Cognitive
behavioural therapy or CBT was initiated in the early 1960s by Aaron T. Beck, a
noted psychotherapist. Beck developed CBT by noting that people give meanings to
certain events. Therefore, certain events do not, in and of themselves, upset a
person who abuses alcohol or drugs, however, the way he or she thinks about the
events can lead to an abuse problem.
Negative Thinking
Beck identified
thoughts that he termed hot or automatic as part of the negative thinking
process. These types of thoughts are frequently as destructive as they are
unrealistic. As a result, CBT is used to help a binge drinker or abuser of
drugs to identify these kinds of thoughts and to recognise them. That way, he
or she can better confront the issues that trigger his or her addiction. CBT
provides a link between a person’s problems, the actions that causes the
problems, and the thought processes that lead to drinking or abusing drugs.
The Elements Involved in CBT
Two primary
elements are involved in CBT: functional analysis and skills training. Both
play integral roles. Functional analysis considers a person’s feelings,
thoughts, and circumstances. During functional analysis, the practitioner and
patient work together to identify why the patient abuses alcohol or drugs. When
functional analysis is used in
alcohol and drug counselling, it enables the patient to gain an insight
into the cause of his or her problems and what propels him or her to react.
When skills
training is emphasised, the patient unlearns the habits that cause abuse whilst
learning new ways to cope. The idea of skills training is to motivate the
patient to find new methods of coping with the situations that led to his or
her addiction in the first place.
Binge Drinking
When people get
involved in binge drinking, it is because drinking, in society, is socially
acceptable and therefore is used by many to relax or deal with stress. That is
why alcohol, just like any drug, is easy to abuse. Once you become physically
or mentally dependent on the substance, you can experience severe consequences
personally and professionally.
Very few people
can break this type of addiction on their own. That is why they need to make an
appointment with a professional – someone who can remain objective and
reassuring during the treatment process. A professional has the right
credentials and experience to help someone with an abuse problem to deal with
this type of issue.
Employing Hypnosis
If you want to
find a way to overcome an abuse problem, you need to work with someone who can
evaluate and resolve your issues. Besides CBT, treatment, as indicated, extends
to the use of hypnosis. Either of these forms of therapy can assist you in
overcoming drug abuse issues and reaping the benefits that these treatments
provide.
For example,
hypnosis assists in freeing a binge drinker or drug abuser from the emotional
restrictions he or she feels in his or her daily life. By using hypnosis, a
drinker or drug user can break the compulsion of substance abuse and slow down
any drinking or drug use. The therapy also addresses the underlying reasons for
drinking or taking drugs. Taking control of this type of situation is possible.
You only need to contact a professional who can help get you back on track
emotionally and intellectually.
