Opioid-dependent individuals have a variety of effective methods they can choose from to end their addictions and turn their lives around.
Some people choose to get on an opiate replacement medication, which is technically still being on an opioid, but at least this can get you stabilized and living a normal life.
Others decide to check themselves into a medical detox followed by inpatient treatment.
And yet others still, after doing research, make the decision to choose one of the alternative approaches which don’t involve any of the traditional treatment modalities.
But whether you decide to go with a traditional or alternative opioid detox and recovery method (such as a home detox), enrolling in Ultimate Opiate Recovery Coaching either before or after could be just what you need to see your goal through to the end.
In this article, you’ll learn the Top 3 “Super Benefits” of coaching with me.
If these benefits resonate with you, then coaching may be the perfect treatment plan addition to help you quit once and for all.
1. Customized Treatment Plan
Every person on opioids has a unique situation they’re in. I’ve worked with a wide array of clients, and customize their detox and recovery protocols according to their individual predicaments.
Here are some examples of the different client situations I see:
- A 50-year-old woman taking 8 mg of Suboxone for the last 3 years who was on fentanyl patches for a year before that. Single mother of 2 kids, works full-time as a nurse and is also on Klonopin for insomnia. She states that the Suboxone has ruined her ability to concentrate and her ability to feel emotions, and she’s tired, stressed, and fearful all the time.
- A 73-year old man who is on 250 mg of oxycodone daily for the last 7 years who is wealthy and his life has everything going good, other than the fact that he’s wildly addicted to opiates.
- A 61-year old woman that is only on 10 mg of Percocet a day, but whenever she tries to quit it’s too hard because she has been taking this amount for 5 years straight, and she has a stressful career and uses the Percocet for energy to help her work.
After 5 years of coaching, I’ve worked with over 500 clients and developed customized treatment protocols for each person.
When I’m on the first call with a new client, I listen to their story and ask specific questions so I can get the full picture of their current situation.
Here are the things I’m looking for:
- How long they’ve been using opioids
- What specific opioid or opioids they’re using
- What dosage they’re taking
- Whether or not they’re taking any other drugs (prescribed and/or illicit)
- What mental and/or physical health conditions they may have
- Whether or not they work, take care of kids, or have other responsibilities
- How many times they’ve tried to quit before and how did they detox
- If they’ve had clean time in the past and if so how did they do it and why did they relapse
- What is their current level of mental strength and motivation to quit
- Do they have a support system or are they going it all alone?
- Do people know they’re addicted or are they hiding it from everyone?
These are some of the main things I’m looking for when I work with a new client, but this is by no means a complete list.
The more details I know the more I can customize the plan for my client, and thus significantly increase their chances of quitting.
Once I have all the info I need, then I work with the client to create an individualized plan to help them have a more comfortable detox and then have a shorter and easier time going through the post-acute withdrawal phase.
Many clients report having an easy time quitting.
Some report that it was not easy but also not difficult.
And the most severe cases (usually high-dose fentanyl users) almost always say it was at least moderately difficult.
2. Support & Encouragement
Getting off opioids is not just about having the right customized detox and recovery plan.
Everyone tends to do a lot better when they have support, guidance, and encouragement along the way.
Support and encouragement can come from spouses, family, and friends, and it can also come from me as your coach.
Clients really appreciate having someone that has been through opiate addiction themselves working with them.
There is a certain camaraderie between us, as we both know what it feels like to be addicted to opioids and to go through withdrawal.
Along with customized treatment planning, I also provide compassion, encouragement, guidance, support, motivation, inspiration, and education.
This combination helps the client’s psychology (both their mindset and emotions), as it’s vital to be in strong psychological health while attempting to overcome opioid addiction.
3. Accountability
In my opinion, accountability is the true “X-Factor” for quitting. Many people hire me who already have a great plan and a powerful support system.
When they already have these in place and hire me, they say it’s because they “want me to hold them accountable.”
Of course, I’m also able to strengthen their plan and make improvements here and there, but they know themselves well, and they know without me to hold them accountable they might give up.
This happens all day every day around the world.
People give up because they haven’t promised anyone that they’ll detox by a certain date.
When there is no written contract to go by, or perhaps they have a plan but no one to hold them accountable to go through with it, it makes it easy to rationalize why “now is not the right time.”
But having a coach keep you on track eliminates that possibility, and in doing so gives you the “Ultimate X-Factor” in your plan, thus seriously enhancing the chances of you overcoming addiction.
anonymous
Hi Matt, I’ve been following you for about a year now. I’ve been taking Methadone for 15 years now and have tried to get off it multiple times. I’ve always taken it as prescribed and haven’t abused anything since April 15, 2011. I don’t like what the Methadone has done to my teeth, skin and weight and I really hate being on it all. I have to go to the clinic once a week, notify them when I’m going on vacation and don’t like being addicted to something else. I don’t have the money to order any of your stuff, but would love to know what else I can do to get off the Methadone, preferably as fast as possible with the smallest amount of discomfort. I know that’s a hard request but I’m going back to work as a nurse and do not want this to be an issue. Please help!
Matt Finch
If you don’t have money to purchase opioid withdrawal remedies then there isn’t a way to get off fast and comfortably. Unfortunately to achieve that it costs quite a bit of money for methadone-specific withdrawal protocols, ranging from either about $500 at the least for supplements and other remedies to $10,000 to $15,000 for a medical detox setting that specializes in fast and comfortable methadone detox. Here is a video I did on quitting methadone that’s a great place to start learning more: How To Get Off Methadone Like a Champion