The Treatment Experience

Addictive drugs and repetitive actions can cause the brain to release a spike of pleasurable chemicals, like dopamine. As the addictive process moves forward, the brain may produce smaller and smaller amounts of dopamine on its own, without the influence of drugs, and the brain’s cells may become less and less responsive to any natural dopamine the brain might produce. A deep sensation of depression can set in, and people like this may be chemically unable to handle their feelings on their own without help.

Our treatment teams have studied depression and addiction thoroughly, and they’re adept at using a combination of psychotherapy, holistic care and gentle management to help clients improve. Some of our programs even provide ongoing care, allowing people the opportunity to return for touch-up care, should their feelings of sadness return when their treatment programs are complete.

We also provide advanced care for those suffering from depression and a range of mood disorders who may not have addiction issues. We use evidence-based practices and comprehensive medication management to help clients stabilize and develop the skills to find meaning and purpose in their lives.

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that about 40 million Americans 18 and older have an anxiety disorder. These are some of the most challenging cases for primary care physicians to treat, as people with these conditions can:

• Hide their concerns
• Abuse medications given to help with their concerns
• Mask their symptoms with addictive substances
• Get worse over time

Anxiety disorders can also take many forms, from panic disorder to phobias to obsessive-compulsive disorder. All of these specific diagnoses have their own specific recommended therapies, and some clients won’t respond to the therapies experts feel would be best in order to help them. People like this can get better, but they might need a treatment program that’s individualized and that changes as they change. This is the kind of help our facilities provide. We ask our treatment staff to develop intense and personal treatment programs for each person who enrolls in our care, and we ask our clients to give input on their care. This team approach allows us to really deal with an anxiety disorder, and we also provide our clients with a bit of self-confidence and the ability to communicate about their wants, needs and wishes for their recovery. It can be quite helpful for some people.

Illicit drugs like heroin and bath salts often take center stage in media discussions about addiction and substance abuse, but alcohol remains a dangerous and persistent addictive substance in the lives of many people all around the world. Recovering from alcoholism, and recovering during the first attempt at rehab, is absolutely vital, as experts suggest that brain damage can become more and more pronounced with each and every attempt at sobriety. For example, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that cellular changes inside the brain during detox can make seizures and other negative side effects more likely during subsequent detox attempts, but psychological distress can also rise during multiple detox events. These psychological stresses can reinforce the alcoholism, as the person can make the distress fade with a sip of alcohol. In time, people may stop even trying to get sober, since doing so is associated with so much pain and misery.

Our treatment teams work hard to provide clients with real tools they can use to create and preserve a lasting sobriety. Our therapies focus on competency, allowing our clients to really understand what they’ll need to do in order to keep an alcohol addiction under control in the long-term. And we provide intensive help when the treatment program is over, so our clients have the support that can keep them away from a relapse. With this help, our clients may leave alcohol behind the first time they enter a treatment program.

Clients with addictions to illicit drugs like cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine will find real help in our treatment programs. We’re also adept at helping clients with addictions to newer drugs like bath salts, research chemicals and salvia. But, we also provide intensive help for people who are addicted to prescription drugs. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, prescription drug abuse is reaching epidemic levels in this country, with about 6,600 new people dabbling in recreational prescription drug use each day. While almost any prescription drug could be a target for abuse, commonly abused drugs include:

• Opioid painkillers
• Benzodiazepines
• Barbiturates
• Stimulants

Dealing with drug addictions like this takes sensitivity, and we find that a customized approach works best. At the beginning of our drug addiction programs, we provide intensive testing, so we’re aware of all the drugs the person has taken and the psychological damage those drugs have caused, and we develop a specialized program that can address all the diverse needs our clients might have. We’re incredibly proud of the work that’s done inside our treatment facilities for clients in need.

As mentioned, we don’t just treat addictions to chemicals or behaviors. We also provide treatments for mental illnesses that are the primary source of difficulty for clients, or that contribute to their addiction process. Naturally, then, we provide treatments for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as these are conditions that can cause severe distress in clients and commonly lie beneath an addiction issue. For some, addictive drugs make dealing with stress and the memories of a past disappointment just a little bit easier. For others, the distress that comes with living with an addiction can lead to traumatic episodes, including physical attacks or arrests. It can be hard for clients to untangle the knot on their own, determining which issue came first and which should be treated first, but we can help. We also provide specialized treatment for PTSD at Bridges to Recovery for those who are suffering from the disorder without addiction as a primary concern.

Our dual diagnosis focus allows us to provide therapies that can treat both the mental health issue and the addiction at the same time. We can also provide intensive therapies for people who have traumatic memories to process. With our help, clients can process their illnesses and develop new skills that can help them to succeed in the months and years to come.

Psychosis can be a break with reality that manifests as delusions or hallucinations where an individual sees, hears, or imagines things that aren’t real. Psychosis is a feature of Psychotic disorders, and is most likely to occur in people who suffer from schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, severe bipolar disorder, or substance use disorders. Increasingly symptoms of psychotic disorders can develop in individuals using certain stimulant or cannabis. These are called substance-induced psychotic disorders. Prevalence of psychotic episodes is typically higher in those who use drugs than in the general population.

Early intervention with treatment and medication can give people the best possible chance of recovering from psychosis. In many cases, it is essential to address co-occurring addiction issues in those suffering from psychotic disorders, in order to give them the best possible chance of recovery.

Addictions were once limited to chemicals, but now, many experts feel that definition needs a little refining. According to these experts, some actions cause the same sorts of boosts of chemicals in the brain, and as a result, these actions can be just as addictive as a chemical. The term “process addictions” has been applied to all sorts of actions, including gambling, sex and shopping. Some experts believe, however, that these aren’t really “addictions” as much as compulsions, and they resist the terminology.

There’s no question, however, that people with these issues can and do suffer to keep their habits under control. For example, a study in the journal Psychological Reports found a link between pathological gambling and depression, and other studies have found a link between gambling and suicide. People like this may struggle to keep their urges under control, and they may have withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop engaging in these actions. It’s a very real problem, and it’s something our treatment programs can address. Our treatment teams can devise programs that can help people to understand their cravings and urges, and we can help people use the power of the mind to keep their actions under control. With our help, real relief is possible.

All of Constellation’s treatment programs provide highly individualized, integrated care for mental health and addiction. If you or someone you know needs help, please don’t hesitate to call us, so that we can help you find the most appropriate treatment program. And if you’d like to know more about any of the conditions our facilities can treat, please contact us.