What You Need To Know About The Kindling Effect

Drug & alcohol detox slowly tapers substances out of your body. It is the first step to long-term recovery. Sobriety does not always stick, though. If you’ve ever experienced addiction relapse, you are probably wondering what to do next. This article will explain why seeking medical attention through a detox center may be a suitable option for you. 

Detox gets harder each time you do it, but a good detox center can make sure your first drug and alcohol detox is your last.

Understanding the Cycle of Addiction

If you are attempting to treat your addiction, you need to understand how it works. The colloquial term “addiction” applies to a classification of mental illnesses in the DSM-5 called substance use disorders (SUDs). Your initial exposure to your substance(s) of choice may have been unintentional or on purpose. No matter how it started, repeated drug or alcohol use alters the chemistry and anatomy of the brain. 

Over time, your neurotransmitter levels change. Substances usually influence dopamine levels, but they can also impact norepinephrine, serotonin, GABA, and endorphins. The amygdala begins responding more intensely to stress. Prefrontal circuits become disrupted, making it more difficult to control impulses. You become dependent on substances to get through each day. You are now in the cycle of addiction.

The addiction cycle starts with the first use. It then goes as follows: 

• Abuse leads to tolerance
• Tolerance leads to addiction
• Addiction leads to guilt
• Guilt leads to withdrawal
• Withdrawal leads to relapse

These stages go around and around until a person finds a successful path to recovery. If you are still caught in the cycle of addiction, you may wonder why re-entering a drug rehab or addiction center is necessary. Due to a phenomenon called the “kindling effect,” it is crucial that you receive medically supervised detox whenever you relapse.

What Is the Kindling Effect?

Kindling a fire means making it burn brighter for longer periods of time by adding a flammable material any time it starts to die out. This is somewhat parallel to kindling addiction. The kindling effect makes acute withdrawal symptoms worse each time by repeatedly consuming substances after each detox.

Though research may have started with alcohol abuse, the kindling effect is now a supported model for many substances. Unlike kindling a fire, most people with SUDs do not intentionally kindle their withdrawal. They unknowingly engage with this phenomenon.

Unfortunately, the kindling effect is not uncommon for people with SUDs. If you are using or drinking again after a period of detox, especially if this is not your first relapse, you may be unintentionally kindling your addiction. Your acute withdrawal symptoms might become more severe and last for longer periods.

You might experience more dangerous symptoms like delirium or seizures. These symptoms can prove lethal if not handled properly. Additionally, you will experience stronger cravings, and you will likely consume a higher potency or a higher quantity of substances if you relapse again. 

The kindling effect is a downward spiral that makes it more difficult to quit with every relapse. Your SUD becomes more difficult to manage the longer the kindling effect goes on. With 24-hour medical care and a strong support system, this next detox can be your last.

Changing Your Patterns

Though the physical effects of addiction kindling are most discussed, it impacts people mentally as well. You become more sensitive to environmental triggers. Kindling intensifies any stimuli that would encourage relapse. Stress turns into an all-consuming compulsion to use or drink.

You may feel heightened emotional reactions any time something happens. People you associate with substance abuse can become walking temptations. Perhaps you find that you react more intensely to them after each relapse and detox. Substance paraphernalia will elicit stronger physical and mental cravings, and relapse could feel harder to resist.

For this reason, when you are ready to dedicate your life to sobriety, you must change your patterns. After detox and residential treatment, sober living homes can serve as a transitional space to support your recovery. You need a “new normal.” Your routine should center on healthy boundaries and ongoing mental health maintenance. You should discard any physical objects that remind you of using or drinking.

You might also need to cut people out of your life. New hobbies and a social system that exists outside of substance use will benefit your recovery. 

You need to attend therapy even when you do not want to; this is often when you need it the most. You will develop coping tools to help manage your thoughts. Unfortunately, you cannot avoid triggers entirely for the rest of your life, but you can learn ways to decrease their effect.

Finding Hope

The kindling effect may impact your experience with SUD, but it does not have to control you. No matter how many times you have been through the cycle of addiction, you can make this the last time. Sobriety takes bravery and serious dedication. The good news is that you are fully capable. You can start a beautiful, substance-free life today.

Due to the dangers of the kindling effect, you need to completely dedicate your life to sobriety as soon as possible. DetoxNearMe.com can help you find the best detox program for your needs. We partner with only the most qualified, reputable detox facilities in the United States. While withdrawing, you'll receive 24-hour care from doctors and mental health professionals.

There’s no better way to find reliable, effective detox centers for you. Start your journey toward a happier life with DetoxNearMe.com today!