Drug abuse affects not only your body but your mind as well. This is why drugs that may not be physically addictive may trigger dependency in an individual who frequently abuses the drug. Enrollment in a dual diagnosis treatment center in Leicester, NC is your first step to recovery. Comprehensive addiction treatment is provided to treat the root of your substance use problem, as well as your physical symptoms, allowing you to make a full recovery from your drug addiction.
What Is Psychological Dependence?
Addiction is not just a physical problem. Many treatment experts believe that the psychological components are more damaging than the physical aspects. That’s why so much of a rehab treatment program focuses on mental health and other related issues. This factor is known as psychological dependence and has many factors, such as:
- Reliance on a drug to achieve a calming effect
- Abuse of a substance even when wanting to quit
- Explanations of drug abuse that excuse it
- Addiction to substances that aren’t physically addictive
- Compulsive behaviors that are harmful and destructive
Psychological dependence is much like physical addiction because it produces withdrawal symptoms. For example, heavy marijuana smokers may struggle to stay calm, even though they aren’t physically addicted. Some may also become depressed or nauseous as a result. This addiction is often quite complex and requires specific treatment methods to manage the symptoms appropriately. Before treatment, though, you need to know how dependency starts.
How Does Dependence Start?
Mental addiction is often a strange problem. Some people may experience no physical symptoms but have a mental addiction. That said, it is fair to say that all addiction has some psychological elements. And the ways that it develops usually varies. People never start abusing a drug to become addicted. But their mental health may make that addiction almost inevitable.
For example, some may drink heavily because the depressant effect seems to calm their anxiety. However, alcohol does nothing to manage the source of the problem. As a result, their issues remain. So, someone in this situation may increase their drinking rates. When they do, they have created a psychological dependence. And they may struggle to break it for good.
In some situations, trauma may also help to trigger substance use. This problem can become worse as the trauma increases due to the addiction. As a result, you may need to work with experts to manage this problem as quickly as possible. Thankfully, many different treatment options can help. Going through this process can restore you to sobriety and bring light back into your life again.
Can Treatment Help With This Issue?
Psychological dependence and co-dependency can be hard problems for many to handle. Though detox and careful withdrawal management can help you physically, psychological issues may compel you to use. Thankfully, Red Oak Recovery® offers a variety of addiction treatment programs to help you overcome your psychological dependence on drugs, including:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program
- Nutritional Therapy Program
- Relapse Prevention Therapy
- Wilderness Therapy Program
- Yoga Therapy Program
This last step is particularly crucial. People with mental dependence often use drugs to cope with anxiety. By learning methods such as yoga or controlled breathing, you can break the grip of drugs on your life. You can then learn how to stay focused on your sobriety for good.
Who Can Provide You With This Help?
If psychological dependence has trapped you in addiction, please contact us at Red Oak Recovery®. We provide hybrid programs that mix an outdoor focus with a variety of other care. You will receive medical treatment, detox, psychological help, and behavioral adjustment. That said, we also give you access to experiential therapy, gardening, and other types of adventure therapy. Call 866.457.7590 to learn more and to verify your insurance.
