There are many strategies and treatment plans for overcoming addiction. Addiction can chemically alter the way your brain works, so ignoring the problems is not an effective strategy. Scientific advances in the past few decades have really shaped the way medical professionals see and treat addiction.
Research has proven that addiction is a mental illness, and the strategies to treat it are similar. With the use of brain-imaging technologies, such as MRIs, scientists have discovered the connection of substances with our pleasure receptors. These pleasure receptors are activated or heightened when a user is partaking in certain substances. This makes the addiction to that substance very difficult to break, and becomes more and more difficult the more they use it.
Prolonged use of substances can dull the receptors’ ability to feel the pleasure it was designed to feel. When this happens, more substances are required to feel pleasure. The ability of drugs and alcohol to dull your receptors make it a force to combat when trying to quit. To quit using those substances, people will sometimes experience extreme withdrawals. Depending on the severity of the body’s addiction to the substance, medical care might be required to handle these withdrawal symptoms.
Addiction is classified as being unable to stop the behavior despite the negative effects, excessive cravings of the substance, and inability to perform tasks due to the substance. There are three classifications of addiction: mild, moderate, and severe. This website has more information on the science of addiction and its effects
Addiction is a different process and experience for every individual, therefore, treatments have to be just as unique. Some treatments include psychotherapy, medications, self-help, and rehabilitation programs. No matter what strategy you choose, it will require a good amount of commitment and focus from yourself as an individual. No one can force you to make the changes needed to overcome the disease. Finding a good support system, new ways to deal with life’s harder moments, and a lot of good hobbies are the best ways to overcome addiction.
Therapy
Substance abuse disorder is often triggered by deep underlying mental health issues. The most effective way to overcome addiction is to address those underlying conditions and issues. Therapy will provide healthier coping mechanisms that can change the course of your life.
Substance abuse therapy relies on a lot of individual work, as well as group work. Group sessions can help provide a safe place to get support from people other than your therapist. It can be a great, non-judgmental place to learn to open up and communicate about substance abuse and how it has affected you.
Therapy for substance abuse treatment will focus on teaching patients how to modify their actions and behaviors regarding substances, provide healthier options for the patients, and maintain motivation to stay clean. For more information on what therapy can do, visit https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction
New Habits
The best way to stay clean long-term is to replace old bad habits with newer ones. This can mean making new friends, finding new hobbies, or setting new goals in life. It is significantly harder to stop using drugs if you are sitting around thinking about it constantly. Instead of getting high, it helps to find something healthier that can replace the previous drug use. Finding a healthy daily routine has been known to be a great tactic for recovery. It helps to find those safer patterns to create a more stable, consistent lifestyle moving forward.
Each day will require a great deal of motivation to avoid the unhealthy habits you are used to. It is helpful to find motivation by setting goals for yourself and your life. Make these goals SMART. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Your goals should provide you with a reason to continue on your recovery, be something you can actually obtain, and something that will provide you with a sense of accomplishment.
Support System
Whether you are choosing therapy, group counseling, rehabilitation centers, or attempting on your own, having a loving support system is key to overcoming addiction. Without the help of the people around you, it is easy to fall back into old habits. As you go through the treatment process, it helps to have friends and family providing you with emotional support, as well as trained professionals to help guide you through it.
Sometimes this means leaving the environment where the addiction was allowed to thrive. Some rehab facilities offer in-patient programs where you can escape the stressors and triggers that make it easy to indulge in those substances. These Arvada rehab centers provide a safe place to get the help you need. In-patient programs are especially effective when home life can be too hard to manage during your recovery.
Other support systems are recovery programs, like alcoholics anonymous. Group meetings are a great place to find support with other people who are going through similar struggles. These support groups can provide safe places to experience and process your recovery with the help of people who understand what the process is like. No matter what type of treatment you get, support groups are a helpful part of long-term recovery.
Recovery can be an overwhelming process, but it is important to take it one day at a time. Relapses might happen, but each day is a new start. Finding the right people in your life to help assist in the process is important. It takes a lot to rewire your brain, but it can be done.
Find the right treatment facility, program, and medical professionals to help with your process. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people for help. Addiction can be a tough thing to overcome, no one expects you to do it on your own. It is important to set yourself up for success by asking for help, creating a safe environment for yourself, and building new habits in your life.
Start by talking to your primary care physician to get recommendations for treatment for yourself. There is no better time to change the rest of your life than right now.
