Nobody grows up actually wanting to be an addict. But if you’ve found yourself struggling with addiction, you might be wondering why you can’t seem to drink or party like a “normal” person. Addiction is a disease, and like other diseases, it can be triggered and made worse by genetic and lifestyle factors. Understanding why you became an addict or alcoholic can help you address these issues, so you can get clean and sober for good.
Depression & Addiction
Did you know that nearly one third of people with depression also have an alcohol or drug problem? Whether depression runs in your family or you just can’t seem to get right lately, it could be a big reason why you’ve had a hard time quitting drugs.
Why? It starts in the brain. When you’re suffering from depression, your brain is already having chemical issues. Introducing other substances like drugs and alcohol to the mix makes it even harder for your brain to find stability — especially when you’re using alcohol or other depressive substances.
Then, depression causes you to isolate, abandon your routine, and make unhealthy choices when it comes to eating, sleeping, and exercise. Addiction also thrives in those conditions.
For that reason, sometimes, getting clean and sober for good means treating your depression, but you won’t have a chance of taking care of that until you get drugs and alcohol out of your system first. Everything starts with detox, and then you can work on really getting your mind right.
Anxiety & Addiction
Like depression, anxiety is a brain illness that can lead to problems with substance abuse. For many people, the downward spiral starts as a desperate attempt to self-medicate. Instead of dealing with the symptoms of anxiety in a healthy way or seeking treatment, they look for the quick fix of a drink or drug.
It might work in the moment, but drinking and drug use will make it nearly impossible for your brain and body to find peace. Chemically, you’ll be stuck on a roller coaster as you try to find the right combination of drugs to feel ok. At the same time, alcohol and drug use also can cause issues in your life that lead to even more anxiety, such as problems at work or in your relationship. This creates a vicious cycle of anxiety, self-medication, and more mental health issues that is really hard to escape.
If you’re suffering from anxiety, you deserve lasting peace. You won’t get it by self-medicating. Getting off of drugs and alcohol will allow you to address any brain chemistry or lifestyle issues triggering your anxiety, so you can learn tips for managing and even living without your anxiety.
Trauma, PTSD, & Addiction
Most commonly, drug and alcohol abuse is tied to the deep scars of trauma. Trauma is buried so deep, you might not even be aware of how the incidents of your past are keeping you from being healthy today. People with trauma or PTSD often try to self-medicate using drugs and alcohol, but doing that is like pouring gasoline on a fire. You won’t have any hope of uncovering and healing your trauma until you put out the fire by stopping the use of drugs and alcohol. Then, you can treat your underlying emotional injuries and heal from the inside out.
Am I Self Medicating?
If you’re abusing drugs and alcohol, it’s likely that there’s something deeper going on. The reality is, though, that drugs and alcohol will mess up your mind, body and life so badly, that you won’t have any hope of figuring it out and making things right until you get clean and sober. Stop self-medicating your deeper issues and fix them for good, the right way.
How To Get Clean & Sober For Good
Getting clean and sober for good is really a two-step process. First, get the drugs and alcohol out of your body through detox. Then, figure out what’s really going on in your heart and mind, so you can finally get help. Attempting this process in treatment is the safest way to make sure that you stay clean and sober through the challenges of that second step, so you don’t relapse and fall back to where you started.
At Transformations Care we offer dual-diagnosis programs that can help treat your addiction and any underlying issues, through our inpatient, outpatient, and telehealth services. We also offer detox to help you get clear and begin the work that will save your life. Call us now at 424.339.0965 to learn more about your options, or for more information on telehealth click here.
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Getting Clean & Sober at Home
Today, more than 75% of hospitals and healthcare providers offer access to telehealth treatment, with 29 states having gone so far as to enact telehealth parity laws, which force insurance companies to reimburse patients for telehealth at the same rates as they would for in-person treatment.
If you’ve been thinking about getting clean and sober, or if you’ve been wanting to work on and strengthen the recovery you already have, it’s never been easier to do it through telehealth.
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