Breaking the Cycle of Addiction: Steps to Reclaim Your Life

The cycle of addiction is the repetitive pattern of substance use stages where one stage leads to another and vice versa. It’s often at the core of substance abuse, making it extremely hard to quit. This cycle can seem endless and as if there is no way of stopping it. However, professional help can enable you to break this vicious cycle. Especially when this help is timely and addresses certain stages of addiction development. Experts from detox centers in San Fernando Valley, like Tranquility Recovery Center, can support you.

What is the cycle of addiction and how to break the cycle of addiction are just some of the questions we will provide the answers to. Contact us to learn more about the stages of addiction and how to spot when professional help is necessary.

What Is the Cycle of Addiction?

The addiction cycle is a framework for understanding the progression of addiction. It’s defined as a consistent cycle of phases that become increasingly difficult to overcome. The biggest danger of this cycle is that it perpetuates substance abuse, making it almost impossible to put an end to it. The cycle of addiction implies stages as follows: the initial stage, abuse and dependence, tolerance, withdrawal, and relapse. 

The first stage of substance abuse is the initial use. It is sometimes considered crucial as it determines the future course of your relationship with substances. Not everyone who experiments with alcohol or drugs will become addicted, but everyone who’s an addict once experimented with the object of their addiction. Knowing this, it’s important to notice the first signs of substance use and act to prevent the progression of it.  

The Stages of Addiction in Detail

Addiction does not simply happen overnight. Becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol takes time and passes through certain stages. Here are the typical stages of addiction in order:

• The initial use. This first exposure to substances and experimentation is considered the first step or the initial use. In this stage, you might be trying different drugs, mixing drinks, or testing your boundaries with alcohol and drugs. You do not require substance but rather use it out of curiosity, as a maladaptive coping mechanism, or due to peer pressure. 
• The abuse. If experimentation becomes frequent and you start relying on the substance, you are entering the abuse stage. You might not be dependent on the substance yet, but it is slowly becoming a regular element in your life. 
• The dependence. This stage implies both physical and psychological dependence on a substance. You start feeling the need for it and can experience cravings. You can’t imagine going through the day without it and you spend much time acquiring or using it. 
• Tolerance to the substance. Due to frequent use, you will develop tolerance to the substance. This means you will start taking it more frequently or in higher doses to get the same effect. 
• Withdrawal stage. Once you decide to quit the use, you will enter a withdrawal phase and start experiencing withdrawal symptoms. The majority of them are uncomfortable but not dangerous. However, to get rid of them or due to intense cravings, you might slip into using again and potentially even overdose, making it very important to rely on professional help in this stage.
• Relapse. Experiencing a relapse means you are falling back into substance use after a period of abstinence. While this is unfortunate, it is not unusual for someone recovering from addiction to drugs or alcohol. It is a normal part of the recovery process.

How to Break the Cycle of Addiction

This vicious cycle of addiction might seem unbreakable, especially if you have experienced it more than once. But there are steps for breaking the cycle of addiction. Here are actionable steps you can take:

• Recognize the problem. Sometimes, changes in the behavior of addicts are so discrete they might go unnoticed. Furthermore, you might try to minimize the problem you are having and, therefore, ignore the warning signs. Figuring out that you got stuck in the addiction loop is an essential first step to recovery. 
• Seek professional help. If you tried quitting alone and had no success, seek professional support. Professional therapists can recommend treatments that help you overcome dependence and manage withdrawal symptoms. Furthermore, they can help you identify and work on the underlying causes of your addiction.
• Build a strong support network. Ensure you are surrounded by people who understand you and can support your recovery. Your support network should be diverse and include friends, family, and other people with experiences similar to yours who you might meet in support groups.

The Role of Professional Treatment in Breaking the Cycle

Professional help is recommended when trying to break the cycle of addiction, especially in those stages that could be dangerous and even life-threatening. Professionals can help you quit using drugs safely and efficiently. When receiving drug addiction treatment Los Angeles doctors recommend, you should not only overcome your current struggles but also explore the underlying causes of addiction to manage addiction and prevent relapses successfully.

The first step in treating an addiction is detoxification. Detox cleanses the body from substances and their metabolites and prepares you for the following steps. When done professionally, detox addresses withdrawal symptoms in a safe environment, minimizing the dangers of relapse.

The following step is rehab, which can be either inpatient or outpatient rehab in San Fernando Valley. Inpatient programs are typically more suitable when structure is necessary, and you can allow yourself to isolate from the world for a while. With residential programs, you would stay within the facility during the rehab. For those who cannot do this and have to keep up with their daily routines, outpatient programs are a good solution, as they allow you to spend some time out of a facility and tend to your obligations. 

The Importance of Understanding Triggers

An important aspect of psychotherapeutic work refers to identifying your particular triggers for substance abuse. By knowing what causes negative emotions, making you reach for substances, you can react timely and stop yourself from resolving your emotions in this maladaptive way. CBT skills (skills developed during cognitive behavioral therapy for addiction treatment) and stress management techniques are important for this adequate reaction. 

Different aspects of your life and events within them can be triggers for maladaptive behavior. Stress is a frequent trigger for many, but also social pressures and the desire to fit in. Finally, medical and mental health issues can act as triggers, and many try to cope with their conditions by leaning into substance abuse. 

You should distinguish this response to mental health problems from the situation of co-occurring mental health and addiction problems known as dual diagnosis. When substance abuse is a coping mechanism for mental problems, it is clear what comes first. However, in the case of dual diagnosis, addiction and mental problems happen simultaneously, and it is unclear what came first. Additionally, dual diagnosis requires a specific dual diagnosis treatment in Los Angeles.

Benefits of Breaking the Cycle of Addiction

Breaking the cycle of addiction brings more than just immediate relief. There are several benefits to breaking free from addiction:

• Your health will improve. Both physical and mental health will start changing for the better. You will feel stronger and more energized. You will also prevent potential additional negative consequences coming from chronic substance abuse. As for mental health, you will feel at peace, grounded, and in control over your thoughts and emotions. 
• You will restore significant relationships (and create new ones). An important aspect of recovery is making amends and repairing broken relationships. Once you quit using, you can focus on regaining the trust of your loved ones. Additionally, recovery often brings about new connections and friendships, especially through participation in support groups. 
• You will retake control over your life. Instead of substances controlling your behavior, you will be able to do that. You can make decisions led by a desire to grow, connect, or thrive instead of your choices being motivated by cravings and pain.

Start Your Journey to Recovery

Quitting substance use is difficult, especially when dependence is developed and you use drugs and alcohol as a way to avoid facing your initial problems and struggles. However, chronic and frequent substance use unavoidably leads to many physiologic changes, poor physical health, and mental health problems. You deserve to live a life without the burden of addiction. Tranquility Recovery Center can help you achieve that. 

Contact us to learn more about our programs, including drug addiction treatment in Los Angeles, and take the first step toward lasting recovery today.