The majority of individuals who struggle with addiction will experience either a physical addiction, psychological dependence, or both. Individuals who become physically addicted to controlled substances build a dependence on that substance. Their body needs that substance, or it will go into withdrawal.
Suffering from mental addiction is different but can be no less troublesome. If you or someone you know is struggling with the mental aspect of addiction and wants relief, here’s some information for you.
Psychological Dependence Can Occur With Any Substance
Often, simple patterns can be what leads to the development of addiction. Treating controlled substances as rewards or utilizing them as a coping mechanism may solidify the development of habitual use.
Rewarding your behavior with a controlled substance can be particularly dangerous. By creating a greater incentive to continue abusing a substance, you put yourself at risk of dependency. For many individuals, this is one of the largest factors at play when attempting to identify why a mental addiction formed. Also, individuals develop a substance use disorder when they self-medicate for a mental health issue.
Often, individuals are not aware they are suffering from some mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, or PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Instead, they recognize they are in pain (mental or emotional but also frequently physical) and discover a particular substance alleviates it. Unfortunately, this usually leaves the underlying condition untreated. Like any disease, a mental health disorder left untreated will only worsen. Thus, a cycle is created. Individuals abuse more of their substance of choice to treat their mental health issues and, in so doing, exacerbate the condition leading them to use more. And so on, and so on.
Treatment for Psychological Dependence
Behavioral therapies often treat the mental aspects of addiction. These may include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Contingency Management Interventions
- Community Reinforcement Approach
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy
- 12-Step Facilitation Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, in particular, is one of the most common therapies being utilized for treating the mental aspects of addiction. This therapy is suited for assisting individuals who have trouble with alcohol, methamphetamine, nicotine, marijuana, or cocaine.
Specifically, individuals treated with this therapy learn to explore the positive and negative consequences of drug use. During treatment, individuals learn how to self-monitor and recognize cravings early. This can be integral when attempting to stay sober and free of psychological dependence over the long-term.
Serenity House Detox & Recovery
As a chronic illness, addiction is highly prone to relapse. For many individuals, a combination of factors may lead to bouts of sobriety followed by bouts of use and abuse. This can be particularly common for individuals who suffer from physical as well as mental addiction.
When you seek assistance at a professional rehabilitation facility, you offer yourself the best chance at achieving long-term sobriety. Surrounded by medical professionals, you’ll be able to detox as safely as possible and fully break away from your destructive habits. A professional detox can also help you build healthy habits that will promote a sober lifestyle.
Serenity House Detox & Recovery is a premier detox facility. Focused on comfort, Serenity House Detox & Recovery provides relief from psychological dependence on men and women seeking help. Serenity House Detox & Recovery offers assistance with the following programs:
Don’t wait any longer to seek out the help you deserve. Reach out to Serenity House Detox & Recovery today at 866.516.8356. You may be only one phone call away from your first step to mental freedom.
