@@rachf9695 Omg, just saw this! 16 months sober today. My last drunk was so awful. Major hangover that took ALL the next day to recover from. Lol, sooo, I'd I ever think about drinking again, which is rare, I remember my last drunk. How are you, are you sober or considering quitting? I almost lost everything so i knew i had to quit.
Thanks Amber! This is such an important topic. When we learned how addiction changes the brain, it changed everything. I am so glad your channel exists for families still on the hard journey.
I only knew him sober, what an amazing man. Then he allowed old people, places and things because he said “ I’ve got this! “ Guess not, he relapsed. What a scary person he now is. I’m gobsmacked and heartbroken all at the same time. It’s like the devil came and snatched him in the night. 😥
I’m so sorry that you’re going through that! If you don’t mind me asking, how long have you two been together? Did he relapse on opiates, alcohol, stimulants?
Im so sorry , I understand because I went through the same exact thing. The heartbreak afterwards is the worst. Then watching them down spiral and not being able to do anything.
Thank you, Amber! I have been trying for years to find these specifics about brain function and how addiction changes them. Now I have a basic understanding. Much appreciated! Thank you for all you do!
Have you ever seen someone with alcohol addiction seemingly have a better memory?! My husband acts like his memory is better than all! He tells me how things happened and believes I'm wrong...I know he's gaslighting and affected my emotional brain but he makes me question my sanity every day! This video is Soooooo helpful thank you!!
I've been watching you for a while now, but older videos pop up daily as suggested videos that I haven't seen before. This is a great video! Just a reminder to us that the brain is such a powerful thing. So many of the items you mention or questions you are answering are so relatable. I need that reminder and that's why I keep watching.
I am encouraged hearing that my loved ones who are damaged by this could recover some mental functions. It is so insane to talk with someone who doesn't see even the most basic common sense responsibility in day to day life.
All that they care about is getting that next drink because nothing else around them matters, at all. Unless it's sleeping off that last 6 or 12 drinks
I've seen Time and time again people are severely sick physically the first 5 days then bam the days 6 thru 11 they are mentally and emotional all over the map and that's when they run back to the drugs .They have a PTSD about stopping again because they can feel sick in hours and it is so emotional knowing what they are going to have to face . They know they are stuck in the middle ! and definitely need the medical detox and further help in every way . This is where things like Suboxone can greatly help to stop all this and they can gain some sanity to start helping themselves move into a position with the right people places and things to give them time to heal their brain . They gain reality ,and hope ,and trust in others . I've heard them beg for relief of anxiety and sleep the most and I love the way you explain all this so that even the addict can relate and understand .Thank you Amber .
I go through this still with relapse. Sometimes when drugs are around I don't know why but someone I still fall. I'm on parole and can get 2 years or more for relapse. Thank you for helping me figure this thing out.
I can’t even say how spot on you are. Having been a heroin and benzo addict (clean for 5 years now) EVERYTHING you are saying makes so much sense!! It’s nice to know that it wasn’t all in my head, that there is a an actual reason my brain felt the way it did then (other than the obvious)
Thanks for clearly explaining this. Makes perfect sense. We saw a therapist for months and she never explained this. The hubs is clearly in active addiction and told me he’d ‘had enough once I told him I wanted him to quit drinking’.
Thank you this really does help me. My addict doing the blame game not his fault no no no. I feel more capable of dealing with the mood swings and temper tantrums. Still dont know exactly what to do.
That's awesome. A year or so ago, An old client of mine sent me a message saying he was in a treatment center and the group leader played one of my videos. I felt like some sort of Rockstar! LOL 🤩😋😎😃🤣
@@PutTheShovelDown 😆 That's great! You are kind of though, social media provides a platform and you've got solid info. It's also a lot of work in addition to a "real" job. Keep up the good work🤩🤩🤩
Been trying to stay sober for as long as I remember. My fiancee has MS and is still with me after all my bullshit. I stole her meds at times from her. It's sickening. I just want to be normal. Thank you for these videos. They're helping both of us understand. Thank you.
Get her a fingerprint safe for her medication. Protect her from yourself until you can get sober. I got one for $100. It's a gun safe, but I put my medication in there to hide it from my husband.
Sometimes I feel like waiting for the problem to get worse then uninraveled itself is the best plan. Video still definitely give me hope I just would like more practical advice
Awww thanks Carly! You're so sweet 💖. I take that as a huge compliment. I've done lots of professional training workshops and I did teach addiction to counseling students for Clemson a semester. I like to teach, but I don't like to do it in a formal way (like classroom settings or formal supervision). It's probably just laziness. I don't like dealing with paperwork, grading papers, or creating Power Point presentations. 😆
This is so informative. I absolutely love this channel! My bestie is sober for 13 months now. He's been a crack addict for 15 year's though. How ever I feel like he's masking one addiction with another. 6 months clean he got into a relationship & I feel like now it's the sex addiction and alcohol free drinks. I'm afraid he might relapse... So does the brain actually become normal ever again, especially after so many years in active addiction?
You are awesome.. I'm sad cuz I knew nothing about drugs and my bf or ex.. who knows always said what he was taking were not drugs (xanax, sabutex, adderall) that he was doing that cuz the doctor was giving them to him... till I couldn't handle his mood swinging and as you were explaining his repetitive behavior and mistakes I found out i was getting hurt by his behavior, the worst thing is he still doesn't see what he's doing cuz he says he used to do hard drugs before and believes he is doing better now.. but since I left him, he started drinking daily. Oh God I had hope he was going to change but I really don't know what to do.. I love him
I've been in addiction for 10 years. November 1st was my 8 months of sobriety. This video to my understanding is not accurate. We have the ability to process decisions. We just choose not to. Bc our body gets sick when we don't have that substance or alcohol. And all we want is to feel better. Physically. So we don't pay the rent or we don't buy food. Just so we can buy dope. We shy away from family and friends bv of the guilt shame and remorse that comes from using, stealing and not being a parent to our children. I honestly believe people can not speak on this until you've been through addiction or alcoholism yourself.
Thanks very much for this program, i have exactly exactly done all you have said by punishing her and i told her to get out of my house because she waas so disrespectful. No i have lost her she is in the streets and refusing to come back home. Whatt can i do because i am her biggest enemy. Please help
I really feel like they hate themselves and are so full of shame that it truly make addicts hard to love other people as well. It’s like there is no room.
Hi Regina, When alcoholics are in active addiction the connection part of their brain isn't very stable. This doesn't allow them to feel consistently contacted to others.
How does turning off parts of the brain (chemical lobotomy) and removing choice make people competent to chose or refuse rehab? It seems laws protect addiction more than people's brains.
Everytime my significant other would "try" to get clean w/in less than a wk he can't talk about anything w/o crying! Everything makes him cry. One time he was doing a 28 day treatment and he called me w/ his counselor there and he was crying so hard the counselor thought I was cursing him out and all I was doing was listening. Lol
@@PutTheShovelDown I agree because he tends to talk over himself alot. Very weird like he will say, "I want to change...maybe I should...idk...nevermind!" And won't finish his sentence or he will say something then disagree w/ himself within the same sentence. Lol
Seriously now, depending upon the individual, the poison(s) they're taking, and the amount / volume of poison(s) taken, the addict's brain can take many months to years of being totally sober for their brain to heal, and even then it might not fully recover. The younger the person became an addict, and the more and longer they use, the longer and more difficult their recovery will be. Is there an underlying mental illness that precipitated the addiction? That must be dealt with too, dual-diagnosis, if meaningful lasting recovery is to be possible. In the case of addiction to the hyper-stimulant, methamphetamine, for which there currently is no approved medical assistance in recovery, it's a very long slow one day at a time process. Presuming the methamphetamine doesn't first kill you of a heart attack, stroke, circulatory system failure, general organ failure, etc., there's also early Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, psychosis, rotting teeth, a whole host of vile ailments that may potentially short circuit the addict's life for years to come. Not to mention all the crazy extremely risky behavior in which the methamphetamine addict regularly engages. The heavy using methamphetamine addict has a very long road to recovery, but it can be possible. However, what works in recovery for one addict doesn't necessarily work for another. The one constant is the longer the addict stays in treatment the better. These 28 and 30 day in-patient rehabs are for many addicts a guaranteed fail. Post-detox, they often need 60 days of in-patient rehab or more, followed by partial hospitalization, and intensive out-patient treatment. So with a good program you could easily be looking at 5 months. And then maybe even longer duration aftercare. It takes a lot of time, and consumes a lot of resources. It breaks hearts, and shatters wills. There are no quick fixes. And then there's the super-opioid, fentanyl, which can be found in virtually all street poisons these days, including marijuana - the nightmare continues...
100% facts. With the greatest respect, when I hear 2 weeks or 30 days etc.. for the withdrawal process I could laugh it's so ridiculous. There isn't the proper support anywhere for us addicts to fully recover unless you're rich.
This is a fantastic video, thank you so much. Can I ask please, why is it that addiction causes the lizard brain to turn up? why is that necessary? thank you.
My older son started drinking about age 13 or 15 and he is 35 now and has never really stopped drinking a LOT of alcohol. He acts like a schizophrenic (and a doctor said he may have it) but I call it alcohol induced psychosis. I've often wondered if during the development of the frontal cortex it was damaged permanently. Could that be a major reason he just can't stop drinking a half gallon of vodka daily? He goes to medical detox frequently but can't stay sober for more than a few days. He has no money or job to get into a long term lockup to keep him from drinking so he can at least try to get sober.
My addicted loved one recently said on fb he found it funny that I couldn’t have a baby. We were trying for ten years and he wrote that and found it funny. Why does he say hurtful things?
My son died of an overdose 😢I woke and he was dead but I did no know that he was snorting heroine he was no truthful to be and I’m still mad at him .Is that normal ?
My husband and father of my children is an addict. My heart goes out to you, but if he doesn’t get want to work on recovery then please choose yourself and your child. I only wish I had done that years ago🥺
How long after detox, assuming it is successful, does the front part of the brain recover and become normal again? After about 10 days in detox my daughter is depressed and exhibiting the same mentality like blaming her spouse for everything. She is still talking about wanting to reconnect with the individual who I see as part of the drug world-a real loser. I want to support her but I’m so angry! She had a professional career and she’s lost everything!
So is it the drug that turns those parts of the brain down so they don’t know they are hurting us? U say addiction does it but are u meaning the substance changes the brain and those sections don’t work while in active addiction?
The brain is actually receiving a steady supply of powerful opiates so is far from normal. Want proof? See what happens 2-3 days after stopping the subutex. From a 5 year opiate addict. Really enjoy your videos, just discovered your channel. I think about getting clean all the time and want to, I just can't seem to. Mark, Scotland.
Amber- Can you either make a video or comment on residential recovery (treatment) and 1) Their incredibly high failure rate, yet they still take $30,000 a month or more from their clients and 2) Why said treatment centers continue to use a highly flawed and very unsuccessful recovery model in the 12-steps. I spent 30 days in a very renown treatment center in Texas. At least 80% of us relapse. Some while I was STILL in treatment. It is was it is. Treatment does NOT work! So, what are our options? If you’ve already done a vid on this please let me know.
Can you please link to that. Same situation with my husband. He is not in our home and has gone completely MIA immediately following his rehab time. He became more mentally unstable & self centered upon his return
What about suboxone? I am now completely addicted to that and although it has helped me stay clean 100%, I am stuck in this now!! I still feel like my brain is foggy sometimes. Does this medication have the same side effects as illegal drugs? Also, any tips on getting off of this?
In my opinion, yes. I’ve been on this road to hell for 15 years now. It started with an addiction to Vicodin to numb the pain from a broken heart. I thought going on methadone, then suboxone, and then back to methadone was helping me back when I first started at the methadone clinic. Now I’ve been on methadone for the 2nd time for 8 years because when I got pregnant my doctor wouldn’t prescribe me the suboxone anymore. I’ve been to a good rehab once but only could stay 30 days or I’d lose my job. I relapsed within months and went back on suboxone. I tried again two years later. I quit cold turkey and only made it a month before I relapsed again. Now that I have my daughter (she’s 7) I truly want off the methadone so I can be a better mom because I don’t feel like my normal self. I’m a shell of who I was before all of this. My brain feels foggy all the time. My emotions are dulled. I can’t appreciate music anymore. The side effects are horrible, and yet I’m terrified of going back to a detox center because I know I need at least 90 days of treatment and I can’t imagine being away from my daughter that long, even though I know deep down it’s better for both of us in the end. I beat myself up every day for not being a good enough mom even though I am doing the best I know how to. My therapist thinks I’m a good mom, but because I know who I was before all of this I can’t seem to give myself a break. I’m terrified of screwing up my daughter, and scared she will hate/resent me when she’s older and I tell her the truth about everything. I also deal with so much anxiety and depression. I feel like I’m just existing and not living a fulfilling life. Had I known then what I know now I would never have taken that first Vicodin. I had no idea about addiction and by the time I tried to stop taking them I was hooked. It happened so fast and I didn’t have any tools or family support to get through it. Methadone might save some people’s lives but for me, it took mine away. In the beginning I had only been hooked a couple months. Rather than put me on replacement medication for years they should have detoxed me with buprenorphine shots for no more than a week and then given me a therapist. My total amount of “active addiction” in the past 15 years probably totals a year at best. The rest of the time I’ve been stuck on methadone or suboxone because I don’t know what else to do. I know if I go back to pain pills I won’t find them and then heroin would be my only option and I don’t want to have to go through the trouble of trying to get money every day for “my fix”, or do things like steal or sell my body and that’s why I’ve stayed in replacement meds for so many years. I’ve been lucky that I’ve always had a roof over my head and worked to pay for my “treatment” (which is a term I use loosely). However, I’m constantly stressing on how ill pay for treatment, or what happens if I get clean and relapse. I’ll most likely lose everything I have and have to start over again. Methadone is like having liquid handcuffs. You have to follow every rule, and if something comes up and you can’t make it to the clinic you’ll get sick, miss work, etc. it has to be my number one priority in life because if I mess up and lose my take home doses then my life falls apart. If I lose my Medicaid (which happened before the pandemic) then I have to pay $400 a month for my “treatment “, or legal drug dealer as I see it. I’m tired of being chained to this clinic. If I want go visit family in another state I have to get a federal approval for travel doses, or find a clinic in that state to guest dose at. It’s an insane way to live and I hate it, but my brain doesn’t know anything else. My brains chemistry has changed and I’m afraid of making any changes because if I’m not 100% successful, I will lose everything I have tried to hold onto throughout all of this. I don’t have much of a support system or family/friends to help me through this so I feel stuck, frozen in fear. Everyone is different though. This is just a small window into what I’ve been through because of this country’s pain pill epidemic and I wouldn’t wish this hell on anyone. I’m a single mom doing the best I can, yet I lack the self confidence to even be able to give myself a small amount of credit for the positive changes that I am trying to make. Sorry for rambling on. I’m just having a hard time lately and I feel so alone in all of this.
🙋♂️For more on How Addiction Works: 👉ua-cam.com/video/pKKleLtwciM/v-deo.html
10 months sober, its hard but sobriety is my super power!!
"sobriety is my super power!!" LOVE IT!!!!!!! 🤩
Keep going girl!!!!! For all those who haven't quite... for you!!!!! For the people that loves you and more important... NEED YOU ❤
Hope your celebrating your one year sober Cynthia Fortier!!
You are strong, keep at it! 🙌👏
@@rachf9695 Omg, just saw this! 16 months sober today. My last drunk was so awful. Major hangover that took ALL the next day to recover from. Lol, sooo, I'd I ever think about drinking again, which is rare, I remember my last drunk. How are you, are you sober or considering quitting? I almost lost everything so i knew i had to quit.
Thanks Amber! This is such an important topic. When we learned how addiction changes the brain, it changed everything. I am so glad your channel exists for families still on the hard journey.
Thanks Rose!
I only knew him sober, what an amazing man. Then he allowed old people, places and things because he said “ I’ve got this! “ Guess not, he relapsed. What a scary person he now is. I’m gobsmacked and heartbroken all at the same time. It’s like the devil came and snatched him in the night. 😥
I totally get it. I've seen it hundreds of times, and it's shocking every single time!
I know. Still heartbroken but had to kick him out.
I’m so sorry that you’re going through that! If you don’t mind me asking, how long have you two been together? Did he relapse on opiates, alcohol, stimulants?
Im so sorry , I understand because I went through the same exact thing. The heartbreak afterwards is the worst. Then watching them down spiral and not being able to do anything.
I can relate!
Thank you, Amber! I have been trying for years to find these specifics about brain function and how addiction changes them. Now I have a basic understanding. Much appreciated! Thank you for all you do!
Have you ever seen someone with alcohol addiction seemingly have a better memory?! My husband acts like his memory is better than all! He tells me how things happened and believes I'm wrong...I know he's gaslighting and affected my emotional brain but he makes me question my sanity every day! This video is Soooooo helpful thank you!!
I've been watching you for a while now, but older videos pop up daily as suggested videos that I haven't seen before. This is a great video! Just a reminder to us that the brain is such a powerful thing. So many of the items you mention or questions you are answering are so relatable. I need that reminder and that's why I keep watching.
I am encouraged hearing that my loved ones who are damaged by this could recover some mental functions. It is so insane to talk with someone who doesn't see even the most basic common sense responsibility in day to day life.
All that they care about is getting that next drink because nothing else around them matters, at all. Unless it's sleeping off that last 6 or 12 drinks
I've seen Time and time again people are severely sick physically the first 5 days then bam the days 6 thru 11 they are mentally and emotional all over the map and that's when they run back to the drugs .They have a PTSD about stopping again because they can feel sick in hours and it is so emotional
knowing what they are going to have to face .
They know they are stuck in the middle ! and definitely need the medical detox and further help in every way . This is where things like Suboxone can greatly help to stop all this and they can gain some sanity to start helping themselves move into a position with the right people places and things to give them time to heal their brain .
They gain reality ,and hope ,and trust in others .
I've heard them beg for relief of anxiety and sleep the most and I love the way you explain all this so that even the addict can relate and understand .Thank you Amber .
Thanks Jody!
This is an excellently video. It definitely helped me be more understanding
Awesome, thank you! 😁😁😁
I go through this still with relapse. Sometimes when drugs are around I don't know why but someone I still fall. I'm on parole and can get 2 years or more for relapse. Thank you for helping me figure this thing out.
I love how you explain everything to help me continue to understand
Thanks very much ❤😊 I hear the way you explain things.
You are so welcome
I can’t even say how spot on you are. Having been a heroin and benzo addict (clean for 5 years now) EVERYTHING you are saying makes so much sense!! It’s nice to know that it wasn’t all in my head, that there is a an actual reason my brain felt the way it did then (other than the obvious)
It's hard to see until you get on the other side of addiction. I'm glad you were able to see clearly! .
Thanks for clearly explaining this.
Makes perfect sense. We saw a therapist for months and she never explained this. The hubs is clearly in active addiction and told me he’d ‘had enough once I told him I wanted him to quit drinking’.
He told me he’s gonna ‘try to slow it down’. I found out recently his family is filled with alcoholics.
Imaging having a kid with adhd and high functing ASD then addiction on top that me
Amber - Thank you for this information... You are quite amazing! I have learned so much from listening to you and your channel.
You are so welcome, Lauri!
Thank you this really does help me. My addict doing the blame game not his fault no no no. I feel more capable of dealing with the mood swings and temper tantrums. Still dont know exactly what to do.
Hi Nanette, I'm glad this video was helpful to you. I think you'll find lots more helpful resources here!
Thank you! This is so important for us all TO understand. ❤
Another Awesome Thursday with Amber! Thank you! 😊✌❤🙏
You are so welcome! 😊
Thanks for these videos, I show them in my treatment groups all the time!!
That's awesome. A year or so ago, An old client of mine sent me a message saying he was in a treatment center and the group leader played one of my videos. I felt like some sort of Rockstar! LOL 🤩😋😎😃🤣
@@PutTheShovelDown 😆 That's great! You are kind of though, social media provides a platform and you've got solid info. It's also a lot of work in addition to a "real" job. Keep up the good work🤩🤩🤩
This explains a lot! Thank you.
Thank you, Amber.
My pleasure, Julie!
Been trying to stay sober for as long as I remember. My fiancee has MS and is still with me after all my bullshit. I stole her meds at times from her. It's sickening. I just want to be normal. Thank you for these videos. They're helping both of us understand. Thank you.
You're so very welcome, Loomis Show 😁 You've got the right attitude. You've gonna beat this thing!
Get her a fingerprint safe for her medication. Protect her from yourself until you can get sober.
I got one for $100. It's a gun safe, but I put my medication in there to hide it from my husband.
Love your videos keep em coming!
More to come!
Sometimes I feel like waiting for the problem to get worse then uninraveled itself is the best plan. Video still definitely give me hope I just would like more practical advice
Want to stop.
It would be nice to hear some remedies for addiction like nutritional remedies.
Food!
There’s natural supplements. NAC, Omega3, Vit D , 5HTP,
Thank you for your videos! 🙏
My pleasure, John. Thank you for watching!
Have you ever thought of teaching AOD (alcohol and other drugs) students? You would be such a terrific teacher!!! 💐
Awww thanks Carly! You're so sweet 💖. I take that as a huge compliment. I've done lots of professional training workshops and I did teach addiction to counseling students for Clemson a semester. I like to teach, but I don't like to do it in a formal way (like classroom settings or formal supervision). It's probably just laziness. I don't like dealing with paperwork, grading papers, or creating Power Point presentations. 😆
Just amazing! Thanks for this video.
This was brilliant 👏🏾
♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ thank you!
My pleasure Ellen!
This is so informative.
I absolutely love this channel!
My bestie is sober for 13 months now. He's been a crack addict for 15 year's though. How ever I feel like he's masking one addiction with another. 6 months clean he got into a relationship & I feel like now it's the sex addiction and alcohol free drinks.
I'm afraid he might relapse...
So does the brain actually become normal ever again, especially after so many years in active addiction?
This is facts 💯💯💯
In group therapy they used to say cravings or compulsions They pass and become less frequent
thank you this is great :)
Thank you for watching and especially for taking time to leave your kind feedback 😊
You are awesome.. I'm sad cuz I knew nothing about drugs and my bf or ex.. who knows always said what he was taking were not drugs (xanax, sabutex, adderall) that he was doing that cuz the doctor was giving them to him... till I couldn't handle his mood swinging and as you were explaining his repetitive behavior and mistakes I found out i was getting hurt by his behavior, the worst thing is he still doesn't see what he's doing cuz he says he used to do hard drugs before and believes he is doing better now.. but since I left him, he started drinking daily. Oh God I had hope he was going to change but I really don't know what to do.. I love him
I understand you my son passed away 08-24-2021 😢😢😢😢😢
I've been in addiction for 10 years. November 1st was my 8 months of sobriety. This video to my understanding is not accurate. We have the ability to process decisions. We just choose not to. Bc our body gets sick when we don't have that substance or alcohol. And all we want is to feel better. Physically. So we don't pay the rent or we don't buy food. Just so we can buy dope. We shy away from family and friends bv of the guilt shame and remorse that comes from using, stealing and not being a parent to our children. I honestly believe people can not speak on this until you've been through addiction or alcoholism yourself.
It all sounds pretty hopeless
Hi Micheline, It's not hopeless. In fact the more you understand about it, the better your ability to beat it. Hang in there.
Thanks very much for this program, i have exactly exactly done all you have said by punishing her and i told her to get out of my house because she waas so disrespectful. No i have lost her she is in the streets and refusing to come back home. Whatt can i do because i am her biggest enemy. Please help
Does this have anything to do with the fact that Alcoholics cant fall in love? Or is it strictly because they dont love themselves? Ty for the info.
I really feel like they hate themselves and are so full of shame that it truly make addicts hard to love other people as well. It’s like there is no room.
Hi Regina, When alcoholics are in active addiction the connection part of their brain isn't very stable. This doesn't allow them to feel consistently contacted to others.
How does turning off parts of the brain (chemical lobotomy) and removing choice make people competent to chose or refuse rehab? It seems laws protect addiction more than people's brains.
agreed!
Everytime my significant other would "try" to get clean w/in less than a wk he can't talk about anything w/o crying! Everything makes him cry.
One time he was doing a 28 day treatment and he called me w/ his counselor there and he was crying so hard the counselor thought I was cursing him out and all I was doing was listening. Lol
He must have a ton of stuff crammed inside!
@@PutTheShovelDown I agree because he tends to talk over himself alot. Very weird like he will say, "I want to change...maybe I should...idk...nevermind!" And won't finish his sentence or he will say something then disagree w/ himself within the same sentence. Lol
Seriously now, depending upon the individual, the poison(s) they're taking, and the amount / volume of poison(s) taken, the addict's brain can take many months to years of being totally sober for their brain to heal, and even then it might not fully recover.
The younger the person became an addict, and the more and longer they use, the longer and more difficult their recovery will be.
Is there an underlying mental illness that precipitated the addiction? That must be dealt with too, dual-diagnosis, if meaningful lasting recovery is to be possible.
In the case of addiction to the hyper-stimulant, methamphetamine, for which there currently is no approved medical assistance in recovery, it's a very long slow one day at a time process. Presuming the methamphetamine doesn't first kill you of a heart attack, stroke, circulatory system failure, general organ failure, etc., there's also early Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, psychosis, rotting teeth, a whole host of vile ailments that may potentially short circuit the addict's life for years to come. Not to mention all the crazy extremely risky behavior in which the methamphetamine addict regularly engages. The heavy using methamphetamine addict has a very long road to recovery, but it can be possible. However, what works in recovery for one addict doesn't necessarily work for another.
The one constant is the longer the addict stays in treatment the better. These 28 and 30 day in-patient rehabs are for many addicts a guaranteed fail. Post-detox, they often need 60 days of in-patient rehab or more, followed by partial hospitalization, and intensive out-patient treatment. So with a good program you could easily be looking at 5 months. And then maybe even longer duration aftercare.
It takes a lot of time, and consumes a lot of resources. It breaks hearts, and shatters wills.
There are no quick fixes.
And then there's the super-opioid, fentanyl, which can be found in virtually all street poisons these days, including marijuana - the nightmare continues...
100% facts.
With the greatest respect, when I hear 2 weeks or 30 days etc.. for the withdrawal process I could laugh it's so ridiculous.
There isn't the proper support anywhere for us addicts to fully recover unless you're rich.
This is a fantastic video, thank you so much. Can I ask please, why is it that addiction causes the lizard brain to turn up? why is that necessary? thank you.
How can I get an appointment with you?
This link will allow you to schedule an appt: www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/consultations
Do you have a video on TBI and addiction together I can watch?
My older son started drinking about age 13 or 15 and he is 35 now and has never really stopped drinking a LOT of alcohol. He acts like a schizophrenic (and a doctor said he may have it) but I call it alcohol induced psychosis. I've often wondered if during the development of the frontal cortex it was damaged permanently. Could that be a major reason he just can't stop drinking a half gallon of vodka daily? He goes to medical detox frequently but can't stay sober for more than a few days. He has no money or job to get into a long term lockup to keep him from drinking so he can at least try to get sober.
My addicted loved one recently said on fb he found it funny that I couldn’t have a baby. We were trying for ten years and he wrote that and found it funny. Why does he say hurtful things?
My son died of an overdose 😢I woke and he was dead but I did no know that he was snorting heroine he was no truthful to be and I’m still mad at him .Is that normal ?
Apologies to everyone....I asked a couple questions and my internet went off for the duration of the show. Big snow storm happening right now...:-)
We hardly ever get snow in SC, so it's an exciting event when we do! Where are you watching from, Anna?
@@PutTheShovelDown Idaho/Oregon border. I own a private nature reserve on the Idaho side.
I'm so sad watching this... the father of my future baby is in denial and getting worse
😪😪😪😪😪😪😪
My heart goes out to you Gabb! I know it must be really scary to be pregnant and find out your partner is addicted. 😥
My husband and father of my children is an addict. My heart goes out to you, but if he doesn’t get want to work on recovery then please choose yourself and your child. I only wish I had done that years ago🥺
How long after detox, assuming it is successful, does the front part of the brain recover and become normal again? After about 10 days in detox my daughter is depressed and exhibiting the same mentality like blaming her spouse for everything. She is still talking about wanting to reconnect with the individual who I see as part of the drug world-a real loser. I want to support her but I’m so angry! She had a professional career and she’s lost everything!
So is it the drug that turns those parts of the brain down so they don’t know they are hurting us? U say addiction does it but are u meaning the substance changes the brain and those sections don’t work while in active addiction?
Does this explain an alcoholic's infidelity/affair?
This video addresses that topic more specifically: ua-cam.com/video/-woGGBLs0Bc/v-deo.html
When someone is on subutex, is their brain back to functioning normally or is their brain still in this state ?
If a person is taking Subutex as prescribed and not supplementing with other drugs, their brain should stabilize and function pretty normally.
The brain is actually receiving a steady supply of powerful opiates so is far from normal. Want proof? See what happens 2-3 days after stopping the subutex.
From a 5 year opiate addict.
Really enjoy your videos, just discovered your channel.
I think about getting clean all the time and want to, I just can't seem to.
Mark, Scotland.
Amber- Can you either make a video or comment on residential recovery (treatment) and 1) Their incredibly high failure rate, yet they still take $30,000 a month or more from their clients and 2) Why said treatment centers continue to use a highly flawed and very unsuccessful recovery model in the 12-steps. I spent 30 days in a very renown treatment center in Texas. At least 80% of us relapse. Some while I was STILL in treatment. It is was it is. Treatment does NOT work! So, what are our options? If you’ve already done a vid on this please let me know.
I actually just recorded a video on that! It will be coming out in a few weeks
Can you please link to that. Same situation with my husband. He is not in our home and has gone completely MIA immediately following his rehab time. He became more mentally unstable & self centered upon his return
@@tiffanyvelasquez-walker1989 I’m sorry about that Tiffany. What was he using and how long was he in treatment and did he finish?
@@tiffanyvelasquez-walker1989 Tiffany. How’s ur husband???
How often do you do lives please ?
Hi Kate, I'm on live every Thursday at 1pm eastern and sometimes I do extra ones during the week as well.
@put the shovel down thank you
What about suboxone? I am now completely addicted to that and although it has helped me stay clean 100%, I am stuck in this now!! I still feel like my brain is foggy sometimes. Does this medication have the same side effects as illegal drugs? Also, any tips on getting off of this?
Hi Efly, Here's a video I did a while back about a new treatment that seems to be showing a lot of success. ua-cam.com/video/Izz-JAIKXVs/v-deo.html
Does the use of methadone, turn down" the brain as well?
In my opinion, yes. I’ve been on this road to hell for 15 years now. It started with an addiction to Vicodin to numb the pain from a broken heart. I thought going on methadone, then suboxone, and then back to methadone was helping me back when I first started at the methadone clinic. Now I’ve been on methadone for the 2nd time for 8 years because when I got pregnant my doctor wouldn’t prescribe me the suboxone anymore. I’ve been to a good rehab once but only could stay 30 days or I’d lose my job. I relapsed within months and went back on suboxone. I tried again two years later. I quit cold turkey and only made it a month before I relapsed again. Now that I have my daughter (she’s 7) I truly want off the methadone so I can be a better mom because I don’t feel like my normal self. I’m a shell of who I was before all of this. My brain feels foggy all the time. My emotions are dulled. I can’t appreciate music anymore. The side effects are horrible, and yet I’m terrified of going back to a detox center because I know I need at least 90 days of treatment and I can’t imagine being away from my daughter that long, even though I know deep down it’s better for both of us in the end. I beat myself up every day for not being a good enough mom even though I am doing the best I know how to. My therapist thinks I’m a good mom, but because I know who I was before all of this I can’t seem to give myself a break. I’m terrified of screwing up my daughter, and scared she will hate/resent me when she’s older and I tell her the truth about everything. I also deal with so much anxiety and depression. I feel like I’m just existing and not living a fulfilling life. Had I known then what I know now I would never have taken that first Vicodin. I had no idea about addiction and by the time I tried to stop taking them I was hooked. It happened so fast and I didn’t have any tools or family support to get through it. Methadone might save some people’s lives but for me, it took mine away. In the beginning I had only been hooked a couple months. Rather than put me on replacement medication for years they should have detoxed me with buprenorphine shots for no more than a week and then given me a therapist. My total amount of “active addiction” in the past 15 years probably totals a year at best. The rest of the time I’ve been stuck on methadone or suboxone because I don’t know what else to do. I know if I go back to pain pills I won’t find them and then heroin would be my only option and I don’t want to have to go through the trouble of trying to get money every day for “my fix”, or do things like steal or sell my body and that’s why I’ve stayed in replacement meds for so many years. I’ve been lucky that I’ve always had a roof over my head and worked to pay for my “treatment” (which is a term I use loosely). However, I’m constantly stressing on how ill pay for treatment, or what happens if I get clean and relapse. I’ll most likely lose everything I have and have to start over again. Methadone is like having liquid handcuffs. You have to follow every rule, and if something comes up and you can’t make it to the clinic you’ll get sick, miss work, etc. it has to be my number one priority in life because if I mess up and lose my take home doses then my life falls apart. If I lose my Medicaid (which happened before the pandemic) then I have to pay $400 a month for my “treatment “, or legal drug dealer as I see it. I’m tired of being chained to this clinic. If I want go visit family in another state I have to get a federal approval for travel doses, or find a clinic in that state to guest dose at. It’s an insane way to live and I hate it, but my brain doesn’t know anything else. My brains chemistry has changed and I’m afraid of making any changes because if I’m not 100% successful, I will lose everything I have tried to hold onto throughout all of this. I don’t have much of a support system or family/friends to help me through this so I feel stuck, frozen in fear. Everyone is different though. This is just a small window into what I’ve been through because of this country’s pain pill epidemic and I wouldn’t wish this hell on anyone. I’m a single mom doing the best I can, yet I lack the self confidence to even be able to give myself a small amount of credit for the positive changes that I am trying to make. Sorry for rambling on. I’m just having a hard time lately and I feel so alone in all of this.
Do you think its a good idea to send these videos to your loved one
Woaaaaa😆🤪
I bet meth really turns it down. My poor brother
100%
Thank you Amber.😃
Any time!