It’s difficult to control negative thoughts during addiction recovery. When someone stops using drugs or alcohol, the brain and body adjust. Prescription and illegal drugs and alcohol alter brain chemistry. During addiction, the brain stops producing chemicals like dopamine and GABA. These chemicals affect mood and behavior. During detox, the brain goes through chemical withdrawal before making its own chemicals again. This causes negative thoughts. Shame, embarrassment, and feelings of failure can cause a spiral of negative thinking. When people attempt to detox from drugs or alcohol at home, negative thoughts can be tough to overcome. Luckily, today dialectic behavioral therapy can help those in addiction recovery manage negative thoughts and addiction recovery.
If you’re interested in learning more about overcoming negative thoughts and addiction recovery, reach out to Atlanta Detox Center. Learn more about dialectical behavior therapy and other addiction programs offered by our clinic by calling 470-450-2355 or completing our online form.
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical behavior therapy is used to help manage mood disorders, negative thought patterns, and suicidal ideations. Psychotherapists developed DBT to help clients mitigate borderline personality disorder. Today, DBT is an increasingly popular tool for addiction and other mood disorders. DBT is a version of cognitive-behavioral therapy that helps clients focus on the present moment. Other features of DBT include:
- Healthy tools to manage daily stressors
- How to manage anger rumination and other negative thought patterns
- How to foster healthy relationships with others
The tools of DBT can help those in addiction recovery move past familiar stories of shame and failure. These tools help clients practice mindfulness and gain a healthy perspective of their lives. They can learn to cope with present moment situations, which can reduce the impulse to relapse. DBT can be especially effective for negative thoughts and addiction recovery.
Components of DBT for Managing Negative Thoughts and Emotions
Therapists break dialectical behavioral therapy into categories to assess a client’s physical and emotional state. This breakdown can make it easy to determine a client’s situation and progress throughout rehab and recovery. DBT allows clients to focus on:
- How to accept a situation in the present moment
- How to reorient to a situation
- Learning how to regulate emotions
- How to raise tolerance to stress
- Interpersonal effectiveness
By addressing the categories of DBT, therapists can provide practical tools to mitigate stress and emotions. Therapists use DBT in both inpatient and outpatient rehab programs. Many will work with a skills-training group to learn and practice coping skills. They will also go through individual treatment and consulting treatment. DBT can even be used over the phone, making it accessible for people in recovery, no matter their location or lifestyle. Therapists realize thought patterns are often causes of addiction triggers. Negative thoughts can be overwhelming during detox and withdrawal, making DBT an effective tool to prevent further drug use or self-harm.
Explore Dialectical Behavioral Therapy at Atlanta Detox Center
If you or someone you know is struggling with negative thought patterns during recovery, realize you are not alone. Negative emotions and trouble coping with negative thoughts are very common during detox and early recovery. The compassionate staff at Atlanta Detox Center can help. With residential and post-rehab care, we can help you through every stage of addiction therapy.
Our Ameratus Recovery Center staff use medical assistance and psychological therapy for a holistic recovery. We use various therapies, including DBT, to help residents regain control over their lives. If you’re ready to learn more about our addiction treatment programs, call us at 470-450-2355 or complete our online form to learn more about negative emotions and addiction recovery.
