Recovery
Overcoming addiction is a difficult thing to have to go through. With the proper treatment program in place, in conjunction with addiction counseling and guidance, a full recovery is achievable. Addiction can be treated successfully as it is a manageable disease although it takes the commitment of the patient in order to truly want to recover. There are numerous evidence-based treatment programs available that assist addicts in putting drugs behind them, allowing them to refocus their life so that they can work to become productive citizens of society.
Addiction is a chronic disease which means it cannot be ‘cured’ but it most certainly can be overcome. Treatment for substance dependency works by impeding on addictions strong and destructive effects on the brain, bringing back normal balance levels of chemicals in the brain which in turn, allows the addict to slowly reclaim the power of their lives.
Relapse After Recovery
Since addiction is a chronic disease, relapse may occur at some point throughout the individual’s sobriety. Relapse after recovery does not mean that recovery failed. For those who have a substance disorder, addiction is and always will be there. This is why it is imperative that recovering addicts attend regular relapse prevention programs in order to mitigate the chances of relapse. Resorting back to drug use after recovery is indicative of a required life-long recovery program for that individual.
Relapse is most likely to occur within the first six months after a treatment program has been completed. This means that it is imperative that during this time frame, the patient attends relapse prevention programs as well as AA and NA meetings in order to mitigate the chance of relapse.
Medication and Recovery
There are a variety of medications on the market that can be of huge assistance throughout the various stages of recovery. These medications can remedy the side effects of withdrawal which patients will inevitably experience throughout the stages of recovery. Some of the emotions that patients will go through while detoxing that can be managed with medication are:
- Sleeplessness
- Mood disorders
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Stress
How Behavioral Therapy Can Help
Treatments for recovery that target behavior can help patients alter their attitude toward drug abuse and replace their conception of it with alternative outlooks. By substituting their mindset of ‘the desire to use’ with ‘life skills and trigger control’, behavior therapy can help increase the effectiveness of therapy and essentially assist in recovery. By helping patients realize the driving force behind their addiction and desire to use, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can be a powerful recovery method.
Some types of cognitive behavior therapy are:
- Emotion-focused therapy
- Rational emotive therapy
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
- Behavioral activation
- And many more
Some of the benefits of CBT are:
- Help patients formulate coping strategies
- Provide practical strategies that patients can apply to everyday life
- Teach alternative thinking methods
- Anger management
- Identify emotions and negative thoughts
Treatment Programs Help Patients Recover Effectively
The ability to refrain from the habit and lifestyle of using and abusing drugs is a lengthy and complex journey. When drugs and alcohol have dominated the life of an individual, it takes extensive treatment in order to fully recover. In order for recovery to be a success, dual-diagnosis treatment plans may be needed in order to target the physical and mental dependency that patients have on these substances.
Through a selection of rehabilitative services that provide in-depth treatment practices, recovery can be a success.
If you find yourself dependent on drugs and alcohol, contact WhiteSands Treatment today. We can help you overcome your addiction through proven treatment programs.