The treatment of addictions: How to overcome an addiction

In the past, addictions were associated exclusively with drugs, tobacco, and alcohol and gambling. Today we know that addiction can be presented in different ways. In fact, in the last few years other addictions have arisen, mainly from the hand of new technologies, such as mobile or Internet addiction. However, there are also people addicted to sex, food, shopping and even work.

What is an addiction?

The addiction is a dependence on a substance, activity or relationship, which draws the person to self-destructive behavior, although he is aware of the damage they cause. The addict gradually abandons his interests and daily activities to immerse himself compulsively in the consumption or in the activity that causes him pleasure. As a result, there is a serious deterioration in his health and/or in his social and work life.

There are different addictions, among the most common we find:

• Smoking
• Internet addiction
• Drug addiction (cocaine, cannabis, designer drugs, etc.)
• Work addiction
• Alcoholism
• Gambling (Addiction to the game)
• Sex addiction
• Mobile addiction

Causes of a person becoming addicted

There is a personal vulnerability to addiction. However, dependence is the result of the interaction of biological factors (such as the characteristics of the nervous system), environmental and psychological factors. In fact, it is estimated that genetic variation represents only 1-2% of the risk of developing an addiction.

The process through which a person falls into the clutches of addiction begins with what is called the "knowledge phase". At that time the person comes into contact with the potentially addictive substance or activity and experiences its effects. After that phase, the person can move away or continue to consume, the decision will depend on family, emotional, intellectual and/or educational factors.

In fact, over the years we have been able to identify a series of risk factors that make a person more vulnerable to addiction, among them we find:

• Substance use by parents
• Little family discipline or little supervision
• Family problems
• Physical abuse
• Economic and social deprivation
• Favorable attitudes of friends towards substances or activities that generate addiction
• Psychopathologies such as conduct disorder and antisocial personality disorder
• Serious conflicts and crisis situations

Alcoholism is between 3 and 4 times more common in people who have a close relative with this disorder.
Later, repeated exposure to a substance or activity that causes pleasure, generates changes in brain regulation that contribute to maintaining addictive behavior. These changes affect areas of the brain related to the perception of reward, motivation, decision making and impulsivity.

Symptoms of addictions

Regardless of whether it is a behavioral addiction or a substance, there are some common symptoms that may indicate a problem:

• Increased tolerance, which means that the person must consume greater amounts of the substance or dedicate more and more time to the activity to obtain the same effects.
• Loss of control, both over thoughts and feelings and behaviors. In fact, although the person strives to abandon the addictive behaviors, he does not succeed.
• Loss of interest for activities that previously produced satisfaction, since their universe of interests is considerably restricted.
• Problems at work, school or in interpersonal relationships, as the person increasingly neglects these areas to immerse themselves in addiction.
Consequences of suffering an addiction
The consequences of addictions are many and negative:
• Drinking a lot of alcohol, overeating or taking drugs does not help you to be healthy. Depending on the type of drug, the amount and time that the person has been consuming, the consequences for health can be more or less serious and can even have fatal consequences.
• Family relationships get complicated. The person with an addiction spends less and less time with his family and when he is with them, he behaves differently adopting a relational pattern characterized by irritability and emotional distance. Therefore, it is not strange that reproaches and arguments arise that end in abandonment.
• The addiction leads the person to close themselves in their world and to abandon friendships that do not understand their problem. In this way, the addict isolates himself more and more, moving away from society.

Therapy for addictions

In TheLastHouse, there are experienced people, they put into practice different treatments for addictions that will help you get rid of those self-destructive behaviors.

Their therapy for addictions includes techniques such as clinical hypnosis, EMDR, EFT, through which they can work with unconscious factors, which are at the root of the problem. These techniques also allow reprogramming the unconscious patterns that sustain addiction, thus promoting a more positive attitude that facilitates change.

However, since addictions are usually a chronic problem, they also resort to cognitive-behavioral techniques. In fact, this type of treatment for addiction is very effective, since it allows the person to learn to distinguish situations that promote consumption and develop effective strategies to avoid them. Our cognitive-behavioral program focuses on developing self-control, learning to deal with craving or desire and managing negative emotions related to consumption and detoxification.