Treatments for Compulsive & Addictive Behavior
Addiction and compulsive behaviors are growing problems in today's society. These problems can be difficult to overcome and can often require multiple attempts at treatment. Even then, however, relapse is common. There are a multitude of options for treating these behaviors, some of which include self-help groups, family or marriage counseling, self-control training, skills training, inpatient/residential treatment, outpatient therapy and medication.
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Self-Help Groups
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There are various self-help groups that can be useful for people with compulsive or addictive behaviors. Two popular groups are Alcoholics Anonymous, for alcoholism, and Gamblers Anonymous, for compulsive gambling. These groups are usually established locally, making weekly attendance fairly convenient for most people.
Family or Marriage Counseling
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Family counseling or marriage counseling are not uncommon treatment options for people with problems with addiction or compulsive behavior. Family therapy can help to uncover any family members' behaviors that may be enabling the problem behavior or may be unintentionally rewarding the behavior. This type of therapy can also be beneficial in discovering a person's underlying reasons for the addictive or compulsive behavior and any events that could be triggering it. Aside from these things, family therapy can help family members deal with the pain the addiction or compulsive behavior has caused.
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Self-Control Training
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Self-control training teaches people how to set their own goals and how to identify and avoid situations that could potentially lead to a problem behavior. This type of training teaches a person how to monitor his own behavior and gives him strategies for dealing with tempting situations. Throughout training, the person is encouraged to record, in a journal, any urges to perform the unwanted behavior and the feelings the person experiences at this time. Because this technique emphasizes moderation, it is usually best for people with less severe compulsive behaviors or minor drinking problems.
Skills Training
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Substance abuse or compulsive behavior can often be triggered by stressful events in a person's life. The problem can appear as a coping mechanism when the person is unsure of how to deal with a problem. Skills training teaches people the social and problem-solving skills necessary for coping with the difficult situations that can tempt a person to perform these addictive or compulsive behaviors.
Psychotherapy and/or Medication
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Substance abuse and compulsive behavior are often the result of another problem; medication or psychotherapy may be necessary to correct it. Treatment of this sort is available in a number of formats. Inpatient or residential treatment may be necessary for people with more severe addiction or compulsive problems. Many facilities offer outpatient treatment, in which a person is free to live on his or her own but encouraged to come to treatment, usually on a weekly basis.
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