Dealing with addictive disorders

Addictive disorders affect millions of Americans. Indeed, addictions and dependency problems don't stop with alcohol and illicit drugs. There are many kinds of addictive and related disorders that involve sex, gambling, shopping, work, overeating, exercise and internet use. Addiction and dependency are different illnesses and manifest in different ways. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Pain Society and the American Academy of Pain Medicine, development of addiction or addictive disorder is caused by a combination of exposure to a substance or activity that gives us pleasure and a genetic vulnerability that controls our drive to have more.

Addiction is rooted in our genes. A person's environment, psychological development, and social maturation can lead him or her to excessive and prolonged usage of a substance or compulsion toward an activity despite the negative consequences of such behavior. For example, a compulsive gambler feels an overwhelming urge to gamble, is thinking about gambling when not engaging in it, may lie about how much time and money is spent on gambling, feels guilty about the time and money spent gambling but does not (and cannot) quit.

Dependence, specifically physical dependence, happens when a person becomes tolerant to a substance or has symptoms of withdrawal when he or she suddenly ceases taking that substance -- be it an illicit drug or a prescribed medication. Addiction by comparison does not always include physical dependence.

There are many different ways of dealing with addictive disorder. Psychotherapy is one of the most widely accept means of addiction treatment. Psychotherapy can be seen as an interpersonal invitation offered by psychotherapists, who are often trained and regulated, to aid clients in reaching their full potential or to cope better with problems of life. Psychotherapy often includes techniques to increase awareness and the capacity for self observation, change behavior and cognition, and develop insight and empathy. A desired result of psychotherapy is an increased sense of well-being in the person; additionally, the patient should be better able to manage subjective discomfort or distress.

There are myriad applications of psychotherapy in treating addictive disorder. One of the most useful things about psychotherapy as a form of addiction treatment is that it can be an outpatient treatment. Patients can continue to work and be fully engaged with their lives while getting help with their problems. In psychotherapy, clients can discover that each of them has a unique past with individual experiences that have led them towards addiction or behavioral problems. They may learn of the traumatic memories which remain overwhelming and contribute to chronic self-medication. And they may confront beliefs which they hold that are inconsistent with what is true. Clients undergoing psychotherapy as a form of drug treatment learn to relinquish old beliefs, associations and addictive tendencies, replacing them with healthy interpersonal relationships, a psychologically-sound sense of self and a new approach to life; they develop meaningful relationships and friendships oriented to a positive, life-sustaining perspective, full of the warmth and confidence that are the hallmarks of true recovery.

Those seeking help in the Palm Beach area will find many centers for outpatient treatment Palm Beach.

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