and your co-occurring psychiatric needs shouldn't get in the way of you having those experiences.
Everyone with a substance use disorder is sure to experience cravings from time to time, even at the most random times. Most people in recovery experience thoughts of using years into recovery, but cravings can be intense during those first few years. While we all know that recovery doesn't come in pill form, there are non-controlled medications that can help you manage those symptoms more easily and help your brain heal. While there aren't medications to treat cravings for all substances, discuss your experiences with your Synergy provider to find out what options are available.
You quit using substances, probably in part because they either created too many problems or stopped working to take away your feelings of depression or anxiety. But many people in recovery have true co-occurring psychiatric needs. Your depression or anxiety could be truly clinical, not just feeling bad because you're overwhelmed by the wreckage of active addiction. Not only are you worthy of getting help for those conditions too, but not treating them could threaten your whole recovery. Partner with your Synergy provider to find recovery-friendly options.
American Society of Addiction Medicine
Recovery-friendly psychiatry is where general psychiatry meets neurobiology, addiction medicine, recovery wisdom, compassionate healthcare and creative problem solving. We understand the value and importance of each and strive to bring them all together for a comprehensive approach for those who need recovery.
Medical and psychological providers often speculate that untreated psychiatric conditions lead to substance use disorders because of the self-medicating pursuit of symptom relief. Treating symptoms of depression, anxiety and other psychiatric conditions effectively improves the likelihood of sustainable recovery.
We know that those who develop addictive disease experience changes to the brain that affect neurotransmitter production, impulse control, executive functioning, memory, cognitive ability and judgment. Neuroplasticity of the brain and sustained changes can create healing over time.
From the early years of 12-step recovery, abstinence-based recovery advocates are reminded that "No member should 'play doctor'; all medical advice and treatment should come from a qualified physician." Yet many have witnessed those whose recovery has been undermined by the use of controlled medications, often those prescribed by a medical doctor. Thus conventional recovery wisdom strongly suggests that controlled medications should be avoided whenever possible.
With the clear determination to save lives and prevent overdose deaths, many doctors and scientists believe strongly that Medication Assisted Treatment is both "best practice" and life saving care that should be available to all who need it. MAT can include a range of medications including full- and partial-agonist medications and antagonist medications, as well as other psychiatric medications specifically to treat addiction. If you are hopeful that MAT options could support your recovery, discuss MAT options with your Synergy provider to learn more.
It is compassionate to honor your need for symptom relief without threatening your recovery. We avoid recovery-risky medications yet strive to seek creative solutions. At Synergy, we believe that you are worthy of and deserve to have a provider who will partner with you until you experience sustainable relief from co-occurring psychiatric symptoms and have support for recovering a life worth living.
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983 Mar-Don Dr., Winston-Salem, NC 27104
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