If you are considering finding a drug and alcohol rehab centre, you may be anxious about how you even begin.
After all, if this is your first time seeking treatment for a drug or alcohol dependency, you may not know what exactly to look for. You may not even know the various options available to you.
Suppose you are in the Wallsend area and you are ready to work towards long-term recovery. In that case, it may be time to consider giving us a call so you can use our expert services.
You can reach a member of our team by calling 0800 326 5559, and we can begin your free initial assessment.
This assessment is used to get to know you. Drug or alcohol dependency is a very complex medical issue that requires personalised one-to-one care. No two people will have turned to substance abuse for the same reason, and so no two people need the exact same treatment.
We are able to use the free initial assessment to really get to know you. We want to learn about what you want to get out of your time at a drug and alcohol rehab centre and any worries that you may have.
This will be a stressful time for you, and being worried or even afraid of beginning your treatments is perfectly normal. However, there will always be fear surrounding something that can promise you a significant change in your life.
We understand there may be a temptation to continue living with your drug or alcohol dependency, as that is something you are used to. But just because you find comfort in its familiarity doesn’t mean it is good for you.
The longer you abuse substances, the more damage they do and the more danger you are in.
That is why we are here to put your fears to rest and support you while you begin your journey to long-term recovery. You can think of us as a comforting presence that is there to help you along your way and answer any questions you may have about the recovery process and the treatments in rehab.
We also hope to learn about your history of drug or alcohol abuse during the free initial assessment.
What causes a drug or alcohol dependency?
There are many different factors that can lead to a drug or alcohol dependency being developed, and in order to properly treat you, it is important that you are honest about your experiences.
Often a drug or alcohol dependency is the result of multiple factors, and our team will help you understand what ones apply to you.
It is important to consider which of these may apply to you so that you can feel comfortable talking about them with a member of our team during your assessment. Family history of substance abuse, for example.
It is not uncommon for those living with a drug or alcohol dependency to also have other family members experiencing the same condition.
It is widely accepted that this is due to a genetic component that leads to a dependency being much easier to develop. For example, a dopamine deficiency can be passed down in a family line.
As substance abuse creates a rush of dopamine, your brain craves more drugs and alcohol to make up for the deficiency. The problem is that your brain gets used to the new levels of dopamine and craves more over time.
This results in a higher tolerance being developed. Therefore, you need to have more and more drugs or alcohol to produce a rush of dopamine. When your brain’s cravings are ignored, it causes your body to panic resulting in you experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms can occur and are very dangerous if experienced alone. Therefore, if you begin to experience any of the following symptoms, please make your way to a medical facility as soon as possible.
The symptoms include:
- Dehydration
- Aggression
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Vomiting
- Increased appetite
- Chills
- Hot flashes
- Migraine
- Muscle pain
- Muscle cramps
- Tremors
- Nausea
- Paranoia
- Irritability
- Diarrhoea
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
In a drug and alcohol rehab, you will receive a detox as a treatment that allows you to work through the withdrawal symptoms in a safe environment. Where you will be monitored 24 hours a day until the process is completed.
The monitoring medical staff will also be able to provide you with medication to relieve the withdrawal symptoms should they prove too much for your body to handle.
With a family history of substance abuse, it is also likely you were exposed to it from a young age. The act was normalised to the point where a dependency couldn’t be identified until it was too late and it was fully developed.
Addiction and Mental Health
Another key factor in the development of a drug or alcohol dependency is your mental health.
The leading cause of substance abuse is trauma and mental illness. This is because when a person experiences trauma, their brain chemistry is changed. As a result, they live in a state of hyper-vigilance that causes all levels of stress, no matter how small, to receive a fight or flight response.
Substance abuse is often used to try and dull this response so they can try and live a normal life without hypervigilance.
Those living with an undiagnosed mental illness may also use substance abuse as a way to self-medicate. For example, people with depression, anxiety or PTSD may wish to numb the pain they experience on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, substance abuse will only make your mental health worse in the long run. There is no quick fix for mental health problems. They require a lot of work and specialised help from a therapist.
Luckily part of the treatments offered in a drug and alcohol rehab centre is regular group therapy sessions. There you will be given the opportunity to unpack your relationship with substance abuse so that you can identify what triggers your cravings.
You will also be taught healthier coping mechanisms to replace your current substance abuse. This will allow you to leave the drug and alcohol rehab centre with the tools to continue on your journey to long-term recovery.
The final factor is the environment you live in. Suppose you are exposed to substance abuse on a daily basis. In that case, beginning a drug or alcohol dependency is much easier as the behaviour is normalised.
For example, excessive alcohol use is considered part of British culture, and many people feel pressured to also take part.
In a drug and alcohol rehab centre, you can be removed from an environment of temptation. They will be able to keep you away from all drugs and alcohol and teach you to avoid them when you leave the centre after you have completed your treatments.
Getting the help, you need
At OK Rehab, we can help you find a drug and alcohol rehab centre in the Wallsend area that has the best possible facilities to cater for your needs.
We are here to help you and take some of the pressure off your shoulders so you can focus on working towards your goal of long-term recovery.
This won’t be an easy time, but we can promise you that you will be so much happier and healthier without any drugs or alcohol by the end of your journey.
We will use the free initial assessment you complete to refer you to a drug and alcohol rehab centre in the Wallsend area. You will be able to rest easy knowing that your needs will be met.
You will receive top-quality care from the well-trained and professional medical staff. You will be their priority, and you will be OK.
We understand you may be scared, but this is the best thing you can do for yourself. You just need to be brave and give us a call at 0800 326 5559.
We are ready and waiting to help. All you have to do is pick up the phone and let us handle the rest. You can do this, you will be OK, and you will get out the other side of this.
We are ready to help you.
