Treating Addiction

Ending an addiction is challenging but possible.  If you have found AddictionTreatment.org today because you recognize that a substance abuse problem or a behavioral addiction has made your life spin out of control and you realize that you need help – congratulations, you may have already crossed the most pivotal threshold toward recovery!  Many people with addictions have poor insight into the problem – either because a substance impairs their ability to objectively evaluate their situation or because they have shut down emotionally and psychologically, believing that addiction is a safer, more tolerable option than sobriety.  But the moment when someone says “enough is enough” is the same moment that recovery begins.

Family and friends of people who are currently struggling with addiction may face a much harder challenge.  Addicts are often defensive and have learned to put up obstacles when they feel threatened; in many cases, the addiction itself may be a kind of defense mechanism for a more troubling issue in the addict’s past or present.  In other words, when others try to stop the addiction, addicts perceive these actions as trying to take away their “security blanket.”  It is often difficult for others to understand why addicts behave the way that they do, but this understanding can be crucial to actually helping them overcome addiction.  The loved ones of addicts may need to arrange either a professionally directed or a do-it-yourself intervention to get the person help.