5 reasons to seek addiction help

A person with addiction problemsIn the early stages of it, you can't see it as such. Therefore she does not realize the need to ask for guidance, support and help. You may feel frustration, helplessness, confusion, despair but still no call for help or intention to change since there is no awareness of the problem or perception of the risks that it can carry.

Once the addicted person manages to make visible and recognize the existence of a problem, and accepts that they need help, it is It is very important to start and travel a complex recovery path to stop this harmful behavior, among others things…

Next we will see what consumption logic is behind addictions, why it is good to seek help to get out of them as soon as possible, and where to start.

• Related article: "Addiction: disease or learning disorder?"

Reasons to seek addiction help

Below you can see why a proper withdrawal from the consumption of a substance is necessary to get out of the serious problem of addiction.

1. Stop using is the beginning

When you stop using, you start to go through the different situations of daily life in a new way, with the reactivation of your own resources and without requiring the use of substances. It's essential become truly involved in specialized treatment, which starts with stopping consuming (detoxification and cessation stage) and continues with the construction of healthy lifestyle habits, elaboration of personal growth projects, improvement in ways of bonding with others, new ways of resolving conflicts within and interpersonal.

• You may be interested: "The 8 reasons why you should go to the psychologist"

2. Protective factors are identified

In a specialized addiction treatment, work is done on strengthening potential and capacities. For example, it will be important to observe and enhance whether the person has the ability to make decisions, control emotions and impulses, self-observation, (get to know each other more and better). In addition, it is improved in self-esteem, and the presence of containment nets that accompany this person and the motivation to study and / or work also constitute other valuable protective factors.

In this way, the person he tries to build knowledge about his discomfort with therapy, in order to limit compulsive, repetitive behaviors and understand what possible meanings and functions your addiction has.

In general terms, the main protection factor is within the person and resides in the taking awareness of their problem and consequent predisposition to generate changes and improve their quality of lifetime.

• You may be interested: "15 consequences of drug use (in your mind and in your body)"

3. Risk factors are visible

It is important to identify what the unique risk factors and vulnerabilities are. It investigates personal and social aspects, locating consumption within both individual and family history.

Thus, in contrast to protective factors, the lack of support and containment from the family, friends and institutions, lack of motivation, anhedonia and apathy, and especially, lack of awareness of the health problem are strong risk factors.

4. Changes occur

Are experienced modifications in doing, thinking and feeling, Therefore, certain crises can be experienced as these changes produce contradictions or a feeling of strangeness when implementing own resources that are new and very different from those implemented in times of consumption. Therefore, these critical moments can be considered as proper and inherent to this stage and even expected and necessary.

Probably before a treatment it was common to avoid or calm anguish, anger, sadness, loneliness, fear, shame, impotence, (among other feelings, emotions and problems of daily life) with substance use, interpreting it as an outlet, refuge or support in order to avoiding or forgetting an unbearable situation.

5. New resources are built

During a treatment, faced with painful sensations or conflicts, new resources are built and implemented, which are expected to continue to develop and strengthen after treatment.

An example is the resolution of conflicts through the word, perhaps something unthinkable in a situation of consumption, where the act (usually violent, towards third parties and / or towards oneself) replaced the word.

Other examples are: incorporating health and body care habits, such as healthy eating and physical activity, promoting spaces for listening and family dialogue, putting into words what used to be silent and ill, undertake, train and seek personal growth with practices of self-care.