Developing coping mechanisms for stress and triggers can help you navigate challenges without turning to substance use. The addiction can isolate you from your social circles as priorities shift towards obtaining and using the drug. This isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness, depression, and alienation from friends and family members. To repair and rebuild relationships post-recovery, it’s essential to communicate openly and honestly with your loved ones. Seeking professional help through therapy or support groups can also aid in addressing underlying issues and rebuilding trust.
The Recovery Journey
If you’re struggling to control your Xanax use or experiencing withdrawal when trying to quit, it’s essential to reach out for professional support. Your behavioral health may deteriorate as the substance use disorder consumes more of your time and energy, causing you to neglect important duties at work, school, or home. As your addiction to Xanax intensifies, you might become increasingly secretive and withdraw from social circles, isolating yourself from loved ones who express concern about your well-being. Reach out to The Forge Recovery Center to receive comprehensive, evidence-based treatment for Xanax addiction.
Why Is Xanax So Addictive?
- Patients need to follow their doctor’s recommended dosage and time to avoid Xanax abuse or addiction.
- Withdrawal symptoms from Xanax include severe anxiety, tremors, insomnia, and, in severe cases, life-threatening seizures.
- Commonly known slang names include Bars, Zannies, Planks, Zanbars, Bricks, Football, Blue Footballs, White Boys, School Bus, and Totem Poles.
Dr. Michael Olla is a renowned medical professional licensed in both New York and New Jersey, specializing in psychiatry and addiction treatment. Currently serving as the Medical Director at Valley Spring Recovery, he oversees clinical operations, editorial staff for the website and is committed to providing the highest standards of patient care. With a focus on holistic healing and evidence-based practices, Dr. Olla has become a leading figure in the field of psychiatric medicine. His dedication to patient well-being and contributions to research make him a standout authority in mental health and recovery.
Xanax Addiction Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Connecting with others who have similar experiences through support groups or online forums can offer a sense of community and shared understanding. Sharing your struggles and triumphs with peers can instill hope and motivation in your recovery journey. To achieve lasting sobriety from Xanax addiction, it’s essential to prioritize self-care. Engage in activities that promote mental and physical well-being, such as exercise, meditation, and hobbies.
Treating Xanax addiction involves medical, psychological, and social interventions to address the complex nature of substance dependence. Xanax addiction harms physical health, mental well-being, and social relationships. In aftercare, you’ll continue to learn strategies for coping in everyday life, and we’ll also help you pursue personal and professional goals.
Behavioral Signs
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2021), approximately 30% of benzodiazepine users experience significant withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit. His focus is on helping people who suffer from multiple issues, such as schizophrenia, mood disorders, substance abuse, PTSD, anxiety, depression, OCD, and ADHD. Treatment for Xanax addiction often begins with a slow tapering of the drug or another benzodiazepine so the individual will not experience severe withdrawal effects. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can create a syndrome similar to delirium tremens that causes hallucinations, agitation, confusion, and potentially fatal seizures.
- The risk of Xanax overdose is especially pronounced when the drug is combined with other substances like opioids or alcohol.
- Severe Xanax withdrawal symptoms surface when one consumes a higher dose of the drug or upon prolonged use.
- Because it has sedative effects as a central nervous system depressant, it can also be prescribed for sleep disorders.
- As it is highly addictive in nature, one must consume it consciously and under the supervision of a doctor to prevent falling into the vicious trap of Xanax addiction.
It typically involves 5-20 hours of treatment per week, depending on the type of outpatient treatment chosen. Detoxification (detox) is a process aimed at helping you safely stop taking Xanax while minimizing and managing your withdrawal symptoms. Detox is usually done in a hospital or rehabilitation facility under medical supervision. Upon leaving the treatment center, many people will pursue a 12-step recovery program to maintain abstinence or stabilization and maintenance. Xanax (alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine drug widely prescribed to treat anxiety what is alcoholism disorder. Benzodiazepine addiction is a growing concern in the United States, with around 30% of opiate overdose deaths also involving drugs like Xanax.
- The onset and duration of these symptoms will depend on factors such as your typical dosage and length of Xanax use.
- Xanax abuse is a pressing issue, with data showing a significant rise in recent years.
- The risk of experiencing benzodiazepine withdrawal syndromes is high with prolonged use.
- Common Xanax withdrawal symptoms include severe anxiety, insomnia, and physical tremors accompanied by nausea and sweating.
- According to a 2023 study by George TT, et al, on Alprazolam, common effects of Xanax include fatigue, irritability, poor concentration, depression, and memory problems.
- Research shows that young adults who use Xanax tend to use it along with illegal drugs and are also more likely to have psychiatric conditions, which might be undiagnosed or untreated.
- Xanax is a type of benzodiazepine and is considered one of the most addictive prescription drugs on the market today.
Begin Your Journey to Recovery
- Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and include anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and even seizures.
- Since detoxing from Xanax can be life-threatening, it’s wise to enroll in a medical detox program.
- Carolina Center for Recovery is lucky to have some of the most qualified and experienced addiction specialists in the country.
- Withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia and anxiety occur when the drug is not taken which reinforces the repeating cycle of addiction.
Since Xanax is often prescribed for treating panic disorder, it should come as no surprise that someone might experience panic attacks while withdrawing from it. It is possible to build up a tolerance to Xanax relatively quickly, and when this happens a person may find that the medication no longer effectively treats their anxiety as it was meant to do. Additionally, some people are predisposed to substance addiction, possibly due to genetic factors and altered activity of neurotransmitters in the brain.
These cognitive deficits can significantly impact your daily functioning, making even simple tasks feel like insurmountable challenges. These behavioral changes are red flags that indicate a growing dependency on Xanax, and they often worsen as the addiction progresses. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) first focuses on the root cause of Xanax addiction. Then it bestows patients with coping mechanisms, helping them to manage stress and combat Xanax addiction.
Detoxification Process
Through active participation in fun, engaging activities, recovering individuals can confront and manage past traumas that frequently contribute to addictive behaviors. Xanax, or alprazolam, affects the brain by enhancing the neurotransmitter GABA’s activity, which reduces anxiety, induces sedation, and relaxes muscles. As Xanax addiction takes hold, you may find yourself grappling with xanax addiction memory issues, decreased attention span, and difficulties in problem-solving.
