In today`s modern world, people are being faced with more and more stress in their day to day life. Most people have developed certain habits that help them cope with the pressures of life. These habits are often oriented towards a healthier lifestyle. However some people develop certain unhealthy habits that they use to relieve stress or to help them feel cool such as drinking, smoking, taking psychoactive substances, video games, gambling or sex.
There is a very thin line between recreational drug usage and addiction .But when do we know that the line has been crossed and that someone has an addiction problem?
Most people will function well and find ways to hide their substance abuse behaviors until they are unable to fulfill their social responsibilities at work place or at home. The human mind, under the influence of addictive substances starts to slow down in its functioning and keeping mental focus becomes difficult. This is the stage where most people start to realize that something is very wrong with them and start to panic.
Most people will try to reduce or stop the habit on their own and try to gain a semblance of control over the matter. But this is easier said than done, for we are now in the field of neuroscience, which tells us that the biochemistry of our brain has been messed up with and this will not correct itself spontaneously. It will take time for our brain neurotransmitters to get back into balance and it is this time factor that explains why it becomes so difficult to give up an addiction suddenly.
The brain, already being in a messed up state, finds it difficult to cope with the sudden withdrawal that occurs when one stops using an addictive substance. A person in a sudden withdrawal state often experiences diverse mood swings ranging from mild irritation to extreme anger. They also experience behavioral and physical changes as well such as insomnia, nausea & vomiting, general body weakness and pain and depression.
Sadly the corrective medicine that will end this all means going back to the original substance abuse. Back to business as usual! This is why addiction is a real demon: destroyer of lives, families and weakening the very fabric of society.
This is when professional help is needed- to reinforce the decision to keep clean, and to assist the body in coping with withdrawal symptoms, cravings and mental/physical issues. A good therapist may be able to help but very often we find that a residential rehabilitation program is more effective for most people. A stay in a rehabilitation center takes you away from home, and from your usual environment and habits. Very often, addiction occurs as a result of what we experience in our usual environment.
Residential treatment is the gold standard in care for substance abuse and addiction. A round-the-clock support and consistent access to a wide range of intensive therapies offer the best way to build a strong foundation in sobriety. Benefits are vast and include: The support of peers, Constant access to therapeutic professionals, Physical and emotional separation from the stressors and situations that may be triggers for relapse. Time and permission to focus on healing, Constant access to medical care, A personalized treatment plan, Long-term detox and promotion of physical health through healthy cuisine and exercise opportunities.
Therapy is one of the main focus of addiction treatment. Though many people living with addiction tend to focus on withdrawal symptoms, the physical dependence upon the substance of choice is only part of the issue. Withdrawal symptoms may pass in the first few weeks of sobriety, but the cravings to drink or get high will linger for months or even years, in some cases. Therapy addresses those cravings and delves into where those cravings began and why, and provides coping mechanisms to limit the intensity of the cravings and their frequency.
Therefore a complete change is important and is the first step in helping to rewire the brain with new habits and new coping strategies so that one can learn to say “No to drugs” and navigate away from the temptations of daily life and build a strong inner resistance. With the help of healthy nutrition, yoga and meditation, mindfulness and fitness classes, one slowly reconnects the mind to the body and becomes more receptive to counselling.
In a rehab facility, one is surrounded by an interdisciplinary team of professionals which are there to provide the support needed during this difficult time. It is only by going through the phase of rehabilitation that the inner voice of wisdom also becomes audible once again!
Rehab is an essential part of treatment and recovery from substance abuse and is the key to a fresh start.
