Addictions come in many forms and it's often difficult to identify when one is taking hold of your life. From everyday products such as food to substance abuse, suffering from an addiction can have a profoundly negative impact on your life. You may now be at the stage where you're willing to attend a psychology clinic. If that's the case, here are some of the ways using therapy can help you overcome your addiction.
Achieving Recognition
Many people who suffer from addictions go through periods of denial. Even if you're recognising that therapy may prove useful right now, you may not recognise just how addiction is affecting your life. For example, addictions have the power to alter your relationships. They can also prevent you from making achievements and engaging in your usual hobbies. Speaking with a psychologist is a safe way to come to terms with how your addiction is affecting your life. From there, you can begin exploring the mechanisms you need to begin repairing.
Tackling Stresses
Without realising it, your addiction may have started due to stress. Those stresses don't need to be traumatic, either. For example, experiencing a higher-than-normal workload can result in the type of stress that leads to addictive behaviours. Similarly, life events that you might see as positive, such as a new job or house move, can result in stress. Therapy is an excellent way to identify the stresses that are likely to perpetuate your addiction. When you learn the right coping mechanisms for handling stress, you'll have an easier time recovering.
Identifying Triggers
Some situations, routines, and people may be acting as triggers for your addictive behaviour. For example, if you struggle with alcohol consumption, you may feel more likely to drink when you're cooking or when you see a certain person. Your psychologist can help you spot those triggers and help you find ways to avoid them. Or, they can help you discover healthier habits to engage in when those triggers occur. Sometimes, they may have to help you make difficult decisions. For example, avoiding individuals who are more likely to make you turn to your addiction.
Building Networks
Therapy for addiction doesn't always mean speaking with a psychologist on a one-to-one basis. You may find that group therapy or engaging with certain networks helps you too. While attending a psychology clinic, you can discover useful networks that could connect you with accountability partners. Having an accountability partner is a great way to achieve ongoing support outside of your psychologist's office
For more information, contact a local clinic like Spencer Mental Healthcare.
Share1 November 2022
Hello, my name is Catherine and this is my blog all about health and medical topics. I was inspired to start this blog by my husband who works in a hospital. He isn't a doctor, he works in a lab testing blood samples. However, he is extremely interested in medicine. When his grandma got sick, he quickly established what might be wrong and got her all the help she needed. Sometimes is the evening, we sit and read textbooks and talk about medicine. It sounds insane but we both really like it. I decided to start this blog to show off some of what I have learnt.