What we Treat
At BWR Synergy Health, we treat all forms of addictions including substance misuse disorders and behavioural disorders. This includes alcohol, opiates, stimulants, prescription medication, gambling and harmful sex and love.
We treat private clients and accept referrals from psychiatrists, GPs, therapists and other clinicians, as well as from families, employers and self-referrals.
The purpose and focus of the therapeutic treatment is early intervention to help our clients discover the root cause of their issues, confront the triggers and develop coping mechanisms that will allow them to take control of their recovery and transform their lives.
We understand that addiction and addictive behaviours are illnesses that benefit from a holistic treatment approach.
We know that what starts out as an occasional act or behaviour can rapidly escalate and result in physical, psychological, and social harm, that effects both the individual and those closest to them.
Many actions or behaviours can lead to addiction, such as food, drugs, sex, gambling, pornography, exercise, drug, alcohol or shopping. Addiction can also be psychological, physical or both.
Physical addiction involves substances such as heroin, diazepam and alcohol. Psychological addiction involves substances such as amphetamines and ketamine. Behavioural addiction involves behaviours such as gambling, gaming, sex, and shopping.
ADDICTION– is a medical condition characterised by compulsive engagement in the rewarding stimulus despite adverse consequence or effect. (you can’t stop the action or behaviour despite your best attempts)
TOLERANCE-describes the decreasing effect of a substance resulting from repeated administration at the same dose (so you need more to get the same effect)
DEPENDANCY– an adaptive state associated with a withdrawal syndrome upon stopping repeated exposure to the substance or behaviour. (you feel awful when you stop and resorting back to the action or behaviour makes you feel ’normal’)
WITHDRAWAL-occurs because your brain can be described ‘as working like a spring when it comes to addiction. Drugs and alcohol are brain depressants that push down the spring. They suppress your brain’s production of neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline. When you stop using drugs or alcohol it’s like taking the weight out of the spring and your brain rebounds producing a surge of adrenaline which causes the many withdrawal symptoms you experience.’ Every drug is different with some producing significant physical withdrawal such as alcohol, opioids and benzodiazepines, others however effect more emotional symptoms such as cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy
Substance Addictions
Alcohol
Alcohol, the most used addictive substance transiently effects the calming GABA neurotransmitters in the brain, which slows many of our responses and initially gives a feeling of a false sense of wellbeing. However due to neuroadaptation the brain with time more alcohol is needed to feel the same effects, and when you stop drinking there is a chemical imbalance which leads to withdrawal symptoms, that drive you to drink to feel ’normal’ again.
Alcoholism is an illness that causes a compulsion to drink through psychologically driven cravings and the discomfort of physical withdrawal symptoms.
Often there are underlying causes that trigger excessive drinking. These can include uncomfortable emotions experienced through personal trauma, learned behaviours from peers and developed coping mechanisms when living through challenging episodes in your life.
Here at BWR Synergy health we can help you acknowledge and understand your addiction and empower you into recovery, through assessment, guidance on treatment options and coaching you into and throughout recovery.
Opioids
Opioids are common substances abused because of their rapid onset of effect and include heroin, methadone and many painkillers such as codeine, oxycodone and tramadol They are synthesised from morphine and once crossed the blood brain barrier they are converted back to morphine which bind to opiate receptors in the brain triggering a release of dopamine which gives an intense initial euphoria followed by some hours of a more relaxed state. The brain also releases its own feel good chemicals known as endorphins, however with continued intake of opioids the body’s ability to do this is much reduced, leading to a dependency on the external source of opioids.’ It’s a bit like what you would do if the volume on your stereo is too loud- you turn it down’
If the external source is stopped this results in withdrawal symptoms due to a lack of the calming endorphins and dopamine that have been turned down by the external use.
Often there are underlying causes that trigger substance overuse. These can include uncomfortable emotions experienced through personal trauma, learned behaviours from peers and developed coping mechanisms when living through challenging episodes in your life.
Here at BWR Synergy Health we can help you acknowledge and understand your addiction and empower you into recovery, through assessment, guidance on treatment options and coaching you into and throughout recovery.
Stimulants
Using substances such as cocaine and methamphetamine, causes a significant increase of dopamine in the mesolimbic, reward pathway in the brain over a short period by blocking dopamine uptake. This gives a significant high and feeling of elation, followed by a crash, that can trap you in a cycle of abuse, which ultimately leads to more commonly a psychological addiction. Use can also lead to physical harm through snorting, injecting, and inhaling.
Often there are underlying causes that trigger substance overuse. These can include uncomfortable emotions experienced through personal trauma, learned behaviours from peers and developed coping mechanisms when living through challenging episodes in your life.
Here at BWR Synergy Health we can help you acknowledge and understand your addiction and empower you into recovery, through assessment, guidance on treatment options and coaching you into and throughout recovery.
Cannabis
Cannabis refers to a group of three plants with psychoactive properties, known as Cannabis sativa, indica, and ruderalis. When the flowers of these plants are harvested and dried, you end up with one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. It is known by many names such as weed, pot, and marijuana. Cannabis is made up of more than 120 components, which are known as cannabinoids. The most widely understood cannabinoids are known as cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
- CBD. This is a psychoactive cannabinoid, but it’s non-intoxicating and non-euphoric, meaning it won’t get you “high.” It’s often used to help reduce inflammation and pain. It may also ease nausea, migraine, seizures, and anxiety.
- THC. This is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. THC is responsible for the “high” that most people associate with cannabis.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines such as diazepam(Valium) and lorazepam(Ativan) act by increasing the inhibitory(calming) nature of GABA neurotransmitters in brain. About 40% nerve endings in the brain respond to GABA, therefore overall, the effect is a calming of many brain functions.
Increasing the inhibitory process reduces the output of the more excitatory neurotransmitters including noradrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine all of which are used for alertness, memory, muscle tone and co-ordination, emotional response and heart rate control to name a few functions.
In the short-term taking benzodiazepines can
- Reduce anxiety, relax muscles, can help sleep, work as anti-convulsant, and bring about amnesia as when for example ie midazolam is used for sedation prior to colonoscopy. colonoscopy
- but TOLERANCE quickly occurs (where higher amounts needed to produce the same feelings and effect) and you can develop dependence within 2-3 weeks which results in uncomfortable and on occasion life threatening withdrawal symptoms.
Often there are underlying causes that trigger substance overuse. These can include uncomfortable emotions experienced through personal trauma, learned behaviours from peers and developed coping mechanisms when living through challenging episodes in your life.
Here at BWR Synergy Health we can help you acknowledge and understand your addiction and empower you into recovery, through assessment, guidance on treatment options and coaching you into and throughout recovery.
Ketamine
Ketamine use is becoming more common and whilst many people think that using ketamine is harmless, it has both habit-forming and addictive qualities that can lead to dangerous consequences and physical harm including bladder issues.
Ketamine historically was used in equine medicine and is a dissociative anaesthetic. It can be used for a variety of purposes. Ketamine works by targeting multiple processes in the brain, it manipulates the neurotransmitter glutamate, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter essential to keeping our brains functioning as they should.
At higher doses, ketamine blocks glutamate, slowing down communications in the brain, which is one of the reasons it works so well as a sedative. In lower doses, however, glutamate production becomes enhanced, inducing hallucinogenic side effects, such as altered vision and sound, which can leave users experiencing a variety of emotions –some describe feeling close to death after having taken the substance. Once a high enough dosage of ketamine has been consumed, you can fall into a ‘K-hole’, which leaves you feeling both disassociated and unable to control your bodily functions.
Often there are underlying causes that trigger substance overuse. These can include uncomfortable emotions experienced through personal trauma, learned behaviours from peers and developed coping mechanisms when living through challenging episodes in your life.
Here at BWR Synergy Health we can help you acknowledge and understand your addiction and empower you into recovery, through assessment, guidance on treatment options and coaching you into and throughout recovery.
Prescription medications
There are an ever-increasing number of medications available by prescription and over the internet that are open to abuse. Pain killers such as codeine, tramadol and oxycodone have opioid effects that induce dopamine release in the brain, leading to euphoria and excessive relaxation, but alongside use are the risks of tolerance and dependency. Other medications such as pregabalin and gabapentin can increase the calming GABA neurotransmitters in the brain and again tolerance rapidly develops which leads to more medication needed to be taken to gain a similar effect. Stopping use suddenly can also lead to withdrawal symptoms including agitation and seizures. Benzodiazepines such as diazepam and lorazepam and sedatives including Zopiclone also have an effect on the GABA neurotransmitter system similar to the gabapentinoids, and whilst you may start taking them due to a medical need use can easily escalate leading to tolerance and dependency.
Often there are underlying causes that trigger substance overuse. These can include uncomfortable emotions experienced through personal trauma, learned behaviours from peers and developed coping mechanisms when living through challenging episodes in your life.
Here at BWR Synergy Health we can help you acknowledge and understand your addiction and empower you into recovery, through assessment, guidance on treatment options and coaching you into and throughout recovery.
Hallucinogens
Classic Hallucinogens include a variety of substances that produce a wide range of psychoactive effects. They act by increasing excitatory and neuroinhibitory neurotransmitters in the prefrontal part of the brain, which is responsible for complex thought processing, emotional decision making and many other high-level functions. They also interfere with neural circuitry using the neurotransmitter serotonin which can affect many body functions regulated by this neurotransmitter. This can result in illusions and visual disturbances as well as alteration in mood, appetite, and sleep.
Persistent use can result in psychosis and hallucinogen persisting perception disorder. Whilst this is rare it can be simultaneous and unpredictable in when it occurs. Stopping use helps the brain repair in the majority of individuals.
Often there are underlying causes that trigger substance overuse. These can include uncomfortable emotions experienced through personal trauma, learned behaviours from peers and developed coping mechanisms when living through challenging episodes in your life.
Here at BWR Synergy Health we can help you acknowledge and understand your addiction and empower you into recovery, through assessment, guidance on treatment options and coaching you into and throughout recovery.
Novel psychoactive substances
Novel psychoactive substances (legal highs) are a group of relatively modern drugs chemically designed to mimic the effects of other hallucinogenic and stimulant drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines, there are 5 different types depending on effect. Well known examples include mephedrone and spice. They are often packaged to look like brightly coloured attractive sweets or tablets ’tabs’, they can cause a variety of responses in the body due to the effects on the brain, causing a rapid surge of the neurotransmitter’s serotonin and dopamine. This is followed by huge dip in the levels and unpredictable consequences. Whilst they do not cause physical dependence the environment that use is associated with and the subsequent behaviours often put the individual at high risk of harm.
Often there are underlying causes that trigger substance overuse. These can include uncomfortable emotions experienced through personal trauma, learned behaviours from peers and developed coping mechanisms when living through challenging episodes in your life.
Here at BWR Synergy Health we can help you acknowledge and understand your addiction and empower you into recovery, through assessment, guidance on treatment options and coaching you into and throughout
Behavioural Addictions
Eating Disorders
There is a commonly held misconception that eating disorders are a lifestyle choice. Eating disorders are serious and often fatal illnesses that are associated with severe disturbances in people’s eating behaviours and related thoughts and emotions. Preoccupation with food, body weight, and shape may also signal an eating disorder. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. We can help with advice and support.
Sex Addiction
This conduct has been described as a condition notable for a persistent pattern of failure to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses or urges, resulting in repetitive sexual behaviour, over an extended period of time, which causes significant distress or harm in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, and any other important areas of functioning. Once help has been sought, we can, following assessment, work to create a care plan that can be the most effective and relevant programme of treatment and recovery.
Pornography
This has been called the most complex and swiftest form of harmful sexual behaviour because it can be so intensely addictive. Individuals can become hooked on internet pornography simply because of its easy availability and lack of understanding of some of the negative consequences. So deceptive is internet pornography people are not aware they are obsessed until it escalates to the point of affecting other aspects of life like important relationships, friendships and professional activity. Asking for help is the first step to being free from its grip.
Internet / Technology
The internet provides users with a wealth of data and knowledge. For some, the opportunity to find information so easily has turned into an uncontrollable urge to gather and organise data. In some cases, information-seeking is a demonstration of pre-existing, obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Compulsive information-seeking can also reduce work productivity and disconnection from relationships. Depending on the need, treatment options can range from different therapy modalities which focus on changing compulsive behaviours, to prescribed medication.
Video Games
According to the World Health Organisation addiction to video gaming is described as a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour, which may be online or offline, manifested by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences. Treatment is successful through revised time management and refocusing on aspects of life that have been lost owing to the attention given to the gaming.
Work Addiction
Work addiction, often called workaholism. Like any other addiction, work addiction is the inability to stop the behaviour. It often stems from a compulsive need to achieve status and success, or to escape emotional stress. A person with a work addiction may engage in compulsive work to avoid other aspects of their life, like troubling emotional issues or personal crises. Like other addictions, the individual may engage in the addiction unaware of the negative effects that the behaviour is causing. Treatment is often begun with an open an honest reflection of the consequences and harms. Once completed a plan usually involving talking therapies can be created in collaboration with the sufferer.
Excessive Exercise
This is when a person exercises so much that it negatively affects their physical or mental health or disrupts other aspects of their life. Compulsive exercise often occurs alongside eating disorders. It can also be linked to eating disorders. There is no formal diagnostic classification however sufferers do describe the harms to limbs from excessive exercising that was never planned. Treatment can be through moderating the exercise and seeking support from talking therapies in order to manage any sensations and feelings of withdrawal and loss as the exercise lessens.
Gambling
Many people enjoy gambling, whether it’s betting on a horse or playing cards on the Internet. Most people who gamble don’t have difficulties with it, but some lose control of their gambling. Problem signs related to gambling can include: Being obsessed and always thinking about gambling. Being dishonest about the negative consequences of the losses accrued. Being away from family or work in order to gamble. Feeling dejected and self-critical with mounting losses. Using money that is needed for important aspects of your life such as providing for your family or self. If you have concerns about your gambling, ask us for help. We will work with you to find the best treatment solution for you.
Medication seeking behaviour
Some medications prescribed for a variety of conditions can result in a range of activities and behaviours focused on a compulsive need to obtain further supplies of medication to achieve a specific effect or feeling. The most common examples are opioid pain relief medication and sedatives such as benzodiazepines (an example being diazepam) and psychiatric medication such as olanzapine and the anti-anxiety medication pregabalin. Such behaviours can cause the individual to become deceitful and secretive and can result in physical and psychological dependency. There are often underlying emotional causes, learned behaviours and maladapted coping mechanisms that lead to this behaviour, although sometimes it can just be the physical symptoms of dependency that drive the behaviour.
Contact Us
We are here to help
Our four directors have a combined total 60 years’ experience of successfully saving lives and restoring individuals and their families from substance misuse and co-occurring disorders. As a result, this specialist practice and service has been developed using the most trusted evidenced based, and comprehensive, models of care for our clients to recover and regain lives that, in some cases, had been lost.
If you would like to see how we can help you or a loved one, please reach out to us.
