As this cycle repeats, the likelihood of addiction grows until it’s realized. Thankfully, treatment works at each stage, whether you’ve just started or have been in active addiction for years. Lembke warns that you’ll probably feel a lot worse before you start feeling better. A dopamine hit brings about pleasure and is then quickly followed by pain, or a come-down, in order to keep us motivated, says psychiatrist Dr. Anna Lembke.

• Then we need more on repeated use, just to feel a the marginal pleasure boost – and, eventually, just to feel “normal.”
• Even if the trigger led to a relapse, you’ve still gained a tool for your future recovery and sobriety.
• After the behavior, feelings of guilt, shame, or self-loathing often occur, leading to emotional distress.
• A dopamine hit brings about pleasure and is then quickly followed by pain, or a come-down, in order to keep us motivated, says psychiatrist Dr. Anna Lembke.

Illustrative Cases: Disordered Eating, Compulsive Sexual Behavior, and Alcohol Use Problems

• Our dual diagnosis programs treat both conditions simultaneously for comprehensive care.
• After the brain’s reward system becomes used to it, the cravings and substance-seeking behaviors will follow.
• The cycle of addiction involves repeated patterns of substance use, withdrawal, cravings, and relapse, often triggered by stress, emotional distress, or environmental factors.

Aftercare can include sober living, ongoing therapy sessions, and continued contact with staff from your treatment center. Many rehabs also have strong alumni communities with events, 12-Step groups, and more to keep patients connected and supported long after they leave treatment. If you’re ready to break the cycle of addiction and reclaim your life, we’re here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our programs and take the first step toward a healthier, more fulfilling future. When you stop using substances, you may be left with a gap in your life that needs to be filled with something healthy.

Break the Cycle of Addiction

Beginning her career as a freelance writer, Grace graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a B.A. She wrote across various topics and found mental health and recovery to be the best fit. It is undeniable that a drug’s effects are exhilarating in the moment, including a very real sense of relief from pain and suffering.

What is the cycle of addiction?

For instance, avoid spending time with friends or colleagues who would encourage you to return to substance use. You may need to change where you live, work, or socialize in order to avoid triggering people or situations. There is always a brief window between feeling distressed and choosing a harmful coping mechanism.

Often, these circumstances and situations prompt feelings that people do not want to feel or handle. Using a substance to numb their emotions may feel like a simple solution for many individuals during these difficult times. As a result, the cycle of addiction often begins when someone wants to feel better and alleviate their suffering.

Step 3: Focus on Physical and Mental Healing

These actions, such as bulimia, pornography addiction, or alcoholism, are rarely the result of true desire but are more often attempts to find relief from emotional pain. Addiction is a cycle that entraps individuals in a pattern of use, tolerance, dependence, and pursuit of often harmful substances or behaviors. This cycle is driven by changes in brain chemistry and structure, leading to an overpowering need that overshadows health, relationships, and personal well-being. A more compassionate and curious approach to one’s own negative emotions can gradually reduce the grip of these harmful patterns.

After the brain’s reward system becomes used to it, the cravings and substance-seeking behaviors will follow. Their willpower is no longer something they can rely on to control their substance use, and can become utterly trapped in the addiction cycle. It can be broken at any point, no matter how many times you’ve spun through it or how long you’ve been spinning. Professional treatment aims to treat both the physical and emotional aspects of addiction, helping you detox safely and process the underlying causes for addiction. The stages of addiction typically involve initiating substance use, developing dependence, and eventually becoming addicted. This cycle can repeat through relapses, but it can also be broken with the proper support and intervention.

Medication Assisted Treatment

Instead of self-criticism, self-compassion and understanding can act as alternative responses to distress. The ability to say, “I am feeling upset; what has triggered this? A crucial part of overcoming addictive tendencies is learning to identify shifts in mood as they arise. Many addictive patterns begin with intense feelings such as loneliness, rejection, or shame. By intentionally observing these changes in emotion, individuals can better anticipate moments when they are most at risk.

These actions temporarily mask or relieve distress but do not resolve the underlying issues. The cycle is fueled by an ongoing search for comfort amid overwhelming discomfort. Recognizing these patterns is not just about the actions themselves, but also about the underlying emotional triggers driving them. For example, you might unexpectedly realize scenes of drinking or drug use in a movie trigger an urge to take the substance, even though the depiction isn’t real. You might leave the theater feeling frustrated, uncomfortable, and disappointed in yourself—but you shouldn’t.

Understanding the Cycle of Addiction

However, if they choose a different direction, leaving the addiction cycle can become achievable. The first step in stopping this cycle would involve help from family, friends, professors, therapy groups, and other support systems. In doing so, an addict’s self-esteem and confidence get stronger and they become better equipped to handle the ups and downs of life without toxic coping skills. It is often the lack of attention to these feelings that fuels addiction.

According to research published by The European Journal of Social Psychology, forming or breaking a habit takes an average of 66 days. However, every addict is unique and there is no set number of days that it takes to stop the addiction cycle. Setting a specific number of days when you are supposed to break a habit is an obvious way to get frustrated and give up on your sobriety. An addictive cycle includes a range of bad habits, which means that breaking a cycle ill require breaking each of the habits involved in that cycle. Making a habit out of this coping mechanism impacts the brain and its reward system. Addictive substances alter the brain’s grey matter and direct which path the brain will take the next time the substance is used.

Recovery doesn’t end with detoxification or even after returning to a substance-free life. Continued support and aftercare are essential for maintaining the gains made during treatment and for preventing relapse. Break addiction cycle Relapse is a common part of the recovery journey, but it’s often misunderstood.