The destruction of drug and alcohol addiction ripples out. It wrecks families and has serious effects on people throughout communities.
Humans are social and require connection. Interestingly, addiction is an illness that forces isolation onto people.
Social connection is therefore one of the most important strands of recovery. This can be tricky, to begin with as people realise they have to break ties with old acquaintances in order to stop participating in certain addictive behaviours.
There is much room for positive change, though, as people meet others in similar circumstances who are invested in healthy lifestyles.
When people enter rehab, they benefit from meeting new people and beginning to learn lots of ways to become sober.
A call to OK Rehab today on 0800 326 5559 means you can find out how to connect with others who are in recovery in Gravesham.
What substances are people treated for?
There are many treatments that effectively target addiction. When thinking about addiction as a whole, there are particular therapies that are more beneficial than others.
In terms of psychological therapies, for instance, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach. This means it has proven to successfully treat people who have become sober.
1. Cannabis
Many people are surprised that cannabis addiction is treated at rehab. This is likely because of the way it is glamorised on TV as well as how people argue its medicinal benefits.
The truth is, though some THC strains of cannabis are not only highly addictive, they also cause serious issues.
This is a drug which is particularly dangerous for people with mental health problems. It can cause sleep problems where people become dependent on it “to be able” to sleep, it can cause anxiety and also trigger psychosis.
When withdrawing, many users can experience severe mood swings and even aggression.
2. Cocaine
There’s a huge issue with cocaine use becoming widely spread throughout the world. It’s now much easier to get hold of and cheaper than it was in the past. With this comes the arrival of addictions in what might be viewed as “unexpected places”.
There are many high-functioning cocaine users who hold down jobs and run a household while being hooked on coke.
It’s a stimulant and for the person who is required to be productive, it can become the “go to”. What comes with this, however, is damaged nose cartilage, lower immunity and more susceptibility to colds and flu, heart problems, insomnia and anxiety.
People also might move from cocaine to crack use when they build a tolerance. This increases the health risks even more as the lungs and respiratory system is put under more strain.
3. Heroin
Heroin has long been an issue for people with addictions. What can happen now is that although people might not begin their drug journey using heroin, they might move towards it.
This is often seen in cases where people might be addicted to ketamine or benzodiazepines. When tolerance is built up to these substances, users often look elsewhere.
Heroin might also be used in order to ease issues related to bladder pain in the ketamine user, for instance.
Heroin causes dependency and requires a medically supervised detox.
4. Alcohol
Alcohol is the easiest drug to get hold of due to it being legal. For a person who is addicted, this can make it especially hard to stop as it feels as though everywhere they turn, there’s a bottle.
Many people with other addictions will also fall back on alcohol to try and create more of an effect from the drugs they’re using. This is known as polysubstance misuse.
Alcohol, like heroin, causes dependency and requires doctor supervision in order to detox safely.
5. Other substances
Other substance addictions that are treated at rehab in the UK are those linked to benzodiazepines, amphetamines, ketamine, spice (a synthetic cannabis), and other opioids.
What other addictions exist alongside those to psychoactive substances?
It’s common that people with addictions might also have other compulsive behaviours. As well as psychoactive substance addiction, a person might also have a behavioural addiction.
This would be the case if a person was addicted to gambling, shopping, tanning, social media, or porn use.
Private clinics in various areas of the UK offer rehab programmes to address all areas. It’s important for people in this position to be treated for both conditions at the same time.
To find out more, call our team today on 0800 326 5559. We look forward to hearing from you.
What are rehabilitation options in Gravesham?
There are two types of services you can access in Gravesham. Some people will go for the NHS-funded service. This is useful if you only require light input.
There’s usually a timetable of groups available each week for people to attend. There might be some counselling available too depending on staff availability.
Private clinics offer specialist treatments and tailored programmes to suit the individual. There are doctors to treat the physical aspects, psychotherapists on hand to address the mental health aspect and alternative therapists for a holistic approach.
This type of facility is an immersive experience which is aimed at people who have moderate to severe addictions.
What psychological treatments are there?
There are a variety of treatments to target the psychology of addiction. When you’re assessed by the psychiatrist at a rehab clinic, they’ll come to understand what therapies will be best for your needs.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the basis of psychotherapy for all people who have addictions. It’s an approach which considers the thought processes and how they can be adapted to change behaviours.
For the person who has seriously ill mental health, they’ll be offered other therapies too. Those with deep emotional trauma might also be offered dialectical behavioural therapy or EMDR therapy as well.
To find out more, call our team today on 0800 326 5559. We look forward to hearing from you.
How long will it take for me to recover?
Recovery is a life-long journey. It can take months for the substance to completely clear from the body in some instances. Therefore thought processes and behaviours can take a while to heal.
This might feel disheartening, but it’s important to remember that the longer you spend focused on recovery, the easier it becomes. Cravings reduce and triggers aren’t so triggering.
Thousands recover every year and you can too. The trick to success is being consistent in how you approach healing. You must keep doing the things that help you to remain sober. It takes work, but that work becomes easier.
To gain the best tools to do all the recovery work needed, call OK Rehab for more information on 0800 326 5559.
