Understanding the Cycle of Addiction
Addiction is a devastating condition. It’s not uncommon for someone with a substance use disorder (SUD) to feel hopeless, and unable to stop negative behaviors that are wreaking havoc on their physical and mental health. To most, it feels like they’re stuck in a feedback loop that preys on negative emotion.
This negative feedback loop is called the cycle of addiction, and it’s a way to better understand the complex nature of addiction.
What is The Addiction Cycle?
Addiction causes substantial changes in the brain. Recent evolutions in our understanding of this topic have asserted that addiction is a chronic brain disease. It's one that causes neuroadaptations that cause intense and often painful cravings.
The addiction cycle describes the emotions and thoughts of an addicted individual and shows us why relapses are prevalent. It’s also a helpful tool for addicts to better understand how to break free from their addiction.
Stages of the Addiction Cycle
This cycle can be described through multiple stages. These events might look different for some people, but are fairly common amongst those struggling with addiction..
Emotional Trigger and Frustration
This is what most people consider the start of the cycle. Something happens to the user that causes a high emotional response. They might feel frustrated, anxious, uncomfortable, and even guilty. Typically, these feelings can be caused by a recent relapse or difficult life event—something that challenges their emotions that causes them to seek relief.
This can also be caused by withdrawal symptoms. No matter what the trigger is, some event has caused the individual to feel a certain level of negative emotions.
Seeking Relief
After the triggering emotions or events, the individual will begin to seek relief from that internal pain or discomfort. This desire to stamp out negative emotions is a big part of the problem most addicts face.
This often plays into withdrawal symptoms and cravings. When challenged with a difficult event, someone with an SUD often turns to a substance because it’s routine, and it can give them relief, if temporary and superficial. Learning to deal with negative emotions is a key aspect of overcoming cravings.
Obsession and Ritual Behaviors
While seeking relief, people with a SUD may begin obsessing about the substance and participating in ritual behaviors.
These behaviors are actions they participate in to prepare themselves for substance use. For example, someone with an alcohol addiction might fantasize about how they’ll feel when drunk, or they could start stocking up on alcohol to prepare for a binge that is days away. Either way, these activities make it very difficult to stop the incoming relapse as they intensify cravings.
Substance Abuse
This is the part of the cycle where an individual uses the substance or participates in the behavior.
Guilt
Some individuals may experience a feeling of guilt immediately after using. This guilt is often associated as a triggering event and can cause emotional discomfort. These feelings can lead the addict further along the cycle of addiction causing them to seek comfort from their emotional ailments.
If not through feelings of guilt or shame, eventual withdrawal symptoms will appear, causing discomfort and frustration. At that point, the cycle restarts.
Breaking the Addiction Cycle
Overcoming the cycle of addiction is possible. Everyone’s path to healing is different, but here are the basic principles for breaking the cycle of addiction.
Making the Decision
For the addiction cycle to end, a decision must be made. Coming to the point of deciding to end the behavior can look like a 3 step process:
- Precontemplation—No intention to end the behavior.
- Contemplation—Considering ending the behavior.
- Preparation—Desire and readiness to make a change.
Deciding to stop the behavior will open a person to change and help them participate in a treatment plan more actively.
Participate in a Treatment Plan
Actively participating in the treatment process is key to a successful recovery. Some recovery plans could include self-help groups, formal treatments, self-help groups, and rehabilitation centers.
Whichever treatment program is right for you, it’s important to actively engage in every aspect of the process.
Maintain Healthy Lifestyle Habits
A lot of treatment facilities offer recreational therapy. Adding healthy lifestyles alongside your recovery will help maintain your sobriety and promote a more open mind during the treatment process.
Working out, staying active, and engaging in hobbies are tools to help us keep our minds clear and our bodies healthy.
Aftercare
Returning to the real world after participating in a residential recovery plan can be difficult. Without proper continued care, most people would return to their old lifestyles. That’s why aftercare is part of treatment plans.
Healing from addiction takes time. It goes beyond a stay at an inpatient treatment facility. Support groups, continued therapy, and medication when needed can help to continue your sobriety.
Break The Cycle of Addiction at Sequoia Health
Suffering from addiction can feel terrible. Dealing with it can feel impossible, but with professional help, you can be better equipped to conquer your addiction.
Sequoia Behavioral Health offers holistic addiction treatment and mental health care with understanding caregivers. To get started on your journey toward healing, reach out, schedule your inpatient stay, arrive, and begin healing.
