Is There a Cure for Addiction?

Addiction is a chronic condition that leads to overdose and death. Addiction ruins lives, families and devastates communities. If you are suffering from addiction, it can be normal to ask yourself hard questions such as, “will I suffer from addiction forever? Is there a cure for addiction?” While there is no magic wand that can cure addiction, it is a treatable condition. When addiction is treated, people can go on to live normal, happy, healthy lives. While addiction may cause a lot of destruction and fractured relationships in its path, people can repair and move on from them as well.

The Cure for Addiction: Treatment and Support

Getting treatment for addiction and having a solid ongoing support system are the two keys for lasting recovery, or what some may see as the “cure for addiction”. These two things are extremely important, and while there may be many roadblocks, they are attainable.

Getting treatment can be costly and can disrupt the logistics of your everyday life. Support can be hard to come by, especially if your addiction has fractured the important relationships in your life. However, there are answers to all these questions and there are treatment plans and support systems available for every person who suffers from addiction.

Medical Detox

One of the first steps in overcoming addiction after making the decision to enter treatment is to go through medical detox. Detox is very scary to many people; nobody wants to feel pain or uncomfortable symptoms. The classic visualization of detoxing is of a person doubled over in extreme pain and discomfort for weeks on end. However, with medical detox, patients are able to go through detox with little to no symptoms. This allows people to feel more comfortable while moving onto treatment more quickly.

Find the Right Treatment Center

The cure for addiction is much more than just simply becoming sober and abstaining from drugs or alcohol. While abstaining from drugs and alcohol is extremely important in recovery, people have to learn how to do it. This is done through behavioral therapy programs, and different treatment centers offer different treatment options. When you are able to find the right treatment program for you, the practices and techniques will be able to click with you more easily. Since no two addictions are the same, neither should be everyone’s treatment.

Is There a Cure for Addiction?

Is There a Cure for Addiction?

SMART Recovery

One of the recovery techniques used at Cliffside Malibu is SMART Recovery. SMART Recovery is an acronym that stands for “Self-Management and Recovery Training.” According to the SMART Recovery website, the purpose of SMART Recovery is to “support individuals who have chosen to abstain, or are considering abstinence from any type of addictive behaviors (substances or activities), by teaching how to change self-defeating thinking, emotions, and actions; and to work towards long-term satisfaction and quality of life.” It is very different from the 12 step program, which means SMART Recovery could work better for people who have been unsuccessful with the 12 step program.

CBT and DBT

CBT, which stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, is one of the most commonly administered forms of psychotherapy used today. It focuses on how people’s thoughts form and how they can change the way they think and feel.

DBT, which stands for Dialectical Behavior Treatment, is a form of CBT that focuses on building specific foundations of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. DBT focuses more on the psychosocial aspects of how someone interacts with others in different emotional environments and relationships. When emotions are heated during an argument, how can this person learn to manage them rather than leaning on old, destructive patterns?

Both CPD and DBT incorporate the exploring of people’s history and past to find out why they may act in certain ways and learning the impact that it has on the present. They are essential for overcoming triggers and learning how to deal with stressful situations. By learning new coping mechanisms and how to manage their emotions, people will be less likely to relapse and stay sober.

Holistic Therapy

In addition to evidence-based therapies such as SMART Recovery, CBT and DBT, holistic therapy is also used in addiction recovery. Holistic therapy is beneficial because they help alleviate stress and give people a positive outlet to cope with stressful situations.

Holistic therapy includes:

Lean on Your Support

Possibly one of the most important parts of recovering from addiction is having a solid support system. This can include family and friends, however, it is also important for people in recovery to have sober companions to lean on. Having sober friends allows for people to gain wisdom from someone who’s been in their shoes, to bring someone along to potentially triggering situations, to trade advice with and to just have someone to relate to them. Addiction is very difficult to overcome alone, and having a support group is vital for long-lasting recovery.

If you feel as if you do not have a strong support system, make sure you reach out and find a support group in your area. One of the red flags of an impending relapse is a diminishing support system, so make sure you always have people you can lean on.

About Cliffside Malibu

While there is no cure for addiction, it is a treatable addiction. Through therapy and support, people are able to overcome their condition, leave it in the past and move on to live healthy, happy lives.

Since no two addictions are the same, Cliffside Malibu offers an individualized treatment plan for each and every client. Treatment plans are created based on a client’s current stage of the Transtheoretical Model: Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, or Maintenance. This model helps ensure that all patients receive the best treatment path possible based on their own specific need. Moving our clients through this model to completion successfully is our goal each and every single day.

Cliffside Malibu’s policy is to ensure that all people who choose treatment with us receives the best care possible. We strive to provide a continuum of care including medically supervised detox, residential treatment, day treatment, and outpatient services. Our program includes not only evidence-based behavioral therapy but family therapy and holistic therapy, as well. Whether an individual is suffering from substance abuse and/or alcohol addiction, our programs are designed and structured to be a supportive environment in order to maintain sobriety.

In addition to world-class treatment, Cliffside Malibu offers luxury accommodations, a serene environment, five-star dining, and plentiful amenities. We understand that addiction treatment is a rigorous process. Therefore, we provide for your comfort and relaxation at every turn, allowing you to rejuvenate, to meet the demands of treatment with your greatest energy and attention.

For more information on Cliffside Malibu, visit cliffsidemalibu.com