What is Addiction

and can counseling help you

People who are addicted cannot control their need for alcohol, drugs, or behaviors. (e.g... compulsive or sexual addictions) even when faced with negative health, social or legal consequences. The lack of control can result from alcohol, drugs, or even chemical imbalances in the body which can cause changes in the brain leading to changes in behavior. The brain of an addicted individual has been altered by their in such a way that the absence of the drug or habit creates a signal to the brain that is similar to the signals sent when you are starving. It is as if the person was in a state of deprivation, where requiring a specific chemical or acting out of habit is crucial for their survival. It is that controlling, and eventually the illness will become harder to treat and any related health problems, or issues with family and loved ones will deteriorate beyond repair.

The Addictive Personality

For most people with an addiction, their over use of alcohol or drugs has come from too many unpleasant emotions in their lives. As a result of these unpleasant emotions and insecurities they understandably crave the good feelings usually associated with positive life experiences. These feelings can become available through alcohol or drugs, so excessive use can take hold. As many addicts or alcoholics have been heard to say; “I just wanted to feel normal…” The important thing here is that most of the time addicts or alcoholics do not feel normal, they feel like something is wrong. Sometimes it’s because they are suppressing a part of themselves which may have been buried for years, for so long they have most likely forgotten that it was a part of them. What often happens though is that when high, or drunk, these suppressed or forgotten parts of us come out to play - sometimes this is enjoyable, and sometimes not.

Can Counseling Help Me?

Yes it will help having access to speak to someone and sponsor you as a peer. It will help you to talk openly about stressing issues, addictive desires and allow you to understand how to go about changing the behaviors in your life that you want altered. Counseling & Therapy is a form of open conversation between a client and a trained professional that can address not only the current issues at hand, but help you cope with past issues that may have had negative effects leading to drug or alcohol abuse. Using NPCH as your online addiction counseling source is a confidential, easy and anonymous way for you to reach out and get the help you want.