How CBT Changes One’s Outlook in Recovery
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the many treatment options utilized for those who are in the process of healing from substance use disorder (SUD). We know that good mental health plays a very important role in recovery and preventing relapse; however, not all of the thoughts we have are productive or positive. CBT helps you to identify negative thought patterns and learn to respond to them in a more effective way.
CBT can transform your overall way of thinking and treat a wide variety of different mental health conditions. That is why it is one of the many therapy services we offer at Restoration Recovery. In fact, CBT is not solely used to treat people with mental health disorders or those who are recovering from addiction: It can also be a useful tool for those who struggle with chronic stress as well.
What Is CBT?
It is easy to become caught up in negative thought patterns without even realizing it. Sometimes those thought patterns can be associated with past trauma that you haven’t healed from. In other cases, they can be associated with stressful life events such as financial struggles, coping with a loss, surviving a natural disaster, witnessing an act of violence, or getting into a car accident. You can become so focused on these thoughts and feelings that you are unable to truly heal or enjoy your life.
Through CBT, you work alongside a therapist to help begin to sort through your emotions and better understand your mental state. You can also learn how to identify negative thought patterns when they are arising. Once you are able to do this, you can eventually reach a point at which you can train yourself to stop these patterns in their tracks.
You can also learn to identify inaccurate beliefs or thinking. For example, you might have once believed that you needed drugs or alcohol to cope with stress in your life. Now that you know that this is an untrue belief, you can work toward letting go of it and learning to search for the truth. This can help to transform the way you look at your recovery forever.
There are some additional things that CBT can help with, including the following examples:
- It can help you to learn how to better regulate your emotions
- You can learn how to better resolve conflict within different relationships you may have
- It can help you to have better self-esteem
- You can learn how to cope with the loss of a loved one
- It can help you to better manage symptoms of mental illness
- You can learn healthier and more effective ways of communicating with others
Understanding What Conditions CBT Is Used to Treat
In addition to SUD, CBT can be used to treat a wide variety of other conditions, which can be very useful as you continue to heal and progress within your recovery journey. The following are some additional conditions that can be alleviated through this type of therapy:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Phobias
- Sexual Disorders
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Sleeping disorders
What to Expect From a CBT Session
If you’ve never experienced CBT before, it can feel a little daunting. It may help to have a better idea of what to expect from one of these sessions. What you get out of this type of therapy is largely dependent upon what you are willing to put into it. While it may be difficult or uncomfortable at first, it’s important to try your best to truly open up.
At the beginning of your first CBT session, your therapist will likely ask you questions about your past and present mental and emotional health. Next, you can work together to determine what specific goals you have for the session. For example, your goal could be to learn about what specific factors played into your substance use in the first place and how to overcome them. Your goal could also be to learn how to handle stressful situations without turning to substance use.
Your therapist will then ask you to discuss different thoughts and emotions that you may be struggling with. They can help you to understand why you may be feeling these things and help you to begin to heal. In addition, they can help you to come up with concrete solutions that will enable you to overcome what you’re struggling with.
You might not find immediate relief after just the first session. However, through time and patience, you will have the opportunity to learn more about yourself and heal. At Restoration Recovery, CBT is just one form of the treatment methods we utilize. We also utilize equine therapy, group therapy, trauma therapy, Christian counseling, holistic services, and more.
When struggling with addiction, it is normal to tell yourself different lies. These lies can turn into things that you truly believe in and focus on continually on a daily basis. This can be very detrimental to your mental health. Through working with a therapist and attending CBT sessions, you can begin to conquer these lies and begin to heal. At Restoration Recovery, we have helped our clients take back their lives from addiction. But more than that, we’ve also helped them work to accomplish better mental health. If you’re currently struggling with substance use, our team can help. Don’t wait – call (888) 290-0925 today to learn more about our services.
