Xanax is the brand name for alprazolam. Doctors typically prescribe it for anxiety disorders and similar conditions. However, for some people, the instant tranquility from the bottle is difficult to resist. Xanax addiction stories highlight what that’s like.
Mental Illness Marks the Beginnings of Xanax Addiction Stories
You started taking Xanax for anxiety or panic disorders. There’s a good chance that you also struggle with depression. At the Washington Xanax addiction rehab center, therapists routinely work with clients who have co-occurring mental health conditions. They initially relied on the medication to even out their brain chemistry.
Somewhere along the line, Xanax addiction took over. For some, it’s a physical addiction. Their Xanax addiction stories detail withdrawal symptoms that are too strong. Although the patients want to quit taking the medication, they don’t dare do so.
Instead, they keep asking for gradually increasing doses. Doing so prevents the withdrawal. Besides that, it maintains their feeling of normalcy. You could develop this form of addiction, even if you follow your doctor’s orders.
Another form of addiction takes over when you begin to rely on the medication for relaxation. In high amounts, it leads to a short dopamine glut. This feeling quickly helps someone slip into addiction. The sensation is self-validating, which means that you’ll do anything to have it again.
Dealing with an Addiction to the Prescription
Because it alters your brain chemistry, it’s not easy to quit a Xanax addiction. Therefore, sign up for the help that a rehab facility offers. You work with therapists who understand co-occurring conditions. Besides that, they’ll work with you on managing both addiction and anxiety as well as the depression you might experience.
You might sign up for a partial hospitalization program. It’s an intensive rehab setup where you spend the majority of the day at the facility. A typical treatment takes about 30 days. That said, choose a facility that offers an extended care program if you need longer.
Therapists might use care approaches, such as:
- Medication-assisted treatment, which helps manage mental health situations as well as post-acute withdrawal symptoms
- Dual diagnosis therapy as a tool for managing underlying co-occurring conditions
- One-on-one talk therapy that gives you the chance to chart a behavioral change program
- Group therapy, which encourages you to participate in peer support meetings
- Trauma therapy that helps you process a situation from the past properly
- Cognitive behavioral therapy that empowers you to find functional ways of handling stress and triggers
- Dialectical behavior treatment, which enables you to regain power over intrusive emotions
Signing up for a Treatment Program Today
It’s tempting to put off a search for a rehab facility to tomorrow or next week. There’s always something else going on that demands your attention. However, consider that now’s the right time for self-care. You’ve been putting everyone else first; it’s time that you take care of yourself.
The addiction won’t get better by itself. You’ve tried talking to your doctor, but you lost your nerve. You’re afraid of what he might say. Talk to a rehab specialist now.
At Bayview Recovery, our therapists hear many Xanax addiction stories. But we also see many recovery stories unfold before our eyes. You don’t have to suffer any longer. Call 855.478.3650 to set up your appointment!