Substance abuse is the act of over indulging in drugs or alcohol to the extent that it negatively impacts a person’s physical health, emotional functioning, and overall life. Common signs that your substance use is problematic may include:
Substance abuse is a common problem with millions of U.S. adults diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder every year. Although overcoming this condition is challenging, sobriety is possible with personal commitment and compassionate support from a therapist. If you are one of the millions of people struggling to stop using drugs or alcohol, it’s important to know that you are not alone.
Reaching out and asking for help is an important first step to achieve sobriety. Heal Talk Therapy will support your healing and promote growth on your journey to a happier, healthier you.
Absolutely! Now, wouldn’t it be great if change happened right away? In most cases, that’s not how change works. It’s often a process. People typically go through various stages when trying to overcome addiction. Understanding the process of change and the different stages involved can help you know what to expect. This will increase self-compassion and patience while you are trying to get sober.
While not everyone who tries drugs or alcohol will develop a substance use disorder, higher exposure to substances increases your risk for abuse. Drug and alcohol addiction can start with experimental use that leads to social use, and in some cases can escalate into an addiction. Biological and social risk factors may also play a role in developing a substance use disorder.
Protective factors can help reduce the risk of addiction or substance abuse. Some of these factors include:
Prior to getting sober, much of your time may have been spent using, seeking or recovering from drug or alcohol use. Now it’s imperative to fill your time with healthy self-care habits that support your recovery. Self-care is proven to decrease cravings, improve mental health, and enhance your overall quality of life.
If you are dealing with substance abuse, you are not alone. There are several types of treatment available to you. Two common types of therapy used to treat substance abuse include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI).
Highly recommended by therapists.