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Many people avoid therapy in addiction recovery because they are unsure of whether it will work or not. People often ask, “Is CBT right for treating my addiction?” The answer is they will never know unless they try, and the good news is that CBT, or cognitive-behavioral therapy, has very minimal side effects (if any at all). CBT also works well in conjunction with other means, methods, and modalities, so it is often a good idea to try adding it to a recovery program to see if it can be helpful.
Is CBT Right for Treating My Addiction?
There is a large amount of evidence that shows the efficacy of CBT for addiction, both substance-use and alcohol-use disorder (AUD). According to the peer-reviewed journal Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, “Robust evidence suggests the efficacy of classical/traditional CBT compared to minimal and usual care control conditions. CBT combined with another evidence-based treatment such as Motivational Interviewing, Contingency Management, or pharmacotherapy is also efficacious compared to minimal and usual care control conditions, but no form of CBT consistently demonstrates efficacy compared to other empirically-supported modalities.”
However, you should not jump into a program of CBT without the proper help and support of both recovery professionals and recovery peers (also, family and close friends). They will be able to help you better understand your options, as well as why CBT may be a reasonable choice. However, before choosing a recovery modality, it can help to better understand what addiction is all about, such as the “disease model” of addiction.
Better Understanding Addiction
The reality is that addiction is one of the most prevalent diseases affecting people today, and, yes, it is a disease. Many people stigmatize addiction by categorizing it as some sort of moral failing or “choice.” This is simply not the case. Yes, it is a disease.
The scientific community focuses on addiction as a “brain disease” to combat the stigma previously mentioned. According to the peer-reviewed journal Neuropsychopharmacology, “These attitudes created barriers for people with substance use problems to access evidence-based treatments, both those available at the time, such as opioid agonist maintenance, cognitive behavioral therapy-based relapse prevention, community reinforcement or contingency management, and those that could result from research. To promote patient access to treatments, scientists needed to argue that there is a biological basis beneath the challenging behaviors of individuals suffering from addiction. This argument was particularly targeted to the public, policymakers, and health care professionals… .”
Also, addiction has more in common with other chronic diseases than it does with a “choice.” According to the Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience (JPN), “[Addictions] are clinically relevant negative states (‘signs and symptoms’) following from vulnerability traits that intersect with diverse factors (‘etiologic agents’) to yield replicable neurobiological changes (‘anatomical alterations’). They share characteristics with other medical diseases, yet have their own unique features. As with type II diabetes, hypertension, and many cancers, there are genetic, biological, and environmental influences.”
The Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
Now, of course, it is also important to be able to spot the signs and symptoms of addiction to know if treatment may be needed. The following are a few of the more common signs and symptoms:
- Feeling overly anxious and/or depressed
- Isolating away from family and close friends
- Experiencing mood swings
- Negative changes in appetite
- Losing interest in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
- Struggles with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (insomnia)
- Physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
- Not being able to stop using substances or drinking once started
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Aggressive feelings toward oneself and/or others
- Having suicidal ideations
If any of these symptoms are present, it is highly recommended that professional help be sought as soon as possible. This may include help that utilizes CBT for addiction.
Better Understanding CBT for Treating Addiction
It is important to understand that CBT works by treating the underlying causes of addiction. After all, addiction is not as much about the drink or the drug itself, as much as it is about what causes you to take that drink or drug.
Ultimately, CBT helps you to see the negative way in which you have been viewing yourself and the world around you. It then helps you to change those emotions and cognitions, and thus the addictive behaviors associated with them. CBT also makes you an integral part of the process, making it a very healthy and active form of recovery.
A Focus on Long-Term Success With Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” That is why all of our thoughtful recovery plans focus on the individual and the long road ahead.
If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, then the time to recover is now. You got this! We can help.
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an ideal modality for treating addiction. However, it may not be for everyone. It is important to understand the pros and cons of utilizing CBT for addiction recovery. The good news is that there are also many other means, methods, and modalities for long-term recovery and success. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about CBT for addiction recovery, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
