ADDICTIONS, DRUG & ALCOHOL RECOVERY
Has Your Life been Hijacked…?
We live in highly stressful times where seemingly harmless habits can grow & deepen to the point of hijacking our lives: the use of alcohol, drugs, pornography and even technology can morph out-of-control, stealing our time, our passion and; sometime, even our life. Let’s talk first about the struggle with drugs or alcohol? Do you want to make a change but feel daunted and overwhelmed? Addiction is tough. Even when you know substance abuse is interfering with work, causing conflict in relationships, and keeping you from building the life you want, the compulsion to use can end up controlling your thoughts and behavior. You've tried to break the 'habit' and take back control, but it seems nothing works—or it doesn’t work for long. You may stumble just as you start feeling some success, and it can be devastating to fall back in the same patterns despite knowing you are trying your best to make a lasting change.
Contrary to popular opinion, quitting an addiction isn’t simply a matter of willpower or desire. No matter how genuinely you want to quit using, overcoming addiction is hard. That’s because drug and alcohol abuse actually change the way the brain functions. When you are addicted to a substance, you develop a tolerance or resistance to its effects. Over time, you may find that you need more of a drug to reach the high you’re used to. Eventually, you continue using just to feel normal.
As a substance abuse counselor, I understand that recovery is not as simple as it sounds. It can feel like an unbearable burden as you work to soberly navigate a substance-saturated society. I believe that drugs and alcohol are not an addict’s problem, however: they are an addict’s solution. But what started out as a way to manage stress has taken control and become a source of conflict.
When you understand the causes and triggers behind addiction, it can change how you think and feel about it. And that change in perspective can unlock new solutions, as well as your expectations and sense of hopefulness for the outcome.
I believe this is a disease about managing stress. I believe that connection is one of the most important pieces of recovery, starting with the connection to yourself. And I believe that the journey of recovery will be the most rewarding one of your life.
Millions have been Hijacked…
Roughly one in nine Americans over the age of twelve currently use illicit drugs. That’s a little more than 30 million people. Another 5 million have been diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder. There are many factors that influence whether someone becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol. Genetics, familial patterns of substance abuse, or early onset substance use can all increase the likelihood of developing an addiction. Additionally, many individuals turn to drugs and alcohol to help mask the pain of emotional, physical and sexual trauma.
And Society urges You on…
Alternately, social conditioning often encourages drinking too much alcohol or using drugs as a bonding activity between peers. What was meant as recreational social behavior can easily evolve into substance abuse and addiction. Regardless of the catalyst, you are not alone in your addiction, and you don’t have to be alone in your recovery.
Alcohol & Drug Counseling can Help you Regain Control
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with an additional certification in alcohol and drug counseling, I specialize in providing therapeutic support and crisis management for individuals and families struggling with substance use issues. Your life doesn’t have to be defined by addiction. My approach to therapy is interactive and heart-centered. In addition to helping you overcome cravings, we’ll work together to understand and address the core factors that caused you to begin using (and that are making it so hard to quit).
Recovery is most successful when the goal is healing the whole person. By working to heal the body, mind and spirit, you can address those things that helped create the addiction. To do this, I use both evidence-based treatment modalities and proven alternative therapies. My approach is customized to each client and can include the following holistic and clinical components:
Learning the skills you need to stop using (or reduce use).
Helping you manage emotions and stress without needing drugs or alcohol.
Building a strong social support system you can rely on.
Working to set attainable goals through a Relapse Prevention Plan.
Teaching you to recognize and cope with or avoid triggers that might cause relapse.
What about if you Believe that Your Addiction is not That Bad…
I would gently encourage you to take stock of how “going it alone” has been working out so far. Have you put off recovery, or attempted and then relapsed? For many recovering addicts, willpower alone isn’t enough. Your best shot at successful recovery from alcohol dependence and drug abuse is by partnering with someone who can help to identity your strengths and challenges, hold you accountable, and empower you to live your best life.
Whether you’re just starting your path to recovery or you’ve been clean and sober for months or years, I can offer the professional guidance, support, and practical tools you need to find meaningful, lasting recovery. Recovering from addiction won’t happen overnight. But with courage, patience, and the right support, it’s a journey you can make successfully.
Let’s take back the control of your life…
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