It is the year 2022 and we are recovering from the bruises and scratches from the pandemic. The pandemic has been hard for many of us in many different ways. As a result, since the onset of the pandemic, the mental health of the population has deteriorated. This also gave rise to issues like alcoholism and untreated PTSD.
However, with the reality of the pandemic set in, it is about time that we address the derivatives of it. It is time to let go of the excess baggage and enter 2022 with a new spirit.
Bursting the Myths
Alcoholism is one of the rising causes of concern amongst the UK population. With the rise in the usage of alcohol-related deaths and just one-fifth of the population seeking addiction treatment, it is time that the myths associated with addiction burst. Seeking help for an alcohol problem is not shameful, nor is it worse than relying on substances to move on.
1) Relapse from Treatment is a Failure
There are a lot of ups and downs when it comes to addiction treatment. There are times when people are at their lowest during treatment perhaps because of the lack of a support system. However, relapse does not mean rehabilitation cannot help. It is totally fine to seek help for a fourth, fifth, or even tenth time.
2) Addiction Treatment is Expensive
While there are many different options available for treatment, the cost depends on the level of support required.
There are a lot of options for government-funded treatments or breaking down the treatment cost into chunks to make it more affordable.
3) Addiction is a Chronic Illness
Addiction might be hard to move away from, however, through the right treatment and medications, primary addiction treatment does not need to extend beyond a set time period.
4) Addiction is a Personal Choice
Contrary to common belief, addiction is not a personal choice. Addiction is stigmatised more than mental health because of the perception that mental health is involuntary while addiction is a person’s own choice. Mental health and addiction are closely related also because mental health concerns are a primary reason for alcohol and drug abuse.
Types of Addiction Treatments
There are a number of treatments used to address addiction problems. With the chemical producers of the brain impacted by the addiction, medications are a necessity in each treatment. This is because medications can help induce dopamine production which lowers due to frequent alcohol and drug consumption.
Trauma Therapy
Trauma therapy for addiction treatment is effective when the patient is diagnosed with PTSD and addiction at the same time. There is a 36% chance of this because addiction is often linked to mental health deterioration.
Trauma therapy works by addressing the trauma or untreated PTSD that might have caused addiction. This works quite effectively and reduces the chance of relapse because the person is brought to terms with the trauma they have suffered.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Like trauma therapy, CBT works by engaging the clients in questions about recurring thoughts. This is then used to phase out the thoughts that are unhealthy and negative. CBT is one of the most common treatments for addiction because it allows the person to address the root cause that led to addiction. CBT has also proven its effectiveness when paired with other techniques. It also addresses the co-occurring mental disorders.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
MI focuses on allowing the person to feel more in control of the treatment. It works by developing intrinsic motivation and commitment to change. This then leads the individuals to embrace the efforts towards treatment which reduces the risk of relapse.
Dialectal Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
This addiction therapy focuses on teaching patients to regulate their emotions and any self-destructive behaviours. It also helps the patients to identify and avoid situations and triggers that could result in relapse. They learn how to give up actions that trigger cravings and learn coping skills that are healthy.
12-Step Facilitation
This therapy promotes continued abstinence by engaging the people in recovery with support groups. These support groups are a great way for patients to talk about the issues they face, thus normalising talking about addiction in a world where it has been stigmatised greatly.
Conclusion
This guide includes a systematic review of some of the treatments and therapies that you need to know about when it comes to beating addiction in 2022. There are many myths because of the stigma surrounding addiction and its treatment. However, these myths need to be burst to look at addiction from another perspective that can help out those suffering.
There are many types of addiction treatments that work by addressing the core causes of addiction. Medications alongside treatment like CBT and trauma therapy work well for addiction patients while simultaneously addressing the hidden mental health component of the addiction problem.
