Addiction can be an ugly word, and depending on how close we are to an addiction or an addict, it can be painful. For people affected by addiction, it can feel like there is no way out.
But there are effective treatments available and help is at hand. For example, approximately 60% of people treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for addiction are able to maintain control of their addiction for the 12 months following.
That can be an incredible light at the end of the tunnel for someone who feels stuck and like there isn’t a way to escape addiction, and CBT has proven itself to be effective against a range of different addictions including alcoholism and drug abuse.
Read on to find out what you need to know about CBT and how it can help those impacted by addiction.
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of mental health counseling that focuses on the individual and their thoughts, feelings, and actions.
By looking closely at the way a person responds to outside factors, CBT seeks to resolve and replace negative behaviors with positive ones and essentially retrain your brain.
That is one of the key reasons why CBT for addiction recovery is such a powerful tool because so many addictions are driven by negative and self-destructive behaviors that once recognized, can be adapted.
7 Things You Need to Know About Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Addiction
There is a lot to learn about CBT and how it works as an effective treatment. We have boiled down the most important points for you to get a better picture of how it can help with addiction.
1. It’s Better with a Recovery Plan
CBT should be used in combination with a recovery plan.
As fantastic as it can be alone, it is far better when medical professionals are able to guide an effective treatment plan alongside the therapy.
2. CBT Focuses on Your Thoughts
It trains you to think better and dismiss outside stimuli in order to overcome addiction or other negative behaviors.
It is there to help people overcome negative thoughts that lead to self-destructive behaviors. It’s not a quick fix and it requires a lot of reflection, but getting to the core of the problem can mean more lasting results.
3. It Helps to Improve Motivation
CBT starts and ends with the addict. That means improving the motivation and cultivating the willpower to resist when destructive thoughts creep in.
4. You Can Learn New Coping Skills
Addiction is frequently used as a coping mechanism for negative thoughts or other unsavory aspects of an individual’s life.
CBT provides genuine, constructive means to try and replace bad strategies for coping with healthy ones.
5. You Can Change Old Habits
Addictive habits can seem unconquerable, but you need to be aware that this is the goal you are working towards.
The habits that are currently in place for an addict require recognition and then reprogramming in order to effectively take hold long term.
6. You Can Learn to Manage Painful Feelings
Feelings do not need to control you. You can learn and grow the strength to take control back.
7. There Are Different Types of CBT
Not everyone responds to one specific aspect of CBT, so recognizing that people are different and respond better to different methods, there is a range of different treatments. These include the following:
- Cognitive therapy
- Dialectic behavior therapy
- Rational behavior therapy
- Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT)
- Rational living therapy
For even greater insight into the specifics of treatment methods, you can find out more here.
How Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Work
CBT isn’t complex, but it does require dedicated effort, and it’s best performed with the help of professionals to guide you along the path to recovery.
You can learn more about how it works by exploring our page.
And please, if you or someone you know needs help, do not be afraid to contact us. Let’s discuss how we can best help by using cognitive behavioral therapy for addiction or whatever fits your circumstances best.
Recent Comments