There are two types of addiction, both of which can be equally destructive but in different ways. The first type, the type that most people immediately imagine when someone says the word “addict” is called substance dependence and occurs when one develops an addiction to a physical thing, be it chocolate, junk food, alcohol, tobacco, or drugs. The second type of addiction is more of a behavioral type where a person can become addicted to a particular activity such as sex, gambling, pornography, or shopping. Even exercise and work can be classed as addictions if either activity is starting to consume your life.
If you are exhibiting signs or addiction, be it the substance dependence type or the activity type, an addiction therapist or substance abuse counselor at Thriveworks Counseling in Lexington, MA (depending on your specific needs) can help you. These professionals can help you get a hold on your addiction, cope with its negative effects, help you stay sober, and ultimately guide you toward living a better life in terms of your health, happiness, and success. If this sounds like something you need or you’re interested in, reach out to Thriveworks in Lexington, MA today. We have addiction therapists and substance abuse counselors on staff who are ready to jump in and help.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Addiction?
There are so many forms of addiction and people are all different, so it’s tough to issue a stringent set of symptoms. There are, however, some typical traits that can be seen as warning signs of a potential addiction. These are:
- Changes in behavior and/or personality. Has the individual become withdrawn? Moody? Irritable? Dishonest and untrustworthy?
- Does the individual seem to have lost interest in the things that he/she used to be interested in?
- Is the individual always trying to quit their habit but never managing to do so?
- How about tolerance levels? Is the individual consuming more and more just to get the same affect?
Being able to determine whether someone is a real addict or not is critical and can literally save lives. Unchecked addiction can lead to homelessness, destitution, loneliness, and even an early death. It can also destroy the lives of others around the addict. We know that this is scary. The good news is that if you address your addiction, you can stop it before it has these negative effects on your life and your loved ones’ lives. Just let us know when you want to get started in addiction therapy or substance abuse counseling. Thriveworks will be here.
How Can Addiction Therapy or Substance Abuse Counseling Help Me?
Addiction can be thought of as a long war with many different battles to fight before coming through the other side. The best weapon to have in this war is a professional addiction therapist or substance abuse counselor. Therapy is the name of the game here. Types of therapy include:
- Individual therapy. Individual sessions usually set out to explore the cause of the addiction and set an action plan for treatment.
- Group therapy. Here, the individual joins other addicts to support each other through their treatment
- Family therapy. Addiction can ruin relationships and the family unit. Family therapy hopes to counter that and give the individual something to return to.
These are the bedrock therapies that your Lexington, MA addiction counselor will prescribe for the addict. In order to determine what course of recovery would work best for you, if you’re fighting addiction, please contact us.
Schedule Addiction Therapy, Substance Abuse Counseling at Thriveworks in Lexington
Addiction is powerful, scary, and all-encompassing. It can change life as you know it, and the negative effects will just keep on coming if you don’t address the problem. If you are in the Lexington, MA area, consider working with a Thriveworks addiction therapist or substance abuse counselor. Our therapists, counselors, and psychologists are ready to get to work when you are.
Just give Thriveworks Counseling in Lexington, MA a call when you’re ready to schedule your first appointment. We can often provide you with a next-day appointment, and we also have flexible evening and weekend sessions to offer. Determine what works best for you and then secure your appointment by reaching out when you are ready!
