How Medication Management Can Help With a Methamphetamine Addiction

Methamphetamine, commonly known as “meth,” “crystal meth,” or “ice,” is a powerful central nervous system stimulant that affects brain function and activity. In addition to being extremely addictive and dangerous, meth abuse can cause serious health problems, including heart attack, stroke, and death. If you’re struggling with a meth addiction, participating in medication-assisted treatment will often be placed on an FDA-approved medication to help manage your addiction. Such programs will help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Long-Term Effects of Meth Use

Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug that can produce feelings of euphoria, increased energy, and wakefulness. Methamphetamines work in the brain by increasing the amount of dopamine, a neurotransmitter released into the system. The use of methamphetamine has been linked to serious health problems, including depression, anxiety, paranoia, and psychosis. Long-term use can also lead to weight loss and tooth decay. Methamphetamine addiction can cause serious health problems such as brain damage or stroke.

Meth Use Can Be Fatal

Meth addiction can be fatal. If you have been exposed to methamphetamine, you may develop an addiction. Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug; if you do not get treated for your addiction quickly, you could overdose.

A medication management program helps individuals recover from methamphetamine addictions by managing their withdrawal symptoms and cravings for the drug. Medication management involves taking another substance, like bupropion, that helps alleviate withdrawal symptoms or cravings for the drug without adversely affecting the person using it or those around them.

Medication management programs should also offer counseling services so patients can learn how to cope with their addictions after completing treatment. Medication management programs are available at many rehab centers across the country, including us here at Excel. We work closely with doctors who prescribe medications like bupropion as part of their therapy plans for patients recovering from meth addictions.

Medication Management for Meth Addiction

Medication management for methamphetamine addiction is a strategy that helps you get through detox and recovery. It can also help you get through the day without cravings.

Medications are an important part of the treatment process for methamphetamine addiction. They can help with a variety of symptoms, including cravings, mood swings, and other psychological effects. Medications can also be helpful during withdrawal because they control the physical symptoms associated with withdrawal.

Medication management can include:

  • A drug called bupropion (Wellbutrin) may help you quit taking meth or reduce your cravings for it. This has been proven effective in helping people with addictions to cocaine and alcohol.
  • The antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac) may reduce anxiety associated with quitting using meth or abstaining from using the drug altogether.

In addition to the use of an FDA-approved medication to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, people who participate in medication-assisted treatment also receive counseling and therapy. Medication-assisted treatment for meth addiction has proven effective in helping people get clean from methamphetamine abuse. However, it can only work if both components, medication, and counseling, are utilized together as part of an overall plan for recovery.

Is Medication Management Right For Me?

If you are unsure if medication management is right for you, here are some questions to ask yourself:

  • Do I have a history of alcohol or drug abuse?
  • Have I tried multiple forms of counseling without success?
  • Am I addicted to methamphetamine and ready to quit using it completely?

If the answer to these questions is yes, then medication management might be the best option for your recovery. While there are many factors that contribute to treatment success, incorporating medication into your plan can help improve your chances of overcoming addiction. Medication-assisted treatment involves using a variety of medications, some prescribed by a doctor, others given by injection, or taken orally. Such medications will help manage symptoms related to substance use disorder.

Support Needed During Treatment With Medication Management

If you are ready to get clean and sober, it is important that you have the support of people who love you. This could be your family, friends, or even your healthcare provider. In addition, many different resources are available to help support your recovery from methamphetamine addiction, such as:

  • A 12-step program like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a valuable resource for those seeking treatment for methamphetamine addiction. The steps involve admitting that an addiction exists and asking for help from others to get on the road to recovery.
  • Other drug rehabilitation programs, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), may also be effective at helping people recover from methamphetamine use disorders by teaching them new ways of thinking about their substance abuse problem.

At Excel Treatment Center, we understand that methamphetamine addiction is an ever-growing problem in the United States and can be fatal if left untreated. Medication management is a treatment option that can help you overcome your addiction and get back on track with your life. Proper medication management can help you manage cravings and prevent serious problems such as overdose. If you or someone you know struggles with meth addiction, don’t wait; get help today. Our highly trained medical professionals want to help you and your loved one through this process to overcome addiction and be successful in recovery, whether it be an addiction to methamphetamine or another type of drug or alcohol. We also work with families to help all members understand addiction as a disease to help them work together when managing the symptoms. To learn more about our programs, reach out to us and call (833) 883-9235.

Alumni Events in New Jersey

Addiction recovery is a lifelong process. This can make it difficult for people in recovery to find ongoing support and connection with others who share similar experiences. Alumni events can be a great way for you to learn from others, pursue new activities, and share your story.

At alumni events, you will get support from people who have completed treatment programs. Such support will help you learn more about addiction and recovery, make new friends, and stay connected to the community.

What Are Alumni Events?

Alumni events are gatherings for people who have completed treatment and are now on the road to recovery. These social events provide an opportunity to continue strengthening the connection between yourself and the recovery community.

Why You Should Attend Alumni Events

Alumni events are a great way to reconnect with other people who’ve been through the same things you have. You may even be able to find new friends and continue to strengthen your support system.

Benefits of Alumni Events include:

  • Getting support from peers that can offer advice on how to manage the challenges of recovery
  • Helping you to continue to participate within the recovery community and even help others in need
  • Continuing to develop focus, motivation, and accountability to stay on the path of recovery

Educational and Motivational Support

Alumni events provide ongoing educational and motivational support. Addiction recovery is a lifelong process, so there’s always more to learn. Alumni events can help you stay connected to your treatment center. It will also keep you connected to peers you met during treatment. Such an environment can also provide opportunities for growth and self-reflection.

Alumni groups are also great for staying motivated. Many alumni report that the community they helped build at their treatment center was the most helpful element in their treatment and recovery. This is because they were among others that shared similar experiences.

Sharing Experiences

Alumni events are another fantastic way to allow you the opportunity to share your experience with others who have been in your shoes. Sharing experiences is an important part of recovery because it helps you learn from others and continue to grow as an individual.

It also allows you to help others by giving back to the community. Hearing someone else’s story can be an eye-opening experience that can change your thoughts about yourself and your recovery. Further, giving back is a great way to continue cultivating awareness and support within the recovery community.

Finding New Hobbies and Activities

Finding things to do to keep yourself busy can be difficult in recovery. Attending alumni events can help you find other people with similar interests. You could find someone who shares a hobby you can do or practice with others in recovery.

Some things you might be able to start as a hobby with other alums might be:

  • Running, walking, or biking
  • Going to the gym
  • Volunteer work
  • Reading or book clubs
  • Painting or drawing
  • Learning to play an instrument
  • Taking classes to learn a new skill such as woodworking, or sewing

Finding people who share similar interests with you and who also live a sober lifestyle can help you stay successful in your recovery. So the next time you go to an alumni event, talk to other people. See if any of them would be interested in picking up a hobby with you. Surrounding yourself with positive influences can have a powerful impact on staying sober.

Alumni Events in New Jersey

Here at Excel Treatment Center, we are big on hosting alumni events as opportunities to engage in social activities and strengthen the recovery community. We understand that being in early recovery can be overwhelming, and It might be hard to start going to social events again. Therefore, going to events like this can help ease you into social gatherings while ensuring your recovery comes first.

Fall Events at Excel Treatment Center

This fall, we will host our “Fall Family Fun” event. This event is for all alumni, their families, and friends. This will be a great way to foster the community and make it comfortable to bring in a new community and expand. During this event, we will be creating committees for future events.

There will also be pumpkin carving and apple bobbing. So much fun for the whole family. It is much easier to return to a place where you are comfortable and bring your family and friends to experience it with you.

Holiday Dinner at Excel Treatment Center

We will also have a holiday dinner with the alumni this December. More is to be announced on this later. So stay tuned and keep a look out for more information on this dinner that will be coming out soon. We hope to see you there.

At Excel Treatment Center, we are more than just a program, we are a family. Alumni events are great opportunities to continue to help you develop meaningful relationships and experiences during recovery. They also help raise awareness and advocate for others that need help. Our biggest goal is to make sure you’re continuing to learn about your addiction and put your recovery first. These settings also allow family and friends to attend so that they can also continue to learn about addiction and the importance of staying sober. It is not always easy to reintroduce yourself to a community as your sober self; however, alumni events provide a safe and comfortable space for you to socialize with others. If you or someone you know is struggling to manage recovery then the time to get help is now. To learn more contact us today by calling (833) 883-9235.

Family Systems: How Forgiveness Can Aid in Recovery

Forgiveness is one of the most powerful forces in restoring healthy relationships. Forgiving others can help you move forward, overcome pain and suffering, repair damaged relationships, and improve your physical and mental health. When addiction has touched your life, forgiveness is important to move forward and have successful relationships. So how exactly does forgiveness work? What are some ways you can incorporate forgiveness into your life? Is it possible to forgive someone struggling with addiction?

Forgiveness Soothes Shame, Regret, and Remorse

Shame is an emotion that can lead to addiction. A sense of insignificance or worthlessness can lead to feelings of guilt, regret, and remorse. Forgiveness helps you let go of negative emotions such as shame, so they don’t have control over your life anymore.

Guilt is another type of emotion that can lead to addiction. Feeling guilty about something may cause stress in your life, causing you to turn towards using substances to cope. Forgiveness allows you to let go of these negative feelings, so they don’t have control over what happens today.

Forgiveness Helps Repair Resentment

Forgiveness is often associated with the idea that we must forgive others, but in reality, it can be a useful tool for healing from addiction. Forgiving yourself is an important component of recovery. Allowing forgiveness to flow through your body can help repair the damage done by feelings of resentment and anger. Forgiveness has the power to enhance your health and increase happiness by preventing stress, anxiety, and depression.

Forgiving someone who has harmed you may seem impossible at times, especially when they continue to hurt you in other ways. However, taking small steps toward forgiving an individual or group can significantly impact your health. Forgiving yourself for past mistakes makes it easier to move forward without dwelling on resentments that keep you stuck in negative thought patterns. Forgiving another person will allow them space within your heart, so they no longer control every aspect of how you feel about yourself. Forgiving those who wronged you frees up energy previously used on anger management so you can use it more productively.

Forgiveness Helps Take Back Your Life

As you learn to forgive, you may find yourself gaining a sense of control over your life that you didn’t know possible. You can’t control what others say to you or the things they say about you, but forgiving helps end the anger and resentment that would otherwise be holding them in place. Forgiving is a way of taking back control of your life and focusing on promoting a healthy road to recovery.

Forgiving also allows you to move past painful experiences and start new chapters in your life. It permits you not only to let go of the past but also lets you look forward with hope instead of fear or regret. By forgiving others who have hurt you, you are no longer bound by those events. Instead, you can focus on moving forward into a brighter future with confidence.

Forgiveness Helps You Let Go of the Past

Forgiveness helps you let go of the past. Forgiving yourself and others can be a powerful way to move on from past mistakes and grow as a person. We all make mistakes, but if we don’t forgive ourselves for them, it can prevent us from moving forward. It can be hard to let go when we feel someone has harmed us. However, taking those steps to forgive can help let go of some of the hurt from the past.

Forgive Yourself and Others

Forgiving yourself is forward progress when it comes to recovery. Forgiving yourself also allows you to recognize that what happened was not your fault and that you are worthy of love even if things didn’t work out exactly as planned. When you forgive yourself for past shortcomings, it’s much easier for others in your life to do the same.

When it comes time to forgive someone else, this process may take longer than forgiving yourself. Understand that others may not immediately forgive you. Some may not be ready, while others may never be ready. Still, it is important to forgive yourself to move forward. You need to reach an understanding of who you are now that you are sober. When you lead with this person, others will take notice of how serious you are about recovery. In turn, this may help people come around to forgive you. Holding onto negative feelings only hurts you in the end. So don’t hold on. Focus on continuing to improve who you are now that you are sober.

At Excel Treatment Center, we believe in the power of forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the need to hold resentment toward yourself or others. It’s not about condoning the actions of others, but rather it’s about taking responsibility for yourself and knowing that you have the power to forgive and move forward with your life. Forgiving does not mean forgetting what happened. It means letting go of old wounds that are holding you back from living a full life today. Taking the steps to forgive can help you reconnect and nourish the relationships with someone who is struggling with addiction and we can help. If you are struggling with addiction, forgiveness can help you heal some of the wounds of your past. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please reach out to us by calling us today at (833) 883-9235.

Setting Boundaries With My Loved Ones

Addiction recovery is a long and challenging process. Learning to manage your addiction requires learning how to set boundaries with loved ones. When managing addiction, you may find it difficult to set boundaries because you don’t want confrontation. However, setting boundaries is imperative to ensuring that your recovery always comes first.

What Are Boundaries?

Before you can set boundaries, it’s important to understand what you need. Boundaries are the limits we set for ourselves and others. They define what is acceptable or unacceptable within a relationship. For example, if you have a friend who always wants you to pick up their slack, it could be helpful to establish a boundary that says: “I will help you with your work now and then, but only if it doesn’t interfere with my other commitments.”

Boundaries give you power by allowing you to protect yourself from people or situations that aren’t good for your recovery. Healthy boundaries also allow you to take care of yourself properly so you don’t exhaust yourself emotionally or physically.

In healthy relationships, everyone has their own unique needs and desires. However, when someone feels like they’re being taken advantage of or manipulated by another person’s demands, these become “boundary issues.”

Understand Your Needs

You may have been so focused on your loved one’s needs while managing your addiction that you forgot to consider your own. Part of setting boundaries with them is establishing your needs and then asking for them to be met.

Here are some examples of things you might need:

  • To feel safe and sound in your own home
  • To not be around other individuals that trigger you to want to use
  • To take care of yourself and make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating well, and practicing daily exercise that helps your recovery
  • Keeping alcohol and other substances out of the home or in a place where they won’t be easily accessible

Learn to Say “No”

Learning how to say “no” is a vital skill in recovery. It can be difficult when managing addiction and saying no to loved ones because you may be used to always giving in and doing what others want you to do. Often this is because you feel guilty or obligated by other people’s needs. If you manage an addiction, it is important not to slip back into patterns that promote substance use. You need to understand that your recovery comes first. Therefore, learning to set boundaries with others will help you and your loved ones focus on managing your recovery.

Use “I” Statements

In order to successfully set boundaries, it’s important that you express how you feel about a situation in a calm manner. It is essential not to use “you” statements since they can be accusatory and cause conflict between yourself and the person you are communicating with.

A good example is if your loved one is always late or missing events or occasions you planned together. For example, you may ask them to join you at a meeting or appointment that is important to you. Instead of blaming them by saying, “You forgot my appointment. What am I supposed to do? This isn’t fair at all.” Focus on expressing yourself. Instead, try using an “I” statement such as “I am disappointed because this meeting was important to me.”

Make It a Habit

You might be thinking, “I don’t want to hurt them.” While you value the relationship and don’t want to hurt a loved one, you need to remember that your needs need to come first – especially when you have already tried setting boundaries with those around you, but they are overstepping these boundaries. Soon your rules and needs become meaningless. It is important to say a firm “no” and stand your ground if your loved ones are not respecting your boundaries.

It’s time to take a step back and start over with some new strategies that help rather than hurt the relationship. The following tips can help you set healthy boundaries with your family member or friend:

  • Make sure you’re not isolated from other people during recovery
  • Don’t enable other people’s behavior
  • Make sure you take space when you need it

Boundaries Create Healthy Relationships

Setting boundaries is one of the most difficult and necessary things to creating a healthy relationship with your loved ones. While telling someone that their behavior is affecting your life may be uncomfortable, it’s an act of self-care and protection. Setting boundaries helps you build healthy relationships and prevent relapse by ensuring you are not living in fear or taking on responsibilities for others.

Recovery is an ongoing process. As you continue to work on your recovery, it’s important to remember that setting boundaries can be integral to maintaining healthy relationships. By being aware of your needs and triggers, learning how to say no, and making boundary setting a habit in all your relationships, not just with family members or partners, you will be able to maintain a healthy balance between yourself and others while still having room for compromise. As you follow through with setting healthy boundaries, your relationships will become more functional and respected. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, give us a call, and we would love to help you in your first steps towards recovery. We can help you through this process of creating healthy boundaries as well. Please reach out for more information. Call (833) 883-9235.

Impacts and Negative Effects of Codependency in Addiction

In a codependent relationship, one partner will take on the role of caretaker. This person may have substance use or mental health issues that require professional help, but they refuse to get it. Instead, the other partner takes over their responsibilities and provides for them in unhealthy ways. Living with codependency can be detrimental to many people’s lives. Learning the negative impacts of codependency can help you understand why it is dangerous, especially for those struggling with addiction.

Taking on the Role of Caretaker

When you are the primary caretaker of a loved one struggling with addiction, you may feel like your life has become unmanageable. Your loved one’s substance use can have a huge impact on your physical and mental health and the quality of your relationships with others. Additionally, if the person you love is addicted to alcohol or drugs, they may harm themselves in other ways.

The negative effects of codependency can be even more pronounced when it comes to being a caretaker for someone with a severe addiction. Such behavior puts both parties at risk physically, mentally, and emotionally. The impact on self-esteem should not be underestimated. Codependent people often lose sight of their own needs and goals in order to focus on those around them first instead.

Signs of Codependency

A person in a codependent relationship could have difficulty making decisions, expressing feelings, and spending time alone. The following are traits that a person in a codependent relationship may exhibit:

  • Difficulty making decisions
  • Difficulty expressing feelings and emotions
  • Low self-esteem, low self-worth, low self-awareness, and lack of insight into how they feel
  • Poor impulse control or difficulty controlling emotions, anger, sad feelings, or sexual urges

It’s Not Healthy

While it is easy to fall into codependent relationships, it is also easy for them to go unnoticed. Codependent relationships are not healthy. They are one-sided, imbalanced, and unsustainable.

In a healthy relationship, both parties care about one another equally. Both parties have their own lives and interests in addition to their relationship. In a codependent relationship, however, one person puts all of their energy into taking care of someone else while the other person becomes dependent on this behavior as they lose any motivation or desire to take care of themselves.

The codependent person generally does all the giving but does not get anything back. They give and give but never receive anything in return. A person may feel that their loved one is taking advantage of them and using them for their own needs. Sometimes this can lead to abuse or manipulation by the other person.

The codependent person is often unable to make decisions or express feelings. They may also have difficulty spending time alone, expressing anger, and sometimes feel helpless without the presence of their loved ones.

Can Create Resentment

Resentment is a natural response to being treated poorly, but it can also lead to anger. Resentment may lead to depression or cause a feeling of helplessness. This can eventually lead the codependent person to detach from their partner to protect themselves.

As a codependent person in an unhealthy relationship with a loved one struggling with addiction, you may feel helpless and resentful. If you have fallen into this pattern, it’s important to realize that enabling is not a healthy relationship. The codependent person will often feel helpless and resentful about being unable to help the addict get clean.

This feeling of powerlessness can lead you to enable your loved ones by making excuses for their behavior or covering up their drug use so that they don’t suffer consequences at work or school. When enabling takes place over time, it can create a vicious cycle where both parties continue to engage in destructive behaviors that are harmful not only to themselves but also to their loved ones as well as those around them.

Creates Negative Effects

You may be thinking, “If my loved one is a codependent and I am not, then how am I affected by their behavior?” It’s true that you are not the codependent person in this situation. However, codependency can have serious negative effects on all parties involved.

In addition to the consequences explained above, when someone is codependent in an unhealthy way, it can also lead them to engage in behaviors such as:

  • Isolating themselves from others
  • Becoming depressed or anxious
  • Behaving differently than they would normally behave due to trauma caused by their partner’s addiction

Seek Professional Help

It is important to manage your health needs. Seeking help will allow you to work through challenging situations and could help you find help for yourself and your loved one.

Codependency is a dangerous relationship that can lead to physical and mental harm. It is not healthy to be in a one-sided relationship where one person takes on all the responsibility while being controlled by another. At Excel Treatment Center we understand that codependency can create resentment and anger towards your partner. It creates an unhealthy relationship that is not good for either party. If you or someone you love has been affected by codependency, it is important to seek help immediately. Our services work to help you overcome your addiction and strengthen your relationships, including coming out of a codependency relationship. If you or someone you know is struggling and could benefit from help with their addiction and improving their relationships, please reach out to us. We want to help you through this process. For more information, please call us at, (833) 883-9235