Xanax is a drug known as alprazolam, which is a medication that is often prescribed to help with anxiety and panic attacks. It belongs to a class of medications known as benzodiazepines, which affect the brain and central nervous system by increasing the release of GABA, which is amino acid that produces a calming effect in your body.
An addiction to a benzodiazepine like Xanax is concerning because of the physical effects it has on your body. If you misuse it to achieve the relaxing effect and then become addicted, the withdrawal can be dangerous. You can go into a life-threatening seizure as part of withdrawal, as well as suffer from psychiatric reactions like panic attacks, depression and anxiety.
How Do I Know if I am Addicted to Xanax?
If you use Xanax, whether it was prescribed or not, you should make yourself aware of the signs of addiction so you know if you need to seek help from a recovery professional.
Signs you may be addicted to Xanax include:
- You run out of medication before you are supposed to.
- Your speech is slurred.
- You experience drowsiness.
- You experience vertigo.
- You mix Xanax use with alcohol and other drugs.
- You crave Xanax when you are not using it.
- Your work or education are beginning to suffer.
- Your relationships are strained.
- You are in financial or legal trouble because of actions you take to get more Xanax.
If you are experiencing any of these signs of addiction, please contact a professional for treatment. Quitting once you are addicted can be challenging and even unsafe due to the seizures that can occur during withdrawal. Clinical professionals at recovery centers like Tulip Hill Recovery can monitor your withdrawal process and intervene if you suffer from a seizure.
Start Your Recovery Journey at Tulip Hill Recovery
At Tulip Hill Recovery, 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.
