Behavioral Therapy in Miami plays an important role in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction for those in the South Florida area. It’s a treatment option used to redirect negative thinking and behaviors. Many people who struggle with substance use disorder have suffered trauma in the past. As a result, they experience frequent feelings of…
Depending on your specific situation, you may not readily be able to tell if alcohol is a stimulant or a depressant. Drinking alcohol brings about a myriad of emotions for people. Some people feel peppy and uppity, while others struggle with anxiety and depression. Scientifically, alcohol is a depressant, but it is more complicated than that. Alcohol enhances the mood you are already in for most people. If you were happy before you started drinking, you may be excited and giddy when you drink. However, if you were sullen or angry before you had a drink, that mood may only get worse. The only way to stop alcohol from controlling the mood you show everyone else is to stop drinking altogether.
Is Alcohol a Stimulant?
Alcohol does have some stimulating effects. Many people who drink wind up with higher heart rates and lower inhibitions, making them appear to be more energetic. However, that is not a simple way of defining what alcohol does to the body. Instead, it is just some of the effects that some people go through whenever they have a drink in their system. Alcohol will speed you up for a short time after having a drink, giving you a tiny bit of energy. However, once you settle into your second or third drink, the depressant effects begin to kick in. Your body will slow, which is why falling asleep is so easy when you have been drinking.
Is Alcohol a Depressant?
When cutting alcohol out of your life, it can lead to a wide array of symptoms. Your body becomes dependent on the alcohol over time. Taking that alcohol away means your body is going to have to readjust. Many people struggle with the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. That is why going to an alcohol detox facility or rehabilitation facility to stop using or abusing alcohol is so important. If you want to get over an alcohol addiction, we are here to help. Here are some of the most important things to know about alcohol withdrawal.
The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal a person faces is going to be as unique as the person giving up alcohol. Each person’s journey through alcohol detox will depend on many different factors. These include:
One of the most unpleasant and deterring parts of detox is the withdrawal symptoms that can accompany it. Some people prefer to take detox on in their home as it is a familiar place where they have all their personal things. Others will detox in a facility that is designed and staffed to specifically support the drug and alcohol detox process. Many detox facilities offer medically assisted detox treatment to help manage withdrawal symptoms as best as possible. In fact, this type of treatment is one of the main reasons that individuals do often choose a detox facility over at-home detox.
What Does Medical Detox Involve?
Medical detox, or medically assisted detox, is a process that uses a mix of medical means and therapy to cleanse the body of any toxic substances and to give an individual’s body and mind a clean slate as they begin their sober life. The use of medications also manages many of the symptoms the accompany detox from various drugs and alcohol. Therapy can help with developing life skills to avoid relapse and identifying any underlying mental health disorders.
As of 2017, the estimated 14.9% of people aged 12 and older have reported lifetime cocaine use. This means that an estimated 6 million Americans have used cocaine in their lifetime. Cocaine use often seems harmless at the beginning but it is a highly addictive substance that can lead to a number of physical, emotional, and social consequences. Being able to identify cocaine addiction in yourself or a loved once can be paramount to preventing a bad situation from getting worse.
Identifying Cocaine
Being able to identify cocaine and help you know what you are looking for if you find it in a loved one’s possession. There are 2 forms of cocaine, powered and crystalized (crack). Powdered cocaine is most commonly used and can be snorted, injected, or smoked. Crack cocaine is rock/crystal form of the drug that is typically smoked. Crack cocaine is more intense and the effects are felt quicker, but they also wear off quicker. Like many other odorless illicit drugs, cocaine is commonly stored in small plastic baggies.
It’s notoriously hard to recover from heroin abuse and addiction. There are happy stories about heroin recovery, but often, the stories are disheartening. How long it will take you to recover from heroin depends on a number of factors. Individuals dragging the chains of heroin addiction tend to suffer for years without relief and those who have apparently recovered are vulnerable and prone to relapse at any time, but with the right motivation and treatment—recovery is possible.
Why Heroin Addiction is so Difficult to Treat
Heroin withdrawal symptoms may vary among addicts, and various factors can affect how long they’ll last, but they’re extreme and incredibly uncomfortable in general. It’s often said that heroin withdrawal is like flu on steroids. The symptoms of withdrawal hit them with such an intense force that all they want to do is get back to the drug. Therefore, most people can’t make it through detox alone.
