Cognitive behavioral therapy, otherwise mentioned as CBT, is heard often in the context of depression because it helps people step away from old, negative thought patterns (such as those pesky, unhelpful thoughts of not being good enough, of failing, etc.) and step towards integrating more positive, productive thought patterns (such as placing more emphasis on thoughts that help a person grow and handle situations in beneficial ways). CBT can greatly reduce symptoms of depression, and research suggests that approximately 16-18% of those with a substance use disorder (SUD) have major depression as well. Depression isn’t the only condition that CBT can treat, however.
In 2018, Medical News Today emphasized that CBT helps people deal with their thought processes in the present moment – and with applicable techniques, a person can use just what they learned in therapy to apply it to their daily lives. CBT can help treat conditions such as phobias, anxiety, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, anger, marital conflict, borderline personality disorder (BPD), eating disorders and much more – including those with substance abuse concerns. Author Suzette Glasner-Edwards, of her workbook titled, The Addiction Recovery Skills Workbook: Changing Addictive Behaviors Using CBT, Mindfulness and Motivational Interviewing Techniques, explained that CBT is also referred to as relapse prevention therapy; for those in addiction recovery, CBT can help with a number of things, including:
· Understanding how your behaviors were learned and conditioned
· Identifying the people, places and things that bring on cravings for you to want to use substances again
· Learning healthy coping responses for when these cravings emerge
The beauty of CBT is that it can be integrated with other forms of treatment to produce a more holistic approach to recovery; a 2017 study published in the journal Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment found that for those in recovery from methamphetamine addiction, CBT encouraged abstinence and greater participation in recovery alongside other recovery-related tasks.
If you’re ready to get started on your journey towards health and wellness, speak with a professional from The Arbor today – you’re not alone.
Arbor Behavioral Healthcare offers an integrative and holistic approach to treat substance abuse and a wide variety of addictions, as well as underlying mental health and psychological issues. All of the addiction recovery programs offered by The Arbor are designed to heal the mind, body, and spirit leading to a lifetime of sobriety, health and wellness. If you’re ready to find healing and restoration in a peaceful, loving environment, please call us today at 844-560-7269.
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