Drug Addiction
SELF-MEDICATING MAY INITIALLY SEEM TO HELP BUT IT ONLY CREATES NEW ISSUES
SELF-MEDICATING MAY INITIALLY SEEM TO HELP BUT IT ONLY CREATES NEW ISSUES
At Willow House at The Meadows, our love addiction and intimacy disorders treatment program has the ability to provide acute inpatient psychiatric care and substance detox in the acute care section of our unit, which has 24-hour monitoring by registered nurses and nursing staff experienced in psychiatric and detox issues.
The link between drug addiction and love addiction is further reinforced when people want to escape their emotional pain and shame from the consequences of their actions. Women with intimacy disorders engage in behavior that is compelled by a biochemical process, and when they reflect on their behavior in a sober light, feelings of guilt and remorse often cause them to feel devastated by their choices. In order to avoid those emotions or the feelings associated with their negative behavior, they will again engage in substance abuse or more negative interpersonal behavior.
Trauma is often the underlying issue involved in both drug addiction and intimacy disorders. When an addict is unable to cope with their psychological issues in a healthy way, they often turn to drugs and sex to relieve the burden.
Willow House at The Meadows works with our patients to help them recognize and understand this destructive cycle the role drug addiction plays in their intimacy issues.
Opiates are drugs that are typically prescribed for treating pain. Use of opiates may start as a harmless and voluntary act, but, in time it can develop into a compulsive and unstoppable habit. In the beginning, drug use minimizes emotional and physical pain. As prolonged drug use continues, it can develop into an addiction, severely impacting an individual’s brain chemistry.
Cocaine is a strong stimulant that can leave users with intense feelings of happiness or agitation. It is also highly addictive and can cause serious physical damage to the brain and heart. For sex addicts, it can also increase their drive to act out and obsessively engage in sexual activities.
Crystal meth (crystal methamphetamine) is a highly addictive drug that affects the central nervous system. Use of meth can lead to feelings of elation and excitement. It can also fuel a sex addict’s need to engage in risky and inappropriate sexual behaviors that they may not ordinarily engage in when sober.
Stimulant drugs like cocaine and meth activate the same part of the brain that sexual acting out does, causing those who engage in both of these behaviors to quickly, and often dangerously, lose control of the amount and frequency of use. Some individuals who abuse stimulants and act out sexually at the same time can lose track of hours, days, and sometimes weeks.
The effects of drug addiction include:
Willow House’s women-only atmosphere invites patients to work through the shame and pain that drives their drug addiction. In a safe and nurturing community composed of their peers, women are guided on their journey of recovery by examining the underlying causes of addiction and co-occurring disorders. The goal is for these individuals to gain the courage to face difficult issues, including grief and loss; heal from emotional trauma; and become accountable for their own feelings, behaviors, and recovery.