Category: Malaysia

DARA Treatment for Heroin Addiction

DARA Treatment for Heroin Addiction

Articles, Education, International, LGBTQ, Malaysia, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

DARA Treatment for Heroin Addiction – If you have an addiction or know someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol then know that help is available. Some people have the ability to simply walk away from an addiction, but this is a rarity. Most people need a bit of extra help and that help is available in many forms. One of the best ways to get help is to remove yourself from the environment in which the addiction happens for a time until your body has detoxed and you have had time to create a future plan for long term recovery. One place that such treatment is available is DARA of Thailand. DARA offers treatment for a variety of addictions, but for the purposes of this article heroin will be discussed.

Heroin is Highly Addictive

Heroin is a highly addictive drug that is manufactured from the opium of poppy plants. Unfortunately heroin is highly abused due to the euphoric feeling it can produce. There are different forms of heroin and it can be snorted, smoked, or injected. The drug itself is potent and the effects hit quickly. Heroin is a choice drug for many because of the immediate pleasurable feelings that hit in a surge called the ‘rush’. The feeling is warm and calming and creates a heavy slowed feeling in the legs and arms. The outcome is a sense of well-being and confidence that does not naturally occur. If this seems like something a loved one may be addicted to or you simply want to know the signs than you have come to the right place.

Heroin Use

Heroin users often have spoons, bent to use for smoking, lighters, and syringes. Some heroin can have a distinct odor, much like vinegar, but in the purest form heroin has no odor. The symptoms of heroin use can vary depending on amount and how long the person has been using. Some negative symptoms such as itching, dry mouth, and nausea are common and are usually immediate. However, delayed symptoms like feeling drowsy for hours, slowed breathing, and a foggy mental state may be delayed. Frequent heroin users may also display ‘nodding’. This is where the user goes back and forth between being awake and asleep often while sitting up or standing. Long term users may also have signs such as needle marks and bruising, heart, live, or kidney problems, and collapsed veins. Skin sores and infections are also common. Unfortunately heroin use only has three likely outcomes, addiction, tolerance, and dependence. All can quickly lead to overdose that can cause brain damage, coma, and death. None of these options are healthy and all will require help to end the use of the drug. Help is available.

DARA Treatment for Heroin Addiction

At DARA Rehab heroin addiction can be treated effectively. The first steps are detox and a highly trained staff will help the user to successfully treat this part of the addiction and then help toward further recovery. DARA accomplishes this with individualized treatment plans and an overall wellness approach to mind, body, and spirit. DARA Thailand offers the added bonuses of being in a tropical setting at a redesigned resort that is still highly affordable. Anyone can seek treatment at DARA and should if heroin is a problem. This change in setting can make the actual recovery process much easier. When the first parts of recovery have passed DARA will help each person design a recovery and discharge plan to continue moving forward on their journey. If you or someone you love needs help, waste no more time and check out DARA Thailand today.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential DARA Treatment for Heroin Addiction Assessment.

addictions

Addictions – People, Places, Things

Articles, Australia, Education, International, LGBTQ, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Addictions do not discriminate. Addiction does not care if you are black, white, fat, thin, rich, poor, male, or female. Addiction will touch every family in the world in some way, whether through the community or a friend or family member. Someone who is an addict may have a very difficult time coming to the realization that they are addicted and that this has a negative effect on their lives (or your life). When you or your loved one is ready to admit a problem exists a large breakthrough has been made in the recovery process. Now the next step is seeking treatment. Some with addictions may choose inpatient treatment and others may function well with out patient counseling. Regardless of what one chooses there are a few things that either choice have in common.

Help For Addictions

When choosing which type of help one wants to get into and stay in recovery long term there are many things that must be considered. The person must truly assess their addiction to determine whether in-patient or out patient would work best. Out patient counseling is typically beneficial in behavioral addictions and in some cases where doses of medication need to be tapered down. However, all types of addiction can be treated in-patient. It sometimes takes days or weeks to get into an in-patient program and during this time it can be tempting to use again so some basic steps should be taken to limit this temptation.

People

These basic steps are focused on being aware of oneself and the surroundings. In fact the awareness falls into three categories: people, places, and things. The first, people is very important. As you are just beginning the road to recovery there will be people in your life who are angry that you have stopped using. These could be dealers or just friends who have gotten used to sharing your addiction. These people may be rude or pushy trying to convince you to use again. Stay strong in your resolve and avoid these people as often a possible.

Places

The second area of concern is places. Just as people, there are certain places that will entice an addict to use. This may be a favorite place to drink, a certain house in which using is acceptable. Or even a street where you typically bought drugs are places that should be avoided. This may mean taking a different route to places or avoiding some areas altogether for a time.

Things

The final area of concern are things. This may seem like an odd addition, but for addicts this will make sense. Remove any drug related items from your home and anywhere you spend a significant amount of time. This includes things like needles and tubing, but should also include any item that was always or often present while using. Perhaps you turned the radio up in the bathroom when shooting up, remove the radio immediately. Maybe you enjoyed listening to a particular selection when getting high, remove these songs from your playlist. It may seem odd at first but simple things can become triggers, especially in early recovery.

If you can avoid your triggers and the people, places, and things that can cause you to fail in your early attempts until you can get professional help then you are more likely to be successful. Stay strong in these early days of fighting your addiction and get the help that is needed and desired. Your life will be much better for the work you are putting into your future.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Recovery and Relationships

Recovery and Relationships

Articles, Australia, Education, International, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Addiction tears away at just about every aspect of a person’s life. The physical health of an addicted person deteriorates rapidly. Psychological problems which may have led to an addiction are complicated by drugs and alcohol, and alcoholics and drug addicts develop psychological problems from their substance abuse. Families are strained to the breaking point. But certainly one of the most delicate relationships to suffer from addiction and alcoholism is a romantic relationship. Couples of all sorts are damaged and destroyed by addiction.

The first course of action for couples is to get the addicted person into treatment. Nothing can be done until the drug and alcohol use is stopped for good. A temporary remission from substance abuse may seem appealing but an addicted person needs to learn to stop for good. If not, the stresses and strains on the relationship come back with a fury and the damage is compounded. Only a complete addiction recovery program can offer any hope of repairing the damage done to a relationship from drug addiction and alcoholism.

What is more, as the addicted person undergoes therapies to manage their addiction, emotions, and coping skills so as to learn to live a life free of drugs and alcohol. The spouse or partner must also undergo counseling and education in order to properly understand all that has happened. The partner of an addicted person often feels neglected or abused as a result of the destructive behaviors brought on by drugs and alcohol. Many partners have been physically abused and this requires a specific type of counseling. But with the proper treatment and counseling, both partners can be educated to understand the addiction. And what will be necessary to live their new life together after recovery.

Recovery and Relationships Analysis

In the final analysis, the addicted person may well make a full recovery from drug and alcohol treatment. The couple after will need special attention which can only come from each other. In many ways much of this is up to the person who has suffered from the addiction. There are such an array of destructive behaviors that come from alcoholism and addiction and the person who had undergone treatment must find ways to address these things. A comprehensive treatment program will teach a patient coping skills and skills for dealing with intimate relationships. But the person who has gone through treatment must put these into practice.

The couple should go through couple counseling and many recovery programs offer this. The same methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that teach coping skills and skills to manage emotions can be put to use in these couple counseling sessions.

Though the damage to intimate relationships as a result of drug addiction and alcoholism can be devastating. With the aid of a thorough treatment program, couples can do recover together. In many ways, this joint experience of recovery can bring a couple together in ways they never knew before. The experience of having endured such a struggle, learning new ways of living, and coming back together can strengthen a relationship.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Emotional Resilience

Building Emotional Resilience for a More Effective Recovery

Articles, Australia, Education, International, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

We sat in silence. Client and Therapist.

The feeling in the counselling room subdued. Emotion heavy.

I sat there. He sat there. We were together.

No words uttered between us.

Professionally, I knew the importance of this experience. The client wasn’t running away from his difficulties.

It was beautiful.

Like invisible bricks being laid, onto an invisible wall.

I recognised emotional resilience developing during the counselling hour – we were experiencing it together.

Our eyes connected.

I smiled. He sighed.

The foundation stone of emotional resilience was constructed. Supporting him for the rest of his life.

As a Certified Wellness Coach, as well as a qualified Therapist, I understand the importance of building emotional resilience. It enables a person to gain emotional stability, rather than an internal sensation of chaos.

To do so you must takes baby steps and a willingness to consistently repeat those steps. It’s in the willingness to be consistent, even when having experienced a lapse or relapse, which helps build resilience throughout addiction recovery.

The Program at DARA is created, to assist in building practical, emotional and intellectual steps within a healthy framework. Enabling individuals to raise emotional resilience levels.

The stimulation delivered and the process created, then helps a client to continue with and maintain sobriety, whilst reintegrating daily living.

How Does Emotional Resilience Help Life?
  • By becoming responsive and thoughtful, impulse control is developed
  • Creates authenticity in relationships
  • Dulls the anxiety which reduces sound judgment
  • Works alongside motivation to help achieve goals
  • Builds empathy
  • Enables you to feel good about yourself
  • Develops an internal locus of control

Stress is a powerful trigger

If not looked at, understood or explored properly. It can lead to poor coping strategies being put in place.

Addiction is one of these.

Using drugs or alcohol to dampen down the feeling of stress. Without developing awareness about what is impacting on a person’s life to create it. Stops healthy coping strategies being identified and the development of emotional resilience.

If the desire is to find a constructive way to feel relaxed and develop positive feelings, then in the long-term, drug use and alcohol abuse will create exactly the opposite.

Remember, it’s about small steps being put in place.

These can happen in both a negative or positive way. Become conscious about those choices made and decide to continue creating the ones which enhance rather than inhibit life.

Mindfulness for Resilience Building
  • Reduce rumination by developing good communication skills
  • Remain focussed on the task at hand or the conversation in place
  • Bring your mind back, every time it wanders. This is brain training in practice
  • Connect and listen to the internal rhythm in the body
  • Get Physical
  • Take a moment and consciously breathe

The Author Elizabeth Gilbert experienced herself as a seduction addict. One of the ways in which she became mindful in her own life, was to design and fil her own happiness jar.

This is a really constructive way in which you can become mindful of those moments ‘in between.’ A place which will help you build and recognise your own emotional resilience. It doesn’t have to be a jar. It can be the Voice Memo on your phone, or a journal by the side of your bed.

“Over the years, my Happiness Jar has taught me much. What continually amazes me is what ends up on the slip of paper every day. Not awesome events, not huge achievements — usually just a small and tiny thing, a moment of awareness…that moment when you step outside and between the house and the car you get hit on the top of the head with a beam of sunlight, and suddenly feel awash with gratitude simply for being alive, and you think, “Yes. This is it.”

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Behavioral Addictions

Behavioral Addictions and DARA

Articles, Australia, Education, International, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Most addictions are easy to recognize. Some substance is put into the body and physical effects can be felt. This substance becomes necessary to function in some manner. However, some addictions are not about substances, but about behaviors. These can include, but are not limited to gambling, sex, technology, and even food. The difference in some behavioral addictions and drug or alcohol addictions is you cannot always fully avoid a behavioral addiction, it can be hard to abstain completely from certain behaviors. Some of the more common behavioral addictions will be described below with options for treatments.

Gambling Addiction

Gambling is a common behavioral addiction. Those addicted to gambling become consumed with gambling, winning, and trying to recoup losses. A single win can fuel the addiction for a long time. Even as those who lose much more than winning will continue to gamble for the thrill. Many people with a gambling addiction will lose massive amounts of money, jobs, and even homes trying to become a winner again. They may distance themselves from friends and family to have more time to gamble. The addiction is strong and can truly take everything in life. Gambling is one of those behaviors that can be avoided with help, but if addicted a treatment plan does need to be created.

Sex Addiction

Sexual addiction is another form of behavioral addiction. Sex is a normal part of life for consenting adults, but as with anything it can become an addiction. When sex becomes all consuming and creates a life full of risky behaviors simply to have sex, than it has become problematic. Sex is not typically a behavior that can be avoided for a lifetime, but keeping the amount of partners or sexual exploits to a reasonable amount is possible, even for those who are addicted. Sex addicts often seek sex outside of their marriage, in dangerous places, or in risky situations. The need, as with gambling becomes all consuming. Sex is no longer to show love or caring, it is for the act itself and the feeling of the act.

Technology Addiction

A third form of behavioral addiction is that of technology. In a world filled with the Internet, phones, and digital everything in life, technology can become an obsession. Whether the habit is for the newest and best in technology or much of your day is spent staring at a screen, you may have an addiction. If you find it hard to unplug and be part of the physical, as opposed to virtual world, then you may have a technology addiction. This could mean checking Facebook every few minutes, spending more time online than with family and friends, or being permanently attached to your phone. It may be impossible to void technology altogether in this life, but a balance can be found.

Food Addiction

The final form of behavioral addiction that will be discussed is that of food. This is often called sugar addiction, but any food type or all food can become an addiction. Obviously food cannot be totally avoided, it is a necessity in life. However, making healthy food choices and choosing reasonable portions can be a behavior that is adopted. Food addiction comes about when food consumes most of your thoughts. Worrying about what or when the next food meal is coming or how it is prepared could be a sign of addiction. There is help available.

Behavioral Addictions and DARA

DARA offers specialized treatment for each of these behavioral addictions and much more. With the help of supportive staff, behavioral counseling, and wellness focus, addictions can be overcome. Prior to discharge a plan specific to your needs will even be created to offer the best hope for being addiction free. If you or someone you know needs help consider DARA in-patient facility as an affordable treatment option.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.