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.
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.
All of these apparently random addictions have two things in common.
Why not contact me for a no-obligation consult call to see how I could help you
It hasn't been an easy journey. I tried to stop on my own and started eating instead of smoking and gained lots of weight ... so I began smoking again.
But I still wanted to stop.
I was 15 years old when I started and now I am 44. To have finally stopped after so many years is powerful. I feel better. I have more energy
I no longer have to worry if I smell like cigarettes.
I did not want to explore why I started smoking that was something I had never thought about before I met Belynder. But she was right. I had to explore the root of the problem. She has a powerful voice and she is a good person. She's fixed the smoking and my mind has changed.
Thank you Belynder."
- Shahid
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.