Are you worried that you might be addicted to something? If you’re not sure, it’s best to start with a definition of addiction, and then we’ll review steps you can take like treatment and rehab.
Addiction means having a chronic, physical, and psychological dependence on a behavior, a drug, or alcohol. It’s a brain disease, and if a person forms an addiction, they’ll develop harmful habits that could put them and others in unsafe circumstances.
Having an addiction can completely change a person’s personality. Most people with an addiction will not act the way they usually did before the addiction. Many people who suffer from an addiction are aware of their addiction, but they have problems stopping their impulsive behaviors without help.
Tolerance
Many experts feel that the best way to avoid addiction is never to try any addictive substance in the first place. However, it can be tempting to try an addictive drug when it is available. After a person tries an addictive drug, they may decide they want more of it if they like it. If that person then consumes that substance repeatedly over time, he or she will build a tolerance. After an understanding builds up, the person will need to use more of the substance to feel the same way he or she did when first trying the substance.
Building tolerance makes an individual become a part of the cycle of addiction. A person will continue to build tolerance and will then need to use more of the drug, so they avoid withdrawal. Typically, once a person realizes he or she has a problem, they’ve already lost control. That means the substance becomes an essential thing in their lives.
If you’ve developed an addiction to a substance, there are a few treatment options that can help you. We’ll cover those treatment options in more detail below.
Addiction Treatment Options
Taking the first move toward recovery means being able to admit there is a substance abuse problem. Once you can do that, you can then seek out a treatment program. Treatment programs can restore your well-being and personal happiness and allow you to get back on track so that you can live a healthy life once again.
There are many different types of addiction treatment and rehabilitation options a person can pursue to get healthy once again. If your addiction is severe, you may want to think about trying a detox program before you go into rehab. Some individuals seek out other alternatives like inpatient or outpatient treatments. Once an individual completes treatment, people usually attend a support group or therapy sessions to help keep them on the right path.
Seeking treatment for addiction won’t be an easy path. You’ll need to have plenty of willpower and self-discipline for you to stay sober. The good news is that you don’t have to be alone when you try to get better. By attending rehab, you can meet other people that are also recovering, and they’ll be able to understand your experiences. Just remember that when you recover from addiction, you’ll get plenty out of the process if you put a lot of work into your progress.
There are many types of treatment options out there, and recovery can mean different things to different people. Treatment programs should meet the specific needs of individuals. The best types of treatment programs make sure their participants stay actively involved on the road to recovery.
Inpatient Rehab
If you’re thinking about attending an inpatient rehab program, you’ll wind up in a structured treatment program. That structure will focus on changing all parts of your lifestyle that led to the addiction. During inpatient rehab, you’ll be living in a substance-free house, and you’ll also have 24/7 medical care and therapy aid if needed. For people that struggle with chronic addiction or co-occurring mental or behavioral disorders, inpatient rehab might be the right choice to consider.
Outpatient Rehab
In outpatient rehab, you’ll still get comprehensive addiction options in treatment and therapies. However, if you seek outpatient rehab, you’ll be able to live at home as you recover. That means you can continue to work if you have a job, or attend schools, if you attend your scheduled treatment sessions. Outpatient rehabs don’t’ force you to live in a facility, so that means you’ll still be at a higher risk of running into temptations. Outpatient rehab works better for those with mild forms of addiction.
Drug and Alcohol Detox
Pursuing detoxification helps people withdraw from drugs safely. The drugs and alcohol flush out of their systems. Detoxification often helps people that struggle with moderate to severe forms of addiction. Sometimes, when a person detoxifies, he or she needs medical-assisted therapy to help ease issues that happen from withdrawal. Medications used in detox are then slowly cut back to help the individual no longer feel physically dependent on a drug.
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