Question: This girl in my NA group is always going on about her Yoga and meditation and how she finds that doing one or the other each day helps her make it through the day. She says science proves that people who meditate are calmer and more able to stay off drugs, although when I ask her for any specifics on this she gets pretty vague… I’m having a tough time right now and if this stuff works then I might take her up on her offer to go to a few classes with her. But I don’t want to waste my time on any New-Age mumbo jumbo either. Also, I’m not really the kinds of guy that would generally be caught dead in some sort of yoga center…or chanting to Budda or whoever… So is it true what she says? Would it help me stay clean?

Dr. David Sack Says...:

Many people who are in recovery continue to have problems with anxiety and insomnia; these are indications of over-arousal of the autonomic nervous system. When stressed, these people tend to have excessive responses.

A number of treatments have been looked at in treating anxiety and preventing relapse. Those treatments include transcendental mediation, biofeedback, and relaxation techniques – and they have been shown to be beneficial. If you’re having this level of discomfort, meditation could be very helpful in improving your sense of well-being and lowering the risk of relapse.

Question: Will I have to stop taking my anti depressants in drug rehab? I called one place up and they said that the only way to break free from addiction is to get rid of my dependence on all the substances I am taking, including medications. They said that you can’t beat a drug addiction by taking more drugs. It kind of makes sense I guess, but the thought of dropping off the meds makes me pretty scared because I I’ve only been on them for about a half year or so and before the meds I was in a very dark place. I wouldn’t even have been thinking about rehab back then the way I was feeling. My biggest problems right now are with drinking and cocaine.

Dr. David Sack Says...:

Many people with severe depression go on to abuse drugs and
alcohol as a way of blunting those negative feelings. Antidepressants can be
helpful and effective in treating symptoms of depression in people who have
also become drug dependent, so long as they stop abusing other drugs. All of
the antidepressants have been extensively studied and there is no evidence that
any of them will lead to drug abuse or dependency or will be used
recreationally by people who gain access to them.

If someone has not been treated for depression before, but
has developed feelings of discouragement of despondency during a period of chronic
drug use, it may be preferable to hold off starting an antidepressant until the
person has had a period where they are drug free, as many of these symptoms go
away when a person stops abusing.