Kratom Addiction Treatment in Los Angeles

What Is Kratom?

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical tree in the coffee family. For centuries, workers in Thailand and Malaysia chewed on the leaves of kratom to fight exhaustion and push through physical pain. Its active compounds, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, bind to the same receptors in the brain as morphine, leading to euphoria.[2]

Like other remedies, kratom is marked as a natural solution for everything from pain and anxiety to opioid withdrawal. But people are getting hooked and sick.

Kratom Addiction and Abuse

It isn’t necessary to misuse kratom to develop an addiction. Just using it over time can be enough. The more you use it, the more your brain adapts to its effects, and soon, you can’t function without it.[3]

If you’re not sure if you’ve developed a dependence, ask yourself these questions about common kratom addiction signs: Do you need higher doses to feel the effects? Are you using kratom daily, or even multiple times a day?[4] Do you hide your use from others, or get anxious or sick if you try to stop? Are you losing weight, missing out on restful sleep, or losing your grip on your own life?

Even if you started out using kratom as a remedy for low energy or pain, the adverse effects of long-term use may be outside of your control.

Kratom Side Effects and Risks

People use kratom to feel better. There’s a point where the good shifts to bad, though, and you feel much worse. With no standardization, the effects are unpredictable and become more severe with heavy use or high doses.

Some of the immediate effects of kratom include nausea and vomiting, constipation, sweating, chills, drowsiness, agitation, dry mouth, dizziness, and hallucinations.[5] With chronic use, you’re at risk of liver damage, weight loss, mental fog, seizures, respiratory depression, paranoia, psychosis, and addiction.[6] Though many overdose cases involve other substance abuse, kratom has been linked and may lead to death because of toxic doses or contamination.

If you try to quit kratom cold turkey, be prepared for a rough time. The “crash” from kratom is very real, and for many, it can be brutal. Withdrawal symptoms come on fast and hard, leaving you at risk of relapse. Like opioid withdrawal, kratom withdrawal can cause nausea, diarrhea, sweating, chills, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, vivid nightmares, and intense cravings.[7] Without support like medical detox, it can be overwhelming.

Kratom Addiction Treatment in Los Angeles

Addiction takes over your brain, body, relationships, and sense of purpose. Real recovery goes beyond overcoming the chemical dependence of the drug and starting over with a sober focus. At iRely Recovery, we don’t take a generic approach. Our treatments are built for you, based on evidence-based therapies and holistic support like:

• Individual therapy: Individual time with your therapist, no judgment or distractions, to understand why you use, how you cope, and where you go next.
• Family therapy: Addiction doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It affects everyone around you. Family therapy brings your loved ones together to repair trust, communication, and connection that addiction destroyed.
• Group therapy: Being around others who understand and have been through similar experiences can be one of the most powerful aspects of recovery. Group therapy helps you build those relationships and support others as they support you in return.
• Recovery-oriented treatment: We’re not here for quick fixes. Recovery-oriented treatment is a long-term plan with relapse prevention, purpose, and planning to help you rebuild your life.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps you recognize how your thoughts fuel your behaviors. If you’re stuck in a self-destructive loop, we’ll help you change the script and find powerful strategies for change.
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT): DBT is designed for people who feel a little too strongly and rely on substances to manage trauma, chaos, or mood swings. DBT teaches mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): ACT helps you stop fighting your pain and start living with a purpose. You’ll learn to accept what you can’t control, commit to values that matter, and take action, even when it’s uncomfortable.
• Somatic experiencing therapy: If you’ve been through pain like violence, abuse, or loss, your body hangs onto it even if your mind tries to move on. Somatic experiencing therapy helps you release the tension and reclaim your calm and control.
• Adventure therapy: Sometimes healing occurs outside of a chair. Adventure therapy gets you out on the trail, in the woods, or into a challenge that pushes you out of your comfort zone to build confidence and trust.
• Trauma-informed care: We treat everyone as if they’ve been through something significant, because most have. Trauma-informed care focuses on not retraumatizing, blaming, or pushing you too far, too fast.
• Experiential therapy: Experiential therapy utilizes art, music, and other hands-on tools to unlock emotions and insights that may not be accessible through traditional verbal communication alone. It’s active, creative, and emotionally powerful.
• Mindfulness-based therapy: Mindfulness is about slowing down, showing up, and staying present even when you’re uncomfortable. It’s a tool to manage cravings, avoid impulsive choices, and build mental health.
• Motivational interviewing (MI): MI helps you figure out why you want to change, even if you don’t feel completely ready. It’s a collaborative conversation that addresses your ambivalence with compassion and helps you move forward.