How Can Therapy on its Own Deal With Addiction?
This is a question of profound interest to those of us who have found ourselves victims of addiction and need Therapy.
It is also of interest to those of us in recovery who have heard that it is impossible to overcome an addiction without a partner. Does online really work for addiction?
Sadly, therapy on its own cannot cure addiction. There are a lot of physical factors that must be attended to as well in order to have the best possible chance of getting clean. Enrolling in a Phoenix substance abuse treatment center might be your best shot at getting clean.
First, let us look at why online therapy can help those suffering from addiction. Unfortunately, many of our “helpful” friends and family members have convinced themselves that it is impossible to overcome addiction on your own. The pressure from loved ones can be overwhelming. They convince us that we cannot succeed if we do not go to them for our help. The pressure from friends can make it difficult to even think straight – what will their reaction be if we admit that we need their help?
So, we try to ignore the addiction – to pretend it does not exist. Our friends, family, and partners often tell us that they are there for us when we need them. But these same people are completely unaware of our addiction. They may offer to help us overcome our addiction but they don’t really know what it is. What they DO know is that they need us more than we need them!
Can therapy on its own deal with addiction? There are many benefits to online therapy: it is convenient; it is private; it can be done at home; we can have unlimited access to a therapist – this is the main benefit. However, these benefits come at the cost of a loss of privacy and our emotional privacy. When we are working our hardest to overcome our addiction, we need to be able to deal with our deepest feelings – the shame and guilt that accompany addiction are often difficult to deal with alone.
When we use online therapy as an addictions support option, our shame and guilt are taken out of the equation. As an addiction counselor, I often recommend online therapy as a way to help addicts work through their issues. The key is to make sure the client understands that they will be sharing these “painful” feelings with their online therapist. This makes the online therapy session much more comfortable for the client and allows them to work through their issue with little stress or anxiety.
How can therapy on its own deal with addiction?
If we look at some of the most common addictions, they typically involve an imbalance of chemicals in the brain – this imbalance must be addressed and overcome in order to deal with addiction. For example, an addiction to alcohol involves the over-production of dopamine and serotonin in the brain.
When we use addictions support groups, we can learn how to identify our addiction and take steps to overcome it. For example, alcoholics must first deal with the shame, guilt and stress over having a problem. These emotions can cause a relapse when they are identified and dealt with properly. The next step is to find a reliable addiction treatment program (CBT, talk therapy or exercise) to help us work through the issues that we are struggling with. In my practice, I have found that these types of therapies work very well to help addicts deal with the emotional aspects of their addiction while they focus on conquering the physical cravings. This allows the individual to tackle the addiction head on – they no longer feel guilty about their drinking or craving.
Can therapy on its own deal with addiction? Yes, it can. If you are struggling with an addiction, Anotherlight is an reliable addiction recovery program centre. It may be required that you attend one of your local addiction centers before you can completely recover. However, it is an effective means to dealing with your addiction while offering you the comfort, resources and support you need to get through the process.
