If you are struggling with drug addiction, you may feel hopeless and alone. You may think that no one understands what you are going through, or that you are beyond help. But you are not alone, and you are not beyond help. There is a way to overcome your addiction and live a healthier, happier life. That way is counseling.
“Addiction begins with the hope that something ‘out there’ can instantly fill up the emptiness inside.” – Jean Kilbourne
Jean Kilbourne
Learn to develop new skills to cope with addiction
Counseling is a form of psychotherapy that can help you address the underlying causes and consequences of your substance use disorder. It can also help you develop new skills and strategies to cope with stress, triggers, cravings, and relapse. Counseling can be done individually, in a group, or with your family, depending on your needs and preferences.
Benefits of addiction counseling
Here are some of the benefits of counseling for drug addiction:
Counseling can identify situations contributing to substance use. Many people use drugs as a way to escape from their problems, such as trauma, abuse, grief, depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem. Counseling can help you explore these issues and how they affect your drug use. It can also help you find healthier ways to deal with them, such as talking, expressing emotions, seeking support, or engaging in positive activities.
Creates a safe place for exploration and recognizing your triggers
Counseling can provide direct support for addiction. Counseling can offer you a safe and confidential space to talk about your addiction and how it affects your life. You can share your feelings, thoughts, fears, hopes, and goals with a trained professional who will listen without judgment and offer guidance and feedback. Counseling can also help you set realistic and achievable goals for your recovery and monitor your progress.
Counseling can offer new behavior strategies for recovery. Counseling can teach you cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a type of psychotherapy that helps you identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors that lead to drug use. CBT can help you recognize your triggers and how to avoid or cope with them. It can also help you develop positive coping skills for stress, such as relaxation techniques, problem-solving skills, or assertiveness skills.
Lower your expectations
Counseling can reduce the risk of relapse. Relapse is a common occurrence in addiction recovery, but it does not mean that you have failed or that you cannot recover. Counseling can help you prevent or manage relapse by helping you identify warning signs, such as negative emotions, high-risk situations, or cravings. It can also help you create a relapse prevention plan that includes coping strategies, support resources, and contingency plans.
Take the first step
Counseling is not a magic cure for drug addiction, but it is an essential part of a comprehensive treatment program that may also include medication, detoxification, education, aftercare, and recovery support groups. Counseling can help you overcome your addiction and build a new life that is meaningful and fulfilling.
If you are ready to take the first step toward recovery, contact us today to find out more about our counseling services for drug addiction.
