Addiction is a complex condition- a chronic and relapsing disorder. An addict’s body craves a substance or behavior that causes a compulsive or obsessive pursuit of “reward”. As a result, they are unable to stop misusing the substance or engaging in the behavior even though they are well aware of the consequences.
An addict will often engage in the behavior or use the substance repeatedly, even if it causes physical and/or psychological harm. The addiction can be to substances such as alcohol, drugs, or nicotine, or to behaviors such as gambling.
If you need Recovery from addiction Santa Rosa support, then reach out to our team at Life-Rock today. We are here to help guide you through your journey to sobriety with compassionate care and professional support.
Here are some key aspects of addiction.
➢ Compulsion: The individual feels a strong need to use the substance or engage in the behavior
➢ Loss of control: The individual has a diminished ability to regulate their intake of the substance or the troublesome behavior
➢ Tolerance: The individual needs increasing amounts of the substance or feels the urge to engage in the behavior more often to achieve the same effect
➢ Withdrawal: Withdrawal symptoms occur when the individual tries to discontinue the use of the substance
Addiction affects the brain’s ability to receive and process information related to pleasure and reward. It often modifies how an individual learns, remembers, and controls emotions, perpetuating the cycle of addiction despite adverse consequences.
Stages of the Addiction Recovery Journey
Recovery from addiction is a deeply personal journey. Each stage of addiction recovery presents its own challenges and milestones. An individual in addiction recovery can have very different experiences from other people who have taken the journey.
Acknowledgment and Awareness
At first, the individual refuses to recognize that there is a problem, but eventually starts to realize the need for change once they better understand the negative consequences of addiction.
Preparation and Action
The individual decides to make a change and prepares themselves to take action to break the vicious cycle of addiction. In this stage, the individual seeks help and possibly enters a treatment program, attends support groups, or undergoes therapy.
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation in addiction recovery refers to a structured process designed to help individuals overcome dependence on drugs, alcohol, or other addictive substances. Here are the stages of rehabilitation.
Inpatient Rehabilitation
Individuals who enter addiction treatment programs may be required to stay at a residential treatment facility for 30 to 90 days. During their stay, individuals undergo therapy and learn coping mechanisms. In this stage, doctors try to discover the underlying causes of addiction.
Outpatient Rehabilitation
Patients live at their homes but attend treatment sessions several times a week. The arrangement is ideal for individuals with mild substance use disorders.
Detoxification
A set of interventions that aims to cleanse the body and reduce dependency on the substance. Medical experts continuously monitor the health of the person and help them manage withdrawal symptoms safely. Medication can be used to ease drug withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings, or treat co-occurring mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Therapy and Counseling
The individual starts therapy. Some types of therapy that can help rewire the brain and break the cycle of addiction are individual therapy, group therapy, and family counseling. The purpose of therapy is to address the psychological and behavioral aspects of addiction.
Some therapists also use cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) a type of therapy that helps addicts understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and actions, others rely on motivational interviewing-a counseling approach designed to help individuals find the motivation to make positive behavior changes.
Education and Skills Training
Many addiction recovery programs educate program participants about the nature of addiction and its consequences. Program participants also learn skills to avoid relapse and maintain a drug-free lifestyle.
Aftercare and Sober Living
Ongoing support is crucial for long-term recovery. After successfully completing a treatment program, a recovering addict should join a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. They should not miss their follow-up appointments with their therapist. Many people enter sober living homes after completing addiction treatment. To learn more about this option, Contact Us today.
Maintenance and Relapse Prevention
It’s important that recovering addicts continue to follow their counselor’s/therapist’s instructions to maintain sobriety and their physical and mental health.
Relapse can be a part of the process. If a relapse occurs, instead of getting demotivated, a recovering addict should understand and learn from their mistakes that led to relapse and come up with a strategy to deal with temptations.
Life-Rock helps recovering addicts rebuild their lives. We provide a safe and structured environment for recovering addicts to heal. To make an appointment, call 707-575-9100 (men’s helpline) or 707-575-9599 (women’s helpline).