Women Struggle with Opioids, Too: How to Help Loved Ones with Addiction

Women are at risk of having addiction issues as much as men are, but opioids seem to be taking their toll lately. Chronic pain is difficult to treat and opioids have been the drug of choice for some time. Women are part of a growing trend when it comes to opioid abuse and dependence. Find out why they are struggling and how to offer support.

What is Happening

Women are more likely to develop substance use disorder than men but are turning to opioids more often to treat chronic pain and other issues. Women’s bodies experience opioid use differently than men as they are more likely to suffer chronic pain or become patients who need prescription drugs. Dependency on opioids is more likely for women and they generally use them longer than men do. Common opioid drugs they use include:

  • Hydrocodone
  • Meperidine
  • Morphine
  • Oxycodone
  • Codeine
  • Fentanyl

There are myriad reasons for women experience drug abuse in general, but opioids seem to be where they turn for treating symptoms of emotional trauma and a history of abuse.

Opioid Use for Trauma and Neglect

Emotions tend to be where women struggle more than men. While men may experience stress at work or in their personal lives and turn to drink or substances to calm themselves, women often turn to substances to fight back against negative emotions. This includes mental, physical, and even sexual abuse, neglect, or trauma they experienced in the past. Women who experienced trauma as children or domestic violence are more likely to become dependent on drugs or alcohol. 

Seeking Help

The reality of addiction is that it hits all demographics. Many women who suffer from opioid abuse seem less stable in their housing or educational levels, women who abuse opioids are more likely to be homeless and need supportive services to get back on their feet. There are also high-functioning women with opioid addiction who are working in professional careers while hiding substance abuse. The cycle of abuse impacts women of all ages and income levels. Treatment based recovery programs for women are able to focus on their specific needs and offer the help they are desperately seeking to get on their feet, return to their families, and provide support for their unique journey of healing. 

A Step in the Right Direction provides space for women to experience healing from addiction. We understand the pain and trauma women face and their unique needs in recovery. Our goal is to provide a safe place for you to find healing. For more information, sober living programs for men and women as well as recovery programs, call (877) 377-3702. 

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Does the Way Other People See Me Matter?

People tend to talk about personality traits like how they are generous, kind, or funny. Being self-aware is a good thing, including knowing how you function best. The challenge is that it lends itself to wondering how others see you and whether or not that even matters. If you are not aware of your behavior one moment to the next, it is hard to know what kind of person you are in general. There are advantages of having self-knowledge but if you come across as arrogant, people may not want to be around you. Learn more about why the way other people see you matters.

Cultivating Mindfulness

One of the best ways to experience seeing yourself in a more positive light is to understand how other people see you does not matter as much as you might think. You may experience criticism and feel like others are challenging you. However, there is a process and it takes time to become mindful of how you believe others see you and to release this. Some tips below can help you navigate this challenge:

  • Accept yourself honestly: your strength comes from your self-belief. When you feel strong within yourself, you own your decisions and choices. You no longer feel the need to look to others for approval. Start a journal or begin by noting the things you’re most proud of in your life. When you write what feels good, you begin to love those things about yourself and cultivate joy
  • Don’t seek validation: stop looking for validation in others about decisions you’ve made. There is nothing saying you cannot look to be validated. As humans, we all like that. But it can be triggering to ask people to validate you if you don’t first validate yourself. Check in with yourself and remind yourself it is your decision and your life. Go on and live it for yourself, no for others
  • Find community: the best thing in recovery is to find a group of people who love and support you where you are right now. When you have authentic community, you build on this potential for finding those people who will have your back and help you soar higher than you ever thought possible

The key to moving beyond what other people see is to listen carefully. If they are trying to speak truth into your life, then that is one thing. If they are just being negative and not helpful in their thoughts or feelings about you, then you may need to reconsider what they say. Sometimes there is a grain of truth in what people say, including criticism, so take it with a grain of salt. You don’t have to take other people’s ‘stuff’ and let it bother you. You can find hope and healing on the other side of overanalyzing what people think about you by just knowing what feels right to hold onto and what you rather let go of in the moment.

A Step in the Right Direction provides quality care for clients seeking support for addiction recovery. We teach people how to live a sober life through programs, therapeutic support, and evidence-based therapies. Our recovery program is staffed by people who understand the power of addiction. For more information sober living programs for men and women as well as recovery programs, call (877) 377-3702.

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How to End a Friendship Well

Making friends in recovery is a challenge already but sometimes it is not so hard when you are on the same page. When you meet someone who believes what you do or wants to engage in being friends over a hobby or common interest, it can be exciting. Someone who sees you and understands what you are going through can be life giving. People also grow apart for many reasons in recovery. It may be necessary for toxic friends to leave your life so you can make a healthy step forward. Learn some tips for how to end friendships well and maintain peace in your soul.

Know Your Reasons

Outline for yourself the reasons why you cannot maintain a friendship with the people in question. This helps you move forward as you end the friendship. One way is journaling feelings. This provides safe space to get out feelings and thoughts without discussing them with others. Some common reasons you may end a friendship:

  • You’ve grown apart
  • Your values have shifted
  • The friend is toxic
  • The person is a friendly rival
  • Your friend cuts you down rather than building up
  • Your friend is deceitful
  • Your lives have changed and you no longer fit in each other’s circles

Know that a friend should not ask you to compromise your integrity, values, or commitments. They will not ask you to lie or hurt someone. It may feel like a loss, but someone who no longer makes your life better does not deserve to take up space any longer in your circle of friends.

Healthy Disconnection

There are challenges to letting go of a friend. There is a gradual fade and ghosting, but those are not always good ideas unless they are done well. Learn some tips for how to end friendships well:

  • Gradual fade: let friendship close by reducing social contact and not engaging with them as much. This works well if the person is toxic or you are worried about hurting their feelings
  • Talk about it: the ‘talk’ can be a stepping stone to ending a friendship but might also lead to fixing it if done right. Ask to meet them for a chat. Talk to them about your goals and setting boundaries. If they are not on board and you have no agreement, it may be good to end it gently
  • Take a break. It will give you fresh perspective, calm down on any irritants, and let you miss your friend. If you are busy and cannot get together and notice you haven’t thought about them much, it may be a sign it’s okay to keep moving forward without them
  • End it right away: it is hard but the truth is not everyone stays friends forever. It can be good but be clear about where you stand and why. Be clear on your boundaries and gentle but firm about expectations

Saying goodbye can be hard, even throwing you into a grief process of letting go. It may trigger a relapse if you have been friends for awhile or it was toxic and difficult. Be sure to have the support of friends, family, and mentors to walk you through the challenges before you go ahead and end it and provide help after the fact. This will help you navigate the new journey ahead with support.

A Step in the Right Direction provides quality care for clients seeking support for addiction recovery. We teach people how to live a sober life through programs, therapeutic support, and evidence-based therapies. Our recovery program is staffed by people who understand the power of addiction. For more information sober living programs for men and women as well as recovery programs, call (877) 377-3702.

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Try These Tips to Help You Make Better Decisions

Every day we are faced with choices of how we are going to behave and make decisions. Some are smaller decisions, like what to wear. Others are bigger choices about what can be decided for the future like career and school decisions. Some decisions take time while others must be made right now. Discover which decision-making mistakes and obstacles might influence daily choices.

Mental Shortcuts

People make decisions using mental shortcuts or rules of thumb to make judgment of decisions. These shortcuts help to lighten the load when making choices, like a fast track way there. Some of the advantages of this:

  • They work frequently but with disadvantages
  • Sometimes lead us to make mistakes and misjudge situations
  • Representative mental shortcuts judge the probability of an event happening. Gamblers judge prospects of winning the game or losing in much the same way. It is all up to chance, for the most part
  • Availability mental shortcuts involve judging likelihood of an event based on how quickly similar things are called to mind. If the plane crashes, it is more common they are simply there because you can think of many examples of this happening but not necessarily to you so you extrapolate it ‘could happen’ based on past incidents

How to Make Better Decisions

One example of overconfidence is a type of bias known as the Dunning-Kruger effect. This bias causes people to overestimate intelligence and abilities, so they get bound to their own incompetence by default. No matter what, this may lead to poor decisions. To combat this, work on buffering your confidence with information to back up your plan. Another way that you can make better decisions is to look back and see what you did in the past. This tendency to look back retrospectively and spot signs leading up to an outcome is known as hindsight bias. Sometimes referred to as the ‘I-knew-it-all-along’ syndrome, this tendency can lead people to believe they could predict consequences in situations that are dependent on chance. There is no way to know the outcome of something, although you can look ahead and see some of the consequences that may play out. There is no true way to control or know what will happen from anyone else or the world at large.

It is easy to believe we make choices based on logic and rationality. The fact is there are a number of decision-making problems that complicate the process. Being aware of these pitfalls might help you make better decisions in the future. If you are struggling with making better decisions, it can help to consult with someone who is better at it and more practice. They can support you as you journey forward making healthier, more conscious choices. Therapeutic support and counseling is also a good avenue if you are wrestling with how to be more productive and healthy in making choices.

The best choice you can make for recovery is to practice good self care and seek help. We teach people how to live a sober life through programs, therapeutic support, and evidence-based therapies. Our recovery program is staffed by people who understand the power of addiction. For more information sober living programs for men and women as well as recovery programs, call (877) 377-3702.

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How to Manage Expectations vs. Reality

In spite of what your common sense may say, research shows people are not adept at predicting how we feel in many situations. Levels of happiness tend to diminish over the newlywed phase of being together. While we believe the ideal job, relationship, or bank account will change our happiness levels, they may only give us a temporary boost of joy. Our expectations may confuse our thinking with the wrong goals. Find some tips to better manage expectations versus reality.

The Reality of Expectations

The challenge with expectations is that they are part of the process of being human. Research backs up the idea we may not fully appreciate what we have when we are expecting more or compare what we could have. People who were exposed to a reminder of wealth spent less time savoring chocolate and enjoyed other things less. This is true of people who focus on what they do not have. It is easy to let thoughts color enjoyment of what blessings exist right now.

Become Aware

It is important to look deeper into expectations and how they stack up to reality. Some healthy tips:

  • When a new situation occurs, ask yourself what is expected to happen
  • Check expectations and where they come from
  • When disappointment hits, try to think about whether it was realistic to expect what you were hoping for
  • Make a plan for getting what you want next time and manage expectations and how to do this

Awareness comes from becoming aware of what you are expecting. Becoming aware of what you ‘should’ be expecting is a wise idea. When you find something happens and it is not expected, actively look for the positives in what you have. You may find once you get over disappointment, you have something you didn’t realize you wanted. Building appreciation for what you have is key.

Watch Social Media Presence

One of the biggest challenges of social media is the tendency to want what others have. It is great to know what direction you want things to go in, but don’t forget what you see is not necessarily what others are living. You may be overestimating people’s happiness. If you work at a job you hate enough to save for it, you may find your happiness is not long-lasting. It is important to savor what you have because it builds further appreciation. It helps you expand joy for the experience and support your journey of recovery.

A Step in the Right Direction provides quality care for clients seeking support for addiction recovery. We teach people how to live a sober life through programs, therapeutic support, and evidence-based therapies. Our recovery program is staffed by people who understand the power of addiction. For more information sober living programs for men and women as well as recovery programs, call (877) 377-3702.

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Addiction May Be Related to Your Personality Type (but is Not the Whole Picture)

Some people can enjoy a glass of wine or drink but others may struggle. Addiction may not just be a thing that happens, it can also be related to personality type. This does not speak to the whole picture but tells a much larger story of how some people become addicted to drugs or alcohol.

Destined for Drugs

Although it is not diagnosable, addictive personalities are recognized by most therapists and professionals in addiction recovery. It is defined as a set of traits that increases the likelihood of addiction. Although many traits are associated with addiction, the following four types are most predominant.

Impulsive

Everyone needs to let loose time to tie but habitual impulsive behavior is a major indicator of addictive personality. These people may not consider negative consequences when instant gratification outweighs precaution. In recovery, it is important for people to practice impulse control and recognize triggers.

Non-Conformist

The non-conformist may be averse to certain goals valued in society and likely has a disdain for authority. These people may not see behavior’s negative impact on their life and others. These people must be open to treatment methods and value support networks above all else. Substance abuse can make recovery difficult with this type of personality but not impossible.

Thrill Seeker

A thrill seeker is always looking for what’s next and new. They bore rather easily and are adrenaline junkies who look for the next thing. Their openness to experimentation may lead to formation of addictions. They require structure to sustain recovery.

Anxious or Stressed

A person who is like this may find relaxation hard. Type A personalities and people with anxiety disorders may struggle to find relief. During recovery, they need to learn relaxation modalities and coping techniques like meditation.

The personality types are not negatives or stereotypes. They are an aspect of life of how people process experiences or information. Although people may identify with one or more personality types, they don’t necessarily need to be predestined to a life of addiction. It helps to recognize certain traits when dealing with substance abuse to help a person recover well and for the long haul.

A Step in the Right Direction provides quality care for clients seeking support for addiction recovery. Our programs are tailored to help you learn how to live sober in recovery while providing tailored, unique programs for each individual. Our recovery program is staffed by people who understand the power of addiction. For more information sober living programs for men and women as well as recovery programs, call (877) 377-3702.

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Is Toradol a Narcotic?

Toradol is a nonsteroidal non-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It is not a narcotic. Toradol is not addictive. It is a strong NSAID and may lead to serious side effects. It should not be taken for long periods of time. Learn more about this drug and how it works in the body.

Narcotics

A narcotic is another name for an opioid, which is a drug made out of opium or a synthetic substitute for opium. These prescription-only medications help manage pain, suppress coughs, cure diarrhea, and help people sleep. Narcotics are very powerful drugs and highly addictive. They may cause serious problems, including nausea and vomiting, constipation, and slowed breathing.  Narcotics are considered to be controlled substances. Narcotics for medical use are Schedule 1, which means a higher potential for abuse that may lead to dependence.

What is Toradol?

Toradol is a prescription NSAID. NSAIDs are medications that decrease prostaglandins, substances in the body that cause inflammation. Doctors are not sure how this works. It is not made of opium, so it is not a narcotic. It is not addictive. Because of this, it is not regulated. Toradol is powerful for short-term pain relief for five days or less. It may be given by IV or intranasally. It is often used post surgery.

How it is Used

Toradol is used for moderate to severe pain that might otherwise require opioids. Minor or chronic pain are not good uses of this drug. A doctor may prescribe Toradol after surgery. This is the most common use of this medication. If a person gets Toradol after surgery, the first dose may go into the muscle or through an IV. Emergency rooms use it for pain.

Side Effects

Minor side effects may pop up including some of the following when used:

  • Upset stomach
  • nausea/vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness
  • Headache

More serious side effects can also pop up when using Toradol. It is stronger than other NSAIDs. This may include:

  • Heart attack or stroke
  • Bleeding
  • Ulcers or other issues
  • Kidney or liver disease

This drug should not be taken over-the-counter or with blood thinners. Smoking and drinking on this drug are not recommended. Toradol inhibits platelet function, creating a danger of brain bleeding for some who use it, particularly athletes. Over time, taking too much of the drug can carry increased risk of masking underlying problems by numbing the pain. This can become a lifestyle after a while of taking the drug to numb pain and may cause problems going forward.

A Step in the Right Direction provides quality care for clients seeking support for addiction recovery. When a person is struggling with overuse of a drug or addiction, we seek to teach them how to live sober with therapeutic and evidence-based programs. Our recovery program is staffed by people who understand the power of addiction. For more information sober living programs for men and women as well as recovery programs, call (877) 377-3702.

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What is Narrative Therapy and How Does it Help Recovery?

Narrative therapy is a type of therapy that helps people embrace their own lives. There is emphasis on the stories that are developed and carry people through their lives. People give meaning to those experiences and influence how they see themselves and the world. Multiple stories at once are carried with people and are often related to self-worth, relationships, work, and family. Learn more about how narrative therapy helps people in recovery.

Key Components and Concepts

Narrative therapy was developed with three main components in mind. These create a relationship between a narrative therapist and their client:

  • Treat people with respect and support them as they work through personal challenges
  • No blame placed on the client as they work through stories and try to let go of unhelpful thoughts and behaviors
  • Work in tandem as collaborative partners in helping people grow and heal

The key concepts of narrative therapy focus on stories within a person’s life and how those are carried. People give meaning to personal stories and experiences as they walk through life and try to understand how those influence themselves and others around them. Some principles may include social constructions of reality, how it is influenced by language, how the mind organizes reality, and how to look at different sides of an experience even if it is not what is true for them but may be just another perspective.

Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy focuses on the stories, especially those that are dominant ones that are problematic and get in the way of people living their best lives. A trained narrative therapist works with people to explore stories and seek out information to help challenge the stories. Through narrative therapy, people begin to identify alternative stories that provide an opportunity to challenge judgment and explore what other information they carry. Exercises may include:

  • Putting together a narrative and explore events in life to look at what meaning they have in their lives
  • Building awareness of a story that has followed them through life
  • Become an observer to their story and look at it with the therapist and working to identify the dominant and problematic story

A person who experiences narrative therapy in recovery needs support for externalization to understand how to create distance between themselves and their problems. They begin to feel empowered to heal when they focus on changing unwanted behaviors. Deconstruction focuses on getting to the heart of a dominant story and getting out from under any confusion that remains. Finding narrative therapists is helpful for people who want to take a deeper look into their own personal histories and stories while examining how to grow stronger and more empowered. Recovery and treatment programs often provide unique therapeutic techniques to support people in addiction recovery.

A Step in the Right Direction provides quality care for clients seeking support for addiction recovery. We teach people how to live a sober life through programs, therapeutic support, and evidence-based therapies. Our recovery program is staffed by people who understand the power of addiction. For more information sober living programs for men and women as well as recovery programs, call (877) 377-3702.

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These 5 Natural Painkillers Might Surprise You

Toothaches, backaches, or other types of medicine make people want it reach for pills to alleviate the pain. For some people, this can become a deadly tango with addiction to painkillers. For many others, it is just a remedy for less chronic pain issues like headaches and minor pains. Depending on the individual’s situation, some natural painkillers may be appropriate to use for support of pain relief.

Willow Bark

People use willow bark to ease inflammation, the cause of most aches and pains, for centuries. The bark of white willow contains the chemical salicin, similar to aspirin. Back in the day, people chewed the bark to relieve pain and fevers. Now, willow bark is sold as a dried herb to brew like tea. It comes as a liquid supplement or in capsule form. Willow bark comes with risks of side effects. It can cause upset stomach, slow down kidneys, and prolong bleeding time. It should only be used by adults. You should avoid taking it if you take Coumadin (wayfarin) or other anticoagulants as it may increase the risk of bleeding. Anti-inflammatories and pain medications may not go well with this herb.

Turmeric

Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow color and flavor. It contains the compound curcumin, an antioxidant that helps protect the body from free radical molecules that may damage cells and tissue. Turmeric may be used for:

  • Indigestion
  • Ulcers
  • Stomach upset
  • Psoriasis
  • Cancer

Some people use it for natural pain relief of inflammation.

Cloves

Whole cloves are often used to spice up meat and rice dishes. Ground cloves are used in pies and other foods. They may be used in powder form. Like other herbal supplements, you can use cloves to treat many things. Cloves may help ease nausea and colds. They may help with headaches and toothaches. Cloves may be used as a topical pain relief remedy.

Acupuncture

This ancient Chinese medical practice seeks to relieve pain by balancing the body’s natural energy pathways. The flow of energy is known as qi (CHEE). This practice of putting tiny needles in the skin helps find the source of pain to relieve by supporting serotonin release naturally.

Heat and Ice

Applying heat and ice to the site of pain is helpful for some things like swelling and inflammation of muscles and tendons which may be sore. If they are hurt, they need medical attention but it may help to ice it in the meantime if it is not severe. Moist heat packs warmed in a microwave can be helpful and effective tools as well.

The challenge with pain management is knowing your personal threshold. If you are struggling to maintain pain relief, you may want to speak to a doctor about it. The pain may be coming from something else or may be not what you think and needs more medical attention than simple application of some of the above remedies. They may be used in conjunction with other pain relief treatments, as well, depending on the situation.

Offering a full continuum of care for both men and women, A Step In The Right Direction strives to provide quality, life-changing care. Teaching clients to walk the road of recovery in daily life sober living, our program utilizes evidence-based therapies and the real life experience of recovery in our staff to provide a transformational expeirence. For more information on our programs of care and sober livings for men and women, call (877) 377-3702

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