One of the key components of addiction recovery that is often overlooked is therapy. Across the board, therapy can be socially stigmatized, but we now live in a world where therapy is celebrated and encouraged by many–even for those who may not have a medical/behavioral “need” for it. It is important to recognize that addiction is a mental health disorder, which affects our brain’s ability to make sound decisions and can alter our “normal” behavior. Therefore, the role of therapy in addiction recovery is of utmost importance. Here are three reasons why:
Therapy provides necessary support for individuals battling addiction, as well as their peers. It is important to recognize that more often than not, addiction coincides with other mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, BPD (bipolar disorder), or PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Therapy serves as the catalyst to identify these disorders and treat them in conjunction with addiction. It is also important to recognize that addiction doesn’t just affect the individual, it also affects their peers. Involving family and/or friends in the recovery process only adds to its benefits. Plus, those peers often need support just as much as the addicted individual.
Therapy helps identify addictive triggers and reduces the risk of relapse. For many individuals battling addiction, it is difficult to self-identify events, relationships, or other dynamics that contribute to their addiction. Therapy helps identify those triggers, helps the individual understand why they can be triggering, and helps provide the necessary support moving forward to avoid them. By doing this, therapy is paving a path toward recovery where the risk for relapse is much lower.
Therapy provides solutions necessary for addiction recovery. Much like what we discussed in our last point, once an individual can identify and understand their addictive triggers, they can better avoid them because therapy will provide the necessary solutions to combat them. This is not a one-size-fits-all process, and the solutions provided in therapy to maintain sobriety are entirely personalized and will look different from one individual to the next. While there are many rehab programs offering group solutions that work, it is just as important to have an individualized approach.
Are you struggling with addiction or having a hard time maintaining your sobriety? Here at AFHS, we provide a wide array of different programs and solutions for those battling addiction. From one-on-one to group therapies, we can develop a treatment plan that best suits you and your needs. The path to recovery is right in front of you and is attainable. Visit our website to learn more and reach out when you’re ready!
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