Substance abuse and mental health disorders are disabling conditions that can impact your relationships, finances, and physical health. Drug overdoses are the leading cause of death among Americans under the age of 50 and can worsen underlying medical and mental health problems, as well as cause new health issues. Nutrition therapy can greatly improve your physical health and correct deficiencies that you experienced during addiction.

During addiction, your brain chemistry changes, and you prioritize your substance use, often at the expense of nutritional therapy program nj desk with exercise and health foods, nurse deciding best programyour physical and emotional health. Many people who have a substance abuse disorder fail to take care of their health during addiction, often neglecting their dietary needs. When you decide to take steps to get help for a drug or alcohol disorder, nutrition therapy plays a major part in your recovery.

Intensive outpatient programs in NJ focus on helping you heal from addiction and offers nutrition therapy programs to ensure your body has the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals it needs to recover.

What is Addiction?

Addiction is a chronic and progressive mental health disorder that causes significant changes to your brain chemistry. Drugs and alcohol are neurotransmitter inhibitors and force your brain to release a rush of pleasurable neurotransmitters anytime you drink or use them. These pleasurable neurotransmitters are responsible for the positive emotions you feel during intoxication. Once the effects of your substance of choice wear off, you suddenly experience a neurotransmitter deficiency, which causes you to crave your substance of choice.

Cravings are a result of changes to your pleasure and reward center. Once your brain associates your substance of choice with pleasure, it rewards your drug and alcohol use by regulating the release of your neurotransmitters. Eventually, your brain can become incapable of releasing certain neurotransmitters without your substance of choice.

Drugs and alcohol are also both physically and psychologically addictive, meaning that you can deal with painful and serious withdrawal symptoms if you immediately stop using them. 

Substance abuse disorders, alcoholism, and addiction can also cause:

  • Housing instability
  • Marital and custody issues
  • Personality and behavioral changes
  • Legal problems
  • Organ damage
  • Fatal or non-fatal overdose

Addiction can also cause serious financial problems, such as increased debt. During addiction, your tolerance increases, which means you have to use more of the substance in order to avoid withdrawal and experience the same pleasurable effects. This can lead to spending excessive amounts of money on drugs, which may make it difficult to pay for your bills or afford healthy food. At Victory Bay, we help curb the bad habits of addiction by providing lifeskills training to help you live a healthy, fulfilling life.

What is Nutrition Therapy?

So, what is nutrition therapy in NJ, and how does it help with recovery? During addiction, many people struggle to stay healthy, let alone eat a proper diet. Nutritional deficiencies are commonly seen in treatment centers. Many substances, like opiates and stimulants, can cause decreased appetite and weight loss. When you fail to eat a proper diet, your body can be devoid of things like Vitamin B and protein.

Nutrition therapy helps your body begin the healing process. Conditions like low iron can lead to fatigue, which can make it harder to focus on your recovery. Nutrition therapy helps you understand the importance of treating food as a tool for improving your overall wellbeing.

Making sure you get enough Vitamin C can strengthen your immune system, which in turn decreases your chances of getting sick. Limiting illness can decrease stress and lower your risk of relapsing.

Finding a Nutrition Therapy Program Today

Battling addiction can make you feel stressed, hopeless, and frustrated; however, it is important to remember it is never too late, or too early, to reach out for help. If you are ready to regain control of your life and find recovery, call us today at 855.259.1624 to learn more about our nutrition therapy program and your outpatient treatment center options.