Chemical dependency is when a person’s body depends on a chemical or drug to function. Drug use always precedes chemical dependency. Over time, drug use creates a tolerance in the user that eventually creates a physical reliance. This may mean a shift has taken place from a drug being used for its benefits to instead being used to avoid negative side effects or even withdrawal symptoms.
It is important to note that chemical dependency is not the same as addiction. Chemical dependency refers to a person’s body’s physical reliance on a substance. Meanwhile, addiction involves actual chemical changes in the brain that result in what medical practitioners refer to as a substance abuse disorder. Reach out to AssuraSource online or call 972.233.1010 to learn more about behavioral health therapy programs
Chemical Dependency Counseling
Psychological treatment providers make little distinction between treatment for chemical dependency and addiction. If anything, treating chemical dependency may be less intensive or lengthy of a process as it is restricted to severing the body’s physical reliance on a drug. Breaking any chemical dependency by necessity begins with detox.
The detox process seeks to eliminate the body’s physical need for a drug. Over time, the body relearns how to function normally without the drug in its system. How long this takes and what kind of withdrawal symptoms people can expect to experience depends on the drug they were dependent on. Some withdrawal periods are as short as one week, while others may extend to multiple weeks or even a month.
Formal addiction treatment begins once detox is complete. Since chemical dependency and addiction often run together, treatment options are essentially the same. Counseling for chemical dependency could be delivered as cognitive-behavioral therapy, contingency management, or dialectical behavior therapy. No matter the specific therapy being used, counseling for chemical dependency aims to help people:
- Understand chemical dependency
- Learn healthy coping mechanisms
- Modify attitudes and behaviors that drive chemical dependency
- Deal with underlying mental health issues
- Build positive, supportive relationships
Behavioral Therapy for Chemical Dependency
Behavioral therapy is commonly used across the spectrum of substance abuse disorders. It is also applicable in scenarios where chemical dependency is present by itself. Often, chemical dependency stems from someone taking a prescription long enough that their body becomes reliant on it.
A typical example is the case of opioids, which are commonly prescribed as pain relievers following major surgery or for people who suffer from chronic pain. Over time, tolerance can set in, and the drug produces less of an effect than it did at first. Eventually, chemical dependency may set in, no longer treating just the pain relief in question. The body needs the opioid to function physically. It may not yet spiral into a full-on addiction. But the need for intervention remains. That’s where chemical dependency counseling comes in.
Chemical dependency counseling uses behavioral therapy or related methods to assist patients in learning how to cope with their issues in non-chemical ways. This may include a family focus as strong relationships and a support network can help overcome chemical dependency.
Choose AssuraSource for Chemical Dependency Counseling in Dallas, Texas
AssuraSource is a high-quality provider of chemical dependency counseling near Dallas, Texas. Patients can take advantage of in-home counseling or telehealth services. Chemical dependency and addiction often isolate people socially, mentally, and emotionally. This can be intensified among people who have mobility issues. That’s why AssuraSource in Dallas, Texas, prides itself on providing exceptional services designed to take advantage of modern technology.
Behavioral therapy helps people regulate emotions, effectively communicate their needs, and change the thought patterns that hold them back. Virtual therapy in no way diminishes these benefits. At AssuraSource, we accept Medicare and Medicaid insurance so as many people as possible can get the help they need and deserve. Scheduling an appointment or consultation is a phone call away. Contact us online or at 972.233.1010 to help with your chemical dependency or to connect a suffering loved one with our services.