Even though there have been groundbreaking advancements in the healthcare industry, there are several chronic diseases that don’t have a complete cure to date. But there are treatment options that can help you manage the symptoms and progression of diseases.
Addiction is very similar to those chronic diseases. You may find some addiction centers or psychologists claim that they can help you ‘cure addiction,’ but it’s a straight-up tall tale.
There is no cure for addiction.
Now, does that mean that you’re bound to die from it?
Absolutely not! (unless GOD wills otherwise). Although addiction has no cure, there are tons of methods to help you overcome the cravings and manage a substance-free life for years. Just remember, whatever the individualized treatment you get, it works only if you stick with it, as your life depends on it because it does!
The addiction treatment plan depends greatly on a person’s distinctive traits, such as habits, backgrounds, types of substance use, degree of addiction, available support, and many other factors, because they can influence that person’s will to achieve a successful recovery. The standard rehab programs include:
Also known as detox recline therapy or detoxification, this therapy’s primary objective is to stop the addiction to the substance, and to do so in a quick and safe manner. This is a very tough stage of treatment and can become life-threatening as withdrawal symptoms can be so severe if the patient’s dependence on substance use disorder was too much. A detoxing individual seeking professional assistance at Apex Recovery Nashville can do so safely, and his or her transition to further addiction therapy will be smoother.
Outpatient treatment is usually recommended to patients who are still in the early stage of addiction. In this treatment, you can live at home while in treatment. It can involve intensive treatment several hours per day, or be more flexible, with only a few hours of treatment each week. Treatment intensity is determined according to a person’s needs and their recovery progress.
Inpatient treatment is preferred for people who have a high dependence on substance use and need continuous monitoring to ensure safe recovery. In this treatment, the person lives at the treatment center to receive 24/7 care and support. This is where the most severe forms of addiction are treated.
At every stage of addiction treatment, a person may undergo various interventions to help with the healing of the brain and the body. One such way is through behavioral therapy, which helps people in drug addiction treatment to modify their perspective and actions concerning drug use. Patients learn depression relief strategies and how to deal with stressors that could trigger a relapse in these therapy sessions.
Most opioid addiction treatments are usually coupled with medication therapy. It helps the addicted person to go through the process of detoxification without severe withdrawal symptoms, decreases the likelihood of relapse, suppresses the cravings, and helps the person reach a level of stabilization that will allow the mind to rest and heal.
Holistic methods, relaxation therapies, and educational tools supported by healthcare professionals are actually quite an important factor in improving patients’ quality of life. It is an innovative way of treatment that allows people to pick healthy and fun activities to find mental peace and the ability to make good choices in the future.
The risk of relapse is strikingly similar to that for other chronic diseases. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, 40-60% of people who have been treated for substance abuse disorder relapse. That may sound discouraging and could make you wonder what on earth the point of therapy is if you’re going to relapse from it anyway. But seriously, if you relapse, that doesn’t mean your treatment didn’t work. The relapse rate for numerous other chronic diseases, such as asthma or hypertension, is much more common. Does that mean you should stop treatment altogether? No, right?
A relapse simply means that you’re in recovery. And a relapse typically occurs when people do not adhere to their continued treatment, or they encounter an intense trigger. If you follow the treatment strictly and avoid situations that make a relapse more likely, then the chances of relapsing also go down.
Disclaimer: Relapse is a normal phase of the recovery process, and it’s nothing to be ashamed about. But for some drugs, the relapse can be especially wild. When someone takes the same dose of a drug as they did before quitting, they can easily overdose because their bodies are no longer used to that level of exposure to it. This can even be life-threatening, so again, if you give in to temptation and relapse, please seek emergency medical assistance.
Continuing care, or aftercare programs, help you deal with your recovery commitment and prevent relapse after finishing a complete treatment program. Ongoing care may include regular appointments with your recovery counselor, remaining in recovery housing, continuing with a self-help program, or building community with mutual aid groups.
The United States has a lot of community-run support groups that you can join for free and seek mental support. Your family and friends want to help, but most of the time, they won’t be able to provide you with practical tips on how to get through recovery unless they have been through the rehab process themselves. The peer-to-peer support groups gather those people together who are in similar life stages so they can discuss among each other and learn from each other’s journeys.
Addiction is not something that can ever be fully cured, but you can definitely learn to live a ‘normal’ life again. You just have to consult with a specialist and follow the treatment. It could be the most challenging period of your life yet, but it’ll still pay off in every sense at the end of the day.
Reference:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9549220/
https://apex.rehab/substance-abuse/drug/
https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/substance-abuse-services/treatment.html
Nashville’s go-to resource for all things Fitness, Health and Wellness in Music City. We’re a social and editorial platform dedicated to amplifying community events, exchanging meaningful dialogue through user generated content and sharing authentic stories that transcend fitness.
Fill out the form and get the latest issue delivered right to your inbox
