There’s an undeniable link between mental health and addiction.
37% of alcoholics and 53% of drug addicts have at least one mental illness. If you or a loved one has been dealing with addiction, there’s likely an underlying mental health disorder at the root of it.
For that reason, psychotherapy is being more properly recognized as a tool for fighting addiction. Today, we’re going to discuss some of the benefits of psychotherapy for treating addiction and tell you how to find psychotherapy.
Read on and you’ll see how taking a holistic approach to addiction treatment can yield better results.
What Is Psychotherapy for Addiction?
When you undergo psychotherapy, you sit down with a psychotherapist to work through mental health issues. You might discuss the impact of past trauma, difficulty in relationships, or how to cope with the difficulties of daily life.
There are numerous types of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and psychodynamic therapy. It can be done in one-on-one sessions or in groups.
In treating addiction, a psychotherapist will focus on trying to understand the underlying causes of your addiction. Often, addiction is the byproduct of having to deal with some form of mental disorder, whether it’s depression, anxiety, or PTSD.
Understand Your Addiction
The most obvious benefit of psychotherapy for substance abuse is that it aims to get to the bottom of your addiction. Most addiction treatment is simply a reaction to substance abuse and its effects. With psychotherapy, however, you’re trying to get to the root of the problem.
Having an understanding of why you turn to drugs or alcohol can make it easier to turn away. It can be tough to make these important connections on your own.
Better Handle On Emotions
Addiction and emotions are so intermingled. One of the keys to sobriety is being able to better manage emotions. Psychotherapy helps with emotional awareness and expression.
As we know, addiction takes a toll on relationships. With a better grasp of their emotions, an addict can mend broken relationships, which is essential to long-lasting sobriety.
Reduce the Risk of Relapse
After a few psychotherapy sessions, your psychotherapist may be in a position to diagnose a mental illness. With this, addicts can receive medication that they never knew they needed. Treating mental illness is what will make someone better in the end.
All of this works to reduce the risk of relapse. A better understanding of the addiction and its underlying causes leads to more effective treatment and a higher rate of success in rehab.
Getting Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy should be an integral part of the recovery process. If you or a loved one need help to beat addiction, getting the best psychotherapy is a click away.
At Apex Rehab, we specialize in addiction treatment. Our multi-disciplinary staff will help you get to the bottom of your addiction issue so you can truly recover. Contact us today to learn more about our treatment services.