There is an opioid crisis happening right now and the vast majority comes in the form of prescription painkiller addiction. In fact, almost 10 million people currently struggle with painkiller addiction.
Yet all is not lost. There is help out there and it is possible to beat the addiction to live a normal, healthy life.
Keep reading for more advice on how to get off pain pills and regain control of your life.
Understanding the Nature of Addiction
Before anybody can start thinking about how to get off pain pills, it is first important to understand what addiction is and recognize your addiction for what it is.
Addiction can build-up without you realizing it and before long you are no longer just taking IP 110 for your chronic pain but because your body is telling you to need to take it. You believe you cannot function without taking your meds and before long that can spiral out of control.
How Do Painkillers Work?
Painkillers intercept pain signals being sent to your brain, thus making you believe that your pain is either gone or drastically reduced.
Along with this, they lower your blood pressure as well as reducing your heart and respirate rates. This promotes a feeling of relaxation that can hold a great draw for many people.
Thus the first tendrils of addiction can wrap themselves around your mind and drag you down into the depths.
Using Drugs to Beat Painkiller Addiction
One of the best ways to beat painkiller addiction and combat painkiller withdrawal is through the use of specific medicines. Methadone is one of the more common drugs that can be used to help you combat pain medication withdrawal and kick your habit for good.
There are other options too and depending on your addiction and the underlying conditions your doctor will help ensure you start taking the right things.
Of course, it is possible to learn how to stop taking pain pills on your own but it is much more advisable to enroll in a detox center and surround yourself with both qualified help and a strong support system.
Beating Pain Without Medication
Chronic pain is no joke. It is reported that 1 in 5 Americans suffer from some form of chronic pain. It is important to understand that there are ways to help fight pain without resorting to or relying solely on medication.
Follow any of these tips to reduce the impact of pain on your body and your mind.
- Stress reduction
- A healthy diet and exercise routine
- Consider regular massage therapy sessions
- Acupuncture
- Ensure you are getting enough sleep
Changing your lifestyle to include some or all of the above can go a long way towards helping you beat pain and become the master of your own body.
Learning How to Get off Pain Pills Takes Time
Nobody gets better overnight. Things take time and changes need to happen in incremental steps.
If you try to do too much too fast you are positioning yourself in prime relapse territory.
Take it day by day and learn how to get off pain pills the right way. Keep moving forward and making positive changes. Recovery is a long road and it starts with a single step.
For more information on how to make healthy changes to your life check out some of our other posts for more information.