As the world around us changes, we encounter newer successes and challenges. One of the biggest challenges of the contemporary world is dealing with drug addiction. As medicine continues to evolve for the betterment of society, certain factions use these advancements to develop complex, highly addictive substances which can completely take over an individual’s life.
Drugs have a powerful effect on our biology, and recreational use can quickly turn into long-term dependence. With time, drug usage can cause social isolation, health issues, depression, anxiety, and even death. However, while it may seem impossible to break out of this cycle, there’s always a way out. There are several proven techniques to help addicts break free and start life anew. Below, we’ll discuss some of the most successful treatments for addiction.
Detox techniques
Detoxification is usually the first step when you choose to give up drugs. It can often be the most challenging period for users because they can experience severe withdrawal symptoms once they stop using. Going through the detox period on your own can be a grueling task. Your body can experience mental, physical, and emotional symptoms, making it incredibly challenging to stay clean. You can experience cramps, nausea, headaches, hot/cold flashes, depression, difficulty concentrating, and pain.
Handling all these symptoms alone can be next to impossible. Instead, checking into a rehab facility can let you recover and detox in a safe space. Rehab centers often use medication to lower the intensity of withdrawal symptoms. Furthermore, the trained therapists and doctors can help you cope during this incredibly challenging period. You can easily find treatment locations near you that allow you to go through your detox period as smoothly as possible. Symptoms during the detox period can often be intense enough to be life-threatening, which is why working with a rehab center is crucial.
CBT
CBT is one of the most widely used therapeutic techniques for a range of mood disorders, anxiety, personality issues, and substance abuse disorders. Many imagine substance abuse disorders to have just a biological root. However, while they affect and cause chemical imbalances in our body, a robust reinforcing factor is psychological. Many people fall prey to drug use because of oppressive environments and psychological stressors.
CBT can help people identify why they abuse drugs and give them greater awareness of their actions. It then uses this awareness to motivate people to beat the addiction. Furthermore, it can help people identify and beat negative self-appraisals that lead to continued drug usage. Over time, CBT can help people recognize when they’re likely to experience the strongest urges. Furthermore, it can improve self-control and help clients use functional analysis to determine the causes and consequences of their actions.
Aversion response
Substance abuse and drinking go hand in hand reasonably often. Breaking the habit on its own can be challenging for some people as they don’t have the willpower to get through the process. However, suppose they associate a negative stimulus after consuming/ using. In that case, they might change their minds and stay away from the substance.
Therapists may associate a negative stimulus with the substance to condition the client into remembering the negative over the positive. Some behavioral therapists suggest slipping an Antabuse into their drink to make them violently sick. They are likely to remember the sickness more than the pleasure they derive from drinking alcohol.
Positive affirmations
It may seem like a reductionist solution for something as severe as long-term drug addiction, but positive affirmations work. We talked about negative self-appraisals when talking about CBT. However, positive coping statements can work just as well if you apply them the right way. If you keep reiterating them to yourself, you may begin to feel better over time.
Moreover, if you combine positive statements with mindful meditation, it would work even better. We sometimes underestimate the power of language and the impact of saying words out loud. Positive affirmations work in many cases, and behavioral therapists use them as an aid for recovering addicts.
Conclusion
Breaking the habit is not an easy process, and you need to be ready for a challenging road ahead. Not only are you going to have psychological cravings to use again, but your body will demand the substance too. Hence the reason that there are so many physical withdrawal symptoms.
Stay strong, stay positive and consider reading up on what to expect. Educating yourself about the road ahead can make things considerably more manageable. Simply knowing which symptoms may be coming next can help you healthily tackle them. Withdrawal is the hardest part, get through the first few weeks, and we promise you that it becomes easier after that. All you have to do is generate the Will to get through this on your own.
