Nearly 19.7 million adults in the US struggle with some form of addiction. Despite this alarming number, society still stigmatizes addiction and the people struggling with it, making it difficult for the affected individuals to reach out and get help.
Here are a few facts about addiction that you should know more about.
Addiction is a Disease
The stigma associated with addiction also leads to misconceptions like “addiction is a bad habit” or “addiction is a lifestyle choice”. Addiction is neither of these things. In fact, it’s an illness in which the person addicted doesn’t have control over their actions. They’re a victim of the disease, just like someone battling heart disease would be considered as a victim of that particular condition. Addiction is not a choice or a personal weakness.
There Is No Single Cause for Addiction
Another thing many people don’t know is that addiction doesn’t have one main cause of the condition. In fact, what exactly causes addiction isn’t fully known. There are a couple of factors that play a role in causing addiction. These include:
· Genetics: Research has shown that a person’s genetic buildup can increase the risk of them using addictive agents and developing an addiction. If you have immediate family members who struggled with addiction, it’s likely that you might too at some point.
· Environment: Individuals who grew up in a household where they were exposed to addictive substances frequently have greater chances of developing an addiction to these substances themselves. Similarly, if you’re surrounded by people who’re addicted to a certain thing, you may eventually develop an addiction as well.
· Co-occurring Mental Illnesses: Mental disorders and conditions like depression, PTSD, and anxiety disorders can increase the risk of developing an addiction. People often turn to an addictive agent as a means of coping with co-occurring mental disorders and illnesses.
Recovery Is Possible
You can’t be cured of addiction, but you can recover from it. As we discussed above, addiction is an illness. It’s a chronic and progressive condition that will always require you to be on your guard. However, it isn’t a life sentence. Recovering from addiction is entirely possible and achievable if you get the right treatment for it. It’s important to note that recovery is a lifelong process and usually involves drastic lifestyle adjustments.
Various forms of treatment and therapy can help a struggling addict recover. Therapy, support groups, rehab, counseling, mindfulness, and medication are all effective strategies. In addition to these, following a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep also helps. Since addiction is a personalized condition, the treatment strategy varies from person to person. What may work for one individual may be ineffective or take much longer to work for another. With the right form of treatment intervention, though, recovery is definitely possible.
E Care Behavioral Health Institute provides CEU’s for addiction counselors and training for psychologists, including live webinars and recorded webinars. Browse through their collection of Webinar CEUs and courses to get started.
