Most people who participate in addictive behaviors and eventually acquire an addiction realize that overcoming it is more complicated than they anticipated.
Even though the difficulties associated with quitting drugs are well recognized, when people first begin using, they frequently believe that they can stop whenever they want when people first start using.
Most individuals believe they are among the fortunate few who will not get addicted and, sadly, do not recognize this until it is too late.
They may not even want to change by the time they perceive the need for it. It might take years of dealing with the negative repercussions of addiction to realize that it is creating serious issues.
If you know someone who is facing the same problem, take them to the AscendantNY detox center right away. You can check their website for further details.
What Is Addiction?
Addiction is a chronic, relapsing condition marked by compulsive drug-seeking and long-term brain alterations. It is classified as a complicated brain ailment and a mental illness.
An addiction is a strong desire to do something that is difficult to control or quit. For example, you may become addicted to cigarettes, alcohol, or substances such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin if you use them.
Addicts utilize drugs or participate in obsessive activities, which they frequently continue despite adverse consequences. As a result, they have the potential to injure or even kill you.
How Should One Prepare Mentally To Overcome Addiction?
The mental side of overcoming addiction is not always visible. People may decide to stop using it, but their body does not permit them, so the risk of relapse is so high in drug addiction. Let’s find out the steps to prepare oneself to overcome addiction mentally:
Step 1: Making The Decision To Change
Most people who have an addiction realize they need to change sooner or later. They may decide to quit using addictive drugs, engage in addictive activities, reduce their time and money spent on addictive habits, and reduce the negative consequences of addictive behavior. Clarifying your aim before putting it into action is beneficial for altering addictive behavior.
Step 2: Preparing For Change
Once they decide to change, they must prepare for it. It is a tedious mental task because they have to convince their brain that they will quit drugs no matter how hard it is.
Preparation includes removing addictive drugs from their house and eliminating triggers in their lives that may increase the likelihood of using those substances again.
For example, people addicted to drugs must have the courage to throw them in the drain and delete all the contact information of the dealers from their phones.
Step 3: Seeking Social Support
Quitting an addiction can be typically lonely, especially if you’ve lost contact with individuals who don’t engage in the behavior.
Take the effort to contact friends and family who will support you in your endeavor without passing judgment if circumstances become challenging and you make a mistake.
You should also inform your buddies who drink and take drugs or participate that you intend to change so that they don’t bother you anymore.
They may be perplexed or pretty shocked. In any case, it’s a good idea to inform them of your aim, and if they can step away from the friendship for a while, that will also be good for you.
Step 4: Taking Help Of The Healthcare Professionals
When it comes to alcohol and drug addictions, it is a good idea to consult with a doctor or a local drug clinic to see if you require medical assistance in stopping. There are also medicines available to aid with withdrawal symptoms.
If you have an underlying mental health issue, such as anxiety or depression, it may increase throughout the withdrawal period. Doctors and drug clinics will be quite helpful in this path to overcome addiction.
Psychologists’ Role In Overcoming Addiction
The choice to seek addiction therapy is not easy, and it necessitates a high level of trust between patients and their psychologists. A therapeutic alliance is the confidence patients have in their psychologists, which allows them to be vulnerable in sorting out their difficulties and working well together.
On the other hand, psychologists have little control over a patient’s desire to change. Hence, the patient’s drive to change has frequently been a source of frustration in drug misuse therapy.
The psychology community is reconsidering existing methods of motivation by allowing the therapist to elicit and improve motivation and identify a style that best meets the client’s requirements.
Psychologists also help the patients reduce the risk of relapse because, in 40%-60% of patients, relapse has been a constant risk. Relapse prevention involves more than simply the courage to say “NO” when temptation occurs. Creating a comprehensive relapse prevention plan is an integral part of the psychologist’s involvement in addiction treatment.
During addiction therapy treatment, family members must be adequately informed on dealing with their loved one’s addiction in the future. Psychologists can assist patients’ families through family therapy sessions and send them to a support group. Are you looking for a psychologist to tide you through these tough times? Check out A Kind Place today, and speak with a clinical psychologist to help you with your issues.
Treatments To Overcome Addiction
The number of drug users has increased significantly over the years. Even vaping is less harmful than inhaling drugs through smoking. However, there are several treatments available to assist you in the process of overcoming an addiction, such as:
1. Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Many people benefit from cognitive behavior therapy, and research suggests that it is pretty helpful in helping people overcome all types of addictions. However, CBT is not for everyone. Other ways may be more suited for people who have difficulty examining their ideas, feelings, and behaviors.
2. Mindfulness Approaches
Mindfulness-based techniques have grown in popularity and might be simpler to understand for many people. In addition, mindfulness, like CBT, is beneficial for persons who have underlying mental health issues such as anxiety or depression.
3. Motivational Interviewing
This therapeutic strategy entails organized dialogues that assist patients in increasing their drive to quit substance misuse. For example, it may help them see the difference between how they live now and how they hope to live in the future.
You Are Not Alone!!!
Lastly, we would like to say that the mental side of overcoming addiction can only be understood by those who have experienced it first-hand. We know it’s tough, but we also know that you can do it if you follow the correct procedures and ask for help from the right people.
You are not alone in this journey. So many people are struggling with the same problem, so be strong, and have faith in yourself. For further assistance, post your questions in the comment box.
