Addiction as a Medical Illness - Part 2
We’re sitting down with Carmalin Resz and Dr. Reid Lofgran again, to discuss important questions about treating addiction as a medical illness. Many questions we receive touch on overcoming addiction, or issues with relapse and recovery.
Here, Carmalin Resz MS, ICADC and Addictionologist Dr. Lofgran discuss the medical science behind both:
How does the brain overcome an addiction?
The brain needs to be successfully detoxed from the substance or substances. There is also a time of post-acute withdrawal (after the initial withdrawal), where the brain is highly susceptible to having difficulty regulating emotions, problems with sleep, problems managing stress and being accident-prone.
These withdrawal phases may need medical monitoring. After acute stabilization, many types of treatment are available depending on the person’s needs. Common methods include a cognitive behavioral approach, to teach and retrain the brain to respond differently.
What are the most successful mechanisms for overcoming addiction?
Successful mechanisms for overcoming addiction include sober social support. The recovery community (AA-Alcoholics Anonymous, NA-Narcotics Anonymous and others) can be a great source of strength - others sharing their hope, experiences and taking accountability for changes. Many in recovery find their growing spirituality to be very beneficial.
Addiction professionals know that without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death.
What can cause a relapse?
Most people think relapse is only about returning to use of alcohol or drugs. Relapse can be caused by many factors, such as - mental health issues, personality traits, substituting addictions, maladaptive thought patterns, negative emotional states, conflicts, negative physical states, and the narrowing view of recovery.
75% of relapse involves failure to successfully deal with, or cope with, a high-risk situation. Professionals working with addicts know that for a person to relapse they first need a period of time in which they experience wellness.
Most addicts have episodes where they stop using for a while, but they may still be behaving in way that is angry, bitter, and judgmental. It is during these times that family and friends walk on egg shells. Those in recovery programs call this “white-knuckled sobriety”.
Those that are able to experience wellness have learned how to put the disease in remission and put effort into learning relapse prevention skills and anticipate high risk situations
Does a relapse mean treatment has failed?
No, it does not. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves phases of relapse and remission. Relapse indicates a need for more skills and more explorations around the issues that could be triggering the relapse dynamics.
What are some typical results you’ve seen in people recovering from addiction?
Sometimes people attempt treatment several times before being fully convinced about their state and the destructive relationship with the substance – and that’s okay. Once a person has significant recovery, the typical results are improved relationships, better control over their behavior when experiencing strong emotions, and realizing the the benefits of sobriety, including liking themselves and feeling they know who they are again.
One of my favorite stories (and I have many) is when a gentleman in residential treatment got up early to see the sun rise, he tearfully stated that it had been many years since he was up in the mornings let alone gone outside and quietly saw the sun rise.
I watched him sitting at the picnic table, knowing that hope and joy was rising in his soul, too. Let’s say that if a person like this could not keep their disease in remission, nothing could take away that day he had, which could not have been possible without treatment.We hope that this insight with Carmalin Resz, MS, ICADC and Dr. Lofgran, Addictionologist has been helpful in answering any questions you might have about addiction and the recovery process.
Relapse does not mean that anyone has failed, and the staff at the Walker Center is ready to help anyone struggling with their situation. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please have them contact us for a completely confidential assessment.
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