Finding Professional Treatment For Overcoming An Addiction
Professional drug and alcohol rehab centres will be able to provide you with a highly-effective blend of physical and psychological treatments. Addiction does not have one single cure, therefore there must be a personally-tailored blend of treatments. With a treatment plan referred to you through Step 1 Recovery, you will get the very best treatment plan at a state-of-the-art residential rehabilitation centre.
One of the most important forms of treatment that you will experience at a residential rehab will be a course of detoxification treatment through a detox clinic. Detox is never easy and can cause people to present with severe side effects. Therefore, going through withdrawal in the safety of a treatment centre is strongly advised. Medically-assisted detoxification will allow you to have your side effects managed and you will go through the process with relative ease.
Some of the psychological treatments made available to you will be the likes of CBT , DBT , as well as many other one-to-one therapies. These treatments will allow you to break down your patterns of behaviour and rebuild your neural pathways so that you can form healthier behavioural patterns. These treatments will also mean that you can start to form a relapse prevention plan in order to help you avoid falling back into drug addiction, alcohol addiction, and/or any other addiction that you may have manifested.
Making The Decision To Change
But sooner or later, most people who have an addiction decide a change needs to happen. Once the decision is made, most people have a specific goal in mind. It might be to quit entirely, to quit some addictive behaviors or substances , to reduce the amount of time or money spent on addictive behaviors, or to reduce the harm of an addictive behavior.
For example, many drug users decide to quit heroin or meth but continue to drink alcohol, or smoke cigarettes or marijuana. Many heavy drinkers have the goal of just one drink a day, or only drinking socially.
Getting clear on your goal before putting it into practice is helpful for success in changing an addictive behavior.
Although quitting entirely is the best path to wellness, reducing or eliminating the most harmful substance use is a huge improvement and will greatly reduce the harm caused.
The same is true of behavioral addictions: Anyone who decides to quit eating entirely is putting themselves at serious risk for an eating disorder. But stopping overeating and embracing a healthy diet is a healthy decision to change.
Complete abstinence from sex can be another form of sex addiction, known as sexual anorexia, yet developing healthy intimacy after a sex addiction can be greatly fulfilling. And reducing obsessive exercise to healthy levels is likely to improve health and wellness more than quitting exercise entirely.
A Six Step Process For Overcoming Addictions
Overcoming an addiction is never an easy or straightforward process. It requires conscious work, effort and time. There are however six steps you can follow that can help you overcome just about any addiction you may face.
Working through these six steps, however, doesnt replace the value you will gain from seeking professional help. Therefore, if in doubt, always seek guidance from a counselor or therapist.
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How Do Addictions Typically Arise
Addictions manifest in our lives in a multitude of ways. People, for instance, indulge in alcohol addiction, food addiction, television addiction, video game addiction, gambling addiction, sex addiction, porn addiction, work addiction, shopping addiction, social media addiction, hoarding addiction, to name just a few. All these addictions arise from specific life circumstances that trigger compulsive behaviors.
An addiction can, for instance, arise from unexpected social, emotional or environmental pressures. Sudden changes in our environment, family circumstances, or work conditions can threaten our comfort, security, and way of life. When under threat, we succumb to painful emotions that prevent us from dealing with the situation in optimal ways.
Dwindling self-confidence, low self-esteem, and a strong desire to relieve anxiety and stress, drive us toward compulsive habits and behaviors that we use as a coping mechanism to deal with the uncertainties of life. These behaviors provide us with a sense of control, while at the same time redirecting our attention away from our problems.
Sometimes, though, addictions arise because of a desire to feel important or to fit in with our surroundings. We want to win people over and be accepted as part of a community or group, and as a result, we indulge in behaviors that we feel will help us win other peoples approval.
Factors Associated With Short
Findings from studies using follow-up periods of up to 2 years indicate that participation in formal treatment and longer time in treatment are consistently associated with better outcomes. Affiliation with 12-step fellowships during and after treatment is helpful in maintaining short-term abstinence , especially for those who attend regularly or become actively engaged with the 12-step program of recovery . Post-treatment 12-step affiliation is also is a critical ingredient in the recovery process, increasing the likelihood that gains made during treatment are reinforced and sustained .
In what follows, the authors present findings from a small scale study about factors associated with long-term recovery from substance use and discuss these findings in light of what is known about predictors of short-term recovery.
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A Sober Support Network
In your using days, you likely had a circle of using buddies, those kids you met before or after school, on weekends or at social events, to drink or to get high. In recovery, your social circle changes significantly. Rather than surrounding yourself with those who encourage your drug use, you must stay close to those who encourage your sobriety and support your substance-free lifestyle. These people will be positive, uplifting, and available during your times of need. They will understand when you say no to a party where there might be alcohol. They will understand when you are having a bad day.
You may meet these people in your addiction treatment program, sober housing, a sober sports league, therapy, or your 12-step meetings. They will become your sober network.
A strong, sober support network is one of the most essential addiction recovery tools you can have. By supporting your values, your goals, and your choices to live sober, this network of friends will also be the ones to help you transition confidently into the world once again. So even when temptations arise after drug treatment, you will have a sober friend to call to help you past them. Recovery is not a journey you should ever have to walk alone.
Set Goals For Yourself
As we all know, breaking an addiction takes a tremendous amount of willpower.
In order to ensure your success in overcoming your caffeine addiction, set small goals for yourself to accomplish each week. Setting small, achievable goals and accomplishing them helps to keep you motivated and on track.
Setting small and realistic goals can help keep you motivated to quit caffeine.
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What Are My Addiction Treatment Options
To understand which level of treatment is most appropriate for your needs, you should consult with a physician, a therapist, or other treatment professional, who can assess your situation and make treatment recommendations. Often, people begin their recovery efforts with a period of supervised medical detox and then, depending on their needs, progress through additional rehabilitation. Treatment is sometimes initiated at a relatively intensive level of care but, as recovery progress is made, becomes gradually less intensive as individuals move through their continuum of care. The broad levels of care as outlined by the American Society for Addiction Medicine include:17,18
Learn more about the levels of care offered at American Addiction Centers nationwide treatment centers.
Curious about whether your insurance will cover the entirety of your addiction care? Fill out the form below and an American Addiction Centers admissions navigator will inquire with your insurance company to discover your benefits.
Gain Knowledge And Support
The more knowledge you have about your addiction, the greater sense of control you will have over this behavior.
Knowledge and insights can, of course, be gathered from books, articles, videos, blog posts, etc. Read and watch everything you can on the topic. The more you know, the more you will understand how to handle and manage your addiction in optimal ways.
Knowledge of course also comes from people. You surely arent the only person in the world, in your city or town working through this addiction. Many people have struggled with this addiction before you, and many more will struggle with it in the future.
Seek out people who are working through this addiction or who have successfully overcome it. Find out what they know that might potentially help you along your journey. Alternatively, partner up and help each other work through this addiction. Be there to hold your colleague accountable and honest.
There are also plenty of support groups online that can be of tremendous value. And the best thing is that in most cases you can stay anonymous.
If all else fails, and you are still longing to talk to someone, then turn to your closest family or friends. Trust in them to help and support you along your journey toward transformation.
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Avoiding Replacement Addictive Behaviors
Some people find that when they quit or change an addictive behavior, another comes along to replace it. Heavy drinkers and smokers often find themselves overeating and putting on weight. People struggling with sex addiction might find themselves obsessed with exercise.
Addictive behaviors have similar neurological and psychological processes and create rewarding feelings and sensations. So replacement addictive behaviors are common among those trying to overcome an addiction.
The trick to avoiding replacement addictions is to find satisfaction in the experiences of normal life. These experiences may lack the intensity and high of addictive behaviors, but getting to know and like them can introduce a new level of calm you may have never experienced before.
Many people feel they are more in touch with reality and that relationships are more authentic than when they were constantly seeking pleasure.
The other important aspect of avoiding replacement addictions is to address any underlying mental health problems. Addictions can cover up past trauma, or underlying feelings of emptiness, sadness, or fear. Psychological therapies, as well as medications, can provide long-term relief for these problems, which addictions tend to worsen over time.
Eat A More Nutritious Diet
If you find yourself always feeling low on energy and sluggish when quitting caffeine, try eating a more nutritious diet.
Good dietary habits can help to decrease your risk of developing serious illnesses and also improve your mood and energy levels.
Your body needs good, healthy fuel from food to get going. Choosing to fuel your body with healthy and nutritious food will provide it with the nutrients it needs to function optimally.
Eating more nutritious food can help to improve your energy levels and overall health.
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Celebrate Every Victory On The Journey
Wherever your friend or loved one is in recovery, its important to celebrate each victory. Too many people feel daunted by the long-term aspects of recovery and fail to appreciate how much progress is happening.
Every moment someone chooses to quit porn is worth celebrating. Thats why in 2021, Covenant Eyes started Victory Weekto highlight the small successes in the bigger journey towards freedom. Here are some important milestones you should honor:
- The decision to ask for help quitting porn. Admitting you have a problem is a big deal! If someone reaches out for help, honor and celebrate that decision.
- Learning from slip-ups. A slip-up isnt a reason to celebrate. However, theres priceless wisdom to be gained from honestly examining mistakes. Learning your triggers and how to avoid them is a reason to celebrate!
- Thirty porn-free days. Going a whole month without porn is an INCREDIBLE milestone.
- Every 24 hours of porn-free life. Every day without porn is a day youre choosing to live a better life. Dont worry about tomorrowenjoy the success youve had today.
These are just the beginning, but you get the idea. Recovery from porn can be a long journey, but its an exciting one!
¹ Marnie Ferree, No Stones, 252-253.
² Wendy and Larry Maltz, The Porn Trap, 258.
³ Kevin Skinner, Treating Pornography Addiction, 24-30.
4 https://khn.org/news/addiction-is-a-disease-of-isolation-so-pandemic-puts-recovery-at-risk/
Tips For Finding The Best Addiction Treatment
Theres no magic bullet or single treatment that works for everyone. Everyones needs are different, so its important that you find a program that feels right to you. Any alcohol addiction treatment program should be customized to your unique problems and situation.
Treatment doesnt have to be limited to doctors and psychologists. Many clergy members, social workers, and counselors also offer addiction treatment services.
Treatment should address more than just your alcohol abuse. Addiction affects your whole life, including your relationships, career, health, and psychological well-being. Treatment success depends on examining the way alcohol abuse has impacted you and developing a new way of living.
Commitment and follow-through are key. Recovering from alcohol addiction or heavy drinking is not a quick and easy process. In general, the longer and more intense the alcohol use, the longer and more intense the treatment youll need. But regardless of the treatment programs length in weeks or months, long-term follow-up care is crucial to your recovery.
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Continuing Care & Long Term Recovery
Substance abuse treatment is based on two important principles:
Part of maintaining long-term recovery requires a person to accept these aspects of addiction. A relapse is certainly a troubling event, but if the person gives up on their recovery when this happens, they will never succeed. Instead, people can benefit from using the relapse as a new opportunity to reevaluate and reinvestigate their treatment.
A relapse may indicate the need for:
- Increased involvement with professional treatment
- More frequent appointments
- A higher level of care
- A medication change as recommended by a prescriber
- Additional lifestyle changes to decrease stress and increase support
Not only does long-term recovery need the assistance of professional treatment, but it always benefits from other recovery-focused activities, like support groups. Support groups lack the guidance of professional therapy, and instead, rely on the sense of community and fellowship they create. Attending a support group connects someone to an entire network of people in recovery who are willing to share their experience and expertise on the subject of sobriety.
How To Stop Masturbation Addiction
As it is masturbation is not an outright unhealthy practice for both males and females. However, getting addicted to masturbation is the real problem. Anyone who is addicted to it should find a solution to overcome it.
Again there are a lot of myths related to masturbation. So instead of believing these myths and fallacies, you should get proper guidance then you will surely get out of this problem.
For that matter, no problem is devoid of the solution to this cannot be an exceptional case. Indeed, you have not got addicted in a single day so dont expect it to vanish in a single day too.
Stopping masturbation is a step by step process and done under the guidance of an expert can bring about positive results
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Is It Possible To Treat Addiction
Yes, addiction and substance use disorders are treatable. Like other chronic, relapsing diseases, such as asthma or heart disease, addiction isnt curable but it can be successfully managed through proper treatment. Addiction has a relapse rate similar to other chronic diseases for example, the relapse rate for asthma or high blood pressure is 50-70%, while addiction has a relapse rate of around 40-60%. Addiction relapse is considered to be a normal part of the recovery process relapse does not mean that treatment has failed, but can mean that your treatment plan or treatment methods need to be re- evaluated.10
Effective treatment plans benefit from being individualized and constantly adjusted to your changing needstaking into account all of your biological, psychological, and social considerations. Your plan may involve a continuum of care, starting from the moment you enter detox, which focuses on treating withdrawal and helping you become medically stable. Once youve completed detox, youll be ready to transition to additional rehabilitation. Though treatment lengths vary, research supports relatively longer periods of treatment for optimal treatment outcomes. As a formal treatment program comes to an end, youll then move on to aftercare, which is designed to promote lifelong sobriety.5,8,13,14
How Long Does It Take To Quit An Addiction To Meth
Meth, or methamphetamine, is an incredibly addictive stimulant drug that can result in incredibly unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Many of these have to do with intense depression, as methamphetamine depletes and damages your brains dopamine functioning in ways that take a long time to repair, much like heroin.
When detoxing from meth, withdrawal symptoms usually begin after 24 hours and remain intense for seven to ten days, although some symptoms can continue for much longer. Initial symptoms will include fatigue and an unusual amount of sleep. Your body and brain need this time rest to repair. Depression usually sets in during the first few days as well.
Strong cravings start between day four and ten, along with mood swings, brain fog, and a lack of motivation. In more serious cases of withdrawal, people may experience:
- Paranoia
- Severe depression
- Suicidal thoughts and intention
Cravings, depression and other symptoms may continue after day ten, and insomnia will often appear. After a month, most symptoms, besides depression and occasional cravings, will subside. Recovering meth addicts who experience hallucinations and psychotic symptoms usually find relief after a week or two.
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