What can I do if I have an addiction?
Overdoses of illegal drugs and prescription drugs cause a huge number of deaths every year, almost 70,000 registered in 2018 alone.
Alcohol consumption contributes to the deaths of more than 90,000 people and tobacco is linked to around 480,000 deaths a year.
These alarming figures continue to increase interest in the study of addictions to find more and more efficient treatments that reduce these rates. Let's learn a little more about addiction and its treatment below.
What is an addiction?
We refer to addiction to that chronic and frequent pathology of the brain characterized by the incessant and pathological search for a reward or relief through the use of substances.
Addiction involves an inability to maintain control over one's own behavior, which is why there is great difficulty in maintaining persistent abstinence, since addicts have an overwhelming urge to consume.
Not being able to identify the significant inconveniences caused by this behavior and its negative consequence in interpersonal interactions and in one's own emotional well-being and its dysfunctionality within the social sphere.
What results is a decrease in the quality of life that generates inconveniences at work, academic occupations, social collaborations or in the interaction with relatives or partners.
Addictions can be both to substances and to behaviors, according to current neuroscience, within addictive behaviors we can highlight: addiction to sex, gambling or video games.
How should you fight an addiction?
Addiction is a treatable disorder, advances in the science of addiction have led to the construction of revised procedures that help individuals to quit addiction and return to a functional and healthy life.
Being a chronic disorder there is no cure, however it is feasible to manage addiction successfully, with these procedures it is possible for individuals to counteract the damaging effects of addictions on the brain and behavior, and regain control.
Behavioral therapies help individuals who remain under drug addiction procedure to change their reactions and behaviors involved with drug use.
As a consequence, patients develop the ability to cope with stressful situations and various triggering components that could cause another relapse, they also have the possibility of increasing the effectiveness of the medications and helping the patient continue with the procedure in the long term.
The therapy that treats addictions comprises several elements of the individual's life to achieve a complete, complex and effective approach, the cognitive behavioral component seeks to help patients to recognize, avoid and face the situations in which it is more feasible for them to consume drugs.
Contingency management uses positive reinforcement, such as granting rewards or privileges for not using, attending and actively participating in psychological support sessions, or taking procedural medications according to the rules.
Motivational stimulation therapy uses tactics to take advantage of people's willingness to change their behavior and begin a procedure that helps you treat your addiction from commitment.
Family therapy helps individuals with consumption problems, especially young people and their families, to analyze the components that influence consumption patterns and improve general management within the family nucleus.
In these it is essential to make a commitment and aspire to achieve long-term goals to increase your functioning, but that are not impossible, so as not to enhance stress.
It also works to establish a system of rewards and punishments to promote self-control, identify what works as a punishment or reward so that you can influence the addiction.
And finally, it is super important to stay away from temptations or related social circles or that encourage consumption, exposure to these will only make you suffer and not resist, so you must keep yourself surrounded by things and individuals that align with your goals.
How to identify an addiction?
It is relevant to take into account the inability to maintain control of consumption and its negative consequences in the lives of those who consume it.
You are unable to minimize your consumption.
He has problems in his relationships thanks to his consumption.
Its consumption makes him miss socially relevant events.
Loss of control of use
Sad mood
Irritability
Impaired quality of life
Denial or self-deception
Anxiety
Obsession
Inordinate restlessness
Insomnia
Guilt
It is important to note that addictions are treatable and that relapse is part of the process, there is a good prognosis for those who struggle to be healthy and sober.