Benefits of Behavioral Action Therapy

People who are living with addiction often have trouble imagining what it would be like to quit. Many think of life without substances as boring or less enjoyable, making the prospect of quitting seem less beneficial and more of a joyless process, even in a beautiful place like Palm Springs, Calif. They are right in the sense that they will have to give something up. In drug rehab centers, drug use stops all together, so it is up to addicts to replace drug use with something more productive and enjoyable.

“People with the most success in staying sober tend to get involved in a range of pleasurable activities and do them frequently,” said Suzette Glasner-Edwards, an adjunct associate professor at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. As a researcher, not far from Palm Springs, Glaser-Edwards is developing new therapeutic techniques for treating addicts.

According to Glaser-Edwards, getting involved in pleasurable activities can replace the time and energy spent on addictive activities, allowing former addicts from Palm Springs to the East Coast to experience pleasure without the side-effects of illicit drugs or alcohol. This new therapeutic treatment technique is what Glaser-Edwards calls behavioral activation therapy.

Behavior activation therapy advocates rediscovering life’s rewards. It could be used in a variety of drug rehab centers as a way to help former addicts discover new things that make them happy–beyond drugs or alcohol. Glaser-Edwards believes this new therapy is effective because it tackles drug addiction at its source.

Drugs and alcohol both affect dopamine receptors in the brain, which are responsible for the brains pleasure responses. Average drug rehab centers don’t usually tackle the issue of pleasure directly, instead teaching avoidance steps and healthy living habits. Of course, these lessons are also important, but Glaser-Edwards thinks that pleasure is the source of addiction, and should also be addressed directly.

Although drugs and alcohol cause the release of much higher amounts of dopamine than regular activities, the addict can heal overtime. It’s during the beginning stages of recovery when addicts are in the most danger of relapse because nothing seems as pleasurable as the drug they were addicted too. Glaser-Edwards suggests trying something new, like cooking or planning a party, and scheduling the activities in advance can help ensure action.

This new behavioral activation therapy can really help–regardless of what substance a person is addicted to. If someone you love is addicted to drugs, it is important to get them help at any of the Palm Springs area rehab centers immediately. After this is done, helping them find enjoyable activities could really make a difference in their recovery.

Ian Carry is a health writer for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Miramar Drug and Alcohol Reheb Centers. Follow on Twitter