alcohol Archives - South Florida Drug Rehabilitation | Simple Path Recovery

Alcohol is a Substance

Matthew Koenig — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 18:04:41 +0000

Is alcohol a substance? To answer this query, another question must be asked: Does the substance alter your mood? Alcohol is a depressant that quickly changes the central nervous system. When people drink alcohol, their physical and cognitive functions become compromised. In fact, it is the oldest and most widely abused substance on the planet.

As drinking increases, most start to experience tremors, rapid pulse, elevated blood pressure, rapid breathing, sweating, and nausea. Simple Path Recovery helps many people overcome their addiction to alcohol. If you are struggling with alcoholism, our treatment programs can help you get sober and stay that way.

Story of Alcohol

The history of alcohol goes a long way back. The first archeologic proof is dated to 7000 BC. Interestingly enough, alcohol has played a key role in the survival of early people. Why? The process of fermentation preserves and improves the dietary value of drinks and food. Once this discovery was made, alcohol became a commodity for trade and protected the health of the wealthy. Those on poverty levels drank water that could be easily contaminated from unsanitary conditions which spread disease.

When Drinking Goes Beyond Socializing

How would you describe your drinking routine? Maybe it’s hanging out with friends and having a good time. However, when people think of alcoholics most conjure up stereotypes that do not quite fit your picture of an alcoholic. For example, a wino sitting outside drinking out of a paper bag. Alcoholism manifests itself in so many ways. You might only struggle to control your drinking and not consider yourself truly addicted. However, when you can’t just have two drinks for entire evening without feeling anxious, withdrawn, or agitated, then you might be on your way to alcoholism.

Your Mental Health and Alcoholism

If you've been drinking for a long time, you may have noticed your tolerance has increased over time. Tolerance leads to you drinking more to attain the same sensation Chronic drinkers often suffer from a condition called “wet brain.” This disorder is a result of chronic alcohol abuse. This syndrome is a form of dementia that is a result of a shortage of thiamine. thiamin is necessary for the growth, development and function of cells. Alcohol inhibits the body’s ability to absorb this vital brain nutrient.

Simple Path Recovery is an oceanside, boutique addiction treatment center located in Pompano Beach, FL. Recognized as a Top Florida Drug & Alcohol Rehab, Simple Path is committed to individualized care, 12-step integration, and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). Their addiction helpline is available 24/7 at 855-467-3625.

About the Author
Matthew Koenig is the principal of Last Call Marketing, which devotes their efforts to Digital Marketing, Content Marketing, Website Design and SEO, primarily in healthcare and tourism concerns. Mr. Koenig is based out of South Florida. His sober date is June 10, 2013.

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People and Places in Early Recovery

Matthew Koenig — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 14:46:12 +0000

Your World Has Changed

Getting detoxified from drugs and alcohol is a top priority when starting recovery. At the same time, changing your behaviors is a necessary step towards sobriety. An important ingredient to behavior change is to break-up from the environment(s) you once knew. Once a person returns home from treatment, it’s advantageous to be mindful of people, places and things that are tied to your addiction.

Learn to Avoid People Who Abuse Drugs or Alcohol

Coming back to your community after treatment means seeing people who you were close to but may present a threat to your sobriety. The notion of seeing old friends likely feels good, but now that you have started a new, sober life, you need to reevaluate the friends in your circle.

Start by considering the people with whom you spend time. This includes family members, friends, coworkers, and more. Ask yourself some questions about your interactions with them. For instance, are they currently using or abusing drugs or alcohol? At the same time, Will they encourage me to stay healthy and make good choices?

Spending time with people who prove to have a positive influence on your life makes a difference. Likewise, the people who present an obstacle to your sober lifestyle need to be ballast from your life.

Avoid the Places Where Addiction Occurred

One of the pleasures of returning home from treatment involves visiting familiar places. Before going out somewhere, contemplate if the place might be a trigger for you. If you connect a favorite restaurant with having several drinks, it may be best to avoid that for now. Look for other restaurants to create new memories in.

Other places that you might associate with drinking can even include a friend’s house where you used or drank alcoholically. Decide if you are ready to add these places back to your life. If the desire to indulge in drinking or using is too strong, you’ll need some new, sober spots to hang out in. This will not be easy, but it is necessary for the time being.

Be Careful about Dating in Early Sobriety

For those who are single, most professionals recommend their patients avoid getting involved in a relationship too early in recovery. Some even suggest waiting one year. When you do feel ready to join the dating world, be cautious about those prospects and how they may affect your recovery. For example, if a dating profile indicates a person is a daily drinker and is “420” friendly, then you should pass on this type of lifestyle.

You may also feel a natural gravitation toward someone who is in recovery. A lot of people meet and date in 12-step programs. However, make sure that they have a strong footing in recovery. A person who has a shaky recovery can easily influence someone who is in love with them.

You may also begin dating someone who has never dealt with addiction issues. Be upfront that your recovery is your top priority. Without this understanding, it may seem logical to them to say “why don’t you have just one drink with me” or ask you to skip a meeting to do another activity with them. Statements like these would indicate that your sobriety is not their priority. By the way, it’s not their problem, but it is yours so be mindful and vigilant. Your future self will thank you for it!

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How to Assist an Alcoholic

Matthew Koenig — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 18:03:53 +0000

“How to assist an alcoholic” is a burning question that many families struggle to understand. You’ve observed them over time and, seen first-hand, the progressive disease of alcoholism. Truth be told, you have also seen the costs of their addiction to alcohol, such as divorce, job loss and deteriorating health. It is easy to feel powerless when you’re up against alcoholism, but fortunately, there are some things you can do to help. If you’re prepared to help your loved one, then the first thing you need to do is take care of yourself. That means to join a local Al-ANON group support group and gather the experiences from those who have walked in your shoes.

Learn More About Alcoholism

Besides participating in Al-ANON, one of the most valuable things you can do is learn more about the disease itself. The more you are able to understand the disease, the more you are able to comprehend your loved one’s actions and behaviors.

Some essential things to be mindful of include:

People suffering from alcohol addiction act out in ways they typically wouldn’t. If your loved one has become belligerent, disobedient, or even violent, it is important to understand that their disease is typically the cause for their negative behavior.

Alcoholism chemically rewires the brain. This means that their dependency on alcohol is difficult to stop.

Alcohol addiction is a medical diagnosis portrayed by compulsive drinking with lack of control over quantity consumed.

“What Not to Do” With an Alcoholic

While there are some things you can do to help an “alcoholic”, here is EXACTLY what you should NOT do:

Don’t Enable. If you’re giving your loved one money, a roof over their head, making excuses for their drinking or defending them - you are an enabler! It is hard to accept, but the sooner your loved one experiences the consequences of drinking, the sooner they ask for help to stop.

It’s Not Your Fault. As a way to manipulate those around them, alcoholics accuse others for their drinking. Just know, this is an attempt to shift the conversation onto you. Don’t fall for it!

Stop Making Excuses for Them. Defending your loved one from other people in their lives who have worry will only feed into their denial.

Don’t Live in the Past. If your loved one has done something reprehensible while in the grip of their addiction, it is imperative to let this go if you want to move on.

Don’t give Up. Your loved one can take many trips to treatment before it finally registers with them. Relapse is a common part of addiction. The trick is to not give up on your loved one and offer your support and love instead.

If you’re ready to get help for your loved one, we are here for you. Our admissions team is available 24-hours a day to help guide you through the process and provide any assistance you may need.

Simple Path Recovery is a oceanside, boutique addiction treatment center located in Pompano Beach, FL. Recognized as a Top Florida Drug & Alcohol Rehab, Simple Path is committed to individualized care, 12-step integration, and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). Their addiction helpline is available 24/7 at 855-467-3625.

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Are You Ready for Addiction Treatment?

Matthew Koenig — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 19:34:24 +0000

In 2020, Covid-19 created a new set of drinkers and recreational drug users. With overwhelming isolation and boredom, it’s not hard to understand how someone can fall victim to temptation when normally they were adverse. At the same time, those teens and adults who were already “active” took their game to the next level, for the very same reason. What has happened is a huge spike in behavioral health / addiction problems that has led our country to what will account to about 82,000 drug overdose deaths in 2020 (an increase of over 10,000 from 2019). The point to all of this is simply that addiction is slippery slope and it’s not hard to get into the deep end of the pool quickly.

Increased Alcohol & Drug Use

Alcohol and drugs change how your brain handles emotions or feelings. Substances prevent the signals sent from one neuron to another. For example, drugs like heroin, can act as a neurotransmitter, a chemical at the end of a nerve that delivers responses to other nerves because they can imitate the chemicals produced by your brain. Other drugs like cocaine can trigger an irregular amount of natural neurotransmitters or block neurotransmitters’ reuse. Whether the substance is cocaine, marijuana, alcohol or an opioid, all substances hinder with the brain’s natural message structure.

Think about this way: when you first use a substance, you didn’t need a lot to get high or tipsy. At first, you used what your friends were using. The use became a part of regular social situations. However, as time went by, you noted you required more to achieve the same effect. At the same time, increased use of a substance amplifies the risk of long-term damage to your brain, organs, or mood. This could suggest that it’s time to get help for substance use disorder (SUD).

Time for Florida Addiction Treatment

Once you make a decision to change, it is time to think about going to rehab. Drug and alcohol treatment should incorporate detoxification, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, or outpatient therapy. Substance abuse treatment is the first step to take back your self-control. Whether you decide to stop using because of consequences or an increased need for substances, you are choosing to take back your life. Make an appointment with an admissions counselor at Simple Path Recovery and discuss your drug and alcohol use, goals, and level of care you might need. Thorough addiction treatment creates a groundwork for a healthy, long-term recovery journey.

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