Recovering from addiction usually requires treatment because it takes time for your brain and body to fully heal. Since different recovery programs work for different people, it’s important to connect with a treatment center that aligns with your personal needs and goals. With 1 out of every 7 Americans eventually developing a substance abuse disorder in their lifetime, addiction impacts countless Americans. What makes addiction such a cunning and powerful disease is that it’s a chronic condition that doesn’t discriminate. Anyone, regardless of age, race, gender, or background, can ultimately develop a substance abuse disorder. Although certain environmental and genetic factors can increase your risk of struggling with an addiction, the truth is that using any potentially addictive substance is dangerous.
What is Addiction?
When you develop a substance abuse disorder, you continue to abuse your substance of choice even when you deal with harmful consequences and have a genuine desire to quit. Addiction impacts your brain chemistry, decision-making process, and logical reasoning centers. Your brain’s pleasure and reward center associates your substance of choice with pleasure, rewarding your use, and punishing your abstinence by controlling the release of neurotransmitters. When you use, your brain releases more neurotransmitters than it should. Conversely, your brain restricts the release of pleasurable neurotransmitters when you don’t use, which leads to intense cravings and mood changes. Addiction can alter your mood, personality, and behaviors, which can damage your relationships and increase conflict. As addiction progresses, your tolerance to your substance of choice increases. You’re then forced to constantly use more to continue feeling the same pleasurable effects. During severe physical addictions, you may have to use daily solely to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms can begin within hours of your last use and make it difficult to remain sober. Since your liver is responsible for filtering impurities, abusing drugs and alcohol can overwork your liver and lead to medical problems. Long-term addictions can cause damage to your neurotransmitter receptors and it can take months for your brain to heal. Early treatment is the best way to address a substance abuse problem, as it significantly improves recovery outcomes.
Different Recovery Programs Work for Different People
When you decide to get help for a substance abuse disorder, you have a variety of options, including:
- Residential treatment programs
- Outpatient and partial hospitalization treatment
- Evidence-based treatments
- Holistic therapy program
- Secular and non-secular programs
- Peer-led support groups, such as AA, NA, and SMART Recovery
When you evaluate your treatment options, it’s important to remember that different recovery programs work for different people. Rehabs offer specialized programs, like dual diagnosis treatment and gender-specific treatment. Since treatment plans are highly individualized, you have the freedom to choose programs that best meet your needs. Because different recovery programs work for different people, there is no right or wrong choice when it comes to completing substance abuse treatment. Programs may cater to specific age groups, such as teens, young adults, and working professionals. Other treatment centers are gender-specific, which can limit distractions and make it easier to feel comfortable. Treatment programs prepare you for a life of sobriety by teaching you how to manage your symptoms and cope with triggers. Coping mechanisms are another example of how different recovery programs work for different people, because while meditation may help you handle cravings, it may not be effective for other patients.
Connect with Promises Treatment Center Today
When you’re struggling with a substance abuse disorder, it’s important to remember that different recovery programs work for different people. Battling addiction can make you feel hopeless and frustrated, especially if you’ve tried getting clean and sober before. Discussing your treatment options with a substance abuse treatment center is the best way to ensure that you choose the right program for your needs. If you’re ready to start your recovery journey, contact us at 844.875.5609 today to find out more about our treatment programs.