Getting Help for How You Feel without Using Opiates
Using opiates to deal with emotional issues often masks the symptoms of an underlying mental illness, and an endless cycle of drug abuse can result. Learning to cope with emotional problems through positive behaviors, psychotherapy and treatment for co-occurring disorders is the best way to overcome the emotional need for opiates.
Learning to Cope without Opiates
Opiate addicts deal with emotional issues by masking their real problem through drugs. But, positive behavioral techniques teach addicts different ways to change their behavior without using the drug. Try some of the following to improve your state of mind and reduce stress:
- Rediscover a favorite hobby, sport or activity. Getting involved with something you used to love will help refocus your attention away from the things causing your stress or making you sad.
- Find a support group. Meeting with a group of people who are going through some of the same struggles is a great way to deal with emotions and put things in a better perspective. Sharing with people in similar circumstances lets you know you are not alone.
- Get regular exercise. Regular exercise helps produce chemicals in the brain that aid relaxation and reduce stress.
- Do something for someone else. Realizing that others have problems and trying to help them takes the focus off of you and helps put things into proper perspective.
- Get plenty of rest, quality nutrition and sunshine. People who tend to be depressed, especially in winter, might be low in vitamin D. So, getting a little sunshine and eating balanced diet will help improve your mood.
How Psychotherapy Helps Opiate Addiction
Psychotherapy and counseling can help you zero in on the cause of your emotional struggles and help you come up with a plan to cope without drugs. Psychotherapy and counseling are integral parts of rehab programs, but these types of therapies can help at any stage of emotional need. Getting the right kind of counseling and therapy can help you resist the desire to experiment with or continue using opiates.
Things to Consider
Psychotherapy addresses the issues causing the pain and helps you implement strategies to deal with symptoms when they appear. There are many causes of emotional distress that can benefit from counseling. Posttraumatic stress disorder, marital difficulties, seasonal affective disorder and mental and physical abuse bring about anxiety and stress. Learning coping skills to deal with each of these issues rather than turning to opiates is the best way to bring emotional healing.
Co-Occurring Disorders and Opiate Abuse
Many drug addicts have a co-occurring mental disorder. Addicts with underlying mental illnesses should find a drug rehab center that uses Dual Diagnosis treatment. Dual Diagnosis centers use psychotherapy and medication to diagnose and treat both the addiction and the mental illness. In cases where a mental illness exists, this type of therapy is the best way to ensure recovery from drug addiction.
Help for Opiate Abuse
If you or a loved one suffers from an opiate addiction, we are here to help. Call our toll-free, 24 hour helpline right now to get your questions answered.