How Do The Best Treatment Programs Help Patients Recover From Addiction
Stopping drug use is just one part of a long and complex recovery process. When people enter treatment, addiction has often caused serious consequences in their lives, possibly disrupting their health and how they function in their family lives, at work, and in the community.
Because addiction can affect so many aspects of a person’s life, treatment should address the needs of the whole person to be successful. Counselors may select from a menu of services that meet the specific medical, mental, social, occupational, family, and legal needs of their patients to help in their recovery.
Consider The Costs Of Drug Use
Drug and alcohol use isnt cheap. Purchasing drugs from a dealer or alcohol from a nearby store can become a financial burden over time. Spending money on these substances could cut into paying for rent or bills. Addiction comes with costs to society as well. Abuse of tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs and prescription opioids costs the United States more than $740 billion each year in crime, health care and lost productivity, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
The Journey Of Recovery
Recovery is a lifelong journey of self-discovery, growth, and transformation. Managing addiction requires you to make a thousand different changes in yourself, in your outlook, and in your environment. The person you are at the start of addiction treatment is completely different from the person youll become after ten years of sobrietybut its still YOU who will make that transformation happen.
1. As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world as in being able to remake ourselves. Mahatma Gandhi
2. My recovery must come first so that everything I love in life doesnt have to come last. Anonymous
3. Nobody stays recovered unless the life they have created is more rewarding and satisfying than the one they left behind. Anne Fletcher
4. You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew. Albert Einstein
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Motivation For Recovery From Addiction And Mental Health
Dealing with addiction and mental health conditions is often a very painful and difficult time for many people. It is very important to believe that while it is difficult, you can recovery and regain your life. An important step is to find your motivations and to remind yourself of the reasons you wish to remain sober. Find reasons that resonate with you and are important in your life.
Find Support For Your Addiction Recovery
Don’t try to go it alonereach out for support. Whatever treatment approach you choose, having positive influences and a solid support system is essential. The more people you can turn to for encouragement, guidance, and a listening ear, the better your chances for recovery.
Lean on close friends and family. Having the support of friends and family members is an invaluable asset in recovery. If you’re reluctant to turn to your loved ones because you’ve let them down before, consider going to relationship counseling or family therapy.
Build a sober social network. If your previous social life revolved around drugs, you may need to make some new connections. It’s important to have sober friends who will support your recovery. Try taking a class, joining a church or a civic group, volunteering, or attending events in your community.
Consider moving into a sober living home. Sober living homes provide a safe, supportive place to live while you’re recovering from drug addiction. They are a good option if you don’t have a stable home or a drug-free living environment.
Make meetings a priority. Join a 12-step recovery support group, such as Narcotics Anonymous , and attend meetings regularly. Spending time with people who understand exactly what you’re going through can be very healing. You can also benefit from the shared experiences of the group members and learn what others have done to stay sober.
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Stand Up To Addiction And Get Sober
Dont let an addiction control your life any longer. Its time to stick up to the monster within and seek help getting sober. Print out some of these recovery sayings or recovery quotes, and place them somewhere you can easily see them from. Words can be motivation on getting clean. Speak to one of our counselors to get more information on various treatment options. Take each day one step at a time, and youll be sober before you know it.
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Danger Of Ambivalence In Recovery
An ambivalent attitude towards sobriety can be dangerous. This is where the individual has two minds about recovery. They may have some good reasons to stay sober, but they also have a strong motivation to continue drinking or drugging. Until they are able to overcome their ambivalence, their sobriety will be on a shaky foundation. The slightest setback could be enough to tip the balance in favor of a relapse.
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Stages Of Change And The Transtheoretical Model Of Change
A number of studies have demonstrated that people with alcohol and other drug problems who seek or participate in treatment differ significantly in their levels of motivation to change. Using an alcohol version of the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment scale, DiClemente and Hughes reported on the various stages of change among alcohol-dependent patients seeking outpatient treatment. Patients in the precontemplation stage were more likely to deny that they had a drinking problem, stating, for example, I am not the person with the problem. It does not make much sense for me to be here or As far as I am concerned, I do not have any problems that need changing. Conversely, patients in the preparation and action stages were more likely to admit that they had a drinking problem, stating, for example, I am actively working on my problem and I have a problem and I really think I should work on it.
Using the same scale, Carney and Kivlahan found similar profiles among a large group of substance-abusing veterans. The same variations in motivation have been found in other treatment-seeking populations, including inpatient substance abusers and polydrug users in methadone maintenance treatment . Recognizing these differences was the first step to evaluating how differences in motivation affect participation in treatment programs and drinking outcomes.
How To Keep Your Motivation For The Long Haul
There is an effort necessary to stay motivated in long-term sobriety. Here are some strategies that those who have long periods of recovery have successfully employed:
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Loss Of Motivation And The Pink Cloud
Pink cloud syndrome can lead to loss of motivation. It is expected that people should feel plenty of joy at escaping addiction, and there will be plenty for these people to be happy about in recovery. In pink cloud syndrome, the person becomes so high on sobriety that they lose touch with reality. There is nothing wrong with experiencing joy, but the problem really starts when the pink cloud period ends. This is almost guaranteed to happen, as life is full of ups and downs. Some individuals hit the earth with a bang, and this saps their motivation. They feel cheated because their feelings of joy have come to an end. They begin to doubt the value of sobriety.
Losing Things That Matter
Some people dont take their addiction seriously until they are confronted. A spouse may ask for a divorce, or a boss may hint at being fired. While threats and ultimatums can lead to a less successful recovery, for some people it is a wake up call.
If you are a family or friend of an addict and considering issuing an ultimatum, try to avoid threats, especially as they may backfire. Feelings of shame and blame rarely motivate an addicted person to recover. Instead, try to convince them that they should seek treatment on their own terms. Instead of Im filing for a divorce unless you stop drinking, explain the potential consequences. Try, Your drinking is impacting my well-being and our childrens development. Will you consider getting help?
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How Do Behavioral Therapies Treat Drug Addiction
Behavioral therapies help people in drug addiction treatment modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug use. As a result, patients are able to handle stressful situations and various triggers that might cause another relapse. Behavioral therapies can also enhance the effectiveness of medications and help people remain in treatment longer.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy seeks to help patients recognize, avoid, and cope with the situations in which they’re most likely to use drugs.
- Contingency management uses positive reinforcement such as providing rewards or privileges for remaining drugfree, for attending and participating in counseling sessions, or for taking treatment medications as prescribed.
- Motivational enhancement therapy uses strategies to make the most of people’s readiness to change their behavior and enter treatment.
- Family therapy helps people with drug use problems, as well as their families, address influences on drug use patterns and improve overall family functioning.
- Twelve-step facilitation is an individual therapy typically delivered in 12 weekly session to prepare people to become engaged in 12-step mutual support programs. 12-step programs, like Alcoholic Anonymous, are not medical treatments, but provide social and complementary support to those treatments. TSF follows the 12-step themes of acceptance, surrender, and active involvement in recovery.
Set Realistic Goals And Benchmarks
If you are not reaching your recovery goals, it may be that you are taking on too much too fast. Or it could be that you havent set any goals and need to get started. Whatever the case, make sure you set realistic goals and some benchmarks along the way. Finding motivation in recovery is more doable when you take small steps that help you go from substance abuse to getting clean at your own pace.
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Having The Motivation To Stop Using Drugs Or Alcohol Effects Your Success Rate
Your life has meaning and purpose. Regardless of your past, your mistakes, and your previous negative behavior, you have the right to look for and find redemption and recovery.
You know better than anyone about the pain of addiction and conflicting priorities, but you should also remember that everyone is capable of making choices that improve their quality of life. Its not about being better than anyone else. Its not about making other people happy with you. Its about you being healthy and happy for yourself.
In order for you to begin change and to stay sober, you must have an incentive, or a reason. You need something or someone who inspires you to stay on the path of recovery. These are known as motivators, and theyre different for everyone. As you read on, you should be able to recognize one or some of the following as something that will work as a motivator for you.
Staying Motivated In Recovery From Substance Abuse
The disease of addiction is a difficult cycle to break. Not only is an individual breaking their unhealthy relationship with other substances but also breaking patterns of unhealthy behaviors as well. Even after you have detoxed from substance use, it can still be difficult to stay on track. Through supportive sober communities and therapy, you will learn how to change negative thought patterns and develop healthy coping and communication skills. Here are a few things you can do to stay motivated in addiction recovery:
- Disconnect from harmful, codependent, and toxic relationships.
- Connect with sober, supportive people.
- Attend 12-step meetings and get involved with fellow group-therapy members and therapists.
- Avoid spending time with people who are still actively involved in their addiction and those who speak negatively.
- Maintain a consistent self-care routine. Take time for yourself and indulge in quiet moments in which you can meditate and reflect on yourself and your journey to recovery.
- Find activities and hobbies that pique your interest and fill your soul.
- Stay focused and remember where you came from. When things get difficult remind yourself why you are choosing a sober life. Stay focused and continue pushing towards the goal of maintaining continuous sobriety.
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How Does Addiction Hijack The Brain
The very fast and very intense flood of dopamine generated by taking a drug of abuse motivates repetition of the drug-taking. Under the influence of dopamine, that repetition changes the wiring of the brain in ways to increase the drug-wanting and decrease the ability to regulate the drug usage. What starts as a choice becomes so deeply wired into the brain that the machinery of desire operates automatically, and the machinery of attention narrows focus to the drug and getting it. The brain loses the capacity to respond to other potentially rewarding activities. The desire for reward ultimately becomes a prison from which it is difficultbut not impossibleto escape.
Seek Out Helpful Motivation For Recovery Quotes
You are not the first person to seek recovery from a substance abuse disorder. Many have come before you and have fought their way to a healthier and more fulfilling life of sobriety. Seek out books, testimonies, blogs, and anything else you can find from both experts and those who have experienced victory over similar struggles. You may find several inspirational quotes or helpful mantras that will carry you through the difficult times.
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What Is Motivational Interviewing
MI was first described by Professor William R. Miller, Ph.D., in an issue of Behavioral Psychotherapy in 1983.2
This technique of changing ambivalent behaviors is often used for addiction as lack of motivation to quit can be one of the greatest barriers for individuals struggling with addiction, even in spite of health issues and financial, social, and legal consequences.1
The thought behind MI is that all individuals dealing with addiction are at least partially aware of the negative consequences of drug misuse and addiction.1 Each individual is also currently in a certain stage of readiness when it comes to changing their behavior.1 The MI therapist facilitates the process of getting ready to change by overcoming ambivalence or a fear of change, increasing the individuals own motivation.1
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2020, 41.1 million people aged 12 or older needed treatment for substance use disorders, a medical condition defined by the uncontrollable use of a substance despite the negative consequences.3 Only 1.4% received any substance use treatment in 2020.3
Research indicated that MI may be effective not only with individuals who voluntarily sought out treatment, but also for those required to attend addiction treatment as part of a legal settlement.1
What Part Of The Brain Is Responsible For Addiction
There are several parts of the brain involved in addiction. They are:
the nucleus accumbens, a cluster of cells below the cortex in the basal forebrain that produces the urge to pursue a goal. Sometimes called the pleasure center of the brain, it is a key player in the reward circuitry of the brain and releases dopamine in response to positive experiences and the anticipation of such experiences.
dopamine neurons, which are concentrated in the nucleus accumbent and form pathways of connection to other parts of the brain when activated by positive experiences.
the prefrontal cortex, which is the seat of such executive functions as judgment, decision-making, impulse control it gradually weakens in response to overactivation of the reward circuits by drugs of abuse.
the amygdala, which registers emotional significance of perceptions, is highly responsive to drug-related cues and sets in motion the rise and fall of craving.
the hippocampus, seat of memory under the influence of dopamine, the memory of an expected reward results in overactivation of the reward and motivation circuits and decreased activity in the cognitive control centers of the prefrontal cortex.
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How Does Addiction Work In The Brain
Repeated use of a drug changes the wiring of the brain in a number of ways. It stimulates the nucleus accumbens, and overactivity of the nucleus accumbens progressively weakens its connectivity to the prefrontal cortex, seat of executive functioning. One result is impaired judgment, decision-making, and impulse control, a hallmark of addiction.
Neuroscience research supports the idea that addiction is a habit that becomes quickly and deeply entrenched and self-perpetuating, rapidly rewiring the circuitry of the brain because it is aided and abetted by the power of dopamine. Under the unrestrained influence of dopamine, the brain becomes highly efficient in wanting the drug it focuses attention on anything drug-related and prunes away nerve connections that respond to other inputs. The biological weakening of decision-making areas in the brain suggests why addicts pursue and consume drugs even in the face of negative consequences or the knowledge of positive outcomes that might come from quitting the drugs.
