While dealing with detox and the associated withdrawal symptoms that come from abruptly quitting drugs or alcohol is indeed challenging, overcoming the psychological aspects of addiction is, arguably, much harder. That’s the overarching consensus of the hundreds of thousands of people who quit and end up relapsing while still in rehab or shortly after completing rehab. And that’s not just the opinion of individuals trying to quit drugs or alcohol. A National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) report revealed that an estimated 40% to 60% of people who seek treatment for drug or alcohol addiction relapse while still in an addiction recovery program or shortly after completing one.
The study also found that substance use disorder (SUD) relapse rates are on par with relapse rates for chronic medical conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, and asthma. In other words, the overall rate of relapsing after quitting drugs or alcohol is nearly as high as the recurrence of these chronic diseases after successful treatment and remission. Because of this, many rehabs in the U.S. offer addiction counseling to help individuals overcome the psychological hurdles that sometimes stand in the way of achieving both short-term and long-term sobriety. A key part of these counseling sessions entails therapists encouraging individuals to ask themselves questions as they go through addiction treatment.
Common Questions to ask a Recovering Addict
If you’re having a personal conversation with someone in recovery, the key is to be supportive, non-judgmental, and open to whatever they feel comfortable sharing. Here are some gentle, open-ended questions that invite conversation while showing empathy and respect:
1. Personal Journey & Experience
- What led you to start using substances?
- When did you realize you had a problem with addiction?
- Can you describe your lowest point before seeking help?
- What motivated you to start your recovery journey?
2. Treatment & Recovery Process
- What type of treatment or support was most helpful for you?
- Did you go to rehab, a halfway house, or another program? What was that like?
- What was the hardest part of getting clean?
- How did you deal with withdrawal symptoms?
3. Life After Addiction
- How do you handle cravings or triggers now?
- What are some daily habits that help you stay sober?
- How has your life changed since entering recovery?
- What’s something you’ve gained in recovery that you never expected?
4. Support System & Relationships
- How did addiction affect your relationships?
- Did certain people support you more than others? How?
- What would you say to someone struggling to repair relationships after addiction?
- How do you set boundaries with people who still use?
5. Relapse & Challenges
- Have you ever relapsed? If so, what did you learn from it?
- How do you avoid situations that might lead to relapse?
- What’s your advice for someone who just relapsed and feels hopeless?
6. Mental Health & Coping Strategies
- How has recovery impacted your mental health?
- What coping strategies work best for you when facing stress or anxiety?
- Did you seek therapy or support groups during recovery?
- How do you practice self-care now?
7. Advice for Others
- What would you tell a loved one who is struggling with addiction right now?
- What’s the best piece of advice you received in recovery?
- What do you wish more people understood about addiction and recovery?
- How can family members and friends best support someone in recovery?
These questions invite conversation without pushing—let the person lead the discussion at their own pace. The best thing you can do is listen, validate their feelings, and let them know they’re not alone.
What Does It Mean To Have a Psychological Addiction?
Many people in the U.S. who struggle with a substance abuse disorder are simultaneously struggling with a mental illness. This combination is known as a co-occurring disorder. According to a 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health report, approximately 21.5 million American adults have a co-occurring disorder. Such a disorder can make moving past addiction harder when someone is trying to get their lives back on track.
A co-occurring disorder can be the result of someone having an existing mental illness and turning to drugs or alcohol to self-medicate or a byproduct of long-term drug or alcohol abuse. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), an estimated 22.8% of U.S. adults struggled with a diagnosable mental illness in 2021. That works out to around 57.8 million people or 1 in 5 adults.
Both a co-occurring disorder and a stand-alone mental illness can lead to a psychological addiction that makes achieving short and long-term sobriety harder. So that everyone is on the same page, a psychological addiction is an emotional or mental dependence on a substance or behavior. When someone has a psychological addiction, either because they can no longer turn to drugs or alcohol to self-medicate or have stopped receiving the treatment needed to combat a stand-alone mental health disorders, they often experience symptoms that put them at risk of a relapse. Some of these symptoms include the following:
- Cognitive issues, such as difficulty concentrating, memory loss, and reduced problem-solving capabilities
- Compulsive behaviors
- Cravings
- Denial
- Loss of interest in activities previously considered enjoyable
- Mood swings
- Obsession
- Heightened anxiety and irritability
According to nearly all therapists well versed in addiction counseling, untreated psychological addiction not only increases the risk of relapse but also negatively impacts the relationships individuals have with their friends and family. The same holds for their occupation and overall health. Sadly, many people do not receive the help they need to overcome their psychological addiction. That’s the takeaway from several studies, including one published by Mental Health America (MHA), a non-profit committed to promoting mental health, well-being, and mental illness prevention. It revealed that over 56% of adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment. That includes those struggling with a co-occurring disorder and those struggling with psychological addiction.
How Untreated Psychological Addiction Makes Getting Through Detox More Challenging
To appreciate how untreated psychological addiction makes getting through detox more challenging, we have to understand what detox is and why it’s a necessary evil when it comes to breaking the cycle of addiction. Within days, sometimes hours, after someone consumes their final alcoholic beverage or takes the last hit of their preferred drug, they begin going through detox, the body’s natural way of ridding itself of these substances and related contaminants. This critical step toward getting clean can trigger a plurality of unpleasant and sometimes life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Some of these include the following:
- Anxiety and depression
- Changes in appetite
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- General aches and pain
- Headaches
- Hypertension
- Insomnia, hypersomnia, or both
- Irritability and agitation
- Muscle spasms
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Paranoia
- Profuse sweating
- Tachycardia or heart palpitations
Additional withdrawal symptoms associated with detoxing from alcohol, specifically, include tremors and delirium tremens, a life-threatening form of alcohol withdrawal characterized by violent seizures, confusion, and hallucinations. Available data shows that 1% to 2% of people experience delirium tremens within 2 to 5 days after they stop drinking. Getting back to psychological addiction, this form of mental illness can hinder an individual’s ability to learn and effectively utilize healthy coping strategies for managing withdrawal. Studies show that untreated psychological addiction can make tolerating the physical, psychological, and emotional symptoms associated with going through detox significantly harder for some people.
The Many Benefits of Addiction Counseling When Trying To Overcome Drugs or Alcohol
While it might seem like just talking, many benefits come from taking part in addiction counseling with a licensed therapist. Whether it be individual, group, or family therapy, these counseling sessions provide a safe space to explore and understand the factors that may have contributed to one’s addiction. Exploring and understanding the patterns, emotions, and experiences that culminated in addiction in the past can lower the chances of repeating them and falling victim to relapse in the future. The same applies to learning coping skills to manage cravings, triggers, and stress, which is also part of addiction counseling. And it does not end there. Addiction counseling also provides individuals with emotional support, especially in group and family therapy counseling sessions. Studies show that emotional support can go a long way toward minimizing feelings of shame, guilt, and low self-esteem that people struggling with addiction or trying to get clean often harbor.
The Most Common Types of Addiction Counseling
There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to addiction counseling for addiction recovery. That’s why most rehab facilities offer several types of psychotherapy for individuals needing help overcoming the psychological aspects of ending their relationship with drugs, alcohol, or both. These therapies, often delivered in therapy sessions or through group therapy, help individuals develop effective coping mechanisms for long-term sobriety. The most common types include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
Each of these psychotherapies can help individuals identify factors that contributed to their struggles with addiction, provide the necessary coping skills to maintain their sobriety long-term, and generally improve their lives. That’s because they encourage individuals to constantly check in with themselves, record their failures and accomplishments, and outline things they might need to work on, all of which can make for a life-changing experience. And that includes overcoming physical and psychological addiction. An integral part of checking in with themselves entails answering daily questions while on their recovery journey.
Daily Questions Individuals Should Ask Themselves While in an Addiction Recovery Program
Introspection and reflection involve the examination of one’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences, which can lead to personal growth and self-awareness. Both personal growth and self-awareness can make getting and staying clean considerably easier. And that’s because they do a terrific job of helping individuals manage and ultimately overcome psychological addiction. According to most therapists specializing in addiction counseling, asking yourself and answering the following questions can help with introspection and reflection:
- Did I exhibit negative behaviors, such as being closed off, engaging in negative self-talk, not talking about a problem, or breaking rules?
- Did I fulfill or make progress on any of my goals today?
- Did I make an effort to mend broken relationships with friends or family that I destroyed since falling victim to addiction?
- Have I identified any new triggers today that could increase the risk of relapse?
- Have I learned at least one new coping strategy today?
- What can I do to correct negative behaviors?
- What steps have I taken to strengthen my addiction recovery today?
While there are many others, these are a few of the key questions that can help people overcome physical and psychological addiction and achieve long-term sobriety. That’s as long as they can answer them favorably and truthfully.
Additional Introspection and Reflection Exercises That Can Help Break the Cycle of Addiction
Asking yourself poignant questions and answering them is not the only exercise in introspection and reflection; there are many others, including journaling, values assessment, self-assessment, and mindfulness meditation. All of these allow individuals to examine their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, which, in turn, leads to a deeper understanding of themselves, especially when it comes to analyzing past experiences and identifying patterns. That deeper understanding helps promote the personal growth necessary to overcome psychological and even physical addiction, whether related to drug addiction, alcohol use, or other substances like opioids. This self-awareness is crucial for relapse prevention.
Get the Help You Need To Overcome Addiction Today
In summary, psychological addiction can be just as hard, if not harder, to overcome as physical addiction. Fortunately, addiction counseling and introspection and reflection exercises can help make the journey toward recovery a little easier. Various treatment options exist, including inpatient and outpatient care at a treatment facility. These treatment programs are often part of a larger behavioral health approach. To learn more about how addiction counseling and introspection and reflection exercises can help not only put addiction behind you but also allow you to regain control over your life, consider speaking with a Recreate Life Counseling addiction expert today. Access to quality health care, including follow-up care with qualified health professionals and providers, is essential for long-term recovery. We strive to ensure accessibility to these vital services.
Published on: 2025-01-30
Updated on: 2025-01-30