Monthly Archives: February 2017

What to Expect Detoxing from Benzos

Addiction and alcoholism can come knocking abruptly for some and takes its time eroding away the walls of life for others. One way or another, the day comes where we wake up with the sun blinding our eyes and there is no denying there is some sort of a problem. It’s blatantly right in our faces and can’t be ignored anymore. Most of us enjoy playing tricks on our own minds unbeknownst to ourselves and rationalize that everything in life is okay. Eventually, the cat is pulled out of the bag and we have to choose between misery or searching for a new option of sorts. Given the choice, it’s recommended to pick the sobriety/recovery side of the road. It’s much happier and joyful- really. It’s also much cleaner- literally. Anyway- so hypothetically we begin traveling down this long and winding road of sobriety. The idea now is to stay on the road and not let the little speed bumps and interesting paths along the way deter us from our intended direction. That’s all fine and dandy, but the reality is that us addicts and alcoholics have to get the toxins out of our systems before we can act and think clearly. Binging and being dependent on a lot of various drugs and alcohol will shroud your mind of course. Unfortunately with binging and dependency comes withdrawal. Detoxing from benzos is an uncomfortable experience possibly comparable to mild forms of torture. It can be potentially dangerous too. Yet weaning off the chemicals and becoming clean is way more than a possibility, but it’s just going to take dedication and going through quite a bumpy patch of life.

Please Sir- Could I Have Some More?

Ah, Benzodiazepines- also known as The Silent Killers or Happy Death Pills. Okay, actually that was just made up. If people aren’t calling them this by now then it needs to catch on. Some people may know them better by their actual pharmaceutical stage names: Klonopin, Xanax, and Valium. These three little troublemakers will create a pathway to hell or your grave and it’s your decision. How kind and giving right? Benzos are of the pharmaceutical classification entirely and therefore give them the status of being a street drug. They’re unfortunately very easy to obtain because in today’s day of age, everybody has some form of anxiety or depression because of the times we live in. Although benzodiazepines are usually diagnosed for anxiety and depression purposes, they, of course, are also abused because of the numbing properties they deliver.

Benzodiazepines will bring the pain and leave you feeling like a shell of a person. Detoxing from benzos will bring most of the same symptoms as opiates and heroin but actually a little more intensified. Benzos don’t stay in our systems as long as some opiates, so they, in turn, try to exit our bodies in a much quicker fashion. Essentially, the whole body becomes in disarray as our nerve endings begin to feel funky, skin becomes oversensitive to touch, and fluids are coming out of you in every way possible. Just like alcohol, one of the more dangerous aspects when detoxing off benzos is possible heart complications. These can be likely in many different situations of individuals coming off said drugs. Remember, any chemical abuse usage that leads to this is always some sort of a gamble. On the left hand, if taken properly, they are known to work, of course, and do wonders for some people. On the right hand, if abused and taken with the intent to get high, they will numb the mind and body from reality and dig that person in such a deep hole. Detoxing from benzos is part of the game to getting on the other side of a healthy and happy lifestyle once these little suckers have taken slave ownership over their victim. This is a game that only leads to treading on thin ice with our physical and mental health. Play the game too long, and your addiction may win with that hole mentioned before becoming a six-foot deep hole as the first place trophy. Not a game that sounds worth it in my professional opinion.

As cited beforehand, the physical aspects of detoxing from benzos can absolutely be a debilitating handful. Then there is the frame of mind and emotional state of being we will or have found ourselves in. Irritability and being temperamental are large culprits for the emotion well being of a person going through. Of course, being an ass is never really justifiable- yet it can be slightly more understandable when somebody is being put through it by the grasps of such chemical warfare going underway in their body. It’s not a fun incident in the least- or at least that’s what the broken record player keeps saying. Aside from the shift in hot-headed mood swings, there will be restlessness that will make sleep a struggle. Ironically, sleep will be the thing desired most as all the junk seeps out of one’s pores. Melatonin is usually a viable solution to such a dilemma. Due to lack of sleep and the chemical trance having been lifted, things will appear to be muddled for most as their consciousness kind of rebuilds itself. After living in a cloud of confusion and a separate reality for so long, it’s important to remember when detoxing off benzos that it will take time for any amount of haze to eventually clear up. With the right persistence and want for a better life, it will happen and it will be worth the pain it took making such a leap.

Choose Joy

There are tons of narcotics and different ways for people to numb themselves. There are tons of drugs that are hard to get off of. In all actuality, all of the drugs can be a pain to get off of with an addictive mindset. Drugs and alcohol suck us addicts and alcoholics into a whirlwind of chaos that we haven’t the tools to escape. It gets pretty miserable and the consequences continually build up until Humpty Dumpty takes a big fall and the pieces can’t be put back together again. If you or a loved one is struggling with chemical dependency and are ready for help, please call 1-866-802-6848 or visit www.coastaldetox.com. We are ready to give you any suggestions possible and set you or your loved one on a path that we can all be proud of.

Why You Should Choose Coastal Detox

Hopefully, if you’re reading this, you have never had to partake in attending a detoxification facility. Or, on the other hand, maybe luckily you have and for that matter, you’re still alive and kicking with us today. Really it just depends on which side of the coin you happen to be looking at I suppose. Yes, ideally nobody wants to admit themselves into some institution or establishment just to help get themselves back to being a functioning member of society. It can be extremely humbling as we swallow that shame and guilt that we’ve created over and over again through the years. The alcoholism attempts to convince us that the bottle, or whatever plethora of powders and pills we choose, is our best friend at the end of the day. For some, if they’re lucky, there comes a point where they recognize it’s time to take back the reigns. In all actuality, sometimes it’s a necessity for certain people to enter a detoxification facility and take this needed step to continue living their lives. Some ultimately need therapeutic help and medical assistance that cannot be delivered from just sweating it out and drinking Gatorade on the couch. Coastal Detox provides a comfortable setting that guarantees to create specialized detox plans based on personal needs and is the best place to pick for assistance in a healthy direction.

But Really, Why Coastal?

Whether you’re detoxing from opiates or because you’ve been sipping too much of the hard stuff, it’s always important to stay informed and know what you’re up against. One of the glorious things about Coastal Detox is that we have a Drug Detox Unit as well as an Alcohol Detox Unit for incoming clients. Walking shakily into any institution and not knowing the trials and tribulations you’re up against can be extremely defeating. Coastal Detox makes it the lead priority to obtain information as quickly as possible from you and help deliver incoming humans beings to a sound state with the body and mind. This is done in a process that is most pleasing while at the same time being effective. When looking for any detox program, it’s all about being comfortable first of all. Having the doctors and staff providing the wonderful bedside manner that Coastal values really makes a huge difference. Naturally, it’s much easier to understand something when it’s been explained properly. The staff will help you to rest and understand what it is that is going on in the body and mind as the toxins secrete out your body. This help from trained medical professionals is available on site at all times. Signing yourselves into a quality detox is never an easy process, but recognizing that all Coastal employees have your best interests in mind can help to soothe things of course. The Coastal staff really bring their A game to this concept as compassion and empathy are portrayed in all scenarios of professionalism. The staff and everybody employed are of the utmost admirable ideals and hold customary to that of which goes above and beyond most detoxification settings.

That’s the person to person basis. What about the living standards, though?

Then we take a quick peek at the layout. The last thing somebody wants is fluorescent lights and hospital-like settings as they sweat and crawl under their skin. Having a relaxing atmosphere with large living quarters doesn’t seem too shabby, though. Coastal Detox provides large spacious living rooms and dining areas that could meet any bar held too high. Pillow top mattresses and 40 inch LED televisions line the rooms to put the client at better ease. With Zen gardens, trail walking paths, and a peaceful pavilion to relax at during the day- it sometimes sounds too good to be true.

Do What Now?

More times than not, many detox facilities broadcast their clients as one whole entity and treat them the same as the rest of the goldfish in the box. Not Coastal. No, Coastal believes highly in customized detox plans based on the length and severity of drug usage. Addiction and alcoholism are a disease and that’s how they are treated here. It shouldn’t be a punishment to try and better yourself from the grips of addiction and alcoholism. It is here that the foundation for future recovery and treatment options are laid down as clients are taught to feel alright with themselves again.

Different techniques than your average detox are used here as Coastal goes deeper than just ridding the body of the chemicals. Here at Coastal Detox, there are options of clinical counseling/psychiatric help and holistic treatment therapy on top of it all. Addiction and alcoholism go much deeper than just the usage and Coastal helps to lay the groundwork for discovering deeper physical and mental issues possibly at hand. The idea is relapse prevention and creating a plan that will help the addict or alcoholic is sure of themselves in a non-arrogant way. What really stands out in this equation is when you’re feeling better- they don’t just kick you to the curb and throw you back in the middle of the jungle. Coastal Detox helps create a game plan and continuing care options for their patients that are uncertain of which direction to step in next.

“At Coastal Detox, our Mission is to help each client Sail through Detox with safe, highly effective medical detox protocols combined with a wide variety of soothing holistic treatment therapies and compassionate client care within an exceptionally comfortable and tranquil living environment.”

Help Me get My Feet Back on the Ground

The mission statement above says it all. Having to accept the fact that detox is necessary can put anybody’s feathers in a ruffle, but getting this aid can be life or death for some. Addiction and alcoholism don’t give you a choice in the matter. They force you to take the facts as they come and there isn’t a pause button to this movie. If you or a loved one has been struggling with getting a firm grasp on sobriety and need detoxification, please call 1-866-802-6848 or visit www.coastaldetox.com. Our teams of specialists are waiting by to help figure out what options are best for sending your life is a comfortable direction that you can proudly stand behind.

How You Can Stop Enabling an Addict

Life is one of those things sometimes where it’s best just to experience something for yourself rather than to be told about it. As children, we are told that the stove top is hot and that it will burn our hands when touched, yet most every child under the sun will burn themselves touching it out of curiosity. They have to experience the painful feeling life is delivering in that moment in order to understand. For the record, I’m still like this. I have to literally burn the already formed blisters on my finger tips 2-3 times before something finally clicks upstairs. Needless to say, this is all an excellent metaphor for addiction, of course. What if somebody who loved you helped smack your finger away from the stove or made sure it was cooled off first every time you were to reach a finger for it? What if they sat there and did that for you after you had been told repeatedly and taught extensively about the scalding nature of said heat source? That would seem a little absurd or redundant almost. Well, that’s a fine example of enabling and it can be applied to addiction just like the entirety of the metaphor.

Tabling the Enabling

Sometimes in life, nothing changes if nothing changes and nothing will change if somebody is coddled their whole life. When a loved one facilitates somebody’s life mistakes and problems, it can be detrimental to personal growth. Let’s face reality here: we all make mistakes. Everybody on this planet and everyone that came before has never been perfect. This is a concept that is nearly impossible to achieve. In a little bit cynical frame of mind, life is just a collection of mistakes and learning from them. If somebody is there to help pick up your pieces every time, how is it that one will learn from personal experience? Forms of enabling can be construed as babying a person in a lot of ways. It can be interpreted as condoning a person’s negative behavior or allowing them to think that their mistakes and problems are okay. Now once again, imperfection is more than fine in these trialing times we live in. However, understanding why we are not perfect and striving to be the best version of ourselves can be the goal in recovery. The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous or other anonymous programs are just that. These steps do the opposite of permitting certain behaviors and can more or less teach us about our character defects. Recovery holds us accountable in a lot of ways when other people don’t know how to sometimes.

In recovery and early sobriety, establishing this new foundation of sorts is crucial. Just like the rest of life, finding ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time happens more frequently than we’d like it to, of course. Life rarely follows the final draft we have written out in our craniums. Not to worry, though because this is where taking action comes into play and we have to draw a line in the sand with our feet. Standing your ground and saying “no” to a loved one can be nerve racking because nobody really likes to be told no. Some people like myself struggle to say the word as much as we do hear it. People pleasing is most certainly a mentality that goes hand and hand with allowing a person’s behavior to continue- positive or negative. Such is life, though. It really can be summed up in the equation of life being 10% of things that happen to you, and the other 90% is how we choose to deal with whatever scenario we happen to be in. Life, of course, isn’t fair, but then again, what is fair? Fair isn’t about everybody having the same thing and dealing with the same problems. Fair is more about getting what you need to get by. As human beings, especially as addicts and alcoholics, we always want more. We tend to want to push life to its limits and then question why it decided to bite back. Most of us are required to start listening to our guts and become intuitive in a sense. Often times we are professionals at rationalizing our actions and thought processes. Making excuses becomes more than just a habit and before you know it, we start justifying relapses. The whole point of this recovery thing is to stay clean and not go back to the miserable existence we lived before hand right?

This idea complements so many different forms of growth. If one wants to continue to strengthen themselves mentally, it requires separating our wants and needs sometimes. All the things that we want and crave generally are not what we need to better ourselves internally. Looking at it as a form of maturity too, it doesn’t matter what age category you fall into. Whether you’re still in your adolescence or have graying hair, understanding society and the people we engage with takes a lot of effort. Learning to have motives that are less selfish and more selfless can really spell out the makings of particular human beings. If somebody allows you to think that your selfishness is alright and there’s no problem, you would never know the difference. Having real friends and loved ones that will tell you the truth and not just what you want to hear- that’s beautiful human interaction. The watered down truth doesn’t do anybody any good. It may prevent conflict, but in the end, enabling only holds your loved one back.

Stop Enabling and Start Growing with Coastal Detox

Being trapped in active addiction is a life consisting of bad choices and finding yourself repeatedly in the wrong place at the wrong time. It gets old while being uncomfortable almost becomes the norm. Sometimes it takes some simple changes and it’s amazing how different of a life can be conjured up. If you or a loved one is struggling with chemical dependency and are ready for help, please call1-866-802-6848 or visit www.coastaldetox.com. We are ready to give you any suggestions possible and set you or your loved one on a path that we can all be proud of.

Top 10 Behaviors of an Addict

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better- it’s not.”

These were a just a few words shared in one of Dr. Seuss’ stories. We are the projectors of our own destiny. Every individual is handed the keys to their life at birth and sent down the road. A largely shared goal in life is for everyone to want to be happy and to proudly stand behind the person they present as. It’s quite a warming feeling to look at something you produced and know you put integrity and effort into it. Or for somebody to look at you and know who you are and what you’re capable of, and accept you for all your ways- the good, the bad, and the ugly. Essentially the idea is to be able to be yourself and be totally comfortable with who you are while being an overall good person- for lack of better terms. Addiction and alcoholism spring into action and sure love to make this future full of morals and values something, not within reach. It’s one of life’s sad unfortunate mysteries, but the best of human beings out there end up being victims to chemical dependency. It’s a force to be reckoned with as it manipulates mindsets and turns rationality into mush. Soon the pill bottles and devil’s elixirs are piling up and that person finds themselves in too deep with their lifestyle. Yet even while treading water and being dragged under- it can always get worse. Anybody can succumb to the ugly grasp that addictions wrinkly old hands have, but what do we look for in the behaviors of an addict?

Happens All the Time

As human beings, every one of us that has ever lived or is currently living is different from the last. None of us are exceptional, yet we are all unique. Addiction and alcoholism are two different heads on the same seven headed dragon and this dragon usually attacks in the same manner. When worrying of a loved one who might be getting dragged down the wrong road, or even yourself for that matter, it is always pertinent to pay attention to some very common similarities. Cravings are a big part of addiction. As addiction continues to grow for the possessed being, urges and intense feelings begin to insist on imbibing in some form or another. Cravings will drive the person crazy if they do not distract their mind from bloodlust that sets in constantly. Then there’s the physical dependency that comes with addiction. The human body is notorious for surviving. It is known to adapt to stressors thrown in its direction. So when certain chemicals that it’s not requiring are digested every day, the body gets used to it and begins to expect them. This is helpful in theory but not when it’s a harmful substance being introduced daily. The physical dependency will then take hold on this roller coaster and butterfly effect as tolerance for the drug and withdrawals follow in the carts afterward. As the physical need for various chemicals takes hold, so does the tolerance to these substances. As explained beforehand, the body begins to expect and require more and more of whatever is being dumped into its system since it’s not feeling the effects it did originally from the desired substance.

As our butterfly’s wings expand and this tolerance raises, so do the prices as the intended goal is now becoming more and more costly. Financial crisis takes hold as they begin spending more and more to afford this unfortunate habit. What used to cost 1, went to 2, and now is 3.

Financially, this blueprint for feeling good is starting to struggle a bit. As the bank account begins to dwindle and the change in our pockets stops rattling, the silence and emptiness is enough to feel the withdrawals coming on. One of the infamous behaviors of an addict is the physical and mental anguish we watch them go through in regards to their withdrawals. After prolonged usage and tolerance rise, it is expected for the body to more or less go into a type of shock when it’s caught off guard this way. It’s finally starting to expect the poisons and then now they can’t be afforded. Talk about irony at its finest.

So what do you do when you need something but don’t have it? You go looking for it. Another behavior of an addict will be drug seeking and spending way too much time and effort in their lives trying to read about or gain more narcotics. At this point, it becomes their life and everything important goes out the window. Bad decision making and poor judgment become the norm. Due to the drugs coming and going out of the brain and body, emotions and hormones begin to fluctuate and the person becomes prone to being irrational and/or doing whatever it takes to attain more of their drug of choice. These decisions then can range from prostitution, to stealing, to selling drugs or any other criminal activity. Crime isn’t always guaranteed, but when the addict/alcoholic has nothing left, it’s a close bet that it will occur.

Often times the addict and alcoholic will display depression/anxiety and begin isolating and neglecting responsibilities from the outside world. Speaking from personal experience, addiction will get so deep that you become afraid to look in the mirror. You become afraid of letting anybody see you- let alone wanting to see yourself in that state. Embarrassment takes over as the guilt and shame build up. Bills, work, and anything of being a contributing citizen fall to the wayside as the mental illness takes over. Getting high or figuring out how to get high becomes the only behavior of an addict. Nothing else matters as they fight back and look for their plot of greener grass. Sadly, they will never find it if they are slaves to most of these conducts.

Failure Drinks at the Bar Set Too Low

Addiction and alcoholism are permanent but the misery is not. This disease will lead you down a slippery slope, but you’re never too far down to climb back up until death reaches you. Don’t allow the psychological bullying that is to ensue through active alcoholism and stand up and do something that changes your life as you smile proudly. You’re in charge. If you or a loved one is struggling with chemical dependency and are ready for help, please call 1-866-802-6848 or visit www.coastaldetox.com. We are ready to give you any suggestions possible and set you or your loved one on a path that we can all be proud of.

This entry was posted in Drug Addiction on February 7, 2017 by Jacklyn Steward.