WELLNESS SUPPORT FOR ADDICTION/SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RECOVERY – WENDY BLANCHARD, M.S., CHHC, CPS

Research tells us that “Sodium, magnesium, and stress are closely related. As a person’s stress intensifies, the sodium level increases and the magnesium level decreases. A vicious cycle is often triggered involving sodium, magnesium, and stress. Anything such as alcohol or a stimulant drug that depletes magnesium can intensify this vicious cycle. As magnesium decreases, sodium tends to increase. This mineral dynamic in a person can lead to more intense anger and rage. The anger and rage can reach a threshold at which the person’s emotions and behavior bypass the higher cognitive control centers and operate at a quick trigger reflex level. Alcohol and a stimulant drug can further lower the magnesium level and raise the sodium level. As sodium increases, anger and rage intensify. This increases the risk for abuse and violence with explosive anger and rage. On a physical level, the low magnesium level that contributes to this phenomenon can also lead to an increased risk for a heart attack or stroke.

Supplementation with magnesium can help a person restore a better balance between calcium and magnesium. As the Ca/Mg ratio becomes better balanced, blood sugar regulation tends to improve. When this occurs, there is better nutritional support for addiction and alcohol recovery. In most cases, in order to support recovery, it is necessary to either raise the magnesium level and/or reduce the magnitude of the Ca/Mg ratio.

One of the important benefits of magnesium supplementation is that that it reduces the intensity of the stress response and calms the nervous system.  Magnesium also helps to reduce an elevated sodium level that intensifies the “fight or flight” part of a stress response. In addition, Magnesium helps to reduce addictive cravings and supports the recovery process.”

In practicing recovery wellness, especially addiction/Substance Use Disorder recovery, it is important to have an awareness of your stress condition, and to be mindful of  your magnesium status. It is important to practice stress management techniques such as mindfulness, exercise, writing, or whatever you connect to that you know de-escalates your stress. A person’s magnesium and full analysis of all vitamins and mineral status can be assessed with a hair tissue mineral analysis. I have successfully used https://www.traceelements.com, and you would need your Functional Medicine Physician or Nurse Practitioner to properly cut your hair sample, and I can provide a list of practitioner’s to assist you.

For further information on how I can support you in reaching your health and wellness goals, body, mind and spirit, please go to my Contact page on this website www.harmonioushealth4life.com/contact, and I will be in touch within 24 hours.

Love and blessings,

Wendy

Wendy Blanchard