How Many People Relapse After Rehab?

Not everyone’s a one-chip wonder. In fact, rehabs tend to have a high rate of return, regardless of how effective their treatment program is. 

But exactly what percentage of drug addicts relapse? Let’s have a look!

What’s a Relapse?

A relapse occurs when a recovered addict uses alcohol or drugs again after a period of abstinence. Since substance abuse is challenging to beat, relapses tend to be a far too common occurrence in addiction.

There are no official set guidelines on how long an addict has to be sober to call a slip a relapse. However, generally speaking, the period of abstinence prior to a relapse is carried out with intent.

Nevertheless, relapses are not failures, but rather stepping stones in the recovery process. It’s possible for individuals to get back on track and continue their journey toward lasting recovery with the right support and treatment.

Why Do Addicts Relapse?

To better understand how many people relapse after rehab, we need to first examine why they relapse in the first place.

Just like addiction, there are numerous triggers that can contribute to a relapse. Some of the most common ones include:

  • Stress
  • Access to drugs or alcohol
  • The group of people addicts surround themselves with
  • Not attending aftercare programs
  • Untreated co-occurring disorders
  • Lack of support
  • Difficult life experiences

How Many People Relapse After Rehab

Relapse cases are as varied as the substances that cause them and the people that consume them. To determine how many people relapse after rehab we need to think in terms of percentages, as the number of people that attend rehab changes every year.

Then what percentage of drug addicts relapse?

The overall percentage of addicts who relapse after rehab is estimated to be between 40 and 60%. This is not to say that rehabilitation treatments aren’t effective. Rather, it highlights the complexity of the condition and the undeniable need for ongoing care.

In fact, the percentage of addicts who relapse after rehab is actually similar to the rate of other chronic illnesses like asthma and hypertension. Reinforcing the dangerous nature of addiction.

How to Avoid Relapsing

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to avoiding a relapse. Nevertheless, there are a number of preventive measures that recovering addicts can take to empower themselves with the right tools to fight the possibility of a relapse.

Primarily, addicts want to ensure that their recovery doesn’t end at the gates of rehab. 

Recovery is nothing more than a daily reprieve from an addict’s condition. Just like we shower every day to stay clean, so must addicts work daily on their recovery—offering a clue as to where the phrase “clean from drugs” might come from.

Some of the preventive measures that can be taken by addicts to stay sober after rehab include:

  • Receiving ongoing therapy
  • Attending support groups, aftercare programs, or 12-step programs.
  • Meditating daily
  • Having a sponsor
  • Keeping a clean house inventory to avoid resentment
  • Building a strong support community
  • Communicating with other addicts daily
  • Build a strong foundation by attending an outstanding treatment center

Building a Strong Foundation

Now that you know more about what percentage of drug addicts relapse you might want to take the first step of avoiding relapses which are starting out your recovery in the best possible way.

One of the best ways to avoid relapsing is to start your recovery with the right program. 

The right program will help you avoid rehab by preparing you with the tools you will need to stay sober in the real world. It will also offer you an array of aftercare options such as a strong community and ongoing therapy.

At Elysium Healthcare we are experts in treating addiction and helping our patients stay sober long after they leave our program. Contact Elysium today, and ask how we can help you build the right foundation for your recovery.

What is the Relationship Between Depression and Addiction?

The connection between addiction and depression has been well-established for some time. But which one comes first? And can they exuberate each other?

In this piece, we’ll delve into the association between addiction and depression and investigate how they impact one another.

What’s Depression?

Before coming to any conclusions, it’s essential to first comprehend the meaning of depression. 

Depression is a mental health disorder that influences one’s emotions, thoughts, and actions. Symptoms often include low moods and a lack of motivation. In severe cases, depression can lead to a loss of desire for living. 

Every individual experiences sadness from time to time, but those with depression experience it more frequently and for longer periods of time.

Depression can stem from a variety of causes, such as life events or brain chemical imbalances resulting from substance abuse.

Common symptoms of depression include:

  • Persistent sad or anxious mood
  • Hopelessness and pessimism
  • Irritability, frustration, and/or restlessness
  • Loss of interest, pleasure, and willfulness
  • Lower energy levels
  • Troubled sleeping patterns
  • Changes in appetite
  • Pains, headaches, and cramps that are not eased with treatment
  • Thoughts and attempts to take one’s own life

Relationship Between Depression and Addiction

Addiction and depression are closely intertwined with each other as It’s not uncommon for addicts to feel depressed. This is often due to the depletion of dopamine in the brain and other neural damage caused by substance use. 

Abusing drugs or alcohol causes a dopamine rush in the brain. Like a tank out of fuel, the brain runs out of good-mood juice, leaving the addict feeling down and depressed after using drugs. As tolerance develops, and dopamine receptors get damaged, the depressive episodes tend to last longer, eventually growing into a serious problem.

It’s also possible for depression to lead to substance abuse, as individuals may use drugs or alcohol to alleviate their sadness and seek the dopamine rush that substances provide.

Data shows that people with depression are more likely to turn to alcohol as a form of self-medication, compared to other substances.

These behaviors can lead to addiction, and it’s a vicious cycle as both addiction and depression can exacerbate each other.

A person may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with their emotional pain, but these substances can then worsen their condition, leading to a repeat of the cycle. 

People might choose to self-medicate for a number of reasons including:

  • Lack of trust in conventional medicine
  • Lack of access to medical care
  • Fear of approaching a doctor
  • Misguided beliefs

Data also shows that the most prevalent reason for self-medication tends to be a lack of access to mental healthcare.

Risks of Dual Diagnosis

Treating a dual diagnosis can be difficult, even with professional assistance. 

The symptoms of each condition exacerbate one another. Making it critical that both disorders must be addressed simultaneously to ensure a successful recovery. 

Studies have shown that individuals with a dual diagnosis are more likely to experience certain challenges compared to those who only have one disorder such as:

  • Have severe symptoms of depression
  • Relapse over and over again
  • Have a lower quality of life
  • Attempting to take their own life

A study showed that attempted suicide rates for addicts with depression were:

  • These rates are twice as high as those for addicts who develop alcoholism before depression
  • The rates are three times higher than for people with depression alone
  • Nine times higher than those who only developed alcohol use disorders

The risk of suicide is the most troubling risk of co-occurring disorders and one that must not be ignored.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

It is ineffective to try and address depression and addiction separately, as one condition can trigger the other. 

To achieve recovery, both co-occurring disorders must be treated simultaneously. If you suspect that you or a loved one may need dual-diagnosis treatment, it is crucial to seek professional help. Dual diagnosis can be challenging, and it requires expert care.

Elysium Healthcare provides dual-diagnosis therapy and other holistic approaches to help individuals with co-occurring disorders overcome the root causes of their issues and heal in a holistic way.

Contact us today and ask one of our admission professionals how we can help you or your loved ones overcome co-occurring disorders

What is the Importance of Sober Hobbies in Recovery?

What is the Importance of Sober Hobbies in Recovery?

Idleness could be an unfriendly foe for those who suffer from racing thoughts. Left to their own devices, addicts might find themselves in an endless conversation with themselves that can often turn dark and negative.

This idleness is often the reason why many addicts seek to indulge in their vices. Having hobbies and  fun sober activities in recovery can help addicts keep negative thoughts at bay and avoid a relapse.

Benefits of Sober Hobbies in Recovery

By engaging in sober hobbies, addicts are able to substitute their indulgences for new healthy habits. Be it a craft, sports, or a walk down the beach, hobbies support the development of a balanced lifestyle.

But avoiding the risk of relapse is not the only benefit of keeping yourself entertained with hobbies in recovery. In fact, hobbies for addicts are a great way to gain a greater sense of self-worth and build community.

For example, by joining a sport an addict might be able to connect with other healthy individuals, develop healthy exercise habits, and build confidence.

Hobbies for addicts are also a great way of improving your mood and your overall well-being. A hobby is an activity that’s meant to be enjoyed and bring out happiness in you. 

They are also a great way to stay entertained which can help addicts stay away from activities that might prompt a relapse—like going out to bars or nightclubs.

Boredom and stress can place an addict at a high risk of relapse, both of which can be solved by engaging in healthy hobbies for recovering addicts.

Furthermore, by gaining mastery of a hobby an addict might gain the confidence needed to master other areas of their life such as work and relationships.

Examples of Sober Hobbies in Recovery

Addicts can take up a wide variety of hobbies that can be as diverse as their personalities.

There are countless hobbies for recovering addicts to explore, but we have broken down some categories that can inspire you to find the hobby that’s right for you.

Exercise

Exercising can help improve your physical health, reduce stress, promote a positive mood, and build confidence. And if you were wondering, no, a runner’s high doesn’t count as a relapse.

These are some of the most fun sober activities that involve exercise:

  • Running
  • Swimming
  • Cycling
  • Weightlifting
  • Taking up a sport like soccer, golf, or gymnastics.

Art

Self-expressing through art can be a higher form of meditation and it’s one of the most popular fun sober activities a recovering addict can take on. 

These are some artistic hobbies for recovering addicts:

  • Painting
  • Sculpting with clay
  • Creating digital art
  • Acting or enrolling in theater
  • Video editing

Music

Music opens the gates of the soul. It can help addicts change their mood in a heartbeat and can also be a form of meditation. 

Music hobbies for addicts include:

  • Playing an instrument
  • Taking piano lessons
  • Singing
  • Simply listening to music

Writing

Writing and journaling are incredibly helpful in recovery. They are a great way to release emotions on paper and help addicts organize their thoughts. It’s also a great way to record and share their experiences in recovery with others.

These are some of the most fun sober activities that involve writing:

  • Writing poems
  • Journaling each morning
  • Making gratitude lists
  • Blogging about recovery
  • Songwriting

Volunteering

One of the principles addicts learn in 12-step recovery programs is the importance of giving back and working with others to be able to stay sober.

Volunteering is a great hobby that can give a recovering addict a sense of purpose and fulfillment. 

Volunteering hobbies for recovering addicts include:

  • Working with other alcoholics to achieve sobriety
  • Helping at a local soup kitchen
  • Helping clean their local beach or other nature locations
  • Assisting at the animal shelter
  • Helping fund money for causes they care for

Outdoor Activities

A different kind of sport, outdoor activities combine exercise with all the benefits of being outside and connecting with nature. They are a great way to improve the mood, get a breath of fresh air, and connect with others.

These are some of the most fun sober activities that can be done outdoors:

  • Hiking
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Skiing
  • Playing volleyball on the beach

Hobbies and Aftercare

Aftercare programs and rehabs that place value on hobbies can help addicts build strong recovery habits from day one.

Elysium Healthcare offers rehab and aftercare programs that place an emphasis on preparing the recovering addict with healthy habits and fun hobbies so they may have a successful recovery.Contact us today and see how we can help you get sober today!

Are There Addiction Support Groups for Families?

Addiction is a disease that affects the entire family, its effects affect every member of the household whether they choose to participate or not. Therefore, it’s critical for recovering families to seek to heal together, rather than seeing it as a process that’s only reserved for the addict.

In fact, data shows that families that recover together, are more likely to stay sober than those who leave recovery only up to the addict.

But what kind of resources are available for families? And are there any family support groups available? Let’s have a look!

Addiction Support Groups for Families

12-Step Groups for Families of Addicts

The 12-step format is not reserved for addicts, in fact, families can benefit from this support group format as well.

These family support groups consist of a group of non-professional peers who are recovering. 

While families can benefit from practicing the 12 steps, there is also a lot to gain from the experience of engaging in the program. By doing so they are able to have a similar experience to that of their addictive family member. 

This can help them gain compassion and a better comprehension of what their loved one is going through and how they can better help him or her.

When it comes to 12-step groups for families, there are a number of resources available to them including

Nar-Anon is one of the best-known family support groups for families of addicts available. In this program, attendees come together to discuss their recovery from a drug user and how it affected them and other family members.

Recovering Couples Anonymous is like AA for couples, although it’s not restricted to couples with alcoholism. The fellowship helps couples sober up together, heal their relationship, and solve their common problems.

Families Anonymous is similar to Nar-Anon, except it welcomes families that have been affected by all sorts of addictions—not only drug addiction.

Parental Support Groups

Dealing with an addictive child is one of the most difficult addictive family dynamics to cope with. 

As a parent, it could be nerve-racking to know a child is using drugs and exposing themselves to a number of dangers. 

Then there is also the moral dilemma that comes into play when a child might be suffering from withdrawal. One where parents might opt to provide the child with resources to get their hands on drugs and numb their pain.

Whatever the circumstance, having an addictive child is not a situation any parent ever wishes to be in.

Fortunately, there are family support groups available for parents that can help them cope with the trauma of addiction and heal together with their children.

One of these resources is Parents of Addicted Loved Ones. PAL is a Christian-run organization that offers support groups for families of addicts.

With PAL, parents learn how to cope with the pain of loving an addicted child while also adapting their approach to their child’s struggles.

Child and Teen Support Groups

Flipping the script can be as bad, if not worse. When a child has an addicted parent it could cause a life-long painful trauma that can negatively shape the child’s life.

Parents could have a degree of maturity that can help them cope with an addictive child. However, children lack the same resources and usually cope with addiction in the family in destructive ways.

So much so that addiction-related trauma during childhood could turn into addiction later in life.

Fortunately, there are also family support groups for children and teens. Some of them include:

  • NACoA – The National Association for Children of Addiction is one of the family support groups focused on helping children and teenagers. They are on a  mission to eliminate the adverse impact of drug use on children and families. 
  • Narateen – Narateen is the teenager equivalent of Nar-anon and an extension of their program. The association is dedicated only to teens who have been affected by someone else’s drug addiction. The group welcomes teens between the ages of 13 and 18 to the meetings.

Family Therapy

Family therapy  can help the entire family recover from past trauma. This is done by working together as a group to learn how to manage recovery and build healthy coping skills. 

In this form of group therapy, members of the family typically share their experiences together under the supervision of a therapist. 

By providing them with an open safe space to discuss their trauma, families are able to work out their shortcomings and heal their relationships. 

Group therapy for families of addicts is one of the best-known resources for addicted families that wish to heal together.

Getting Help

Family members who suffer from addiction need our help and support. If you want to help a loved one recover from a drug addiction, we can help.

Elysium Healthcare is an expert in addiction treatments and family therapies. We understand that families that recover together remain and heal together. Therefore, we emphasize not just treating the addict, but also healing any underlying causes that might prevent them from attaining sobriety—including family recovery.

Contact Elysium today, to help your loved ones the help they need.

What is the Importance of Individualized Addiction Treatment?

What is the Importance of Individualized Addiction Treatment?

Addiction stretches beyond substance abuse, it’s a disorder of the mind that can be manifested in a variety of obsessions. 

There are over 20 million people suffering from substance abuse in the US alone, and every single one of them has a very different substance abuse experience. The combination of issues in that pool of people is endless, mixing different substances—or a combination of them—with different mental disorders.

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment that can cover such a wide array of personalities, substances, obsessions, and mental health disorders.

Because addiction can be so sparse and different from patient to patient, it’s crucial that an individualized substance abuse treatment program is employed to achieve sobriety.

What Is an Individualized Addiction Treatment? 

Similarly to other health conditions, addiction requires an individualized treatment plan. 

An individualized substance abuse treatment program is a bespoke program that is designed to fit the patient’s individual needs. That means that doctors will analyze a variety of factors that could affect your recovery and ensure they are all receiving the right form of treatment.

For example, an addict with a co-occurring disorder like depression must treat both disorders in parallel. If not, the depression could eventually drive the addict to relapse and back to square one.

Some of the personalized addiction treatments taken into consideration in an individualized substance abuse treatment program include:

  • Medication
  • Therapy 
  • Holistic practices
  • Lifestyle changes
  • 12-Step programs
  • Family therapy

What Makes a Good Individualized Addiction Treatment? 

The best way to ensure an individualized substance abuse treatment program works for the addict is by ensuring comprehensive assessment and monitoring of the symptoms of behavioral change.

Some of the most important considerations that go into crafting a personalized addiction treatment program include:

  • The types of drugs being used
  • Consumption history
  • Any co-occurring disorders
  • The relapse history of the patient
  • Any mental blocks present
  • The degree to which the patient is addicted
  • Other health conditions present

In the end, a tailored approach might find an effective solution, although it might take some trial and error, especially since everyone responds to treatments differently.

Why Choose a Personalized Addiction Treatment Program?

Recovery from addiction is usually best accomplished through a personalized addiction treatment program.

A substance abuse disorder involves many factors that extend beyond the substance and could interfere with the recovery of the patient or cause them to relapse in the future. 

Choosing a personalized addiction treatment program is one of the best ways to ensure the patient finds the right healthy balance that will keep them from using again.

There are many benefits to choosing a personalized addiction treatment program that extends beyond improving the chances of an addict’s recovery. Some of them include:

  • Treating co-occurring disorders that could cause a future relapse
  • Allowing addicts to take an in-depth look into their general health.
  • Taking into consideration emotional, social, physical, spiritual, and mental factors
  • Avoid unnecessary side effects by choosing the right medication
  • Find the correct therapy for the addict
  • Provides the patient with the right relapse prevention tools

How to Get A Personalized Addiction Treatment Program?

When it comes to treating addiction, time is of the essence. The more time you wait to find effective treatment, the more control the addiction has over your life. 

Finding the right addiction treatment can be difficult in it itself, but choosing the right treatment center doesn’t have to be.

If you or someone you know is in need of personalized addiction treatment then you can get in touch with us and one of our admission experts can help.

Elysium Healthcare is an expert in addiction treatments and offers individualized substance abuse treatment programs for patients who seek our help.

Contact Elysium today and see which personalized addiction treatment program is right for you.

How to Get a Loved One Help For Substance Abuse

How to Get a Loved One Help For Substance Abuse

Getting someone we love into rehab might be easier said than done. Unfortunately, addiction is a disease that overcomes self-will and leads those who suffer from it down a path of self-inflicted destruction that they can rarely gain control over.

For this reason, the help of friends and family is critical in guiding the misguided on to the road of recovery.

But what can you actually do to get a loved one into drug rehab? Let’s take a look.

Admission

You might be familiar with the first step of a 12-step program even if you’ve never attended a meeting before.

The media has famously made known the admission of one’s addiction as the first step toward recovery. 

It’s no coincidence that the first step is at the beginning, after all you can’t fix what you don’t know it’s broken.

If addicts can’t come to the mere realization that there is an issue, then it’s likely they will fail to pull the strength needed to stick around when the challenges of recovery become evident.

If you think that your loved one might be suffering from drug or alcohol abuse, then trying to reason with them and showing them the signs and symptoms of their problem could help them recognize the problem.

However, don’t be surprised if they don’t accept their condition right away. More times than not, most addicts will fail to recognize the problem.

Addiction causes stubbornness and difficulties with honesty, particularly being honest with themselves. This is part of how drugs and alcohol affect the way an addict thinks and behaves.

If that’s the case, have patience and don’t give up! This is normal. 

At the very least you will plant a seed that will help them ease into it. 

Education

Part of the reason why an addict might not accept their condition right away is due to the fact that they might just not know enough about it.

They might not fully understand what are the consequences of their actions or the secondary problems that could arise from abusing drugs and alcohol. 

Educating ourselves and in turn, passing that education on to the addict could be a way to open their eyes to the problem and get them to seek professional help.

Many times, there can also be other underlying causes for their addiction. For example, co-occurring disorders or social factors like peer pressure or excessive stress.

Educating the addict about underlying conditions might also help them understand why they are behaving the way they are and what’s actually causing the problem.

Here are some helpful topics to study:

  • How drugs and alcohol affect their body and mind
  • What kind of treatments are available for them
  • Demystifying any misconceptions they may have about recovery or addiction
  • Looking into areas of their life that have been affected or into finances and see how that can be improved with sobriety
  • How substance abuse could lead to irreparable damage or death

You can browse our content library, which covers a variety of useful topics if you are unsure of where to get the best information to educate yourself.

In short, addicts may seek help if they are aware of the risks associated with substance abuse. Giving them the facts can empower them to make the right decisions.

Call a Professional

Stating the obvious here, yet many fail to take the right approach despite it being just a phone call away.

Contacting a rehab center and asking for help could be the quickest route to getting your loved ones in recovery. Rehab centers are equipped with experienced staff that can guide you through the necessary steps to get help for those you love.

A professional might offer to do an intervention that could help your loved one get into rehab.

Many people might shy away from professional help or put it off for fear of costs, unaware that costs are in many instances covered by insurance.

Ultimately a professional is trained to deal with these situations and can offer the best possible help.

How to Get in Contact With a Professional

The best way to get a loved one into drug rehab is by seeking out professional help.

Elysium Healthcare can offer you and your loved ones the support needed to get that special person into recovery.Contact Elysium today and one of our admissions professionals will guide you through the process.

How Long Does Drug Withdrawal Last?

Drug withdrawals are a life-threatening and painful condition that keeps addicts from seeking the help they need to be sober. 

The agonizing cravings and negative side effects may prompt many struggling addicts to wonder—how long can drug withdrawal last?

Let’s take a look into the effects of withdrawals and how long an addict can expect to struggle with them.

What’s a Drug Withdrawal?

Withdrawals are symptoms of being physically dependent on a drug. In other words, your body has developed a chemical dependency on the substance.

Chemical dependency worsens with time, as the body builds dependence on these substances.

Withdrawals can make recovery very challenging, as they can be life-threatening and scary. During withdrawals an addict might also experience a high degree of cravings that they are not able to manage, prompting them to relapse.

This vicious cycle builds more tolerance and worsens the problem over time.

For a safe and effective withdrawal process, it is important to seek professional help if you suffer from drug addiction.

Drug Withdrawal Symptoms

The symptoms of drug withdrawals vary from drug to drug. While no drug will have the same withdrawal experience, some symptoms are shared across the board.

Some drugs might also have more serious and stronger withdrawal symptoms. For example, a marijuana withdrawal will be much milder than what you could expect from an opioid withdrawal. Nevertheless, all withdrawals should be threatened equally, as all addicts will struggle.

Some symptoms shared across the board include:

Rebound effects

This is the type of symptom the drug is intended to treat. The symptoms become more intense when you stop using the drug. 

For example, since opiates numb pain, the pain could return in full force once the opiates leave the body.

Decreased tolerance

When a drug is withdrawn, tolerance decreases rapidly. Having a reduced tolerance can cause you to overdose if you relapse or take the drug again as you will need much more of the drug to get you back to your previous state.

Depression

Depression is a common occurrence across all forms of substance abuse. The depletion of dopamine and damage to pain and pleasure receptors in the brain causes users to go down a road of negative and low emotions—usually ending in depression.

Extreme Cravings

Once the drugs are cleared from the system, the dependence will generate strong cravings. 

Seizures or Tremors

These are some of the most dangerous withdrawal symptoms they also include changes to the autonomic nervous system such as:

  • Heartbeat problems
  • Breathing issues
  • Blood circulation problems

How Long Can Drug Withdrawal Last

There is no one set rule as to how long drug withdrawal can last. The duration of drug withdrawal can vary considerably depending on the type of drug abused and the frequency by which it was consumed.

For example, drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines can cause withdrawal symptoms that last anywhere from a week to a month. In the case of opiates, withdrawal symptoms usually peak within 72 hours and then gradually subside.

Generally speaking, symptoms of withdrawal usually begin within one to three days of last using the drug, peaking between two and four days afterward.
Withdrawal timelines are also influenced by other factors:

  • Amount taken
  • Method of ingestion
  • Combining it with other substances
  • Length of drug abuse
  • Personal profile of tolerance

There are generally three stages to withdrawal timelines: 

  • Acute
  • Protracted
    Post-acute.

What to Do if Withdrawals Are Present

Now that you know how long drug withdrawal can last, it’s time to seek help.

If you or one of your loved ones is suffering from drug withdrawals then it’s imperative that you seek help immediately.  Not only are withdrawals dangerous to your health, but they can also make it difficult to recover.

If you have any serious symptoms you should call 911 and seek medical help immediately.

The best way to deal with withdrawal symptoms is by attending detox. In detox, pharmacological treatments are used to help you ease out of the drugs and treat other symptoms of withdrawal.

Elysium Healthcare is an expert in detox treatments and will be able to assist you every step of the way.

Contact Elysium today to learn about our detox and inpatient treatments. 

What is Mindfulness and Why is it Important?

What is Mindfulness and Why is it Important?

The importance of mindfulness in today’s culture can’t be understated. Mediation programs have become popular in recent years and many of its practitioners stand behind the practice as a solid tool for recovery.

A 2017 survey showed that the percentage of adults who practice some form of meditation, including mindfulness, tripled in 2018 from 4% to 14%.

But does mindfulness actually work? And how is mindfulness helpful?

What is Mindfulness and Why is it Important?

Mindfulness is a holistic practice that consists of achieving a mental state that focuses on the present moment. 

It is a practice of self-awareness that can be used to manage stress and improve well-being which involves focusing on your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment. 

During a mindfulness session, the practitioner acknowledges and accepts one’s feelings, thoughts, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment. 

The practice of mindfulness can improve an individual’s ability to cope with difficult emotions and bring balance to their lives. Practitioners tend to achieve a state of mindfulness through meditation or yoga. 

The benefits of mindfulness have also been demonstrated in other areas as well, including mental health, physical health, relationships, and work performance. 

How to Practice Mindfulness in Daily Life

Mindfulness has been around for centuries and in recent history, it has been practiced across numerous cultures across the globe. It is a skill that can be developed through regular practice.

Practitioners can achieve a state of mindfulness in many ways. Some of them include:

  • Meditation (a form of mindfulness)
  • Breathing exercises
  • Mindful eating
  • Writing in a journal
  • Reading poetry or literature
  • Yoga

Mindfulness and Mental Health

“Mindfulness” has become a popular buzzword in the mental health and personal development community.

Mindfulness and mental health are closely related since the practice is a form of meditation. It can help patients offer many of the same benefits that meditation does. Skeptics may look at this holistic practice and ask themselves how is mindfulness helpful?

They might at first not fully realize the relationship between mindfulness and mental health and the benefits it can offer.

The practice has been shown to have many benefits both physical and mental.

Some of the most common benefits of mindfulness include:

  • Helps with stress by reducing the levels of cortisol in your body
  • Improves concentration by helping you focus on the present moment without distractions
  • Helps with managing emotions by allowing you to confront any negative feelings that come up without getting overwhelmed
  • Increases happiness by bringing awareness to what’s going on in your life right now.
  • Improves decision-making skills by helping clear the mind
  • It could help relieve pain in some instances.

How is Mindfulness Helpful With Addiction?

The importance of mindfulness is also noticeable when it comes to fighting addiction. It’s an important tool for individuals struggling with it as it can help them gain insight into their triggers and how to cope with them in healthy ways. 

The practice can also help addicts by supporting them in becoming aware of their inner selves and developing healthier coping mechanisms—making it a powerful tool in the fight against addiction. 

Mindfulness can also help addicts become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and actions so that they can make better choices that can lead to a healthier life and avoid relapse episodes.

Its proven stress reduction capabilities can also help addicts stay away from a slip.

Mindfulness in Rehab

Mindfulness can be a powerful tool in the fight against addiction. 

It’s one of the many holistic practices employed by rehab centers to help addicts manage their condition. 

The practice is taught by specialists and can serve addicts as a lifelong tool of recovery.

Picking the right rehab center that supports holistic practices can make all the difference.

If a loved one or someone you know is suffering from substance abuse then Elysium Healthcare can help.

Elysium Healthcare is an expert in holistic addiction treatments and teaches its patients the practice of mindfulness.

Contact Elysium today for an assessment.

What Are the Symptoms of Heroin Abuse?

symptoms of heroin abuse

Heroin is known to be one of the most dangerous illicit drugs making rounds in the streets of America. Its effects can be devastating and life-threatening, leading addicts down a path of destruction with little to no power to help themselves.

Identifying the symptoms of heroin abuse can help us recognize when people around us are struggling and allow us to extend a helping hand when they need it.

Symptoms Of Heroin Abuse

Heroin acts on the user’s pain and pleasure system by taking over opioid receptors and flooding the brain with dopamine. 

The high potency of the drug causes psychological and physical dependence — making it extremely difficult for users to muster the strength they need to seek help and get sober.

Psychological Heroin Abuse Symptoms 

Addiction is considered to be a mental health disorder, developing first in the mind and then spreading its effects through the body.

Heroin is no exemption, and users may find themselves affected mainly in two areas:

  • Their behaviors
  • Their cognitive function

Behavioral Heroin Abuse Symptoms 

It is easy to identify signs of heroin abuse by pointing out odd behaviors. An addict who is under the influence of heroin may display slurred speech or other behavioral changes that may last even after an addict has sobered up.

Taking a look at an addict’s daily routine can reveal a lot about their addiction. Have their friend circles suddenly changed? Have you lost contact with your loved ones for days at a time without explanation? These behaviors can all be signs of heroin abuse.

Here are some other behavioral symptoms of heroin abuse to watch out for:

  • Involvement in crime
  • The disappearance of personal value objects
  • Bursts of anger or disturbance
  • Increased anxiety
  • Lack of care about one’s appearance
  • Change of clothes to cover needle scabs or bruises
  • Changes in mood
  • Depressive moods and loss of interest

Cognitive Heroin Abuse Symptoms 

Cognitive functioning symptoms relate to the addict’s consciousness and their ability to think and reason. As the brain is clouded by the “high,” they are more noticeable when the addict is under the influence.

A person under the influence of heroin is considered to have impaired cognitive functions. Their mind is clouded and the body is induced into massive relaxation, causing the user to drift from one consciousness. Often, it appears as if the user is drifting in and out of sleep.

Other cognitive symptoms of heroin abuse include – 

 

  • The inability to make sound decisions
  • Being disoriented
  • Lack of focus
  • Being impulsive
  • Talking nonsense

Physical Heroin Abuse Symptoms 

After prolonged use of heroin, the body gets used to its presence and develops tolerance to the drug’s euphoric effects. As tolerance develops, users take more and more of the drug, until the body grows dependent on it.

Physical dependency and high tolerance can be extremely dangerous for an addict as their effects can be life-threatening and lead to seizures and overdoses.

A heroin abuser is likely to lose weight and start showing physical signs of fatigue. Bruises and scabs will also appear on the body. The appearance of scabs is not only caused by injections but can also be caused by anxiety-induced skin picking.

Scabs and bruises are commonly seen in areas of intravenous access such as the arm, and fingertips.

Heroin abuse also causes the following physical symptoms of heroin abuse:

  • Dry mouth
  • Weight loss
  • Runny nose
  • Dilated pupils
  • Liver failure

Heroin Withdrawal 

There is no greater sign of substance abuse than the appearance of withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms appear when an addict has developed a physical dependence on a drug.

In the event withdrawal symptoms appear, it is important that the addict receives medical attention and undergoes detoxification immediately.

Common symptoms of opioid withdrawal include:

  • Excessive flow of tears
  • Muscle aches
  • Tremors
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Dilated pupils
  • Eye discomfort in bright lights
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Autonomic hyperactivity
  • Irritable moods
  • Depression and suicidal thoughts
  • Anxiety

What to Do When You Spot Heroin Abuse Symptoms

If someone you love is showing signs of heroin abuse, you must act quickly.

You may want to look out for additional evidence such as drug paraphernalia which can include needles, pipes, small zip-lock bags, or burnt aluminum paper in the trash.

If you are concerned that this may be the case, seek professional help immediately.

How to Get Help Today

If a loved one or someone you know shows signs of heroin abuse it’s important to get help.

Addiction can develop into physical dependence which could be difficult, painful, and dangerous to the user if it’s not handled adequately.

Elysium Healthcare is an expert in addiction treatments and will be able to assist you every step of the way.

Contact Elysium today, to get your loved ones the help they need.

What Are the Signs of Cocaine Use?

It can be difficult to help a loved one who we believe may be abusing drugs.

To begin with, we may have never even used drugs ourselves, which could make it extremely difficult to properly identify which drugs they are abusing.

Your ability to identify the signs of addiction to cocaine may help you support a loved one who needs your help and effectively assist them in getting treatment. 

What Is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a drug that alters the mood and behavior of an individual. It is made from the leaves of the coca plant.

The drug is extremely popular in the US, a study carried out in 2020 shows that close to five million people aged 12 and older reported using cocaine in a period of twelve months.

Being a stimulant, cocaine affects the central nervous system and creates a feeling of euphoria. It also suppresses hunger and fatigue, which are both common side effects when using the drug. Cocaine can be injected or snorted.

Once the high wears off, and it does so fairly quickly, cocaine creates strong cravings and builds tolerance, which prompts users to take more and more each time — eventually leading to addiction, withdrawals, and even death.

The good news is that we can spot cocaine addiction symptoms and signs early and help our loved ones live a healthy drug-free life.

Identifying Cocaine Addiction 

As with all drugs, cocaine addiction signs and symptoms can be observed in the body and the way a person behaves.

Physical Signs and Symptoms of Cocaine Addiction 

Physical cocaine addiction symptoms and signs appear in the body even when there is no prolonged use. Cocaine affects the brain by increasing levels of dopamine, which creates an intense feeling of pleasure and well-being. 

These changes in the chemistry of the brain extend towards the body and eventually catch up with the addict, starting to show signs of wear-off induced by the accelerated and abnormal stress induced in the body.

Common physical signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction include:

  • Upbeat and energetic
  • Sensitive to touch, light, or sound
  • Restless
  • Irritable
  • Dilated pupils
  • White powder close to the nose or in property
  • Sweats a lot
  • Bags under the eyes
  • Constant nose congestion
  • Higher body temperature and blood pressure
  • Faster heartbeat
  • Fever
  • Hearth problems
  • Chest pains
  • Headaches

Behavioral Signs and Symptoms of Cocaine Addiction 

A person’s behavior always changes as they fall down the pit of addiction, and are a great way to identify signs of a cocaine addiction.

While many drugs may create similar behaviors, not all drugs will provoke the same patterns. For example, a person who abuses opiates may share addictive behaviors with other drugs such as financial troubles or secrecy. 

Yet, a person who consumes opiates may appear to be more relaxed than someone who uses a stimulant like cocaine.

A person who is on cocaine will appear to have high levels of hysteria showing signs that they don’t sleep, get ticked off really easily, and can’t seem to be able to remain still. 

Common behavioral signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction include:

  • Sleep pattern changes
  • Ignoring hygiene
  • Secrecy
  • Lying
  • Risky behavior
  • Mood swings
  • Paranoia
  • Loss of interest in enjoyable activities
  • Financial problems
  • Intense cravings
  • Depression
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Irritability
  • Extreme laziness when they are not under the influence
  • Loss of appetite
  • Erratic behavior
  • Changes in eating patterns

 

How to Get Treatment

Once we have identified the signs of addiction to cocaine, then it’s time to seek professional help.

 

A professional may assess the addict and identify if cocaine addiction signs and symptoms are actually present, and the severity of their addiction.

If signs of a cocaine addiction are confirmed, a medical professional may suggest a detox and rehab treatment.

Elysium Healthcare is an expert in addiction treatments and will be able to assist you every step of the way. Contact Elysium today to learn more about what you can do to help your loved ones receive the treatment they need.