Category: Substance Abuse

Dealing with a mood disorder (or any mental health condition) can be very trying, difficult, and even lead to feelings of hopelessness at times. Living with an addiction to any substance can bring unwelcome havoc that can rip lives apart. 

What happens when you put them both together? 

Many may not understand the intricate connection between mood disorders and substance use. It is not uncommon for someone who has a mental health disorder to turn to drugs and alcohol as a means of soothing the condition. But then we have those substances that induce mood disorders when used regularly by an individual with no history of them. 

Today we are going to work on understanding substance-induced mood disorders. 

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders are conditions in which your mood makes it difficult to function normally. Simply put, a mood disorder is your emotional state of mind. And let’s be real our emotions very easily impact how we act and behave. When we are sad, disappointed, worried or anxious, and so forth – the way we behave is impacted by this mood. 

Yes, we all have emotions. We have all certain moods that we get in that affect our behavior. So, when do these moods become mood disorders?

Mood disorders last longer than a few minutes. If you are sad and your friends visit with movies and ice cream, laugh with you, and leave you feeling much better – it’s not a mood disorder. You are just feeling emotions that are appropriate for the situation. 

Moods and emotions that come with a mood disorder last much longer than they should. You cannot shake the mood with an afternoon of laughter – and these moods begin to impact your life in all areas. Their grip is so tight that you lose your ability to function regularly. 

A few of the most common mood disorders are: 

• Major Depressive Disorders
• Bipolar Disorders
• Depression Induced by a Substance Use or Medication

Substance-Induced Mood Disorders

The type of mood disorder that gets induced when a substance is used does not go away quickly. They have been known to last for weeks or months. Maybe even longer! 

You may question why anyone will want to continue to use a drug if it leads to these terrible feelings. That is because it does not happen initially. Those who use drugs and alcohol feel good after that initial use. After all, that is what gets them coming back for more, right? They continue to use, and, with time, the good feelings wear off and a mood disorder starts moving in. Without even realizing what is happening, you can be faced with a struggle that you do not know how to get out of.

How is it determined that the mood disorder is substance-induced? 

If you had symptoms of or had been diagnosed with a mood disorder before drug or alcohol use, then you would not meet the diagnosis criteria for substance-induced mood disorders. Though if you have no history of a mood disorder, but it appeared when you began using substances, then it would likely be considered a substance-induced mood disorder.

How Long Does it Take?

As previously mentioned, symptoms of substance-induced mood disorders do not appear after the initial use. In other words, you do not go out drinking and partying one night and wake up the next day with a mood disorder you cannot shake. Though, that doesn’t mean that seed hasn’t been planted in your body. 

Some professionals in the field claim that a depressive episode can kick in during the initial intoxication. For others, it can happen during the withdrawal. Keep in mind that depression itself is a symptom of withdrawal – and it should disappear once the withdraw is over. 

If it doesn’t? You could be facing substance-induced depression. 

Substances that Impact Mood Disorders

Different drugs can lead to various mood disorders – but the number one substance that leads to mood disorders (primarily depression) is alcohol. 

Other substances that may lead to substance-induced depressive disorder include the following: 

• Opioids
• Sedatives
• Cannabis
• Cocaine
• Amphetamines
• Hallucinogens
• Tobacco
• Nicotine
• Caffeine
• Inhalants

Symptoms

Everyone who battles a substance-induced mood disorder will have their own symptoms. However, the following symptoms are most common: 

• Lack of energy
• Sadness or lack of interest
• Insomnia
• Sleep too much
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Foggy mind/Inability to concentrate
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Physical pains

Complications of Mood Disorders

If you have a mood disorder that is substance-induced, then you are subject to some risks that may require attention from professionals. These include: 

• Thoughts/acts of harming one’s self
• Thoughts/acts of harming others
• Interpersonal issues
• Difficulty at work – and time away
• Lengthy hospital stays 

Additional Common Substance-Induced Disorders

It Is important to note that substances can induce mood disorders as well as other types of disorders. Here are a few disorders to pay attention to: 

• Substance-induced anxiety disorder
• Substance-induced psychotic disorder
• Substance-induced sleep disorder
• Substance-induced delirium

And many more. These disorders appear to have a direct correlation to substance use. 

When to Seek Help

Mood disorders can greatly impact your quality of life and interfere with those people and things important to you. Seek help from a professional if you experience any of the following: 

• Believe you may have an addiction to drugs or alcohol. 
• Feel as though you have strong emotions that you cannot handle – emotions that are impacting your interpersonal relationships, work, social aspects of life, and your overall quality of life. 
• Have thoughts of harming yourself or others. (In this case, seek help immediately)

Taking that first step is what will lead you on a journey to the rest of your life. 

Substance-induced mood disorders may appear unexpectedly and during different times of substance use. Yet, they may last for a long time. Don’t feel like you are doomed to suffer with them or feel as though you can’t break the cycle of your substance use.

Explore the benefits of joining a holistic healing program and begin your journey to addiction recovery and healing.

Detoxification is the first step to addiction recovery. This step flushes your system of harmful substances and prepares you to continue forward toward a healthier lifestyle. A detox program for women will be specifically designed to cater to your needs as a woman as you seek to heal your mind, body, and spirit.

If you live with an addiction, your ability to think clearly is altered. And since addiction recovery involves being able to heal and transform your life by getting to compassionately know the real you, then you need to clear your mind. 

In this article, we will take a closer look at the process and benefits relating to detox for women.

Detox for Women

The detoxification process, or drug detox, is the first step to addiction recovery. It is the process of removing the drug and its toxins from within the body. 

Depending on the addiction and the length of use, the amount of time needed to detox will vary. During this period, the body will begin the process of physiologically healing itself. And, quite honestly, since there are many unpleasant experiences that one will go through when detoxing, the process also involves managing these symptoms. 

Here’s what you need to know about the process and benefits of a detox for women program

The Detox Process

Getting through the detox process means being ready to fight some tough, intense battles. Women are warriors, but even they need support during this course. It may take several hours after the last dose of a substance before the withdrawal symptoms may commence. Though it is important to note that these symptoms will vary depending on the type of drug used. 

The factors that play a part in determining the degree of the detox include:

• The combination, if any, of drugs and alcohol use. Having more than one in your system can impact the withdrawal. 
• How long you have been addicted. The longer the use, the more severe and lengthy the 
• Whether or not there are any co-occurring mental health issues or physical disorders that may become magnified under the weight of the withdrawal. 
• Amount of most recent usage. For instance, those who use knowing they are heading into detox may use at a higher level. 

Throughout the entire detox process, you should make sure you are monitored by medical and psychiatric staff. 

As far as the actual process for your detox, there are a couple of different methods. For instance, quitting the drug cold turkey means letting it go without any medication to calm the withdrawal. Should things get too bad, a medical team can step in but it is not usually part of the process. 

Short-term and long-term medicated detox is a method of detoxing that uses various medications overseen by a medical professional to ease the pain and discomfort associated with the process. The type of assistance and the length it is received will be dependent on the type of addiction. 

Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms will vary from person to person – primarily depending on the type of drug you are detoxing from. Generally, many people will experience intense cravings for the drug, flu-like symptoms, mood swings and agitation, and insomnia. Let’s take a brief look at a few of the most common detox symptoms based on the substance used. 

• Alcohol: sweating, chills, insomnia, nausea/vomiting, anxiety. More severe symptoms include seizures, hallucinations, agitation, and confusion. 
• Benzodiazepine: anxiety, irritability and aggression, hallucinations, tremors, and seizures. 
• Heroin: sweating, anxiety, agitation/aggression, runny nose, insomnia, uncontrollable yawning, and body aches. 
• Opioid: bone, joint, and muscle aches and pains, as well as gastrointestinal issues. 
• Bath salts: depression, insomnia, shakes and tremors, and paranoia.
• Stimulants: depression, thoughts of self-harm, and suicide. 

Depending on how bad the addiction is (and other factors as discussed), the withdrawal symptoms can be severe and perhaps even life-threatening. Choosing to detox in a facility that has the support necessary to handle these withdrawal symptoms should they become dangerous is something you may want to consider. 

Remember, amid detox, it is not always easy to see what may be best for you so relying on healthcare professionals may make a huge difference in the outcome. 

Detox Types

There are three basic different types of drug detox programs – outpatient, inpatient, and at home. While you will need to determine the one that fits best with your needs, there are a few things you should consider. 

An inpatient detox program is the most highly recommended choice thanks to the close monitoring and support of professionals throughout the entire withdrawal process. 

An outpatient detox program is not as ideal since you would not receive the same round-the-clock care and inpatient. However, for those with a strong support system at home and who will be willing to commit to checking in with the facility, this could be successful. 

At-home detox is an option, but not recommended at all. It misses the professional care and attention, as well as the comforts that the other options can bring. This also means, of course, that they are not as effective. 

Treating Addiction

Treating addiction comes after detox. You cannot treat the addiction if your mind is not clear and focused on loosening the grip it has on you. 

Once detox is over, treating addiction means getting to the bottom of any pain, trauma, or mental health issue that may have led to substance abuse in the first place. Many treatment programs will put together a personalized treatment plan that will encompass any needs you may have. In fact, many of these plans include services, such as: 

• Individual, family, or group counseling
• Medical attention
• Educational relapse prevention classes

Teaching you how to reintegrate into society safely means re-learning life skills. But it also means healing your mind, body, and spirit. This is the only true way to heal and transform your life as the strong woman that you are. 

A healthy addiction treatment program will help you discover who you truly are by ways of artistic expression, mindfulness training, learning how to love yourself and treat your body right through proper nutrition, and more. You can’t expect to detox and go back to living the life you lived before the drug abuse. You must compassionately heal yourself from the inside. 

When you are ready to detox and grow into the woman you were made to be, take that first step. 

If you’re interested in starting your journey toward recovery and healthier living, contact Villa Kali Ma to learn more about our unique Detox Program.

Drug addiction negatively affects every aspect of life, including your physical health, your mental health, and your relationships. Addiction often involves lying, which makes it difficult to maintain trust, respect, and open communication.

In this article, we’re taking a closer look at how drug addiction affects relationships.

How Drug Addiction Affects Relationships

Our relationships with other people are centered around the bond of trust. The degree to which we entrust another person with our vulnerabilities, our thoughts, and our emotions form the basis of how close we can allow ourselves to get. There is no relationship more important to have established trust in than our intimate one. When our loved one develops a drug addiction, that trust can begin to deteriorate from the inside-out.

Here’s how drug addiction affects relationships.

Dealing with Lies

A person with a drug addiction doesn’t typically set out to become a liar. The lies merely become a symptom of how much the addiction has taken over the life of our loved ones. In the beginning, this person may rationalize that the lies are protecting you from uncomfortable information. As the addiction progresses, the lies will be justified as necessary to continue to engage in behaviors that you do not approve of. Eventually, a person deep into addiction may become so accustomed to lying that it becomes second nature to do so.

The experience of increasingly deteriorating trust levels between you and a loved one is incredibly stressful. You are likely to spend large amounts of time trying to find ways to believe what you have been told. You may devote large amounts of precious time and energy to sleuthing out the facts of your loved one’s behavior and claims. You may find yourself thinking that you are the one going crazy.

Impairment of Intimacy

It is little surprise that damaged trust leads to damaged intimacy. Intimacy, by nature, involves feeling safe enough to be vulnerable with a person. When this person whom you have thus far shared your life with begins to turn into a stranger, the entire foundation of intimacy is torn apart. You can’t confide your daily stresses to someone who is distracted and disconnected. You can’t open your heart to someone who is in the habit of lying to you.

This barrier to intimacy extends to the bedroom, as well. Depending on our personal perspectives when it comes to sex, we may no longer feel comfortable engaging in that sort of bonding activity while our partner is in active addiction. The attitude and approach of the addicted person toward sex are likely to be changing, as well. Some types of addiction contribute to a voracious sex drive, while other types will completely dissolve sexual interest. Either way, it goes, your sex life will be infringed upon by the specter of addiction.

Abuse

While it can be argued that lies and denial of intimacy are their own form of abuse, it can get much more drastic. A person in addiction is most often only selfishly concerned, and this concern has to do with scoring the next high. To someone with an addiction problem, you can become nothing more than a barrier between the addict and the drug.

The degree of abuse that is inflicted by a person in addiction can vary according to several factors. The personality bend of your loved one prior to the addiction, the severity of the addiction, and the type of substance that is being used can all play a role in what type of abuse is experienced. In cases of physical abuse, there is usually a discernible cycle. In cases of emotional and psychological abuse, the signs can be much harder to recognize.

Parenting Difficulties

In all of your personal struggles with an addicted person, even more, heartbreaking is going through this experience with children involved. Attempting to co-parent with someone who is addicted is even worse than going it alone.

The sober parent can struggle with internal battles about how much to expose the children to the addicted parent, and how to explain what is going on in a way that a child is capable of processing. If all parties are still living in the same home, chances are good that the children are frequently exposed to the same type of treatment that you are. This can be too much for their developing minds to properly handle and can lead to mental health problems down the road.

The mental and emotional struggles with deciding whether to stay or to leave, deciding on how to explain the situation to the children, and deciding on the best way to protect them from the behaviors of an addict can sap every last drop of mental energy.

Financial Struggles

The difficulties of being in a relationship with an addict cross over into practical matters, as well.

The money for the drugs or alcohol has to come from somewhere, and, unless your addicted loved one is a so-called functioning addict, you will often find yourself to be the one footing that tab. A person who is deep into addiction will not only dip into savings for the high but can also end up with no qualms about using the milk and diaper money for it. An addicted person can not only end up losing a job but can make your attempts to maintain a 9-5 similarly difficult.

Codependency and Enabling

While reading about all of these very obvious factors which contribute to a dysfunctional relationship with an addict makes it sound simple, the reality is much more complex. Most of us don’t start out our loving relationship with these signs of addiction so evident. They are more likely to creep in, bit by bit, and slowly change our whole world. Like the analogy of the frog in a pot of boiling water, we can end up in over our heads before we know it.

Deciding what to do after already in the middle of a situation is extremely difficult. It is important to be aware of signs that we are enabling our addicted loved ones to continue the destructive behavior. Codependency is the term that is used to describe a situation where we think we are helping, but we are actually providing the addicted person with the means to sustain the behavior. If you notice that the signs of codependency are present in your relationship, seek some of your own therapy.

If you are stuck in the destructive cycle of drug addiction and worry it may be affecting your relationships, consider exploring the benefits of sustainable recovery here at Villa Kali Ma.

Substance abuse among women has increased significantly in recent years. Research from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) reveals rates of nonmedical prescription drug use are higher among women. Women who turn to substances in order to self-medicate are at risk of becoming addicted.

In this article, we’re exploring the connection between women and substance abuse, including the common causes, signs, and paths to recovery.

Women and Substance Abuse

There are several clear stages of addiction, including the initial introduction, escalation, and maintenance. Research shows women respond differently than men. For example, women will have a more pleasurable experience during the introduction of a substance and are more likely to self-medicate. In terms of escalation, women are more likely to increase the frequency of using substances. Once the addictive behavior is established, women will stabilize at higher doses of substances and experience greater side effects of the drug.

Let’s take a closer look at the connection between women and substance abuse, including the common causes, signs, and holistic healing options.

Origins of Substance Abuse for Women

Most of us know that it isn’t good practice to blame any one thing, directly, for our problems. That isn’t to say that there are not certain factors that play a prominent role in a woman’s journey into the dark realm of substance abuse.

Whether it be due to biological or cultural factors – or a combination of both – women are more likely to place emphasis on the quality of relationships. As such, many of the precursors to a woman developing a substance abuse problem are related to the dynamics experienced in relationships.

Traumatic Childhoods

While it is not an exclusively female problem to carry the weight of negative childhood experiences long into adulthood, biological women do tend to internalize the trauma more than those with an XY chromosome combination. In our roles as nurturers – as empirically evidenced by the state of pregnancy – we take our interpersonal experiences to heart.

This empathetic disposition can mean that we tend to seek to blame ourselves before blaming others, up to and including blaming ourselves for not being able to make our experience as children into something better.

The scars that are carried from traumatic childhood events – such as being physically, sexually, or emotionally abused – can be taken forward with us into the future, and can result in becoming trapped in a self-defeating cycle of anxiety, depression, and self-loathing. Substance abuse often stems from a desire to escape these negative feelings.

Toxic Relationships

Closely related to the topic of traumatic childhoods is that of toxic adult relationships.

It is a well-observed phenomenon that dysfunctional families of origin set the stage for our seeking out and engaging in dysfunctional relationships as adults. Having a difficult childhood isn’t always a prerequisite to getting ourselves into bad relationships, however. Sometimes, we just have to learn through experience.

A toxic relationship is one that does more harm than good. Elements of a toxic relationship can include all forms of abuse, lies, and cheating. Less obvious signs of a toxic relationship include being asked to give more than you get, feeling invalidated when it comes to your feelings and perspectives, and having a partner who is emotionally unavailable.

Due to the complexities of relationship factors, some women will take a long time to realize that they would be better off on their own. Meanwhile, they may attempt to reduce the misery by developing a dependency on drugs or alcohol.

Work-Home Stress

While this category of substance abuse temptation may not initially appear to have the common factor of being relationship-oriented, a closer look will reveal the link.

Prior to WWII, women had the primary function of being a homemaker. As women increasingly gained the ability to make their own money, a new sense of female empowerment was obtained. That glow of that accomplishment was somewhat dimmed once we realized that we now had to be responsible for managing both worlds, simultaneously.

Any woman who has engaged in the task of fulfilling the role of being an attentive wife, a loving parent, a good homemaker, and a successful employee – and at the same time – knows that the pressure of it all can become too much.

The stress of trying to be a superwoman can lead us to want just the least bit of reprieve. What starts out as a nightly glass of wine or sleeping pill to unwind can turn into a craving for more relief. This need for more relief can result in a substance abuse problem.

Signs of Substance Abuse in Women

When it comes to signs of substance abuse for women, there are many similarities with those found in men. One of the notable differences tends to lie in a woman’s historical tendency to avoid aggressive responses and shun risk-taking behavior. If you – or a woman you love – are increasingly showing signs of anger, violence, or lack of concern for safety, there may be a substance abuse issue at the core.

Universal signs of a substance abuse problem include neglecting responsibilities, withdrawing from social engagements, not being able to account for missing money, and disruptions in sleep patterns.

Outside of the obvious factor of being visibly intoxicated, many of the symptoms of a substance abuse problem can also be associated with certain mental health disorders. It is important to not jump to conclusions when observing these signs in a loved one.

Recovery from Substance Abuse

As our community knowledge and skill level in treating substance abuse issues improve, so does the prognosis for recovery. Substance abuse problems are now often considered within the context of other, underlying, mental health concerns. Co-occurring disorder treatment seeks to heal the inner wounds that may lead to substance abuse while simultaneously providing education and motivation to move away from a dependence on drugs or alcohol.

A woman who learns to love herself, initiate healthy boundaries with others, and obtain a healthy work-home balance is in a better position to resist the temptation to escape the pressures of life through substance abuse.

If you are stuck in the destructive cycle of substance abuse, consider exploring the benefits of sustainable recovery here at Villa Kali Ma. We work to heal women from the effects of addictions and the underlying emotional intolerance that fuels the avoidance cycle.

We invite you to share yourself in your own time when you are ready. Know that you are welcome to unfold your imperfections and vulnerabilities in a safe space free of judgment, condemnation, rejection, and ridicule. At Villa Kali Ma, you will be welcomed and cared for with the respect, love, and dignity you deserve.

The reach of alcoholism extends far beyond the person struggling with the addiction. It affects families in often dramatic and life-altering ways. While most family members adapt or have the ability to remove themselves from a toxic situation, children have less of a voice in how their loved ones’ choices will impact their lives.

Despite their profound abilities to adapt and overcome, children rarely make it through these formative years of their lives unscathed. Nearly seven million children grew up in homes plagued by alcoholism. Irrevocable change happens to those forced to navigate the trauma of instability and neglect.

While we can overcome and heal from those experiences, their continued effects on our lives are also often overlooked. From childhood into the far-reaching corners of adulthood, being the child of an alcoholic alters the core of who someone is or who they will become. Read on to learn more about the scars of adult children of alcoholics.

Adult Children of Alcoholics

When uncertainty is a benchmark of growing up, children learn to mask their trauma and cope by whatever means necessary. Often this leads to becoming fearful of several things:

• • Criticism
  • Authority
  • Anger
  • Loss of approval

It may lead to following in the family’s footsteps of developing an unhealthy relationship with alcohol or other risk-seeking behaviors. There are numerous ways that those traits may express themselves. Many whose childhoods were riddled with alcohol-related strife find difficulty in their adult lives regulating their moods and behavior.

Distortion of reality to avoid responsibility is just as likely as becoming so consumed with the need to control that they struggle to make connections that may threaten their independence. Thus, they once developed the survival strategies to cope with their reality and may now affect their behavior and relationships in extensive ways.

Emotional Dysfunction

It’s not uncommon for children of alcoholics to grow into adults who struggle to love — especially when love has always looked like fixing — or to repress emotions into numbness. They may struggle to make connections and find security in the relationships they do have.

Often, they experience profound difficulty trusting themselves, leading to low self-esteem, doubts in decision-making abilities, and intense fears of abandonment. When you are a child of an alcoholic family, there is little regularity or stability in how your outward emotional expressions are received.

Regulating those feelings can be difficult when the reactions from a parent struggling with sobriety are unpredictable. It can rob you of the sense of safety and, in self-preservation, lead to the need to conceal or repress those emotions.

While we can overcome this nature’s emotional trauma, it can also become deeply cemented in how we operate in the world. With such deeply ingrained behaviors, it’s possible that as you age, you may struggle to see them as fixable or even as problems at all.

Because of how we have learned to survive, emotions can feel wildly varied in their accessibility to us. It can feel unsafe to express them to those we perceive to have authority over us or those who may offer rejection in exchange for our vulnerability.

Problematic Priorities

To the children of alcoholic families, perhaps the most challenging aspect of wrapping their head around is their demotion on their parent’s list of priorities. As drinking becomes the focus of every day, it becomes the organizing factor in daily life.

Physical health suffers, as alcoholism can contribute to cardiac stress, liver dysfunction, and many blood pressure issues. Physical impacts do not lie solely with the alcoholic. Health issues can manifest in their loved ones, children in particular, as anxiety or even malnourishment in some cases.

Financial security becomes tentative when facing threats to employment and the expense of alcohol. Also, lower inhibitions when drinking may be the catalyst for overspending, leaving little money for necessities. This can spark food and shelter insecurity that becomes a critical fear of children as they move into adulthood.

It can manifest in extreme behaviors on either end of the financial spectrum. Some children find security in saving every penny for emergencies. In contrast, others use their past as an excuse for reckless adult spending since they already survived such instability once.

The High Risks & Hopes for Children of Alcoholics

While there is a significantly higher risk of adult children of alcoholics turning to drink themselves, there is also a lot of hope. Children who grow up seeing the repercussions of the disease have a step up in the awareness of where it may lead and are acutely aware of the warning signs before getting there.

Organizations like Adult Children of Alcoholics support the unique struggles of children who have grown up in this type of environment. As treatment centers like Villa Kali Ma work to restore your loved one to health in body, mind, and soul, know that the work of recovery is only beginning.

Healing family relationships is essential to sustainable recovery. It’s possible to overcome the trauma and habits ingrained from childhood and decide that you want to walk a different path. Through support and a healing treatment environment, we can soothe your inner child to build a future of hope and health beyond the reach of alcoholism.