With stimulants a family comes to us later than with anything else — for a long time there is no classic withdrawal, only “an energetic person who does not sleep much”. The call usually comes after the first episode of psychosis.
Stimulants do not produce the picture people are used to associating with drug addiction. The person works, makes plans, talks quickly and with enthusiasm. For a long time the family puts it down to stress, a new job or simply their character.
The problem becomes visible when the other side of it sets in: days on end without sleep, sudden weight loss, suspicion, accusations that the family is spying on them, and then episodes of hearing and seeing things that are not there. That is usually the point at which the family calls.
With stimulants the illness strikes the mind and the emotions first. A way of thinking develops that justifies the use: at first it “helps me work”, later “I cannot get up without it”. Denial is particularly strong here, because the person sees their own productivity and not the damage.
Then comes the loss of the ability to feel. Ordinary things — a conversation with a child, a rest, work without the substance — stop giving anything back. It is this, and not physical craving, that brings the person back after they stop.
After assessment and clearing the substance from the body, most of the work goes into psychotherapy and rebuilding a routine. Sleep, food and physical activity are the first things stimulants destroy, and without them the mind does not settle.
Then come the twelve-step programme, individual and group sessions, work on denial and a gradual return to ordinary life. In parallel we prepare the family: the first months at home carry the highest risk, and relatives need to know what to do during them.
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I, Andrey, am now a former drug addict. My entire family struggled with this disease for a long time, but it kept coming back, and I started using again. I completed a rehabilitation course at the ISTOK Center. The center offered classes on specialized rehabilitation methods for addicts. The management and staff were positive and responsive, and everything contributed to my treatment and recovery. The center has a home-like atmosphere. Everything is thought out and calculated so that the addict can truly reflect on their problem and make the right choice, quitting alcohol and drugs. I recommend the ISTOK Center to anyone facing addiction and wanting to change their life for the better by making the right choice. Thank you again for your hard and necessary work and for instilling faith in people.
My name is Sergey, I live in Kharkiv, and I'm 39 years old. Alcohol abuse has been a long-standing problem for me. Recently, I've also become addicted to drugs. I couldn't quit on my own, not the first time, not even the hundredth time. Unfortunately, changing my life for the better was beyond my power. Based on reviews and advice from a friend who had already gone through a similar journey, I learned about the Istok rehabilitation center. The Istok rehabilitation center has restored me to a normal, active, social, and positive life! It has excellent conditions, knowledgeable staff, and the most professional and qualified addiction specialists and psychologists. Here I learned that alcohol addiction is a terrible disease, but by following certain rules, you can live a full life and never return to this addiction. With the help of this center, I returned to my family and work. Thank you so much for my life!
Hello. I'm Marina, 28 years old, and I live in Kyiv. I've had problems with drug use for a long time. I tried to quit, but all my attempts were unsuccessful. Finally, I decided to seek help, and I received genuine, professional, high-quality help, with care and support at the Istok Rehabilitation Center. This center is a godsend for alcohol and drug addicts. Excellent living conditions, qualified staff, and psychologists specializing in addiction. I was told that addiction is incurable, but it's possible to live happily with it; you just need to adopt new principles. Thanks to this center, I overcame all my problems. This is the center you should trust...
The consultation is free and anonymous. It is usually the family who call first rather than the person with the addiction — that is normal, and most recovery stories begin exactly there.
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