Cognitive-behavioral therapy is now considered a standard method of treatment for drug addiction. It’s particularly effective in cases where individuals demonstrate specific ways of thinking and behavioral patterns that lead to a reliance on a substance. For example, anxiety or depression often lead to drinking due to alcohol’s depressing (that is, non-stimulating) effects. Alcohol, or any of the numerous depressants out there, may be used in excess as a crutch for a problem that isn’t even intrinsically addiction-related. CBT for drug addiction is one of several personalized types of therapy provided by Zelus Recovery in our Meridian, Idaho, addiction center.
It’s worth noting that cognitive-behavioral therapy is not for everyone. Its effectiveness relies on how willing or able the patient is to assess the patterns of behavior in their lives that lead or contribute to a reliance on drugs. That being said, CBT techniques for drug addiction have proven to be a valuable method of determining the root cause and, consequently, helping patients achieve sobriety. If a teen or young adult close to you is battling addiction, find out if cognitive-behavioral therapy is an approach you’d like to explore by calling us at 208.518.0797 or using our secure online form.
Situations Where CBT Can Help Drug Addiction
CBT is best used with patients who struggle with addiction and may have also been diagnosed with any of the following:
- Anxiety
- ADHD
- Bipolar disorder
- Eating disorders and/or body dysmorphia
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
In cases of more severe psychological disorders like schizophrenia, CBT loses effectiveness due to how it can make it more difficult to connect underlying causes to addictive traits. CBT alone can’t address withdrawal symptoms or medical management thereof. That’s why it’s regularly paired with other drug addiction therapies to treat addiction from a holistic perspective.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is commonly used with teenagers and young adults who need not just addiction treatment but help in treating some of the more prevalent mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
What to Expect With CBT
CBT sessions are one-on-one patient and therapist discussions about how negative assumptions and behaviors are affecting their drug habits. Sessions also heavily emphasize how the patient is capable and encouraged to build their sense of self-worth and self-confidence and engage in less self-destructive thoughts and activities. Effective communication is key here, and our specialists at Zelus Recovery are trained in helping patients excel in self-betterment. Not only to treat their addiction but to become their best self going forward into recovery.
The individual’s philosophy is the piece around which all cognitive-behavioral therapy is centered. For example, an excessively negative outlook on life often leads to resorting to drug addiction. Therapists will take that approach and either reduce it to its core and, from there, help the patient disprove it logically or possibly navigate it differently.
Managing impulses that, in the past, led to starting or resuming drug misuse is another core pillar of CBT. If the patient can recognize a trigger or impulse, they can either learn coping strategies, like removing themselves from situations where drug use is likely to occur, or uproot the behavior entirely (i.e., picking up a hobby as a stand-in for anxiety-induced drinking). Either way, it’s a skill that will serve them well in the future.
Learn About CBT With Zelus Recovery
If your teen or young adult needs assistance with recovering from addiction, Zelus Recovery is here to help in the Meridian, Boise, Nampa, and Eagle areas. If you’re an Idaho resident, contact us today at 208.518.0797. The most vital time to help curb drug addiction is as early as possible.
