Self-Esteem and Confidence in Recovery

How to Build Self-Esteem and Confidence in Recovery

Rebuilding your self-esteem and confidence is crucial during your addiction recovery process. Here are some methods to help you develop a strong sense of self-worth and belief in recovery.

Make Healthy Changes - Start by regularly incorporating healthy adjustments and new routines into your daily life. Whether it's enhancing your eating habits or increasing your physical activity, these positive changes not only support your journey to healing, but also enhance your self-worth and assurance. This is because adopting healthy modifications and maintaining them fosters a strong sense of dedication and direction in your life.
Forgive Yourself & Others - Recovering individuals may experience shame and embarrassment regarding their addiction, but it is important not to harbor these negative emotions. Holding onto these feelings can impede your recovery and diminish your self-esteem and confidence. It is crucial to forgive yourself for past actions and allow yourself to move forward towards a healthier, happier future. Additionally, forgiving those who may have caused harm or influenced your substance abuse is essential for positive progression in your recovery journey.
Set Goals - Setting goals is crucial for enhancing self-esteem and confidence during the recovery process. Goals provide direction and motivation, enabling individuals to surpass their own expectations and reach their full potential. When establishing goals for recovery, it is important to make them specific and attainable, rather than vague. For instance, a specific goal could involve attending weekly support group meetings, instead of a general goal of wanting to stop drug abuse.
Practice Self Care - Self-care plays a vital role in boosting confidence during the recovery process. It involves treating yourself with kindness and love through activities that bring you happiness and fulfillment. Self-care activities range from physical exercises such as working out or practicing yoga to mental activities like journaling or reading.
Practice Positive Self Talk - Positive self-talk is essential for enhancing self-confidence and advancing on your journey to recovery. Negative thoughts can diminish self-esteem and heighten the likelihood of relapse. Acknowledge your self-talk and replace negative thoughts with affirming ones to promote self-appreciation and gratitude.

Addiction can have a negative impact on your self-esteem, but there are numerous healthy methods to boost your confidence and lead a happier, healthier life. Whether it's forgiving yourself for past mistakes or consistently prioritizing self-care, these simple yet effective strategies can aid you on your path to recovery. Transformations by the Gulf provides top-notch addiction treatment services in the Gulf Coast of Florida, catering to a wide range of substance use disorders. We offer tailored care to best support your recovery journey, ensuring you receive the assistance you need without fear or shame. Reach out today to discover how we can assist you in your recovery. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, call us today at (727)498-6498.

Are you struggling with addiction and want to learn more? Visit Psychology Today or check out our page on addiction treatments.

by Tammy Cate

10 Self-Care Ideas for Recovery

10 Self-Care Ideas to Improve Mental Health

Engaging in self-care practices to improve physical and mental well-being can begin at any time and there are numerous cost-free methods available. Some individuals create a self-care routine at the start of a new year in January, while others are prompted to prioritize self-care during Self Care Awareness Month in September. It is common for people to wrongly perceive self-care as selfish, when in reality, it is a way to boost energy levels and enhance our ability to assist others.

Numerous methods are available to engage in self-care practices for anxiety, recharge the mind, and alleviate stress. Here are Self-Care Ideas for Addiction Recovery:

Do Yoga or Tai Chi.
Avoid watching the news for a week.
Take a relaxing bubble bath.
Plant a garden.
Listen to music.
Go for a walk.
Get a massage.
Learn a new hobby.
Go to a movie by yourself.
Spend time alone at-home with a pet to help boost oxytocin.

10 Self-Care Ideas for Recovery can help you. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental illness, we can help. At Transformations by the Gulf, we offer a safe and nurturing space to navigate negative emotions and practice coping skills that will support you in your recovery journey. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, call us today at (727)498-6498.

Are you struggling with addiction and want to learn more? Visit Yelp to read our reviews or check out our page on addiction treatments.

by Tammy Cate

Self-Care Tips for Addiction Recovery

5 Self Care Tips to Boost the Way We Feel

At the beginning of a new year or during Self-Care Awareness Month, consider making small adjustments in your daily routine to prioritize self-care. Professional assistance or drastic schedule changes are not always necessary. By incorporating these simple self-care practices into our daily habits, we can enhance our lives. Self-Care Tips for Addiction Recovery:

1. Restful and Regular Sleep

Skipping sleep is common, but adults typically require 6 to 9 hours of restful sleep each night for optimal brain function. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, including weekends, can assist in establishing this routine. While initially challenging, the body will adjust, leading to improved mood and energy levels with regular, quality sleep.

2. Exercise

Engaging in as little as 30 minutes of exercise each day can have a significant impact on reducing stress and anxiety, managing weight, and enhancing sleep and mood. Incorporating regular physical activity into your daily routine is also advised for alleviating various symptoms of depression. For some individuals, this may involve a 20-to-30-minute walk, while others may prefer activities such as cycling, swimming, hiking, or participating in sports. The key is to find an enjoyable and effective activity that encourages movement. If exercise feels like a burden or lacks enjoyment, individuals are likely to discontinue it, missing out on its health benefits. Spending time outdoors and engaging in physical activities amidst nature can further elevate mood, owing to the positive effects of sunlight. This also serves as an effective means of releasing endorphins to combat stress.

3. Well-balanced and Healthy Diet

Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can significantly improve sleep quality and provide the right energy for physical activity. A healthy diet can also positively impact mood and mental health by stabilizing blood sugar levels and reducing fluctuations. While it may be difficult initially, cutting out alcohol, unhealthy snacks, and processed foods can lead to improved overall health and well-being.

4. Social Support

Discover ways to connect with family and friends who share your interests to establish a robust social support network. Simply staying connected through social media is insufficient. While everyone's social needs differ, spending quality in-person time with others can help us stay grounded and more connected to ourselves. In addition to friends and family, consider volunteering to assist others in any capacity, which can be highly fulfilling and result in lasting friendships.

5. Meditation and Mindfulness

Engaging in meditation and mindfulness offers an effective method to calm the mind and alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. Mindfulness entails being present and attentive to the current moment. For instance, during a stroll, it involves noticing the sensation of the air on our skin and the feeling of the ground beneath our feet. In a brief meditation session, maintaining mindfulness includes concentrating on our breath, the movement of our chest, and allowing thoughts to pass through the mind without fixation. As per the Mayo Clinic, dedicating just 5 to 15 minutes to meditation can diminish stress and serve as a valuable self-care practice.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental illness, we can help. At Transformations by the Gulf, we offer a safe and nurturing space to navigate negative emotions and practice coping skills that will support you in your recovery journey. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, call us today at (727)498-6498.

Are you struggling with addiction and want to learn more? Visit Psychology Today or check out or page on addiction treatments.

by Tammy Cate

Self-Care Ideas for Addiction Recovery

Engaging in self-care activities and techniques to improve physical and mental wellness is something that can be initiated at any time, and there are numerous cost-free methods available. Some individuals set up a regimen at the start of a new year in January, while others are prompted to consider its significance during Self Care Awareness Month in September. Unfortunately, many individuals mistakenly perceive self-care as selfish. In reality, it is the opposite. By prioritizing self-care, we can boost our energy levels and become even more effective in supporting others.

What is Self-Care?

In summary, self-care involves promoting physical and mental well-being as well as managing our emotional reactions to life's stressors. Getting sufficient sleep, staying hydrated, and taking time to unwind are simple ways to boost our energy levels both physically and emotionally. Initially, prioritizing and establishing healthy habits in these areas requires conscious effort. Over time, these self-care practices can become ingrained habits that contribute to improved overall health and mental well-being. Nevertheless, challenging moments in life will still arise. Nevertheless, having a solid self-care routine in place can lead to more effective, productive, and enduring responses to life's difficulties. Developing effective self-care strategies is more achievable than many people think. Letting go of the notion that self-care is a luxury rather than an essential component of good health may be the most challenging aspect of adopting these practices. Self-Care Ideas for Addiction Recovery is imporant.

3 Types of Self-Care Ideas

When thinking about self-care, people often imagine luxurious spa days or exotic getaways. However, it involves more than just relaxing or unplugging. Some people begin their day with positive affirmations, while others journal before bed. Ultimately, self-care entails dedicating time to activities that enhance your well-being and focusing on your personal needs, even if just for a few minutes each day. It is a proactive approach to health in three crucial areas of life.

1. Physical Self-Care Tips

Prioritizing our physical health is paramount as it impacts all aspects of our daily lives. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, physical health is closely linked to mental well-being. In addition to contributing to illness and disease, poor physical health can trigger depression, anxiety, and chronic stress, which can disrupt our personal and professional lives, strain our relationships, and perpetuate a cycle of unwellness. While exercise, diet, and sleep are crucial for maintaining good health, physical self-care also encompasses:

Seeing a health care provider regularly.
Taking prescribed medications, if necessary, especially for older adults.
Managing any risk factors that may lead to poor mental and physical health conditions.

2. Mental and Emotional Self-Care

Many people overlook the importance of actively caring for their mental and emotional well-being. However, it's crucial to recognize that our thoughts, perspectives, and psychological health are influenced by our focus. It's common to fall into negative thought patterns, fixating on past mistakes and regrets. This dwelling on negativity elevates stress levels, altering brain chemistry and potentially leading to various anxiety disorders. Practicing self-forgiveness and self-love is integral to emotional and mental self-care. While it may not be effortless, showing ourselves compassion is immensely important. As humans, releasing our mistakes and regrets can alleviate much of the fear and worry that we grapple with daily.

3. Social and Spiritual Self-Care

Some may find this type of self-care unconventional, but social and spiritual self-care can exist independently of religious practices. Examples of spiritual wellness include engaging in activities we are passionate about, such as feeling connected to nature and having a sense of something greater than ourselves. Engaging in this kind of self-care also happens during social interactions with friends and family. Maintaining close personal connections with others is crucial for mental well-being. Allocating time for others and nurturing our interests may be demanding, but dedicating even a small amount of time to social and spiritual self-care can be very rewarding.

Are you struggling with addiction and want to learn more? Visit Psychology Today or check out or page on addiction treatments.

by Tammy Cate

Coping with Boredom in Recovery

Boredom is typically seen as something negative, but it does have its benefits. When there's not much happening around you, you can take the opportunity to think about the bigger picture of your life. It's easy to lose sight of what really matters beyond daily concerns. When you're bored, you can take a moment to reflect on what's truly important, rather than just what's urgent or immediate.

Feeling bored can lead to reflecting on the bigger picture of life when there are no immediate pressures. On the other hand, if you tend to avoid contemplating your life, you might actively try to ward off boredom to prevent such thoughts from arising. This could be a result of a hectic lifestyle or possibly struggling with addictive behaviors.

If you lack the energy to contemplate your life and often feel indifferent or worn out, it may be time to focus on improving your physical health or addressing any underlying depression.

Boredom can occur after finishing a significant task. Instead of viewing this boredom as a negative, you can see it as a transitional period. Similarly, after completing a challenging workout, your body requires time to transition back to a normal activity level.

Boredom can occur when you're stuck in an activity you don't want to do but have to keep at, like a dull meeting. It can be hard to think about the bigger picture of your life in these moments. However, there are ways to multitask or take control of the situation, and even avoid it in the future. Boredom is a common part of life, and learning to accept it and use it as a prompt for productive activities can help it fit naturally into your life.

Are you struggling with addiction and want to learn more? Visit Psychology Today or check out or page on addiction treatments.

by Tammy Cate

Ways to Handle a Drug or Alcohol Craving

Managing cravings is a significant challenge during the recovery process. The intense urges can feel overwhelming and sudden. However, it's important to remember that cravings can be managed. Developing effective strategies for handling cravings is crucial for a successful recovery. Below are some tactics for addressing cravings as they occur.

Accept It

When a craving arises, the first step is to acknowledge that cravings are common and unavoidable. Every individual in strong recovery has encountered cravings and likely continues to do so occasionally. Experiencing a craving does not indicate wrongdoing, failure, or an inevitable relapse; it is simply a regular part of the process. After being accustomed to using an addictive substance daily, possibly for an extended period, it is expected to feel the temptation to use it again occasionally. However, attempting to suppress or dismiss the urge will only intensify it. Embrace the fact that you are facing a craving and avoid feeling guilty about it but seek ways to address it.

Distract Yourself

Cravings are temporary and usually fade very quickly unless you focus on them. To avoid dwelling on a craving, engage in activities that demand your full concentration, such as working, reading, playing a video game, taking a walk, chatting with friends, or any other absorbing task. By redirecting your attention, you can effectively overcome the craving without struggling to suppress it.

Run Away

If a craving persists, there may be a triggering situation keeping it alive, such as being in a place that serves alcohol, being with someone you used to drink with, or being around someone who stresses you out. Leaving the situation is often the best course of action. For example, if you're in the grocery store struggling to pass the liquor aisle, consider leaving. It's important to understand your triggers to avoid and recognize them. Even if you're unsure why the craving persists, a change of setting may help resolve the issue.

Examine Your Thinking

Our thoughts can often heighten cravings unnecessarily. When a craving arises, you might start thinking, "Oh no, a craving! This is terrible! I'll never resist it!" This only adds to the stress of the craving and intensifies it. Instead, acknowledge it, as mentioned earlier, and observe your thoughts. Remind yourself that cravings come and go, and you'll be okay in a few minutes. It's also possible that a craving has emerged in response to stress unrelated to substance use. Perhaps you're upset with someone or feeling overwhelmed at work. Notice your thoughts about these situations. Are you thinking that someone shouldn't have treated you a certain way? Are you making your work situation out to be worse than it is? Recognizing and challenging cognitive distortions can reduce your stress and lessen the intensity of cravings.

Get Some Exercise

Engaging in physical activity is a highly effective method for managing cravings. It serves as a powerful distraction, particularly when the activity involves skill or social interaction, such as participating in a team sport. Additionally, exercise diminishes anxiety, enhances mood, and notably, bolsters emotional control and willpower. These advantages prove particularly valuable when faced with cravings. Simply taking a walk in your local area can assist in dispelling a craving, as within 20 minutes, it can be entirely forgotten.

Practice Mindfulness

When you feel a craving, one method to manage it is by mindfully examining it. Usually, people perceive a craving as a directive emanating from a subconscious level. It's like an inner voice shouting "DRINK!" Automatically, you may either succumb to it or try to resist and dismiss it.

However, you can take a step back and observe the craving. What sensations does it provoke? Where in your body do you sense it? In your chest? Your stomach? Step back and analyze the sensation without making judgments or feeling obligated to act. Does it shift or evolve? As the sensation begins to diminish, release it. This becomes more effortless with daily mindfulness meditation practice. By regularly observing thoughts and sensations without becoming entangled in them, you'll discover it's simpler to endure even strong cravings.

Play The Tape

To combat cravings, consider employing the "play the tape" technique. When you experience cravings, your mind may distort reality, leading you to romanticize past substance use and entertain thoughts like "I've been clean for a while, one time won't hurt." To combat these temptations, mentally fast-forward and vividly envision the aftermath of giving in to the craving - the disappointment, family letdown, relapse, and restarting recovery. Revisit the reasons behind your sobriety to counter the allure of using again.

Are you struggling with addiction and want to learn more? Visit Psychology Today or check out or page on addiction treatments.

by Tammy Cate

What are Coping Skills?

What are ‘Coping Skills’ and How to Use Them

Life is filled with challenging circumstances that are beyond our control. However, we do have the ability to manage our reactions to these challenges. Enhancing our coping mechanisms is crucial for our mental well-being, as it allows us to distance ourselves from our initial responses and create room for a more effective approach.

For instance, if you're feeling frustrated at work, your initial response might be to resign or send several angry emails. This might provide temporary relief, but it won't benefit you in the future. You might find yourself questioning your actions once the situation calms down. A more effective approach would be to use coping strategies to ease or divert your frustration, allowing you to respond thoughtfully rather than impulsively.

Unhealthy Coping Skills

The coping mechanisms you're using aren't effective because they don't genuinely improve our well-being. For instance, alcohol is a depressant that can leave you feeling even worse after trying to numb your issues with it. This can also lead to dependence. Overall, adopting healthy coping habits will bring clarity, while unhealthy ones will result in more significant challenges. If you find yourself relying on unhealthy strategies, seeking guidance from a therapist to recognize triggers and swap harmful behaviors for more positive alternatives can be beneficial.

The Two Types of Healthy Coping Skills

According to the Centre for Studies on Human Stress, healthy coping skills are either problem-focused or emotion-focused.

Problem-focused coping skills

Problem-focused activities involve identifying practical solutions to reduce or resolve the source of stress. In a professional setting, this could entail direct communication with your manager, setting boundaries for time management, or seeking alternative job opportunities. Individuals who enjoy creating to-do lists and completing tasks may gravitate towards problem-focused coping skills.

When using this coping style, it's important to keep in mind that taking small steps is acceptable. It's crucial to maintain a balance between making progress and being kind to yourself. You may not be able to solve everything immediately, but identifying a few things that can significantly improve your stress levels is possible. The positive aspect is that you're not ignoring the problem, but rather taking steps to address it. Certain issues have clear solutions, and any action taken to move closer to our objectives will help reduce stress.

Emotion-focused coping

Coping techniques that focus on managing emotions can be helpful in handling feelings related to a situation, rather than the event itself. There may not be a specific issue to address, or it might be a one-time occurrence that cannot be avoided. In such instances, it is important to comfort or stabilize your emotions through activities that work well for you, such as exercise, spending time with pets, taking a relaxing bath, being in nature, or watching a movie. At times, we may not be ready to confront a situation and require more relaxation time. Emotion-focused coping skills aim to nurture and restore, providing a recharge for the next phase.

Ensure that you are nurturing, rather than suppressing, your emotions by accurately identifying your feelings. If you're uncertain about your emotions, consider using a feeling wheel. This approach aims to acknowledge and sit with your emotions instead of pushing them away. Show kindness to your emotions and refrain from self-criticism. Trust that your feelings will diminish over time. Mindfulness-based meditation can effectively help manage stress related to emotions.

The Difference Between Coping Skills and Self-Care

Coping skills are techniques or activities employed during stressful situations. They are methods utilized to acquire additional energy or time. Conversely, self-care is an activity practiced irrespective of stress levels.

Self-care is recommended by experts as a proactive approach that can reduce the necessity for coping mechanisms later on. This is because tending to your emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical well-being can lessen severe distress and burnout that necessitate coping strategies. When we are depleted, we become more susceptible to stress and less able to handle challenging situations.

There are moments when life presents challenges, requiring the application of healthy coping mechanisms to navigate through difficult times. Periodically, we all need to take a break, employ our coping strategies, and then proceed with life when we feel prepared.

Seeking Treatment with Transformations by the Gulf?

If you or a loved one needs treatment and rehabilitation for substance use, Transformations by the Gulf can help. Find out more information from Psychology Today!
Transformations by the Gulf offers individualistic and holistic recovery services. We designed our inpatient and outpatient programs to treat individuals based on biological, psychological, familial and social needs.

Our residential homes and treatment facilities are near the beach and offer a comfortable setting for rehabilitation. If you or a loved one needs help, contact Transformations By The Gulf to learn more about our recovery services.

If you are ready to start planning your treatment process, give us a call. (727)498-6498

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by Tammy Cate

‘Gas-station Heroin’ Sold as Dietary Supplement

‘Gas-station heroin’ sold as dietary supplement alarms health officials

By JAN HOFFMAN

The New York Times

‘Gas-station heroin’ sold as dietary supplement; The young father headed across the parking lot to join the other parents meeting their children’s new preschool teachers. After a few steps, he began sweating and twitching. As the sky reeled, he staggered back to the car, desperate to lie down in the back seat and breathe, hidden by tinted windows.

“Did you take something?” his wife, Anne, shouted at him while dialing 911. Eric, 26, had completed rehab earlier in the summer.

“The shot! The shot!” he groaned, just before he hit the ground and blacked out.

In the emergency room of a nearby hospital in southern New Jersey, doctors tried to revive him with a defibrillator.

“What’s he on?” they yelled at Anne.

She showed them a shot-size bottle of the cherry-flavored elixir she had fished out of the car. It was labeled Neptune’s Fix. Eric had bought it at a local smoke shop.

“What the hell is that?” a doctor asked.

Neptune’s Fix features an ingredient called tianeptine — popularly known as gas-station heroin.

Often sold as a dietary supplement and promoted by retailers as a mood booster and focus aid, tianeptine is among a growing, unregulated class of potentially addictive products available in gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops and across the internet. They typically include synthetic pharmaceuticals and plant-derived substances.

Some, such as kratom and phenibut, can be addictive and, in rare cases, fatal. They often originate in other countries, including Indonesia and Russia, where they are commonly used, even prescribed, for mood management. But the Food and Drug Administration has not approved them as medicines in the United States.

“Tianeptine is an emerging threat,” said Kaitlyn Brown, clinical managing director of America’s Poison Centers, which represents and collects data from 55 centers nationwide. “We have people who are able to get a substance that’s not well regulated, that has abuse potential and that, in high doses, can cause similar effects to opioids, leading to really harmful outcomes.”

At least nine states have banned or severely restricted tianeptine, including Florida, Michigan and Ohio. In late November, the FDA issued a nationwide alert about Neptune’s Fix specifically and tianeptine in general, telling people not to take it and warning that it had been associated with overdoses and deaths.

Tianeptine, which also appears as a concentrated powder or an ingredient in products such as Tianaa, Zaza and Pegasus, “is illegally sold with claims to improve brain function and treat anxiety, depression, pain, opioid use disorder and other conditions,” the agency’s warning said.

There are now at least a dozen different products that are foreign drugs being openly marketed as dietary supplements right under the FDA’s eyes, without them being able to stop the sales.”
– Dr. Pieter Cohen, associate professor
at Harvard Medical School

The FDA loosely oversees dietary supplements, an expanding universe of some 50,000 products that includes minerals, vitamins and compounds like melatonin. But the agency does not evaluate supplements for safety or effectiveness; it can only forbid manufacturers to market them as medical treatments. It requires product labels making health claims to list ingredients and include boilerplate disclaimers, such as noting that the product has not been reviewed by the FDA. The agency does not review those labels before a product is released.

Because the FDA’s enforcement powers are limited by law, many products with tianeptine have long skirted labeling requirements. Although the FDA has explicitly said, for example, that tianeptine does not qualify as a dietary supplement, the labels of some brands, like Tianaa, still make that claim.

“There are now at least a dozen different products that are foreign drugs being openly marketed as dietary supplements right under the FDA’s eyes, without them being able to stop the sales,” said Dr. Pieter Cohen, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School who studies the regulation of supplements.

Tianeptine is a drug developed by French researchers in the 1960s as an antidepressant. It is approved in low doses for that use in many European, Asian and Latin American countries.

But at higher doses, it also works much as an opioid does, delivering short-lived euphoria. In the United States, many people take tianeptine under the widespread, mistaken belief that it is a safe alternative to street opioids like fentanyl or heroin, or even a way to taper off using them. On social media sites such as Reddit, its merits are hotly debated, with more than 5,000 people subscribing to a “Quitting Tianeptine” forum.

“People develop a tolerance very quickly, and so they rapidly start advancing the dosing,” said Dawn Sollee, a clinical toxicologist and director of the Poison Control Center in Jacksonville, Florida. “They will set alarms to wake themselves every two hours to take tianeptine pills so they do not go into withdrawal. And then they have to keep taking more and more just to stay functional.”

Expenses can mount swiftly, along with dangers. At a convenience store in Montclair, New Jersey, recently, 15 capsules of Tianaa Red cost $34. A bottle of Neptune’s Fix, which comes in lemon, tropical, cherry or chocolate-vanilla flavor, runs about $16. A salesperson at a roadside smoke shop farther west said customers typically purchased 12-bottle boxes. A salesperson at another roadside shop said that one customer bought 10 boxes each week — whether for resale or personal use, he did not know.

Determining the number of cases of tianeptine abuse is challenging, because hospitals do not test for it. Reports to poison-control centers are voluntary, typically made by a worried relative, so officials say the numbers represent a drastic undercount.

But case reports are increasing. In 2013, only four cases of tianeptine exposure were reported nationwide. In 2023, 391 cases were reported, according to America’s Poison Centers. New Jersey, which typically has one report a year, received 27 in 2023, with patients ranging in age from 20 to 69.

“Some people apparently think it can help with chronic pain instead of having to use an opioid, which might explain the older demographic,” said Dr. Diane Calello, medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center.

Similarly to many illicit drugs, tianeptine is often sloppily mixed with unlabeled ingredients, such as potent synthetic cannabis compounds. That is one reason overdose symptoms appear to range widely, poison-control medical directors said, including clamminess, nausea, low blood pressure and unconsciousness as well as seizures and severe stomach cramps.

Sometimes naloxone, a drug that reverses opioid overdoses, can be effective in reviving patients, they said — and sometimes not. At least four deaths have been associated with tianeptine.

The FDA sent warnings in 2021 and 2022 to two companies that it said were “illegally marketing tianeptine products as dietary supplements and unapproved drugs.”

But enforcement requires huge resources, in part because manufacturers and purveyors can be difficult to track down. An inquiry from The New York Times to the makers of Neptune’s Fix submitted through its website received no response. The Sheridan, Wyoming, location listed on the company’s bottles is an address for a registration agent for numerous companies.

Regulatory experts disagree about how the FDA should grapple effectively with tianeptine and other supplements. Some say the agency should establish a strict registry of approved supplements.

In interviews, some poison-center directors did not endorse a full ban of tianeptine, saying that could lead to dangerous underground trafficking. Educating emergency responders and consumers about inherent risks in such products would be a more effective course, they said.

Getting tianeptine off store shelves, they added, would be not only a staggering task but also of limited utility because customers could simply buy it from the most convenient store of all — the internet.

While Eric was recovering from tianeptine poisoning, Anne stormed over to the local smoke shop where he had bought it.

“My husband’s in the hospital because of this product and you’re still going to keep it on the shelves?” she yelled.

“Yes,” she said the owner replied, “because people want it, and we need to make money.” ‘Gas-station heroin’ sold as dietary supplement.

This story was originally published at nytimes.com. Read it here.

To learn more about addiction treatments available at Transformations by the Gulf please click here.

by Tammy Cate

Cell Phones in Rehab

Cell Phones at Rehab

Most rehabs do not allow cellphones, computers, tablets or any electronic device other than a mp3 player. Transformations by the Gulf Treatment Center does however allow cell phones. Most rehabs will limit contact to 10-20 minutes total a week. While is approach can be affected in some cases, we find that sheltering you from the outside world is counterintuitive. When you leave treatment if you have not developed coping skills and practiced them the odds of a relapse are significantly higher. With that being said we allow cell phones during treatment but not during therapy hours.

Laptops in Rehab

Every rehab center sets its own policy on cellphones and electronic devices, so be sure to call ahead for a list of approved and prohibited items. We do also allow laptops in rehab because we do feel that during your own time of relaxation you should be able to completely unwind, and we understand there are a lot of resources on the web.

Electronics in rehab

Electronic devices are another hot topic for rehabs. Transformations allows electronic devices if you would like to bring them like laptops, tablets, games, mp3 players, and other approved devices you can, as long as they don't affect your ability to go to therapy and scheduled recovery meetings. The primary focus on treatment is getting better and recovering.

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Cell Phone Use at Rehab

Because going to rehab and receiving treatment is a critical time that will require focus and perseverance, a call home or to a loved one may be able to help someone through rehab. Despite the seemingly positive influence of being in touch with a loved one, it may also become a distraction from the treatment program. The impact, either positive or negative, will of course depend on the individual.

Cellphone Friendly Rehab

People find themselves asking themself do rehabs in Florida allow cellphones. Are there any rehabs that allow cellphones in Florida? Each facility has their own rules for electronic use and cellphone use so call ahead to confirm the rules. Explore our rehab facilities and amenities further below. Great News Transformations by the Gulf allow cellphones in rehab.

If you or someone you know would like to know more about Transformations by the Gulf Substance Abuse Treatment Center Give us a Call 24/7 (727)498-6498

by Tammy Cate

Alcohol Addiction Treatment in St. Pete Beach

5 Signs of Codependency

What is Codependency?

According to Psych Central, codependency is a relationship in which one partner has extreme emotion and physical needs and the other partner meets those needs most of the time. The person becomes so dependent upon that person to always meet those needs that they feel they can't function without the other individual. What can happen with Codependency is it can spiral out of control in which the codependent partner enables the loved one's challenges, making it easy for the loved one to maintain the destructive behaviors.

5 Signs of Codependency

Symptoms of codependency include:

Low self-esteem: The codependent person may feel they are unlovable outside of the relationship role and depends on the opinions of other people to feel valued or self-worth.
People-pleasing: The opinions of other people may have a great deal of weight for the codependent person. This person will do anything to make sure others have a positive opinion about them. The person may feel intense shame, guilt or an inability to say “no” to other people.
Caretaking: The person feels a primary need to care for other people, often at the expense of themselves; in some extreme situations, the person doesn’t feel secure or comfortable unless needed.
Unhealthy or absence of boundaries: The codependent person may not have a understanding or sense of boundaries, either for themself or others. These individuals may offer unwanted or unneeded advice, feel responsible for other people’s feelings, or want to control or manipulate others in order to feel safe and secure.
Obsession over relationships: Because the codependent person feels completely defined by relationships, they may become the main priority or an obsessive focus for the individual.

If you or someone you know would like to know more about Transformations by the Gulf Substance Abuse Treatment Center Give us a Call 24/7 (727)498-6498

The success of a person’s recovery depends on the level of personalized treatment provided. It is important to find an addiction treatment program that works. When we say our treatment is individualized, we mean that we craft a program that is tailored to address the client’s unique physical, mental and emotional needs.

In the client’s first 24 hours with us, we’ll evaluate their current state and work to understand what challenges they need to overcome. They’ll also have an initial session with our doctor and meet with one of our licensed mental health professionals.

After the initial evaluations, we’ll design a treatment plan with the sole mission of helping the client overcome and heal from addiction. Their program will focus on things such as: