Recognizing Symptoms of Cocaine Use

The symptoms of cocaine use are sometimes very subtle, so it’s often difficult to know if your loved one has developed a problem. Cocaine is an upper that gives users energy, but it also changes the way they think. Those who use cocaine often feel powerful and develop idealized images of themselves.

Cocaine abuse can be very dangerous though. It’s important to recognize the symptoms so you can catch the problem before it’s too late. Since addiction is a progressive illness, someone in the early stages may be easier to help.

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Noticing the Symptoms of Cocaine Use

Cocaine comes in different forms, but the most popular forms are powder or rock. Normally, users snort the powder, and smoke or inject the rock.

Physical symptoms of cocaine use can be subtle. Be on the lookout for:

  • Runny nose or nosebleeds
  • Track marks on the arms, legs or neck
  • Dilated pupils

Also, pay attention to your loved one’s mental state. Those struggling with cocaine abuse may have an unusual amount of excitement and overconfidence. This also comes with poor judgement, and the person can also become quite aggressive. When users come down from a cocaine high, they may show signs of depression, irritability and long periods of sleep.

The Dangers of Cocaine Abuse

When a person uses cocaine, the body reacts in dangerous ways, particularly with the heart. While using cocaine, the person’s blood pressure and heart rate spike to dangerous levels. In fact, long-term cocaine abusers are at a greater risk for heart failure.

Cocaine abuse also increases the possibility of a fatal accident. While on cocaine, people don’t properly modulate fear.  They may engage in riskier behaviors like dangerous driving habits or stunts that could cause severe injury.

Therapy For Symptoms of Cocaine Use

After going through withdrawal during detox, the next step in cocaine addiction treatment is therapy. Therapy builds upon physical sobriety by attacking the psychological symptoms of cocaine use.

One method in defeating the psychological symptoms of cocaine use is behavioral therapy, which focuses on retraining the brain. Therapists teach patients to understand and overcome the thoughts behind their self-destructive and addictive behaviors. A second method used to treat psychological symptoms of cocaine use is holistic healing, which includes massage, expressive arts, and meditation. Holistic methods, unlike traditional psychotherapy, work through participation in positive experiences. Creative expression and meditation help unlock traumas, repressed emotions, and clear the patient’s mind.

Group therapy is another common tactic in cocaine addiction treatment. Therapists work with a therapy group to share their stories and reach the mutual goal of recovering from cocaine addiction. Therapies offered to clients exhibiting symptoms of cocaine use include, but aren’t limited to:

Getting Help for a Cocaine Addiction

If you or a loved one is a male suffering from a cocaine addiction, Serenity Lodge in California can help. Our staff is passionate about helping people overcome addiction. We use a wide range of evidence-based therapies, teaching clients that there’s an incredible life waiting for them in sobriety. Give us a call today at [Direct].

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