Addiction Therapy
What is Addiction?
Addiction it is a mental health disorder, there is no one pathway to addiction and no one pathway out of it. Those suffering from it are usually dealing with co-occurring severe mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder, these are complicated and affect each other when untreated, resulting in the progression of addiction. Therefore, asking people to give up alcohol or drugs they believe prevents them from having nightmares, helps them sleep, lowers their anxiety, creates fear and anxiety.
So much of a person’s identity is wrapped up in addiction and being aware substances are destroying their life does not stop them from using. Addiction is familiar, it is a way of life, and the thought of leaving this misery behind is frightening because there is comfort in the familiar, even though familiarity causes suffering, wretchedness and unhappiness.
Fear plays a big part in recovery. It tells addicted people they will not being able to face life’s challenges without substances; life will not be enjoyable again; they will fail journeying into the unknown and will lose a relationship being sober.
Dealing with contradictory ideas or mixed feelings about giving up substance is not easy, however keeping the client focused on the barriers preventing her/his recovery can give insight to the reason why a person finds it difficult to let go of a substance that is causing so much suffering.
Breaking free from addiction into recovery is not easy, but it is possible and there will be relapses on the way. Recovery is about learning new ways to live without alcohol and or drugs, it is about learning new skills to deal with difficulties and psycho education to help people understand the pathway that led them into addiction and how to let go of it.
Recovery is a process, and it takes time and patience.
Recovery means letting go of substances that played a big part in a person life, it also involves grieving for the part of them that substances took away and they will never get back. Recovery is about treading new paths and opening new doors to a new life, it is about taking care of the body with nutritional foods, seeking support from Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous, or joining a SMART Recovery Group. Keeping the GP informed of progress and taking advice about medication.
Recovery is a choice.
How I Can Help You
“Why don’t you just stop drinking and taking drugs?” Do hear these words frequently? Do you wake up in the morning feeling overwhelmed not knowing how to cope or deal with life or the day ahead? Have your relationships broken down and your job in jeopardy due to alcohol and or drugs? Do you wish for a ‘normal’ life and freedom from substances?
The good news is I can help you; I can offer you a secure, safe, and comfortable environment to talk about your addiction without judgement.
I offer you my acceptance, understanding, knowledge, and thirteen years’ experience as a psychotherapist in the field of addiction. Helping you with recovery support, relapse prevention, sobriety or harm reduction therapy.
An alcohol and drugs audit will be an integral first part of your therapy, determining the approach we take together to move forward. Addiction often leads to concurrent mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, we will progress through these issues in tandem to explore the impact they have on your addiction.
A recovery plan is important for success, it will help you achieve your goals, and it will keep you focused and on track. Together we will explore the emotional issues that impact on your relationship with alcohol and drugs. Psycho education is part of therapy, providing you with knowledge and understanding of cravings, high risk situations and behaviours that lead to a cycle of alcohol or drug dependency.
Together we will develop an autonomous working relationship to build openness and honesty. This eliminates the fear of judgement, should you relapse as part of your recovery journey.
The first step of the recovery process involves contacting me where you will be made very welcome and supported.