For some, addiction means losing everything. For others, it means being too attached to doing something, for example, work or exercise; ingesting drugs or alcohol; or fixating on a person or type of person (also called co-dependency).
You may feel you want to repeat the behaviour because it makes you feel good, at least at that moment. You may feel ‘driven’ or out of control, or worry you’re consuming too much of a particular substance. Perhaps other people are worried about you, or you’re concerned about the effect that something is having on other areas of your life?
Some say the opposite of addiction is not sobriety, but a connection with others. Feeling connected may be literal – in other words, you need more or different people in your life – or you may be ‘blocked’ from yourself, and your feelings and needs. Being blocked can result in addictive behaviours.
Our therapists can help you find a way through. Even when sober or free from the behaviour, people are not aware they’re feeling driven to use. Much less that there’s an underlying emotional wound that hasn’t been healed by natural causes. Self-awareness is obscured; there are psychological blind-spots.
Therapy can help you re-connect with yourself and others, and develop a stronger sense of belonging in the world. Therapy can treat the causes of addiction, not just the symptoms.
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Grief and loss
- Work and workplace issues
- Family relationships
- Romantic relationships
- Food issues and eating disorders
- LGBTQ+ – gender and sexual identity & orientation
- Low self-esteem and confidence
- Childhood abuse
- Parenting issues and family conflict
- Step-parenting issues
- Body image and dysmorphia
- Stress and feeling overwhelmed
- Feeling stuck, uninspired or lost
- Sexual anxiety
- Sexual assault and rape