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The Slippery Slope of Opioid Addiction

January 20, 2020 // by ATON RECOVERY

It always starts with the concept of healing. Healing from often intense pain. Not emotional pain or childhood trauma, but rather pain from an injury, surgery, or illness that greatly impacts your quality of life. The first time you take a prescription pain medication can end well, with relief from physical pain and eventually no longer requiring the prescription drug. Unfortunately, all too often, it results in an uncontrollable addiction. It is an addiction that threatens to ruin your life, or, worse, take your life. Prescription pain medications are often necessary, but you must always beware of the slippery slope that leads to opioid addiction.

I’m Not a Drug Addict

One of the most dangerous aspects of opioid addiction is the stigma associated with addiction. Society paints the image of addicts as serial troublemakers who have dropped out of school and are actively seeking street drugs to get high. Awareness of the opioid addict next door is sadly swept under the carpet. The mother with 2.5 children who lives in a well-kept home and drives the carpool to school and extracurricular activities. The well-dressed lawyer who gives time to charity and goes to church every week. These are the true faces of opioid addiction. It doesn’t have to be sought after, it can come right to you, from the person you trust most: your doctor.

How It Begins

Opioid addiction begins after an injury or surgery, or maybe to treat serious pain due to illness. Your doctor writes out a prescription for pain medication. If he or she is doing their job well, they will give you a stern lecture about the risks of addiction, discuss other pain treatment options with you, and/or give you pamphlets about the risks of addiction. When you fill the prescription at the pharmacy, your medication will likely also arrive with warnings about potential addiction. It is always up to you to know what you are taking, though.

You take your first pill or pills, according to the doctor’s directions. Because, after all, you are only seeking relief from physical pain. Some people get that relief. For other people, it is not enough. Pain is a beast that is difficult to tame. For some people, the reaction to the medication is so positive that they want more right away. For others, it can take some time before they are increasing their own dosage. Whether it is for the blissful, numbing feeling that the drug offers, or for the need for more pain relief, at some point you lose control over the dosage you are taking. Now the medication has control over you instead.

There is another way that opioid addiction from prescription pain pills begins, and that is when someone shares their medication with a friend. When used for recreational purposes, the pills are most likely going to develop into an addiction, because they are used not as directed, as an illicit drug, to produce a “high” or an escape from emotional pain.

Sliding Down the Slope

Once you are increasing your own dosage, you are already sliding down that slope. People will ask multiple doctors for prescriptions for pain medications, or turn to illegal sources and buy pills on the street. In addition to the carnage this creates in their lives in terms of relationships, jobs, families, and even freedom, the addiction is so powerful that “normal” people like you and I will resort to doing just about anything to get their medications. When that is not enough, “ordinary” people turn to heroin or fentanyl because the cravings are just that intense, and pain pills are simply not enough.

A Slope Less Traveled

The slippery slope can actually be a very short road from an “upstanding” person next door to a heroin addict. The transformation is often astonishing to everyone around you. Not only are opioid drugs like OxyContin, Vicodin, codeine, and morphine incredibly addictive, they can easily lead you to use illicit drugs like heroin and fentanyl. All of these drugs run a very high risk of overdose. Even when people seek treatment, a relapse commonly becomes an overdose.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. At any point in your use of prescription opioids or even heroin or fentanyl, you can and should seek medical treatment. Even though opioids carry an intense withdrawal process, there are many medications that can be given with medical supervision that make the process safer for you physically and emotionally. Successful treatment for opioid addiction may be difficult, but it should not be the slope less traveled.

Avoiding the Slope

Does this mean that you should never take prescription opioid medications that are prescribed by your doctor? Not necessarily. You can counsel with your doctor or even multiple doctors about the risks and benefits. If your life is greatly impacted by pain, you don’t have control over it, either. There are non-opioid pain medications that can be used, sometimes in tandem. And other, more effective pain medications are being developed, too.

You always have a say in what you do or do not take. Until you take something that is highly addictive. So you need to be vigilant and protect yourself from “accidental” addiction. If you are already sliding down the slippery slope of opioid addiction, it is not too late. Make a call to get help today. Because the rock bottom of opioid addiction is not something you can always recover from.

You can heal your life at AToN Center. Call (888) 813-5928 today to escape the relentless claws of opioid addiction.

Understanding the Neurobiology of Addiction

January 13, 2020 // by ATON RECOVERY

For years, addiction has been viewed as some sort of moral failing or character flaw. Over time, however, research has proven that addiction is actually a physiological process, occurring primarily in the brain. To understand what addiction is and how it works, we need to understand the neurobiology of addiction.

How the Brain Responds to Substances

While various substances create different reactions within the brain, the overall response is to increase the amount of dopamine within what is known as the reward center of our brains, or the limbic center. Typically, dopamine is released when we experience other pleasing activities, such as food or sex. However, substances cause too much dopamine to be released, which can create a sense of euphoria.

Dopamine is related directly to our behaviors – when dopamine is released, it creates a greater desire for the behavior that caused the release. When we experience pleasure, that motivates us to repeat activities. So, with drugs and alcohol, the brain learns to want the substance more. In fact, because the dopamine levels are artificially so much higher in relation to substance use, our brain prioritizes the seeking of substances ahead of other activities, even over seeking food.

What Happens with Repeat Exposure to Substances

The brain will continue to seek out substances and responds similarly even to cues that are related to substances. For example, if your substance is alcohol and you see an ad for a certain brand of beer or drive by a bar, your brain will actually release dopamine in anticipation of the reward of alcohol.

Additionally, the more you use a substance, the less euphoria actually happens. This is because the more we use, the more our brain demands and we can actually damage the dopamine release and receptors. In time, we are no longer even capable of feeling “high,” our brains simply demand the substance just to feel “normal.” Addiction occurs like this when our brain becomes dependent upon a substance.

Why the Brain Demands More

Just like how the reward center of our brain reacts when we experience something related to our survival, such as food, that response also happens when we ingest substances. Except with a greater perceived reward. This is the beginning of our brain being “fooled” into thinking that something is good for us.

Because the dopamine receptors are motivated by behaviors and vice versa, the seeking of substances becomes a priority. The initial substance use creates an interest, then a need, then an unquenchable appetite for the substance to create that continuous response. Certain drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine release such an overload of dopamine that they are incredibly addictive. But they also have more extreme side effects on the rest of brain function.

How Substance Use Affects the Brain Long-term

The communication in the reward center also alters how the brain communicates and functions in relation to our emotions, the controlling of our movements, and our ability to reason or make decisions. Using substances can actually re-wire our brains, particularly as we prioritize the seeking of substances over other needs and functions.

The substances themselves can also cause physiological changes within the brain, which is why so many functions can be impaired as well. The changes to our brains will depend on the substances we use, how long we use them for, in addition to our own genetics and physical and emotional health. Unlike the previous misconceptions of addiction being some sort of moral weakness or behavioral issues, with functional brain imaging, it is actually possible to see some of the damage caused by extensive substance use.

Can Recovery Reverse Changes to the Brain?

The question of healing from substance use is a delicate one. One answer is that substance use can cause irreversible damage, not only to our brains but also to our bodies. Our physical and mental health can be literally scarred for life.

However, there is another answer to the question. Yes. Sometimes, some of the damage to our brains is reversible in recovery. The brain can be surprisingly resilient, and with improved treatment for addiction which looks at your health holistically – mind, body, and soul – there are cases in which some of the changes to the brain can be reversed. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee one way or the other. Just like the damage itself, there are many factors, such as type of substances used, extent of use, our own health and genetics, etc.

The only certainty is that without treatment, things will only get worse. As we continue to use substances, the re-wiring of our brain continues and the addiction also becomes more powerful. Physical side effects also grow, particularly as the normal, healthy needs like food, sleep, and exercise are ignored in the seeking of substance use. We know that active addiction can kill us. So why not take the chance that recovery could improve our chances of a healthy mind and body?

We know that addiction is a process that occurs in our brains. We know that it is a physiological response when we partake in substances. That means we also know we are not morally weak, that we have the strength to take our lives back from the addiction. As long as we are still alive, it is not too late to get the help we need. We can rise above the chemical processes happening in our brains and work to become whole again.

Learn more about how your brain can be healthy again at AToN Center. Call (888) 813-5928 right now to reactivate the normal function in your brain.

How Can I Regain Respect and Trust?

December 27, 2019 // by ATON RECOVERY

We all have times when our words or actions hurt others, or we have broken someone’s trust. Unfortunately, when we use substances, our mistakes are often repeated, and sometimes on a larger scale. Or maybe we did something embarrassing that we wish we could undo. When we repeatedly hurt others or lose their trust, it can be difficult for them to forgive us. We might even lose their trust and respect. As we become sober and look around at the people in our lives, an important question arises: How can I regain respect and trust?

Losing Shame

We may have heard the phrase “saving face.” It means to save ourselves from embarrassment or loss of respect. However, if we did not “save face” and are well past that, then we should look to “losing shame.” Shame is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.” We messed up, and we are painfully aware of it. Sometimes, it takes others to make us aware of doing something wrong and then we feel shame, but often we feel shame on our own.

There are two parts to shame, our natural desire to “fit in” and adherence to a spoken or unspoken moral code within society that tells us what is acceptable. Both are based on expectations from others, whether real or perceived. So in actuality, we are feeling bad because of what we perceive others expect from us. When broken down like that, it doesn’t sound as bad.

However, holding onto shame doesn’t help us. It can prevent us from seeking healing from our substance use, and it can monopolize our emotions. Shame may help us to recognize when we are outside of moral or societal norms, but it usually does more harm than good. It is always in our best interest to lose our shame. It is the first step to regaining the respect and trust of others.

Accepting the Past

The mistakes we make while under the influence can be relatively small or they can be life-changing and massive. But the one thing that they all have in common is that they happened. They are in the past. We cannot change what we did when we were sober, so we definitely cannot change what we did when we were using our substances. It may be painful to accept the pain we have caused others or even the humiliation we may have brought on to ourselves. But no matter what our past is, it does not need to define who we are today or in the future. Holding onto the past does not help anyone. But accepting the past helps us to start the healing and to seek respect and trust from others.

Forgiving Ourselves

Watching the pain or tears on the faces of those we love when we know we hurt them can bring up very powerful negative emotions and self-talk. That is a normal reaction when we have hurt or disappointed people in our lives. However, it takes courage to accept whatever we have done and look in the mirror and be able to forgive ourselves. We can still accept responsibility for what we have done. And we can do whatever we believe we need to do to make amends if we can. But until we are able to look at ourselves and truly forgive ourselves, we will never fully be able to move on. And until we have forgiven ourselves, we will not have the respect and trust of others again.

Changing Our Ways

One big aspect of losing someone’s trust is based on repeated behaviors. For example, if we tell a family member that we are just going for one drink and come back six hours later having had a lot more, we break trust. But when we do it consistently for a long period of time, then we lose trust. In order to earn trust back, we can live authentically, showing that we have changed, doing what we said we would, keeping all of our commitments. Whether it be at home, in the workplace, or somewhere else, when we become sober and we do what we said we would do, we can regain the respect and trust we may have lost.

Communicate Effectively

It is so important to communicate effectively, especially with those that we love. We can share how we felt in losing their trust, own up to whatever we did to harm them and ask them for forgiveness. They may not offer forgiveness, at least not right away. It often takes time for people to heal, time spent watching us, wondering if we have really changed this time. But if we keep the lines of communication open throughout the process, regaining respect and trust is possible.

We can regain respect and trust by transforming ourselves and demonstrating the change consistently. But it will only be effective if we have removed our shame and forgiven ourselves. AToN Center professionals know how to rebuild trust and earn respect again. They can help you through the entire process. You don’t need to wallow in shame or live in the past. By healing yourself and gaining your own self-respect and trust back, you can earn the respect and trust of others once again.

Regain respect and trust in yourself. AToN Center can show you the way. Call (888) 813-5928 to begin mending the relationships in your life.

Addiction and Employment – What to Do if You have a Criminal Record

June 27, 2019 // by Aton Center

AToN is a San Diego Detox program that focuses on improving the individual lives of our residents to help them lead healthy, successful lives in the community. We, for one, are proud of the work we do and of all the amazing residents who have recovered with us. Our community and the value we bring to it are critical parts of our self-identity. Searching for employment after addiction or substance abuse has impacted your career path can be one of the most challenging journeys, but you can manage with patience, persistence, and guidance. Managing your addiction, knowing your rights, and doing your best to make a solid presentation are all critical parts of maintaining your career after a drug conviction.

Addiction and Criminal Records

A 2019 PrisonPolicy.org study shows that nearly half a million people are serving time for non-violent drug convictions. The infamous “War on Drugs” in the US has been impacting communities for generations, especially minorities. Drug and alcohol convictions have a notable, measurable impact not only on individual households and communities but throughout the nation. There are hundreds of thousands of employable adults who are hamstrung in their careers by nonviolent criminal records. Upon release, many quickly relapse, fueled by stress, poverty, and severe social factors preventing them from properly recovering.

The most important part of getting back on your feet after a drug conviction is overcoming your addiction. A professional detox and recovery program does more than managing the symptoms of addiction. Professional therapy can keep you safe and healthy throughout the detox process, and help you develop coping skills to not only overcome urges but to better your life in a number of ways. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one tool that residents can use long after their recovery to focus their mind, resist cravings, and lead a healthier life. Group and family therapy, as well as accountability partners and a caring support community all work together to give our residents a powerful network for a life-long recovery and social connections. We find that community is an essential part of finding meaning in your life and career.

Knowing Your Employment and Drug Policies

Employers and employees both have their own set of rights when it comes to drug and alcohol consumption. These may change from state to state, or even from company to company, but ultimately addiction is considered a disability by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Knowing your rights under the ADA gives you an advantage and can help you prepare for some of the more difficult questions an employer may ask. Using drugs or other restricted substances during work hours, on a work facility, or while under the employment of a particular company may all be grounds for a discharge, and an employer can run tests for these substances at their own discretion. However, judging a candidate by a previous addiction after they have sought treatment is discriminatory. It’s important to make sure you understand your rights and to come prepared.

As the saying goes, we fall to our lowest level of preparation. The unfortunate truth is that a prior conviction can still impact your search for a job, but your professionalism, preparedness, and skills can carry you above your weakest moments. Learn and practice new skills through free sites like Khan Academy or YouTube. If you have the resources, some attorneys may be able to help reduce nonviolent offenses. If you choose to go through a professional recovery program, your counselors may also have information and connections to employers who are sympathetic and understanding to those suffering from addiction. Overcoming addiction is one of the greatest challenges we can experience in our lives. Seek out the help of professionals to give you the best prospects for the future.

Spirituality and Addiction, Is There a Connection?

May 16, 2019 // by Aton Center

Spirituality has historically been an integral part of the addiction and recovery process. Nowhere is that more prevalent than San Diego, with its historic churches and religious communities offering sanctuary to those looking for recovery from addiction. Overall, the community in San Diego has been extremely supportive in helping people overcome their addiction and lead healthier, happier lives. San Diego’s connection to spirituality, however, is declining and for many people seeking rehab and substance abuse recovery, programs that revolve around a particular faith can be alienating. Today, we want to take a look at the connection between spirituality and substance abuse in San Diego, and the US in general.

History of Substance Abuse Programs in the US

Since the 1800’s there have been documented movements within the US to remove drugs and alcohol from communities. This eventually led to the Prohibition Era in the 1920’s, where speakeasies and private liquor shops became popular, if illegal, destinations. Unfortunately, this only promoted the distilment of harder liquors, making addiction more dangerous, much faster, for individuals suffering with alcohol misuse.

Clearly, banning alcohol only triggered worse effects, less trust in authorities, and more hidden, reckless behaviors from people with serious substance use disorders. The immediate counter-response was to create refuges for alcoholics to recover in safety, with a guiding hand rather than an iron fist. Churches and community centers where dozens of community-minded members gathered, were an obvious solution. It became an unspoken standard that religious centers provided rehab and recovery services for their communities. As these practices developed, expanded, and formalized, they were laced with spiritual lessons, morals, and ethics, particularly following Christian and Catholic ideals. To this day, Alcoholics Anonymous has a number of their meetings at local churches or religious centers, and many of their 12-steps revolve around a faith with a higher power.

Spirituality and Addiction

While this was a great stepping stone for suburban, Christian and Catholic Americans, the religiously-heavy programs often don’t resonate with a modern American culture, where over a third of young adults are not affiliated with any religion. For Millennials, faith-based programs can be a distraction from the core benefits of recovery, such as self-empowerment, managing cravings, and networking with like-minded individuals to create a sphere of accountability.

How AToN changes the spiritual connection in recovery

At AToN Center in San Diego, we have a non-12-step program available for patients looking to recover without religious influence or pressure. We still value spirituality but feel that each person should find their own connection to the world as they see fit. Whether that’s through a higher power, through nature, art, or just through a love of the world as it is, we think its important recovery nourishes the soul. Programs like mindfulness and meditation help build focus and clarity, manage symptoms of detox, and control cravings. Meanwhile physical fitness programs, like Yoga, inspired by a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, Chinese Acupuncture, Watsu (relaxing shiatsu exercises in a warmed pool), and personal trainers help you feel more comfortable in your body, and develop the tools and tolerance for a lifelong recovery.

If you or a loved are looking for a proven recovery program that focuses on the individual needs, rather than following a formulaic religious teaching, then we’d love to show you what we can offer at AToN Center recovery. Call right now at (888) 640-9709 to find out more.

Suicide and Substance Abuse and Addiction

June 20, 2018 // by Lauren// Leave a Comment

Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death among all Americans. In 2015, 44,193 Americans died from suicide. Of all addictions, perhaps none is more likely to result in suicide than opioid addiction. In 2015, over 33,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose. Unfortunately, it is impossible to know how many of these deaths were accidental and how many were suicides.

Suicide, addiction and depression are closely related. More than 90% of people who commit suicide suffer from depression; have a substance abuse disorder, or both. Many people who experience depression (such as Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and other conditions) frequently turn to drugs, alcohol, gambling, and other risky behaviors to numb their pain or alleviate their feelings.

Substance abuse and addiction actually increase the severity and duration of depressive episodes. Despite any temporary relief that substance abuse may provide, it actually increases the likelihood of suicidal ideation. Even worse, many substances severely impact judgment, leading to suicide attempts.

Some of the most common risk factors for suicide include:

Suicidal thoughts
Previous suicide attempts
Depression
Drug and alcohol abuse
Family/community history of suicide
Family history of violence and/or sexual abuse
Presence of firearms in the home
Spending too much time alone as possible.
Loss of interest in hobbies or activities they normally find enjoyable.
Episodes of intense emotion such as sadness or anger.
Being reckless (driving too fast, ‘showing off’ with dangerous pranks, etc.)
Talking about suicide and death.
Being impulsive. Or rather, not taking time to think about the ‘bigger picture’ or what their actions could mean for their future.
Saying goodbye to people, as though they will never meet them again.
Lack of focus and concentration.
Pessimistic about the future, even when positive opportunities arise.
Violent behavior towards others

In the beginning, having a drink or using drugs appears to alleviate the problems, but the fact is it will only exacerbate the problems over time. Without learning to properly cope with the underlying disorder, it will require evermore drugs and alcohol to keep the problems at bay. Eventually, the substances will no longer work and the problems will actually be worse than they were in the beginning.

If you suspect someone you love might be contemplating suicide it is imperative to get help immediately.

Call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for assistance.

Because substance abuse so greatly increases the risk of suicide, one of the most critical steps is to overcome any addictions and get sober. First of all, the person needs to be mentally stabilized after their suicidal attempt and then the next essential step needs to be a Residential Inpatient Treatment program. Being sober will also help alleviate the person’s depression and mental health symptoms and improve their short-term judgment and lack of impulse control.

If you have lost someone to suicide it is important to know that it was NOT your fault. Any decisions they made were entirely their own, and you hold no responsibility for their actions.

Johnina Noar, BS, CADC-II
CD Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Addiction and Grief

May 10, 2018 // by Aton Center

Grief encompasses a person’s response to loss. Usually grief is thought of as a response to death, but people also grieve the loss of possessions, hopes that never materialized, or pretty much anything else that is lost – including an addictive behavior.

Grief can last anywhere from a few minutes for a minor loss, to years. If someone has mixed or negative emotions about who or what they lost, experiences a sudden or traumatic loss, or has multiple losses, grief can maintain its grip for longer and lead to problems like depression. Clinicians call this “complicated grief.” People who deal with both addiction and grief often notice that their using escalates after a major loss.

People might also notice that when they are using their feelings about the loss are completely numbed out, but when they stop those feelings begin to come back and can even become overwhelming. Clearly substances get in the way of processing grief and loss in a healthy way. So what does it take to grieve?

There are many ways to deal with grief from talking about loss, to going to support groups, to grief-focused talk therapy or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). All of these things have in common one thing: feeling your feelings. This is hard, and especially after spending months, years, or even decades avoiding those feelings. The first priority is always sobriety, since sobriety is essential for the rest to fall into place.

That being said, especially for complicated grief, a treatment program that can help address both addiction and grief will help to give some relief.

Kirsten Helgager, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Letting Go

April 7, 2018 // by Aton Center

Improvement often means letting go of old assumptions and thoughts. A person in the midst of their addiction may cling tightly to ineffective and dysfunctional beliefs about themselves and their use. Despite continued negative results and poor outcomes, one can return right back to the exact same plan that led to their disappointment.

Letting go means relenting on some of your ego.

Letting go means having the humility to admit that you don’t always know what you are doing.

Letting go means saying finally that you are willing to look beyond your own flawed perceptions.

Then you can be presented with something new.

Then you can learn from the wisdom of others.

Then you can see outside yourself and be seen by others.

Letting go can be extremely difficult and lead to sense of loss or shame. But let go and you will be caught. Once processed, you will open yourself to a new truth, a new reality and a new hope.

Chad K. Cox PsyD
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Process Addiction/Behavioral Addiction

March 10, 2018 // by Aton Center

Process addiction or behavioral addiction is similar to drug addiction except the individual is not addicted to a substance but a behavior or feeling brought about by a specific action.

Process addiction is a compulsion to continue with a particular behavior despite the negative consequences and may include: Gambling addiction, food addiction, sex and love addiction, shopping addiction, pornography and risky behaviors to name but a few.

Some people don’t feel that a process or behavioral addition can be classed as an addiction and that just a little self-control is all that is needed. However, if that be so then why can’t we just stop? When a behavior has turned into a problem and a person just can’t stop and their life is spiraling out of control it is time for a person to seek help.

Gambling addiction

This can include casinos, playing slot machines, poker tournaments, sports bets, on-line gambling.

Placing bets more and more frequently
Placing more money than originally intended
Betting beyond the ability to pay
Feeling irritable and aggressive when losing
Feelings of hopelessness and depression
Suicidal thoughts
Spending most of the day preoccupied with the thoughts of gambling
Legal problems
Bankruptcy
Divorce
Loss of career.

Food addiction

People with food addiction can’t control their compulsive eating habits. They tend to crave foods that are high in sugar and salt and are always chasing the “high” these foods give them. What is more, they continue to seek out these foods despite the fact they are now obese and are struggling with health problems such as diabetes, pancreatitis and gallbladder issues. Relationships can suffer and feelings of low self-worth and depression can also be present.

Sex and love addiction

People who struggle with sex and love addiction tend to get involved with people they hardly know. They fear being alone and therefore they stay in dysfunctional relationships. They confuse love with neediness, and they use sex and emotional involvement to manipulate and control others. They become immobilized by their sexual obsessions or fantasies and they attach themselves to people who are emotionally unavailable. They can even place their significant others on pedestals to the detriment of themselves.

Pornography

The danger of pornography use isn’t about right or wrong. It’s about the effects that pornography has on the user and the effects it has on their loved ones. Pornography has serious, negative side effects. As research shows, pornography use can become an actual addiction, as users are not able to stop by themselves. Pornography addicts need to go through the same recovery process that a drug addict has to go through.

Video games and Internet addiction

Video games and compulsive Internet use may seem relatively harmless, but like other forms of addiction it is a form of escapism. Compulsive video gaming and Internet addiction can interrupt people’s ability to stay connected with others in a healthy way. It can affect relationships, work, physical and mental health, as well as, loneliness and depression.

Risky Behaviors

Some people enjoy the thrills and danger that include parachuting, hang-gliding, bungee-jumping as they seek an adrenaline rush. However, having unprotected sex, driving under the influence and speeding can clearly become compulsive and lead to an inability to stop. This risky behavior can often have devastating consequences.

Process addiction and substance abuse often go hand-in-hand with people who already have a substance abuse issue. This is probably due to the fact that the reward response in the brain is so similar for both addictions. People who are genetically predisposed to addiction will often have poor impulse control, which also adds to their risky behavior.

A diagnosis of addiction and process addiction often include:

Dominance of a person’s life by the substance or activity
Euphoria or a “high” derived by the substance or activity
Tolerance
Unpleasant symptoms created by the stopping of the substance or activity
Conflict with oneself due to the use of the substance or activity
Relapse potential

Treatment Options

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is often the best treatment for any form of addiction, as it addresses impulse control and compulsion. Group therapy and self-help groups can also be extremely helpful.

Research and testing on Naltrexone is also underway for process addiction. Naltrexone has already been used and identified as a drug that helps with cravings for opiates and alcohol. Naltrexone blocks the receptors in the pleasure centers that are involved in both addictions and certain activities. Several other mood stabilizers are being considered as possible treatments, including Lithium and Wellbutrin. When dealing with any form of addiction it is best to consult with a therapist or doctor to get professional advice and guidance.

Johnina Noar, CADC-II
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Agreeing with the Critic

February 2, 2018 // by Aton Center

When a person is in their active addiction they often find blunt and tactless ways of sustaining their use. Defensiveness can be a significant problem in early recovery as a person is still accustomed to protecting and maintaining their habit.

Many residents at the AToN Center describe experiences of friends or family members trying to confront them on their intoxicated behaviors to which the response is to shut down any feedback at all. Often, this is done by focusing on a less relevant detail that detracts form the main issue at hand. This can take the form of arguing about how much you really had to drink or the exact number of days where the person was using.

The idea of agreeing with the critic is not that you agree with everything that another person says but that you learn to accept the parts of the feedback that are true. If someone brings up your use, find a way to agree with the feedback, look for the truth in what they are trying to share with you about your behaviors so that you will be better able to change them and work towards a healthy recovery. Imagine saying, “I didn’t drink on that particular day but it is true that there have been many more than I have.”