Many people struggling with an opioid addiction feel a great deal of shame around their habit. Shame is the gasoline that fuels addiction, so it’s essential to begin releasing some of it. 

If you’re having a hard time doing that, consider this: say your dog, Moose, gets a piece of chocolate. To Moose, that chocolate is the best thing he’s ever tasted. If Moose has unlimited access to that chocolate, guess what? He’s going to keep eating more and more until, eventually, he gets sick. 

When you first take an opioid, it’s a similar experience to Moose and the chocolate. Your brain has likely never been flooded with that many happy hormones at once, and it can be a surreal experience. 

If you haven’t been shown the proper skills to say, “Actually, I’m okay without that,” you’re likely going to want to take more and more, until it progresses to the point where you can’t stop safely on your own. 

It’s okay that you didn’t know when to say no to the chocolate. A good rehab program is here to show you how to feel completely fulfilled and joyous on a confection-free diet. 

Opioids trigger the reward center part of our brains in a powerful way; by initiating the release of endorphins (the “happy hormone”), the user feels immense pleasure after taking it. 

Because of the intensity and addictive-nature of this substance, prescription opioids are typically only meant as short-term pain relievers for someone who is experiencing a high amount of pain (think after having surgery or breaking a bone.) After this two- or three-day window, it’s often recommended that the person switch to a pain medication that is less addictive. 

Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Some people are prescribed an opioid for too long of a period, and they start to develop a physical dependence to the medication. At the same time, they’re also building a tolerance — meaning their body is getting used to it, and they need more to feel the same effects. 

In the above case, many doctors will not prescribe a higher dosage (or extend their prescription). This leads the person to go to illegal avenues to procure more opioids, which can include fentanyl (which can be laced with other dangerous substances) or heroin. These unknown, dangerous cocktails of drugs are also why there is such a high rate of overdose deaths associated with opioids.

This scenario of becoming addicted can happen within a very short time-span; it explains why some very high-functioning, well-balanced people can suddenly find themselves addicted to heroin and other illegal substances.

When we’re struggling with intense physical or mental pain, we often find ourselves willing to do anything to get away from it.

You’re not a bad person for wanting to dull your pain. Fortunately, there are alternatives available to mitigate your pain without having to take a dangerous substance like an opioid. At Avive la Vie, we are deeply experienced in treating your physical, mental, and emotional pain.

Physically: We offer a medically-supervised detox, where our medical team is with you every step of the way as you experience any discomfort from withdrawals. Our team can manage medication, but also offer a wide range of holistic services that can drastically lessen your discomfort. From acupuncture to nutritional therapy, your body will be well taken care of in our safe environment.

Emotionally: Our Experiential Engagement Therapy will show you how to begin releasing the shame associated with your opioid addiction. Our team of therapists will help you see how resilient you truly are. At the same time, they will demonstrate — and have you actively practice — self-regulation tools you can use to effectively manage your anxiety in future difficult situations.

Mentally: Sometimes the anxiety we build up around our pain can be worse than the pain itself. We can get so caught up in trying to avoid pain, that we forget it can actually be an important sensation to have. Pain allows us to see when something in our body is amiss, and it’s not something that should be villainized. Our therapists can help you learn to develop a relationship with your pain where you honor the feeling, but at the same time, find ways to alleviate it to a manageable level.

While their terms are often used interchangeably, opiates and opioids mean two slightly different things.

Opiates are drugs that are naturally derived from opium alkaloid compounds (which are found in the poppy plant). Examples of opiates include opium, codeine, and morphine.

Opioids, on the other hand, include any drug (natural, synthetic, or partially synthetic) that interacts with the opioid receptors in our brain and gives a similar response people get from naturally-occuring opiates. These include heroin, oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxymorphone, fentanyl, and methadone, as well as the above opium, codeine, and morphine.

It can be difficult to recognize when your loved one — or even yourself — is struggling with an opiate or opioid addiction. 

If you suspect an opioid addiction may be at play, look for these physical side effects:

• Drowsiness
• Weight loss
• Frequent flu-like symptoms
• Uncontrollable cravings
• Lack of hygiene
• Decreased libido
• Mental fog
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Very small pupils 

There are some things you can look for beyond the physical symptoms of someone struggling with an opiate addiction.

• Are they isolating more?
• Do they have a sudden financial problem? 
• Have they stolen from a loved one? 
• Do they go through extremes in regards to their exercise? 
• Do they have extreme mood swings? (Including experiencing intense euphoria?)
• Does their mental health seem suddenly different?
• Have they been visiting multiple doctors? (They may be trying to find a new source.)

After your body has built up a physical dependence to opioids, it’s been tricked to believe that it needs the drug to run properly. So if you stop taking the opioid, your body starts to experience withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawals symptoms can be very uncomfortable and dangerous. 

For this reason, regardless of the dosage or amount of time you’ve been using opioids, you should always consult a doctor before detoxing. Stopping all at once, or “cold turkey,” can have some very serious side effects. 

• Muscle aches
• Anxiety
• Excessive sweating
• Digestive issues
• Abdominal cramping
• Rapid heart rate
• High blood pressure 

If you’re suffering from chronic pain, you’ll also likely begin to re-experience that pain during your opiate withdrawals. Since you’ve been dulling the pain for so long, it might seem even more intense than it was before you started taking opioids.

When you seek the advice of a medical doctor, they can help you to decrease your usage over time. While you may still experience discomfort, you’ll be doing so under the guidance of a health care professional who can make sure you’re doing so safely. 

Take a moment to breathe. While it may be hard, try to allow a small amount of pride to enter your body. Why? Because a lot of people get addicted to opioids — but not many of them take action. You have chosen to pursue treatment options. You have read through this whole page. You clearly cherish your life enough to want to get it back, and we think that’s something to be celebrated. 

Call us today to see how we can help you take your life back.