Things You Should Know About Intensive Outpatient Programs

Intensive outpatient program (IOP) is often the best option for those who have a severe addiction. This is a commonly used method to treat substance abuse and mental health disorders on a part-time basis. IOPs are designed to deliver inpatient intensity and focus, while still letting client maintain their life in an outpatient setting.

The fact that substance abuse recovery appears to be daunting for many in the early stages is indisputable. This makes it very important to choose the right treatment plan to ensure patients have the best tools at their disposal to help them along the road to sobriety. Plenty of options exist, with one of the key program options available being intensive outpatient program, New York City, which is recommended only after a full medical assessment and clinical evaluation is done.

When it comes to deciding between an inpatient or outpatient program, there are tremendous benefits to the former that involves physically staying in a facility during the early stages of recovery, which is what makes an inpatient program not a feasible option for those who can’t meet the commitment required (might be due to their job, family responsibilities, or other commitments). On the contrary, an intensive outpatient program is recommended for those who may not need a true medical detox program, but need a high level of support, and program participants continue to reside in their private residences. IOPs allow patients to maintain much of their normal routine during the later stages of their recovery while providing them with the continued support they need.

Some of the benefits of intensive outpatient programs for patients:

One of the major reasons behind the popularity of IOPs is it removes some of the fear from addiction treatment, including costs or just people’s hesitation to consider programs that have a residential component because they don’t feel they can simply walk away from home. Other benefits include

1.           Maintain your routine (keep your presence at school or work)
2.           Get help from friends and family
3.           Maintain the ability to support your family
4.           Very cost-effective in comparison to traditional residential treatment (inpatient treatment)
5.           More accessible to individuals who need it but cannot afford to leave home
6.           Build community with others in recovery in your area
7.           More intense and structured than outpatient care

Types of Treatment in IOP:

For substance abuse, IOP involves many types of services, including medication management, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, addiction support groups, and addiction aftercare plans.

IOP is recommended for those who have a strong network at home to support their efforts, individuals with a lower risk level of relapsing, those who have a stable home life, individuals who have no issues with opening up in front of a group of people, and individuals who are no longer using drugs. IOPs include at least nine hours of services each week through at least three sessions, with each session lasting three hours. General topics that are covered in most IOPs include relapse prevention, health and wellness, role of spirituality in recovery, coping skills for managing triggers and cravings, understanding the underlying causes of substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health concerns, and goal setting.

Role of Medical Detox in Treating Addiction

Addiction is a chronic disease. Most people who struggle with substance abuse will build up a tolerance and long-term drug use can lead to chemical dependency to drug or alcohol. A medically supervised detoxification or medical detoxification, New York City is often the first step in treating addiction, in which physicians and nurses carefully supervise the patient as he is gradually weaned from the substance.

When the body becomes dependent on a substance, sudden removal of the substance can wreak havoc and can cause physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms. This is where medical detoxification comes in that offers a safe environment for withdrawal from drugs or alcohol with medical professionals guiding along. Certain medications are used to temporarily prevent or ease the symptoms of withdrawal, which can include shaking, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, depression, sweating, hallucinations, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, headaches, fever and more. Remember, medical detox won’t help you avoid these symptoms, but can significantly reduce their severity and allow you to detox in a comfortable environment.

The length of a detox varies depending on factors like what drug was abused and how long, as well as the patient’s medical history. However, a typical detox lasts anywhere from two to 10 days, and there are visible improvements after medical detox. But chances of relapse into addiction are higher if someone discontinues treatment at a drug rehabilitation facility, as well as further education and counseling.

Who Needs Medical Detox:

Not everyone with a substance abuse problem needs medical detox before stepping into a drug rehabilitation program. Medical detox can be highly beneficial for individuals who have a physical dependency on a drug, or who would be risking their health to attempt to quit on their own.

While detoxification helps to eradicate the physical symptoms of addiction, most people will be in need of additional medical and psychological assistance.

There are some stigmas attached to detox and treatment, which hinders many people in going ahead with detoxification. Etch it in your mind that detox is in no way a sign of weakness. Physical withdrawal is a serious medical issue, and it is best to go through detox while under medical supervision. Moreover, you deserve to stay amidst people who are concerned about your well-being and who want to help you seek treatment.

Harlem East Life Plan offers discreet, ambulatory detoxification treatment for substances, including nicotine, alcohol, Opiates and Opiate based prescriptions, and anti-anxiety medications.

Contact Us: 

Harlem East Life Plan 

https://www.harlemeastlifeplan.com      

Telephone: 212-876-2300

Addiction Counselors Can Play a Big Role in Helping Someone Struggling with Addiction

There are many misconceptions about what addiction is, making it a highly misconstrued condition. Addiction refers to a wide range of mental disorders called Substance Use Disorders, including Alcohol Use Disorder, Stimulant Use Disorder, just to name a few. Frequent use, prolonged use, cravings to use, and an inability to stop are some of the common symptoms of Substance Use Disorders. Addiction develops over time, as an individual continues to use a substance and grows more dependent on it, he/she can go to great lengths to hide their drug or alcohol use from others, thus making it difficult to detect.

Treatment Options:

Proper treatment can enable someone with a Substance Use Disorder to effectively get rid of their symptoms and put their disorder into remission, regardless of the severity of their disorder. There are a range of available treatments, including treatments provided in outpatient settings, inpatient settings, and treatments that may incorporate individual, family, and/or group therapy.

Counseling is an integral part of overcoming addiction. Addiction counselling, New York City can be instrumental in changing old patterns and developing new systems that are more helpful and constructive. Modern therapeutic techniques used by counselors these days not only provides the opportunity to talk, but also helps in building skills that you can be put to good use throughout one’s life.

Modern counselling is more goal-oriented with some common therapy goals being improved self-esteem, elimination of drug and alcohol abuse, improved relationships with others, reduction of depression and stress, restored sleep, healthy eating patterns and increased productivity. However, for someone to experience its true benefits counseling is more effective with multiple sessions over several months.

Certain fundamental techniques are frequently used throughout therapy sessions for addiction, which include:

1. Identification of negative thoughts (ways to constructively deal with them)

2. Skills training (you can focus on specific tasks which you usually find difficult to complete, such as chores, planning an outing, talking to strangers, etc.)

3. Use of incentives (in the form of gym memberships, movie passes, yoga class passes) to overcome addiction

The length of addiction therapy treatment varies from person to person, depending mainly on the individual and on the nature of the addiction.

The bottom line is counseling is an important aspect of addiction treatment that helps deal with the emotional problems that you or your loved ones may undergo and also helps in changing the unhealthy responses and leads you on the path of positivity.

Contact Us:

Harlem East Life Plan

https://www.harlemeastlifeplan.com       

Telephone: 212-876-2300

Save your Life with These Valuable Medication Management Tips

The significance of medication management cannot be overstated, particularly when taking medications simultaneously to treat different conditions and symptoms. For seniors, Polypharmacy (taking multiple medications for different conditions), can be a potential health hazard that may include dangerous drug interactions and over-medication.

These medication management New York City tips can prove to be highly beneficial for you and your loved one:

1. You should be aware of medications that are deemed unsafe for older adults which you can do by going through the list of medications that older adults should avoid or use with caution put together by the American Geriatric Society. In the list, some pose a higher risk of side effects or interactions, while others are simply less effective.

2. Older adults can be more sensitive to some drugs and less sensitive to others because of the way our bodies metabolize various drugs as we grow old. It is very important that you double-check with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure that the dosage on the prescription is age-appropriate.

3. Carry your list of prescription medications — a list of over-the-counter drugs and any herbal supplements you might be taking to the doctor’s office in order for them to accurately pinpoint any potential adverse effects or drug interactions.

4. Reduce the risk of polypharmacy by keeping an accurate list of all medications, including generic and brand names, dosages, dosing frequency and reason for taking the drug.

5. There’s nothing wrong in seeking out a second opinion if you are concerned about a diagnosis or a prescription.

6. You can stay alert to any health changes that may occur in response to a new medication or combination of medications by being aware of the potential side-effects and interactions. Consult a physician if you notice any health changes.

7. Keep the number of doctors and pharmacies to the minimal which is better for both you and the providers who must coordinate care.

8. Do let your pharmacist or doctor know if you or your loved one has had a bad reaction to any medication in the past.

The bottom line is that by avoiding some of the more common medication mistakes, such as taking drugs incorrectly or taking more than is prescribed can help older adults take medications safely. Some useful tools include pill dispensers, organizers and even reminder services.

Harlem East Life Plan in New York City is a multi-faceted outpatient facility offering co-located services of addiction medicine, general medicine, medication management and Mental Health.

Contact Us:

Harlem East Life Plan 

https://www.harlemeastlifeplan.com

Full Address: 

2367-69 Second Avenue New York, 

NY 10035 

Telephone: 212-876-2300 

Difference between Schizophrenia and Manic Depression

Both Schizophrenia and Manic Depression are lifelong mental health disorders that affect a person’s ability to think and behave normally. One can easily be mistaken for the other because of symptoms of both appearing to be similar at first. What is important is a proper diagnosis for early intervention and treatment.

If you or your beloved is struggling with the symptoms of either of the two, seek immediate help. Treatment is the key to living a healthy, fulfilling life. At Harlem East Life Plan, our inpatient programs include medication, psychotherapy, and education to help you manage your symptoms and live your best life. The Harlem East Life Plan’s Mental Health and Wellness New York City Center, is an outpatient counseling program that assists an individual in developing a full range of life enhancing skills.

Manic Depression, also called bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings with periods of normal energy in between and is typically diagnosed in a person’s teens or early 20s, but the condition can appear at any time.

Symptoms- High energy levels, decreased sleep, inappropriate social behavior, increased activity, easily distracted, excessive talking speed or volume, reckless behaviour, unusually irritable, increased sense of well-being. These are the symptoms when a person with manic depression is having a manic or hypomanic episode. Depressive episodes also cause significant interruptions in a person’s career and relationships with some symptoms being difficulty sleeping or excessive sleeping; feelings of worthlessness and excessive guilt; difficulty thinking, concentrating and making decisions; restlessness or sluggish behaviour; a feeling of sadness, emptiness and hopelessness; loss of interest in most activities and so forth.

Basically, manic depression can be broken down into two types: mania and major depression.

Schizophrenia is a serious mental health disorder that affects how an individual interprets reality with roughly 1% of the United States population suffering from it.

Symptoms:

1.   The “positive” symptoms that refer to the presence of symptoms may include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, confused thoughts, unpredictable movements, etc.

2.   Negative symptoms where the word “negative” refers to a lack of normal mental functioning may include not showing emotion, lack of self-hygiene, struggling with basic activities, severe withdrawal, etc.

3.   Cognitive symptoms include reduced attention span, reduced mental speed and reaction time, poor ability to absorb information and problems remembering recently learned information. These symptoms are more subtle and are detected with thorough testing.

Like we have already mentioned that manic depression and schizophrenia share many similarities which necessitates thorough testing and assessment of one’s detailed medical history for accurate diagnosis. Few key differences include

1.   A person affected by manic depression often functions well at work, school, and in social situations when not experiencing episodes of mania or depression while individuals with untreated schizophrenia typically struggle to maintain jobs and relationships and have difficulty functioning day-to-day.

2.   A person with manic depression will be more expressive with his or her feelings. On the contrary, someone with schizophrenia will be unable to show emotion, lack facial expressions, and speak with a flat tone.

Contact Us:

Harlem East Life Plan

http://www.harlemeastlifeplan.com

Full Address:

2367-69 Second Avenue New York,

NY 10035

Telephone: 212-876-2300

Stages of Addiction and Addiction Treatment Facilities in East Harlem

There are so many people battling addiction issues, it is difficult to ascertain how many exactly. Experts believe an estimated 24 million struggle with the disease in the United States of America. Treating addiction isn’t enough, how people become addicted is as important. According to healthcare professionals, there are a few stages to addiction-

First Use- The first use is mostly out of a sense of adventure, peer pressure or a medical necessity which makes a person learn how the substance makes them feel at that point of time.

Continued Use- When it comes to a person with prescription, the continued use of a particular substance might be out of a requirement or a need to use the medication. For an individual who quickly returned to the substance after experimenting not too long back, it indicates that they like how the drug makes them feel.

Tolerance- This is the stage that arrives after a period of continued use and it is also the first warning sign of addiction. Tolerance implies the brain and body have adjusted to the drug and it now takes a greater amount to feel the effects of it.

Dependence- This stage involves the substance abuser being physically ill without alcohol or drugs, even to the extent of developing serious withdrawal symptoms. Chemically, the brain has become too accustomed to the substance to function well without it. Individuals don’t feel “normal” if they’re not using the substance. A person may also go into withdrawal where they can experience flu-like symptoms with opiates, or sweats and shakiness with alcohol.

Addiction- This is the last stage where individuals find it nearly impossible to stop misusing drugs or alcohol and are unable to stop themselves just when things seem to be going well.

Remember, there are variations within the stages unique to every individual. According to research, segments of the population are genetically predisposed to addiction, but the disposition is not a guarantee a person will become an addict. An individual with no predisposition can just as easily develop an addiction.

Now that you are aware of the addiction stages, addiction treatment can help you get sober and stay sober. H.E.L.P. is a multi-faceted outpatient facility (addiction treatment facility, East Harlem) offering co-located services of addiction medicine, general medicine and Mental Health. We’re here to help you at any stage of your addiction.

For more information, call on (212) 876-2300.