Substance abuse is a growing concern. With 70,000 drug overdose deaths occurring in America in a year, it’s high time to seek a treatment that addresses psychological symptoms along with physical aspects of addiction. A drug or alcohol psychiatrist can fill this gap and help you overcome mental health issues relating to substance misuse. Find out how a substance abuse psychiatrist near me in NJ can help prevent relapse and achieve long-term sobriety.
The multifaceted nature of substance abuse requires a treatment that goes beyond physical symptoms. ChoicePoint offers dual diagnosis to help you overcome psychological and physical symptoms. Contact us today and get treated by DEA-certified practitioners.
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Why Should You See A Substance Abuse Psychiatrist Near Me In NJ?
The good news is that most psychiatrists help patients of all ages and genders. Whether you are a student or a veteran dealing with drug or alcohol abuse, an addiction specialist psychiatrist can help you in numerous ways to overcome substance use disorder (SUD) and prevent a relapse. You should see a substance abuse psychiatrist near me in NJ if you:
- Have a history of substance abuse
- Might have misused prescription medicine
- Are experiencing signs of substance use disorder
- Are battling with mental health issues such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc
Your psychiatrist can help you address the negative behavior promoting substance abuse and build the life that you deserve.
Please note that this assessment is an initial self-screening and is not meant to be a medical assessment or clinical diagnosis of addiction. For proper diagnosis and treatment, schedule an appointment with ChoicePoint.
5 Benefits of Seeing a Drug Or Alcohol Psychiatrist
Drug and alcohol abuse affects your life in many ways. You start losing your stamina, your emotional state becomes weak, and your happiness depends on whether you take your daily dose of drugs or not. All of this results in losing the true meaning of life, but with your psychiatrist for alcohol abuse, you can enjoy the essence of life again. Here are a few addiction side effects that a substance abuse psychiatrist near you in NJ can cater to following symptoms:
1. Addresses Mood Swings
One of the common signs that most people with substance abuse experience is sudden changes in their mood and emotional state. Your doctor can help you understand the reason behind these changes, which ultimately helps control anger issues and manage mood swings.
Psychiatrist’s Solution: Mood Stabilizers and Individual Counseling
Depending on your emotional state, a substance abuse psychiatrist near you can help:
- Prescribing mood stabilizer medicines that reduces abnormal brain activity, bringing your mood to normal.
- By performing psychotherapy to facilitate reframing your thoughts and bringing positivity.
2. Curb Drug Cravings
There is no doubt in the fact that drug cravings are the hardest challenge you will face during your recovery journey. Failing to do so can take you back to the drug misuse cycle, resulting in a relapse.
Psychiatrist’s Solution: Medications and Psychotherapy
Substance abuse psychiatrists near you in NJ can provide you with the tools to go past the cravings during the addiction treatment and after it. Your addiction specialist psychiatrist can adopt the following approach:
- Prescribe FDA-approved anti-craving medicines. Some of the effective medicines for reducing drug and alcohol cravings include Naltrexone, Buprenorphine, Methadone, and Suboxone.
- Hold therapeutic sessions to help you recognize the signs that trigger drug cravings and learn strategies to cope with sudden episodes of cravings.
3. Improve Your Appetite
Substance abuse abruptly changes your appetite, either leading to extreme weight loss or weight gain. For instance, excessive use of heroin disrupts your body’s ability to manage nutrient levels, leading to an increase in weight. Likewise, cocaine addiction can lead to life-threatening weight loss.
Psychiatrist’s Solution: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Consulting a drug and alcohol psychiatrist can help you work towards an ideal weight and improve your eating habits. A particular addiction therapy that can help you develop a better relationship with food is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT allows you to focus on:
- Behavior that leads to unhealthy eating patterns
- Importance of food in your life
- Skills essential for mindful eating
4. Co-occurring Addiction And Mental Health Issues
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is often the result of an underlying trauma or mental health issues. Your psychiatrist can provide you with the tools to identify this root cause, helping you achieve long-term sobriety.
Psychiatrist’ Solution: Dual Diagnosis and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Using dual diagnosis, your psychiatrist can help you overcome addiction and treat mental health issues that might be the result of addiction or the root cause of it. Once a dual diagnosis is confirmed, a substance abuse psychiatrist near you in NJ might use psychotherapy such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). DBT reduces the behavior that leads to alcohol and drug abuse in the first place. It is also helpful in:
- Recognizing the roadblocks in your addiction treatment journey
- Navigating suicidal thoughts
- Improving recovery goals
5. Fostering Responsibilities
Substance abuse impairs an individual’s ability to take responsibility. Acquiring drugs becomes their priority over family, work, school, and friends. The lack of obligations often manifests as financial loss, withdrawal from family, and poor productivity at school or the workplace.
Psychiatrist’ Solution: Counseling
A psychiatrist for alcohol abuse or drug misuse can use two approaches to help you counter these issues:
- Family Counseling: Family therapy will help you understand the importance of building relationships and having support around you to overcome addiction
- Group Counseling: Your psychiatrist will hold counseling sessions with a group of people with substance use disorders. This strategy helps to keep patients motivated and also teaches them social skills.
What Type of Disorders Does An Addiction Specialist Psychiatrist Treat?
You are always at risk of relapse, even if you have completed a medically supervised drug detox. One study shows that the relapse rate for heroin and other illicit drugs is as much as 75% if you don’t take measures to curb your cravings. However, your psychiatrist can play a vital role in reducing the relapse. So, take no time to see a substance abuse psychiatrist if you have any of the following:
- Opioid Use Disorder
- Benzodiazepine Abuse
- Alcohol Use Disorder and withdrawal
- Weed Addiction
- Marijuana Abuse
A Credible Substance Abuse Psychiatrist Near You In New Jersey
Working with a psychiatrist to help you overcome addiction can play a crucial part in your recovery journey. You can find the best addiction psychiatrist near you in NJ, such as ChoicePoint.Our addiction professionals are trained in treating dual disorders. They can help you identify the addiction triggers, and provide support to build your relationships.With our telehealth services, you can connect to our psychiatrist from your home and attend therapy sessions per your needs.
Query Corner: Substance Abuse Psychiatrist Near Me In NJ
It’s natural to have questions relating to a psychiatrist’s services as someone dealing with substance abuse. Here are a few questions
Is There A Cure For Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis is the indication that you have substance abuse disorder and mental health issues at the same time. It is possible to manage your addiction as well as mental illness when you have a proficient addiction treatment center or a psychiatrist near you. They can provide solutions to both issues, improving your quality of life.
What Is A Skill Used To Avoid Substance Abuse?
There is no single skill that can help you avoid substance abuse. But, a couple of them work together to help you. Some of these include:
- Acceptance and gratitude
- Stress Management
- Anger control
- Mindfulness
- Interpersonal skills
How Do Drugs Affect The Brain?
Drugs affect the brain’s communication system. They change the brain chemistry, making it harder for the brain to send and receive information normally. The distortion in the brain’s communication appears as follows:
- Decline in cognitive function
- Decreased analytical skills
- Memory loss
- Attention deficiency
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
What Is The Root Of All Addictions?
Although most addiction issues happen as a result of combined triggers, one common factor that is observed in almost every case is emotional distress. That’s why it is important to reach out to a psychiatrist to address the underlying issues along with taking medications for physical symptoms. Learn from here what the early stages of addiction most people tend to ignore for quick analysis and get the help on time.
References
- National Center For Drug Abuse Statistics. Drug Abuse Statistics
https://drugabusestatistics.org/ - National Center For Biotechnology Information .2023. Emotion regulation in substance use disorders: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10087816/ - National Center For Biotechnology Information. 2022. Assessment of addiction management program and predictors of relapse among inpatients of the Psychiatric Institute at Ain Shams University Hospital
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9579533/
Medical Disclaimer:
ChoicePoint aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use disorder and mental health issues. Our team of licensed medical professionals research, edit and review the content before publishing. However, this information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For medical advice please consult your physicians or ChoicePoint's qualified staff.