Therapists recognize two types of addiction. One is physiological while the other is psychological. Physiological addiction affects your body, causing physical reactions to the lack of a substance in the body. Psychological addiction affects your mind and emotions when not on a certain substance. How can you receive treatment for these conditions? More importantly, how significant is it to tackle both forms of dependence?
Why it Matters to Recognize Both Types of Addiction
Addiction treatment that disregards one form of addiction creates a lopsided approach. Physical addiction results in intense withdrawal symptoms when you choose to quit. Examples include alcohol and opiates. In simplest terms, your body tries to convince you that you cannot live without the drug in your system.
On the other side of the spectrum are the psychological forms of dependence. You experience them as overwhelming desires for one or more substances. These cravings make it difficult to stick with rehab treatment. They lead you to rationalize using “just once,” which quickly gets you back on the path to dependence.
Evidence-Based Treatments for Addictions
Both types of addiction require expert treatment. This disease is chronic and progressive, and it won’t go away by itself. Detoxification typically resolves the physical form of the disease. Dealing with the compulsion that psychological dependence brings on calls for the substance abuse programs that a rehab center offers.
Detox, by design, cannot address the underlying reasons for your drug use. The withdrawal process only readies you to undergo this part of recovery. A program that shows a lot of promise is reality therapy. Rather than spiriting you away to a location with no outside contact, this addiction therapy includes:
Supervised opportunities to handle stressors and triggers with hands-on, real time solutions and coping skills
The premise of this treatment model rests in the fact that you have to return to your real life at some point. As a result, the sooner you learn and implement new coping skills, the more comfortable you’ll feel at home. Additionally, therapists and mentors will assist you, throughout the process.
Moving Forward
From there, you might consider entering an intensive outpatient program. This takes place after four to six weeks in rehab and intensifies the real life treatment approach. Furthermore, this is the perfect marriage of independent living with intensive therapy. The goal of this treatment setting is relapse prevention.
You’ll feel more comfortable during the remainder of your recovery. This program is also a good time to undertake family therapy. When you’re ready to break free from both types of addiction, our experts at Crest View Recovery Center want to help. Call 866-327-2505 now for assistance and more information about our programs.
