Millions of people are living with chronic pain. It causes many individuals to be very uncomfortable every day. There is a large number of prescriptions available for dealing with the pain. Unfortunately, these pain meds are known for causing people to become dependent on them. And, those who have a pain medication addiction often find it hard to stop using the medicine. This can lead to various addiction issues.
Why Am I Addicted to My Medication?
You can develop a pain medication addiction pretty easily if the dosage is strong enough. A lot of painkillers are narcotics or opiates. They can help make the pain subside. But, they can also give you a euphoric feeling. Euphoria is a feeling of excitement or happiness. Most of the time, it’s what makes people become dependent on a substance. When medication gives people this experience, it can cause them to want more of the drug. The body might begin to crave the medicine and become unable to operate without it. You could start feeling like you’re not “normal” when you don’t have the medicine in your system. This is unhealthy because it might lead you to misuse or abuse the medicine. That basically means that you will start using the medication outside of the instructions you’ve been given. When you have a physical dependence for something and seek its results despite consequences, it means you are addicted to it.
Do I Have a Pain Medication Addiction?
There are many signs of pain medication addiction. Often, people can feel that they are not addicted even if they are. If you think you might be dependent on a prescription drug, it might be best that you know the signs and symptoms of this condition. You may be addicted to your pain medicine if:
- You use your medication more than you should. The doctor may have told you to take your painkillers twice a day. But, you may start taking it 3 or 4 times a day. This could be a sign of addiction.
- You’ve got medicine on your mind. Do you constantly think about taking more medication? Do you wonder if it’s almost time for another pill? Is it hard to concentrate without it? Maybe you swallow pills because you’re afraid you might feel pain later, not because you actually feel it.
- You feel like you can’t function without it. If you feel like you have to have a couple of pills in order to make it through the day, you could have a pain medication addiction.
- You get defensive about it. Have people told you that they’re concerned about how much medication you’re taking? Did you react defensively or try to justify your actions?
- You feel withdrawal symptoms when you don’t take your medicine. If you start feeling really badly whenever you don’t have pain meds in your body, there’s a problem. Your body may have developed a pain medication addiction.
I’m Addicted! What Should I Do?
Don’t panic. But, you should seek help as quickly as possible. Addiction is hard to fight, especially when you’re dealing with prescription painkillers. Once you conquer addiction, the pain is still there. This is why a lot of people don’t try to get past addiction. But, what if we told you that there’s a way to manage pain while still being free from medication dependency?
Here at Asheville Recovery Center, we know that it’s tough to get past a pain medication addiction. We have professional and knowledgeable staff members who can assist you. We offer a program that helps with pain management. Treatment methods like holistic therapy can make pain management possible for you, without the influence of pain meds. If you’re interested in becoming free form a pain medication addiction, contact Asheville Recovery Center today.
