Overcoming an addiction involves not only committing to significant lifestyle changes, but also thinking differently about yourself and your relationships. Negativity is one common characteristic of addiction. A form of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy has proven highly effective for addiction treatment because it helps people learn to change their thoughts and habits.
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Problematic ways of thinking and feeling are often at the root of addiction. Cognitive behavioral therapy has become one of the most widespread and successful approaches for addiction treatment because it teaches recovering addicts to discover links between their thoughts, feelings and actions and become more aware of how these factors affect their recovery process. Cognitive behavioral therapy for addiction treatment is a goal-oriented form of talk therapy that helps people learn healthy coping mechanisms, address emotional challenges and manage stressful life situations. It can also help improve co-occurring mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Negative self-talk and a defeatist attitude are traits many addicts share. Often, the cycle of addiction begins when someone who feels inadequate turns to drinking or drug use to mute the voice in their head that tells them they’ll never be able to accomplish their goals, that falling short of perfection makes them a failure or that they are less than other people in their life. When an addicted person understands why they feel and respond in specific ways that lead to substance use, it provides them with a stable foundation for overcoming the cycle of substance abuse. Cognitive behavioral therapy for addiction treatment can teach you how to recognize irrational thoughts when they arise, and replace your addictive habits with new, healthy ones.
Benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Addiction Treatment
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps promote addiction recovery by:
- Helping you learn to change harmful ways of thinking and insecurities that lead to substance abuse
- Giving you an arsenal of tools to create more positivity in your life
- Teaching you how to be a more effective communicator
Addiction triggers such as stress, loneliness or anger can put you in danger of a relapse. Cognitive behavioral therapy will give you the skills necessary to recognize what leads to your urge to drink or use drugs, and remove yourself from situations that give you these self-destructive feelings. Once your therapist has taught you the essential techniques behind cognitive behavioral therapy, you can do many exercises on your own, from the comfort of your home. Another advantage of cognitive behavioral therapy for addiction treatment is its highly focused nature, when compared with other therapeutic approaches. In a course of only a few CBT sessions, you can learn how to identify your negative thinking patterns and change them for the better.
Addiction Recovery in Austin, Texas
At Spearhead Lodge, we offer structured treatment for young men looking to achieve a lifetime of sobriety in a single-gender environment that is ideal for self-discovery and developing healthy life skills. To learn more about our 90-day program, contact us today.