Psychological Dependence on Drug Abuse

Substance abuse is a double-edged sword. You know about the withdrawal symptoms that you try to avoid at all costs. They’re signs of physiological addiction. However, there’s also a psychological dependence on drug abuse.

The Mind and Body Work Together in Addiction

Therapists agree that addiction takes place in the mind and body. Physiological dependence focuses on the way the body reacts when you stop using. There are withdrawal symptoms. Most importantly, there will be changes in brain chemistry because you are no longer introducing a chemical substance. At a high-quality rehab facility, treatment always begins with detoxification for this reason. You remind your body that it doesn’t need the drug to survive. From there, you move on to treating the psychological dependence. Detox might take a week to ten days; in contrast, rehab can take several weeks or months.

How Therapists Treat Psychological Dependence

Your body no longer needs the drug. Because it became such a focal point of your life, however, your mind needs help readjusting. There’s the compulsion to drink alcohol even though you aren’t thirsty. You crave the high. Addiction specialists consider this form of dependency to be chronic. Besides that, they recognize that it combines genetic predispositions with psychosocial elements. Therefore, it takes more than a couple of weeks of withdrawal to overcome addiction. Treatments for the psychological aspect include:

• Individual therapy that lets you explore reasons for using and viable alternatives
• Cognitive behavioral therapy, which encourages maladaptive pattern recognition and change
• Group therapy for addiction education and goal setting
• Mindfulness-based interventions that focus on your emotional and spiritual health
• Dual diagnosis treatment for conditions such as depression or anxiety

Therapists understand that there’s a significant danger of relapse with psychological dependence. Although post-acute withdrawal symptoms can play a role, it’s typically due to psychological reasons. Relapse prevention training is, therefore, a significant focus on rehab. Almost all high-quality facilities offer experiential therapies that you can continue after graduation. The goal is the introduction of new hobbies or activities that fill the time you spent buying and using drugs. Besides that, therapists assist you in putting together a secure support network. Family therapy can help mend fences and reopen avenues of communication with loved ones. Furthermore, support group attendance can become an integral part of the network when there are no family members.

I’ve Relapsed; Is It Too Late for Me?

It’s never too late to reach out for help. Addiction’s a chronic disease, which means that it doesn’t have a cure. Therefore, a relapse isn’t something extraordinary. That said, the sooner you seek help after relapsing, the easier it is to get back on track. However, even if years have passed since you relapsed, it’s not too late to get help for psychological dependence. Rise up again with the help of experts who create a targeted relapse prevention plan for you. Moreover, they can help first-time program participants and repeat clients overcome psychological dependence. Contact Ardu Recovery Center addiction treatment specialists today at 801-810-1234.