I developed intense heartburn during my second pregnancy. I tried every pregnancy-safe home remedy I could find and nothing seemed to work. I was hopeful that once my daughter was born, it would improve. When it didn't, I spent a lot of time working with an internal medicine specialist and researching remedies online. I've found many different things that help in different ways. I decided to create this site to document the solutions that I've found and help others to find a way to manage their chronic heartburn as well. If you're struggling with persistent heartburn, I hope this information helps you find relief.
Stimulant abuse tends to be noticed less often than alcohol or opioid abuse due to the fact that it's not always obvious when someone's on stimulants. It can take many forms, from abusing illegal drugs like cocaine or methamphetamine to abusing prescription stimulants such as dextroamphetamine that are used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Like other forms of drug and alcohol abuse, stimulant abuse can cause severe negative consequences. Work or school performance may suffer, and long-term stimulant abuse can lead to heart problems. If you think that one of your friends or family members is abusing stimulants, whether it's an illegal drug or a medication they're prescribed, it's important to refer them to an addiction treatment center so that they can get help to quit. Below, you'll find four signs that your friend or family member may be abusing stimulants.
1. Mood Swings
Mood swings are a common feature in addiction, but they're even more pronounced in stimulant addiction due to how stimulants affect the brain. When someone is abusing stimulants, they'll typically be happy, outgoing, and full of energy. As the stimulants wear off, withdrawal begins to set in, and the person starts to feel anxious, lethargic, and depressed. If your friend or family member seems like they switch between boundless energy and deep fatigue for seemingly no reason, they may be abusing stimulants.
2. Increasing Social Isolation
Another potential sign that a person may be abusing stimulants is increasing social isolation. The withdrawals from abusing stimulants can last for quite some time, and the anxiety and lack of energy that withdrawals cause can make social events feel like an overwhelming effort. Someone who's abusing stimulants may make plans while they're abusing them, and then cancel plans while they're withdrawing afterward.
3. Poor Work or School Performance
Similarly, the repeated cycles of high and low energy can severely impair someone's ability to work or attend school. It's normally very difficult to concentrate while withdrawing from stimulants, which can lead to poor performance, and the lack of energy during withdrawal can lead to frequently calling out of work or missing class. A sudden decline in school or work performance may be another sign of stimulant abuse.
4. Delusional Thoughts
Finally, stimulant abuse can cause psychotic symptoms that lead to delusional thinking. High doses of stimulants can cause these as a side effect, and they're exacerbated by poor sleep — people who abuse stimulants often have severe insomnia. Paranoia and delusions of grandeur can both be signs of stimulant abuse.
If a friend or family member shows any of the above signs of stimulant abuse, you should have a frank conversation with them about what's causing them. They aren't always signs of stimulant abuse, as some mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder can also result in this behavior. If your loved one is abusing stimulants, however, it's a good idea to refer them to an addiction treatment center in your area for counseling. An addiction treatment center—such as John Volken Academy—can provide them with a stable environment and the support that they need to successfully quit abusing stimulants before they start to negatively affect your loved one's life even more.
Share14 June 2022
