Drug Addiction Counselling
The role of counselling in the treatment of addiction
Denial plays a huge part in addiction, and is one of the main hurdles a person must overcome in order to start the recovery process. An addict will often lie to family and friends about their habit but the most damage is caused by the lies the addict tells himself. Whatever form the addiction may take, e.g. drinking, gambling, drugs, etc, as long as the addict can deny to himself that he has a problem, no amount of pleading from others will make him change his ways.
Ultimately, it’s the addict himself that has to decide to change things for the better, and recognising the need for help is a huge acknowledgement. Admitting a problem and deciding to tackle it is the first step on the long, difficult road to recovery.
An addiction will often stem from a deep-rooted problem, perhaps an issue from childhood, self-esteem problems, or environmental influences which spiral out of control. An addiction can be used to mask these problems, suppressing thoughts and feelings which the addict is unable to face.
However, it’s these problems that need to be exposed and admitted, and discussing them is an important part of the recovery process. Counselling gives a safe environment in which an addict can open up, admitting things they may feel uncomfortable saying in front of family or friends, and is invaluable to many recovering addicts. With the help of a trained professional, the issues at the heart of the addiction can be addressed and dealt with, allowing the person to move on with their life, free of what was previously holding them back and causing them to repeat their destructive behaviour.
Addiction is a much stigmatised illness, and society casts aspersions on addicts, despite the fact that, as has been proved time and time again, anyone can fall victim to an addiction, irrelevant of class, age, upbringing, etc. This results in many addicts developing self-esteem issues which contribute to the desperate cycle of addiction – an addict will feel worthless or useless, and therefore turn to their addiction to mask these feelings, and because they feel they are not capable of anything else.
Counselling is hugely beneficial for addressing these issues – the addict knows that they will not be judged by the counsellor, and that the stigma attached to them by society is completely removed. Once the counsellor has dealt with the underlying problems that caused the addiction, they can also help rebuild the addict’s self esteem, and restore their sense of self-worth. Counselling helps to fully rehabilitate an addict into a healthy and rewarding way of living.
Relapsing is one of the biggest challenges and addict faces during the course of their recovery, and indeed for the rest of their life. Whilst ultimately no one can prevent a relapse, there are strategies that can be put into place to at least make the addict stop and think about the damage they would be doing to themselves. There a many methods that can be used as a relapse prevention strategy.
Having a support network of friends and family means that when temptation strikes there will always be someone at the end of the phone who can provide support, or even simply a distraction. Relaxation techniques can also be beneficial, helping the addict remove themselves from the situation, as well as mindfulness techniques which give the strength to say no. Developing new hobbies and interests can also serve as a simple distraction, and also help contribute to rebuilding a rewarding life, as mentioned earlier.
If a relapse does occur, a counsellor can be on hand to deal with the fallout from it. It’s important the addict does not beat themselves up, or believe that they have failed and give up in their recovery. Counselling will also help explore the triggers for the relapse, and develop a more effective prevention strategy.
The best way to prevent a relapse though is to deal with the underlying issues of the addiction once and for all. Without these issues being fully resolved, there will always be a higher risk of relapsing and becoming victim to addiction again. The body can recover from addiction, and in some cases restore itself to full health. The mind, however, is more difficult to cure. Talking, communicating and exploring problems is really the only way to deal with them. Often the problems will only become apparent once the addict starts to open up – rather than being in denial about them, they may not have even been aware they existed. Addicts often use their habit as a form of escape, so it’s important to identify just what they’re escaping from.
A counsellor cannot single-handedly ‘cure’ someone of their addiction. The change must come from the addict himself, and he must get over his denial and open himself up to help. However, once he has done this, counselling will guide him through his problems, identifying what causes his destructive behaviour, and help him work through his issues in a safe, relaxing and comforting environment. The problems may be obvious, or they may be so masked that it takes a lot of work to identify them. Either way, the only way to deal with an addiction is to tackle the causes and ensure they are fully dealt with.
While one-on-one sessions allow the addict complete freedom, group sessions are also beneficial. Being surrounded by others in the same position, one may feel more comfortable talking about their problems, knowing that everyone else is facing the same struggle, and others can contribute ideas and feedback that can help with recovery. Group sessions with the addict’s friends and family may also help, so that everyone is able to help, and most importantly knows how to help.
Recovery and rehabilitation from addictive behaviour is one of the most difficult processes a person can go through but the beginning of recovery signals the end of a dark chapter, leading towards a more positive future.
