Addictions we treat
Best Addiction Rehab Center in Spain
InnerLife Recovery has the highest success rate in helping individuals overcome addiction and achieve lasting recovery. Experience confidentiality and a safe, supportive environment. What truly sets us apart is that all of our staff members are in recovery themselves. This shared experience allows us to deeply understand and empathise with each person’s unique situation. We know firsthand what it’s like to walk the road to recovery, which enables us to offer the most compassionate care possible.
In addition to our expert team, we provide a wide range of holistic therapies to ensure that every treatment plan is fully personalised. Your recovery journey is unique, so we tailor every plan to meet your individual needs. In fact, we also review and adapt this plan every two weeks to make sure is fully aligned with your evolving needs. We know what works and what doesn’t, and we are here to help you succeed in your recovery.
Understanding Your Addiction: What We Treat
At our residential rehab center, we help people struggling with substance abuse, behavioral addictions, and dual diagnosis, which is when addiction is combined with a mental health disorder. You will receive personalised care and medical detox if needed, to ensure the best chance of lasting recovery. Every addiction is different, so we develop a recovery treatment plan adapted to you. Below is a list of all the addictions we treat— click on your addiction to learn about them and how we can help.
ALCOHOL
ADDICTION
DRUG
ADDICTION
OPIODS
ADDICTION
NICOTINE
ADDICTION
MARIJUANA
ADDICTION
INHALANT
ADDICTION
GAMBLING
ADDICTION
CODEPENDENCY
CO-ADDICTION
SEX & PORN
ADDICTION
LOVE
ADDICTION
INTERNET
ADDICTION
WORK
ADDICTION
VIDEO GAME
ADDICTION
SHOPPING
ADDICTION
DUAL
DIAGNOSIS
Recovery from Substance Use or Behavioural Addiction: Our Treatment Process
Recovery from substance use or behavioral addiction is possible, and at InnerLife, we are proud to have a success rate of over 65% based on history—placing us among the highest-performing rehab centers worldwide. While global recovery rates typically range from 40% to 60%, our personalised approach and expert care allow us to exceed these averages. Read more about our how we treat addiction here.
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What is Addiction? How do I know if I am an Addict?
Addiction is a health condition that affects the mind, causing emotional pain and suffering. It involves the inability to stop using substances like drugs or alcohol or engaging in behaviours like gambling, even when they cause harm. However, addiction often begins before substance use or behavioral issues arise. Many people turn to these substances or behaviors to escape emotional distress or personal struggles.
At its core, addiction alters brain chemistry, primarily affecting dopamine—the “feel-good” chemical in the brain’s reward system. Initially, using a substance or engaging in a certain behavior may bring relief, ease, or comfort. Over time, however, the same amount no longer provides the same pleasure, leading individuals to consume more or engage more frequently to chase that feeling. This cycle makes stopping incredibly difficult, as the body and mind become dependent, often resulting in withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit.
Binge Addiction is a pattern of excessive substance use—such as drinking too much alcohol or taking drugs in a short time—leading to a loss of control and severe consequences. It can cause physical, emotional, and mental distress, increasing the risk of dependence and harmful behaviours. Warning signs include frequent binge episodes, difficulty stopping, withdrawal symptoms, neglect of responsibilities, and using substances as a coping mechanism.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Help is available. Contact us today for a confidential, obligation-free consultation—we are here to support you.
What are the defining elements of each stage of addiction?
The journey is complex, unfolding across different stages, marked by changes in brain chemistry. Understanding these stages helps in further defining addiction. The below list of stages highlights the general order of events in the journey. Based on the provided definition of addiction, the process of addiction can be broken down into the following stages:
1. Patterns
Initially, the use of substances or engagement in addictive behaviours starts as a coping mechanism to deal with deep-seated emotional distress. This is not about the frequency of use but the reasons behind it. The pattern begins as a method of seeking temporary relief from feelings of inadequacy, disconnection, or to fulfil a need for external validation and reward.
2. Increased use
As the individual continues to rely on substances or behaviours for emotional escape or validation, the frequency and intensity of use typically increase. This escalation is often driven by the desire to recapture or enhance the temporary sense of normalcy initially experienced. At this stage, the individual might still feel in control of their usage, but the increasing frequency points towards a growing reliance.
3. Tolerance development
Over time, the individual’s body and mind adapt to the regular presence of the substance or behaviour, leading to tolerance. This means they require more of the substance or more intense engagement in the behaviour to achieve the same effect or relief as before. Tolerance is a key physiological sign that addiction is developing, as it indicates changes in the brain’s response to the substance or behaviour.
4. Dependence and withdrawal
As tolerance grows, dependence can develop. This is where the individual feels they need the substance or behaviour to function or feel normal. Dependence is physical and psychological. When the substance or behaviour is not present, they may experience withdrawal symptoms, which can be physical (like shaking, nausea) or psychological (like anxiety or depression), reinforcing the cycle of addiction.
5. Full-fledged obsession or dependence on substance or behaviour
At this stage, physical addiction becomes a pervasive part of the individual’s life. It is characterised by a compulsion to use or engage in the behaviour. This is despite negative consequences to health, relationships, and responsibilities. The addiction is no longer just about seeking pleasure or escape. It is now a central and destructive force in the individual’s life.
The underlying emotional and psychological issues remain unaddressed, and the addiction continues to serve as an unsustainable and harmful way of coping with these issues. Full-fledged addiction demands a holistic treatment approach, focusing not only on cessation of the substance or behaviour but also on resolving the deep-seated emotional and psychological struggles at the core of the addiction.
Important Addiction Definitions: Obsession and Craving
Obsession
Obsession in the context of addiction is a complex psychological phenomenon. It extends beyond the compulsion to engage in certain behaviours, such as drinking or drug use. It is a powerful, often irrational belief that the outcome of these actions will be different each time, despite past experiences suggesting otherwise.
This cognitive distortion leads to repeated, uncontrolled behaviour. This is where initial intentions, such as having only a few drinks, are quickly overrun by the overwhelming need to continue the addictive behaviour, often leading to dangerous and uncharacteristic actions.
It involves learning to deal with emotions, accept life’s realities, and relinquish the obsessive need for control. The journey towards recovery is often marked by a transformation in values, where tolerance, acceptance, and love replace resentment and the compulsive pursuit of personal ideas of perfection. In essence, overcoming obsession in addiction is about learning to face life on its terms, choosing happiness and reality over the illusion of control and perfection.
Craving
Craving, in the context of addiction, refers to an intense, often overwhelming desire to engage in substance use. This includes – but is not limited to – drinking alcohol or using drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, ketamine, ecstasy, and more. It is a psychological response that becomes activated after introduction of a substance or behaviour into the body.
For instance, consuming alcohol can trigger a powerful craving for more alcohol or other substances like drugs. This craving is so powerful that the individual has a loss of control, driven to continue their substance use despite any initial intentions to limit consumption. It is characterised by a relentless pursuit of the substance, where rational decision-making is overpowered by the need to satisfy the craving.
In this context, substance use is not a choice but a necessity dictated by craving. It is a force that chooses the individual, dominating their actions and decisions. The craving is so dominant that it can lead to repeated, harmful behaviours. The individual may deeply regret these behaviours but feels powerless to stop.
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Are craving and obsession the same thing?
The difference between craving and obsession in addiction is subtle but significant. Craving is a powerful urge that occurs in response to the presence of a substance in the body. This leads to an immediate need for more. Meanwhile, obsession is a persistent preoccupation with the substance or the act of using it.
Obsession is characterised by constant thoughts about the substance, even in its absence. It is a mental fixation that can lead to planning and scheming to obtain and use the substance. In contrast, craving is an immediate, intense desire that arises after the substance is already in the system. It is a more acute response, driving the individual to seek more of the substance. Obsession, on the other hand, persists over time. It influences behaviour even when the substance is not physically present or recently consumed.
Addressing cravings often involves managing the physical and immediate psychological responses to substances, while dealing with obsession requires a deeper, more prolonged approach, often involving psychological and recovery treatment programs to change the underlying thought patterns and emotional responses associated with addiction.
Addiction definitions: Other terms commonly associated with addiction
Habituation
Habituation in drug addiction involves becoming accustomed to a substance’s regular use, leading to a perceived need for it without necessarily experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Compulsion
Compulsion refers to the need to use a drug despite adverse consequences. It’s a hallmark of addiction, driving repetitive drug-seeking behaviour.
Fixation
Fixation is an obsession with obtaining and using a drug, often dominating thoughts and behaviours in addiction.
Substance use disorder
A diagnosis for substance-related addiction, it involves many symptoms, including impaired control, cravings, and social dysfunction.
Behavioural Disorder
A diagnosis specific to behaviour-related addiction, it indicates compulsive engagement in harmful behaviours, often with negative consequences for one’s life and well-being.
FAQs about Addiction
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Contact us today for a private and confidential consultation. We are here to support you. Learn more about how our exclusive rehab center in Spain can help you reclaim your Inner Life through our comprehensive and tailored treatments for addiction, mental health and eating disorders. Embrace a brighter future now with InnerLife Recovery.