Addiction
Are you having trouble with your use of drugs, alcohol, or even gambling? You’re not alone. Millions of Americans suffer from addiction – but you don’t have to. The specialists at Atlanta Specialized Care are dedicated to providing you with evidence-based, comprehensive, and compassionate care to help you overcome the throes of your addiction.
What is Addiction?
Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by the compulsive seeking of a drug or activity and use despite harmful consequences. Addiction is considered a brain disorder because it involves functional changes in the brain involved in reward, stress, and self-control and its effects on behavior. People who are addicted have an intense focus on using drugs or engaging in other actions, like gambling, despite negative consequences such as relationship problems or financial difficulties.
Symptoms of Addiction
Addiction can manifest in many different ways, with varying symptoms depending on the type of addiction. Some common warning signs of addiction include an inability to stop using a substance or engaging in a behavior, cravings and compulsions, emotional disturbances such as anxiety and depression, physical ailments like fatigue and headaches, and social problems like disrupted relationships and financial difficulties.
When does the use of alcohol or drugs become a problem? If you answer “yes” to two or more of the following, your alcohol or drug use is of concern:
- Continuing to use, even when it causes problems in relationships
- Continuing to use, even when it puts you in danger
- Continuing to use, even when physical or psychological problems may be made worse by use
- Craving
- Giving up important activities because of use
- Inability to manage commitments due to use
- Increasing tolerance
- Spending a lot of time to get, use, or recover from use
- Using in larger amounts or for longer than intended
- Wanting to cut down or stop, but not managing to
- Withdrawal symptoms
Some factors, such as coexisting mental health issues (including but not limited to anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, and schizophrenia), as well as genetics, can increase the likelihood of addiction. We can’t control our genetic predispositions, but we can increase the likelihood that addiction treatment will be more effective by treating co-existing mental health issues.
Addiction Treatment
Addiction can be treated in a variety of ways; however, Atlanta Specialized Care provides only the highest-quality treatments for those struggling with the throes of their addiction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) by way of individual therapy is one of the most popular treatment options for addiction. CBT focuses on helping individuals recognize and change any underlying behaviors or thoughts that may be contributing to their addictive patterns. Through this form of therapy, individuals can learn how to identify triggers and develop healthier coping strategies that can reduce cravings and help them abstain from substance use.
In addition to CBT, there are also medications that can help manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings associated with substance abuse. Some medications may block opioid receptors in the brain, reducing the effects of opioids, while others produce an unpleasant reaction when alcohol is consumed so as to act as an aversion therapy. However, it is important to note that while medication can be helpful in managing addiction, it should always be used in conjunction with other therapies in order for it to be effective.
Your provider at Atlanta Specialized Care will provide you with a tailored treatment plan to help you overcome your addiction once and for all.
Addiction Treatment in Atlanta & Alpharetta, GA
Begin treatment for your addiction today, so you can begin living for yourself again. The team at Atlanta Specialized Care is proud to offer comprehensive treatment for those struggling with addiction and other mental health disorders. For more information about our treatments for addiction or other mental health disorders, please call Atlanta Specialized Care at (770) 815-6853 or arrange a consultation online by using our information request form.