CBT Used in Drug Detox Helpful for Men Looking to Get Into Recovery

Drug detox is the first major step of the recovery journey for individuals suffering from substance abuse disorder. This process facilitates the process of purging toxins and drug residues from the various systems of the body. Essentially, the detoxification process physically prepares the body and being of the individual in order to be more receptive to treatment.

The majority of drug detox centers and rehab treatment facilities make use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help patients, particularly men who have completed drug detox and are now prepared to get into the formal recovery process.

How Can CBT Help Men in Their Recovery Journey?

CBT has been found effective in helping men and women alike in their journey towards freedom from substance abuse disorder. Many studies support the effectiveness or efficacy of CBT in helping recovering addicts to overcome alcohol and substance use disorder. Moreover, numerous large-scale trials and reviews also reveal that CBT is also useful in preventing relapse.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been proven to be an effective method in the recovery process considering that it helps recovering addicts to:

• Develop healthier thought patterns. Without a doubt, the thought pattern of recovering addicts can be negative and destructive, which is why their behavior and emotions are also negative and bleak. They turn to alcohol and drugs to “silence” their thought and be able to cope with their feelings of helplessness and despair. CBT helps the recovering addict not by addressing the effects but focusing on the negative thought patterns. As the patient participates in CBT, he learns how to develop healthy and positive thought patterns, which will then translate into healthier attitude and behavior. CBT essentially believes that by altering and improving the thought pattern, the recovering addict will be able to develop positive coping mechanisms and behavior.
• Improve their self-esteem and self-image. Drug dependents often have a negative view of themselves. They have low self-esteem and negative self-image. Taking drugs and alcohol is their way of numbing these feelings because thinking about it can cause a lot of pain. Since CBT is focused on changing the way people think, it has the power to improve the patient’s view of himself. By participating in CBT, the person learns how to assess thoughts more objectively and to change them into something more positive.
• Slowly (but surely) learn new concepts that can help in the recovery process and to deter the occurrence of relapse. There are people who criticize CBT because it takes a while to see the results. They believe that treatment methods that produce “instant” positive outcomes are much better. What they fail to consider, however, is the level of effectiveness of CBT compared with “faster” treatment approaches. Studies will show that instantaneous remedies are mostly ineffective. CBT helps patients to master the process of changing or improving thought patterns. This mastery takes time since it will depend on the learning pace and other factors unique to the individual. However, the upside is that its results are not only effective but long-lasting.
• Receive treatment while continuing their normal activities. CBT is normally carried out on an outpatient basis. This means that recovering addicts can continue going to work and doing their normal activities while receiving treatment. This set-up also provides an opportunity for them to apply every little thing they learn in therapy in real-life setting.

The items above are just some of the many ways that CBT helps addicted men to prosper in their recovery journey. Ultimately, CBT makes recovering addicts realize that although they are unable to control everything around them, they have the power to interpret and control their thoughts and behavior into something more positive and favorable to their condition.

His House Rehab offers industry leading Drug Addiction Treatment Programs. We were founded in 1994 and we base our Drug and Alcohol Treatment programs on five key principles: commitment, honesty, integrity, respect, and service. These five principles guide us in all that we do and all the care we provide. Contact us today to see how we can help you or your loved one.