Top 5 Addiction Treatment Problems & Proven Solutions | Expert Recovery Guide

Addiction recovery is a journey full of challenges, but it doesn’t have to feel impossible. For many people, the road to recovery is filled with common pitfalls - whether it's choosing the wrong treatment method, believing they have an 'addictive personality,' or simply feeling like they don't have the time to commit.

In this guide, I'll break down the top 5 addiction treatment problems and, more importantly, provide practical, expert-backed solutions to help you overcome them. Whether you're starting your recovery for the first time or navigating it again, these insights could make all the difference in your success.

Why Does Addiction Treatment Fail for Some?

I hear it all the time:

"How can my addiction recovery go so wrong?"

"What happens if I don't finish a rehab program?"

"How do I make sure that my treatment works?"

I get it! Taking the leap into your recovery journey for the first time can feel just as daunting as it does the 8th time (which is often when people find The TARA Clinic). All you seem to think about is the 'hard work' and the 'deep despair' you're meant to be feeling throughout the process of addiction recovery.

Addiction is hard enough, the treatment shouldn't be hard too...

The media and the old fashioned way of viewing addiction treatment hasn't done you any favours either, I might add. All we see are stories of people being on deaths door and completely down and out. An example of this messaging, albeit it a very real experience for some people living with addiction, can be seen here in the opening section of Dr. Gabor Maté's Ted Talk. 

Now, Dr. Gabor Maté is one of the most respected thought leaders in the destigmatisation of addiction, and even he started this talk with familiar visuals of the depths of addiction. Yet as you listen further, you hear him explain his own desire to get away from himself and his experience of addictive behaviours related to with work and music. 

The reality is, addiction doesn't discriminate and it also doesn't always look like people think it does!

Dr. Gabor Maté's definition of addiction is "Any behaviour that gives you temporary relief, temporary pleasure, but in the long term causes harm or has some negative consequences and you can't give it up despite those negative consequences." This can be true of work, sex, alcohol, substance use, gambling and any number of behaviours. 

Plus, over 70% of people living with an addiction are employed and working full time. So, yes... you could be living with an addiction and not even recognise it!

The Top 5 Addiction Treatment Problems and Solutions

So let's talk about the elephant in the room straight off the bat and go through the 5 top addiction treatment problems (boy, that was a lot of metaphors in one sentence!). 

1. You might not be ready to change yet.

It's true! I remember vividly being so sick with tonsillitis and my friends begged me to put the cigarette out. But I was in the Contemplation Stage of Change so there was no reasoning with me then (yep, I'm in recovery and you can learn more about my story here if you're interested). The great thing was that my friends naturally seemed to know how to handle this stage, and they remained non-judgmental yet continued to encourage me in a different direction. 

Over time (if I remember correctly, I started making behaviour changes around 6 months later), I noticed that I was naturally removing myself from people and places that no longer served me and spent more time in environments and with people going in the direction I wanted to go. 

So, if you've noticed you're arguing against pretty reasonable logic (such as don't smoke cigarettes with severe tonsillitis) then you might be in the Pre-Contemplation, Contemplation, or even Preparation Stage of Change. This isn't a bad thing... it's just the stage of the recovery journey you're at right now. 

If you want to move forward to the next stage of change, here are my pro tips to help you achieve that:

1. Practice Mindfulness

When you practice mindfulness regularly it becomes so much easier to see your irrational rationales! That means you now have the opportunity to challenge them yourself. To challenge an irrational rationale, ask yourself curiosity questions that search for evidence both for and against your personal belief. 

For example, if your irrational rationale was:

"I'm not that bad... I can stop whenever I want."

You could ask yourself these questions:

a) What happened the last time you tried to stop?

b) How long have you been saying that to yourself and others now?

c) Who are you comparing yourself to, really? Why do they matter in your life as a comparison?

d) What would be the worst possible outcome if you did choose to stop? What would happen and why is that a bad thing?

When you get the answers to these questions, you might start to notice the irrational parts of your old belief and realise that you actually do want to do something different for yourself. The best way for you to be able to have these conversations with yourself is to have a clear and controlled mind which you can achieve through regular mindfulness practice!

2. Track Yourself

Let's not get creepy... I mean track your behaviours so that you can look at some clear data and use that to quantify your decision making. 

If we really get honest with ourselves, we tend to suck at remembering what we did yesterday. Right?

That is even more true when it comes to addictive behaviours, so keeping track gives you the opportunity to see the truth of your choices. 

The best way I have found to track a behaviour is using your phone, because it's often the thing that is with you all the time. All you need to do is note down the drink (for example) BEFORE you pour it, order it at the bar, or accept it from a friend. 

By tracking your actions BEFORE you do them, it gives you the opportunity to make an educated decision and break the mindlessness of habit when you choose to. Additionally, you'll learn valuable information pertaining to your patterns while also getting intimate with your actual reality. 

2. Your choice of addiction treatment wasn't right for you

There are two main addiction treatment models and four treatment methods to choose from. Just like mixing and matching colours and textures in interior design, it is important to choose the right treatment model and method for you. Often, the issue getting in the way for people is not knowing what options you have to choose from! 

We have a free resource called What Is Recovery that outlines clearly each of the treatment models, treatment methods and funding options you can choose from in order to find your perfect treatment match. 

3. I have an addictive personality

Nope. No you don't. 

Dr. Gabor Maté's famous line is "Don't ask why the addiction, ask why the pain". But did you know the rest of his statement? He goes on to say "If you want to ask the question of why people are in pain, you can't look at their genetics, you have to look at their lives". 

Is there such a thing as an addictive personality? No, the concept of an addictive personality is a myth. Addiction stems from underlying emotional pain or life circumstances or learned behaviour rather than a specific personality trait. Recovery focuses on addressing these root causes rather than blaming personality.

So why do so many people say they have an addictive personality when it doesn't actually exist? 

The tough love answer is this: it's an excuse.

But here's the actual answer - when you think of addiction as a little dude on your shoulder encouraging you to do things that keep it happy, the idea that addiction is an integral part of your personality definitely helps to keep addiction happy... right? 

When I spoke earlier about irrational rationales, it is almost always addiction talking. So take this belief on in the same way and ask yourself the challenging questions, like:

a) When was there a time where addiction wasn't in your life?

b) What was different about you and your choices when addiction wasn't around?

c) Who would I be if addiction wasn't a part of my life? Is that scary? If so, what am I afraid of?

Learning to let go of a core belief isn't easy. But leaning into your new reality is hard to do when you continue to belief in your core that you are an addict?

4. It's not possible to stop using what I'm using

An interesting thing that humans do is compete. We compete on almost anything! It's interesting because we can even start to compete on how bad our lives are... 

Have a think about a time when you've said something like "Oh you think that's bad? Wait till you hear what happened to me!". Why do we do it? Who knows! But it happens all the time, and it's super common in addiction. 

Now things are going to get a little controversial. Are you ready?

The substance or addictive behaviour you're struggling with isn't actually the real problem. There. I said it. 

It's true though! If we use alcohol as the example, alcohol isn't the problem. Most people drink to relax, escape, numb big feelings, or to reduce anxiety. Are you starting to the the actual problems? Stress, trauma, anxiety, depression, motivation, and big feelings. 

The next thing to understand is no addictive behaviour or substance is more addictive than the other. Alcohol isn't more or less addictive than gambling or ICE or gambling. Porn use isn't any more or less problematic than cocaine use, or doctor shopping for prescription medication.

Addiction is simply the habitual behaviour that your brain learnt to do to overcome your discomfort as quickly as possible without actually solving the underlining issue. So, the truth is that you can overcome any addiction when you are ready and you've chosen the right treatment pathway for your needs. 

5. There's no time for treatment

If I was a professional fear focused marketer, I would start off by saying how much time is lost to your addiction and how your life will be shorter as a result... but you don't want to hear that.

I get it, though. You're busy. We're all busy, right? The challenge is that your time, energy and productivity really are being sapped by the realities of addiction which is making things even harder. 

Sure, you're getting to work most of the time and meeting your deadlines. Yes, you're on top of your monthly bills and keeping the kids in school. But how much smoother and more effective would you be if you didn't "need" a drink (etc) at the end of the day to relax? 

There is real truth to the quote "You have to slow down to speed up". Usually this is what is most frustrating for clients when they first start our programs - how much we slow them down. The fun part is watching just how much time and space opens up in their life as a result of that active slowing down process... and it happens in seemingly no time at all! 

Think of Stephen Covey and the 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. Sharpening your saw is vital to be successful, so give yourself a break and sharpen that saw of yours. 

FAQs

1. What are common problems with addiction treatment?

Answer: Common addiction treatment problems include not being ready to change, choosing the wrong treatment model, falling into the myth of having an addictive personality, lack of time for treatment, and ineffective treatment methods. Addressing these issues requires personalised care and a flexible recovery approach.

Get our free mini-course What Is Recovery to have all the information you need to choose the right treatment pathway for you. 

2. What are the stages of change in addiction recovery?

Answer: The stages of change in addiction recovery include Pre-Contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance and Recovery. Understanding which stage you're in can help guide the right treatment and self-care strategies for recovery. 

For our free guide on how to identify your Stage of Change, download Your Roadmap To Recovery now.

3. How does mindfulness help in addiction recovery?

Answer: Mindfulness helps in addiction recovery by encouraging self-awareness and breaking the automatic cycles of addictive behaviours. Practicing mindfulness allows individuals to challenge irrational thoughts, make more conscious choices, and better manage their cravings and triggers.

4. What are the different addiction treatment models?

Answer: The two main addiction treatment models are the abstinence model and the harm-reduction model. These can be combined with various treatment methods, such as inpatient rehab, outpatient programs, counselling, and online support, to create a personalised approach to recovery.

5. Can you overcome any addiction?

Answer: Yes, with the right support and treatment, it is possible to overcome any addiction, whether it’s alcohol, drugs, gambling, or behavioural addiction. Tailoring treatment to individual needs and finding the right recovery model is crucial for long-term success.

6. What are non-traditional addiction treatments?

Answer: Non-traditional addiction treatments include approaches like mindfulness, online therapy, flexible outpatient programs, and lifestyle-focused treatments that empower personal choice. These alternatives cater to those who resist restrictive, one-size-fits-all recovery programs.

You can book a free Discovery Call with The TARA Clinic to help you identify the best options for you. 

7. How can I find time for addiction treatment?

Answer: Managing time for addiction treatment involves slowing down to focus on recovery, which can, in turn, make you more efficient in the long run. Integrating recovery into your daily routine, using online support, and prioritising self-care can help make time for treatment.