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Vivitrol and addiction recovery

For those suffering from substance abuse, the road to recovery may be full of challenges.

However, one treatment option that works is MAT with Vivitrol. With Vivitrol, you get a monthly injection that helps reduce cravings and prevents relapse. You also get support through counseling and group therapy sessions.

Before beginning addiction treatment with Vivitrol, you should undergo medical detoxification to eliminate any alcohol or opiate substances from your body. Because Vivitrol may trigger severe withdrawal symptoms, it’s essential to be drug-free for at least seven to fourteen days prior to beginning therapy.
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The truth about Suboxone for opiate addiction

Suboxone, an oral drug used to treat opioid dependence, contains both buprenorphine (a partial agonist) and naloxone (an antagonist).

Buprenorphine binds to mu receptors, causing euphoria and sedation; however, it does not bind to kappa receptors, which cause hallucinations. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids, including those caused by buprenorphine. Thus, if someone takes suboxone and then ingests heroin, the heroin will not produce any effect because naloxone will block it. However, if someone who is already high on heroin consumes suboxone, they may experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, muscle aches, fever, chills, sweating, goose bumps, yawning, shivering, malaise, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, lightheadedness, weakness, fatigue, insomnia, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, nervousness, tremor, tachycardia, palpitations, shortness of breath, increased blood pressure, blurred vision, confusion, delirium, seizures, coma, respiratory depression, bradycardia, or even cardiac arrest.
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Does Medication Assisted Treatment work?

Combining MAT with psychotherapy, education and medication, MAT is a proven treatment for people who struggle with substance abuse.

Specifically, MAT is used to treat opioid use disorder. However, it can also help individuals suffering from alcoholism. When someone participates in MAT, certain medications are administered to them so that their brains function normally again. These medications prevent the release of dopamine into the brain, meaning that if someone were to consume substances while under the influence of these drugs, they wouldn’t experience the same feelings of pleasure that they do when consuming substances.
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Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction is a serious illness that affects millions of people

Sometimes, it can feel hard to evaluate your own behavior (or someone else’s). Here are some questions to ask yourself about your gambling habits.

Signs to watch out for

You are preoccupied by constant thoughts about gambling. If you find yourself constantly thinking about gambling, either about the last time you gambled, when you plan to gamble next, or how you can acquire more money to gamble with; it might be a sign of an unhealthy relationship with the activity. Thinking about it occasionally, or once in awhile, is one thing, but if it begins to cloud your vision and consume your mind, you may have a problem with gambling.
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Substance abuse in men

Substance abuse can affect anyone, regardless of gender.

However, men face unique challenges when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction. Some of these challenges stem from cultural norms or stereotypes about masculinity. Others stem from biological differences between genders. Regardless of why they may be more susceptible to substance abuse, men are just as likely to suffer consequences if they do not seek treatment.
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Making connections in group therapy

If you’re facing an illness or stress, you don’t have to go it alone!

A support group can help you find others who’ve faced your challenges before. You’ll learn about what works best for you. Support groups bring together those who are going through or who have already gone through similar experiences. Common ground includes cancer, chronic illness, addiction, bereavement, and caregiving.

A support group provides a place where people can come together to discuss issues they may not feel comfortable discussing elsewhere.
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Why group therapy works

More often than not we are left alone with the problems we face.

We try and tackle these problems all by ourselves. When we find ourselves in trouble, we may turn to our closest friends or family members to help us out. Sometimes this helps, but a lot of times it doesn’t. A lot of people who are close to us may not know how to deal with us or they may not really care about helping us. They may even tell us what we should do instead of just letting us talk. That is why support group meetings were created.
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Being a parent to teenagers

Being a parent is harder than most realize

Parents are people, and as such they have a finite amount of emotional energy and strength, which can easily get depleted by a rebellious teen. In fact, though you do love your teenager, you may find yourself feeling hurt, angry, resentful, distrusting, grieving, anxious, lonely, and so forth. You may also feel that your teenager is constantly trying to push your buttons, and that he or she is doing it all at once!
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Postpartum Depression

Giving birth to a child is one of life‘s biggest changes and greatest pleasures.

Welcoming a new member to your family sparks great change in your life. Most especially the mother as her body is also undergoing some major changes both physically and emotionally. The first few months after giving birth can be very challenging. New parents now must learn to make sacrifices and endure fatigue being the new norm. Of course, there is the expected feelings of pride to welcome a new child into your home and an incredible amount joy. However, a mother may also experience feelings of great sorrow, irritation, and fatigue throughout the first few months post-partum.
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