You may have won some battles, but you want to win the war.
We all face challenges in life. Our deepest, most personal issues just may or may not be visible to others. That doesn’t make them any better or worse. Someone trying to beat a substance use disorder is no different than you. If you’re here because this is your story, you’re in the right place. Getting back to thriving is the ultimate mission.
Contrary to what you think, you are in control and you’re not alone. We get it. When that spiraling sense of fear hits, your heart starts racing, you begin to shake and sweat, and you can’t help but feel like you’re dying. The only thing that seems to calm you is benzodiazepines, but why is this the case?
The Effects of Benzodiazepines
Common benzo prescription drugs such as Valium, Xanax and Klonopin change parts of your brain and how it functions by triggering a rush of dopamine in the reward system. Your brain’s basil ganglia and nucleus accumbens region basically binge on euphoria caused by the dopamine flood. The dorsal striatum is also impacted by substance abuse. This part logs the increased level of dopamine within its habit circuitry. Once this occurs, your brain is no longer able to regulate dopamine naturally, requiring you to keep drinking or taking drugs to feel good.
The prefrontal cortex also changes. Have you ever been in the middle of a high or coming down from its effects and wonder why you can’t seem to make the decision to stop? Part of that is due to damage inflicted on your ability to make decisions, a function your prefrontal cortex is responsible for. Substance abuse decreases activity in this region of the brain, making it difficult for you to recognize the dangers of the abuse.
However, if you research chemical benzodiazepines, poisoning deaths have become the leading cause of unintentional injury death in the U.S., killing over 88,990 people in a 12-month period ending October 2020. Almost 9,000 Americans die each month from an overdose. Many people mix benzodiazepines with alcohol and other substances, which can lead to life-threatening issues such as organ failure. Drinking alcohol while taking these drugs can also cause nausea, mood swings, memory loss and severe depression.
Moving Away From the Haze
Whether your go-to self-treatment has been alcohol or prescription sedatives, it’s time to take back your power and flip the script. It’s crucial to be in a nonjudgmental environment that drives holistic healing. Close in on those walls you feel are closing in on you during an attack. The Raleigh House can help you knock them down for good. First and foremost, we take pride in developing strong and trusting relationships.
Synthetic benzodiazepines or other designer benzodiazepines are like air pollution that needs to be cleared out before long-term health complications occur. Recreational and leisure activities at our facility can help with structure and support for anyone trying to get back to a healthy lifestyle. It’s not about starting over, it’s about pushing the Reset button.
Canceling out the Chaos of Benzodiazepine Addiction
Holistic nutrition-based planning is also key to healing and strengthening your mind and body from damage substance abuse has caused. Supplementing it with amino acids and vitamins your lacking can reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Activities like sports, yoga, arts, and culture also prevent drug relapse due to boredom, and can be great for redirecting when life gets crazy. Exercise alone releases chemicals in the brain related to positive feelings and reduces anxiety. It boosts energy and motivation throughout the day while also promoting healthier sleep patterns at night.
How to Help Your Loved One (and Yourself)
Battling addiction gets ugly for everyone involved, but continue to be the best friend or relative you can be. When your loved one won’t listen, or when you won’t listen to yourself, remember a few things:
- You can’t force anyone to do anything.
- They’ll seek help when ready.
- The addiction is the enemy, they’re not.
Building better self-awareness and learning healthier coping skills is pivotal. It’s a major part of our therapy sessions.
Sometimes Tough Love is the Best Love
Much like an open wound, the longer addiction festers, it will never let you truly heal if you just keep putting a bandaid over it, only to rip it off over and over again. It needs proper care and consistent treatment. If not, the chance of getting more infected, i.e., incurring long-term health damage, increases. The end goal is to avoid lifelong “scarring” and lessen the risk of permanently damaging relationships with others and ourselves.
Our doors are always open. Give us a call or contact The Raleigh House online to learn how you or someone you love can discover a fresh start.
