Anxiety and depression are rampant in the U.S. Many adults and teens are suffering from this, and one of their ways to cope is by medication. Among the prescribed drugs given to patients with an anxiety disorder is Ativan. It helps patients cope with anxiety, yet it’s not the ultimate solution to this problem.

Despite the benefits of this medicine, many patients abuse or misuse it, which leads to another problem, and that is addiction. How will you know if you’re already dependent or addicted to this substance?

Today, we’re going to talk about the symptoms of Ativan addiction. By knowing this, you can tell if you need to undergo rehab or not. We understand it’s difficult to accept if you’re under the influence of a substance, and so, we’re helping to help you understand it.

What Are the Signs of Ativan Abuse?

This medicine is a potent benzodiazepine drug that helps people with anxiety recover. It’s a prescription drug, so your doctor will prescribe them to you if you direly need it.

Oftentimes, there’s a thin line between the side effects of using the drug and the effects of abusing it. But the main difference will be the intensity of these side effects, and how frequently it occurs to you. Here are some of the common signs that you are abusing or dependent on it:

• You don’t have the appetite to eat
• Frequent headaches
• Uncontrolled body shaking
• Excessive sweating
• Hallucinations and confusions
• Vomiting
• Lack of enthusiasm to participate in activities
• Being very dependent on the drug to recover
• Being discreet about the use of the drug
• Sleeping longer than usual
• Feeling dizzy
• Going to different doctors to get a prescription and have a sufficient supply of the drug

If you experience three or five of these symptoms, that qualifies you for abusing the substance. You have a high dependence on the drug, which led you to these unhealthy behaviors.

How Can You Tell if You’re Addicted to Ativan?

Even if you experience any of these symptoms, still, it won’t be hard proof to tell that you’re addicted to the drug. There are times when an individual would deny the chance that he is dependent on the drug. But it does tell you that you’re already at risk of abusing the substance.

The best thing you can do to tell if you’re highly dependent on the substance is to find symptoms of being mentally and physically dependent on the substance.

What is Physical Dependence on the Substance?

Feeling intense withdrawal symptoms is a strong sign of physical dependence. Some of these symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and headache. If you experience these signs at a higher intensity, that means your dependence or usage of the drug is high.

What is Psychological Dependence on the Substance?

Cravings are a strong sign that you are mentally dependent on the drug. If you feel like consuming the drug even if it’s still not time to take it, that tells you’re psychologically hooked on the drug.

If you think you can’t recover from anxiety without taking the medicine, that strongly indicates that you are dependent on the drug. The medicine indeed helps you recover, yet it’s not the end and ultimate solution to your long-term sobriety.

What Are the Life-Threatening Effects of Abusing Ativan?

Having too much of anything is dangerous, and the same principle applies to medication. This substance is under the benzodiazepine class, so there’s a high risk of addiction. Doctors will prescribe this medicine for short-term use only due to the high risk of being addicted to it.

There are mental and physical side effects of using this medicine. If you use it for a longer period beyond your doctor’s prescription, you will develop an addiction. Abusing this substance for a longer time will lead to serious health consequences that include the following:

• Depressed breathing
• High sedation of the body
• Uncontrolled tremors and shaking
• Short-term memory loss
• Fainting

If you abuse this drug for a longer period, there’s a high risk of damaging your brain. This damage can be irreparable in the long run, which can lead to death or coma.

What Can Be Done to Stop Ativan Abuse?

First, you need to be aware that you are dependent or addicted to the drug. Awareness is the key to embracing treatment. If you’re having a hard time accepting your weakness, you should consult with an addiction specialist.

Visiting a rehab center to get initial consultation is best to better understand your condition. The earlier you get assessed, the better it is for you since you can get treated early.

The negative effects of addiction can still be repaired if you get early treatment. The damage it does to your brain and body is not that great yet to be recovered once you start with your Ativan Rehab program.

What Are the Benefits of Rehab?

Many lives have been destroyed due to substance dependence and abuse. Many triggers motivate a person to abuse drugs. But once you’re aware of it, you’d be motivated to undergo treatment. Enrolling in rehab is the best solution for one to recover from substance addiction.

Here are some of the life-changing benefits of drug rehab:

• It helps you bring back your healthy self. We are talking about mental, physical, and social rehabilitation when you undergo treatment.
• You develop life skills of staying away from triggers and how you can positively cope with them.
• You develop new healthy skills for staying sober for life.
• You have a better understanding of yourself. It helps you know the do’s and don’ts for you to avoid abusing the drug again.

Ready to Start Your Recovery?

We hope we have given you enough ideas on how to tell if you need to enroll in rehab treatment. It’s a challenging journey, yet it’s worthwhile since it will be for restoring a healthy you.

Awareness is the first step to treatment, and the next will be your enrollment in a rehab program. This will be a challenging journey, so if you have any questions about it, feel free to contact us.