Substance Issues

Think you might have a drinking or drug problem?

Many drink alcohol from time to time. For most, this occasional indulgence isn’t harmful. A lot of people have experimented with other drugs, too, and haven’t encountered serious long-term consequences. So how can you tell if your substance abuse is a problem?

If it has lead you to a courtroom, that’s a pretty good indicator that something is wrong. If you’ve lost relationships over it — from arguments, fights, forgotten obligations, or anything else, that’s another sign that there is a problem.

Legal consequences due to substance use are an indication of a dependence
If your substance use has lead you into one of these, it may be time for a change

Not all substance abuse means addiction, of course — even among those who have experienced serious consequences or had legal stumbles . If you only started experimenting with drugs or alcohol and quickly found yourself in trouble, you may be able to drop the habit without much problem. If that’s the case, I encourage you to do so, as you have first-hand knowledge of the damage it can cause. I would be happy to help you make that adjustment.

But if you continue to use and you start to have these problems again, then it’s time to take a very close look at your habits. Your substance abuse may have developed into an addiction. If that’s the case, treatment needs to be a priority for you , before it’s too late.

Addictions

Addiction exists along a spectrum, and comes in many forms. We most often think of addiction in relation to drugs and alcohol. These are two of the most common and serious addictions, but they aren’t the only ones — gambling, food, the internet, sex, and work are also addictions many people struggle with, and there are even more. You may feel you’re at the beginning stages of an addiction, or you may have been wrestling with it for some time. But if you feel like you have become over-reliant on something unhealthy, now is the time to act. It is only likely to get worse if left alone.

Gambling is a behavioral addiction
Addiction comes in many forms

You may not have realized the extent of your addiction until it was too late — you got a DUI, or got tangled up in another legal issue. Someone important may have left you behind, or you may have had a health scare. We’re all familiar with the term ‘rock bottom’, and everyone’s is different. Have you hit yours?

If you have, then just by being here you’ve proven to yourself that you’re looking for a way to get back up, and that is fantastic! The tragedy of addiction is not hitting rock bottom, but staying there. So how can counseling or psychotherapy help you? First, two heads are better than one. I will offer you my undivided attention for an hour or two each week, where we focus on nothing but you staying well.

Maintaining sobriety is like solving a puzzle — you’ve got to try things out, experiment, and piece together everything you know about healthy living until you find the combination that works for you.

Everyone’s puzzle is unique, and yours will fit together best when you have first figured out who you are. What do you like to do? What are you passionate about? What do you want to get passionate about? These are the questions I want to help you answer. The answers are what will replace the object of your addiction and build your new life.

Recovery comes from piecing together your coping skills in complementary ways.

Not sure if you have a problem with substance abuse or addiction? Take a look at alcohol and drug symptoms.

Are you struggling with or wondering if you have a behavioral addiction (gambling, sex, food, and others)? Take a look at common addictive behaviors.

I have experience with relapse prevention and education and can help with assessing for serious drug use issues that may require heightened levels of care including the help of a specialist or inpatient treatment.


Want to learn more about my approach to therapy? Check out my approach to therapy page.


Ready to reach out?

If you have more questions or want to schedule an appointment, message me.

Let’s talk more about how I can help.