Substance overdose is taking too much of a recommended drug. It can be accidental or intentional. Any time you overdose any substance, it will negatively affect the body functions. Often people assume that addiction cannot take place if one takes the same dose of a substance. However, it is possible to overdose on the same dose. In worse cases, one gets addicted, and they cannot do without the dose even for a single day.
You may have started using a drug for fun or as a painkiller. Within no time, your body gets addicted to it, and you cannot do without it. One may assume since the drug is just a painkiller or it’s taken in a low amount, it does not have effects. However, no matter the quantity of any substance taken, it affects the body in one way or another.
What Happens When One Keeps on Using a Specific Substance?
If you start using a substance regularly, you will develop tolerance to it. Tolerance is whereby the body becomes accustomed to the presence of a drug. Therefore, it will require frequent doses or amounts to achieve the same effect. This will eventually lead to addiction, and you will feel like you cannot function normally without the drug.
Different types of drugs differ in the ability they have to make the body reach a tolerance state. However, this does not mean that mild drugs are likely not to be addictive. The fact is any drug you take more than the prescribed period can result to tolerance. When you get to the point of being addicted to the substance, you will be in a dangerous state. You will have to seek professional help to quit using the drug.
How do You Know you are Addicted to the Same Dose of Substance You Usually Take?
The most obvious sign that shows you are addicted to a specific substance is if you cannot stop using it. You may have tried to stop its’ usage because it has caused trouble at work, with the law or in your family but you can’t stop.
The following are more signs of addiction to your usual substance.
- You keep using the drug longer after your health problem has been healed.
- You experience a strange feeling whenever the drug wears off. It can just be mild feelings of headaches or stomachache. In other cases, it can be a severe feeling of fever or confusion.
- You spend a lot of time thinking about the substance like how good or bad you feel when you take it, or how to get more of it.
- You hide it or the effect it has on you from those close to you.
What do you do When You Realize you are Addicted to Your Usual Substance?
The moment you will note that you are overdosing your usual substance, you will have to make a decision. The most appropriate decision is to come up with a way to stop using the drug. The most difficult and tough step for any addict is to recognize they have a problem, and they need to change. However, it is the most critical one since it’s your first step on your journey to recovery. It is normal to feel conflicted about giving up the use of a drug. Recovery requires motivation, and it takes time.
When you decide that it is time to quit the drug, you can start by keeping track of how many times you use the dose. You can also do the following.
- Avoid purchasing the substance at all cost.
- Be busy so as not to think about the drug.
- Talk to someone and open up about your addiction and tell them to help you in your recovery journey.
- Consult a professional from a treatment facility. This is the most appropriate mechanism to deal with substance addiction. This is because you will get help in the detoxification process. Moreover, you will be counseled through therapy sessions on how to embark on a successful recovery journey without relapse. You will also be given the right medication to manage withdrawal symptoms.
That moment you will realize you are addicted to a drug, make up your mind to deal with the obsession. From that moment you embark on a recovery journey; do not try to go through it alone. This is because it’s not a comfortable process, and the effects of withdrawal may be severe. Contact us. We will listen to you, take care of you, and guide you in your entire recovery journey. Call us today at 833-846-5669.