The development of addictions, to an activity or substance, allows the user to temporarily feel different about them and allows an escape from emotional or physical pain. Addictions are typically found to take the form of substance abuse, and can range from legal to illegal substances (such as alcohol or illicit drugs) However, addictions can occur when individuals are hooked on gambling, shopping, internet use, or sexual addictions.

Individuals all have the capability to develop habit-forming tendencies; some people are more vulnerable to addictions then others as a result of genetic factors, learned behaviours, or certain personality types. Individuals that have addictive disorders will require support and assistance to overcome and break cyclic nature of addictions. This is where counselling can assist.

How can I identify an addicted person?

Addictive behaviour patterns can be recognised over time, however the identification of the consequences of the addiction are the sign posts to recognising the core issue. Signs that an individual may have an addiction include:

1. Daily activities and responsibilities, such as work and home life, are being affected
2. Relationships with loved ones are impacted and have negative consequences
3. Individuals have recognise the activity may be creating a problem and attempt to cut down or stop the addictive behaviour/activity

The signs for substance addiction:

1. Individuals feel overwhelmed by the world without the use of the substance and feel in control or back to normal upon using the substance
2. Overtime an individual’s usage increases in order to achieve the same effects
3. Individual’s lives are coordinated around the use of the addictive substance/s
4. Individuals have symptoms of being unwell, and mood swings (withdrawal symptoms) and feel well again following use.

How can counselling assist?

The major concerns behind substance abuse relate to unresolved emotional problems. The major aspect being a distinct lack of emotional processing (coping skills). Addictions can often create greater impacts within individuals lives over time without firm interventions and can result in the destruction of close relationships and potentially the individuals own life.

The counselling process can assist addicted individuals and their loved ones to uncover the underlying causes of addiction whilst assisting with the resolution of deep seeded trigger points for the addiction. A counsellor may be able to assist in breaking cyclic habitual patterns that stem from the trigger points, assisting with more helpful thinking styles and behaviours. Further, a counsellor can offer many tools to support the recovery process through the use of relaxation techniques, stress management tools, and support for recovering individuals and their families.

How can Positive Connections assist?

Positive Connections is private professional practice that provides counselling services to individuals and families in the cities of Casey and Cardinia. If you are having problems with what you believe are potentially addictive behaviours or substance abuse, or, if you are a family member that requires assistance to provide a positive intervention and assist someone you love, please call us, 9704 9500.

Together we can find a way.