Addiction is chronic illness that can be complicated to treat. Often a person seeking help has lived with its effects for a number of years. At that point, the behaviors are so much a part of an individual’s life that he or she is no longer in control; the addiction has fully taken over. It can be difficult to appreciate that a person can no longer choose whether to continue the addictive behavior, but that is the reality. Addiction counseling will be needed in that instance.
Mental Health Counseling For Drug And Alcohol Treatment
Going into treatment is a major change for a client, and it involves stripping away coping mechanisms for dealing with strong emotions which may have been in place for years. Addiction does not exist in a vacuum, and no one picks up a drink, a pill, or a joint with the intention of becoming an addict.
Some people turn to substances because they want to feel more confident, or less anxious. Others are looking for ways to deal with depression, boredom, or feelings of guilt or shame because of a traumatic experience. Mental health services can offer support while clients make the transition from relying on their substance of choice to help them cope with difficult situations to dealing with them head on.
Not only do clients need to look at the underlying reasons why they became addicted initially, but they may also need help with current concerns in their lives. Therapy can focus on specific issues, such as depression or rebuilding self-esteem.
Marriage and family counseling can help a client’s spouse or partner and his or her family members understand the nature of this disease. They will are an important source of support during treatment. Once a client has finished his or her formal treatment plan, having a strong family network becomes even more important to help prevent a relapse.
Get Help For Addiction And Make A Fresh Start
The best time to get help for drug and alcohol addiction is today. New Beginnings Recovery Center offers Outpatient Detox, an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), mental health services and counseling to its clients.
Don’t wait another day to start healing the body, mind and soul.
Recently I had a close friend pass away. He was 58 years old. When he died he was in liver failure and we all wondered how this could have happened so quickly. Actually it ended up that it wasn’t that quickly. I spoke with one of his brothers who is a Pathologist in CA. He told me that approximately 6 years ago his brother had some lab work done and that it showed liver problems. His brother chose to ignore the results because he didn’t believe the blood work was correct. He denied having any liver problems. Here we are six years later now with my friend gone. All of his friends began talking and I realized that not that many people are educated about liver disease, Hepatitis C and or liver cancer.
Hepatitis C results from the infection with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is spread primarily through contact with the blood of an infected person. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Toxins, certain drugs, some diseases, heavy alcohol use and bacterial and viral infections can all cause Hepatitis.
What Is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that ranges in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious lifelong illness that attacks the liver. It results from infection with the Hepatitis C virus, which is spread primarily through contact with an infected person. Hepatitis C can either be “acute” or “chronic”. Acute Hepatitis C infection is a short term illness that occurs within the first six months after someone is exposed to the Hepatitis C virus. For most people, acute infection leads to chronic infection.
Chronic Hepatitis C infection is a long term illness that occurs when the Hepatitis C virus remains in a person’s body. Hepatitis C can last a lifetime and lead to serious liver problems, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer. Approximately 75-80% of people who become infected with the Hepatitis C virus develop chronic infection. An estimated 3.2 million people in the United States have chronic Hepatitis C virus infection.
How Is Hepatitis C Spread?
Hepatitis C is usually spread when blood from an infected person with Hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected.
Sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs is a common cause. Needle stick injuries in healthcare settings can also be a cause. Lastly, those born to a mother with Hepatitis C can infect the newborn child. Lesser common causes would be sharing personal items that may have come in contact with another person’s blood such as razors or toothbrushes, sexual contact with a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus.
The Hepatitis C virus can survive outside the body at room temperature, on surfaces, for at least 16 hours but no longer than 4 days.
Possible Signs Of Acute Hepatitis C
Approximately 70-80% of people with acute Hepatitis C do not have any symptoms. Others can have mild to severe symptoms soon after infection such as:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
In persons without symptoms, Hepatitis C is often detected during routine blood tests to measure liver function and liver enzyme level. Hepatitis C is a serious disease that can result in long term health problems, including liver damage, liver failure, liver cancer, or even death. Approximately 15,000 people die every year from Hepatitis C related liver disease.
How Is Hepatitis C Treated?
Acute Hepatitis C can be treated. When diagnosed, treatment does not reduce the risk that acute Hepatitis C will become a chronic infection. Acute hepatitis C is treated with the same medications used to treat chronic hepatitis C. In the treatment for Chronic Hepatitis C there are several medications available to treat chronic hepatitis C. The FDA maintains a complete list of approved treatments for Hepatitis C.
In conclusion, Hepatitis C is a serious illness and should not be taken lightly. A Physician consult with the appropriate lab tests should be completed. Once the results are back there should be a conversation between the doctor and patient discussing the treatment options.
Sadly with my personal friend, he chose to disbelieve the lab results and deny his liver issues. Please do not follow in his footsteps. Life is precious. There is treatment and it is lifesaving.
When a new patient is admitted into a drug and alcohol treatment program, the first step is to ensure that he or she is clean and sober. If necessary, the client will need to go through detoxification (detox) before the treatment can begin. This is the process where the body gets rid of the toxins in drugs and alcohol.
During this time, comfort measures are provided as required to alleviate physical withdrawal symptoms. Staff members are available to provide support as well, since detoxing from drugs and alcohol can also mean that a client will experience psychological symptoms.
Detox Without A Hospital Stay
By choosing an outpatient detox program, a client can complete this necessary step without having to check into a hospital or long-term residential facility. He or she will also have the advantage of the support of family and friends. The process may be less stressful if support is being provided by familiar faces who know the client well.
Outpatient detox is a good choice for clients who have work, school, or family commitments which prevent them from being able to check into a hospital or other facility for a set time to undergo drug and alcohol detox. Since they can’t participate in drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs without this necessary step, completing it on an outpatient basis makes perfect sense.
New Approach To Drug And Alcohol Detox
At New Beginnings Recovery Center (NBRC), the outpatient detox program is a combination of the traditional procedures used in detox medicine and natural alternative treatments. As a result, clients get a softer transition from going from active user to being clean and sober.
Opiate detox programs are one example of the specialized detox options available at NBRC. Along with traditional detox medicine, clients have the option of adding complementary alternative medicine therapies, such as IV Nutrient and Amino Acid Therapy, hypnotherapy, visual imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, and low level laser therapy, to their treatment regimen.
Contact the New Beginnings Recovery Center in Florida facility to find out more information about outpatient detox programs and our intensive outpatient program (IOP) for drug and alcohol addiction treatment today! 888-840-5189
Read More About How To Ensure A Safe And Comfortable Detox!
You’ll want to make sure that you are getting help from people who have experience treating clients with similar issues to the one you are seeking help for. Ask whether the treatment center regularly treats clients with this type of addiction and if it has a specific program in place to help them in their recovery.
What Are The Benefits Of A Holistic Approach To Treatment?
