In the wake of addiction, drug-dependent individuals come to believe that they cannot function while sober. This effect is exacerbated by narcotics’ effects on the brain’s reward systems, neurotransmitter balance, and operant conditioning of drugs which creates strong associations between use and pleasure. Additionally, quite often, the euphoric series of highs sought over the course drug addiction stems from an emotional need to block out psychological pain, stress, fear or anxiety. As a result, underlying issues that may contribute to these drug use triggers may never have been resolved before professional treatment is sought at drug rehab programs. Fortunately, by seeking professional addiction recovery therapy at drug treatment programs, patients can receive targeted, personalized therapy to resolve the psychological portion of their drug addictions.

The Importance of Therapy at Drug Rehab Programs

Therapy can provide the tools necessary in order to break free from drug addiction – even after years of chronic usage or multiple drug addictions. Working alongside the patient in a joint effort for recovery, clinical therapists begin to build awareness of addictive dynamics in patients, allowing patients to speak openly about drug addiction in a nonjudgmental, shame-free atmosphere of acceptance. Patients also begin to understand and contextualize their drug addictions in the course of their lives, recognizing triggers and dynamics that may have led to the formation of drug addiction.

Applications of Therapy at Drug Rehab Programs

Through therapy services provided at a drug rehab program, patients can learn to examine destructive patterns of thinking, heal self-esteem, and work through past experiences that may have created a desire for emotional and psychological escape. We’ve provided an overview exploration of many of the issues treated by therapy at drug rehab programs below.

Trauma Recovery

Studies have shown that those in treatment for drug addiction report higher rates of traumatic events than their sober peers, surviving child abuse, sexual assault, relationship violence, natural disasters or combat stress. Healing such traumatic event survival can help resolve the desire to escape or emotionally numb through the chronic drug use. Talk therapy and other targeted therapies may be employed, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for cases involving borderline personality disorder, often coinciding with childhood or ritualistic abuse and neglect.

Dual Diagnosis Therapy at Drug Rehab Programs

In some cases, diagnostic testing and therapeutic work confirms the existence of a secondary mental health disorder. Dual diagnosis cases, as they are known, involve the simultaneous treatment of both mental health issues and drug addiction – a synchronization that has proven most effective for such cases according to addiction research. Dual diagnosis treatment can involve a variety of psychological treatments, including the dispensation of psychiatric medication (such as anxiety, depression, attention deficit or psychosis medicines), group therapy involvement and personalized therapy. With targeted therapies, patients can learn to cope with the effects of both their drug addiction and their concurrent disorders.

Relationship Restoration Through Drug Rehab Program Therapy

When drug addiction occurs within a family or marriage partnership, isolation, distrust and estrangement can threaten to destroy relationships. Most drug rehab programs provide some form of family or couples counseling to help heal long-standing wounds or grudges, encourage understanding on the part of loved ones, allow for productive confrontations, build communication skills and establish support systems for the drug-addicted individual.

Practical Life Skills Through Drug Rehab Programs Therapy

One additional aspect of therapy programs offered by drug rehab facilities is the acquisition of practical emotional and psychological management skills needed for daily sober living. Such skills include anger and stress management, calming visualization techniques, time management, organizational approaches and self-care strategies.