Category Archives: Going Healthy

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7 Surprising Benefits of Traveling for Rehab

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Addiction is an all-consuming disease that makes it difficult for people to prioritize the important things in their lives over their substance of choice. They fall into the unhealthy patterns of making up excuses as to why they can’t give up their addictions or to not seek treatment. Little do people know that attending an out-of-state rehab facility takes away many of these reasons and excuses. Here are 7 surprising benefits you may experience from traveling to rehab.

1. A Chance To Get A Fresh Start

Going to an addiction treatment clinic in a different state (or even a different country) gives you a better chance for a fresh restart because you are in unfamiliar territory. There are none of the familiar comforts near you and there are fewer temptations to trigger a relapse.

2. Fewer Distractions

When you’re attending rehab, the only priority should be yourself. Although it’s good to have a support system close by, family and friends can be a distraction. Being away from them can give you the energy and motivation that you need to work on yourself during your time in rehab.

3. It’s More Difficult To Leave

If you attend a rehab facility close to home, it can be easy to give up and return home before you’ve finished. However, if you’re out of state, you can’t exactly pack up your bags and leave on a whim. It’s much more difficult to make an escape to your house This is also why inpatient treatment is more beneficial than outpatient treatment.

4. It Demonstrates A Commitment To Recovery

Making the decision to pack your belongings and travel across the country to go to rehab is also a symbolic gesture that you really do intend to get better. The first step to getting sober is always the hardest, and if you’re willing to travel the distance to do so, then the gesture is all the more meaningful.

5. Traveling Can Bring About Reflection

The journey to a different state can give you a lot of time to think about your actions and what led you up to this point. Getting out of your comfort zone puts you on the right path to accepting rehab more readily since the whole point is to give you new ways of looking at things and breaking those old bad habits.

6. You Only Have Yourself To Focus On

There are no mortgages to pay, friends to lend money to, or other problems to distract you from your rehab journey. There are also no overwhelming positive emotions to tempt you to relapse either. You have a safe environment where you can deal with your emotions in a healthy manner and reflect inward.

7. There’s More Privacy

Getting help for addiction can be a matter of pride for some people. They don’t want anyone to know that they’re getting treatment. Going out-of-state can help with that problem since they’re less likely to know anyone there.

Getting help for any kind of addiction is not something to be ashamed about. In fact, it should be encouraged. If you or a loved one is dealing with issues of substance abuse, contact your healthcare professional as soon as possible.

Going Healthy, Health, Lifestyle

The DSM5 Diagnostic Criteria for Substance Use Disorder

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Diagnosing a patient can be difficult. When the problem is mental, doing so becomes even harder. What tools do mental health professionals use in this situation?

Diagnostic Criteria

Mental health professionals need a way to diagnose patients consistently. To do so, they rely on the DSM-5. This guide offers criteria for different mental health conditions. One condition found in the guide is substance abuse disorders. What criteria should a professional look for when diagnosing this condition and determining if the patient needs outpatient addiction rehab in newport?

Impaired Control

– Use of the substance in larger amounts or for longer than intended- Ongoing to limit or slow use and unsuccessful efforts to do so- Great deal of time spent obtaining, using, or recovering from use- Craving or strong desire to use

Social Impairment

– Failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home due to use- Continued use despite persistent social or interpersonal problems created or amplified by effects of use

Risky Use

– Recurrent use in physically hazardous situations- Continued use despite physical or psychological problems caused or exacerbated by use

Pharmacological Criteria

– Tolerance (marked increase in amount needed to achieve intoxication or desired effect)- Withdrawal symptoms or use to relieve/avoid them

The level of severity is defined by the number of criteria met:

– Mild: two or three criteria from the DSM must be present- Moderate: four or five criteria must be present- Severe: the patient must show six or more criteria from the DSM-5

The symptoms must cause significant impairment or distress for a diagnosis to be made. If they do not, the individual will not be diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder. Additionally, the particular substance involved is specified based on clinical evidence.

Why Diagnostic Criteria Are Important When Diagnosing Substance Abuse

Clear, consistent diagnostic criteria are essential when assessing whether someone is dealing with a substance use disorder. Without established definitive guidelines, determining the presence and severity of addiction can be extremely subjective. Diagnostic criteria help take the guesswork out of evaluation and allow for more accurate, standardized diagnosis. Having the right diagnosis also helps guide the treatment plan.

Standard criteria help identify the problematic effects of addiction that may otherwise be minimized or explained away. This also aids professionals in offering appropriate recommendations for intervention, treatment, and recovery. A thorough, criteria-based analysis ensures people get the help they need when struggling with addiction rather than having issues downplayed. Evaluating addiction via methodical diagnostic standards facilitates research advancements and successful outcomes through consistent language and measurements across clinical trials and treatment modalities over time. Reliable, rules-based diagnosis provides clarity amidst the complexity of addiction.

Ultimately, the DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorders focus on impaired control, social and interpersonal problems, risky use, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms to assess use that has become dysfunctional and problematic. The number of criteria met determines if a mild, moderate, or severe disorder is present. Careful evaluation of symptoms and evidence of clinically significant distress are also required for diagnosis. Specifying the substance involved is important for effectively planning treatment and recovery efforts.

One can no longer categorize all addictions as the same. The DSM-5 helps to identify these nuances. Without this guidance, a person might not get the treatment they need to overcome the addiction. Stopping substance abuse must always be the primary goal, and the use of this guide helps in achieving it.

Going Healthy, Health, Lifestyle

9 Reasons Why Someone Might Start Slipping Into Addiction

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Addiction is like a labyrinthine puzzle that ensnares individuals from diverse backgrounds. Its causes often appear as enigmatic as the maze itself. However, within this intricate web, nine distinctive factors serve as guiding stars, shedding light on why people may find themselves entangled in the complexities of addiction.

Familial Ties

Family history weaves a compelling thread. Imagine it as a family heirloom that contains certain genetic markers. These may increase the likelihood of succumbing to the allure of drugs or alcohol. When addiction is a family legacy, the risk of inheriting a substance use disorder is heightened. Those who do end up succumbing may need help with drug addiction to start their recovery.

Conquering Adversity

Life’s journey often traverses treacherous terrain, where painful experiences such as abuse or witnessing harrowing events leave indelible scars. For some, these wounds act as a relentless tempest, and drugs or alcohol become their sanctuary—a means to shield themselves from emotional tempests. Initially, these substances may seem like benevolent guardians, offering temporary solace. Yet, as they tighten their grip, they metamorphose into captors within the intricate maze of addiction.

The Spell of Peer Pressure

Picture a group of companions as an irresistible gravitational force, especially during the turbulent years of youth. Individuals may be drawn into experimentation with drugs or alcohol, akin to planets orbiting a charismatic sun—driven by the desire for acceptance. The prospect of social exclusion or the allure of camaraderie can render resistance futile, compelling some to venture into uncharted territories.

A Shield Against Stress

Life’s canvas is often splattered with vivid hues of stress and turmoil. Every soul weathers storms, and for some, drugs or alcohol become their protective armor—a way to fend off the relentless assaults of stress and anxiety. These elixirs offer ephemeral respite, soothing the soul and granting serenity amidst life’s turbulent seas. Yet, as they become crutches, addiction stealthily slips into the narrative.

The Dance of Mental Health

Amidst the backdrop of addiction, mental health issues perform a haunting ballet. Imagine a duet between addiction and conditions like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. Together, they create a melancholic symphony where individuals seek solace in substances to quell emotional dissonance. What begins as a desperate attempt to find harmony soon crescendos into the all-consuming throes of addiction.

The Temptation of Prescriptions

Prescription medications sit as a double-edged sword, capable of healing or harm. They’re akin to delicate potions prescribed by healers. Yet, when mishandled, these elixirs can turn into potent curses, casting individuals into addiction’s shadowy abyss. Some may innocently embark on their prescription journey, seeking relief from pain or ailment. However, the allure of these potions can lead to dependency, culminating in addiction’s embrace.

The Veil of Ignorance

In certain narratives, ignorance cloaks the perils of drug or alcohol use. People may traverse this labyrinth without a map, unaware of the hidden traps and precipitous falls that lie ahead. They may believe in the innocence of occasional use, ignorant of the abyss lurking beneath the surface. To prevent this perilous voyage, education, and awareness must shine as guiding stars.

Echoes of the Environment

The environment in which one’s roots take hold plays a pivotal role. Imagine a landscape influenced by stress, where the echoes of drug use reverberate through communities, and role models are scarce. In such settings, addiction may appear as the sole refuge from life’s turmoil, further entangling individuals within its web.

The Song of Loneliness

Loneliness and isolation form the haunting melody that beckons some toward substance use. Drugs and alcohol serve as transient companions, offering fleeting moments of solace and connection. Yet, this melody is ephemeral, fading quickly, and leaving individuals more isolated within addiction’s embrace.

Addiction is an intricate tapestry woven from genetic, emotional, social, and environmental threads. Acknowledging these influences is akin to deciphering the labyrinth’s secrets, offering insights into the complex journey of addiction.