Addiction counseling and therapy

Therapy and counseling for addiction helps patients in recovery to understand and grasp what causes addiction. They learn to recognize risk factors for relapse, and also develop effective tools for functioning in stressful conditions. Certified addiction therapists help the individual find motivation and develop skills in order to support recovery.

Cause of addiction

The underlying causes of addiction are mainly genetic factors and environmental. The genetic profile of a person can make him or her more susceptible to sensation seeking behavior. They become more compulsive in nature and are more prone to addiction, which gives them a high.  Other life events like stressful situations and trauma can also contribute significantly to the cause of addiction. Early exposure to substances also has a hand to play in substance abuse.

Addictions cause significant mental and emotional trauma. There are physical side effects like withdrawal symptoms and craving, and the mental side effects also include increasing levels of stress and feelings of anxiety, loneliness and depression.

Treatment of addiction

Firstly, detoxification keeps patients as safe and comfortable during the period of withdrawal. Therapy focuses on the mental aspect. Although it depends on the severity of the case, detox can effectively remove withdrawal symptoms and cravings within 1 to 3 weeks. Other people may require months and years of counseling to recover from the mental side effects.

The primary purpose of counseling and therapy for addiction is to tackle the underlying causes of the disease, in order to prevent a relapse. Though detox is a vital component of treatment, it actually does nothing to address the causes that led to addiction itself.

Research over the last 3 decades has led to many advancements in evidence based therapy for both alcohol and drug dependency. These therapies have been proven to be effective when treating substance use disorders and co-occurring issues with mental health that include depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Therapy nowadays is available in various settings, including inpatient stay, outpatient rehabs and regular visits to a counselor. Sober living communities, a variety of support groups and private practices also contribute to effective counseling.

Therapy may decrease in frequency and duration as and when the counselor decides that the individual is ready to handle his/her cause of addiction and also the stressors of life. Another view held by many experts opines that a person never recovers fully from his addiction. People who witness a traumatic event or stressful conditions should turn to counseling at the earliest in order to prevent relapse.

If you’re looking for Addiction Treatment, Drug Rehab, or rehabilitation center, you should do so at the earliest.  Look for rehab centers near me, or inpatient drug rehab near me or Drug rehab centers in Louisiana if you’re living there.