Anyone who has experience of stimulant addiction knows that it’s a serious issue. Stimulant addiction can have a range of negative mental and physical health effects. It is one of the leading causes of people seeking drug treatment in America, and according to the DEA, use is on the rise in New Jersey.
Many people who are addicted to stimulants feel that there is no way out. They feel trapped in a cycle of living to use stimulants and using stimulants to live. Although it may seem impossible, with the right support, breaking this vicious cycle is easier than many people think. It begins with detox and continues with actively engaging in a program of recovery. There are millions of Americans who are currently in recovery from stimulant addiction.
Excel Treatment Center can organize stimulant detox and provide the lasting support necessary to recover from this addiction. If you or a loved one are addicted to stimulants and want to stop, we can help you.
As people use stimulants more and more frequently, they can start to rely on them. People get used to the increased levels of confidence stimulants give, they like the feeling of euphoria, and they mistakenly think that stimulants improve their lives.
With time, the brain adapts to the constant presence of drugs and it becomes reliant on stimulants to regulate itself. It becomes used to the constant build-up of dopamine, and effectively develops a tolerance to it. This leads to users feeling low when they do not have the drug in their bloodstream.
This sets off a vicious cycle of users taking the drug to relieve negative feelings, and their addiction worsens. It can be alarming to read that stimulants cause a physical change in the brain, though this does not have to be permanent. It may be reassuring to know that the brains ability to adapt is what makes recovery possible.
The first step on the path to recovery is detox. This involves withdrawing from the drug, to allow it to leave the body.
Stimulants are very hard on the body. Users can sometimes go days without sleeping or eating. They can also cause muscle spasm, irregular heartbeat, and in some instances, seizures.
Physical side effects during withdrawal are common and some of these include:
There are no substitute drugs that can be used for a stimulant detox. Instead, users will be asked to try to reduce usage down before they go to detox. Even if they don’t manage this, it is still possible to withdraw safely if given the right support.
Occasionally, people may require psychiatric medication, anti-anxiety medication, or sleep aids. Also, if someone is malnourished, then nutritional support can be given too.
During a stimulant detox, the mental side effects are more pronounced than the physical. These are often overlooked as users focus on the more visible effects however, mental symptoms can be just as disruptive and challenging to cope with.
Some of them include:
Although these can seem all-consuming to stimulant users, they do not last forever. The detox team are skilled in treating the immediate acute stimulant withdrawal symptoms. They are committed to making your first steps into recovery as comfortable as possible – there really is no need to go it alone.
Detox from stimulants can be broken down into two stages – acute and post-acute. The main acute stage lasts around two to three weeks. This is when the symptoms are at their most severe. However, for some months following this initial stage, users may experience post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS).
During the first one to three days of stimulant withdrawal, users may start to feel the physical effects of the detox. They are also likely to experience insomnia and a disrupted appetite. The acute physical symptoms should start to subside by day 10.
From this point, it is likely that users will only experience mental symptoms, which should reduce by day 18. After this point, any symptoms should be viewed as PAWS. During this stage, users will likely experience fleeting urges to use and occasional depression or anxiety.
Excel treatment has changed my life! The staff starting from the intake process, to all the clinicians are amazing! I really enjoy that. Most of the staff are in recovery and relate to me I have been shown so much support, understanding, and accommodation above and beyond!
There is no doubt that stimulants can affect our mental health. Research has shown that excessive stimulant use causes psychosis, although scientists are unclear as to why this is. Stimulant psychosis is characterized by delusions, visual hallucinations, and other symptoms.
Other research has shown that people with depression, anxiety, and ADHD are more likely to use stimulants. If these conditions are left undiagnosed during treatment, it significantly lowers the chances of a sustained recovery.
Excel Treatment Center are highly-skilled in diagnosing and treating both drug addiction and mental health conditions. We take a holistic approach, and we recognize that each client is individual. We pride ourselves on treating the whole person, rather than just one symptom.
Take a tour of our outpatient facility alongside our supportive housing options that provide safety & community when seeking treatment for substance abuse and mental health conditions.
Our admissions process is simple. Contact our caring team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to begin the process of getting help. We work with most major commercial and private insurance plans.
Because of the time it takes for the brain to restore its normal dopamine function, it is advisable to engage in one of our recovery programs following a successful detox. When it comes to long-term recovery, detox is only one piece of the puzzle.
Addiction is a deeply entrenched and complex condition and simply being abstinent from stimulants is not enough to ensure recovery. It requires constant maintenance, and the first few months following detox are particularly vulnerable ones. Through taking part in one of our bespoke recovery programs, our clients will learn healthy coping strategies they can use when faced with triggering situations.
We will also help our clients to understand the root cause of their addiction. We understand this can vary from client to client, and never take a ‘one-size fits all’ approach. Instead, we carry out a thorough assessment that we constantly review to ensure you are always getting the most appropriate treatment.
We know that people change during their time in treatment and their goals may shift and alter throughout their time with us, and that’s fine. We work collaboratively with our clients to make sure that every aspect of their well-being is looked after while they are under our care.
Although we do not provide detoxification services, we are partnered with facilities that do and we would be happy to refer patients on prior to engaging them in our outpatient services. Excel Treatment Center can assist you with placement in a professional, licensed, insurance friendly detox center that will provide you or your loved one with much needed medical assistance on the road to addiction recovery.
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Excel Treatment Center is an addiction treatment center in New Jersey that offers high-quality treatment designed around each client’s personal needs.
