Many addictions began experimenting with commonly abused prescription drugs. It’s not uncommon for someone to be involved in an accident and is then given oxycodone for pain relief. What starts off as a simple pain reliever, can quickly turn into a full-blown addiction. Because it’s extremely easy to build a resistance to commonly abused prescription drugs, an addict may eventually resort to using heroin to get high.

Many people in the United States between the ages of 12 and 25 are abusing or misusing prescription drugs belonging to themself, friends, or family members. In 2017 alone, 18 million Americans reported that they had misused prescription drugs. The demand for prescription drugs has significantly increased over time as more and more people are beginning to abuse them. It’s becoming even harder to control the widespread misuse of prescription drugs since these drugs are commonly prescribed by doctors. Unfortunately after a prescription is written, doctors are not at home with patients to monitor their intake.

What Are the Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there are three commonly abused prescription drugs.

Depressants

CNS depressants are drugs that are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. They are commonly known as sleeping pills or tranquilizers because they can slow down the nervous system’s activity.
Depressants can be used for hypnosis, as sedatives, or as tranquilizers. Drugs in this category are:

Barbiturates

Barbiturates are commonly used by medical staff to treat seizures, insomnia, and headaches. These drugs are often not prescribed for anxiety and insomnia because of a high risk of overdose. The forms of barbiturates available in the United States include:

• Nembutal
• Butisol
• Seconal
• Donnatal
• Amytal
• Luminal
• Mebaral

And the side effects? Nausea, headaches, and dizziness are common side effects.

Benzodiazepines

Belonging to this group are triazolam, diazepam estazolam, Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin. Benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety, sleeplessness, stress reactions, panic attacks, and seizures.
The side effects of abusing benzodiazepines include dizziness, nausea, poor concentration, and so on.

Non-Benzodiazepine Sleep Medication

Non-benzodiazepines are also commonly abused prescription drugs.
Drugs belonging to this group are Ambien, Sonata, and Lunesta. They are used to treat insomnia and have the same effect on the brain as benzodiazepines. However, they have few side effects and reduced potential dependency when compared to benzodiazepines

Opioids and Morphine Derivatives

Opioids are used to treat pain. They reduce the intensity of pain perception in the brain and spinal cord. Common opioids and opioid derivatives include Fentanyl, Morphine, Methadone Oxycodone, Codeine, hydrocodone, oxymorphone, and propoxyphene.
The main side effect of abusing opioid prescriptions is addiction. Opioid addiction is difficult to kick and can cause brutal withdrawal symptoms.

Stimulants

Stimulants are used to treat health conditions like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. They increase focus and alertness, raise blood pressure and heart rate, and make breathing easier.
Common drugs in this group include Adderall, Dexedrine, and so on. Abusing stimulants can lead to dependency and addiction in the long run.
Dangers of the Most Abused Prescription Drugs
The dangers of abusing prescription drugs include:

• Death
• Slow or arrested breathing
• Reduced pulse and blood pressure
• Addiction
• Coma
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Inspired motor function
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure

Listed above is not an exhaustive list of the dangers of abusing drugs. Always consult a doctor or licensed healthcare professional if you think you’re struggling with a prescription pill addiction.

Get Help With Prescription Drugs at Anchored Tides Recovery

Anchored Tides Recovery is a female-only drug addiction center dedicated to helping women with their addiction. We are located in Huntington Beach and have diverse programs for everyone. Whether you personally are struggling with addiction, or know someone that is, please contact us today for more information regarding our program.

Substance abuse treatment programs are increasingly adopting more individual-centered approaches to treating substance abuse. This comes on the heels of a deeper understanding of how substance abuse affects people differently, especially as it concerns women. 

You might be surprised to know that women have a different experience with substance abuse. 

Research has shown that substance abuse affects women in a significantly different way than it does men. Therefore, if women are to be fully treated for substance abuse, they need a treatment program designed to tackle the peculiar differences they face. 

This is why one of Anchored Tides Recovery founding principles is treatment for women by women.

What Is a Substance Abuse Program?

A substance abuse program is a treatment process designed to help people with substance abuse problems. Substance abuse programs have two major components:

• A medical component 
• Therapeutic component

Both components, when combined, make for an effective treatment for substance dependence or addiction. In the medical aspect of substance abuse treatment, drugs are used to manage detoxification symptoms, especially in cases of certain substances like opioids. 

The therapeutic aspect of the treatment process aims to teach recovering addicts how to understand themselves and understand their triggers to prevent a drug or alcohol relapse. 

Different Types of Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

There are various substance abuse treatment programs, but there is no one-size-fits-all program. This is because the effects of substance abuse differ amongst individuals differ, and so treatment programs must be as individualistic as possible to cater to peculiarities. 

As a result of that, there are various treatment programs designed to cater to everyone’s needs. 

• Inpatient Treatment Program 

Just like its name implies, people in an inpatient treatment program have to stay within the facilities to receive treatment, and it typically lasts between a few weeks to a few months. 

• Outpatient Treatment 

In an outpatient treatment program, the patient commutes to the treatment center from his home. Also, an outpatient treatment program lasts a few weeks and costs less than inpatient treatment.

• Individual Counseling 

Individual counseling provides an opportunity for the patient and the therapist to discuss strategies that help them reintegrate into society and maintain sobriety. It is during individual counseling that the patient learns techniques that help them manage their triggers. Individual counseling occurs at both inpatient and outpatient treatment. 

• Group Counseling 

As important as individualized counseling is to a patient’s continued sobriety, group counseling is equally important. Group counseling reinforces the techniques learned in individualized counseling. Group counseling also provides a community of sober individuals the patients can fall back to. 

Why Seek Addiction Treatment at Anchored Tides Recovery?

Choosing an addiction treatment program can seem quite daunting. There are so many programs available, and they all may seem like they’re right for you. 

The biggest thing that sets us apart at Anchored Tides Recovery from other treatment centers is we provide addiction treatment for women, by women. Our staff truly understands how substance abuse affects women specifically and how to treat it properly. We also know the importance of harnessing the power of women recovering together. 

Aside from getting help from people who understand your addiction as much (or maybe even better than you do), we’re located in beautiful Huntington Beach, CA. There is plenty to do in the surrounding area during and after treatment. 

Reach Out to Us Today

Anchored Tides Recovery is a substance abuse treatment program located in Huntington Beach, that focuses on treating only women. We offer various types of outpatient treatment programs to ensure our clients are set up for long term sobriety. Reach out to us today for help with your addiction!  

Have you ever had a rough night and wondered why you feel so down? You wake up feeling a little sad or uncomfortable. Someone may even say to you “sounds like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed today”. Generally speaking, there can be several reasons that explain why you feel the way you do. One option to explore is the food you’re eating; food indeed can affect your mood! 

If you’ve never heard this before, then you may not suspect your diet when you feel ‘off’ or a little blue. In today’s health-conscious world, it’s common to see or read about foods that help keep you physically and mentally healthy. Just like how healthy foods affect the body positively, they can also affect your mood and emotional well being. 

Can what you eat affect your mood? We’ve got answers for you. Keep reading to know! 

How Food Affects Your Mood

Do you remember when you were in a bad mood, but felt better after eating something? 

While that is a great example, there is more to this than feeling better because you’ve satisfied a craving. The brain is the powerhouse for all activities in the body. And like all powerhouses, it needs to be fueled. The type of fuel you give your brain determines how efficient it will be. 

Certain foods are harmful to your mood because of how they affect your body’s daily activities. For instance, foods that contain a high concentration of refined sugars can mess up insulin regulation. When everything isn’t working as it should, your brain struggles to function well, which can affect your mood. 

But how exactly does this happen? Is there scientific proof that shows how food affects your mood? Yes, there is.

Remember that your mood at any given time is dependent on what chemicals are produced in your body. The chemical/ hormone that controls mood, pain, appetite, and sleep is known as serotonin, and it is produced in the gut. 

Furthermore, serotonin functions better with higher numbers of good bacteria. What does good bacteria do? Good bacteria helps the body digest food and absorbs nutrients from the intestinal walls. 

Guess what helps control the number of good bacteria in the body? Food that contains large quantities of high fructose corn syrup reduces the number of good bacteria. Conversely, foods that contain tryptophan have the opposite effect. 

How Being in a Good Mood Affects Your Overall Wellness

Can you remember your most painful breakup? Not just any breakup but the one that made you watch The Notebook (or any movie similar) while consuming scary amounts of ice cream and rubbing your chest because you could feel your heart breaking. That’s proof enough that how you feel can affect you physically. 

Knowing how food affects your mood is the first step in determining how it affects your overall wellness. Your mood manifests itself physically – not just in your health but also in your decisions.

Good moods beget good feelings and ethical decisions. When you are happy, you’ll be more energetic, more productive, and make better decisions. 

The same goes for a negative mood. It begets tiredness, less productivity, feelings of illness, and bad decisions.

Mood-Boosting Foods

You already know that you should avoid processed foods and foods that contain refined sugars, these foods can negatively affect your mood and health. But, are there foods that you can eat to improve your mood? 

Of course! When you feel bad, resist the urge to eat high-calorie snacks. Go for any of the foods listed below. 

• Dark Chocolate 
• Nuts and Seeds 
• Fatty Fish or Foods containing Omega-3 Acids. 
• Whole Grains 
• Green Vegetables 
• Coffee

If your triggers as an addict are linked to your moods, you may want to take what you eat seriously. Eating the right foods for you will not only preempt your triggers; it’ll make you feel healthy again.

Seek Overall Wellness at Anchored Tides Recovery

At Anchored Tides Recovery, we encourage our clients to understand their triggers. Knowing how food affects your mood and the things you can do to boost your mood is essential to the healing process. 

Anchored Tides Recovery is a female-only addiction treatment center located in Huntington Beach, CA. We believe that healing from addictions requires a holistic approach tailored to suit women specifically. We also offer a variety of treatment options like our outpatient treatment. Contact us today; let us help you fight your addiction.

Alcohol is a powerful and addictive drug. Unfortunately, most people think of alcohol as a social tool, but like anything else, if abused it can turn into a serious issue. According to the NIAAA, women are more likely to encounter problems due to their substance abuse, but are less likely to seek professional help. At  Anchored Tides Recovery, we’re dedicated to helping any and all women overcome their addiction, whether it’s with alcohol or a different substance. 

When considering sobriety, it’s helpful to think of the journey as a marathon, not a sprint. For most people, the recovery process includes multiple steps. Some women start their journey at inpatient treatment, and others start an intensive outpatient treatment center.  It’s important during your recovery journey to have a safe, stable environment to live in, such as a sober living home. 

What Are Sober Living Homes for Women?

Sober living homes for women are a safe living environment where everyone who lives there is sober. A sober living home is a great transitional tool for anyone looking to maintain long term sobriety. While sober living homes do not provide addiction treatment therapy, most people living in one attend outpatient addiction treatment programs. 

Aside from a safe environment, sober living homes also provide structure, a crucial component to sobriety. Most sober living homes have a set of rules and guidelines people have to follow. For example, certain sober living homes make attending some type of 12-step support group mandatory. Other homes require its residents to complete a certain set of chores. While it can be extremely beneficial for someone’s sobriety to live in a sober living home, it’s benefits are most effective when coupled with outpatient addiction treatment. At Anchored Tides Recovery, we offer three types of outpatient options for women: partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient. 

Benefits of Sober Living for Women 

• Overcoming Communication Barriers

According to NIH, the National Institute of Health, verbal communication is vital to making progress in any substance abuse recovery program. When you reside in a sober living home, you’re surrounded by other sober people. You’ll have a chance to speak freely about your addiction to like minded individuals. Engaging in dialogue about sobriety is crucial during recovery. 

• Focus on Gender-Specific Issues

Addiction impacts women differently than their male counterparts. Women also have different life experiences than men, such as pregnancy and motherhood in recovery. By living in a sober living home for women, you’ll be surrounded by people who at one time have, or will, experience similar life events as you. 

• Stability and Accountability

Stability and accountability are often two things that are lacking in an addicts life. It can be difficult to establish a routine while in the throws of an addiction. Because of rules and guidelines, sober living homes for women help all of their residents establish routine. Early sobriety can be a particularly vulnerable time for women, especially when they feel like they’re starting their life over. Having a group of people hold you accountable for your actions (i.e. make sure all the dishes are cleaned after dinner) will not only give you a sense of purpose, but help you create a new sober routine. 

Get Help With Addiction at Anchored Tides Recovery!

At Anchored Tides Recovery, we’re focused on helping all of our clients find sobriety, but more importantly, maintaining sobriety. Our comprehensive addiction treatment programs and aftercare services can set you up for long-term recovery. We currently offer partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient treatment programs, as well as aftercare services such as sober living. Contact us today to see how we can help you or someone you love with addiction! 

Addiction and relationships are often intertwined in one way or another. If you are battling addiction, your personal and romantic relationships will most likely feel the effects. It’s not uncommon for various relationships to crumble underneath the strain of addiction, especially if dishonesty is involved. 

Being in a romantic relationship with an addict is hard, and people who have been there in the past and are reading this now would probably agree. One of the reasons it’s particularly difficult is because it can be hard to see how your actions affect someone else while you’re under the influence. 

If you’re currently in a romantic relationship and are struggling with addiction, it doesn’t have to ruin your relationship. Confiding in your partner and expressing the desire to get help with your addiction will show your commitment to the relationship by wanting to help yourself, and can ultimately strengthen your bond! 

Does Addiction Affect Relationships?

When drugs and other addictive substances take center stage in your life, it’s common for you to experience a domino affect. Below are a few ways an addiction can negatively impact a romantic (or platonic) relationship: 

• Physical and Verbal Abuse 

One of the major side effects of substance abuse is heightened, aggression, rage, and mood swings. When coupled with the resentment and anger from your partner, all it takes is a tiny spark for things to get out of control. 

Addiction and relationships make for an unstable environment, especially when kids are involved. In milder cases, the abuse is limited to verbal slurs designed to degrade the other partner. 

However, it is possible for verbal slurs to escalate quickly to domestic violence, which can even be fatal at times. Not to mention extremely traumatic. 

• Lack of Trust 

Trust is the essence of every relationship. Even friendships. And when addiction and substance abuse comes in between, lies and deception could creep in. Addicts often hide their addiction from family, friends, and loved ones due to fear of judgment, amongst other things. 

Lying, pulling away, and deception are some of the ways an addict hides their addiction. These actions will directly affect your partner. 

• Heartbreak 

Doing things you normally wouldn’t is another side effect of addiction. While under the influence, there is potential for an addict to do hurtful things, such as steal, cheat, ignore their partner, and put themselves / their partner at risk of injury. Ultimately these actions can lead to serious heartbreak for both people. 

Why You Should Tell Your Partner About Your Addiction

Telling your partner about your addiction is important, especially if you want to stop using drugs or alcohol. It takes a lot of courage to seek help, and talking about your struggles with addiction is a good place to start. It will also provide some insight to your recent behavior. 

Tips on How to Confide in Your Partner

If you make the brave decision to let your partner know you are battling an addiction, below are a few tips on how to get the conversation started: 

• Be honest

You probably don’t want to downplay or exaggerate how bad your addiction is, this is the time to be honest. You can also mention what some of your triggers are (if you know what they are already). 

• Educate them 

Being in a relationship with an addict doesn’t mean your partner knows a lot about addiction. During this time, you can educate your partner when telling them about your addiction and experiences using drugs or alcohol. A lot of people have preconceived notions on what addiction looks like, and it isn’t always accurate. 

Remember that you can’t control their reaction after confiding in them. They might feel sad at first, or not know how to react, but always know that it will get better.  In time, they’ll show you their love and support. 

Getting Help With Your Addiction

After confiding in your partner about your addiction, a next great step to take is to seek help. There is a lot to consider when choosing a treatment center. Some things to keep in mind when doing this are:

• The treatment facility itself
• The programs they offer 
• Location 
• Cost 
• Gender preference, if any 

Get Help at Anchored Tides Recovery

Anchored Tides Recovery is a premium women-only addiction treatment facility located in Huntington Beach, California. We offer holistic and individualist treatment programs to all our patients to ensure guaranteed success. Contact us today and let us help you with your addiction. 

Signs of Alcohol Addiction: Does My Loved One Need Help?

“But I didn’t see any signs of alcohol addiction.” Many friends and family members have said these words countless times with that recognizable look of shock and guilt.

Most times, this happens as they stand by their loved one’s hospital beds after an overdose. Other times, you’ll hear it in family counseling as they try to find solace for not recognizing that they could have helped their loved ones if they had noticed.

But they can’t blame themselves. Detecting alcohol addiction symptoms can be difficult for someone who doesn’t know what to look out for. At Anchored Tides Recovery, we feel it’s important for loved ones of addicts to know the signs of alcohol addiction. 

Identifying the Signs of an Alcohol Addiction

How do you differentiate a weekend of having too much fun from the signs of alcohol addiction? It can be difficult to do this, especially when the individual in question is a functioning addict. 

Functioning addicts can still perform well at their jobs and show up to other aspects of their lives. However, there are a few tell tale signs to watch out for the following signs of alcohol addiction. Please note this isn’t a comprehensive list and addiction looks different for everyone. 

• Inability to control how much alcohol is consumed
• Making bad decisions especially when intoxicated
• Having long bouts of depression 
• Running into financial problems due to excessive drinking 
• Increased aggressiveness 
• Bloodshot eyes and flushed look 
• Lack of interest in normal activities 
• General and day to day responsibilities being neglected
• Bruises from falling and hurting themselves when drunk 
• Drinking large amounts in one sitting
• Using alcohol to cope with uncomfortable feelings
• Chronic fatigue 
• Difficulty concentrating on important tasks
• Frequent lying
• Smelling like alcohol frequently 
• Significant weight loss or weight gain 

When you begin to notice some of these alcohol addiction symptoms consistently, it might be time to help your loved one seek help. If you are unsure whether or not they’re struggling, it might not be a bad idea to check in with them to see how they’re feeling.  They may feel comfortable enough to open up to you, or they may try to hide what’s going on (but you can tell something is wrong). 

How to Get a Loved One Help

Getting help for a loved one who is an alcoholic may be difficult, depending on if they’re in denial of their addiction. Approaching your loved one will be a delicate process, if they feel attacked they can become resentful, distrusting of you, and/or withdrawn. 

One helpful tool to use when confronting a loved one about their alcohol addiction is staging an intervention. It could be just you at the intervention, or with a couple of people they care about. How you also broach the matter is important. 

Every intervention is a little different, but during this time you can talk to them and let them know the signs of alcohol addiction that you’ve noticed. You’ll want to make sure you don’t want to sound accusatory, it’s important to come from a place of love. Because at the end of the day – this is why you’re confronting them, you love them and want to see them do well! 

During this time you can also let them know how their addiction has hurt you and other people who love them. Again, be clear that you are coming from a place of love and concern. 

The end goal of an intervention is to have your loved one accept help for their addiction. The help can be a few different things, such as inpatient rehab or attending alcohol anonymous meetings. It’s important to go to the intervention with different options to present to your loved one if they are willing to accept the help. Knowing that they have people who love them and are ready to support them helps a lot. 

How to Get Yourself Help

As you read this, if you’ve realized that you have many alcohol addiction symptoms and need help, how can you help yourself? The same way you’d help a loved one is how you can help yourself! While you won’t stage an intervention for yourself, you can research different treatment options for addiction and see what makes the most sense for you. 

Get Help at Anchored Tides Recovery!

Anchored Tides Recovery is an addiction treatment center for women by women. We are a dual diagnosis center dedicated to helping women overcome their addiction and avoid relapsing. Contact us today. Let us help you overcome your addiction. 

Substance abuse and addiction is indeed a terrible disorder that affects the lives of addicts and their loved ones.  When you are ready to get help, finding a rehab center is a life-changing decision, and the first step in your recovery journey. Luckily, many treatment centers are committed to helping addicts recover from addiction and give them coping skills to take home with them.

But not all treatment facilities are created equally, plus the sheer number of treatment facilities available makes choosing one difficult. And the fact is that some treatment centers are more reliable than others. So how do you find a treatment center that suits you? 

With many rehab facilities in the United States, the right fit for your treatment needs does exist. Anchored Tides Recovery feels if you take the steps below, they will help you pick the right facility! 

How to Find a Rehab Center

Define Your Goals

The ideal treatment center offers various treatment programs that target specific behaviors that you would like to change. So take some time to define your goals and determine what behaviors you’ll like to change in your life. Once you’ve figured that out, you will want to know the timeline to attain those goals during your recovery.

Also, understand that the treatment facility you choose will measure your success in achieving their goals. 

Can you accept the rehab’s goals? Does it align with yours? You should consider your needs with respect to the recovery centers’, and then will you find a treatment center that can help you reach your goal.

Is It Accredited?

When looking for an addiction treatment center, another thing to consider is what accreditations do they have? 

Licensed and accredited rehab centers show that they are committed to providing the best care to addicts. Before enrolling in a program, determine if the rehab center is licensed to treat addiction.

Treatment Programs 

There are many treatment programs and therapy options available to help addicts get the help they seek. Some of these treatment facilities specialize in treating mental addiction, while others focus on treating co-occurring disorders. 

You probably won’t want to end up in a rehab center that doesn’t offer programs that are best suited for you. Make sure you research the available treatment before signing up for a program.

Location

Depending on your situation, you may fancy a rehab center close to your home, especially if you want to stay close to your loved ones.

However, choosing a rehab center that’s far away might be highly beneficial, since it breaks the link between you (the addict) and your previous life.

Cost

Before you find a rehab center, you will want to consider the cost. The truth is that prices vary greatly depending on the facility, the length of stay, the program’s intensity, and so on. A good program for you should feel financially feasible.

Commonly used options to help pay for rehab include:

• Reduced cash pay rate
• Medicare and Medicaid
• Private health insurance
• Personal loans

Gender Preference

Some addiction treatment centers are gender-specific, and deciding to go to one is completely dependent on your preference. Success rates of mixed gender & gender specific treatment centers can be the same, it’s really up to you whether or not you’d like to be surrounded by the same gender. There is a sense of safety and security that women feel when attending a women’s only treatment center, especially if they’ve experienced past trauma. 

Outpatient, Inpatient, and Specialty Programs

If you are in an inpatient program, you will live at the facility for a particular period, and this allows you to focus solely on your recovery for the duration of your stay.

Outpatient programs are available after the inpatient program and also act as stand alone treatment. You don’t need to live at the rehab center during this program. Outpatient programs allow for more flexibility in your schedule while seeking recovery. 

Begin Your Recovery Journey With Anchored Tides Recovery 

Anchored Tides Recovery center is a female-only addiction treatment center dedicated to helping women find recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, mental health issues, and past trauma. We incorporate mental, physical, academic, emotional, and vocational needs into each client’s treatment plan.

If you need help with drug or alcohol addiction, contact us today and let’s get started on your journey towards recovery.