Dealing with Addiction
Addiction is a scary and complex disease. It can lead to losing relationships, jobs, money, and self-identity. It is mostly thought of as abusing and depending on alcohol or drugs, but can also include behaviours like gambling, sex, eating, exercise, video games, and even work.
Some signs you may be struggling with addiction:
- You need more and more of a drug or behaviour to get the same feeling.
- You’ve tried to stop but feel unable to.
- You’ve had negative impacts because of your substance use or behaviours.
How can therapy help?
- A counsellor can help you identify triggers, learn new coping skills, and make a plan to prevent relapse.
- A counsellor can coordinate all the services you need in recovery (like medication, outpatient treatment, self-help groups).
- A counsellor can help you and loved ones heal damage from your addiction and rebuild relationships. Family sessions can help fix important relationships.
- A counsellor can help you explore underlying issues that may have led to your behaviours, like past trauma. Healing old wounds can support long-lasting recovery.