Overcoming Drug Addiction

If you are prepared to overcome your drug or alcohol abuse issues, it is imperative that you get help as you get started on the journey. This is true both as you go through an addiction treatment and rehabilitation program as well as when you are dealing with relapse as well as coping with cravings for your favorite substances of abuse.

Making a Change

To overcome your substance abuse and addiction, it is imperative that you first make the decision to change your situation. You should note that just because you are addicted to alcohol and drugs does not necessarily mean that you are weak or you have a character flaw.

However, it will also take more than just your willpower to address the drug taking problems that you have been struggling with. This is because abusing these substances will cause your brain to change in terms of its chemical structure, composition, outlook, and action.

As a result, you may experience powerful cravings for your favorite substances of abuse as well as an ongoing compulsion to take these drugs. In the process, you may start feeling that it would be impossible for you to attain a lifestyle of renewed sobriety.

However, it is possible to achieve recovery irrespective of how long you have been struggling with substance abuse and addiction. Although you might feel that your situation is hopeless, you need to realize that it is possible to change with the right support and treatment.

While struggling with a substance use disorder, the hardest step to overcome would be the first one - understanding and recognizing the fact that you have a drug or alcohol related problem as well as making the decision to change the situation for yourself.

At this time, you might not be sure whether you are ready to get started on the recovery journey. You may also feel that you do not have what it would take to fully quit. In case you are addicted to prescription drugs, on the other hand, you may have concerns about alternative ways of treating the medical condition that you were managing with these medications.

As you commit to a lifestyle of sobriety, there are some things that you will have to change. These include but are not limited to:

  • How you think about and visualize yourself
  • The over-the-counter and prescription medications that you typically take
  • The people you allow into your life
  • The ways in which you deal with and manage stress
  • What you do when you are free

When it comes to giving up drugs and alcohol, you might feel conflicted even after you have realized that these substances have been causing various problems in certain or most of the areas of your life. However, you should realize that recovery will require support, motivation, and time. As long as you are committed to change, it is possible to overcome the substance abuse problem as well as recover control over your life.

Addiction Treatment

When you commit to a lifestyle of recovery from drugs and alcohol, you need to explore the treatment options available to you. Although addiction treatment varies depending on the types of intoxicating substances you were using, successful programs will typically offer the following elements of treatment:

a) Detoxification

Also known as detox, detoxification is typically the first step that you have to take when you decide to give up the substances that you were abusing. It is designed to purge these drugs out of the body as well as manage any withdrawal symptoms and substance cravings that you may be experiencing.

b) Behavioral Counseling

Family, group, and individual therapy can all help you to identify the various causes of your substance abuse and addiction. You will also be able to learn the reasons behind your addiction as well as start repairing your relationships and learning healthier coping skills.

c) Medication Management

Most addiction treatment centers and programs will use medications for various reasons and at certain stages of your recovery. For instance, they may use them to prevent relapse, manage withdrawal symptoms, as well as treat other co-occurring medical and mental health disorders that have also been plaguing you at the same time you were struggling with addiction.

d) Aftercare

Also known as follow-up care, aftercare will help you reduce your risk of relapse while ensuring that you are able to maintain your sobriety in the long term. It might involve support group meetings, going for regular therapy and counseling sessions, being part of the alumni society of the addiction treatment center you attended, or spending time with other people trying to work on their recovery from addiction.

When you choose addiction treatment, you will also have a wide variety of options available to you, including but not limited to:

  • Day treatment programs or partial hospitalization programs
  • Intensive outpatient programs
  • Regular outpatient treatment programs
  • Residential or inpatient treatment
  • Sober living communities, or transitional living homes

The important thing to keep in mind is that there is no universal treatment program that will work equally well for everyone struggling with substance abuse and addiction. This is because people have different needs and requirements even while working to overcome their addiction.

To this end, you should ensure that the addiction treatment program that you are going through is customized to address the situation in which you find yourself. It should also deal with the substances of abuse that you have been taking while also trying to help you understand and address the underlying causes of your addiction.

The addiction treatment program should also address various aspects of your life - especially those that have been affected by your substance abuse. These include but are not limited to your psychological wellness, health, career and profession, relationships, and overall outlook on life.

Getting Help

Through a professional addiction treatment and rehabilitation program, it is possible to overcome your substance abuse and addiction as well as deal with all the other issues that have been caused by your use of drugs and alcohol.

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