generally fatal.

Opioid Withdrawal Timelines

The withdrawal timeline is heavily affected by the type of opioid a person is detoxing from. For example, short-acting opioids, such as heroin, can cause withdrawal symptoms to begin just a few hours after the last dose. However, this depends on how long a person has been taking the opioid and the amount normally consumed. With short-acting opioids, withdrawal symptoms generally peak between 36 and 72 hours and continue for up to 10 days.

In contrast, longer-acting opioids, such as fentanyl and methadone, aren’t cleared from the body as quickly, so the withdrawal process can last longer. Drug withdrawal symptoms for substances like methadone can begin as late as two to three days after the last dose.

The withdrawal peak, where people generally experience the most severe symptoms, usually surfaces around day three. This stage is often called the protracted withdrawal period. In total, the symptoms of withdrawal can linger for about 23 days.

Common Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

There are different stages of withdrawal. In the early stages of withdrawal – the acute withdrawal period – people generally experience symptoms such as:

Flu-like symptoms
Watery eyes
Excessive sweating
Fever
Runny nose

During the protracted withdrawal period, symptoms include:

Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Trouble sleeping
Diarrhea
Feeling weak
Increased blood pressure
Agitation and restlessness
Bone and muscle pain

Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)

PAWS usually arise six months after a person stops using a substance and can last for up to two years. While the majority of recreational drugs and alcohol can cause PAWS symptoms, there are some drugs that are more likely to cause PAWS.

These include:

Marijuana. Insomnia, which is a withdrawal symptom of marijuana detox, can lead to PAWS if untreated.
Cocaine. Decreased impulse control and depression can be experienced for months after cocaine detox.
Methamphetamine. Often impulse control functions are inhibited, sometimes for years after withdrawing from methamphetamine.
Opiates. Insomnia, anxiety, depression, and decreased impulse control may be encountered if opiate PAWS are experienced.
Benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepine withdrawal, in particular, can result in PAWS. Though many people are prescribed benzos for conditions including depression or anxiety, symptoms of anxiety can return after quitting benzos alongside PAWS, worsening the initial issues. Here, panic attacks, extreme anxiety, and insomnia are not uncommon. Benzodiazepine dependence is incredibly challenging to deal with alone. But adverse consequences, such as severe depression and relapse, can be avoided by seeking professional medical help.

Dealing With Unpleasant Symptoms

Withdrawal effects can significantly vary. While some people experience physical symptoms such as losing their appetite and high blood pressure, others may experience psychological symptoms such as anxiety or hallucinations.

In some instances, more severe symptoms can cause a person to relapse. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as delirium tremens (DTs), for example, can be incredibly stressful and even dangerous. However, facilities and treatment plans are available to help treat withdrawal symptoms and support each person through the detoxification process.

As part of a medical detox inpatient program, treatment is also available for mental health issues and substance use disorders, as are medications that can ease symptoms.

While the thought of attending a detox may seem scary, the risk of relapse significantly decreases when medical detox is completed due to managing withdrawal symptoms. It’s not just physical symptoms that professional detox can help with. Having a strong support network is crucial for long-term recovery, and entering treatment is the perfect chance to make connections that facilitate lifelong change.

Long-Term Support

Detox itself is rarely enough to result in long-lasting sobriety. Some people choose to complete an inpatient treatment after their medical detox, where they stay at a treatment facility. Others may prefer to opt for treatments such as therapy that do not have a heavy impact on their daily schedule, and so they choose an outpatient option.

Alcohol and substance abuse treatment can be daunting, but treatment centers offer holistic and flexible options. Sober life requires hard work and emotional support, so seeking treatment or joining a support group is always a positive step.

How Does Alcoholism Affect Families?

Written by Jacob on January 25, 2022. Posted in Alcohol Addiction, Substance Addiction.

In our society, the family is the starting point for attachment, bonds, nurturing, and socialization. Realizing how does alcoholism affect families is eye opening. A family member who abuses alcohol will have a negative effect not only on themselves but also on members of the entire family.

Alcohol abuse can put a strain on relationships, causing fractures within the family unit and affecting the mental health of the entire family. This is why alcoholism is known as a family disease.

Secrecy, loss, fear, emotional instability, violence, or abuse are all factors that can emerge when substance abuse is present within a family. Understanding how alcoholism affects family members will help you to understand the necessary steps you should take to care for yourself.

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a medical condition that involves feeling unable to control alcohol use, despite its negative consequences. It is also known as alcohol addiction. AUD can be mild, moderate, or severe. Some things that characterize AUD are compulsive alcohol use, losing control over alcohol intake, and lacking emotional stability when sober.

Alcoholism Affecting Child Development

It is thought that more than eight million children under the age of eighteen live with at least one adult who has a substance use disorder. Children of alcoholics often develop emotions and thought patterns as a result of their parent’s addiction which continues into their adult lives. It is important to know what signs to look out for in a child in order to support them if a family member has an alcohol addiction.

Growing up around family members who are abusing alcohol leads to a tangle of complex emotions in a child. It can have dire consequences on their healthy emotional development. They might feel guilty as if it is their fault. Due to being in an environment where lying and denial are normalized and ever-present, children often feel distrustful of others. This has a tendency to continue into adulthood, negatively impacting friendships and relationships. They also may feel anxious, depressed, detached, frustrated, and angry. They may be worried about domestic violence and feel unsafe at home. This is incredibly confusing and is a lot to be dealing with as a child!

Teachers, relatives, or other adults in contact with children with an alcoholic parent should look out for the following behaviors:

Low self-esteem
Isolation
Risky behaviors
Missing school, failing classes, or seeking attention
Disheveled appearance
Lack of concentration

How Does Alcoholism Affect a Spouse or Partner?

If your partner abuses alcohol, it can be a very scary time. Your loved one’s addiction will likely come between you, with your partner prioritizing drinking over your relationship. Alcohol abuse within romantic relationships often results in lower marital satisfaction and poor self-esteem. It can also cause more serious mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

Alcoholism Affecting Trust

A partner who is abusing alcohol can seriously damage trust within a romantic relationship. Someone struggling with AUD may be secretive and deceitful in order to hide their addiction. This may start as a way to protect the partner, but the lies often get bigger and more frequent in order to disguise the addiction. This is normally due to feelings of guilt, shame, and fear.

Trust is vital in healthy relationships and once it is broken it can be extremely difficult to fix. This can lead the partner to feel isolated, upset, and resent their significant other.

Alcoholism and Intimacy

For intimate relationships to function healthily, there of course needs to be a level of intimacy. Unfortunately, this can become hugely impacted by a spouse or partner with alcohol problems. It can impact levels of respect, which can put a huge strain on your relationship. This can affect levels of affection and care. Physical intimacy can also be impacted as alcohol can affect sex drive. Stability within the relationship as well as expectations are also frequently fractured as a result of alcohol abuse.

Alcoholism Affecting Finances

Alcoholism affects many aspects of a relationship, one of which is money. Serious financial problems often result from a family member who suffers from alcohol abuse. They may blow the family budget and spend all of their money on drinking.

They may also neglect work or studying in order to feed their addiction, resulting in lost wages. This can take a toll on their romantic partner, making them feel stressed and anxious.

Alcohol and Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence is defined by the World Health Organization as behaviors involving physical abuse, psychological abuse, or sexual harm to those in intimate relationships.

Drinking alcohol often contributes to this and there is evidence to show that drinking can increase the severity and frequency of domestic violence. Domestic disputes can quickly escalate when drinking problems are involved. This can have a detrimental impact on the health and wellbeing of the victim. Not only may their physical health be affected but their mental health is often severely damaged.

It is important to note here that domestic abuse is not solely limited to violence within romantic relationships, but it can also be perpetrated on other members of a family.

How Do I Cope With One or More Family Members Struggling With Alcoholism

If you are affected by alcoholism, there is help available. It’s important to be aware of a variety of different coping mechanisms so that you are able to deal with problems you might face in numerous situations. Below are some practical tips you can implement which will help to ease the emotional strain of the situation.

Understand that their addiction is not your fault. There can be a lot of guilt and self-blame when it comes to addiction, but know that your family member’s addiction is a chronic disease. You would not blame yourself if they got cancer, so try to treat it in the same way.
Support Groups. Support groups such as Al-Anon will help you to feel understood and supported by others going through a similar situation. In these groups, you can learn helpful coping skills and feel less alone.
Take care of yourself. It may feel hard to take care of yourself at this time when you can see that a loved one also needs to be taken care of. However, it is incredibly important to look after yourself and prioritize your own needs. It is important to protect your own well-being.
Therapy. Seeking support from a professional therapist will help to guide you through your thoughts and feelings in a non-judgemental space. You will be free to say whatever you like and be one hundred percent honest about how you feel. This can be extremely liberating.
Accepting addiction. This can be a tricky step but is very freeing. Accepting that your family member is suffering from alcohol abuse can help to give you clarity and acceptance that they may need professional help.
Reach out to friends and family members. Seeking support from other family members or loved ones is important for providing you will support and a space to talk things through.
Rebuild your self-esteem. Your self-esteem may be very low due to your loved one’s drinking. Rebuilding self-esteem by doing the things for yourself that you enjoy will help to improve your mental health.
Family counseling. Talking things through as a whole family in family therapy can be extremely helpful. It allows you to work on rebuilding broken bonds between family members and to talk honestly about feelings in a safe space.

Alcohol Rehab Located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Understanding how alcoholism affects families is a great first step. After that you need to take action in finding help for your loved one. Alcohol rehab in Murfreesboro involves treating the underlying causes of your addiction. Tulip Hill Recovery is here to help with dual diagnosis, substance abuse, and mental health disorders. We also provide treatment for veterans. Our family-run alcohol rehab offers flexible outpatient programs to reduce the costs of long-term treatment while maintaining a high level of support.

No Age Restriction – Exploring Addiction In Older Adults

Written by Jacob on October 8, 2021. Posted in Alcohol Addiction, Drug Addiction.

It is a common misconception that substance abuse disorders develop in people as young adults. Older adults can also suffer from drugs, alcohol, and pharmaceutical dependencies.

Developing a substance abuse disorder has no age limit, and neither does recovery. In our latest blog post, we look at how addiction impacts the health and lives of older adults.

The Complex Network of the Brain

Substance addiction happens for a variety of reasons, including early development, genetics, and environmental factors. The brain is ultimately at the center of addiction; all perception-altering substances alter neurotransmission in the brain. This means that they either stimulate our pleasure and reward centers or slow down the responses of the central nervous system.

The brain is particularly sensitive to damage in older adults who use substances. Length of use also factors in here – the longer someone has been using, the higher their risk of temporal lobe damage. This leaves us more susceptible to loss of perception, memory, coordination, and reaction time – skills we need to live our everyday lives.

Older adults who use substances are more vulnerable to accidents such as car collisions or trips and falls. It’s important to remember that this doesn’t just include alcohol or illegal drugs – prescription medication can be a contributing factor.

Healing the Body – Impacting the Mind

As we age, we become more vulnerable to ailments – we’re more susceptible to aches, pains, and chronic illnesses.

Older adults are often prescribed painkilling medication for issues such as joint and muscle pain, other conditions associated with different diseases and ailments, and post-injury recovery. One study demonstrated that 25% of all pain-relieving medication prescribed in America was given to people aged 65 and over. These prescription painkillers can be highly addictive, and there are risks of developing substance abuse disorders even when medication is prescribed by a physician.

Whether you obtained your substances from a doctor or a dealer, the outcome can be the same – dependence.

Loneliness

Loneliness comes with its own variety of health risks and is another factor that contributes to increasing levels of substance abuse in older people. A study of 3,000 participants aged 55-85 showed that the use of psychotropic drugs correlated with feelings of loneliness.

Adjusting to retirement or having children leave the nest can be a huge emotional hurdle. It can be very difficult to adjust to having more free time in place of a bustling social or professional calendar. Some 28% of older adults live alone in the U.S.A., which also contributes to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Feelings of loneliness are not impossible to overcome. There are lots of positive steps that one can take to have a healthy social life as an older person, such as joining a club or community group. Social participation doesn’t only limit susceptibility to substance abuse but improves the quality of life overall!

Care for Addiction

One of the crucial steps when working towards sobriety is rebuilding social support networks. Since older people may be more likely to suffer from loneliness, recovery comes with some challenges. While they can seem problematic, they do not outweigh the benefits of sobriety, and there are always options for finding a social network that can help one through the process.

Many states have addiction recovery centers with programs focused entirely on older adults. Other such therapies include music therapy and movement therapy. There are also medical interventions to alleviate the physical responses to weaning off of substances.

As an older adult, it may be frightening to have a substance abuse disorder. However, it is never too late to change, and regardless of a person’s age, it is always possible to get sober. With the right support, older adults can find recovery and turn their lives around!

Contact Tulip Hill Recovery in Murfreesboro, TN, today.

Is a Heroin Detox Different From an Alcohol Detox?

Written by Jacob on September 17, 2021. Posted in Alcohol Addiction, Drug Addiction.

Detoxification is the key first step in recovery from both heroin and alcohol addiction. These substances are both classified as depressants, and you may be curious about whether it’s the same detox treatment method due to similar depressant withdrawal symptoms. The answer is not exactly.

Basics of Depressant Withdrawal

As depressants, heroin and alcohol both dampen communication in the central nervous system – lowering the rate at which our brains fire off neurons and slowing down respective bodily functions.

But the body doesn’t want to be stuck in an impaired state all the time. When you keep using a depressant, the nervous system responds by overreacting to reverse the drugs’ effects and bring you back to equilibrium. However, when you suddenly remove the depressant, your system is still over-firing. This elevates anxiety, irritability, tremors, bodily pain and cramping, heart rate, and blood pressure – the list goes on.

This is why someone addicted to either drug experiences a dangerous withdrawal state when they stop or can’t access the substance they’re addicted to – and why they both benefit from a medical detox.

Different Neurochemistry, Different Withdrawals

Depressant intoxication and withdrawal may have some basic similarities, but the devil is in the details, and alcohol and heroin don’t have that much in common. To understand their unique detoxes, let’s dive deeper into how these two substances work.

Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol works partly by increasing the effects of GABA receptors – the docking ports for a naturally produced inhibitory neurotransmitter that has anti-seizure and anti-anxiety effects in the body.

When someone has been abusing alcohol for a long time, either by continuous drinking or binging, the body reduces its number of GABA receptors, losing the ability to inhibit responses. When someone is suffering from alcohol abuse disorder, withdrawal can present with unregulated symptoms of:

Anxiety
Sweating
Tremors
Agitation or anger
Dysphoria
High blood pressure

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome has a long record of dangerous symptoms. Up to 5% of people who cease habits of heavy drinking experience a condition known as delirium tremens. Symptoms include fever, seizures, extreme confusion, hallucinations, and cardiac problems, and can be life-threatening.

Heroin Withdrawal

Heroin overwhelms the mu-opioid receptors for the body’s natural opiates. It replicates a magnified opiate effect in the central nervous system, leading to drowsiness, pain reduction, feelings of contentment, and slowed gastrointestinal, respiratory, and cardiovascular function. However, as we know, the system doesn’t like to be impaired.

With time, we heighten the production of a counteracting chemical, noradrenalin. It cancels out some of the opioid’s effects, stimulating our wakefulness, blood pressure, and alertness. This response is why long-term users develop tolerance, needing more of the drug to reach the same high. It’s also why when heroin is gone from the system, we experience excessive stimulating effects, including:

Uncontrollable restlessness
Intense anxiety
Intense depression
Deep muscle cramps
Bone pain
Insomnia
Diarrhea

While most of these withdrawal symptoms are not independently life-threatening, extreme dysphoric moods can result in risky behavior in many people. Moreover, heroin withdrawal produces painful physical symptoms, which, combined with heroin’s deeply addictive nature, can put people in danger of a fatal relapse when they embark on withdrawal without detox support.

Different Detox Methods: Symptom Management and Tapering

The first step in recovery is quitting use and allowing the body’s natural chemistry to return to its original balanced state. A treatment center can offer medical care to individuals entering withdrawal, easing the process. This reduces symptoms, making detox more comfortable and, most importantly, safer.

Detox from heavy alcohol abuse at a rehab facility will often involve medications that manage the serious symptoms of GABA imbalance while your body finds a new equilibrium. The scale of alcohol withdrawal symptoms is quite varied, and so the exact treatment for your detox will be adjusted to meet your specific requirements. This may involve the careful and monitored prescription of long-acting benzodiazepines (to treat symptoms including seizures) or acamprosate (which stabilizes brain signaling). Medications like naltrexone or disulfiram can help manage cravings or relapse where it is a risk.

Heroin withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and dysphoria can sometimes be treated directly, but the most effective medical treatments for heroin detox work by a method known as tapering.

Your medical staff will first assess your initial tolerance before prescribing you a controlled dose of a long-acting opiate medication such as methadone or buprenorphine. They will slowly phase out your dose over the course of weeks until you have fully detoxed, adjusting for symptoms as you progress.

Why Detox?

Heroin and alcohol addiction work in different ways and their detoxes are not the same processes. That said, choosing detox over cold turkey withdrawal for either offers life-changing benefits. Accepting medical care means protecting yourself against severe or unmanageable withdrawal symptoms and putting your safety first in a monitored, professional environment. Detoxing appropriately is more than comfort; it can define your long-term success in recovery.

What To Do When Your Loved One Is Drinking Too Much?

Written by Jacob on September 8, 2021. Posted in Alcohol Addiction, Healthy Tips, Support.

If your loved one has a drinking problem, it doesn’t only affect them. Alcohol abuse and addiction impact family members, friends, and other loved ones too. It can strain your relationship, cause you to worry and stress over their well-being, or lead you to deny their problem completely.

The good news is that you are not alone in your struggles. Scientists and medics across the globe are constantly working to provide effective advice and treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Around ⅓ of people who attend treatment for AUD have no symptoms a year later, and many others substantially reduce their drinking.

If you are worried about a loved one drinking too much, there is hope. Talking to your loved one about their problem and encouraging them to get help can be the first step on the road to recovery.

How Do I Know If a Loved One Has a Drinking Problem?

Drinking alcohol in moderation is a normal part of many cultures and not something to worry about. But excessive drinking or binge drinking can be extremely damaging to someone’s health, social, and work life. Consuming too much alcohol can increase your risk of brain damage, heart disease, and liver failure and leads to the death of around 178,000 people each year in the United States.

Sometimes it can be difficult to know if your loved one is drinking excessive amounts. However, recognizing a drinking problem is crucial and the first step in getting help. Here are some signs to watch out for:

Regularly neglecting obligations, responsibilities, and commitments in their work, home, or social life
Frequently binge drinking or drinking more than they say they want to
Lying or trying to hide how much they are drinking
Being unable to remember what they did under the influence of alcohol
Continuing to drink even when they know it is harming their health
Using alcohol as a coping mechanism or as a way to self-medicate for underlying mental health disorders

How Can I Talk to Someone About Their Drinking?

If you think your loved one is drinking too much, it is important to be open about your concerns. While you cannot force someone to stop drinking, you can let them know the steps they can take to address their problem. This might be speaking to a therapist, participating in support groups, or attending a treatment center.

Here are some tips to guide you through the conversation:

Speak to your loved one when they are not drinking, and you are both calm and focused
Voice your concerns in a compassionate way
Encourage your loved one to be honest about the reasons for their drinking
Don’t threaten to punish or bribe your loved one
Don’t blame yourself for their behavior or make excuses for it
Consider staging an intervention with the guidance of a professional therapist

How Can I Encourage a Loved One to Get Help?

Stopping drinking is not an easy process, and almost everyone needs some kind of support. If your loved one is physically dependent on alcohol, they may need medical assistance to withdraw safely. Even if they’re not, they likely need support to develop the skills to overcome addiction and make meaningful changes to their lifestyle.

You can encourage a loved one to get help by:

Accompanying them to a meeting with a therapist or treatment center
Being by their side when they call an advice helpline
Helping them make a plan of what changes they need to make and how they can do it

Remember, even after attending treatment, your loved one will still need your support. Adjusting to a sober life and overcoming the challenges it presents can be a difficult process that requires energy and commitment. However, with the right support, sobriety is possible for anyone – and it’s absolutely worth the effort.

Am I Addicted to Alcohol?

Written by Jacob on March 7, 2021. Posted in Alcohol Addiction.

Alcohol consumption is a normal part of life in the United States, so most of us aren’t alarmed or concerned when we see someone drinking. However, nearly 33% of American adults experience alcohol abuse at some point in their lives, meaning that even though we don’t always clearly see it, alcohol addiction is more common than we’d like to think.

Am I Addicted to Alcohol?

If there is any concern that you might be addicted to alcohol, there are some questions you should ask yourself when deciding whether you should seek help:

Do you drink more often than you would expect?
Do you drink for long periods of time?
Do you wish you could drink less but struggle to do so?
Do you have cravings to drink whenever you are not drinking?
Does drinking affect your work, school, social and family life?
Have you driven after drinking?
Do you need to drink higher amounts of alcohol to achieve the desired effect?
Do you drink and struggle with a mental health disorder, such as depression, anxiety or post-stress traumatic disorder (PTSD)?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be dealing with an addiction to alcohol. If you want help quitting so you can take back control of your life from alcohol, you should contact recovery professionals for help.

Start Your Recovery Journey at Tulip Hill Recovery

At Tulip Hill Recovery, our team of clinicians and mental health professionals can help you recover from addiction and live a life free from alcohol.

We focus on discovering what factors in your life may be contributing to addiction in order to treat it at its main source. Our treatment model emphasizes the dual diagnosis approach, which means we treat addiction as well as co-occurring mental health disorders that might be fueling the addiction. This helps a person in recovery become better equipped for dealing with the challenges of mental health disorders without feeling like they need substances or alcohol to cope.

Are you ready to talk to someone about treatment for addiction for you or someone you love? Please contact us online or call us at 877-845-8192 to get in touch with our team and help start the recovery journey.