Addictions - Person Centred Counsellor Help With Addiction

The society we live in seems to be that we medicate for everything and are becoming a ‘pill for every ill’ society. For some people, this ‘pill for every ill’ may lead to addiction. There is an increasing number of people becoming addicted to sleeping pills, antidepressants, and painkillers. Lack of monitoring and easy availability of prescription drugs may be some of the reasons for the increase in addiction. As prescription drugs are prescribed by their GPs, some people may choose to deny their addiction as they think drug addiction only relates to illegal substances. Depression is also linked to addiction.

What is Addiction?

Addiction is both a physical and mental illness. Addiction happens when you need to do, take or use something. Although addictions have a disturbing and controlling hold over a person’s life, the addict may still refuse to recognise their problem or seek help.

Common Addictions

Three well known addictions are alcohol addiction, drug addiction and gambling addiction. However, there are other addictions that affect peoples life, like caffeine addiction, chocolate addiction, nicotine addiction, sex addiction, sugar addiction and many other addictions as we may become addicted to anything.

Addiction leads to unhappiness and loneliness. Sometimes addiction may lead to broken homes, unhappy relationships, poor health and loss of earnings.

What Causes Addiction?

Some people use alcohol and drugs as a way of self soothing and managing their difficult feelings. Depression and Addiction are commonly linked so alcohol or drugs can be used as a defence against hidden and difficult feelings. Gambling is also associated with alcohol.

A belief that the drugs and alcohol solves their problems so they need to get more to satisfy their need.

Help for Addiction

As a Person Centred Counsellor, I can help and support you through your addiction. You can also obtain advice and help from your GP. There are also useful organisations such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Al-Anon and Nar-Anon to support families.