Approximately 20% of Americans with anxiety disorders or depression also suffer from substance use disorders. While most people take their prescription medications responsibly, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health’s 2017 report, about 18 million individuals, with over 6% being 12 years and above, misused them at least once in 2016.
Antidepressants are some of the prescribed medications that can lead to addiction among its users. The addictive nature of antidepressants differs from other drugs like alcohol or heroin. People who take antidepressants do not experience euphoria from taking them; hence they are not overcome by the urge to consume them. However, they may develop a dependence on them, and suddenly stopping their usage may cause withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, tremors, anxiety, and depression.
What Is Zoloft?
It is the most common sertraline medication brand. Zoloft is an antidepressant drug prescribed to treat mood disorders like panic attacks, PTSD, social anxiety disorder, OCD, and depression. It can improve your appetite, sleep, and mood, and lower anxiety, fear, suicidal thoughts, and panic attacks.
Sertraline is among the class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). They function by blocking the serotonin neurotransmitters’ reabsorption by nerve cells, leaving behind sufficient mood-controlling serotonin in a person’s brain. It is believed that compared to other antidepressants, SSRIs’ side effects are fewer.
SSRIs are the most prescribed antidepressant type in the United States, with Zoloft as the most popular brand. Zoloft is available in liquid, capsule, or tablet forms and is ingested through the mouth following the correct prescription. You can take Zoloft’s tablet form with or without food.
The capsule form is typically taken after meals while the liquid form has to be mixed with half a cup of a different liquid first, either ginger ale, lemonade, orange juice, water, or lemon-lime soda. It is vital to learn how Zoloft functions, the correct dosage, and how it helps patients.
Side Effects of Zoloft
Some people, especially those under 25 who use antidepressants like Zoloft, have experienced various side effects. These may include:
- Fatigue
- Sleep changes
- Mood swings
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Skin rash
- Nervousness
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Constipation
It is vital to speak to a healthcare professional about Zoloft’s benefits, risks, and any concerns you may have to determine if it is the proper medication for you.
Addiction to Zoloft
Despite the brand, sertraline is a prescribed drug that is often used excessively and can result in psychological addiction. Approximately a fifth of individuals who get prescribed antidepressants like Zoloft experienced intense withdrawal symptoms and signs when they attempted to stop using. The withdrawal symptoms signify that your body is physically dependent on Zoloft, making it extremely hard to wean off it.
Symptoms of Zoloft addiction usually include insomnia, depression, paranoia, and anxiety. People who misuse Zoloft usually do not do it to get high but instead to cope with everyday problems. Long-term Zoloft misuse results in psychological and medical issues, withdrawal, and physical dependence.
While it can be challenging, you should not be scared to take the initial step toward recovery from the addiction. Your road to recovery begins once you admit that Zoloft use is an issue that is disrupting your life’s quality, causing adverse effects on your work, recreational activities, and school.
Medical Detox
The first step in getting treatment for sertraline addiction is going through a medical detox program. The process lets your body eliminate every sertraline concentration. Detoxification commences after the patient reduces sertraline use and finally stops using it. The patients go through a supervised program conducted by trained medical professionals. Granite Recovery Centers provides medical detoxification for people who do not need immediate medical intervention, are not a danger to themselves, and are capable of self-evacuation in the event of an emergency.
They monitor the patients’ symptoms and make sure they stay safe while undergoing withdrawal. The time taken to finish a medical Zoloft detox program varies with everyone, but it typically lasts a week or more. The withdrawal symptoms often take about a month to subside.
Zoloft Rehabilitation Programs
Once the detoxification is completed, the patient joins a supervised rehab program. Through it, the person affected by Zoloft’s use learns to overcome their dependency on the drug and develop inner strength to see them through various challenges. The therapists will also help the patient in handling the underlying causes that contributed to Zoloft misuse.
There are various Zoloft rehabilitation options, so the affected persons can choose the one that suits them most. Granite Recovery Centers offers different programs to help its clients receive the finest and most suitable treatment.
Inpatient Zoloft Addiction Treatment Program
This type of treatment is usually given at clinics or hospitals specializing in inpatient treatment. The patient remains at the rehabilitation center while going through the treatment for Zoloft addiction. The participants take part in group therapy, receive counseling and medication, professional medical supervision, and have 24-hour nurse access. Inpatient treatment programs involve continuous addiction assessment and tracking of goals. After completing the program, the patient gets a discharge plan and moves to a different treatment setting, like ongoing outpatient therapy or into a sober living facility.
Granite Recovery Centers provides patients with 24-hour support in an encouraging, beautiful, safe environment. The supervised inpatient treatment program involves structured living, community building, group, and individual therapy conducted by licensed clinicians, recreation, physical exercise, life skills development and practice, and recovery-oriented study. We combine clinical therapy with evidence-based Recovery Education Skills Training (R.E.S.T.) to provide comprehensive Zoloft addiction treatment.
Outpatient Zoloft Addiction Treatment
In outpatient treatment, a person only goes to the rehab center for treatment but continues living at home and working. Like inpatient treatment, the patients share what they experienced during their active using days, listen to the other group members’ experiences, and help each other overcome substance use dependency.
An expert therapist attends the group therapy sessions gatherings to help the patients get on the right path to a quick and full recovery. Granite Recovery Centers provides professional counselors at every care level to help patients develop recovery goals and realize them. Our treatment program includes 12-step philosophies, going through various therapy programs, and creating an aftercare plan to help them keep moving forward in their recovery after completing treatment.
Aftercare
A person’s recovery journey from substance use does not end once they complete a program. On the contrary, patients need various services to help maintain their sobriety. They include ongoing counseling, linkage to peer support or case management services, and support groups‘ participation. It is a decisive element in averting relapse. It is more efficient and effective when the participants assume active roles and perform them for prolonged periods. Aftercare programs help people check-in and support other program members and share their successes and struggles in a judgment-free, safe, and supportive zone.
Aftercare programs provide the needed support and therapy in all recovery levels. They help individuals soberly and safely transition to their new, independent lives free of substance dependency. Granite Recovery Centers provides aftercare programs featuring three phases designed to help patients realize their sobriety living goals.
The first phase focuses on immersing our patients in our R.E.S.T. program and helping them learn to implement their daily living design. The second phase teaches life skills like continuing education, money and time management, and employment counseling via accountability and daily structure. The third phase entails getting exposed and involved in the real world through resident mentorship, individual sober-identity development, regular employment, and managing peer meetings.
Zoloft Treatment Process
Treatment for Zoloft use occurs in phases, starting with admission.
- Admissions
After realizing you struggle with Zoloft use, you should find a facility to help you recover from it. You should then enroll in the addiction treatment facility or have a loved one do it for you. Many people who require treatment are hesitant to take this step. Luckily, reputable facilities make the process simple, accessible, and comforting, so make the call.
- Intake
This phase involves entering the facility and completing the admission process. The treatment facility’s staff ensures that you did not bring illicit items like weapons or drugs. Be sure to take note of their list of recommended items you should bring. The intake phase is vital because it makes sure the patient begins the treatment process correctly to promote successful recovery. It helps guarantee the safety of the staff and patients as well. The process also involves gathering the patient’s basic information, such as income, age, employment history, and family background. The patient may go through a basic medical exam and discuss their health history.
Screening and Assessment
- Screening and Assessment
During this phase, the medical professional performs the assessment and screening to gauge the patient’s Zoloft use severity. It includes determining the mental health conditions the patient has and the duration of their Zoloft use. Tools like the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) may be used. This step is fundamental because it allows the staff to create a treatment and recovery plan based on the patient’s needs. The results of assessment and screening will enable the clinician to gauge if further assessment is necessary. Assessment is an ongoing process in certain treatment facilities because the patient’s needs may change as the recovery process advances.
- Evaluation
This phase entails performing a complete and comprehensive evaluation for Zoloft use. The clinician gathers information on when your Zoloft use started, quantities used, and frequency of use. It also involves discussing your substance use symptoms, the encountered physical consequences, legal troubles, or difficulties at home or work. The information is all on the Addiction Severity Index (ASI).
Treatment Plan
- Treatment Plan for Addiction
Once the evaluation is complete, we will determine a treatment that addresses your areas of need. This may include obtaining employment and abstaining from Zoloft use. The plan also entails long-term goals and short-term objectives. Goals refer to brief statements about the things you want to alter to lead a healthier life. Your goals should focus on replacing destructive habits with healthy ones, achievable within your treatment period, and at least one of them should directly address Zoloft use. For example, you could aim to adopt a healthy diet or develop anger management skills.
Objectives refer to what you must do to attain your goals. Ensure they are attainable, specific, time-limited, measurable, and relevant. For instance, it could be going for your weekly therapy sessions. When planning for your treatment, the specialist may discuss relapse prevention and long-term post-treatment plans. After completing the initial treatment, your care plan may include going to the 12-step meetings, therapy sessions, and taking prescribed medication.
Implementing the Plan
Implementing a treatment plan requires dedication and support. Your support system should be aware of the treatment plan to allow them to give you the assistance you need to keep your sobriety and improve your life’s quality. Your family and friends have to refer to the plan constantly to keep it fresh in their minds. In case of any challenges, they will have the proper tools to help you.
The treatment and recovery plan keeps you motivated, offers something to strive towards, and creates self-reliance. It gives you the confidence to continue working on your recovery, abstain from substance use, and achieve long-term recovery. A plan provides the steps and ideas to help you avoid a relapse.
Picking the Right Treatment Facility for Zoloft Use
The ideal treatment facility helps you create a suitable treatment plan and achieve a successful recovery. There are numerous treatment centers for Zoloft addiction across the United States. Maintaining your sobriety is vital, so ensure you strive to join a treatment program that will deliver the best outcomes. The correct program ensures you finish the recovery process and achieve and maintain your sobriety. To determine your rehab needs, talk to a treatment professional to ensure the facility can help you achieve your goals, and assess the facility’s treatment programs and their success rates.
The amenities are also crucial as they will determine your comfort. It would also be best to find an excellent facility close to your home, especially if you have family commitments. Consider the type of treatments the center offers, and make sure that Zoloft addiction is one of them so your needs are met.
Granite Recovery Centers maintains a low clinician-to-client ratio, making sure our clients receive personalized and tailor-made care. We offer a wide range of treatment programs, from medically supervised detox to aftercare and sober living centers.
