Did you know that three-quarters of people who struggle with addiction end up recovering to live healthy and happy lives?
If you or somebody you care about is struggling with a painkiller addiction, it can be difficult to know what to do. It can be especially frustrating if you’ve unsuccessfully tried to stop using painkillers in the past.
The good news is that there are several strategies and techniques you can make use of that will make it easier to overcome a painkiller addiction. We’ve written a guide to help you out. Keep reading if you want to find out more.
1. Understand What Painkiller Addiction Is
Painkiller addiction, also known as opioid use disorder (OUD), affects more than sixteen million people in the United States alone. There are also many people who have struggled with a painkiller addiction in the past.
If you struggle to stop using painkillers or cut down on your dosage, you might be addicted to painkillers.
It is also a good sign that you are addicted to painkillers if you have become tolerant.
If you need to increase your dosage despite the fact that you no longer need painkillers to treat a diagnosed condition, you should visit a healthcare professional to explore your addiction treatment options.
It can be challenging to overcome a painkiller addiction on your own. This is why it is a good idea to seek inpatient services at an addiction facility.
2. Make the Decision to Change
The most important step for overcoming a painkiller addiction is to make the decision to change. By making this decision, you will bring yourself one step closer to addressing your problem.
It might take time to be ready to make this big decision. Healthcare professionals describe this as the contemplation stage because it requires thinking about whether to change and how to do it.
People who are in the contemplation phase often make the mistake of setting goals that are too lofty. Try not to do this.
It is a better idea to create goals that you will really be able to achieve. Those who try to quit “cold turkey” often end up relapsing. This has the potential to be more dangerous than choosing to continue using painkillers.
If you have a family member or friend who is in the contemplation stage, one of the best things you can do to help is to be willing to listen to what they have to share.
You can also provide them with treatment options once they decide to make a change.
3. Get Ready to Change
After you set a clear goal, you will still need to get ready to change. You can do this by removing all painkillers from your home.
You should also focus on changing your routines. Your goal should be to eliminate contact with people or situations that trigger your cravings for painkillers.
You’ll also need to figure out what approach you’re going to use to overcome your addiction. The most effective way to stop using painkillers is to seek inpatient care for your painkiller addiction.
4. Get Help From Family and Friends
It is common for people who have painkiller addictions to strengthen their relationships with people who support their addictive behaviors.
If you want to get better, you’ll need to create boundaries within those relationships.
You can join a self-help group such as Narcotics Anonymous if you want to spend time with people who understand what you’re working through.
You should also let your family and friends know that you are going to change.
5. Manage Your Withdrawl Symptoms
There is no way to quit using painkillers without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. You will probably experience physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.
But remember that the most intense symptoms will pass within a week or two.
If you attend an addiction facility when you are detoxing, healthcare providers will be able to prescribe you medications to manage your symptoms.
6. Get Support from a Psychotherapist
You can strengthen your coping skills, create new behavioral patterns, and change your underlying thoughts by working with a psychotherapist.
There are several different approaches that can be helpful for overcoming a painkiller addiction. This includes mindfulness therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and motivational enhancement therapy (MET).
7. Avoid Relapsing
It is common for people to relapse after they’ve stopped taking painkillers. But it is important to keep in mind that this does not mean that treatment has been a failure.
Relapsing is often part of the process of quitting. The most common reasons why people relapse are because they experience cravings and because they think that they can have “just one painkiller.”
Unfortunately, it can also be dangerous to relapse. This is because the risk of dying from an overdose increases if you’ve recently been through withdrawal.
Your tolerance for painkillers will be significantly lower than it was before you stopped using them.
The most important thing to do once you’ve relapsed is to understand what happened. This will make it easier for you to create a plan to reduce the likelihood that you will relapse again.
Overcoming Painkiller Addiction: Change Is Within Reach
If you’ve been wondering how to overcome a painkiller addiction, keep in mind that there are several helpful tips and techniques that you can make use of.
The first step to overcoming a painkiller addiction involves making the decision to change.
If you want to find out more about overcoming a painkiller addiction, don’t hesitate to contact us at Find Rehab Centers. We can help you to find the right addiction treatment center for you or your loved one.
