Having a drug or alcohol addiction can be extremely difficult to overcome, and you may be someone who has tried to get clean and sober before. Unfortunately, many people who try to stay sober have a difficult time with relapsing because they didn’t receive extended care. It’s important to realize that your drug or alcohol addiction took the time to take you to where you are today. In order to recover, it’s going to take time and as much care as possible to learn a new way of living.
How Extended Care Helps the Brain Heal
Our brains are extremely complex and efficient, but they’re designed to help us survive on a daily basis. In order for us to know that we need to eat when we’re hungry and drink when we’re thirsty, the brain has to develop certain triggers and rewards. This was helpful for our ancestors because it helped them remember where to find food when they were hungry or where to find water when they were thirsty. The problem is that when you begin turning to drugs or alcohol, you start to wire your brain in a different way.
Addiction can start at a young age due to unhealthy coping skills, and without the proper skills, you may think drugs or alcohol are the only solutions. Throughout your addiction, you begin to gain more and more triggers that make you want to turn to drugs or alcohol. While the substances may have helped at first, you have now seen how the substances are ruining your life. Some of the most common triggers that people deal with include the following:
- Happiness
- Sadness
- Stress
- Anger
- Fear
In order to properly retrain your brain, it’s going to take time, and the best thing you can do is get as much treatment as possible. If you’re planning on going to treatment, be sure to know the levels of care that the facility offers. Many people start off in the detox level of care and work their way through residential treatment. After residential treatment is outpatient, which is a great way to continue getting support as you transition back into your old life. As new problems arise, you’ll have a treatment team as well as your peers to help you stay on the right path.
We understand the importance of extended care for addiction, which is why we offer a variety of treatment programs to help you recover. Many studies have shown that ongoing care gives you much better chances of long-term recovery, so call us today at 833-610-1174 to find out how we can help you begin on your new path.