Is Overcoming Addiction Possible?
Addiction is a chronic and troubling disease. It claims relationships, careers, families, communities, and even lives. But this does not mean that all hope is lost. Like other chronic diseases, recovery is possible.
At Circle of Hope, we are here to help. Our treatment programs can help you overcome your addiction by addressing the different components of it and understanding how they go together. Lasting recovery involves understanding your addiction’s root causes, triggers, and temptations.
At its core, recovering means a few different things. It means coping with drug cravings and other withdrawal symptoms, building healthier habits and coping mechanisms, and addressing the underlying causes of your addiction.
Types of Addictions People Have Overcome
Despite the different levels of addiction and substances involved, individuals the world over have overcome all different types of addictions. Searching for the words “how to overcome heroin addiction,” may yield different results than “how to overcome alcoholism.”
But that doesn’t mean that people are incapable of doing both. Individuals of all different walks of life overcome addictions every day. From alcohol to sedatives and benzodiazepines to Ritalin, recovery is possible. There are more solutions out there than there are problems.
Medical professionals, researchers, and addiction experts like ours have spent decades developing effective treatment methods. Some of the most commonly used drugs include:
- Alcohol
- Central nervous system depressants (barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and sleep medications)
- Cocaine
- Hallucinogens
- Heroin
- Inhalants
- Ketamine
- LSD
- Marijuana
- Nicotine
- MDMA (ecstasy/molly)
- Methamphetamine
- PCP
- Prescription opioids (pain relievers)
- Prescription stimulants
Hardest Addictions to Overcome
While it is possible to recover from any type of addiction, some may be harder than others. This is due to the ways that different drugs change our brains and bodies. And because drugs affect people differently, it can be hard to predict how difficult recovery will be.
There are many individual factors to consider. Things like weight and medical history, the presence of other substances, medications, methods, and duration of drug abuse can all alter your experience.
However, studies have shown an overlap in some areas, outlining the addictions people find the hardest to quit. Those include:
- Cocaine
- Alcohol
- Valium
- Heroin
- Cigarettes
Heroin is one that is particularly troubling. It causes the dopamine levels in the brain to increase by up to 200%. Because of this drastic increase, it also produces particularly intense withdrawal symptoms. With drugs as potent and addictive as heroin, the risk for complications is high enough that medical professionals highly recommend getting professional help.
How to Overcome Addiction Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms, including drug and alcohol cravings, are some of the most common relapse triggers. Getting through the stage of early sobriety is often the most challenging part of the transition. Of course, any long-term goal requires long-term effort.
But making it out on the other side of withdrawals is an excellent start. It is important to note that different types of detoxes can produce different results. A monitored detox in the safety and comfort of a certified addiction facility is preferred over cold turkey quitting at home.
Our knowledgeable and compassionate medical staff will monitor your progress, ensure your safety, and keep you properly fed and hydrated during your detox. Depending on the type of addiction, its severity, and the severity of your withdrawal symptoms, your detox may be medically assisted.
Medically assisted detoxes involve the use of certified medications to ease your withdrawal symptoms and set you up for success. No matter which type of detox you are eligible for, you will have 24-hour access to the care, support, and guidance of our dedicated recovery team.
How to Help Someone Overcome Drug Addiction
Drug addiction often requires professional care, support, and guidance. But there are certain things that you can do at home to help someone you love overcome their drug addiction, too. Building healthy routines is a crucial step in maintaining sobriety.
Encourage your loved one to develop healthy habits, hobbies, and coping mechanisms. This may involve walking, hiking, yoga, or other forms of physical, regular exercise. It may also involve building sober social networks.
Creative activities, physical exercise, proper rest and hydration, and a close-knit support group can work wonders for someone in recovery. These things can help boost our moods and overall emotional well-being, as well as providing healthy alternatives to drug-seeking behaviors.
They are also excellent ways to cope with stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions that are often tied to addiction. Maintaining balance in our health, both emotional and physical, can help us live our best lives.
Overcoming Addiction Books
If you’re looking for inspiration to overcome addiction, the material is out there. There are testimonies about overcoming drug addiction, overcoming addiction quotes, books, and beyond. Some of the best-selling books on substance abuse recovery include:
- Codependent No More
- The Language of Letting Go
- Alcoholics Anonymous: The Big Book
- Drop the Rock
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
- In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts
- Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions
A quick Google search for recovery quotes, inspiration, stories, or testimonials will also yield instant results whenever you need an emotional boost or a reminder to stay on track.
How to Overcome Addiction: A Sampling of Methods
There are many proven methods that are useful in addiction recovery. Our four-phase approach includes assessment, detoxification, rehabilitation, and aftercare. Throughout the four phases, you will have access to a well-rounded lineup of treatment methods.
Detoxification, behavioral counseling, family therapy, medication, and aftercare are some of the keys to long-term success. Whether you choose a full-time, residential treatment program or a part-time, outpatient program, many of the methods remain the same.
Ours is a personalized and holistic recovery approach. It involves improving your well-being emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Finding balance within can help us improve every aspect of our lives, including our drinking and drug-using habits.
How Long Does It Take to Overcome an Addiction?
There is no effective one-size-fits-all approach to addiction. Every individual is unique, and that applies to every addiction, too. Your treatment will be customized according to your unique addiction and needs. This applies to both the setting and the longevity of your program.
All good things in life are worth working for. Recovery is no exception. It may take you a few weeks to recover, or it may take years. But the same way that our addictions don’t form overnight, we can’t expect to solve them that way, either.
We will help ease the path as best as we can. And we will ensure that you have access to all of the knowledge, care, support, and guidance you need here for as long as you need it.
Treatment for Overcoming Addiction
Nearly 1 in 10 Americans have an addiction to both drugs and alcohol. If you are battling one addiction or multiple, we can help. Our dedicated team will help you understand your addiction, making it easier to overcome it.
We will help you understand what works and what doesn’t, what triggers your drug or alcohol use, and set specific, realistic goals to stay motivated. We will teach you how and why to build healthier habits and coping mechanisms and use support groups here and at home to stay on track. Call us today at 818-391-5259 to get started.
