Beating an Addiction Problem: Understanding the Why and How

Beating an addiction problem is possible. Yet, it’s important to understand the why and how behind it. This guide will go over both of them.

If you or someone you know is in need of addiction treatment, starting now will be the best option. You will need to find an addiction treatment facility that will take care of you during the process. This life-saving decision will make a difference between living a healthy, fulfilling life and one where your next dose could be your last.

Let’s discuss the topic further of beating addiction and the importance of why and how.

Understand why it happened in the first place

An addiction problem starts for a reason. This can be due to self-medicating from a mental health disorder that was never diagnosed. It may be due to coping with the pain of a traumatic event.

Or it could simply be due to someone using drugs and not getting enough of the high. They may not have suffered from any prior trauma or mental disorders. Genetic predisposition may also play a role in how an addiction starts.

Whatever the factors are, understanding why an addiction starts is essential. This will give people a chance to be aware of what needs to be done in terms of preventative measures. For example, if you have relatives who have an addiction, you can do your part to prevent getting addicted yourself.

This includes receiving therapy and other means of support. You can take a few steps ahead and prevent addiction from happening with the help of a substance abuse counselor. If you are dealing with what might be a mental health disorder, getting a psychological evaluation is needed.

This will confirm if you are dealing with a mental disorder. Likewise, you will be placed on a treatment plan that ensures that it will be under control. Which means that you will have a less than likely chance of self-medicating using illegal drugs.

How to prevent addiction

You can prevent an addiction from happening. If you’ve already developed one, it can still be stopped. Either way, it’s possible to utilize these steps below.

Having a support system will be essential in preventing addiction. You’ll have friends, family, and others rooting for you. They will hold you accountable in making sure you have other ways of dealing with stress, mental health disorders, and more.

You should also take other preventative measures. Another pertains to the environment you may be in. If you’re at a get-together and there is drug activity, you can leave.

You may even say no to drugs. However, there may be people who may not respect your decision. You may keep saying no while holding firm.

It’s better to leave the party entirely than stay put. It’s never a good idea to hang around longer than you need to. The farther away you are from a drug-related situation, the better.

Making lifestyle changes will also ensure that you can prevent addiction problems – whether it’s before it begins or after. This includes exercising on a regular basis, eating a healthy diet, and reducing as much stress as possible.

How to beat an existing addiction

Seeking professional help should always be the best choice for those dealing with an existing addiction. The first step is to have an assessment done. It should also be a good idea to have a psychological evaluation done for any possible mental disorders.

The results of these assessments and evaluations will play a key role in the development of your treatment plan. If you have an addiction and a mental disorder, this is known as a dual diagnosis.

When a dual diagnosis is present, both conditions will need to be treated at the same time. No condition should be favored over the other. If you have a dual diagnosis, you’ll have a structured treatment plan that includes meeting with therapists and regular medication.

It is highly recommended that you meet with two different therapists – one that handles your substance abuse and the other deals with your mental health disorder. It’s important that you make sure you follow your treatment plan to ensure that you overcome your addiction while having complete control over your mental disorder.

The drug rehab facility that you choose will have several different treatment options. It will have plenty of resources along with a high level of support needed to beat your addiction. It’s important to consider the kind of treatment approach.

The goal of addiction treatment is to help individuals overcome their addiction. It should also be used to address any mental health issues that exist. Overall, you’re going to develop coping skills that will help you maintain your sobriety for the long term.

After treatment is completed, after care and relapse prevention will be necessary. As a recovering addict, you’ll be living a life where you have made major lifestyle changes. You may live a life much different from before.

You may have taken on new habits that will help improve your physical, emotional, and mental health. This can include regular exercise, a healthy diet, and regular mindfulness sessions among others. When you are in treatment, it’s important to make plans on how you can live life after the treatment itself is complete.

This includes setting realistic goals, adopting new habits, and being able to have a plan in case a relapse occurs.

Final Thoughts

Beating an addiction is possible. So is preventing one from happening in the first place. It’s important for anyone, whatever their situation, to follow through with a plan to ensure that an addiction is the last thing anyone has to deal with.

If you are at risk for an addiction, take the necessary preventative measures. If you are dealing with an existing addiction, get professional help as soon as possible. No one should ever have to face a disease like addiction – especially when it can have devastating and fatal consequences for individuals and families.