Month: January 2021

Helping a loved one overcome addiction is unfortunately not as easy as reaching out to them and saying “hey, I think you’d benefit from going to rehab!”. It is a delicate subject that can sometimes even do more harm than good.

When we do what we feel is appropriate, like approaching an addict about going to rehab – it can end up creating a rift, arguments, and make the addict feel like you are attacking them. This, in turn, can cause your loved one or friend to isolate and continue using. It may also make them feel compelled to lie to you about their addiction and behavior. However, with the right information and practice, you can learn how to talk to an addict about going to rehab rehab and encourage them to get the help they deserve and need. 

Understanding the Signs of Addiction

While addiction is multifaceted and symptoms may vary, these are some common signs associated with addiction: 

Physical

• Sudden weight loss or gain
• Unkempt look, poor hygiene
• High tolerance of alcohol/drugs 
• Skin problems like rashes, redness of eyes, self-inflicted injuries
• Decline in sexual function
• Dilated pupils

Psychological and Emotional

• Loss of interest in things they normally enjoy
• Mood swings
• Sleep pattern changes
• Overly talkative or withdrawn
• Being secretive or evasive about their addiction
• Depression and or anxiety
• Suicidal thoughts
• Physical or verbal abuse

Relational

Addiction affects not only the person but also their relationships with the people around them: 

• Marital problems
• Skipping work or school
• Violent arguments or fights
• Failing to perform obligations and responsibilities
• Difficulty in holding conversions
• Lying about using alcohol or drugs
• Financial trouble related to drug use
• Isolation

How to Talk to an Addict About Rehab

Trying to help someone you love with their addiction can be a long, heart-breaking, and a challenging process. Please know you are not alone in this process and this is something that a lot of people have to do. Trust us when we say the process of talking about rehab will be easier than watching someone slip further and further into an addiction.  

Be Kind

If you want to convince an addict to go to rehab, show empathy and compassion. Don’t judge, criticize, insult or shame them when approaching them about their addiction. 

Try One on One Conversation

You probably won’t want to start staging an intervention with several people. Depending on the person and their situation, they may be more receptive to help if you talk to them one on one. 

Stage an Intervention

If your loved one doesn’t listen to you during the one on one, another option is to organize an intervention. The intervention may include people they love or respect, like friends, family, professional health care providers, social workers, or religious leaders.   

Listen More Than You Talk

Whether it’s a one-on-one communication or intervention, you probably have a lot to say. However, don’t make it about you; let the person affected speak too. Listen to them without interrupting and let them confide in you.

Try More Than Once

If your loved one doesn’t listen the first time, don’t give up. Continue to reach out, continue to convince them about getting help.

Set Boundaries

Don’t make threats but let your loved ones know the consequences of their behavior. Let them know how their behavior affects you. Also, let them know what you won’t put up with and set a limit. 

For example, if your loved one gets money from you to fund their addiction, don’t put up with it if they continue to use drugs. Show support, but don’t encourage their addictive behaviors.

Learn More About Addiction

Research and educate yourself on addiction before addressing addiction. Learning more about addiction, the triggers, and symptoms will let you understand and communicate better with your loved one.

Reach Out to Anchored Tides Recovery Today 

Helping your loved ones also involves partnering with them to find the right rehab. If your loved one accepts to get help, you should have a rehab in mind for them to go to. 

At Anchored Tides Recovery, we understand addiction and how to help women recover from addiction. We can help you explore treatment options and design a plan that meets your loved ones needs. 

Contact us today to learn more about our addiction treatment options. 

About 40% of people who take benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax) are likely to develop an addiction to the drug. Xanax is a brand of alprazolam used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It is also one of the most popular medications for anxiety disorders in the United States. Xanax incites feelings of calmness, and many use it to relieve stress, aid sleep, or get an easy high and, as such, can become dependent on it. 

Signs You Might Have a Problem With Xanax

Xanax Addiction is characterized by: 

Withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms, also known as rebound symptoms, occur when anxiety symptoms reemerge severely when you stop taking the drugs. 

Physical withdrawal symptoms include (but are not limited to): 

•  Headache
•  Muscle Aches
•  Diarrhea
•  Insomnia
•  Loss of Appetite
•  Seizure
•  Slurred Speech
•  Sweating 
•  Hypertension 

Psychological symptoms include (but are not limited to): 

•  Increase in anxiety and panic, and paranoia 
•  Memory problems
•  Confusion 
•  Mood Swings
•  Unable to control emotions and moods
•  Depression and Thoughts of Suicide

Tolerance

Tolerance/ dependence is a common addiction feature where the user needs increasing doses to reach the desired effect.

 

Getting Help With a Xanax Addiction 

Xanax abuse can come on unexpectedly, especially because Xanax can be prescribed by a doctor. If you or someone you know is struggling with a Xanax addiction, please don’t wait to see help. 

There are addiction treatment centers around the country that offer Xanax addiction treatment. With the help from addiction treatment professionals, you can overcome a Xanax addiction safely. When Looking for a Xanax addiction treatment near you, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind:

•  The facility has qualified staff and licensed mental health and medical practitioners.
•  The facility is certified and have accreditations
•  They offer evidence-based treatment that has been proven to work in the past

According to NAADAC, you should read the addiction treatment facilities mission statement to understand their goals and how they can help you recover.

What Happens During Xanax Addiction Treatment

Treatment for a Xanax addiction can either be in 2 forms depending on the intensity of the addiction. This can include inpatient treatment, where you’re required to live within the facilities during treatment. 

Another form of treatment is outpatient treatment. You are not required to live onsite at an outpatient facility and are able to live at home / maintain employment while undergoing treatment. Outpatient treatment is a great tool to use after inpatient treatment or if you have a milder addiction.

The first step of Xanax addiction treatment in many facilities is detoxification, which involves getting Xanax out of your system safely. Along with detoxing, you can expect the following: 

• Initial Intake

This will likely happen before detoxification. The staff members at the treatment facility will get your full medical / addiction history. This will help the facility put together an individualized treatment plan for your recovery. 

•   Medications

Xanax addiction treatment may involve using drugs to treat the side effects of Xanax abuse like hypertension, cravings, and seizures.

•     Individual Therapy:

Therapy is an essential part of the recovery process, especially if Xanax addiction is linked to a mental illness or psychological history. Therapy also helps change the user’s compulsive thinking, which will help them with recovery. 

•     Support Groups: 

Group therapy and attending support groups are a common part of addiction treatment. It’s important for recovering addicts to know they’re not alone in their recovery, and others have experienced similar things as them. 

•     Family Therapy 

Addiction is considered to be a family disease. Chances are while you are using, your actions at one point or another will affect your family. During Xanax addiction treatment, it’s important to address your addiction with the whole family so everyone can heal. 

•     Aftercare Planning

Unfortunately once you complete Xanax addiction treatment, your addiction doesn’t just go away. Addiction is a lifelong disease. Before you leave any addiction treatment program, the rehab will work with you to put together a long term aftercare plan to help you stay sober.

Get Help With Addiction at Anchored Tides Recovery

If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction, reach out to use today at Anchored Tides Recovery. We are a substance abuse and behavioral treatment facility just for women. 

We aim to improve the quality of life for women living with mental illnesses or struggling with substance abuse. 

Anchored Tides Recovery offers evidence-based treatment approaches, professional staff always on the ground, and a breathtaking structured facility.To start treatment or for more details on how we can help you, please visit our contact page! 

Every man, woman, or person responds to the effects of alcohol and drugs differently. While men are more likely than women to use almost all types of illicit drugs, women also suffer from addiction. To increase their chances of recovering fully, some individuals need to approach the treatment of their addiction from a gender-specific viewpoint at a gender specific rehab.

But before you are able to make an informed decision about which type of rehab to go to, you need to know what gender-based rehab centers are, why they exist, and how Anchored Tides Recovery can help struggling women with their addiction.

What Is Gender Specific Rehab?

Just like it sounds, gender-specific rehabs are addiction treatment centers that cater only to one gender. There are men-only and women-only rehab centers, just as they have mixed-gender rehab centers. These rehab centers are becoming increasingly popular as more research is done on how addiction affects genders differently. 

Despite the general effects of addiction on both genders, there are core effects specific to each gender. In addition to this, several types of research have shown that men and women struggle with treatment issues specific to their gender. 

The idea behind gender specific rehab is to have a safe space where each gender receives treatment tailored to suit their struggles with addiction and mental health. Also, gender specific rehabs understand everything from co-occurring disorders and factors that affect addiction in all genders to the best treatment programs. 

How Does Addiction Impact Women?

Addiction has general effects on all types of people, but when it comes to a specific gender, there are specific effects. These effects stem from the biological and gender differences between men and women. 

In women, addiction affects the hormones and body functions related to hormonal changes. This can include mensuration, pregnancy, fertility, menopause, and breastfeeding. 

Other impacts of addiction in women include:

• Women are more likely to have a relapse 
• Women experience more effects on the heart and blood vessels 
• Addiction alters the brain of women in slightly different ways than it does men
• Women addicts are more likely to suffer from depression and panic attacks
• Addiction affects the size of babies in successful pregnancies and leads to stillbirths in unsuccessful ones
• Escalation of addiction happens quicker in women

How Does Addiction Impact Men?

Just how addiction affects women in specific ways, the same holds true for men:

• Men are less likely to relapse 
• Men use more illicit drugs than women 
• Men smoke more marijuana than women
• Men have milder withdrawal symptoms than women
• The escalation of addiction in men is slower than in women

Now, when trying to determine the type of rehab you want to go to, you’ll probably ask yourself at some point if you want to go to a gender-specific rehab. The truth is, there is no right or wrong answer to this question and ultimately it is your decision to make. 

If you are a woman and you feel in general you have a difficult time opening up around the opposite gender, then you may want to consider women only treatment. The point of rehab is to get the most out of it, therefore you will want to feel as comfortable as possible there. 

Addiction Treatment at Anchored Tides Recovery

Anchored Tides Recovery is a women-only rehab in Huntington Beach that offers gender-specific programs to help women deal with addiction. Some of the programs we offer include women’s programs, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient programs, and more.

At Anchored Tides Recovery, we believe in tailored treatment programs for our clients. In addition to the excellence our programs offer, our staff’s dedication to helping women find healing and purpose after addiction is unmeasurable. If you need a gender specific rehab, don’t wait; reach out to us today for help with your addiction!