Establish a supplement regimen part 2
WHY SHOULD WE CONSIDER NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION?
Many people who are just getting sober or who have just finished a detox have persistent and recurring symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, and fatigue.
This is not unusual.
In fact, it’s more the rule than the exception.
Much of the emotional distress that can not be directly attributed to a specific life event stems from correctable malfunctions in our body and brain chemistry - the result of critically unmet nutritional needs.
We have witnessed and experienced remarkable improvements in mood - often times within days - simply by implementing a nutritional repair plan.
Keep in mind that we are referring to what has been referred to as "false moods", meaning those that are not true, genuine responses to the real troubles we deal with in life. Those "true" emotions are actually beneficial in that they can point us to areas in our lives that need attention. They are effectively treated and relieved with talk therapy and a strong fellowship network for support.
Rather, the "false" moods are the ones that seem to come and go without reason that can severely disrupt an early sobriety attempt.
The brain (and to a lesser extent, the gut) is responsible for most of your feelings. It transmits feelings through four primary "mood chemicals" - endorphins, serotonin, GABA, and catecholamines.
In chemical addictions, to one extent or another (depending on the substance, amount consumed, and duration of use), it stops producing these chemicals on a regular basis.
Pharmaceutical companies have been developing drugs for decades that attempt to disguise or band-aid fix deficiencies in these areas. But that is not the same thing as true repair. Our research and experience has shown that many, many people achieve relief through nutritional supplements and can all together avoid the use of incredibly powerful pharmaceutical alternatives.
A sound nutritional program is essential to successful treatment. Giving vitamins and minerals in correct amounts and proportions will allow the cells to generate new cells, repair injured ones, and strengthen its defense against other diseases.
Because every individual entering recovery is different, each recommendation will vary. I recommend consulting a professional educated in the use of nutritional supplementation - e.g. physician, pharmacist, nutritionist - and who is also well-experienced in the nuances of substance use disorders and how this will affect recommendations.
It may be tempting to do one's own research in this area and decide what would be best, but as a general recommendation, we discourage this.
Being your own advocate is important (and necessary), however we believe there is too much information available, mostly unsubstantiated, and the probability that a random searching will lead one to an appropriate supplement approach is unlikely.
Because the supplement market is not regulated to the same extent as the pharmaceutical industry, the discretion of an experienced professional is advised.
He/she can help you navigate through which remedies are safe and which should be avoided. What works and what doesn't. Keep in mind, no nutritional supplement is a miracle cure. In fact, a good way to rule out a particular option is one that claims to be so. Although supplementation is a significant component (enough to make an entire rule about), it is still just a component.
Do not expect a quick fix.
In the world of drug recovery, THERE IS NO SUCH THING!