People who struggle with substance abuse or addiction often get told they should just stop using. They should show some character, motivation. They just lack some determination.

Yet, the fact that addiction has a very poor recovery rate obviates that there’s more at play. The core of an addiction problem is that mental and physical changes took place in the host, making it very challenging to get back to the prior state. It is no longer a case of just showing some character.

Addictive substances and behaviors share a key neurobiological feature: they intensely activate brain pathways of reward and reinforcement, many of which involve the neurotransmitter dopamine. As your body has gotten used to these sensations, it requires you to keep a steady level of the product in your blood stream. If the level drops, your body responds quite violently with withdrawal symptoms. If you have been consistently using a lot, the past months, do not try and go ‘cold turkey’ by yourself. Most likely you have been neglecting your basic needs (healthy diet, sleep, hygiene, …) and abusing your body. It can be life-threatening to stop suddenly. Seek physical help to get safely through this stage. No matter how sick you feel, under the right guidance of your physician you will get through it.

Dealing with the physical dependency is a very important first step. The second step is to tackle the mental and emotional aspect of addiction, which in most cases are deeply rooted and difficult to change. During an active addiction your body got used to a certain level of product (or the physical thrill of engaging in your addictive behavior) in the bloodstream. Your brain, the control center of your body, tunes into that and makes changes in your brain to facilitate that steady level. It will narrow your mental attention and create a type of mental tunnel vision, where only your addictive product/ behavior matters. This tunnel vision is responsible for you being drawn to your product/ behavior, unable to focus on anything else, unable to stop yourself from moving in that direction, even though you have already decided you do not want to continue like this. It is also responsible for you seeing your product or behavior everywhere. It creates the very strong urge you feel, where you are no longer in the driver’s seat and see yourself doing things you would never dream of. It can take a very long time for this brain connection to extinguish, especially because not only the product/ behavior has become addictive but the whole ritual around it as well.

Part of dealing with the mental aspects of addiction implies you have to get to know your own triggers and alarm signs. Which types of memories, environments, behaviors, people, internal or external sensations create craving and increase your urge to use? Which mini-decisions indicate you are about to relapse in old behavior? When should you be on your super-alert for relapse?

Dealing with the emotional aspects of addiction is paramount for success. Addiction always has a function in a person’s life. Maybe, it helps an introvert with the required networking or in being social. Perhaps, it releases the stress and tension after a draining day at work. Possibly, it takes the edge off the hurt you feel. Perhaps, it helps you get through the day. Or it could be the only time you feel powerful and in control. Whichever emotional crutch your addiction seduced you with, it will need to be dealt with. We will help you put new ways of coping in place to avert relapse.

Overcoming an addiction is no easy feat. It is not uncommon for addicts to get into that much trouble because they are motivated and determined people by nature. They have not learned to give up. They find it extremely hard to discover and admit that something is indeed controlling them. Yet, there is help available. Contact us.

You were interested in the question but did not find an answer that applied to you? Above we focused mainly on the dynamics of addiction. Yet, problematic use to addiction constitutes a continuum. If you are concerned about a substance or a behavior, drop us a line. It feels better if you can discuss your worries with a qualified person.