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Phone: 07974 421733
Addiction therapy
Treatment: CBT / Hypnotherapy / Psychotherapy
Addiction is not having control over doing, taking or using something to the point of it being harmful. The term addiction is sometimes applied to compulsions that are not substance-related.
Common addictions include addictions to alcohol or drugs, but it is possible to become addicted to anything from computers to love. The sign of addiction to something is that the person has no control over how they use it and may become dependent on it to get them through the day. Such as:
- Work addiction: workaholics are obsessed with work, they work long hours tend to avoid holidays to the detriment of family and relationships. This addiction is often encouraged as good workers are praised.
- Computer addiction: computer addiction is increasing. People spend many hours day and night on the computer surfing the internet or playing games while avoiding the other aspects of their lives. This can be linked with sex addiction. It is a way of avoiding painful subjects or the reality of their life.
- Solvent addiction: glue sniffing, aerosols, paint or lighter fluid can make you feel intoxicated and it can be fatal.
- Shopping addiction: this becomes an addiction when you buy things you don’t need or want but it gives a ‘buzz but this is quickly followed by feelings of guilt or shame and can lead to financial problems.
- Exercise addiction: people can exercise and get addicted to the ‘high’ of endorphins in the body, the change of shape linked with feeling good and powerful but can take over a person’s life and in extreme cases, cause physical problems such as eating disorders or dependence on Steroids. A person’s life revolves around exercise, again causing relationship difficulties. The person gets withdrawal symptoms when they stop.
- Gambling addiction: produces a high with the win, extreme concentration whilst the event is taking place and then the corresponding low when the person loses.
There are many reasons why addictions begin and some people have a genetic predisposition to addiction. In the case of drugs, alcohol and nicotine, these substances affect the way you feel physically and mentally. The feelings start off as enjoyable and create a powerful urge to use the substance again. Whatever the addiction is it helps us feel good at the start. Being addicted to something means that not having it causes withdrawal symptoms or a ‘down’. This is an unpleasant feeling so the person finds it’s easier to use again and the cycle continues. The addiction gets out of control because of the need for more and more to satisfy a ‘craving’ or to get a ‘high’.
Many drug and alcohol addicts experience low self-esteem as a result of their addiction and can grow isolated and have feelings of paranoia as a result. Many addicts experience feelings of depression, memory loss and anxiety. Memory loss is linked with alcohol, amphetamines, marihuana, ecstasy, and crystal meth. Addiction affects people in very different ways and is largely dependent on the type of drug used.
I treat addictions with a mixture of:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to explore the thoughts around the addiction, behaviours are altered and adapted, (I am familiar with the 12 step programme) and homework is given to reduce and to employ other pleasurable activities so the person is not left with a feeling of emptiness.
- Psychotherapy to explore the underlying stressors and issues that led to the addictive behaviour to give a good understanding and acceptance of themselves.
- Hypnotherapy to relax the person and to help with cravings, I teach self-hypnosis. This opens the mind and to allow access to the unconscious and helps to give quicker resolution of the problem. It is widely used in smoking cessation.