Drug and alcohol addiction can negatively impact every area of life, and overcoming an addiction is far from easy. Fortunately, help is available. Learn how to overcome addiction, what steps are necessary and how you or your loved one can work toward a lifetime of recovery.
Recognize the Addiction
The first step is simply recognizing the addiction. This is easier said than done, because many people try to justify their consumption. If you can’t cut back, you have no control over consumption once you start using, or you’re suffering negative consequences because of your substance use, then you have an addiction.
Recognizing substance use as a problem also marks it as an illness. Like any other illness, addiction isn’t something that you can fix on your own. Acknowledging your addiction also means opening yourself up to options for medical care and treatment.
End Your Physical and Chemical Dependence
Addiction is a complicated disease, and only treating the physical symptoms won’t deliver lasting results. However, you still need to treat the physiological side of the equation. Often, the first step to recovery is detox.
Completing a detox and going through withdrawal means ending your physical and chemical dependence on addictive substances. At that point, you’ll be free from the influence of drugs or alcohol, which means that you’ll also be ready to start addiction treatment. Although we do not offer detox we can refer you to one of our partner facilities.
Addressing Underlying Issues and Causes
Addiction doesn’t develop in a vacuum. A number of factors work together to cause it. These factors can be genetic, a byproduct of a person’s environment or can involve mental health. Whatever they are, uncovering and addressing them is key.
Extensive therapy is often the best way to address these issues. Clients can communicate and share experiences with their peers in group therapy, for example. Additionally, they can also benefit from individual therapy as well as behavioral therapy. All of these strategies provide patients with the opportunities they need to gain strength and fight back against addiction.
Learn to Prevent Relapse
Knowing how to overcome addiction is important, but it’s just as important to learn how to prevent relapse from taking hold. Relapse rates are over 50% for most types of addiction, but addiction treatment can bring that number down.
Individuals in recovery can learn coping mechanisms for cravings, and they can also create a support system for recovery. All of this can make a big difference in preventing relapse.
How to Overcome Addiction at Crestview Recovery
At Crestview Recovery, clients can overcome a wide range of addictions. We create individualized treatment plans, which means that clients receive the treatments, therapies and recovery schedules that match their history and lifestyle. Overcoming addiction can include any or all of the following strategies:
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavioral therapy
- Experiential therapy
- Mindfulness therapy
Following these steps can help you to overcome addiction once and for all. Crestview Recovery in Portland, Oregon, may be the ideal place for you to make the journey to better health. Find sobriety and happiness in your life by calling 866-580-4160.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
