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Psychiatric medications may also be helpful for individuals struggling with co-occurring mental illnesses. Maintenance – Following your recovery program, the addict is now living a healthier, substance-free lifestyle. Whether you are an alcoholic, or you’re addicted to sex, the problem is still the same. Experimentation often involves seeking the cycle of addiction substance for the pleasurable effects of intoxication or as “a fix” for a problem, like pain or anxiety. The person is in control of the substance use, but the amount and frequency of use may increase quickly. When a person recognizes the need for change, and they are ready to take on the challenges it brings, treatment becomes a viable option.
Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. The maintenance stage is most challenging after a period of time has elapsed and the focus on reaching the goal has lost its intensity. People can become complacent at this point, and they may begin to think that a small lapse will make no real difference. But with good preparation, it can also be an exciting time that gives way to new options. Verywell Mind’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.
Therapy
This type of therapy will help the client identify and work through past trauma and learning healthy ways to cope with symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, or depression. It can develop for a number of reasons, and it impacts individuals in a variety of ways. Take a look at the various stages in the cycle of addiction, and you’ll be better equipped to halt the cycle and free yourself from drug or alcohol dependence. Without the right support and treatment, it can be very difficult to maintain sobriety. A critical part of alcohol addiction treatment is developing a relapse prevention plan that helps you deal with potential triggers, lapses (e.g., having one drink), and relapses when they happen. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals.
- Although the three stages of addiction generally apply to all addictive substances, different substances affect the brain and behavior in different ways during each stage of the addiction cycle.
- For situations like this, we provide alcohol and drug detox to help individuals break their physical dependence before addressing mental dependence through inpatient treatment.
- For example, an alcoholic may always go to the same liquor store and stock up on a week’s worth of alcohol before going on a binge while a heroin addict may follow a specific procedure before shooting up.
- We can also show you that you don’t need to be in a codependent relationship to feel fulfilled.
- Most of the actions your brain is responsible for are things you don’t even think about.
Tolerating, managing, and making sense of any negative feelings. Your aim should be to be pòsitive about the negative, and comfortable with the uncomfortable. Regular drug use, and the large surges of dopamine that go with it, actually “teaches” the brain to seek drugs at the expense of other, healthier activities.
Beware: Long-Term Side Effects Of Suboxone
Current research has indicated that the effects of dopamine from drugs are much more exhilarating than the dopamine produced naturally. At this stage of the cycle of addiction, the individual continues to use the substance for various reasons.
What is the spiral of addiction?
Addiction is often described as a downward spiral. What this means is that over any significant period of time the life of the individual will deteriorate. In the beginning, the individual may find that the benefits of using alcohol or drugs outweigh the disadvantages but over time, this situation reverses.
This means that you have the risk of losing many of the basic functions it’s responsible for. When the brain isn’t able to communicate within the different parts, behaviors typically change. This impact results in different ways of thinking, feeling and behaving.