3 Tips For Breaking Your Methadone Dependency
If you are currently visiting a methadone clinic regularly to receive the medication you need to stay off drugs, you may wonder how long you will rely on the methadone pills or injections before they are no longer needed. The answer to this question varies; however, there are ways you can speed up the process so that you will be completely free and sober of this dependency. Here are some tips to help you achieve this.
Get in the right mindset
The first thing you should understand is that you will need to develop the right mindset to break your dependency to methadone. Taking methadone is an effective and common way to break an addiction to painkillers or drugs, but you should view this only as a stepping stone. If you view this as a permanent treatment option, you will have a hard time breaking the addiction.
Methadone is commonly used for breaking drug addictions because it offers relief for withdrawal symptoms. In addition, it is not as bad for your body as most drugs are. The downside is that methadone can be just as addictive as other types of drugs, and you will need to understand that using methadone should be a temporary treatment option for your addiction.
Wean yourself off
Weaning is a process used to reduce the need for something. Mothers use this process when they breastfeed their babies, and people also use this process when trying to stop certain types of antidepressant medications. Weaning is also a concept you should use with methadone, and this process is not something that happens overnight.
When you decide to wean yourself off of this medication, you will have to do it very slowly. For example, you could decide to try a lower dose of the medication every month or two. If you can reduce the amount by a little, your body may be able to adjust without having to go through withdrawal symptoms. If you consistently do this over time, you will be slowly training your brain and body to not rely on the medication. Eventually, you may no longer need any to get by.
Visit a counselor
Finally, you may want to schedule weekly visits with a counselor to help you through this. Talking to a counselor is a great way to find support and help during this time, and your counselor may be able to help you improve your self-esteem and other issues you may have. By using counseling services regularly, you may have a better chance of breaking the addiction you have to methadone.
If you are struggling with any type of addiction, get help quickly. Professional help, such as from Olalla Recovery Centers, is the best chance you have to break the addiction, and breaking your addiction will help you have a better future.