"Ask not why the addiction, but why the pain?" - Gabor Maté
An addiction is a chronic disorder in which an individual is blinded by a substance, or engages in an activity, that gives them an immense amount of pleasure but has become detrimental to their everyday life. People with mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety or trauma survivors, are more susceptible to using addictions as coping mechanisms. Compulsive behaviors and addictions can temporarily provide confidence, control, validation or other emotions lacking in one’s life, but the behavior may not stop until the root of the problem is addressed.
Addiction changes the brain through the limbic system, also known as the “brain reward system.” This part of the brain is responsible for producing feelings of pleasure and will manifest thoughts such as, “I deserve this,” or “Let’s do that again.” The abuse of addictive substances and behaviors triggers this system which can prolong a continuous cycle of destructive behavior.
Common addictions include but are not limited to:
- Drug or alcohol abuse
Seek Professional Assistance
People who have developed an addiction may be unaware that it is out of control, which is why counseling is an essential part of working through and managing this condition. An addiction of any sort can be exhausting and isolating. One should never go through the recovery process alone.
Many treatment plans focus on talk therapy and behavior therapy and can be performed in a group or through one-on-one sessions. During these sessions, clients analyze the reasons behind their addiction(s), what triggers are and what helped them control impulses in the past. Patients also learn coping skills so they can manage the compulsions without relapsing. In addition, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) may help heal emotional wounds that underly addiction by allowing the brain to reprocess distressing and/or disturbing memories.
As an integrative therapist, I help clients get to the root of their addiction so they can find lasting relief. Please explore my site to get a feel for who I am and how I prefer to work. If you think we'd make a great team, please reach out today.
"Usiulize kwa nini ulevi, lakini kwa nini maumivu?" Uraibu ni ugonjwa wa muda mrefu ambapo mtu ni kipofu na dutu au kushiriki katika shughuli ambayo huwapa kiasi kikubwa cha furaha lakini imekuwa mbaya kwa maisha yao ya kila siku. Watu wenye matatizo ya akili kama vile kushuka moyo, wasiwasi au watu waliopona majeraha ya kihisia-moyo, wana uwezekano mkubwa zaidi wa kutumia ulevi kama njia ya kukabiliana na matatizo. Mazoea ya kulazimisha na uraibu waweza kutoa kwa muda uhakika, udhibiti, uthibitisho au hisia nyingine zinazokosa katika maisha ya mtu, lakini tabia hiyo haiwezi kuacha mpaka mzizi wa tatizo utakaposhughulikiwa. "Uraibu hubadilisha ubongo kupitia mfumo wa limbic, unaojulikana pia kama ""mfumo wa thawabu ya ubongo"" - sehemu hii ya ubongo ni wajibu wa kuzalisha hisia za furaha na itaonyesha mawazo kama vile, ""Nistahili hii"" au ""Hebu tufanye hivyo tena"" - Matumizi mabaya ya vitu na tabia ya kulevya huchochea mfumo huu ambao unaweza kupanua mzunguko wa kuendelea wa tabia ya uharibifu." Uraibu wa kawaida ni pamoja na lakini si mdogo kwa: - Dawa za kulevya au pombe matumizi mabaya Tafuta msaada wa kitaalamu Watu ambao wameendeleza uraibu wanaweza kuwa hawajui kwamba ni nje ya udhibiti, ambayo ni kwa nini ushauri ni sehemu muhimu ya kufanya kazi na kusimamia hali hii. Uraibu wa aina yoyote yaweza kuwa wenye kuchosha na wenye kutenganisha. Mtu hapaswi kamwe kupitia mchakato wa kupona peke yake. Mipango mingi ya matibabu inazingatia tiba ya mazungumzo na tiba ya tabia na inaweza kufanywa katika kikundi au kupitia vikao vya mtu mmoja-mmoja. Katika vipindi hivi, wateja huchambua sababu za uraibu wao, ni nini kinachowasababisha na ni nini kilichowasaidia kudhibiti msukumo wao zamani. Wagonjwa pia hujifunza ustadi wa kukabiliana na matatizo ili waweze kukabiliana na mkazo huo bila kurudia. Kwa kuongezea, desensitization na usindikaji wa harakati za jicho (EMDR) inaweza kusaidia kuponya majeraha ya kihemko ambayo hutegemea ulevi kwa kuruhusu ubongo kusindika tena kumbukumbu zenye kusumbua na au zenye kusumbua. Kama mtaalamu wa matibabu, mimi kusaidia wateja kupata mizizi ya uraibu wao ili waweze kupata misaada ya kudumu. Tafadhali chunguza tovuti yangu ili upate hisia ya mimi ni nani na jinsi ninavyopendelea kufanya kazi. Kama unafikiri sisi kufanya timu kubwa, tafadhali kuwasiliana leo.