Treatment for Underlying Issues

At La Ventana We treat your underlying issues, not just your addiction

Addictions are often provoked by something in an addicts life. It could be child abuse, neglect, low self esteem, abandonment, trauma, depression, stress, sexual abuse, or some other cause. In order to move into a healthy life of recovery and stay clean, the addict needs to find the underlying cause of his or hers addiction and treat it. However, the problem often is that the addict isn’t sure what that underlying cause is. He or she really would like to know what it is but is just not sure of the cause. He or she may have a couple ideas in mind, but without professional help it is difficult to pinpoint. The addiction can be a way of not dealing with the underlying issues. It may be a method of escape or denial. The addict can find a getaway while high or drunk and live years in denial without ever scratching the surface of what is causing the addiction.

If there was some interpersonal or societal reason why the addict started using drugs and became addicted, then recovery usually is not complete without finding the “cause” and treating that. However, it is imperative to understand that an addiction won’t go away after the “underlying issues” have been dealt with or gone away on their own. The underlying issue must be addressed.

You have heard of the saying “a dry drunk”. Yes, the addict may stop drinking or using drugs but without dealing with underlying issues that person does not move into a healthy emotional life. The drugs and alcohol may have been put away but the addict still has the issues. Without dealing with these issues the addict often does not mature emotionally and stays in an adolescent phase of life or young adult and never matures in adulthood. Intimacy issues may still exist and the addict may not have healthy relationships or may never find love. The underlying issues need to be a part of recovery.

However, ruminating on bad things in the past won’t cure all either. It’s a must to make peace with your memories, discover your underlying issues, work on your emotional intelligence, but cravings are in the present. It’s cravings, for the euphoria of a drug or drink and for the relief from withdrawal symptoms, that need to be dealt with also. It’s the feeling of inability to live sober that needs to be dealt with along with other issues involved in recovery. Finding something to blame for one’s addiction is not the way to recovery. One needn’t blame anything or anyone else, and one needn’t blame oneself. These things happen, and there’s no easy way to prevent it. Addiction is a disease!

At La Ventana we help you with both your cravings and your underlying issues. We treat the “whole” person and move them into a fully expressive and drug free life. Don’t go it alone.  Call us at 800-560-8518 and get help today.