Addiction

If you say the word addiction and ask a hundred people what they think about when they hear it - many of them will get a picture in their minds of a heroin addict. 


Or an alcoholic, perhaps someone who abuses painkillers. 


Sometimes they might mention someone who gambles too much.


The problem with that kind of definition is that the majority of people like to think of addiction as something that is outside of their own life.

And yet almost all of us have an addiction of one kind or another.


At its simplest an addiction is any action that we continue to do regardless of its harmful consequences.

Sometimes the harmful consequences are so minimal that they don’t trouble us. For example many people don’t worry about their caffeine addiction. 
However, a client who presents with anxiety may need to look at the effect that caffeine is having on their autonomic nervous system and increasing their flight-or-fight response. 
They may come to realise that what seems almost completely harmless is actually having a huge effect on their stress, their anxiety and may be an important factor in their increasingly common panic attacks.

When a client requests my help or is referred to me, often the addiction is not the main presenting symptom. 

It often begins something as simple as:

I need help, I’m so anxious about all sorts of things.

I don’t seem to be coping very well.

Am I suffering from depression?

As we dig a little deeper into their problem it becomes apparent that accepting and then defusing the trigger for their addiction is going to be an important part of their healing.

Some very common addictions that I have dealt with include: 

  • A problematic relationship to food including: Anorexia, Bulimia, night-eating, binging or simply excessive comfort eating. None of these labels are ever accurate in themselves–there is always more to it for the client than a simple diagnosis.
  • Alcohol
  • Nicotine
  • Exercise addiction — Becoming hooked on the dopamine and endorphin release. They may even try to work out with injuries that require rest and without considering their own or their family’s needs.
  • Gambling — often called the silent addiction
  • Sex or Porn
  • Gaming – often parents are concerned that children may impact their exam success thanks to excess gaming
  • Smartphone addiction - It becomes a problem when you can’t put it down and spend time with your loved ones. If the idea of a screen-free day or even a screen-free evening horrifies you then you need to ask yourself what are you using your screen to block out? Or what else in your life don’t you want to look at?
  • Sugar
  • Plastic surgery addiction. Yes I remember all the jokes about Michael Jackson but at that time this was only likely to be a problem for celebrity clients. However, in recent years with the wide availability of surgical and non-surgical body and face procedures some people are suffering from body dysmorphia with repeated surgeries being a symptom.
  • Shopping/Online Shopping addiction
  • Drugs
  • Self-Harm–another psychologically complex topic but it still functions like other addictions.
  • Unfulfilling relationships with emotionally unavailable partners. Yes I can hear you wondering if that is really addiction? But we have to look at the question ... when does a pattern become an addiction?

All of these apparently random addictions have two things in common. 


  1. They can cause people to have poor self-image and they can and do lead to stress, depression and anxiety
  2. My unique and rapid therapy toolbox can help quickly.


Why not contact me for a no-obligation consult call to see how I could help you

Belynder’s Solutions

Addiction

Not being honest with your therapist is the same as being dishonest with yourself. I’m here to help you, not judge you. 

Studies have shown people feel a necessity to lie.
They lie to:
Partners and Spouses
Their children
Their workmates
Their boss
Their Doctor
Their therapist 

They lie about the relationships they have with other people or addictions they have developed over time. 
These clients are addicts.
Almost all that have approached me already are aware that they have an issue.

But even though they have taken the first step to come forward with the problem, they feel it necessary to continue to lie about it before they are put into regression.

The truth usually surfaces after that. What still surprises me is their reaction when they make the discovery for themselves about their own beliefs. Especially the beliefs that they have developed about themselves. 

They are amazed at how certain things that had been suppressed for so long come to the surface with sparkling clarity. Once this new-found discovery is made they usually are determined to let go and are able to move on to a better life.  

The truth is - Your thoughts control you. 

People still act as if this is new information! 
Nothing can defy you - but you. 
You are in control and once you realise just how true that is and that you can reframe your own thoughts then things do get easier. Your life changes completely.

Case History


You have to want to make that change. I worked with an addict a few weeks ago. 

Let’s call him Fred.

He was in a state.

The type of state where our own mind makes us feel so overwhelmed and encompassed by life that we want to give up.

Of course, certain things take time. 


But seeing his transformation in just the first session was remarkable. 


He felt freedom. 


He has gone from our initial contact when he presented as being on the brink of suicide from desperation with his inability to control his addiction to today.
Today he asked me if I could help his friend and would it be OK for him to refer the friend to me!.


Wow what a long way to come!
All I am saying is the KEY to the shackles attached to your mind are within you.
Step forward and stop lying to yourself.
No one is going to set you free until you discover YOU hold the key to your thoughts.

All a therapist like I can do, is help you locate that key for yourself and then, if you feel compelled to speak your truth.
Stay blessed and know help is out there. 


Contact me to arrange a free no-obligation initial consultation and let’s see how I can help you.


Important note:

Any case histories that I share here are completely anonymised. Names and some case details are altered, disguised or changed to protect my clients’ absolute right to privacy.



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Any case histories that I share here are completely anonymised.

Names and some case details are altered, disguised or changed to protect my clients’ absolute right to privacy.

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