When you enter rehab for an addiction and successfully complete detox, some jubilation certainly is in order. Many addicts attempting recovery, however, go a little too far: they decide to quit rehab because they believe they have kicked their addiction altogether. It can be a serious mistake to quit rehab. Addiction is a lifelong disorder that has no cure. It can only be managed. At our center for addiction therapy programs in Cuyahoga Falls, we help our patients understand how it often takes lifelong commitment therapy.
When an addict decides to quit rehab after going through drug detox in Cuyahoga Falls, relapse is quick to occur, usually in a matter of months. With no addiction therapy to keep it in check, addictive behavior returns in full force.
Addiction establishes itself in the brain in two ways — physically and psychologically. Medical detox treatment helps the brain break away from physical dependence. At the end of the detoxification process, the brain is able to re-establish a normal chemical balance; it no longer needs access to drugs to function in a normal way. Detoxification doesn't help with psychological addiction, however.
Exposure to drugs brings about physical changes in the brain. Certain parts of the brain become chemically conditioned to lose the ability to see drugs as harmful. This constitutes psychological dependence. When dependent in this way, the mind is only able to see drugs as pleasurable. Even years after the cessation of a drug habit, this deeply ingrained attitude can re-assert itself unexpectedly.
In addiction therapy, recovering addicts undergo intensive psychological treatment to address each one of the psychological weak points that psychological dependence is known to exploit. It can take work for months, if not years, to reach a point of reasonable self-reliance. At our center for addiction therapy programs in Cuyahoga Falls, we offer our patients a large number of evidence-based therapeutic interventions. What follows are a few examples and descriptions.
CBT
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a therapeutic approach that helps participants apply analysis and behavioral conditioning in an attempt to gain control over a wayward mind. CBT is used to address a number of psychological problems commonly experienced by recovering addicts, including mood disorders, excessive pessimism, and unpredictable cravings.
In the typical CBT session, the therapist engages the participant in freewheeling, nonjudgmental conversation to learn as much as possible about the participant's state of mind. From the participant's feelings about addictive behavior to feelings of enthusiasm about getting better and other life issues, a great deal about the participant's state of mind comes into the open during these exploratory sessions. This method is also effective for dual diagnosis treatment in Cuyahoga Falls.
Once the therapist has enough information to work with, he engages the participant in analytical conversations to help examine each preference or issue. Maladaptive tendencies are uncovered, and the therapist begins work on helping the participant overcome them. As an example, if it becomes clear that an addict turns to drugs in response to the frustrations that come from failure, therapy can help the participant develop a greater ability to make repeated attempts until success is found.
CBT addiction therapy programs in Cuyahoga Falls also concern themselves with helping recovering addicts anticipate challenges to their resolve to stay sober. Through analytical conversations, the therapist may find that exposure to certain kinds of stresses or emotions have often in the past led to cravings. When equipped with such information, the recovering addict can use it to avoid such challenges in the future. Called trigger avoidance, work of this type offers recovering addicts a valuable tool in the fight against relapse.
Motivational Interviewing
In motivational therapy, attempts are made to address a lack of motivation that many addicts struggle with as they battle their addiction. In these sessions, the therapist interviews the participant with the aim of uncovering areas where considerable motivation is still in evidence. If the participant hopes to see his child grow up to be successful or to run a business himself one day, the therapist may attempt to help the participant channel such motivation to his struggle to leave addiction behind.
Alternative Therapies
While approaches such as CBT and motivational interviewing are at the core of programs offered in addiction therapy, many patients require additional help in certain areas. One in three therapy programs for addiction offer a number of complimentary therapeutic approaches for this reason.
In keeping with the individual needs of each patient, addiction therapy treatment specialists may recommend art therapy, music therapy for yoga therapy, among other possibilities. These courses can help patients who have trouble expressing themselves, or those who struggle with anxiety.
While three out of four addicts dropping out of rehab after detox relapse within a year, success rates rise greatly when addiction treatment therapies are applied. It's important to understand, however, that the efficacy of these approaches greatly depends on the skill of the therapist. It's important to find good therapists. Our program for relapse prevention in Cuyahoga Falls is a phenomenal program that helps addicts from preventing future relapses through various coping skill development techniques.
If you would like to speak to one of our experts, you can always call us at our center for addiction treatment programs in Cuyahoga Falls. (877) 804-1531.