Lunesta works by calming the central nervous system, producing a sedative effect that can help people with insomnia fall and remain asleep. However, the medication can create tolerance and physical dependence over time, particularly with heavy doses, making it susceptible to abuse and addiction.
For this reason, doctors usually only prescribe Lunesta in small amounts for the acute management of symptoms of an underlying health issue. If you have become addicted to Lunesta, many treatment options exist to help you get well.
What Treatment Options Are Available for Lunesta Addiction?
Your treatment options will vary based on several factors, such as the nature and severity of your Lunesta addiction, your preferences and needs, and the availability of services in your area. Online addiction treatment services now exist that allow people from around the world access to specialized counseling services.
These are some of the treatment options that may be involved in Lunesta addiction treatment:
Medical Detox
Medical detox ensures your safety during the withdrawal process. The level of care provided will depend on the severity of dependence and addiction.
In some cases, patients are given a gradually reduced dose of Lunesta, allowing them to taper off the medication. In other cases, people with severe dependence and addiction need supportive care as they move through the withdrawal process. This may involve 24/7 care in some cases.
Inpatient Rehab
Inpatient rehab may follow medical detox, or medical detox might be part of the entire inpatient rehab process. It usually involves at least a 24-hour period of inpatient care, which will vary depending on your symptoms and needs.
During this time, your vital signs will be monitored, and you may be given an alternative medication that produces similar effects as Lunesta but is not habit-forming. This will allow you to cope with some withdrawal symptoms while the remainder of the Lunesta is processed from your system.
You will receive education about addiction and therapy in inpatient rehab. You may also be referred to outpatient rehabilitation and provided with a holistic care plan to manage your mental and physical health.
Outpatient Rehab
Outpatient rehab serves as an extension of inpatient rehabilitation. Some people begin with outpatient rehab, whereas others transition to this form of care following inpatient rehab.
Outpatient rehab involves regularly scheduled medical checkups and individual and/or group counseling.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is a one-on-one discussion with a licensed mental health professional or addiction treatment specialist about causes and triggers of your addiction and ways in which you can more effectively cope.
In therapy, you’ll be able to delve more deeply into the causes, triggers, and perpetuation of your addiction. With individual therapy, your therapist can customize an intervention to meet your needs more fully.
Some of the common approaches counselors use in cases involving addiction include the following:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy: This therapy combines principles of cognitive and behavioral theories to help you understand triggers for addiction, ways in which thought patterns lead to emotions and behaviors, and ways to more effectively cope with triggers and environmental stressors.
- Dialectical behavior therapy: This form of therapy emphasizes the need to confront difficult emotions and address factors that prevent one from growing and overcoming difficulties like addiction.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy: This is a method of reimaging traumatic past events or experiences combined with external eye movements as a means of reprogramming the mind to view these memories as no longer threatening to one´s health and well-being.
Group Therapy
Group therapy involves discussion of these issues in a group setting, where there is normally multiple clients and one treatment professional.
Group counseling is an effective treatment because it capitalizes on the principles of social learning theory, and it encourages observation and modeling of successful experiences of others. Additionally, group therapy encourages self-efficacy, or the realistic belief one has in their ability to achieve a specific task, such as rehabilitating from a Lunesta addiction.
12-Step Programs
Peer support groups like 12-step programs are grounded in the tradition of the original Alcoholics Anonymous model. They involve a series of stages that are conducive to a spiritual and personal transformation.
This program can be tailored to any form of addiction or chemical dependence, including an addiction to sleeping pills. The 12-step model has the advantages of widely available meetings, relative consistency in meeting structure and approach across different environments, and ease of access due to its free status.
Additionally, 12-step programs promote a mutual sense of accountability for your sobriety between you and a sponsor. They provide you with instant access to a social support network and environment that encourages a sober lifestyle.
Therapy Options Used in Treatment
The type of therapy that is used will depend on your needs and preferences, the recommendations of your healthcare provider, and the availability of services in your area. Fortunately, there is an increasing number of individual and group counseling options online, allowing you access to specialized care from around the world.
If you are participating in an addiction treatment program for Lunesta abuse, you will likely receive a combination of therapeutic approaches, such as individual therapy, group therapy, and support group participation.
Life in Recovery
Life after rehabilitation may be challenging at first, but it will open you up to many new opportunities that you may not have believed were possible previously. Here are some recommendations on how to maintain a sober lifestyle:
- Be physically and socially active.
- Consume a healthy and balanced diet.
- Continue to participate in group and individual therapy, as needed.
- Learn a new skill or take on a new hobby.
- Give back to the community or volunteer.
- Develop a new career path or go back to school.
Support Groups for People Recovering From Lunesta Addiction
Many support groups and treatment options exist, both in person and online. The services available to you will depend largely on your geographic location, although an online search of Lunesta addiction treatments will provide you with numerous results of highly rated virtual services. Some people use a combined approach, participating in both in-person and online meetings, depending on availability.
For individuals in the Boca Raton, Florida, area, Boca Recovery Center is a highly regarded option. We feature an interdisciplinary approach that combines the knowledge and expertise of healthcare professionals from a range of sub-disciplines, offering you the most complete services available. With our tailored approach to recovery, you can embrace a new life that is fulfilling and gratifying without Lunesta abuse.
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