If you're addicted to alcohol or some other drug, you may feel like you're trapped because you can't stop drinking even though you want to. Long-term substance abuse actually causes changes to your brain as well as your behavior. These changes make it so difficult to stop your addiction that you feel powerless. However, it is possible to overcome addiction. Many others have done so, and so can you. Here are some treatments that can help.

Treatment Of Underlying Disorders

You may start drinking or taking drugs to self-medicate for a condition such as social anxiety or depression. When you stop drinking and taking drugs, you not only have to battle your compulsion for substance abuse, you also have to deal with your depression that could have been made worse by your addiction. This creates a cycle that is hard to break. A therapist or counselor can help you through this problem by treating your anxiety or depression. This could involve therapy or medication. When your depression and anxiety are better managed, it might be easier to deal with the emotional side effects of giving up your addiction.

Counseling For Trauma

Some people begin drinking or taking drugs due to childhood trauma they're trying to blot out. If that's the case with you, then your attempts to go sober will be more successful if you undergo counseling to help you resolve your childhood issues. Sometimes problems happen in adulthood that lead to drinking too, such as a loss of a loved one or a public disgrace. These problems won't go away by drinking and doing drugs although getting high may allow you to forget your problems for a short while. The real solution is to work through your issues with the help of a therapist trained in substance abuse and emotional trauma.

Detox Supervision

If you've been addicted for quite some time, then you'll have to go through detox to get the chemicals out of your system. The side effects of detox can be very unpleasant. In fact, the symptoms can be so serious they threaten your health. To avoid medical complications and to ensure you complete the process, you may need to undergo inpatient detox so you can be monitored for health reasons during withdrawals and given medication if needed. Once the detox phase has passed, you may still need supervision to keep you on track. Inpatient treatment is voluntary, but if you choose to stay, you are kept away from your usual triggers and an easy supply of alcohol and drugs. This can help you stay on track much easier than if you try to get sober when you're still surrounded by all of your old triggers.

If you want to stop your addictive behavior, you should realize it is difficult to do alone and not blame yourself if you're not successful. Find an experienced substance abuse counselor who can help you find the best treatment for you and who can support you through the process to sobriety. For more information, contact companies like Center For Behavioral Health.