Today we hear a lot about people who have become addicted and are seeking ways to change their lives for the better. People can be addicted to things such as drugs as well as to behaviors such as gambling.

Addiction can affect anyone, which is why it is so critical to recognize the signs. If we have communities supporting us, we will find that we can kick our addictions to the curb.

What Is Addiction?

Addiction is an illness defined by a persistent and intense desire to participate in specific behaviors, despite significant harm and other negative consequences. The key trait of addiction is continuing to do something even though it is negatively impacting our lives. For example, there is a difference between occasionally having a glass of wine at a fancy event and drinking so much that every morning is in a fog.

How Does Addiction Work?

Addiction disrupts normal brain function, especially in the brain’s reward system. When we do anything we enjoy, whether it’s hanging out with our closest friends, drinking a bottle of wine, or using cocaine, our reward system releases the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Our brain continues to manufacture more dopamine as we continue to use a substance or engage in a habit. As addiction progresses, it is common to lose interest in hobbies and other activities that we formerly enjoyed. Addiction is characterized by an inability to control substance use or certain behaviors.

What Causes Addiction?

Many ideas exist about the causes of addiction, as well as the use and misuse of legal and illegal substances. Biology, psychology, and social and cultural factors all play a role in the tremendously complicated chain that leads to addiction. There is no single path to addiction, and no single factor renders addiction an unavoidable consequence.

According to studies, addiction is tied to what else is or isn’t going on in our lives. Feelings about oneself, our emotional state, our family relationships, social ties, community attributes, employment status, stress reactivity and coping skills, physical or emotional pain, personality traits, educational opportunities, compelling goals, and progress toward them, are all among the factors that have been shown to influence the development of an addiction.

What Treatment Options Are Available to Us

Different treatment methods are available for drug addiction to help people get better. These treatment methods include therapy, medication, detoxification, and rehab. However, rehab is one of the most effective methods of managing drug addiction. The sole purpose of rehab is to help us get better and leave our drug addiction behind.

However, working through rehab is not an easy task. Motivating us to work through it requires a lot of support. Thus, rehab programs provide a supportive environment that understands our struggles. This enables us to focus on our recovery and deal with problems without fear of being judged.

What Makes a Rehab Program Stand Out?

Being away from the stresses of everyday life is often helpful for those overcoming addiction. This means it can be useful to explore an inpatient program for heroin treatment in San Antonio. San Antonio is a picturesque city whose natural beauty will make recovery a less painful process. Distance from our daily stressors can make it much more likely that we will successfully kick our addiction.

In addition, we should look for a rehab program that includes outpatient treatment options. Outpatient treatment is designed to help those with substance use disorders overcome addiction without major disruption to their lives. This can be very useful if we find we simply can’t leave work or family.

We also want to make sure to choose a rehab that includes aftercare. Aftercare includes several different programs designed to support those overcoming addiction after they reach initial sobriety. It can help patients maintain their recovery and prevent relapses through coaching, small groups, and more.

We Are Not Alone When We Struggle with Addiction.

While addiction may feel very isolating according to statistics 11.7% of Americans 12 and overuse illegal drugs. In addition, 53 million or 19.4% of people 12 and over have used illegal drugs or misused prescription drugs within the last year. When we look around at our family and friends, we see that there is no shame in struggling and needing to ask for help.

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What Can We Do About It?