Most people experience moments in life when it feels like they need something to make them feel better.
For thousands of years, human beings have taken mind-altering substances as a way to alter their perceptions, or help cope with physical or emotional pain. Natural herbs, manufactured drugs, and alcohol have all been used in this way. In more recent times, activities like internet use, sex, pornography consumption, gambling, shopping, and more can be used as a coping mechanism.
Addiction can be categorised as:
- Process Addiction, i.e., gambling, sex, shopping, etc.
- Substance Addiction, i.e., alcohol, cocaine, opiates, etc.
Any kind of compulsive behaviour which you have little control and may continue to do despite negative consequences, is an addiction. In most cases, addiction is used as an unhealthy coping mechanism for trauma, intense stress, emotional distress, depression, anxiety, etc.
For anyone struggling with addiction there is an intense need to escape and avoid difficult experiences or painful emotions – they often feel powerless over the addictive process.
If you are suffering from an addiction that is affecting the quality of your life, counselling can help.
Addiction counselling can help:
- Identify and manage triggers
- Stabilize and understand the process of addiction
- Learn to manage emotions and replace unhealthy responses with healthy ones
- Support with multi-level and community based intervention
- Help rediscover the person’s identity and sense of self
- Work through the stages of change
- Regain a sense of personal power and control
Ritchie & Associates skilled psychologists can help you. Please contact us for an appointment.