Addiction Transfer: Trading One Habit for Another

photo of TreeA plastic coated card deck beside poker chip and dice gambling addiction concept

Recognizing a drug or alcohol problem and seeking treatment is a life-changing step for any man. Learning to live without the substances that create pleasure sensations (or “highs”) in your brain’s reward center may seem impossible. Once you’ve progressed through the early stages of recovery, being self-aware enough to avoid the phenomenon called “addiction transfer” presents yet another treatment challenge.

Addiction transfer is substituting one addictive behavior for another. People who smoke may find themselves constantly eating; those who were formerly addicted to drugs or alcohol could end up with a gambling problem or become compulsive shoppers. In recent studies, patients who have had weight-loss surgery are becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol in alarmingly large numbers.

photo of TreeA plastic coated card deck beside poker chip and dice gambling addiction concept

The Science of Addiction

It was formerly thought that addicts transferred their behavior from one habit to another (e.g. food instead of alcohol) to fill an emotional void in their lives. This may be true in some cases, and cognitive-behavioral therapy is a common treatment approach to help uncover the root cause of addictive behaviors.

However, researchers now think that the true cause of addiction transfer is a lack of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in many cognitive and physical functions. Drugs, alcohol, and other addictive behaviors activate the brain’s reward center and increase dopamine levels. Lower-than-normal dopamine levels can cause a craving to participate in an activity that delivers the same rush, whether it’s drinking, sex-ting, or surfing the internet to excess.

What’s the Problem?

As you work toward recovery, it’s natural—and even healthy—to distract yourself with other activities. One could argue that a shopping addiction is less dangerous to your health than using drugs, but doing anything to an unhealthy degree is destructive. With addiction, your brain learns to rely on the addictive behavior to feel good, and that’s when your life, work, and relationships begin to suffer.

Anyone can fall into the trap of a behavioral addiction (any non-substance related addiction), but people with a long history of substance addiction may be more prone to this type of behavior.

Addiction Transfer & Men’s Drug Addiction Recovery

Residential rehab, outpatient rehab, and drug detox programs use a variety of treatment approaches with the goal of helping clients attain and maintain long-term sobriety. Participating in a comprehensive addiction treatment program that takes a holistic (mind, body, spirit, social) approach is the best way to avoid addiction transfer. Throughout the recovery process, clients may require psychiatric treatment and individual therapy for co-occurring disorders, mood disorders, or dopamine deficits. In many cases, addicts may not even realize that they are substituting one addiction for another, so family and friends should be on the lookout for this type of behavior.

10 Acre Ranch Drug & Alcohol Rehab

To learn more about the therapeutic programs, life skills classes, and fitness opportunities available at 10 Acre Ranch addiction treatment for men, dial 877.228.4679 today. Serving men 18 and older, our therapeutic group activity setting encourages clients to return to an active, healthy lifestyle as they pursue sobriety and wellness.

The Healing Power of Meditation for Addiction Recovery

Drugs and alcohol can make you feel like you’re on top of the world when you’re enveloped in the chemical high created by your brain’s reward center. But those intense feelings of pleasure don’t last, and sooner or later you crash—and hard. Then the long list of negative feelings arrives: depression, fear, self-loathing, uncertainty, loss of control. Some treatments for substance abuse, such as detoxification, address the physical addiction. Others, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), focus on the psychological side.

As you begin to heal the mind and body, try meditation to heal your spirit as well.

Meditation for Stress Relief

Meditation is a holistic approach that aims to soothe the spiritual face of addiction. As you undergo treatment for your substance abuse disorder, you may be unable to concentrate. The underlying causes of your addiction may make you anxious, jittery, or sad. Emptying your mind of these negative emotions can help you become more clear-headed and motivated to overcome your problems.

Mindful meditation for addiction is the conscious act of focusing on one element, whether it’s your breathing or muscle relaxation. Imagining a safe place is another meditation technique. Quieting your mind through meditation for even a few short minutes can help you achieve a state of calm that has long-term, positive effects on your mental health.

Through meditation, you may be able to see your life and the choices you’ve made more clearly so you’re ready to solidify your commitment to long-term sobriety.

How to Begin Meditating

You don’t need special equipment or preparation for meditation. Wear comfortable clothing and find a quiet spot to start. Close your eyes and relax. Perhaps the simplest form of meditation is to focus on taking slow, deep breaths. Don’t worry when your mind starts to wander; it’s normal. Redirect yourself to your breathing each time until you can focus more easily. The more you practice meditation, the easier it will become and the more easily you can meditate for longer periods of time.

What Does the Science Say?

Meditation for addiction is an alternative treatment that often seems too “touchy-feely” for some men, but there’s scientific evidence to back up its use for drug and alcohol recovery. One recent study suggests that patients who used meditation techniques were more likely to complete residential treatment programs than those who did not meditate. Cravings, anxiety, and withdrawal symptoms were also reduced in the meditation groups.

Meditation for Addiction in Men

Residential, partial hospitalization, and outpatient drug treatment programs are increasingly incorporating holistic treatment approaches. To learn more about the therapeutic programs, fitness opportunities, and recreational activities available at 10 Acre Ranch addiction treatment for men, dial 877.228.4679 today. Serving men 18 and older, our therapeutic group activity setting encourages clients to return to an active, healthy lifestyle as they pursue long-term sobriety.

Exercise & Drug Addiction

Young man training on the beach in morning. Young man on morning run outdoors

Stronger Body, Sharper Mind

Exercise is a proven remedy for a variety of ailments, from diabetes to depression—and even chemical dependency. Studies show that vigorous exercise improves heart health, removes toxins from the body, increases concentration, aids in weight loss, relieves stress, and reduces substance cravings.

The Biology of Cravings

A 2010 Scandinavian Journal of Public Health article found that drug abuse clients who exercised as part of their rehab regimen enjoyed “improved quality of life and reduced intake of the drugs they had been abusing.” They also reported more energy and an overall sense of confidence about their appearance. In studies conducted on rats, the journal Biological Psychiatry reported that rats with access to an exercise wheel had decreased drug cravings and experienced less damage to the prefrontal cortex of the brain. WHY? For several reasons.

Exercise boosts dopamine production.

When an addict uses, he gets a dopamine response: a chemical “reward,” so to speak. Over time, his brain becomes trained to expect this chemical reward. In effect, dopamine is dangerously reprogramming the brain. Fortunately, exercise also elevates dopamine—which decreases stress and increases motivation, mood, and wellbeing without nasty drug side effects. (It also delivers a natural high produced by the release of endorphins!)

Exercise & alcohol abstinence heals the brain.

Men addicted to alcohol and drugs suffer from forgetfulness, lack of concentration, and neuronal damage. When combined with a proven rehabilitation program, exercise has been shown to “rebuild” the brain of an addict. This is called neurogenesis.

Exercise fills the void left by alcohol and drug addiction.

Physicians recommend cardiovascular exercise, weight training, and mind-body workouts as treatment for depression, anxiety, and addiction. A healthy body is resilient to stress, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms. In addition, exercise provides recovering addicts with a new pursuit and a healthy replacement for alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, or drugs.

Exercise improves confidence.

Many men admit to self-loathing and feelings of hopelessness while they are addicted to substances or activities. As they improve endurance, stamina, and physique with routine exercise, they are more likely to believe they can make larger changes and take charge of addiction recovery.

Mind-body exercise restores inner peace.

While men may shy away from yoga, Pilates, tai chi, and other mind-body programs, we urge them to think again. Mind-body exercise regulates adrenaline and stress hormones and has been proven to help with addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, and severe anxiety. “Chronically high levels of hormones are toxic to the body and central nervous system, and we know yoga can help reduce or balance the stress hormones in the body,” said Sat Bir Khalsa, assistant professor at Harvard University. “It makes sense that if you are less stressed, you may not be so quick to seek substances to cope.”

Exercise & Men’s Drug Addiction Treatment

Residential and outpatient drug recovery facilities are seeing positive results from incorporating fitness and nutrition into a holistic treatment approach. To learn more about the fitness, recreation, and team-building activities available at 10 Acre Ranch, dial 877.228.4679 today. Serving men 18 and older, our therapeutic group activity setting encourages clients to return to an active, healthy lifestyle as they pursue long-term sobriety.