Substance use disorder is a complex disease to combat and overcome. The treatment needed can be a great challenge, and for the person suffering from SUD to overcome this, it is of the utmost importance they have all the understanding and support.
The first step towards recovery is realizing you need professional help. However, without the emotional support from your family and friends, it might be challenging to keep your focus on the goal, given that the treatment and recovery is a long and difficult process.
Individuals who suffer from substance abuse, whether it is alcohol or illegal, illicit drugs, also develop serious health problems. This disease negatively affects the functions of the brain. So, it isn’t long until the affected person starts developing distorted behaviour, changes in personality, clouded judgment, as well as memory problems that affect the ability to make decisions.
However, it is essential to know that addiction and substance abuse can be treated. Indeed, it is true that the process requires discipline, and it is crucial that the person struggling is not battling it alone, but recovery can be accomplished.
Here are six long-term strategies that proved to be successful in overcoming addiction:
1. Assisted detoxification
An essential and indispensable first step toward recovery when you suffer from substance abuse is detoxification. This way, you clear your body of any toxic and addictive substance. However, it is crucial to mention that the recommended method is medically assisted.
Specialized centers, such as HollywoodHillsRecovery, provide professional help that can aid patients with detoxification. Plus, symptoms that arise from withdrawal are handled by specialists, and the patient is in a safe environment.
2. Therapy types combined together
Once the patient has completed detox, recovery for individuals who suffer from SUD implies the following therapy. For this to be effective, it is vital that a combination of therapy types is used. However, depending on the patient’s situation and the severity of their addiction, this might differ.
The three types of therapy proven successful are:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: helps the patient to identify negative habits, patterns, and triggers. Plus, they also learn positive coping mechanisms to form healthy habits.
- Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy: helps you identify negative thought processes and how to overcome self-sabotaging and self-defeating feelings.
- Contingency Management: helps you maintain positive and healthy habits, such as sobriety. It gives the patient rewards, and it has been successful in reducing relapse episodes.
3. The 12-step program
Programs that include 12-step therapy can be highly beneficial. The basis of this program recognizes addiction’s harmful effects, acceptance, and, ultimately, consistency in recovery. Group therapy is an effective method to give and receive support from other individuals with whom you can relate.
This type of emotional and social support is a crucial part of the treatment of substance abuse. Given that this disease cannot be cured, it is essential that the patient develops a healthy routine and sticks to it, as well as forming a support group and attends therapy meetings frequently.
4. The meditation strategy
Meditation is a perfect solution to all daily life struggles, lack of mind control issues, and other mental health problems. Although it is an ancient practice, it has proven to be a life-saver strategy for numerous modern life problems, including the problem of struggling with deaddiction. Meditation helps you control your thoughts and behavior that takes extreme turns during your deaddiction journey, and they are referred to as withdrawal symptoms.
Meditation helps in regulating and mitigating these withdrawal symptoms. If you are struggling to recover from any addictions, meditation helps you in living a peaceful and happy life by turning your mind towards happy and peaceful things. It is a worthy method to give it a try.
Even if you are in your initial stages of de-addiction, you can opt for meditation for optimal outcomes. Regular practice brings drastic changes in not only your de-addiction journey rather your lifestyle altogether.
5. Medication
No matter how many strategies and therapies you try, you inevitably need to undergo consistent medication to reverse the toxicity you have meted out to your body and purify it. It plays an important role and suffices other therapies and treatments in de-addiction and detoxification journeys. Various medicines not only treat your physical health conditions, but a few of them also help you in mitigating your extreme behavioral changes throughout your journey. Hence, medications play an essential role in your journey of de-addiction.
6. Exercise
There is nothing a little bit of exercise cannot heal. It is a misconception that exercise is to maintain body fitness. Rather, it helps in maintaining mental fitness, controlling and regulating behaviors, and psychic deviations. Exercise increases oxygen supply to the brain, and hence, it is a good way to keep your brain active and hence, easy to give in to your impulsive desires.
Stay consistent and increase the time you spend exercising regularly to see the positive impact it brings in your life and de-addiction processes as well. You can also add yoga to your exercise routine, which is another proven strategy to beat any mental and physical health conditions. Yoga is a master plan to beat impulsive and uncontrollable desires.
Conclusion:
De-addiction is not an easy process. Although the above-mentioned tips are only a few ways to liberate yourself from toxic habits, seeking professional medical help can suffice your habits and practices to help you recover quickly. Hesitance takes you nowhere, and don’t be reluctant in seeking emotional help from your near ones too. That goes a long way in strengthening your willpower against the evil that you are fighting.
As mentioned, de-addiction is a tough process, and accept that it takes time. Do not hurry the process, and do not drop midway just because the progress is not clearly visible. You have been indulging in destructive activities for quite some time. Hence, give the same time for constructive activities too. Realize that it’s a journey, and stay patient with your journey to eat the fruits of your consistency.
