When we think of someone plagued with addiction, we may think of a person who has difficulty functioning. We perceive them as an individual who is withdrawn from mainstream society and is unable to hold down a job.

But the truth is, there are people with addictions who can hold down jobs and go about their everyday lives without showing telltale signs of dependency. This is especially common in people that have alcoholism, and these individuals are known as high functioning alcoholics.

But just because these people can function, it doesn’t mean they don’t need help. In fact, their ability to hide their addiction so well can put them in a more dangerous situation. This article will review the signs of a high functioning alcoholic so you can tell if a loved one is in trouble.

What Causes Alcoholism?

Several factors can cause alcoholism, but it usually develops as a way to treat an underlying mental condition.

The individual may be dealing with any number of emotional disorders, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and more. They may be reluctant to get the help they need because they are afraid of what people will think of them. In other cases, they may not feel their symptoms are that bad, or they may not have the time and money to deal with them.

Instead of reaching out, they self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. While these may produce temporary relief, they make matters worse overall. They lead people in a downward spiral where they must deal with two disorders instead of one.

What Does it Mean to Be a High Functioning Alcoholic?

A high-functioning alcoholic does not exhibit symptoms that you may expect of a typical alcoholic. They may be very responsible and productive. They may even be in a high-power career position.

It’s also typical for high functioning alcoholics to be in denial. They may think that their ability to hold down a good job and pay their bills means they don’t have a problem.

But sooner or later, the drinking will catch up with them. They may become physically ill and unable to maintain primary responsibilities over long periods of time. When this happens, they could be looking at a significant downfall.

What are the Signs of a High Functioning Alcoholic?

It’s challenging to recognize the signs of a high-functioning alcoholic. After all, when someone is very put together, you may not suspect anything is wrong. But this is even more reason to be aware of the symptoms. Knowing what to look at for will allow you to help a loved one before it’s too late.

Here are some symptoms of alcoholism a high functioning alcoholic may exhibit:

• Joking about alcoholism
• Denying drinking and getting angry when confronted about drinking
• Hiding alcohol
• Drinking when they are alone or early in the day
• Blackouts
• Needing alcohol to relax or feel more confident
• An increased tolerance to alcohol
• Withdrawal symptoms when alcohol is not in the system
• Making excuses for drinking
• Getting drunk when they didn’t intend to

How to Find Treatment for Alcoholism

There are plenty of rehab centers that offer treatment for alcoholism, but it’s important to find the one that’s right for you. You need to find a facility that offers a pleasant atmosphere, reliable staff, and a program that’s best suited to your needs. You can do hours of research to find a perfect place, or you can save yourself some time by calling Atlanta Recovery Place first.

Atlanta Recovery Place offers customized treatments for all our clients. We consider their background, length of abuse, and environment to come up with a program that’s best suited to their needs. We take a dual diagnosis approach to treating alcoholism and its underlying causes simultaneously. We offer a variety of outpatient programs, including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient, so you can recover while going about your everyday life. Alcoholism can be difficult to overcome, especially if there are signs of a high functioning alcoholic. Atlanta Recovery Place will get you on the road to wellness. Contact us to take the first step on the path to the rest of your life.

It’s not easy for people to get over their addictive tendencies. It’s hard for a lot of individuals to take the first step in going to rehab. And after they get out of the program, it’s difficult for them to maintain sobriety. While relapse rates vary according to the drug being used, on average, 40 – 80% of people will have some sort of lapse within the first year of getting out of a drug facility.

Staying sober is not easy, but if experts answer the question, why do people relapse, they may be able to get to the heart of the problem so individuals can overcome their addictions once and for all. This article will uncover the reasons why people go back to their old ways and what they can do to prevent this from happening.

What Does Relapse Mean?

A relapse is an event that occurs when a person goes back to a state of deterioration after a period of improvement. It can refer to any type of illness or any other mental or physical state. For example, a person with cancer may be in remission but will relapse if tumors reappear.

And while the term relapse can refer to just about anything, it is most used to describe a person that is addicted to drugs and goes back to their old ways. So when a person gets clean but starts using again, that would be considered a relapse.

Why Do People Relapse?

There are several things that can cause a relapse. It commonly occurs during detox or after a person gets out of rehab. Here’s a look at why patients tend to relapse during these stages.

Detox: Detox involves allowing the body to rid itself of illicit substances. The system isn’t used to working without the drug, and it responds by producing flu-like symptoms known as withdrawal symptoms. The person knows the only way to get short-term relief from these symptoms is to do more of the drug. Therefore, they go back to their old ways before allowing themselves to move forward in the recovery process.

After Rehab: Patients also often fall off the wagon after completing rehab. Once they go back to everyday life, they encounter stressors that caused them to use in the first place. They may also run into friends they used to use with and places they used to use at and be tempted to go back to their old ways.

How to Prevent Relapse

Relapse happens, but there are ways to prevent it. Detox assistance and the right type of aftercare can help.

Assistance is provided in a rehab facility during the detox phase. The staff oversees the patient during the process. They administer medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms. They keep the patient as comfortable as possible and supervise them to prevent relapse.

Once a patient leaves rehab, the staff continues to provide care to ensure they maintain sobriety. They offer ongoing counseling to help them deal with stressors. They may also move them on to a sober living facility where they can learn the skills they need to get a job and become a productive member of society.

Finding Help with Relapse Prevention Near Me

Many rehab facilities provide relapse prevention. But which is right for you? Atlanta Recovery takes an approach that sets us apart.

Atlanta Recovery offers a wide range of outpatient treatment options, including outpatient, intensive outpatient, and partial hospitalization. The programs help patients recover from addiction without disrupting their everyday lives. They allow for a gradual transition to sober living.

Our facility integrates a dual diagnosis approach in our therapies. This involves addressing both the addiction and its underlying causes. We believe this is the best strategy to achieve long-term recovery.

After initial care is completed, patients are encouraged to check into a sober living facility. They are only allowed to stay in the home if they agree to stay sober. They help patients make a smooth transition to sober living.Overcoming addictive tendencies is not easy, but staying sober can be even more challenging. Atlanta Recovery Place will give you the support you need to make it through. Call us to take the first step on this important journey to wellness.

Many people who are addicted to drugs are also dealing with underlying mental health issues. They often may have started taking drugs as an attempt to self-medicate or manage symptoms associated with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, trauma, or a personality disorder. In other instances, abusing drugs may have caused or worsened the mental health condition. Sometimes, it’s a combination of both where the mental health disorder leads to the addiction, and the substance use only exacerbates the symptoms.

When people are dealing with co-occurring disorders, it is necessary to treat both conditions simultaneously. If one is left untreated, it could cause the others to reappear, taking the patient on a downward spiral and negating the effects of recovery. This article will provide more information on ‘what is dual diagnosis’ while explaining its treatment benefits.

What are Common Co-Occurring Disorders?

Co-occurring disorders don’t have to include addiction. For example, some people may be dealing with anxiety and depression. Others may be dealing with anxiety and trauma.

However, it’s common for people with mental health disorders to self-medicate using drugs or alcohol, so an addiction may often develop.

Many people with mental health issues choose not to see a therapist. They may be reluctant to open up because they are afraid of what people will think of them. They may not believe their problems are that serious, or they may not want to take the time to deal with them.

These people turn to drugs and alcohol to relieve their symptoms. And while the drugs provide temporary relief, they make things worse in the long run. Patients will now have two disorders to treat, causing them to sink further into their emotional turmoil.

And while it’s common for addiction to form alongside mental illness, it’s not the only type of co-occurring disorder. Here are some others that may occur simultaneously.

• Depression: It’s common for people with a mental disorder or substance abuse issues to become depressed. Their depression may get so bad that they may become unable to function properly.
• Anxiety: Anxiety is another disorder that commonly occurs alongside other mental health illnesses. It is characterized by restlessness, nervousness, and functional impairment.
• Bipolar Disorder: People with bipolar disorder will experience soaring highs and crashing lows that make for unpredictable behavior. It’s common for people with this illness to self-medicate and experience anxiety and depression.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: PTSD is caused by past traumas that people relive in flashbacks and nightmares. Those that are dealing with it may self-medicate and may suffer from anxiety.
• Schizophrenia: Schizophrenia causes the affected individual to experience hallucinations, psychosis, delusions, and an inability to tell fantasy from reality.
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: ADHD typically starts in childhood, but it can carry on into adulthood. It is characterized by an inability to focus, impulsive behavior, and excessive restlessness.

How to Treat Dual Diagnosis Disorders

Several types of therapy can be brought into the dual diagnosis treatment process. If addiction is involved, detox may be used to cleanse the body of illicit substances.

Once detox is completed, patients move on to therapy. They are assessed based on their mental illness, the severity of the condition, and their personal situation to determine the treatment that will work best for them. Types of therapy often integrated include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational enhancement therapy, alternative therapies, and dialectic behavioral therapy.

Finding Dual Diagnosis Treatment Near Me

Many rehabs offer dual diagnosis treatment. However, it can still be challenging to find the one that’s right for you. Atlanta Recovery Place is highly recommended if you are looking for the best facility for your recovery needs.

Atlanta Recovery offers a variety of outpatient treatments, including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient. They allow patients to recover while going about their everyday lives. They can graduate to less intensive forms of therapy as their wellness increases.

We treat a variety of co-occurring disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, and PTSD. We assess each patient to work out a customized plan that’s best for them. We offer a long-term solution for recovery.
Dealing with co-occurring disorders is not easy. Now that you know the answer to the question, ‘what is dual diagnosis’ you can take the first steps towards healing. Call Atlanta Recovery Place to find out how we can assist you on your journey.

Getting over an addiction is not easy. To ensure long-term recovery, it’s essential to find the facility that’s right for you.

You will need to consider whether you want to go for inpatient or outpatient rehab. Inpatient rehab can be more comprehensive because you will get medical attention round the clock. Still, it’s not always a realistic choice, especially if you have a job you can’t leave for an extended amount of time or loved ones you need to care for at home.

If inpatient treatment is not feasible for you, outpatient programs are an ideal solution. This article will discuss how to find outpatient alcohol rehab in Atlanta, GA.

What is Outpatient Alcohol Rehab?

Outpatient rehab is a type of rehab that involves the patient getting treatment while going about their everyday lives. It can be used to treat alcoholism or any other kind of addiction.

There are three primary types of outpatient rehab. These include:

• Partial Hospitalization: Partial hospitalization involves undergoing treatment 6-8 hours a day. It is available for daytime and nighttime sessions. It can be the primary form of care or a step down from inpatient rehab.
• Intensive Outpatient Treatment: Patients in an intensive outpatient treatment program will go for sessions a few times a week to keep their dependency issues under control. It can be a primary form of treatment or a step down from an inpatient or partial hospitalization program.
• Outpatient: Outpatient treatment involves the patient attending sessions one or two days a week. It can be the primary or final stage of treatment. Many individuals will continue attending sessions indefinitely to ensure they maintain sobriety.

Is Outpatient Treatment Right for Everyone?

Outpatient treatment is a good option, but it’s not right for everyone. Here are some reasons why you may opt for outpatient treatment over an inpatient treatment.

You Have a Safe Home Environment: Outpatient treatment may not be effective if you don’t live in a safe home environment. If you are going for therapy and then come home to a place where people are abusive or using drugs, it can negate your therapy benefits and make you likely to go back to using.

You Have Responsibilities: Some people may require inpatient therapy, but it’s just not feasible for them. This may be the case if they have a job that they can’t leave or a family member they must care for. In this situation, outpatient care is the best option.

Inpatient Care is Too Expensive: Inpatient care tends to be more expensive than outpatient care. While many facilities try to make care affordable by offering payment plans, accepting insurance, and keeping prices low, treatment may still be difficult to swing. Outpatient therapy may be the best option for those who aren’t in a position to pay for inpatient services.

Your Substance Abuse is Mild: if addiction is caught early on, it may not be that severe. If that’s the case, you may not need to check into an inpatient facility. An outpatient program may be a better choice. 

Finding the Best Outpatient Treatment in Atlanta, GA

In addition to choosing between inpatient and outpatient care, you will also need to think about the environment and the type of care offered at the facilities you are considering. If you weigh all your options, you’ll find that Atlanta Recovery Place is the best choice for overcoming your dependency issues. 

Atlanta Recovery Place offers a customized program for each of our clients. We look at their personal circumstances, their addiction type and length, and its underlying causes. Then we tailor a plan that’s best suited for their individual needs.

We offer a dual diagnosis approach that simultaneously treats addiction and the mental conditions leading to addiction. Patients can choose between an outpatient, intensive outpatient, or partial hospitalization plan. After care ends, we follow up to ensure our patients make a healthy transition to sober living. Addiction isn’t easy to deal with. Atlanta Recovery will help you get past your dependency issues so you can move on to a higher quality of life. Call us to take the first step in your new journey.

Many people that deal with addiction have co-occurring disorders. This means that, in addition to dealing with their addiction, they are also dealing with an underlying cause, which is usually some form of mental illness. The mental illness may have caused the disorder, the addiction may have caused the mental illness, or there may be a vicious cycle at play with each condition making the other worse. 

If a person doesn’t get treatment for both disorders, neither will go away. The person will continue having an urge to ‘treat’ the symptoms of their illness with their drug of choice, causing relapse. That’s why it’s so important to get treatment at co-occurring disorder treatment centers. 

This article will look at the benefits of co-occurring disorder treatment centers and what you can do if you or a loved one needs help. 

What are Co-Occurring Disorders?

Co-occurring disorders are defined as two or more mental health disorders that occur at once. Combinations include depression and anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and addiction, and more. 

It is not unusual for people with mental health disorders to form an addiction to illicit substances. Addiction usually occurs because the person affected with the condition is reluctant to get help. 

They may not want to come forward about their issues because they are afraid of what people will think of them or because they feel their problem is not that bad. In some cases, they may feel like they don’t have the time or money to deal with their issues. 

Instead of getting professional help, they self-medicate, taking drugs and drinking to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety—eventually, an addiction forms leading them on a downward spiral. 

In other cases, the addiction may cause a mental health disorder. It may cause the person to develop feelings of paranoia that may be classified as General Anxiety Disorder. They may begin hallucinating as a result of drug use, leading to a personality disorder. 

In most instances, it’s a combination of the two. A person typically uses drugs to calm the symptoms of a mental illness. While the drug may seem to relieve symptoms, it will become worse over time. If they don’t get help, they will increase dosages which can lead to a dangerous situation. 

Why You Should Look into Co-Occurring Treatment Centers

Now, let’s look at an instance where co-occurring treatment is not used on someone dealing with a mental illness and addiction.

The person goes through treatment and detox and comes out of rehab sober. As soon as they go back to real life, they are faced with stressors that trigger the symptoms of their disorder. They were never given tools to help them deal with their stressors in a healthy manner, so they go back to using. 

If that same person had gone to a co-occurring treatment center, their therapist would have suggested healthy coping mechanisms that replace the urge to use. They would have been able to deal with their stressors in a way that didn’t require drug and alcohol use, and they would not have relapsed. 

How Atlanta Recovery Place Can Help

There are many co-occurring treatment centers out there, but Atlanta Recovery Place takes an approach that sets us apart. 

We start by analyzing each of our patients and working out a customized plan that is best suited for them. We use dual diagnosis that treats addiction and co-occurring disorders at their root. We offer a variety of outpatient treatments so you can attend rehab while going about your everyday life. Co-occurring disorders can be challenging to deal with. Atlanta Recovery will help you get back on track. Call us today to find out what treatment entails, and look forward to enjoying the things you love again.

Heroin is one of the most serious drugs you can be addicted to. Many heroin addicts end up overdosing. They also run the risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis from sharing needles. 

If someone you love has a heroin addiction, you may not know what to do. This article will provide tips on how to deal with a heroin addict. 

Signs Your Loved One Is Addicted to Heroin

Its important to familiarize yourself with the signs of heroin addiction. Here are some things you will want to look out for. 

• Withdrawal from normal social activities
• Flushed, itchy skin 
• Pinned or constricted pupils 
• Nodding out
• Needing to take more of the drug to get the same high
• Weight loss
• Unreliability
• Mood swings
• Deceptive behavior 
• Lack of self-care
• Loss of motivation
• Troubled relationships
• Legal issues
• Financial issues

How To Deal With a Heroin Addict

Heroin is a very serious addiction. If a loved one is addicted to heroin, it’s important to get them help right away. Here are the actions you must take. 

Confront Them

Your first step will be to try to get your loved one into a rehab facility. In doing so, you must not be judgmental, condescending or unkind. Let them know how much you care about them. Tell them that you are worried about their wellbeing and make them understand that you don’t want to see them get hurt. 

Listen to what they have to say to get a grasp on their perspective. Don’t interrupt them or criticize them. Believe what they say even if they may be looking at things with a distorted view. 

Set Boundaries

While its important to be kind to a loved one dealing with a heroin addiction, it’s essential to set boundaries. For example, if they ask you for money, they may be using it to buy heroin. It’s important to cut them off in that sense. 

Stage an Intervention

If your loved one is still not agreeing to get help, you may have to stage an intervention. This involves inviting them to a gathering of their close friends and family. You must not tell them it’s an intervention or they may not show up. 

During the intervention, guests tell the person how much they mean to them and how much they want to get help. They must also warn them that if they don’t get help, they may cut them off. This may include no longer providing financial support, living quarters, or their friendship. 

Before the intervention happens, arrangements should be made so the loved one can check directly into rehab if they agree to get help. If they don’t agree, friends and relatives must keep up their end of the bargain by limiting interactions with them. The hope is that they will hit rock bottom and have no other place to turn than a rehab facility. 

How To Get Your Loved One Help With a Heroin Addiction

There are many rehab centers that offer help with heroin addiction, but Atlanta Recovery Place takes an approach that sets us apart. 

We use therapeutic strategies that deal with addiction and its underlying cause for long-term recovery. We work out a customized plan that is suited to each patient’s individual needs. We offer partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient programs. We follow up with a sober living treatment to ensure our patients make a healthy adjustment to sobriety. 

Heroin addiction is extremely dangerous, and it can even be fatal. If a loved one is having heroin dependency issues, do not hesitate to reach out to Atlanta Recovery Place. We will help them move forward to a healthier place in life. 

College is an exciting time for many people, but it can also be taxing on mental health. Students have a lot to deal with. They must get good grades and many of them are also doing a lot of partying. The combination of peer pressure, academic stress and sleepless nights can really get to them. 

Because college is so difficult, many students develop emotional disorders while attending. Anxiety and depression often develop, and they can be severe at times. Instead of reaching out for help, some students will treat their symptoms with drugs and alcohol. While these may provide temporary relief, they will end up making things worse in the long run. 

Fortunately, there are steps students can take to keep their health intact. This article will review how to take care of mental health in college. 

What Is Mental Health?

When someone asks how we are doing health wise, we tend to think of physical health. If our major organs are in good shape and we are not dealing with any injuries, we are a-okay, right?

But what we don’t consider is mental health. This involves our thoughts and emotions.

It’s not unusual for people to deal with anxiety and depression. These can be due to the stresses of everyday life, unfortunate things that happen and so on. 

But in some instances, anxiety and depression can be so severe they become debilitating. They may cause people to be unable to get out of bed. They may withdraw from social situations and be unable to enjoy life. 

While some emotional disorders occur due to external factors, others are caused by genetics and chemical imbalances in the brain. They include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, OCD and more. 

There are many ways mental health can suffer but fortunately, emotional issues can be treated with therapy, medication and lifestyle changes. 

Tips on How To Take Care of Mental Health in College

Mental health can really go haywire when you are dealing with the stresses of college life. Here are some tips on how to take care of mental health in college. 

• Get enough sleep: Parties and all-night study sessions can get in the way of a good night’s sleep but being well rested is essential to mental health. 
• Talk to others:  If the stress is getting to be too much for you, reach out to your support network or a school counselor. 
• Avoid drugs and alcohol: Drugs and alcohol are a major temptation in college, but they can cause chemical imbalances that make mental problems worse. 
• Stay active: Exercise is great for relieving stress and improving mood. 
• Eat well: The right foods will give you the energy you need to get through your days, and they also have mood enhancing properties. 
• Reward yourself: College is hard work. If you do well, take some time to reward yourself by buying a new gadget or heading out for a spa day. 

How Atlanta Recovery Can Help

It is hopeful that college students don’t turn to drugs and alcohol to deal with the stresses of college life, but if they do, Atlanta Recovery Place is here to help. 

At Atlanta Recovery, we realize every patient is different. We take the time to analyze each one’s needs and find the treatment plan that is best suited to their individual situation. We get to the root of the addiction to treat its underlying cause making for a long-term recovery solution. 

College life is hard. If it’s getting the best of you, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Atlanta Recovery will be your rock guiding you through difficult days and clearing a path for healthier living.

Painkillers are often prescribed by doctors to increase the patient comfort levels. While they are effective in serving their purpose, they are also highly addictive. When an addiction forms, it can greatly reduce the quality of life making people worse off than they were when dealing with their original health condition. 

Fortunately, there are painkiller addiction treatment centers available to give addicts the help they need. Read on to find out what you can do to get past your dependency issues. 

What Are Painkillers? 

Painkillers come in many forms. For example, you can buy painkillers such as aspirin and NSAIDS over the counter to relieve temporary aches and pains. 

But if the pain is more serious and ongoing, a doctor may prescribe you a stronger pain killer, otherwise known as an opioid. 

Opioids are sourced from the opium poppy plant. They work by blocking pain signals from the brain to the body. They also produce feelings of euphoria that contribute to their addictive properties. 

There are several types of opioids including the following: 

• OxyContin and Vicodin which are available by prescription.
• Fentanyl is also a prescription drug. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. 
• Heroin is an illegal drug mainly found on the streets. 

Signs of Painkiller Addiction

Painkiller addiction often starts when patients who were prescribed medication start taking a higher dose than what the doctor recommends. This makes them build up a tolerance so they must continue taking more of the drug to get the same effect. They may also start experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they don’t have the drug in their system. 

When an addiction forms, users may try to get prescriptions for higher doses from their doctors. If the doctor denies their request, they will start to get it from the streets increasing the risk that the drug may be made with unsafe ingredients. 

In other instances, a person may use painkillers for recreational purposes. They will purchase the drug from a dealer. If they continue using the drug and taking higher doses, an addiction will form.  

Here are some telltale signs of painkiller addiction:

• Mood swings
• Euphoria
• Social withdrawal
• Pinpointed pupils
• Sedation
• Slurred speech
• Itchy skin
• Nodding out
• Troubled relationships
• Isolation
• Financial issues
• Legal issues
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation
• Dishonest behavior

Are There Painkiller Addiction Treatment Centers?

Painkiller addiction is all too common in today’s world and it’s difficult to beat. Fortunately, there are painkiller addiction treatment centers that will get you the help you need. 

The treatment centers will start with a detox process which involves getting your system clean of toxins. They determine a customized therapy plan that treats dependency and its underlying issues. After you leave the center, they will follow up with aftercare ensuring you make a healthy adjustment to sober living. 

How To Get Help With Painkiller Addiction Today

If you are dealing with painkiller addiction, don’t let it continue taking over your life. Reach out for help today. 

There are several painkiller addiction centers available and a simple internet search will provide a variety of results. But finding the one that’s right for you is more complicated. Atlanta Recovery Place may be your best solution. 

At Atlanta Recovery Place, we analyze each of our patients to determine the treatment that’s right for them. We use a dual diagnosis to treat addiction and its underlying causes. We offer partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient programs, and follow-up with sober living aftercare to ensure the patient makes a healthy adjustment to sobriety. 

Painkiller addiction reduces quality of life, and it can even be fatal. If you or a loved one are affected, don’t hesitate to reach out for the help you need. Call Atlanta Recovery to find out how you can move forward with cleaner living.