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Managing Cravings In Recovery

Managing Cravings In Recovery – Part Two

Articles, Australia, Education, International, LGBTQ, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

This part-two of a three-part series about how to manage cravings.

In part one of this series, we explained what cravings were and highlighted the fact that they are a normal part of the recovery process. In this portion of the series, we will explain triggers in greater detail.

Understanding External Triggers

External triggers are things happening outside of yourself that prompt you to experience a craving. Remember, a craving is an intense, urgent, or abnormal desire or longing to use drugs or alcohol.

Here are some examples of external triggers:

Going into a convenience store and seeing someone buy beer may trigger you to want to drink alcohol.

Driving down a street where you used to score drugs may prompt you to have a craving for that particular drug.

Listening to music that reminds you of a time when you used to use drugs or drink alcohol can trigger you to want to get high or drunk.

Seeing a person you used to drink or drug with can cause a craving.

Money can be a trigger for some people.

These are just a few examples of external triggers that can bring about an intense craving. This is because seeing or hearing certain sights or sounds can trigger the brain to have a memory associated with drugs or alcohol. These memories will cue the brain to want to experience the sensations it once did when it was intoxicated or high on certain drugs.

Internal Triggers Are Powerful Mechanisms

While external triggers are things that happen outside of your body, internal triggers happen inside the body. Internal triggers are emotions, thoughts, memories, and sensations you experience within yourself. They can be just as powerful as external triggers.

Here are some examples of internal triggers:

When you have a memory you have of a time when you had fun while you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You might experience a craving.

Depression can trigger you to want to get high or drunk to escape intense feelings of sadness.

Anxiety can motivate you to want to use drugs or alcohol to calm the experience of panic or distress.

Low self-esteem can make you want to get high or drunk so you will feel better about the way you interact with the world.

Internal triggers are like external triggers. They trigger a memory in the mind that brings about a craving. Although it might seem more difficult to avoid internal triggers because they seem to have a mind of their own (literally!). You can change your mind and think about something else when the trigger arises.  

Avoiding Triggers Keeps Cravings At A Minimum

You can experience cravings when you are feeling good because you want to celebrate how well you have been doing. Conversely, you might find that cravings are the most powerful when you are feeling depressed or when something tragic has happened in your life. You might even feel cravings for no particular reason at all. Whatever the situation may be, the best option you have for avoiding a relapse is to avoid triggers as best you can.

By identifying triggers, you can keep cravings at a minimum. For example, if you associate a particular person with getting high or drunk, stay away from that person. If going to the ATM is a trigger for you, only get cash from the bank. You know you will be triggered by beer at a convenience store, pay for your gas at the pump and don’t go inside. If depression is a trigger for you, do what you can to take care of your mental health so that you can ward off depression. When certain memories cause cravings, change your thoughts.

It is better to do what you can to manage your life so that you can avoid cravings at all costs. However, if you do experience a craving. There are certain things you can do to overcome them and keep your recovery in check.

Be sure to read Managing Cravings In Recovery – Part Three to learn how you can overcome cravings when they happen. 

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Managing Cravings In Recovery

Managing Cravings In Recovery – Part One

Articles, Australia, Education, International, LGBTQ, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

This part-one of a three-part series about how to manage cravings.

Cravings – A Simple Definition  

No matter how long you have been recovering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol, you will have to deal with cravings from time to time. In early recovery, cravings are the strongest. However; cravings can manifest themselves at any point in your sobriety. Knowing how to manage cravings is the key to successful, ongoing recovery. By accepting that you will have cravings, you can be much better equipped to deal with them when they happen.

Before we talk about cravings in greater detail, let us first define what a craving is. According to the most widely accepted dictionary definition, a craving is “an intense, urgent, or abnormal desire or longing for something.”

When you suddenly have an overwhelming desire to use drugs or drink alcohol, you are experiencing a craving. Cravings are usually fleeting experiences that pass rather quickly. To avoid relapse, you have to ride the craving out and get to the other side. If you give into the craving and reintroduce mood or mind-altering substances into your body, you will have to start the recovery process all over again.

Cravings Are A Reality In Recovery

Although you would rather do without them altogether, it is important to recognize that cravings are a reality in recovery. Drugs and alcohol have a profound impact on the brain. The fact is, your body loves the feeling of intoxication and euphoria. For years, you fed your body chemicals that caused you to feel high or drunk. Your body wants more of this feeling, so it will alert you to continue to feed it with more chemicals through cravings.

Although they are very uncomfortable, cravings are a normal part of the recovery process. Many people feel ashamed when they have a craving because they feel that it is a sign of weakness. This is not true. Cravings are nothing more than a biological response to the absence of drugs and alcohol.

Just because you have a craving doesn’t mean you have to act on it. If you do, you may experience some temporary relief, but shame and guilt are sure to follow. Plus, if you give into the craving, the craving will be that much more intense next time – and there will be a next time. You have to learn how to resist the cravings.

Cravings Are Usually Triggered

A craving can seem to come out of nowhere, but there is usually something that triggers a craving.

Although you do have the power to resist cravings, it is much better if you can find a way to avoid them. While this isn’t always possible, there are some things you can do to keep cravings at a minimum. One of the ways to do this is to identify your triggers.

Triggers are internal and external cues that cause a recovering person to crave drugs or alcohol. These are very powerful response mechanisms that exist in the brain and trigger a desire to return to chemical substances.

Be sure to read Managing Cravings In Recovery – Part Two to learn more about triggers. 

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Building A Support System

Building A Support System

Articles, Australia, Education, International, LGBTQ, Malaysia, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Recovery can begin in many different ways. Some may be forced into recovery by court, while others may choose to go into treatment. No matter how you entered recovery if you are making the choice to stay in recovery and truly get clean then you will not be walking alone. Recovery, while a personal decision, requires a great deal of support from others. Recovery means you are restarting your life and building from the ground up. This is not an easy feat and there are people who can help you along the way. This is why building and maintaining a strong support system is so important.

The friends you had while in active addiction will be unlikely to remain friends in recovery. While this can seem like a big loss at first. Your new life is much more important than those that can ruin recovery. For some this may also mean moving away from family as they could also be addicts.

Recovery is so much more than refraining from using drugs or alcohol or whatever you are addicted to in life. Recovery is a process of change through which an individual achieves wellness. Additionally, the individual can achieve wellness, improved physical and mental health, and a better quality of life. Recovery is long term and wellness centered. In fact, expecting someone to detox and then expecting them to go on and never relapse is unrealistic. This does not mean that the relapse will be extreme, but it is likely for anyone starting in recovery to slip up. For those in treatment or providing treatment this means that the whole person must be treated, not just the addiction.

One important way to maintain recovery and lessen the chance of an extreme relapse is through the development of new connections and a support system. This means old friends or family members who are still using will need to be removed from your life or strong boundaries set. New friends should be clean and sober. Additionally, a new environment may be helpful. Moving away from those who you used to use with can make it easier to stay in recovery. The connections that one has can be with friends and family as long as they are supportive of recovery. These relationships should first and foremost be substance or addiction free, supportive, and be fully honest.

The honesty aspect is of great importance. This means that those in your support circle need to be totally honest with you and that you need to do the same for them. This rigorous form of honesty allows you to know that that person will be honest with you and you can be honest with them if you need help or relapse. This support system will be made up of those who you can trust to offer support when you need it most. Sometimes it may be difficult to be totally honest with someone else, but this is an aspect of staying in recovery. If you do not lie then you do not have to worry about others finding out the truth.

If you have made the first steps into recovery than the real work can begin. Start building your support system immediately as these individuals will help you stay in recovery long term. Choose wisely as these people will be your go to support when times get tough.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Hyper Sexuality

Sex Addiction

Articles, Australia, Education, International, LGBTQ, Malaysia, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

While Sex Addiction is not officially recognized as a distinct addiction such as alcoholism or heroin addiction. It is quite real and it can be devastating. Experts and treatment professionals generally agree that there are a cluster of symptoms which constitute sexual addiction. Sex addiction, or hyper sexuality, is difficult to diagnose largely because the line between a healthy and active libido and problematic sexual behavior is hard to define. Essentially, if one is so preoccupied with sex and engages in sex to the extent that these thoughts and behaviors negatively impact one’s life or get in the way of normal daily activity, then one is in danger of being addicted to sex. The difficulty is that psychologists have been reluctant to use the term “addiction” for this type of issue. Just a few symptoms may help a person decide if they are wrestling with this problem:

If one experiences continual and prolonged sexual fantasies to the exclusion of other thoughts.

Time spent engaging in sexual thoughts and fantasies interferes with regular activities.

If sexual thoughts and urges come as the result of other problematic feelings (anxiety, depression, etc.)

Engaging in sexual behavior without regard for social and legal consequences.

Sex addicts are generally vexed with a constant and unrelenting preoccupation with sex. Their thoughts about sex and engaging in sex persist to the exclusion of nearly every other aspect of their lives. It is normal to have sexual fantasies, but for the sex addict, engaging in sexual fantasies is on the order of an obsession. Their thoughts about sex interfere with other activities.

While sex addiction can be treated the same as any other addiction, there are complications for those in the LBGTQ community. LBGTQ people are often the victims of abuse and bullying which the straight community does not deal with in the same way. For the straight community there are the issues of shame and guilt. But for LBGTQ people, these issues can be compounded by social and cultural mechanisms which refuse to treat them. They are shunned for being what they are in the first place. With the added difficulty of sex addiction they are prone to the abuse of others. And the isolation which comes with this abuse. Real fear of retribution forces them to hide their addiction and they tend to go untreated. This only compounds the addictive behavior and the problem become cyclical. 

DARA Thailand Treats Hyper Sexuality Addictions

DARA Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Thailand is fully equipped to treat hyper sexuality in LBGTQ people. The professional and state of the art treatment programs at DARA are well-aware of the particular needs of the LGBTQ community and the obstacles they face in finding the right treatment for sex addiction. As with other behavioral addiction, hyper sexuality at DARA is treated according to individual needs. While on the one hand, DARA has staff and programs especially suited for LGBTQ people, they also take each individual’s needs into consideration for treating their specific set of problems. Finding the right program of treatment for members of the LGBTQ community can come with its own set of complications. At DARA, these issues are anticipated and the right treatment is here.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Sex Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

ambien abuse

Ambien Abuse – What You Should Know

Australia, Articles, Education, International, Malaysia, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Ambien Was Introduced As A Remedy For Insomnia

Ambien (also called Zolpidem) is a medication prescribed by doctors to treat insomnia. It comes in a tablet form. If you have ever had insomnia, you know how disruptive it can be to your quality of life. Not being able to sleep is a miserable experience. This is why so many people consider Ambien a miracle drug.  

Ambien was introduced to the world in the 1990’s and insomniacs everywhere thought they finally had a miracle cure for their condition. The problem was that people reported doing strange things in their sleep and not remembering them the next day including eating, sleepwalking and even driving. This is a strange side effect of Ambien. Incredibly, one man even killed eight people while under the influence of Ambien and had no recollection of doing so.

As a result, Ambien has gotten a reputation for being a dangerous drug with bizarre side effects. However, that hasn’t stopped doctors around the world from writing millions of prescriptions for Ambien so people can get a good night’s sleep.

Many People Use Ambien To Catch A Buzz

Although Ambien is prescribed by a doctor for insomnia, many people have discovered that if they have taken Ambien and stay awake, they will experience a buzz. Many people abuse Ambien and take it to experience what is called the “Ambien high.” 

Ambien is a sedative-hypnotic. It is not a benzodiazepine like Xanax and Valium, but it produces the same kind of effect. Those who take the drug recreationaly say it makes them feel relaxed, calm, and somewhat intoxicated.

Although Ambien is not as addictive as other prescription drugs like opioids or benzodiazepines, it is habit-forming. Many people who take the drug find that they crave more of the drug and abuse it because they like the way it makes them feel.

Signs Of Ambien Abuse

Ambien addiction is a condition that can creep up on you. Many people are guilty of misusing the drug and not even knowing it. Keep in mind that you should only take Ambien if it has been prescribed to you by a doctor and you should only take it as prescribed.

Here are some signs of Ambien abuse:

Taking more of the medication than you are supposed to.

Taking it earlier and earlier than bedtime and staying awake instead of going to sleep.

Taking it during the day.

Taking someone else’s prescription.

Buying Ambien on the street.

Ambien Abuse Produces Withdrawal  

If you have taken Ambien for an extended period of time, and you stop taking the drug, you will go through the painful process of withdrawal. Withdrawal is what happens when you have been abusing Ambien and you abruptly stop using it. Here’s what you can expect for the first two to four weeks after quitting Ambien:

Insomnia

Cravings for more Ambien

Nausea or vomiting

Abdominal cramps

Irritability

Mood swings

Depression and uncontrollable crying

Chills

Difficulty with memory

Sweating

Anxiety and panic attacks

Tremors

Fatigue

Seizures (in extreme cases)

DARA Thailand Can Help With An Ambien Addiction

Many people admit themselves for treatment when they have been abusing Ambien because it is a powerful drug that brings about negative consequences. If you have a problem with Ambien, talk to one of our addiction experts here at DARA Thailand to find out what your treatment options are.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Ambien Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.