Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Help People Overcome Addiction?

Cognitive behavioral therapy sometimes attracts controversy, possibly due to the fact that it is not grounded in basic medicine. It involves using our thought processes to change negative behaviors. Thoughts and ideas have to be vocalized to fully realize its benefits. It can be used to deal with a wide range of issues, most notably addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is not on the fringe of psychology, rather it is a sound approach. For some people struggling with addiction it offers the best hope for altering their way of thinking and hope of recovery. This is despite the fact that it is more popular as a treatment for depression and other mood related conditions.

How the Therapy Works

Due to the focus on exploring thoughts and feelings, this therapy helps addicts to understand what drives their addiction. They will also be able to identify situations, both personal and professional, that prompts their cravings. Some people will drink or use drugs because of pressure they experience in social situations. Others abuse drugs and alcohol to black out painful memories and as a coping mechanism.

Oddly enough, many addicts will admit to being addicted without realizing the root cause. There is ample evidence that the therapy can be successfully used as it leads to addicts them acting differently. They can be in the same situations yet respond differently to the same influences after exposure to cognitive behavioral therapy.

One of the best things about this therapy in dealing with addiction is that it can be modified for each patient. Cognitive behavioral therapy takes into consideration the fact that every individual’s experience is different. Each case is handled on its own merit, and behavioral adjustments are made accordingly.

The process is handled in stages with the first being the analysis aspect. This is where problems and sources are identified. The next stage involves developing the skills to overcome these issues. Due to its tailor-made nature, the time involved and level of success varies greatly from person to person.

Filed Under: Addiction, Health Tagged With: , ,

Things to Take to Drug Rehabilitation Centers

When someone dealing with an addiction decides to seek treatment, this calls for some adjustment on their part and for their family members as well. Anyone with a family member entering rehab for the first time may immediately think about making preparations. Many basics are not provided by drug treatment centers. There are also a few notable items that rehab centers prevent their patients from taking with them.

What to Pack

This may vary depending on the center, as some offer slightly more relaxed rules. Some arrange day trips and other outside activities for patients. A few may even allow supervised trips to the store to get a few needed items. A list of things to pack for a loved one entering rehab might include:

  • Prescribed medication
  • A pillow if one will not be provided
  • Personal items like hair care products, toothbrush, sunscreen (they must be alcohol free)
  • Sneakers for exercise
  • Some centers require that some form of ID be taken in
  • Comfortable clothing
  • An alarm clock

These centers try to make the life of the patient as comfortable as possible while they are undergoing treatment. There are many other things which can be added to this list depending on the treatment center chosen.

Drug treatment centers will generally provide a list of the Items that are not allowed. Some prohibited items have to do with privacy concerns. These include cameras and cell phones. Energy drinks and any product that contains alcohol such as perfumes are also prohibited.

Leaving some things behind can be difficult, but this is sometime necessary so as to help the person focus on the therapies available to them. After successful treatment, they can go back to their lives, albeit with some level of modification.

Filed Under: Health, Rehab Tagged With: , ,

Drug Courts

By some estimates, 80% of prisoners currently incarcerated are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Few prisons offer any rehabilitation programs other than keeping prisoners away from drugs (in theory) while serving their sentence.

More and more courts are now offering an alternative to prison to addicts – particularly non-violent, first time offenders – court ordered rehabilitation. When you are offered this alternative program, you agree to complete a program, including aftercare, in an effort to return to a drug free, productive life out of the legal system.

Addicts clog the courts and take up time and resources. Some states have instituted drug courts – specialized courts that run monitoring programs for convicted felons. Prisoners are ordered to regularly report to a judge, pass random drug tests, find work, and pay court costs and restitution.

Drug courts usually mandate attendance at drug classes or outpatient counseling, but these are not effective treatments. Some drug courts allow the person to choose, and pay for, a rehabilitation program on their own. A few courts have access to rehabilitation facilities, but they are often over-crowded and not effective.

The advantage of choosing and paying for treatment is that you can be released from jail as soon as you are admitted to a program. If you have to wait for the court to place you, you may have to stay in jail until arrangements can be made at a court-run facility.

Conventional prison sentences release “dry” drunks and addicts back to society and expect them to change their behavior on their own. The advantage to alternative sentencing is that the person’s underlying problems can be addressed, and aftercare can give the felon a real chance to gain control of their life and return to society drug-free.

Filed Under: Rehab Tagged With: ,

The Very Real Challenges of Rehab

Before any addict even considers entering rehab they must first face the fact that they have a problem. Forcing someone with addiction issues into a rehab facility is unlikely to produce successful results otherwise. What they will encounter while undergoing treatment will vary depending on the facility and their treatment program.

Regardless of facility is chosen, there are conditions that are constant like abiding by rules outlined by administrators. These may cover visiting hours, and there are often restrictions on who can visit. Patients are required to take part in all activities unless they are excused from doing so. In most centers relationships between patients are actively discouraged.

Battling addiction to drugs or alcohol sometimes requires therapy sessions, which can be emotionally taxing. This often forces individuals to confront personal issues that may have played a contributory role in their addiction. For this reason there is a confidentiality agreement between the facility and each patient.

Family Contact

This can be a big challenge, as while visits are usually allowed, contact with family members is generally limited to visiting hours. Most facilities do not allow the use of cell phones, which may lead to a feeling of isolation. This is a necessary aspect of the treatment, however, as all attempt is made to minimize external negative influences.

The Possibility of Relapse

This is a very real concern for anyone who has ever battled addiction, whether it is to alcohol or drugs. Some drug rehab centers offer follow-up programs for just this reason, but this is not always possible. For some addicts, beating the problem will be only the beginning. It is easy to fall back into old habits or behaviors leading t lead to drinking or drug use.

Some centers have whole programs devoted to dealing with the issue of relapse. This usually focuses on identifying the triggers which may lead to drug or alcohol use. Once former patients are educated on the risks of relapse, and follow provided guidelines, they can successfully avoid reverting to their destructive habits.

Filed Under: Health, Rehab Tagged With: , ,

Grandma’s an Addict!

Is your Grandma an addict? Before you say “of course not”, you should know that one of the fastest growing addicted age groups is over fifty-five. Most Grandparents are not lurking in an alley looking for a drug dealer. They go to their doctor and buy their drugs at the pharmacy.

Addiction to prescription drugs by seniors has several causes. Pain management may be the most significant cause. Arthritis pain, pain from illness and surgery can lead to an addiction to medications like Vicodin and Oxycontin. Wiley patients can shop for specialists who will provide for pain medications and sleep medications on request. Emotional pain is another cause of senior addiction. The loss of family and friends to death, the loss of your health, physical mobility, and the meaning that your career gave you is often difficult to manage. Drugs and alcohol can deaden the pain of growing older.

Some elders become addicted by accident. Individuals who have memory problems or undiagnosed dementia can accidentally take too many pills and become physically addicted. As we age, we are more likely to develop neurological diseases like dementia, neuropathy, and Parkinson’s disease. The medications used to treat these diseases can have very bad interactions with other commonly prescribed drugs. Senior addicts present special problems for rehabilitation facilities. Very often, they are reluctant to admit they have a problem. Moreover, underlying health problems can make drug withdrawal dangerous. Close monitoring during withdrawal requires special staff and equipment not available at every rehabilitation facility.

Families and friends can be instrumental in a senior’s rehabilitation. What are the signs of addiction for seniors? Some signs are obvious – failing to bathe or a loss of interest in their appearance, unexplained bruising from falls, changes in sleep habits, avoiding friends and family, and a general loss of interest in life can signal an addiction.

Experts predict that the number of addicted seniors will increase dramatically as the baby boomers age. Medicine and rehabilitation facilities will have to play catch-up.

Filed Under: Addiction, Rehab Tagged With: , , ,

Understanding the Lure of Alcohol

Many people can never understand what it is about alcohol that pulls people in. In many cases, the lure of alcohol is hard to understand unless you or a loved one has had to deal with alcoholism or any other form of substance abuse. It is not easy to grasp why anyone would drink until it takes over their lives.

The first thing is to realize is that alcoholism is not just about having a drinking problem. It is in fact a disease that can wreak havoc on one’s physical health, as well as their emotional and social wellbeing. This addiction, like so many others, has destroyed families in many ways.

For many recovering alcoholic, just the smell or taste of alcohol can undo all their progress. For many, one drink is never enough, they must have just one more which in itself is not enough. Alcoholics have no control over liquor, it controls them. As such they drink because they have to and usually in excess.

Many people drink because they need a means of escaping from something, whether a past experience or difficult existing situations. Sadly, over time the alcoholic will find that they need to drink just to function on a day to day basis. Interestingly, not all alcoholics become so drunk that it is obvious. In fact, many are able to avoid detection for years.

Once someone becomes addicted to alcohol, it is advisable that if they enter rehab and come out successful, they must avoid alcohol like the plague. Only by not drinking can an alcoholic be assured not only of being cured, but also of being able to resist the lure of this seductive mistress.

Filed Under: Addiction, Health Tagged With: , ,

The Importance of Aftercare

In some ways, the stay at the rehabilitation facility is the easy part. Maintaining sobriety while you are out there alone, surrounded by temptations is more complicated. That’s where aftercare comes in.

Aftercare is part of the rehabilitation process – continuing to reinforce the lessons learned while in residential treatment. It can include attending twelve step meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, seeing a therapist, group therapy, or outpatient care.

An aftercare plan is usually developed in the final days or weeks of residential treatment, and must involve the patient’s family or other support network. The plans are written for the individual – some people do well attending twelve step meetings and regular therapy sessions. Others may need a halfway house where they can work during the day, but return to a controlled environment at night. The most intensive aftercare may mean staying at the residential facility for the first dangerous months. Patients who do not have family or a network of sober friends can benefit by maintaining a strict routine while learning to function in the real world.

Aftercare is not program just for the weak willed. It is an important part of every recovering addict’s care when they return home and must deal with the pressures of relationships, work, and home with easy access to drugs and alcohol. Individuals who feel alone and vulnerable can fall into familiar, destructive behaviors.

Families sometimes want to declare an addict cured when they leave rehab. Sometimes they desperately want to get on with life and consider their loved one’s addiction just a bump in the road. Sometimes they indulge in “magical thinking”- not discussing an addiction means it didn’t happen.

Over half the patients who complete rehabilitation relapse within their first year of sobriety. Returning to their old surroundings and old friends can lead to falling back on old habits. A thoughtful aftercare plan can help reinforce new habits of sobriety and healthful living.

Filed Under: Rehab Tagged With: , , , , ,

Child and Teen Addiction to Alcohol

As much as we would rather that it was not the case, children sometimes become addicted to drugs and alcohol. While the problem is often discussed regarding teens, even younger children can struggle with addiction. Advertising of alcoholic beverages is sometimes blamed for the rise in teen drinking. Peer pressure and the desire to be cool may also drive some kids and teens to drink.

Many parents may be surprised to learn that their children are drinking. Kids generally find it easy to access alcohol since it’s in many homes. Unlike drugs, which parents generally teach their children about, not many parents have had discussions about the ill-effects of alcohol and alcoholism.

Effects of Alcohol on Children and Teens

While drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can negatively affect adults, it takes far less to affect a child or young teen. The effects of alcohol on children include:

Impaired cognitive and learning abilities. In fact it is believed that alcohol will adversely affect how the brain of children develops.Poor liver functionImpaired judgment and inappropriate emotional responses to situations

Parents should therefore talk to their children about alcohol. It’s really never too early to start talking, especially if there are drinkers in the child’s inner circle. This is even more important as there is belief in some areas that there is a genetic link to alcoholism. Children of parents who abuse alcohol are more likely to become alcoholics.

Helping the Child Who Drinks

Parents need to be firm and seek professional help early. Both parents have to come together to face the fact that their child or teenager has a drinking problem. There are rehab facilities available for teenagers. Parents and caregivers can get someone to come to the home, or consider an ‘outpatient’ type facility for help. They will also need counseling and assistance from addiction rehabilitation specialists for younger kids.

Filed Under: Addiction, Health Tagged With: , ,

Holistic Drug Rehabilitation

What is holistic drug rehabilitation? While traditional rehabilitation concentrates on detoxification and behavioral changes, holistic (also called alternative) rehabilitation treats the mind, body, and soul. Holistic rehab views addiction as disharmony and imbalance in one’s life. In order to restore balance, holistic rehabilitation hospitals have several different treatment options.

Bio-nutritional therapy usually starts with a hair analysis to determine vitamin deficiencies and the presence of heavy metal in your system. Vitamin supplementation and a carefully balanced diet are the first battle plan to restore balance to your brain chemistry. This balance can reduce cravings for drugs and alcohol.

Imbalance of the chakras or your body’s energy centers can be treated with yoga, acupuncture, chakra healing, Reiki massage or touch healing. Hands-on energy healing is another technique that identifies and removes blockages in the energy centers, returning you to life affirming balance.

Rehab patients who have underlying problems like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), compulsive disorders, or stress are often treated with hypnosis, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDP), Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), or motivational interviewing.

Most alternative rehabilitation hospitals include spa treatments – including steam, sauna, or whirlpools to remove toxins from your system. Sunlight therapy, which increases your brain’s serotonin level, is helpful in creating a natural “high” without drugs or alcohol.

Aromatherapy, which uses scent to calm or stimulate the brain, is another popular therapy. And meditation is often helpful to calm the patient as well as produce self-knowledge.

Alternative rehabilitation may include standard treatments like drug therapy for depression, Alcohols Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, group, and individual talk therapy.

Cognitive Behavior Education (CBE) developed at Jude Thaddeus Program teaches that addiction is not a disease, but a condition to overcome. The program uses self-evaluation techniques to take patients from a self-centered life to a life of self-control through service to others.

Alternative or Holistic drug rehabilitation centers around detoxification of the body, self-respect, self-confidence, and empowerment of the mind and spirit.

Filed Under: Rehab Tagged With: , , , ,

Regulating Alcohol Advertisements

While alcohol is a legally produced product, the issue of promotion has sometimes raised controversy. Some argue for regulation of alcohol and tobacco products due to their addictive nature. Many also point to advertising which they say pushes people to smoke and drink at a young age. Many industries are quick to deny the claims that their promotions are aimed at young people. However, there has been a rise in recent years of cases of addiction among teens.

It is difficult to lay the blame for this trend solely at the feet makers of alcohol and tobacco products. Many children are subject to enormous pressure from friends to drink or smoke. That said, it is difficult to deny the power of a strategically placed billboard on a young, impressionable mind. Many advertisements for alcohol depict young people having fun while drinking and or smoking.

This is worrying when it is noted that many smokers start the habit before turning 18. Statistics also indicate that roughly 70 percent of teens have tried alcohol by the time they leave high school. Adding the hereditary factor of drug and alcohol addiction, it is likely that a large number of them will enter rehab later in life.

Currently alcohol producers are restricted from posting ads near to schools. They are also prevented from airing ads during the hours when children are most likely to be awake. These restrictions apply to makers of tobacco products as well.

Not surprisingly, some groups feel that these restrictions don’t go far enough. Some have pointed out that alcohol producers have been able to work around existing rules. Many use the fact statistics on teens entering rehab to strengthen their case for tighter restrictions.

Filed Under: Addiction, Health Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »