Addictions Counseling

What is Addiction?

Is it social or debilitating?

When it comes to common social behaviors like drinking or smoking, it might be difficult to determine if there’s an addiction problem. What looks like addiction could be an experimental phase or a form of stress management. But a real addiction, if left untreated, can develop into debilitating behaviors.

Compulsive substance use

Addiction is a complex condition that is manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequence.

People with addiction have an intense focus on using a certain substance(s), such as alcohol, drugs or sex to feel good, relieve stress, ease guilt and shame, cope with trauma or abuse and sometimes to just forget… (even if it only lasts short term).

Usage gets to the point that it takes over their life, even when they know it will cause problems and they want to stop. The addiction may cause health problems as well as problems at work and with family members and friends.

Thinking can become distorted. Changes in the brain’s wiring are what cause people to have intense cravings for the addiction which makes it hard to stop the addictive behavior.

Brain imaging studies show changes in the areas of the brain that relate to judgment, decision making, learning, memory and behavior control. Over time someone with an addiction will build up a tolerance, meaning they need larger amounts to feel the effects.

Effects of Addiction

Someone experiencing an addiction will:

• Be unable to stay away from the substance or stop the addictive behavior
• Display a lack of self-control
• Have an increased desire for the substance or behavior
• Dismiss how their behavior may be causing problems
• Lack an emotional response

Some behavior and emotional changes associated with addiction include:

• Unrealistic or poor assessment of the pros and cons associated with using substances or behaviors
• Blaming other factors or people for their problems
• Increased levels of anxiety, depression, and sadness
• Increased sensitivity and more severe reactions to stress
• Trouble identifying feelings
• Trouble telling the difference between feelings and the physical sensations of one’s emotions

Experiencing an addiction also leaves you prone to cycles of relapse and remission. This means you may cycle between intense and mild use.

Despite these cycles, addictions will typically worsen over time. They can lead to permanent health complications and serious consequences like emotional bankruptcy.

No two addictions are the same.

My approach to addiction treatment is designed to address each aspect of your addiction and its consequences for you, your family, and your job.

We will develop a plan to manage the addiction while restoring sanity to your way of functioning so that you can begin living your best life.