Category Archives: Tips

A Comprehensive Overview of Medication Assisted Treatment

01/31/2023 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Medication assisted treatment (MAT) is a type of treatment for individuals with substance use disorders. It combines the use of medications with counseling services to help individuals achieve long-term recovery from their addictions. MAT is a comprehensive approach that can address addiction on multiple levels, including physical, psychological, behavioral, and social. Let’s explore how medication assisted treatment works.

How Does MAT Work?

The main component of MAT is medication. To treat opioid use disorder, three medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. These medications work by binding to specific receptors in the brain that are affected by opioids such as heroin or prescription painkillers like oxycodone or hydrocodone. By blocking these receptors, these medications prevent the euphoric effects associated with opioid drugs and also reduce cravings for opioids so that a person can focus on their recovery without being distracted by thoughts about using drugs again.

In addition to medication, MAT also includes counseling and other forms of psychosocial therapy. Counseling helps people identify triggers for substance abuse and develop coping skills to manage cravings or difficult situations without resorting to drug use. Other types of therapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help a person learn how to identify negative patterns of thought and behavior associated with addiction so they can be better prepared to make healthier choices in the future.

These elements combine together to create an effective treatment plan tailored specifically for each individual’s needs. With the right combination of medication, counseling, peer support groups, lifestyle changes, and other resources such as job training programs or housing assistance services, MAT can help people struggling with addiction achieve long-term recovery success.

Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment

There are many benefits associated with medication-assisted treatment. First, MAT can help reduce cravings, which can be incredibly difficult to manage on your own. Cravings are an intense physiological response that often lead people back into using drugs or alcohol even if they don’t want to. By taking medications, you can reduce these cravings, which makes it easier for you to remain abstinent from drugs or alcohol. Additionally, MAT also helps reduce withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, muscle aches, anxiety, depression and more. This makes it easier for individuals to maintain their abstinence without having to deal with uncomfortable physical symptoms.

Second, MAT helps individuals stay in treatment longer than they would otherwise be able to without medication support. Studies have shown that individuals who receive medication-assisted treatment are much more likely to complete their treatment programs than those who do not receive any type of medication therapy at all. This means that individuals who receive MAT will be much more likely to get the full benefit from their treatments – something that cannot always be said when only relying on counseling alone. Finally, MAT also helps increase safety during recovery by reducing the risk of relapse or overdose due to decreased tolerance levels when taking medications prescribed by a physician or other healthcare provider.

Medications Used in MAT

Some common medications used during medication assisted treatment include buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), methadone (Methadose), naltrexone (Vivitrol), acamprosate (Campral), disulfiram (Antabuse), topiramate (Topamax), and fluoxetine (Prozac). Different medications may be prescribed depending on an individual’s specific needs and goals for recovery. It’s important to talk with your doctor about which medication is right for you before starting any type of medication assisted treatment program.

Overall, medication assisted treatment is a comprehensive approach to treating substance use disorder that involves both medication management and psychotherapy services to best meet an individual’s needs for long-term recovery from addiction. While this type of treatment may not be right for everyone, it can be incredibly beneficial if used correctly as part of an effective addiction recovery plan. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or is looking into different types of treatments available, consider discussing the option of MAT with your doctor or healthcare provider today.

Going Strong, Health, Lifestyle, Tips

Boost Your Confidence in 2023 With These Tips

01/30/2023 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

There are moments when keeping your head up might be incredibly difficult. Everyone goes through moments in their lives when they have low self-confidence and self-esteem. A lack of self-confidence can be caused by a number of causes, including being in an unpleasant relationship, having difficulty embracing who you are, or both. If you are suffering, there is good news: help is available for those in your situation.

Remember that pain should not be endured in silence, as a problem shared is a problem halved. Take a look at the information provided below to see how you can handle the problem and restore your confidence.

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Remove the Toxic Waste

If you are constantly in the company of people who do not value you, you may have become accustomed to hearing others speak poorly about you. You do not need to be around this because it is unjust and has no bearing on you. Remove yourself from the situation, both physically and psychologically, and stop your contact with anyone who brings negativity into your life. It is possible that you are not aware that this is what you need to do, but your physical and emotional health will thank you if you do.

Make a call to the experts.

If you believe that something about yourself, such as your teeth, is defective in some way, there are steps you can take to address the problem. If you are experiencing tooth pain, you should make an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible. Visiting a dentist for implants might be a terrifying experience, but remember that they are there to help you. If it is financial constraints keep you from visiting the dentist on a regular basis, you might consider purchasing dental insurance that would cover any necessary dental care. The majority of dentists now offer payment plans, so this is another option for patients like you.

Believe the compliments.
Believe the nice things people say about you when they tell you. Why would somebody say something just to say something? They have no reason to. If you ever find yourself doubting praises, ask yourself why the individual would say that. This should bring you back to reality and remind you of the lovely compliments you are now receiving. Humans thrive on compliments and niceness; it is not in our nature to be harsh in reaction to compliments. You have developed in yourself the attitude that you cannot believe what others say because of how you feel about your body. Put no stock in what you see in the mirror; how other people perceive you is not always how you should perceive yourself.

Life, Lifestyle, Tips

How to Find a Balance in Your Life

01/28/2023 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

husband and wife hugging outside, love, relationships, happiness, stress, family

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Life has become increasingly hectic, and it can be hard to find a balance between our work and personal lives. We are barraged with notifications, emails, calls, and texts that demand our attention every second of the day. Whether it’s your job or hobby, trying to fit everything into 24 hours feels like an impossible task. But finding balance is not only possible—it’s essential for our mental health.

We all know that it can be hard to make time for yourself and enjoy a healthy lifestyle, but there is a way to do it. So in this blog post, we’re going to take a look at some tips to help you stay balanced and have more peace of mind.

Setting Priorities

The first step to finding balance is to set priorities. Take the time to review your weekly schedule and determine which activities are most important or beneficial for you. This will help you create a plan that works best for you and your lifestyle. For example, if exercise is important to you, make sure it is included in your schedule or if you’ve had recent workplace injuries, then you’ll want to focus on rest and recovery. But not only that, it helps to set priorities for what’s most important to you in life too—such as time with family or getting ahead in your career.

Understand Your Goals

Sometimes the best way to find balance is through your goals. Think about what you want out of life and decide which goals are most important right now. This will help you focus on the things that matter most and let go of those objectives that don’t make sense in the current moment. It’s also important to remember that goals change over time as our lives evolve—so don’t be afraid to reevaluate your priorities from time to time! But if you’re keeping your focus on what matters to you the most, it will help you to cut dead weight and avoid overwhelm by trying to do it all.

Find Time for Yourself

It can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life; but if you want true balance, it is essential to take some time for yourself each day. This doesn’t have to mean spending hours lounging around doing nothing; even simple activities such as taking a bath or reading a book can make a world of difference when it comes to finding balance in your life. It’s all about ensuring that you have some dedicated me-time time in your life to recharge and feel refreshed.

Set Boundaries

It’s also a great idea to set boundaries between work and personal life so that you don’t feel overwhelmed by either one. For example, turn off notifications after working hours so you can relax without worrying about emails piling up in your inbox overnight. If possible, try establishing office hours—this will help give structure and clarity while still allowing you flexibility outside of work hours. You could also designate certain days just for working or taking care of personal matters (i.e. errands). This will help create separation between different aspects of your life so that neither one becomes overwhelming or all-consuming!

Taking Breaks During the Day

Life can get overwhelming at times, making it hard not to feel overwhelmed or burned out. To avoid this feeling of burnout, try taking short breaks throughout the day where you can step away from your desk or workspace and just relax for a few minutes. It can be hard when you feel like you have a busy schedule but it can be crucial for your health and happiness. A break could be anything from stretching or getting up for a quick walk outside—whatever helps clear your head! Taking breaks during the day helps keep us focused on our tasks without becoming too exhausted in the process.

Bringing More Balance into Your Life

Finding balance in life isn’t an easy task but it is possible with some planning and dedication! Start by setting priorities so that you know what activities take precedence over others; then carve out some time each day just for yourself so that you don’t forget about relaxation amidst all the chaos; lastly, don’t forget to take breaks during your workday so that you don’t become too overwhelmed with all of your tasks! By following these steps, we hope that blog readers will find greater balance in their lives!