Living with an addiction is extremely challenging. Sadly, due to the stigma attached to it, people often feel they don’t want to admit they have a problem or that they need treatment.
The fact is that addiction is an illness, one with many negative effects. Just like a person would go to the hospital to be bandaged up for a broken arm, people should feel comfortable in accessing addiction treatment to begin a healing journey of recovery.
Addiction is a health concern and people who have addictions deserve treatment.
Rehab 4 Addiction supports people in finding the most suitable treatment options to suit individual needs within their own community.
When a person has spent time addicted to drugs and alcohol it has huge repercussions throughout their lives. Addiction brings with it negative impacts in all areas of a person’s life.
A person’s physical health deteriorates. From the brain to vital organs, to chemical and hormonal balances, all areas of the body are affected.
A lot of damage occurs as drugs and alcohol upset how well the various parts of the body function. The different areas no longer work in a harmonious way.
The psychological damage from addiction causes mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, and hallucinations.
In terms of the external impact, it’s common for a person’s financial situation to be jeopardised.
Then, of course, there is the social side. Addiction causes a huge strain on relationships with family members and friends.
When a person participates fully, willingly, and honestly in a rehab programme they’re able to heal wounds in all these areas.
Medical detox is essential where a person has developed a physical dependency on a substance. Physical dependencies create incredibly uncomfortable and distressing withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal, where physical dependency exists, includes the following:
When a person has a dependency it means their body has come to rely on the substance in order to function in a “normal” way. This is why for many, it feels impossible to stop taking the substance.
Physical dependencies are common in people who use alcohol, heroin and alprazolam.
Medical detox is where a doctor and clinical team oversee the detox period. This ensures that patient safety comes off the substance.
Doctors often prescribe other medications in order to reduce withdrawal symptoms.
There are a wide variety of therapy options available on rehabilitation programmes, especially where private clinics are concerned.
The nature of an individual’s addiction and the circumstances around this will influence the types of therapy they are offered.
As addiction affects every aspect of a person: their mind, body, and soul, it’s imperative that treatment is provided in all areas. This ensures the most effective basis to build a life of sobriety.
Evidence-based therapies are proven to be the most efficient way to treat the psychological aspects of addiction.
Many who live with an addiction will experience difficulties. It’s very common for people with addictions to also suffer from mental health problems.
Treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy are excellent methods of treating patients.
Therapists introduce tools that a patient can adopt in order to identify, understand, and change their thought patterns.
There is a lot of collaborative work that takes place where people learn how to reframe their thoughts in order to change their behaviour. This is absolutely essential if long-term healing is to take place.
Alternative therapies provide the “spiritual” side of treatment for people who have addictions. This doesn’t mean that a person has to be religious to be treated at all.
It’s simply to address the more philosophical side of treatment.
At private rehab clinics, people have access to the following alternative treatments:
These types of sessions facilitate new ways of learning about the self. It’s also a great space for providing alternative methods of communication.
Peer groups are where people with addictions meet other people in similar positions. This might be through 12 Step groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, alternatively, it might be through SMART groups.
Throughout the world millions of people follow the 12 Step framework, connecting with sponsors in order to create a fulfilling life of abstinence.
Peer groups are notoriously successful in supporting people to implement ongoing lifestyle changes. When a person makes positive and healthy changes in their lives they’re more able to ensure that quitting a substance is sustainable.
Peer groups are available in most inpatient and outpatient services throughout the UK. Call Rehab 4 Addiction to learn where your local groups are.
Many people will worry about how they will maintain a sober life after leaving rehab. Within an inpatient stay, people work with therapists and substance misuse workers to create an aftercare plan.
There are two main goals in doing this:
There will be action points for people to follow which will make staying sober easier afterwards. This aftercare plan lasts for twelve months.
It also includes outlining what services the patient can access as an outpatient.
The majority of people are encouraged to keep attending groups and some therapists are one-to-ones to support healing in the long term.
It can be really overwhelming knowing what to do in order to go to rehab. Living with an addiction is a serious disease.
As such it requires an optimum level of care from a team of professionals invested in a person’s healing.
Throughout the UK there are rehabilitation treatment programmes. Whatever your walk of life, there are options to suit your needs.
In order to find out where would be the best place for you to receive treatment, contact the Rehab 4 Addiction team today.
Call us today on 0800 140 4690.
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