Treatment Options for Flexeril Addiction

Flexeril isn’t generally considered addictive, but if you struggle with its abuse, there are many treatment options for you. Most often, therapy is recommended, and ideally, this should be given by a professional who has experience in addiction care. 

If you abuse Flexeril alongside other substances, which is common, a more intensive treatment program may be recommended.

Which Treatment Options Are Available for Addiction to Flexeril?

Flexeril isn’t considered addictive in the same way that other substances of abuse are, such as alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines. But it’s common for people to abuse muscle relaxants alongside other substances. For example, someone may take Flexeril before drinking. 

If you’ve been abusing Flexeril in any way, treatment can help. Depending on the severity of your addiction, different treatment paths may be more appropriate for you.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient treatment is the most intensive form of addiction treatment. While it wouldn’t be the first course of action generally recommended for Flexeril addiction, it may be the right choice if you abuse other substances along with Flexeril or if you have co-occurring disorders, such as addiction alongside depression or another mental health issue. 

With inpatient treatment, clients spend several weeks at an addiction treatment facility receiving care, living at the facility during that time. Inpatient treatment can be expensive, but it is a good option for people in crisis or who have tried to quit drugs already and found stopping drug use long-term particularly difficult. 

Broadly speaking, the goal of inpatient treatment is to better equip a person to deal with the autonomy allowed by the outside world, so they can transition to less intensive treatment for the remainder of their recovery without a major risk of relapse.

Intensive Outpatient Treatment

Intensive outpatient treatment is sometimes used as a transitional type of addiction treatment for people coming out of inpatient treatment, or it may be appropriate for people who don’t require quite the intensity of inpatient treatment but need more than standard outpatient treatment. 

In this type of treatment, much of a client’s time is still highly regimented, but they have some more autonomy than they did in an inpatient program. A patient will be able to sleep at their own home in most cases and may have enough time for work or school, although enough of their time is still scheduled that fitting other activities into their schedule can be difficult. 

One major goal of this type of treatment is to prevent a person from moving from the very regimented, low-autonomy nature of inpatient treatment to the very open, high-autonomy nature of standard outpatient treatment. A middle ground can help them ease them back into “normal” life with less of a risk of relapse.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment involves a person spending some time out of their week receiving addiction treatment but otherwise living their life as normal. For example, a client might see a therapist once a week as well as attend occasional group therapy sessions, but they will oftne be able to go to work or school. 

The intensity level of outpatient treatment can vary, depending on a person’s individual needs. Usually, the frequency and duration of treatment will decline as the person gains a stronger foundation in recovery.

Therapy Options Used in Treatment

Therapy makes up the backbone of addiction treatment. Here are some of the most common types used in treatment of Flexeril addiction:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a fairly standard type of therapy used in addiction treatment. A therapist works with their client to identify feelings and patterns of thought that may trigger a strong desire to engage in Flexeril abuse. The client then learns ways to adjust their thinking to better manage those thoughts and feelings. 

Contingency Management

With this form of therapy, clients are rewarded for making positive changes in their lives, such as for participating in therapy. This may be particularly useful during the early phase of treatment, and clients may receive vouchers for attending support group meetings or passing drug tests.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) shares some similarities with CBT, but it involves a greater focus on emotional regulation. Clients are encouraged to live in the moment, build healthy coping mechanisms, and repair relationships.

Motivational Interviewing

With motivational interviewing, therapists work with clients to identify what personally motivates them. This often involves defining personal values. By pinpointing individual sources of motivation, retention rates in therapy rise and relapse risk declines.

The Importance of Continued Support

Recovery is a long-term process. It requires dedication long after finishing rehabilitation treatment since addiction is a chronic condition. Some effective ways that people can maintain the gains they made in the initial stages of treatment include engaging in aftercare, like attending group meetings for peer support or continuing with individual therapy sessions.

These programs serve several purposes. They offer emotional support during tough times, educate people on how they can manage cravings effectively, and identify potential areas of danger, such as people, places, or things that might trigger the desire to engage in Flexeril abuse. 

Healthy choices in other areas of life support ongoing recovery as well. For example, maintaining a balanced diet rich in nutrients and regularly exercising can reduce anxiety levels. This can improve overall well-being and make relapse less likely.

Resources for People Recovering From Addiction to Flexeril

There aren’t support groups and similar options that aim to help people struggling with Flexeril specifically, but there are general addiction support groups that might still benefit someone struggling with abuse of muscle relaxants. 

A good way to learn about programs relevant to you in your area is by calling SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. This free and confidential helpline, which is available in English and Spanish, can connect you to mental health and addiction treatment resources in your area, including support groups.

Another option to consider are peer support group meetings, such as 12-step or SMART Recovery meetings. SMART Recovery is a well-regarded organization that specializes in providing accessible addiction help. Meetings are free and aren’t focused on any single drug of addiction.

Some people prefer support group meetings in the 12-step model that has been popularized by Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Many group participants have abused Flexeril and other muscle relaxants, even though these weren’t their primary substances of abuse.

In support group meetings, you can learn from the experiences of others and also share your own insight to help others. The relationships made in these meetings often form the structure of a person’s support network in early recovery.