Horror stories about addictive drugs can keep some people from experimentation. Reading that bath salts could make a person cannibalistic, for example, might keep conservative office workers from trying the drug on a weekend, as they might wonder, “Why take the risk?” There are times, however, when addictive drugs become popular simply because people talk about how wonderful these drugs make them feel. It’s possible that Klonopin addictions have blossomed in this country due to this kind of word of mouth.
In 2008, the popular website Gawker published an article containing a first-person account of Klonopin abuse. The writer suggested that the drug was ideal for creative people. She writes of her experience, “…words flowed freely onto my keyboard, absent the usual wrenching procrastination which we all know comes from fear of failure. Had I taken Xanax, I imagine I would have slept for the next nine hours instead.” Articles like this might inspire people to abuse Klonopin, as the drug sounds benign and even fun. Those who do so may develop addictions, and they might need formal rehab programs in order to overcome their troubles.
Why Help Is Vital
America is a DIY nation, where independence and an ability to solve problems are prized above all else. People who have addictions can sometimes feel pressure to tap into this tradition, working through their addictions on their own without the help of others. They’ll try to quit “cold turkey,” and they’ll tell themselves that they just won’t ever use the drug again, now that they know what it can do. While this approach might sound wonderful, and it’s possible that some people are able to overcome their addictions on their own without relying on any outside help, people who have Klonopin addictions need others in order to recover.
Klonopin slows down the activity of the brain, allowing overwhelming symptoms of stress and anxiety to ease. People who attempt to stop abusing this drug often stop abruptly, vowing to stop their abuse and throwing all their pills out the very same day.
It’s not a safe technique, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as abrupt cessation of Klonopin can cause:
- Hallucinations
- Shaking
- Cramping muscles
- Stomach upset
- Seizures
These can be life-threatening complications, and as a result, it’s not considered safe for anyone to just stop taking this drug. They’ll need to work with consulting doctors to develop a tapering schedule for the drug, or they might be able to work with therapists and take a replacement medication. According to an article in the journal Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, there are some drugs that can help to reduce or eliminate the appearance of seizures in people addicted to benzodiazepines like Klonopin, and this drug could be used to rapidly withdraw people, allowing them to skip the long tapering schedule.
Addressing Anxiety
Amending the chemical changes that underlie a Klonopin addiction is only half of the battle. The underlying issues that contribute to the addiction must also be addressed. Addictions often begin due to some kind of life stressor or long-standing habit, and if that trigger is left in place, it could quickly cause a relapse to drug use and abuse. In therapy, people can learn more about their triggers and they can come up with ways to handle those prompts without leaning on addictive drugs. For people who are addicted to Klonopin, these therapy sessions may address anxiety concerns.
Klonopin addictions often begin when a person has uncontrollable anxiety. The medication can soothe an overactive mind and allow a person to feel calm, in control and relaxed. In time, that therapeutic dose may not be enough to feed the addiction, and the person may take higher and higher doses of the drug. The anxiety is still there, but it’s buried by the addiction. When the drug is removed, that anxiety must still be dealt with. Therapists can use a variety of tools to help their clients improve. Some use relaxation techniques, teaching their clients how to meditate, breathe deeply or otherwise calm their bodies when their minds are overactive. Some therapists use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approaches in which clients are encouraged to identify the thoughts that lead to their anxious physical symptoms. If those thought patterns could be changed, the physical manifestations of anxiety might never appear and the need for Klonopin might abate.
These therapies don’t require the use of drugs, and they’re not considered painful. In a way, they can be intensely positive experiences for clients, as they’re designed to help people take control of their symptoms and learn how to be in charge of their emotions. People can feel empowered, strong and capable, and this can keep them from future drug use. In a study of the issue, in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, researchers found that this kind of therapy significantly reduced anxiety symptoms in patients, and that benefit was maintained for the two-year duration of the study. It’s clear that this kind of therapy has the power to bring about long-lasting change.
Easing Sleep
People with insomnia might also be provided with Klonopin, as the drug can:
- Slow breathing rates
- Reduce the symptoms of restless leg syndrome
- Calm an overactive mind
- Reduce anxiety
- Increase peacefulness
People like this are primed for sleep, and if an addiction develops, these people may have difficulty obtaining a decent sleep without the drug. Once again, therapy can be vital, as it can allow people to learn new ways of relaxing and preparing for sleep that don’t involve the use of drugs. These clients might also benefit from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, as they’ll learn how to identify the thoughts that keep them from sleeping and reduce the damaging thought patterns that can keep relaxation at bay. Through therapy, they might learn to avoid damaging thoughts such as, “I’ll never get to sleep!” Those thoughts might be amended to, “I am having difficulty with sleep, but my body needs sleep to survive, and in time, that sleep will come.”
Progressive muscle relaxation techniques can also help people to fall asleep and stay asleep. They might begin by tightening and loosening the muscles of the scalp, and then slowly tighten and loosen the muscles in the rest of the body, one group at a time. The deep breathing that accompanies these movements can intensify the relaxation effect, allowing them to feel calm, soothed and ready for sleep.
Therapy techniques like this can help people to amend their destructive beliefs about sleep, and allow them to learn how to fall asleep and stay asleep, even when no drugs are involved. In a study of the effectiveness of this therapy, published in Sleep: Journal of Sleep and Sleep Disorders Research, those with insomnia improved and were able to sleep, and these changes persisted for months.
Traditional Therapies
People who have addictions to Klonopin may not believe that they have much in common with people who are addicted to cocaine, heroin or alcohol, but the truth is that many addictive behaviors are similar among people who abuse different substances, and the therapies that could help one group to improve could also be vital for people who have other types of addictions. For example, addictions can be isolating, and people who abuse substances may feel as though no one really understands them or is available to talk about their needs and inner desires. Support groups for addiction can provide people with the opportunity to meet with others who also have addictions, and they can share their stories, learn from their peers in group meetings, and feel their sense of isolation dissipate. These meetings can be helpful for anyone who has an addiction, and the meetings are often free. People can utilize this resource to help them extend their formal addiction care, long after their Klonopin rehab programs are complete.
Relapse prevention skills can also be important for anyone who has an addiction. When a rehab program is complete, people are moving back into their own communities and interacting with the people, places and things that might remind them of the drugs they once loved. Relapse prevention techniques can help people to adjust to a sober life without feeling an overwhelming urge to return to drugs. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, formal relapse prevention therapy has been studied in people who have alcoholism and those who have cocaine addictions, but the techniques might also be useful for people who have Klonopin addictions. Here, they’ll learn how to identify the situations that are considered risky in terms of relapse, and they learn how to deal with cravings for drugs. People also learn how to explore the reasons why they’d like to stay sober, and they can revisit these motivating factors when their urge to use begins to grow.
Even with therapy, relapse to Klonopin abuse might take place. The urge to use might be so strong and overwhelming that the person feels as though using is just inevitable. Therapy will teach people to think of relapse as a process that begins with an unusual thought, progresses to planning, then to use and then to uncontrollable use. It’s not something that happens suddenly, so it can be stopped before the entire cycle is complete. By utilizing therapy sessions, support group meetings and more, people can keep a full-blown return to addiction from taking hold.
At The Oaks at La Paloma, we know that overcoming a Klonopin addiction can be difficult, and we provide our clients with extensive aftercare resources that can help them to maintain their sobriety. We can provide people with weekly alumni group meetings, allowing them to continue to learn about addiction even when they’re living at home once more. Those who don’t feel quite ready to return home might even consider using our sober living communities, allowing them to practice their sobriety skills in a safe environment. If you’d like to find out more about our Klonopin program, please call us.