Help and Advice for Addiction
Addiction is not something that only refers to drugs. Addiction is a mental disorder that does not let you see the consequences of your actions. All you can feel is the urge to do something you are addicted to, not thinking about what harmful effects it might have. This is why we offer help and advice for all sorts of addictions and disorders.
Even if you know the good and the bad side of the thing that you’re addicted to, the wrong side is wholly blurred out by the brain, so you cannot help but do the same action again and again. Helping someone out of their addiction might appear to be a difficult task, but it is not impossible. It takes a little bit of dedication and a lot of will-power.
How We Can Help
At ADT Healthcare we can offer helpful advice on a wide range of addictions and refer clients onto a suitable clinic to help with their particular needs.
We provide expert support to people with a whole variety of substance and lifestyle addiction problems including drugs and alcohol as well as eating disorders and all the process addictions (sex, love, and co-dependency). We also specialise in helping people with video game addiction as well as an early intervention for teenage addiction and behavioural problems and offer expert advice and support for these particular issues.
As well as offering advice to those suffering from addiction, we can also support family members and friends to find the right help for their loved ones.
Advice For Substance Abuse Problems
The first and basic step towards helping someone out of their addiction is understanding that it is not necessary that they voluntarily put themselves in their current situation. Many things can lead to substance abuse problems, some voluntary, and other involuntary.
It might be tough for family and friends to cope with, but help and advice are the best kinds of support that you can provide. Advice for addiction includes pointing out things in their lives that they have damaged because of their substance abuse habit. Keep an open mind, help them through the process.
Bring them towards a healthy lifestyle without focusing on guilt or shame. The fear of being judged is one of the biggest reasons people avoid sharing such problems with anyone.
Types of Therapy Available
Biofeedback therapy is used to help addicts get back the control of their mind and body. Biofeedback therapy helps track how bodies of addicted people are involuntarily reacting to physical and emotional tension by following involuntary functions of skin temperature, blood pressure, breathing rate, etc.
CBT is a way of teaching addicts better to understand the connections between their feelings and actions. CBT also treats Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety and eating orders, etc.
DBT is used to treat substance abuse, addiction, and many other mental illnesses. The main goal of DBT is that their patients develop confidence and ability to cope with stressful situations.
Experimental therapy is quite different from traditional treatments. It uses settings to help patients work through their repressed feeling and emotions like any past trauma.
Some standard Experimental Therapies include Sculpting, Recreation therapy, rock climbing, and Wilderness therapy.
Holistic treatment does not directly work on the mental condition of the patient. It works on the overall well-being of the patient while simultaneously treating any physical symptoms of addictions.
Holistic Therapies include Spiritual therapy, Yoga, Acupuncture, proper nutrition, and Tai Chi.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) is more of a counselling method of revoking internal motivation. It helps people learn to control and change their thoughts. MET treats conditions like OCD, PTSD, Bipolar disorder, and Eating disorders.
Advice On Drug Addiction
Drugs work by temporarily altering the state of your mind. Now this change might make the person feel better and may cause addiction in the long term. People assume that quitting a drug is very simple. All you have to do is stop. The decision to first take a drug is voluntary in most cases, but once the brain gets a habit of that stimulant by repeated use, it gets tough to quit.
Signs & Symptoms of Drug Addiction
The person addicted might not notice initially, but there are some obvious signs of drug addiction that we should all know.
- Loss of interest starts to occur when you start walking down the road of drug addiction. Things you once enjoyed doing will now not seem as appealing to you anymore
- Some of the many physical signs include blood shots (red eyes), feeling itchy, dilated pupils, and a puffy face
- Drug abuse can cause rapid mood swings. A person who is usually very pleasant and peaceful may start to become very hyper
- Drug abuse messes up a person’s sleep schedule. You may find yourself awake all night for no reason or oversleeping and still feel tired
There are plenty of other symptoms of drug abuse as well. These are only some of the more common ones.
Alcohol Addiction Advice
Alcohol addiction, also commonly called alcoholism, is caused by the overuse of alcohol. It does not depend on the amount of alcohol one can consume before the person is no longer in a sober state of mind. It may vary from person to person. Alcohol addiction means not being able to stay sober for long periods.
What Are the Symptoms of Alcoholism
Pointing out someone’s alcohol addiction might be a difficult task. Alcohol is common in most parts of the world and has become a part of life for many people. Some symptoms, however, include,
- Frequent alcohol consumption
- Increased tolerance for alcohol. In other words, not reduced the “Hangover” state of mind.
- Consuming alcohol at unusual times.
- Failing to get through the day without drinking alcohol.
- Increased emotional issues, including anxiety and depression.
Prescription Drug Abuse Advice
Prescription drugs are medications prescribed by doctors. These drugs can cause a problem if taken in the wrong dosage. It is why it is a standard recommendation never to exceed the dose that your doctor has prescribed. After a certain level of consumption, your body starts to depend on it to function normally. The most common kind of prescribed drugs that can be abusive is painkillers and anti-depressants. Help and advice can prevent or even treat this problem.
Symptoms of Prescription Drug Abuse
The signs and symptoms that prescription drug abuse would show may vary depending on the type of drug they are using. The most common abusive drugs are opioids, sedatives, and stimulants. The symptoms for each of these are,
- Opioids are painkillers, and symptoms of their abuse include constipation, nausea, poor coordination, and increased sensitivity to pain, requiring a higher dose to get relief
- Anti-Anxiety medicines and sedatives like Xanax is helpful to treat anxiety as well as sleep disorders. Signs of over usage include drowsiness, confusion, lack of concentration, and difficulty in remembering things
- Stimulants effectively treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD, as well as some types of sleeping disorders. Harmful effects of substance abuse include insomnia, increased blood pressure, lack of appetite, and anxiety
Advice For Gambling Addictions
Compulsive gambling is an impulse control disorder. It means that a compulsive gambler cannot control himself from gambling. Regardless of the consequences, whether they have the money for it or not. People with gambling addiction even end up under huge debts or even stealing money to gamble. It does not necessarily have to happen inside a casino. It can develop into a severe habit whether you bet on sports or even scratch cards.
Gambling Addiction Signs & Symptoms
Gambling addiction has no apparent signs and symptoms as opposed to drug abuse and alcohol addiction. Still, there are some behavioural symptoms that you should take as a warning sign.
- Be Secretive about Gambling
- Having the urge to gamble and having trouble controlling it
- Gambling even when you don’t have money for it
- Have friends and family members worried about your gambling habit
How to Help A Person with A Gambling Problem
Like many other addiction problems, you can help a person with gambling addiction with help and advice. Advice for addicts does not mean to confront them.
It means to politely try and make them understand that what they’re doing is terrible for them, and then try to show them a way out of it. Some things you can do to help a person with a gambling problem include,
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Help them with money management
- Explain how their habit affects you
- Be Supportive
- Talk it through calmly and avoid confrontation
What Is A Gaming Disorder?
Gaming disorder was classified in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), in 2018, by the World Health Organization (WHO). Gaming disorder means not being able to control the amount of time that a person spends playing video games. They tend to prioritize playing video games over other healthy activities that they can do instead.
Signs & Symptoms of Gaming Disorder
According to the definition of gaming disorder that was presented by WHO, a person suffering from gaming disorder will show the following signs for a minimum of 12 months:
- Lack of control over their habit of gaming
- Prioritizing gaming
- Continue playing video games despite negative consequences
How to Help A Video Game Addict
There are many ways of helping a video game addict, and being harsh and making restrictions is not the ideal one. The best way to deal with addiction is through help and advice. Advice for addiction is much more helpful than we might think it is. Some effective ways that you can help out a video game addict are,
- Ask them about their plans for the day
- Make them participate in competitive activities
- Try to get them to do healthy outdoor activities
Advice For Eating Disorders
Eating disorder is a medical condition related to your eating patterns and body weight. Not all eating disorders are the same. Some diseases make you eat a lot more than your body needs, and others make you eat a lot less than what your body requires.
One can cause severe obesity, and the other can cause severe malnutrition, either of which is not an ideal situation. Some eating disorders include,
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Anorexia Nervosa
Common Symptoms of An Eating Disorder
Some many signs and symptoms indicate that you have an eating disorder. These symptoms can either be Behavioural as well as Physical. Some of both symptoms are as follows,
1. Behavioural Symptoms
- Feeling uncomfortable eating around other people
- Excessive concern over body shape and size
- Frequent Dieting
- Skipping meals or eating too much
2. Physical Symptoms
- Fluctuation in body weight (can be up or down)
- Sleeping troubles
- Dizziness
- Always feeling cold
- Menstrual irregularities in women
General Tips for Supporting Someone with An Eating Disorder
If you know someone suffering from an eating disorder and wants to help, there are a few tips that you can use.
- Don’t blame them
- Educate them about the human body and its needs
- Avoid discussions related to weight or body shape
- Help and encourage them to stick to a regular and healthy diet
What Is A Shopping Addiction?
Shopping Addiction is another impulsive disorder that makes it difficult for a person to avoid shopping. It is the result of an imbalance in the reward centre of the brain.
A person suffering from this addiction will always want to make new purchases even if they don’t need the purchased items, not thinking about the adverse effects of it on their lives, either financially or generally.
Signs of A Shopping Addiction
Some signs tell you you’re addicted to shopping. Some of these signs are,
- You have many items and boxes in your closet that you have never used or even opened. It means that you are buying things that you do not use at all
- You end up purchasing things that you didn’t need or didn’t even plan to buy any such item in the first place
- Any kind of frustration gives you an urge to shop
- You tend to experience a feeling of rush and happiness when you are buying things
5 Ways to Beat Your Shopping Addiction
There are certain things you can do if you are addicted to shopping. These things are,
- Identify what triggers the urge to go shopping: Once you’ve identified the triggers, find a way to stay away from them, or at least try to find a way around them
- Educate yourself about shopping: Try to learn and understand the meaning and need of shopping and try to stay within those limits. Only use shopping to fulfil the requirements that it is supposed to
- Find a new habit: You should try to find a new and healthier activity to stay busy and get your mind off of shopping
- Changing Your Environment: If you live among people who all promote the practice of shopping, you would want to change the environment where you are spending your time
- Ask for Help: Dealing with any kind of addiction or disorder alone is very hard. Ask friends and family to help get you through these addictions
7 Steps of Advice for Teenage Addiction
We understand that teenage addiction can be an extremely challenging ordeal. Not only are they placing themselves in danger, but teenage addiction can also wreak havoc on the entire family. When dealing with this, it is crucial that you hire an addiction interventionist, especially as young adults can be vulnerable and hard to deal with at the best of times.
Below we have listed some guidelines on how to deal with teenage addiction:
If you’re a parent to a teenage kid, do not doubt that your child will test you in many ways. If your child is going through some addiction, it is a test of your love and patience. Love your child and try not to be harsh to him. It will only make matters worse.
If you have a loved one going through an addiction, it is not just them you need to look after. You must take care of yourself, too.
Self-care will give you the physical and mental strength to go through the troubles that you might have to face when getting someone out of an addiction.
An addict may have bursts of rage when trying to quit. These mood swings are prevalent. You must keep your calm in situations like these. You have to understand what the other person is going through, and you need to be empathetic about it.
When you are helping someone, there will be times when they will open up to you and talk about their troubles and feelings. You have to there with them at such moments, but you also need to listen.
You need to be present with them both physically and mentally. Let them know that you are listening to every word they have to say without judging them.
If you’re a parent or there is someone you care for, you will want them to be as happy as possible. It is an instinct. However, this rule is not always the best way to raise them.
You need to know the difference between teaching them about being independent and making their own decisions and enabling them.
You should know that you are not the only person in the world looking out for someone. That person will have many other family members and friends looking out for him as well. You need to work with them to make things better for the person suffering.
If they see that all the people are on the same page to help him, it will give him more confidence. If everyone wants something different for the patient, he might end up thinking who to trust and who wants the best.
If you know an addict who may need help, don’t hesitate to get them professional assistance. There is no shame in being sick as long as you try to work your way out of it.
Addiction Treatment Options for The Elderly
Addiction is not something that is only faced by young people. It is something that even the elderly can be going through. The treatment, however, may vary among patients of different age groups. Some treatment options for the elderly include,
- Medical Detox
- Outpatient Treatment
- Recovery support and Relapse prevention
- Residential treatment
Advice for Helping Veterans with Addiction
War veterans have a hard time getting back into the normal day-to-day life. Many veterans use the help of drugs to cope with all the change and PTSD. There are certain ways to help a veteran if you know one.
- Listen to What They Have to Say
Whether it be war veterans or other people suffering from addiction, they have lots of troubles that they need to share with someone to get things out of their system. You can help them by listening to them and empathizing with them.
- Encourage the Addict to Get Treatment
You should encourage and help them get proper treatment for their addiction and PTSD. A medical specialist can act wonders in their treatment process.
- Get Information from Past Victims
There is a lot of information about veterans and their problems of PRSD and substance abuse. You should get to know about them and how they dealt with it. It will give you ways to help your loved one.
Helping Someone with Depression
Depression is a prevalent condition these days. Many people are dealing with it, and most people tend to keep such things to themselves. So, it is up to us to know and recognize the signs of depression so we can take appropriate action if we see those signs in our loved ones.
People suffering through depression often tend to keep such things to themselves. So, we should know and be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression so that we can take appropriate action if we see those symptoms in someone we love.
The symptoms of depression may vary from person to person. Still, some commonly seen symptoms are feelings of sadness, mood swings, physical problems like headaches for no apparent reason, and loss of interest and pleasure in usual activities.
If you have a loved one who you know is going through depression, you should encourage them to seek medical help. You should try to convince them that depression is a medical condition, and there is no shame in taking measures to get rid of it.
You should talk to the person, express them your willingness to help, and even urge them to get professional help.
Not everyone goes through clinical depression in the same way. It is why it is quite challenging to know if a person is going through depression.
We should focus on our loved ones. Identifying the common warning signs is something that we should be capable of doing. It will help us help them from getting into depression or get them to help if they have already fallen into depression.
Some of these red signs include talking about suicide, feeling hopeless, saying goodbye to people as if they will never see them again, and withdrawing any social contact and preferring to be left alone.
People suffering from clinical depression are majorly at risk of self-harm and suicide. So, if someone you love is going through depression, show them your concern.
Tell them that you care for them and make sure that they are in an environment where there is minimal to zero chance of them hurting themselves.
Conclusion
People suffering from depression or any kind of addiction refuse the idea of rehabilitation. Our job is to ensure that our loved ones get the help that they need. We need to be able to recognise the physical and behavioural symptoms of addictions and disorders by telling them about our concerns and counsel them.
It is our duty to try our best to listen and understand them and provide the best possible environment for them, but if everything fails to give results, then going into rehabilitation is the best advice for addicts. If they are open about the idea of rehab, then that makes our job much easier.
But if for some reason they refuse to go to rehab, then involuntary commitment is a route you can take. It is a court order to send the person into rehab if they are suffering from substance abuse, or are a threat to themselves or anyone around them.
