ADDICTION COUNSELING
Addiction
Addiction typically refers to the difficulty in controlling harmful repetitive behaviors. These harmful behaviors result from a powerful drive to use and do certain things in excess. This often results in pain and suffering not only for those addicted, but also for their friends and family.
Addictions can arise from drinking alcohol, taking drugs, eating, gambling, having sex and even using the Internet. Addictions often begin innocently with activities making people feel emotionally and physically good. These feelings of pleasure lead to a desire to recreate the ‘high’ experienced. This in turn becomes a cycle that becomes very hard to change.
People who are addicted are often unaware of their addiction and the impact it may be having on their work, relationships and health. Addiction treatment such as counseling is a important step on the road to recovery.
Common addictions include:
- drugs
- gambling
- sex
- alcohol
- internet
- smoking
- solvent abuse
- food.
What causes addictions?
Nearly anyone can become an addict. While the numbers vary widely, it is generally thought that around 10% or 23 million people in the US are currently suffering from an addiction of some sort. People become addicts for a variety or reasons which are still not fully understood. Addiction is a result of a combination of physical, emotional and circumstantial factors:
- Family history
- Mental health issue
- Early use of substances such as drugs or alcohol
- Social environment
- Childhood trauma
- Stress
Signs and symptoms of addiction
Addiction often leads to distressing feelings, such as shame, guilt, and a sense of hopelessness and failure. People struggling with addiction often experience:
- Inability to control the use of a substance or activity that impairs them.
- Intense cravings to use the substance or activity.
- Escalation in use of the substance or activity.
- Continued use of the substance or activity despite the consequences.
- Irritability, anxiety, and withdrawal symptoms when they stop the drug or activity.
- Repeated relapses.
- Personality and behavioral changes, such as risk taking.
- Neglect in important everyday activities.
- Obsessed and focus all their time and energy on ways of getting their drug or activity.
A person with an addiction often denies that they are addicted. Sufferers find themselves caught up in financial difficulties, job loss, and even get them in trouble with the law. Addiction counseling can help.
Getting help for addiction
Counseling helps people with addictions to think, feel and act – and remove their troubled thinking. It helps them to view difficult situations in a new light. This is important to maintain the change, which is harder than stopping the addiction.
We specialize in helping people out of the pattern of addiction and helplessness and back into a healthy rhythm.
Take a first step toward being free from addiction and meet with one of our therapists. Our addiction counseling can help you identify how to move forward with your life.
If you are ready, call AFC to schedule an appointment.
