Recovering From Addiction: Understanding The Multi-layered Treatment Process

Addiction plagues millions of families around the world on the daily basis. Though there are many different types of addiction, one thing that remains the same is its impact on every aspect of a person’s life. Addiction is a disease that affects not just the body but one’s mental state of being and overall quality of life. Addiction is a multifaceted illness requiring more than just a medication to treat it fully.

Treating addiction often takes several steps. As every person is affected differently, the types of treatment used can vary greatly. Rehab facilities such as Reflections Rehab can provide customized treatment options. It is important for those looking to make a change for the better to closely review the type of programs a facility has to offer so that they can choose the treatment path they believe will work best.

So What Does It Take?

In order to fully treat addiction all of the following need to occur:

1. Isolation from Triggers

There are plenty of worldly triggers that could be causing someone to want to abuse substances. These can include an overwhelming amount of stress in the workplace, a group of friends, stress at home, or even influences in the community they live in. In order to start to treat addiction it will be important for the person to be removed from those triggers so they can fully focus upon themselves. This is one of the reasons rehab facilities are recommended as they provide peaceful accommodations free from triggers and distractions.

2. Abstaining from Substance Use

The next step to treating addiction is refraining from using the substance. This is often referred to as withdrawing.  The body needs to get used to functioning without the substance. Depending on the type of substance a person is addicted to, this can take time and require serious medical attention to ensure one’s health does not deteriorate. Once the abuser has abstained from using the substance, treating the underlying cause can begin.

3. Pinpointing the Cause

Once the participant has been isolated from potential triggers and has abstained from using the substance, it is time to address the reason behind the addiction. There are many reasons why a person begins to abuse substances including familial issues, mental health concerns, and traumatic events. Rehab facilities often provide on site counseling which allows participants to talk through their addiction and the reasons they believe they started abusing the substances in the first place.

4. Corrective Actions

After the underlying cause has been determined, learning how to deal with the matter in a safe and healthy way must be introduced. In order to ensure that the abuser does not go back to using, they must be equipped with the tools to ward off the feeling when they’re in the real world. Corrective action can include things like cognitive therapy in which negative thought patterns are replaced with positive ones. It could also include family therapy sessions to talk to family members and sort through problems, stress management to prevent feeling burned out, or medication and treatment for preexisting mental health issues.

5. Lifestyle Changes

In order to truly beat addiction there are lifestyle changes that will need to take place. This can often include things like eating a well balanced diet, exercising, finding positive hobbies, and applying the corrective actions that have been learned. Once rehab participants have abstained from using the substances for a certain period of time, know what the cause of their addiction was, how to deal with those causes in a healthier way, and how to care for themselves properly, they are ready to get back to their lives outside of the facility.

The process of completing each of these steps to treating addiction will vary. One’s individual path will ultimately depend upon the type of substances addicted to, the facility choosen to work with, and the treatment program preferred. Treating addiction requires several different steps over a period of time and must continue even after leaving the rehab facility. With practice and patience, living a sober life and truly recovering from addiction can occur. 

Ashley Andrews blogs about health, lifestyle and personal wellness.