Addiction treatment in College Station involves more than just exerting a bit of willpower and stopping drug or alcohol use. Beginning the recovery process for drug or alcohol addiction might start with the detox process, but remaining clean and sober over the long term requires specialized drug addiction treatment.
Successful addiction treatment in College Station requires the right combination of treatments and drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs suited to each person's unique needs.
Addiction is characterized by compulsive use of drugs or alcohol, even when experiencing negative consequences. Taking any mind-altering substance causes significant changes in the brain's chemistry, triggering a flood of hormones and neurotransmitters through the system.
Over a period of time, the brain begins to adapt to the presence of the substance in the system. The result is that the person needs to take higher doses of the drug or drink larger volumes of alcohol in order to achieve the same effects.
Eventually, the brain becomes unable to produce certain hormones or neurotransmitters naturally, unless it continues to receive the artificial stimulus of more drugs or alcohol. The hormone-depleted brain sends signals that the user interprets as overwhelming cravings.
If the user tries to stop taking the substance suddenly, the brain can't adapt. As a result, the user experiences withdrawal symptoms that can range from moderate to unpleasantly uncomfortable. Depending on the type of drug being taken, some people may experience withdrawal symptoms that can be dangerous or even life-threatening.
In an effort to avoid the onset of drug withdrawal in College Station, many people will continue using. At this point, the person is considered dependent, or addicted.
Drug addiction treatment in College Station integrates behavioral therapy and individual counseling sessions to identify the underlying triggers behind self-destructive behaviors. Therapy then starts to address self-destructive behaviors and dysfunctional attitudes associated with addictive substance abuse and teach positive new coping skills for living a productive, sober life.
Treatment also involves a range of other therapy programs for drug and alcohol addiction designed to help the recovering person discover effective new ways for coping with stress and managing cravings using healthy means that ultimately make it easier to remain clean and sober.
Some types of therapy programs for drug and alcohol addiction may include:
Art therapy: It's common for many people going through a course of addiction treatment in College Station to struggle with low self-esteem and poor self-image. Engaging with various forms of creative therapies helps to boost confidence, improve focus, encourage commitment, and increase self-esteem. More importantly, they provide a healthy, positive outlet that allows people to express themselves in non-verbal ways. Some types of creative therapy can include drawing, painting, sculpting, writing, or dancing.
Group support meetings: During a comprehensive drug addiction treatment program, recovering people are introduced to group support therapy to help reduce feelings of isolation. After rehab treatments have ended, recovering people are encouraged to continue attending group support meetings to help maintain motivation to stay clean and sober. Group meetings may include alcoholics anonymous (AA) or narcotics anonymous (NA), along with alternative group support options, such as SMART Recovery that also maintains an online forum for those who want extra support outside of normal physical meeting hours.
Yoga and meditation: Restorative yoga uses a range of poses and postures in combination with controlled breathing techniques that help promote relaxation and reduce stress. Yoga is also helpful for rebuilding muscle strength and tone, which helps to improve self-confidence. Meditation techniques are also beneficial for improving concentration and focus, as well as helping to effectively manage cravings.
There are a range of other therapies that may also be incorporated into a comprehensive drug addiction rehab program. These include exercise programs, moral reconation therapy (MRT), equine or animal therapy, family therapy, nutritional therapy, acupuncture, biofeedback and dual diagnosis treatment in College Station.
The key to choosing the right combination of therapies is to engage in a variety of options and stick with the ones that provide the most effective results. Call us now at (877) 804-1531.