Learning About Allergies and Asthma Learning About Allergies and Asthma

Methadone addiction is no joke. There has been a huge increase in the number of deaths from this heroin-like painkiller since 2000, and those who continue to use put their lives at risk by doing so. The good news is that a full recovery is possible with the right methadone treatment. The ideal treatment will include medical supervision and psychological counseling. Sometimes the importance of ongoing therapy is underestimated in methadone addiction, but it's an important tool to help you and stay clean. Here are some little-known reasons that therapy can help you kick a methadone addiction to the curb permanently.

Reason #1: Therapy Helps You Uncover the Root Cause of the Addiction

While many people see therapy as a way of talking about their lives and problems, there is a lot that goes on beneath the stereotypical surface of how counseling is typically presented in television shows and movies. The truth is that therapy can help you explore your past as a detective, and your therapist can help you ultimately identify the root cause of your methadone addiction. No matter how great you may feel taking it, it is likely that the true motivating factor of your addiction began in childhood.

Reason #2: Therapy Helps You Avoid a Relapse Through a Variety of Ways

Your counselor is your ally and partner in healing, and you can typically schedule more frequent appointments if you fear that you are headed for a relapse. Your therapist will offer you the benefit of their experience, education, and training. Also, the counselor helps you identify the moods, unhealthy thought patterns, and toxic situations that lead to self-destructive behaviors such as using methadone. From there, your therapy can help you learn how to avoid triggering things. Additionally, the counselor will help you develop strong coping skills as well as replace the negative thought patterns with much healthier ones.

Reason #3: Therapy Helps You Set Strong, Attainable Goals for Staying Clean

Most therapists will also welcome the opportunity to set goals with you for your therapy. When you have therapy goals, you can return to them as a basic road map as you deal with the pain from your addiction to methadone. Also, when you have goals set, you can mark them off as you go, and that empowers you to see all the ways that therapy has helped you make better decisions and improve your life. As you achieve each goal, you have more proof of all you can accomplish without giving in to the addiction.

Finally, keep in mind that it's important to not take being clean for granted. Use all the available tools to help you stay away from the deadly drug that methadone can so easily be. That includes going to support group meetings, following your doctor's advice, and going to regular therapy sessions. Take care of yourself to more easily stay away from the temptation of doing drugs again.