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Substance Abuse Counseling

Does Addiction Interfere With Your Happiness?

We live in a society that is always about instant relief, quick satisfaction, distraction. We live in a culture that is based on both economically and psychologically not supporting people to be with themselves.” – Gabor Mate

Are you worried that your relationship with substances has gotten out of control? Does underlying emotional pain or dissatisfaction in your life cause you to seek out drugs, alcohol, or other addictive habits as a way to mask the discomfort you feel? Have you tried to stop in the past but eventually slip back into your old ways?

You may have grown increasingly concerned about how your substance use impacts your daily routine. Perhaps your tolerance has changed over time and you must consume more drugs and alcohol to get the desired results. Or maybe you frequently experience blackouts when you drink or use drugs and can’t remember what you said or did the night before.

When you have an addiction and you’re not getting the fulfillment you desire you might experience:

  • Mood swings
  • Anxiety or depression
  • Physical illness
  • Exhaustion
  • Low enthusiasm
  • Lack of concentration
  • Sleep disruptions

You Might Have Trouble Quitting On Your Own

If you have tried to quit cold turkey, you may have experienced unpleasant withdrawal symptoms—such as:

  • Tremors
  • Hallucinations
  • Profuse sweating
  • Behavioral changes
  • Lack of appetite

Enduring any one or combination of these symptoms for too long can  ultimately cause you to start using again. Your preoccupation with substances or behaviors may be taking center stage, at the exclusion of work, relationships, and self-care.

Perhaps the difficulties you’ve encountered in life play a part in your addiction. Using substances or engaging in other addictive behaviors may be your way of suppressing traumatic memories or dealing with chronic stress.

Even if you downplay how bad things have gotten with others, maybe you realize deep down that addiction has become a problem. Fortunately, substance abuse counseling can help you restore balance. With a proven track record of collaborating with our clients to ensure beneficial results, we will partner with you to achieve your desired goals for addiction recovery.

Addictive Behavior Is A Common Response To Dissatisfaction

Addiction has no bounds. Inherently, the human condition is never to be satisfied with what we have and always to crave what we lack. Whenever we experience dissatisfaction in our lives that drives us towards avoidance or distraction, addiction can take hold. Initially, substances appear to be an escape hatch that makes everything else melt away. However, we often realize that we have grown dependent on them, and our lives can soon be turned upside down.

Although addiction is often associated with drugs and alcohol, addictive behaviors and habits can arise in other contexts. For example, we may develop a spiritual dependency where we crave peak experiences as a way to distract ourselves from emotional pain. Similarly, we may throw ourselves into work, gambling, shopping, food, sex, or scrolling social media as a way to avoid sitting with feelings we would rather not confront. In these instances, our attempt to find happiness often backfires and we are left feeling empty.

Addiction To Substances Can Be Hard To Avoid

The reasons we turn to substances for relief may be valid. Perhaps our emotional pain is related to past experiences where we felt unvalued by our caregivers or experienced traumatic events that left us feeling broken and numb inside. Unfortunately, for many of us, once we start using substances regularly, we form a physiological dependency that can be difficult to overcome on our own. Without receiving outside help, we often struggle to quit by ourselves.

Whether you struggle with substance abuse or any other form of addiction, the counselors at TRT offer therapy that can help you address the root of the problem. By exploring its underlying causes, treatment can help you break the addiction cycle and find hope.

Substance Abuse Counseling Can Help Restore Balance

“Not why the addiction but why the pain.” – Gabor Mate

If you struggle with substance abuse or a process addiction to sex, porn, gambling, or food, you are probably well aware that what fuels your behavior is an escape from pain. Your addiction likely originated as an attempt to solve genuine problems in your life, such as multigenerational family trauma, emotional loss, overwhelming stress, or lack of close connection to others. However, if you’re reading this, you may have already concluded that although substances numb the pain, ultimately, they’re doing more harm than good.

At Trauma Resolution Therapy (TRT), we have developed a multi-faceted addiction treatment model that addresses substance abuse, such as alcohol and prescription drugs, as well as other addictive behaviors. With over 30 years of addiction treatment experience, our Buddhist-centered approach combines the biopsychosocial-spiritual and mindfulness recovery models with solution-focused therapy.

While the disease model is prevalent in treatment, we think of addiction as a dis-ease of mind, body, and spirit that disrupts homeostasis. We want to help you restore equilibrium and recognize when you are out of balance.

What To Expect From Addiction Counseling

In substance abuse counseling with us, we will meet you wherever you are on your journey, whether you are actively using, considering rehab, or have already completed in- or out-patient treatment. After you undergo an initial assessment screening, we can discuss the best options for you to develop a specialized game plan for treatment. Your therapist will create a safe and supportive environment where you can speak freely about your concerns related to substance abuse with no fear of judgment or recrimination.

Throughout counseling sessions, we aim to address all aspects of addiction, including the psychological aspects of craving and withdrawal, impulse control, stress reduction, and the underlying sources of pain that contribute to substance abuse. We may also work on mending broken bonds with loved ones and setting healthier boundaries. Your sessions will be individualized to meet your needs and address whatever you may be struggling with at your own pace.

Buddhist-Centered Drug And Alcohol Counseling At TRT

We offer a holistic approach that focuses on mind, body, and spirit in equal measure. Examining your core beliefs related to substance use can help dispel the notion that drug or alcohol use increases pleasure or alleviates stress. Utilizing Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) allows you to tap into the powers of the mind to help soothe physical symptoms that affect your body. Implementing Buddhist principles provides treatment with a spiritual component to ensure it is meaningful.

We are proud to offer a compassion-centered approach to addiction treatment supported by cutting-edge science. While the idea of recovery may seem out of reach right now, all it takes to get started is a commitment to yourself. By empowering you to draw from your inner strengths and resilience, we aim to help you restore balance in all aspects of life.

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But Maybe You’re Not Sure If Substance Abuse Counseling Is Right For You…

Talking about my addiction with a therapist who I’ve only just met sounds uncomfortable.

Understandably, the idea of talking to someone who you don’t know about your personal issues can sound daunting at first. However, your substance abuse counselor won’t remain a stranger for long. They strive to build a safe and stable relationship with you, gaining your trust and putting you at ease. Although turning to substances has become your way to handle stress and seek comfort, it has led to suffering. In addiction therapy, you will learn healthier ways to cope with stress and manage cravings.

It’s hard to find the time for substance abuse treatment.

These days, life can get hectic. Finding the time for drug and alcohol addiction treatment can be challenging. That’s why our substance abuse therapists and support team are willing to work with you to find a schedule that fits your busy life. We also offer online therapy, which can make addiction counseling more convenient and sticking to a regular schedule more attainable.

Should I consider taking medication in addition to attending substance use disorder counseling for better results?

At Trauma Resolution Therapy Group, we incorporate a holistic and integrated approach to substance abuse treatment. Depending upon your circumstances and preferences, we may decide collaboratively that medication would be a good option for you. Although your addiction therapist does not prescribe medication, they can monitor you and modify counseling accordingly should you choose to augment substance abuse treatment with medication.

We Can Help You Get Where You Want To Be

If you are ready to make the changes needed to restore balance and move away from addictive behaviors, we want to work with you. To find out more about substance abuse counseling with Trauma Resolution Therapy Group, please visit our contact page.