In instances where the struggle and stresses of life are too much to bear, negative coping mechanisms can begin to inhabit a very dangerous place in the mind, eventually turning into behavioral trends. The danger here lies in, one, not being able to recognize the havoc these coping mechanisms can wreak, and two, not being able to walk away from these coping mechanisms. Substance abuse is one such coping mechanism that, if left untreated, can destroy the quality of life of the individual and those close to them.
Substance abuse is not an uncommon issue and is experienced by millions of people around the world. The use of mind-altering substances can provide a momentary reprieve from reality and a shield from problems that exist in the real world. This brief reprieve, unfortunately, can come at a tremendous personal cost. Addiction therapy programs and addiction counseling explores the issues which cause substance abuse and work with those suffering from addiction to take back control and live life to its fullest.
Finding Therapy For Addiction
There is an endless list of reasons why one might seek help for substance abuse issues. Addiction is a mental illness affecting reward centers in the brain, altering users’ views and desires for gratification. Often there is a reason why someone might use substances excessively. It may be a tool used to reduce and avoid stress or a mechanism employed to defend oneself from negative thoughts, memories, or traumas. The consequences commonly arise within similar areas regardless of why addiction takes hold. Commonly reported reasons for seeking substance abuse treatment are:
- Inability to control substance use
- Excessive use
- Problems at home
- Conflict in interpersonal relationships
- Decreased performance at work
- Altered behavior
- Aggressive behavior
- Difficulty regulating emotions
- Decreased quality of life
Many things can push a person towards excessively using substances and countless other reasons why one might seek help for their addiction. However, understanding the benefits of addiction counseling can sometimes be the deciding factor between continued use and actively seeking help.
5 Benefits of Addiction Counseling
The benefits of finding a quality therapy program for addiction depend greatly on the individual user. However, there are some common benefits that most are likely to encounter.
1. Support
One of the most difficult aspects of addiction is loneliness. Discussing personal problems can be hard enough when addiction isn’t involved, but when it is present, those suffering from addiction may go to great lengths to hide how they feel. Feeling alone and like there’s no one to talk to can increase cravings and the desire for substance use. By choosing to go to therapy for addiction, those suffering from substance abuse issues obtain an emotional support lifeline free of judgment and hurtful criticism.
2. Coping Strategies
Substances have often been used as a way to cope with stress, conflict, and trauma. It only makes sense then that learning new coping mechanisms might reduce patients’ desire to use them. By developing and practicing these coping strategies, patients can more easily get off their drug of choice and are less likely to relapse.
3. Self Reflection
Addiction therapy provides patients a safe space to explore and understand the root causes of their desire to use substances. Those suffering from substance abuse often don’t fully understand why they feel the need to use or how their substance abuse has affected those around them. Addiction counseling allows patients to fully understand themselves as a person and what they want out of life.
4. Improved Quality of Life
Addiction can negatively affect all aspects of a person’s life. When suffering from substance abuse, patients often report not feeling like themselves or feeling disassociated with those around them. Getting therapy for addiction is an almost guaranteed way to increase one’s quality of life as substances begin to exert less and less control over patients’ physical and emotional desires.
5. Relapse Prevention
One of the most challenging aspects of recovery is experiencing a relapse. Relapse refers to someone in recovery who, after being sober for some time, begins to abuse substances again. Relapsing can be very discouraging to those in recovery because they feel they are right back where they started. One of the benefits of addiction counseling comes in the form of relapse prevention. Relapse prevention is a plan that patients and therapists craft together to help reduce the risk and likelihood of future substance abuse.
Finding Addiction Counseling at Insight Recovery
At Insight Recovery, we offer a wide variety of substance abuse and addiction counseling treatment programs that have been shown to improve quality of life and decrease the risk of future relapse. If you or anyone you know have questions about the types of therapy available for addiction, contact us at 828.826.1376 for more information.