The Role of Nutrition in Treatment for Opiate Abuse
My use of opiate painkillers progressed slowly at first, so slowly that I didnít register the changes in my lifestyle until I was entrenched in dependency and on my way to full-fledged addiction. I had stopped eating regularly and when I did, my dietary choices were pretty awful.
I had developed a real sweet tooth and was eating sugary snacks like there was no tomorrow. This is common among opiate addicts, according to the Journal of Opioid Management. I pretty much stopped eating fresh fruits and vegetables. When I entered treatment for opiate abuse, that all changed and I am a better person because of it.
Opiate Addiction Treatment and Detox
After I completed a truly comprehensive intake process, my first stage of treatment for opiate abuse was detox. When I was using, I had generally terrible constipation and as much as it was uncomfortable, I didnít do a lot to solve the problem. I was too interested in getting and remaining high.
When I was in detox, constipation became a thing of the past and I was hit with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The doctors told me that my electrolytes were imbalanced and that I was losing too many nutrients. This was when nutritional guidance began. I was given a balanced diet and my diet was high fiber, with a lot of carbohydrates.
Opiate Addiction Treatment and Nutrition
While I continued treatment for opiate abuse, the program continued providing me with nutritionally sound meals at regular intervals. I began feeling better and I started to re-learn how to care for myself and feel like I was worth it. Improving my mood and health actually helped me to commit more fully to my treatment plan.
Guidelines of a Health Diet
Treatment followed the following guiding principles:
- Vitamin and mineral supplements
- An increase in complex carbohydrates, protein, and dietary fiber
- A decrease in high fat foods
- Regular mealtimes
- I still follow the rules now that I am in recovery.
I Went to Treatment for Opiate Abuse and It Was Different Than Opiate Addiction Treatment
I started using oxycodone, a opiate painkiller, when it was prescribed to me after a bad back injury. But, I found the effects of the medication beneficial not only for pain control, but also in helping me sleep and my overall mood. So, I took it more than I should and I wrangled another prescription for it out of my doctor, even though I didnít really need it. At this point, I was abusing opiates.
I hadnít developed dependence yet and I wasnít addicted. I could still limit my use and I didnít experience withdrawal symptoms if I stopped using. But, I didnít want to stop using and that worried me. I could probably have ended the opiate abuse on my own, but I really needed help understanding why I should stop and learning alternate coping mechanisms, so I signed up for treatment for opiate abuse.
How Long Were You in Treatment for Opiate Abuse?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse references research that indicates a day of less than 90-days has limited effectiveness, and for opiate addiction treatment, and that is true. But, as I was abusing opiate rather than addicted to them, I went into a standard 28-day rehab. Because I didnít have to spend any of my stay formally detoxing, I could begin the other aspects of treatment right away.
What Did You Learn?
In this respect, my treatment for opiate abuse was similar to opiate addiction treatment. I still attended educational, therapeutic, and support group sessions. But, I didnít need the same depth of therapy/counselling as the addicted patients did. I was able to find the roots of my use quite easily and I learned to cope with urges to use. Perhaps the best part was developing strategies to keep me sober.
Did It Work?
Yes. I stopped abusing opiates completely after my time in rehab. I would not have been able to teach myself coping skills and strategies. I needed that outside support.
I Learned Mindfulness in Opiate Addiction Treatment and It Was One of the Most Beneficial Parts of Treatment for Opiate Abuse
I had tried to stop using fentanyl, a powerful prescription opiate pain reliever, on my own. But, periods of stress would cause me to relapse. I simply didnít have the coping skills that I needed to deal with my anxiety independently. I had to turn to my medication to soothe those feelings.
Eventually, I had to admit I couldnít do it on my own and I entered opiate addiction treatment. Opiate addiction treatment used a lot of approaches and I attended a lot of useful sessions, but the one that really made a difference in my life was mindfulness meditation.
What Is Mindfulness Meditation?
In 1979, Kabat-Zinn developed a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program that drew from Buddhist Vipassana meditation. According to an article in Substance Abuse, it is used to treat people with chronic mental and physical health conditions to make their lives better.
How Is It Practiced?
When I started mindfulness training, our leader asked us to pay attention to what was happening in the present and to do it nonjudgmentally, which was really hard. We were learning to be aware and accepting of our bodily sensations, feelings, and thoughts as they arose. And, we were asked to accept their impermanence. We werenít supposed to try to suppress them or modify them.
Is It a Religious Practice?
I am not associated with any particular set of religious beliefs and I was totally able to get on board. I learned the skills that were being taught in opiate addiction treatment and our leader didnít attach them to a formal belief system.
Did It Work for You?
I had a pattern of using opiates to avoid unpleasant thought and experiences. My treatment for opiate abuse program helped limit this urge. I benefited from using nonjudgmental acceptance of my moment-to-moment thoughts and I reacted to my cravings with awareness rather than automatically giving in to them. If you’re looking for the right treatment, visit our main website: https://www.addictions.com/marijuana-addiction-treatment/