Drug and Alcohol Rehab Bishop’s Cleeve

When you are in the grip of a drug or alcohol addiction you might feel that there is no way out. Beating an addiction on your own is certainly incredibly difficult. Even if you are lucky enough to have a strong support network of friends and family around you, they are unlikely to have the expert knowledge that you need. There are places that you can turn to for expert help to break free from addiction.

There are many treatment options available to you, such as the NHS who offers drug and alcohol services. Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) can also offer valuable support. The most effective way of treating a serious addiction, however, is a comprehensive holistic treatment programme delivered through residential rehab. If you need help to make a recovery from addiction, drug and alcohol rehab in Bishop’s Cleeve could be your best way forward.

 

What is a Drug and Alcohol Addiction?

Addiction used to be seen as a sign of weakness or even a character flaw. It was believed by some that all you needed was enough willpower to beat an addiction, making it almost a choice. We now know that alcohol and drug addiction is a complex condition that can affect anyone – although there is evidence that some people can be more prone to addiction than others, both genetically and through environmental and other factors.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that addiction is “a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences”. It adds that, while most people make a conscious choice to use drugs at first, “repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs”.¹

This ‘rewiring’ of the brain is one of the things that makes addiction to drugs or alcohol so difficult to break free from, but there are other challenges. Physical dependency can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms when you do not use drugs or alcohol.

Combined with intense cravings and the compulsion to continue taking drugs, these can see many people fall at the first hurdle when they do try to quit. Repeatedly trying and failing to quit can even be counter-productive, damaging your self-esteem and reinforcing the hold that drugs or alcohol have over you.

 

 

Why is Detoxing Important?

A major step in any addiction recovery journey is detoxification, commonly known simply as drug or alcohol detox. This is when your body gets rid of the drugs or alcohol already in your system. This can be from years of substance misuse and in some cases your brain and central nervous system become reliant and adjust to the chemicals provided by the drug.

When the drug is suddenly removed or significantly reduced, you may suffer a range of physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. These will all be unpleasant and can be potentially dangerous.

It is always best to undergo this challenging period under medical supervision if possible, which is one of the big advantages of attending drug and alcohol rehab. You will also be in a safe and secure environment, away from the stresses of everyday life, the people and places associated with your drinking or drug use and away from triggers and temptation.

 

Therapy Options at Asana Lodge

Drug detox is an important step but it is far from the end of the recovery journey. Without dealing with the psychological and habitual aspects of an addiction, you would be in great danger of simply falling back into bad old habits and the grip of drugs and alcohol once more. This would make all the pain and hard work of detox something of a waste.

At Asana Lodge we will help you explore the root causes of your substance misuse and understand more about your addiction. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, also known as CBT, is one of the most common therapies used, as it helps people in a negative cycle learn to manage their feelings.

We also offer techniques including trauma and abuse counselling, stress management, mediation therapy and group therapy with others going through their own recovery journeys. All our therapies are carried out by experienced, qualified recovery staff and counsellors, ensuring that you are in a safe and professional environment.

 

Mental Health, Addiction and Dual Diagnosis

It is very common for people with addictions to suffer from mental health issues and vice versa. Sometimes these things influence each other in different ways.

An existing mental health condition could lead someone to turn to drink or drugs, for example, while an addiction could trigger or worsen depression, anxiety and other conditions. This is generally known as dual diagnosis and it can be very useful to treat both sides at the same time. Otherwise, the untreated aspect could trigger a relapse of the other when you leave rehab.

 

Aftercare and Relapse Prevention

Our therapy programme and relapse prevention sessions should equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to avoid relapse – going back to drugs and alcohol – but that doesn’t mean there won’t be challenging times.

If you do relapse, it is important to see this as a setback and not the end of recovery. Many people do relapse and continue to make a long-lasting recovery, but it is obviously best to avoid this situation if at all possible. Our aftercare programme can help by providing structured support in the vital weeks and months following your stay in rehab.

 

The Admission Process

If you think rehab might be the right option for you, our team of friendly and experienced admission specialists can answer any questions you might have and guide you through the process. This will involve a free pre-admission assessment to help us understand more about your addiction, general health and your own unique situation.

This will allow us to make sure that any treatment is suitable and draw up a tailored treatment plan for your own individual requirements. If you think you might benefit from a stay in rehab to reset and recover, contact us today for free and confidential advice or call 01908 489 421.