Opioids Addiction TreatmentFind Recovery

Neurochemical rebalancing for opioid addiction involves several key components. First, a comprehensive neurochemical deficiency assessment, spanning across four pages, is conducted. This assessment helps identify specific areas of neurochemical deficiency. Next, a personalized approach is taken to provide individuals with tailored amino acids and supplements.

Additionally, an abstinence-based symptom sheet is utilized to monitor and track 25 different symptoms that are correlated with neurochemical imbalances. Based on the information gathered, the amino acid protocol is then adjusted accordingly to address individual needs. Clients will receive the amino acids and cofactors they need to help restore healthy brain chemistry. For those recovering from opioid addiction, it is common to receive D-phenylalanine to balance endorphins. This helps to reduce or eliminate cravings and eradicate uncomfortable side effects of recovery, also known as post-acute withdrawal.

Excessive use of opioids can be damaging to the body. In order to repair this damage, it’s important to prioritize restoring physical health and wellness:

Improve Nutrition and Teach Healthy Habits: Opioids can suppress appetite, leading to decreased food intake and weight loss. This can be especially problematic for individuals who are already struggling with malnutrition or chronic diseases that require proper nutrition for management. Opioids also interfere with the absorption, metabolism, and utilization of essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. This can lead to deficiencies that can have long-term consequences on overall health and well-being. At Bridging the Gaps, we understand that healthy eating is essential for those recovering from opioid addiction to replenish their bodies with essential nutrients. Proper nutrition helps to stabilize mood, reduces cravings, and improves energy levels, cognitive function, and overall well-being. Our clients work with a nutritionist to create healthy, balanced meals and learn how to shop for healthy foods and effectively read nutrition facts. The goal is to establish healthy eating habits here that will help our clients when they eventually leave and navigate recovery outside of our walls.

Exercise Regularly: Exercise is another crucial aspect of restoring physical wellness during recovery from opioids. Long-term opioid use has been linked to muscle weakness, particularly in the legs. It can also lead to muscle atrophy, which is the wasting away of muscle tissue. Our clients exercise every morning and attend a private Yoga class once a week with a certified instructor. We prioritize exercise for several reasons. First, exercise releases endorphins, which can improve mood and reduce stress, anxiety, and depression – common triggers for relapse. It can also help regulate sleep patterns and improve quality of sleep. Lastly, engaging in physical activity also provides a healthy outlet for emotions, reducing the risk of turning to opioids as a coping mechanism.

Promote Healthy Sleep Hygiene: Sleep is essential for the body to heal and repair itself. However, opioids disrupt normal sleep patterns, inhibiting rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and the deeper restorative stages of non-REM sleep, leading to insomnia and trouble staying asleep. Incorporating good sleep hygiene practices is crucial for those recovering from opioid use to improve their overall health. Establishing a regular sleep schedule and avoiding caffeine, heavy meals, and electronics before bed can help regulate sleep patterns. Getting enough quality sleep can also aid in mood stabilization, reducing cravings and improving overall mental health. We encourage our clients to maintain proper sleep hygiene. 

People who have experienced trauma may develop coping mechanisms such as substance use to deal with the overwhelming emotions and feelings associated with their trauma. This can include turning to opioids as a way to self-medicate and numb painful memories or emotions. The clinicians at Bridging the Gaps are dedicated to helping our clients work through these painful events and uncover the hope that lies within.

The first few weeks of group psychotherapy and individual sessions aim to educate the client about their disease, help them begin to address some of the behaviors or thoughts that lead them to use, and begin to build community.

After about 4-6 weeks of stabilization, clients who have suffered significant trauma will begin working on processing these events. The caring, compassionate clinicians at BTG are trained and experienced in trauma-informed care and trauma treatment techniques. Instead of asking, “what’s wrong with you?”, trauma-informed clinicians instead seek to understand what happened to you. Using trauma treatment tools like Brainspotting and DBT, we help our clients to work through their trauma and understand what they need to adequately heal.

At BTG, we believe that the opposite of addiction is connection. We know that the key to long-term success in recovery is having a supportive sober community to help guide you through difficult times. Our clients attend AA or NA meetings and select a sponsor while they’re in treatment with us. Upon completing treatment, we have an Alumni Program that allows our clients to stay in touch and navigate recovery together.

The physical symptoms of opioid addiction are usually the most obvious and immediate. Opioid addiction changes the way the brain responds to pain signals and creates a sense of euphoria and pleasure that can lead to a high risk of drug addiction. Some of the most common physical signs of opioid addiction include:
● Dry mouth● Constricted pupils● Disorientation or confusion● Lack of coordination● Slowed breathing● Nausea and vomiting● Sweating and flushing● Itching and scratching● Headaches

In addition to physical symptoms, there are also various behavioral signs that one may be struggling with opioid addiction. Some of the most common behavioral signs include:

1. Social isolation and withdrawal from friends and family
2. Neglecting responsibilities such as work, school, or family obligations
3. Lying or being dishonest about drug use and activities
4. Engaging in criminal activities to obtain drugs
5. Making repeated attempts to quit without success
6. Continuing to use despite harmful consequences
7. Mood swings and irritability
8. Decrease in personal hygiene and grooming habits
9. Poor decision-making and risk-taking behavior

Social signs of opioid addiction may not be as obvious as physical or behavioral signs, but they are just as crucial. One of the most significant social signs of opioid addiction is the impact it can have on a person’s relationships with others. Some of the common social signs of opioid addiction include:

1. A decline in social activities and hobbies
2. Socializing with people who use drugs
3. Loss of interest in activities and hobbies
4. Change in friends and social circle
5. Financial struggles and difficulty paying bills