Since addiction is a long-term disease, individuals cannot just stop taking drugs once and be cured immediately. Most addicts require repeated or prolonged treatment to effectively and permanently recover their lives from addiction and overcome their addictions. Addiction affects areas of the brain related to motivation, memory and reward, learning and emotion, and control of behavior. Individuals who are struggling with addiction and their addictions are not only dealing with problems at their physical, social and psychological levels, they are also dealing with issues related to their personal relationships.
There are several psychological and mental illnesses that can lead an individual to develop addictions. These include alcohol or drug abuse, depression, and other mental illnesses. For these reasons, it’s extremely important that any individual struggling with a drug addiction seek professional help. The mental health professionals who specialize in addiction care have the training and expertise necessary to effectively treat all types of addictions and mental illnesses. Whether you suffer from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or substance abuse, a qualified mental health professional will have the ability to provide treatment.
Unfortunately, there are still many people struggling with drug addiction, including those who are suffering from depression and bipolar disorder. A common misconception is that these are just temporary conditions which can be cured over time. While this may be true for some people, it is also very likely that these conditions will become more entrenched and take a longer amount of time to resolve. If you are an addict who has attempted to quit on your own and failed, do not give up! It is possible to recover from an addiction, but the road is often difficult. It will require ongoing treatment and dedication from you as well as the support of your loved ones.
