Addiction is a very severe mental illness that hijacks the brain, which makes it difficult to separate truth from fiction. In your active addiction, you may feel like you’re all alone in your struggles because people don’t understand. On the other hand, you may feel as though you’re not someone who deserves to have someone listen. Talk therapy is a crucial part of addiction treatment as a way to help your brain heal and give you clarity.
How Addiction Hijacks the Brain
What separates people with an addiction from those who don’t is a malfunctioning prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex not only helps to regulate the flow of dopamine in the brain, but it has many other responsibilities as well. When the prefrontal cortex isn’t functioning properly, it makes it extremely difficult for people with addiction to get sober. The great news is that with treatment, this part of the brain can begin to heal and reboot necessary functions, including:
- Attunement
- Empathy
- Self-awareness
- Logical decision making
- Impulse control
There’s No Judgement in Talk Therapy
Each of these different aspects of the prefrontal cortex begins to heal through the process of addiction therapy. Through the education individuals receive in addiction treatment, they start to understand why they feel so different. The lack of attunement makes it difficult to connect to others, and a lack of self-awareness stops you from seeing the truth. By being able to talk about the realities of different situations, you begin the healing process of recovery.
Through this type of therapy, you have the opportunity to work with someone who is coming from a non-biased, non-judgmental place. This is extremely important for anyone who has a hard time opening up. A therapist knows that no matter where you came from, you’re not defined by pastexperiences. Addiction is a legitimate illness, and you’ll be treated with kindness, respect, tolerance and compassion.
Psychotherapy Heals the Brain
Scientists spend a lot of time studying the disease of addiction in order to find the best ways to begin healing the brain. Working with trained professionals at an addiction treatment center gives you the chance to make progress. Evidence-based treatment methods and psychotherapy help you begin to recognize reality again. You’ll also begin to feel empowered because many of the things that heal you are already within you.
1stStep Behavioral Health wants to help you see that there’s a much better life that awaits you in recovery. Through different types of therapy, you’ll find that you can become the person you deserve to be. Not only will you begin to progress in individual sessions, but you’ll see the power of group sessions as well. Part of healing your attunement is realizing you’re not the only one with your struggles, and others can support you.
Don’t wait another minute to begin on the path of changing your life for the better. Call us today at (855) 425-4846 to learn more about talk therapy and our other life-changing treatments.
