Counselling for addiction problems.

[RomanJ]

I've been thinking recently about getting some counselling for my addiction issues.
Ever since I was a teenager I've done the same thing, I always seemed to want to take more drugs than my mates, I was always the one who was the last to crash after a party and even then I would just want to keep going the next day.

Since COVID came along and I've been out of work I seem to have got back into those old habits.

So has anyone had counselling and has it helped??

 

[Jabberwocky]

i have a specialist addiction therapist. she is private, expensive as fuck, but has spent many years on the same type of crack/smack bender i got in trouble on. she's great. not as great when i'm not honest with her about using, but that's on me.

get recommendations in your area if you're going privately. ask around in meetings (AA/NA) or drugs services etc, they might be able to point you to some people with good reputations. most will offer an intro session reduced or free.

also be clear about what you want from it. just some support to get you on your way or a deeper look into your soul to figure out why you ended up with these problems?

deciding to, or even contemplate, getting help is a huge step. well done!

 

[stardust.hero]

I've been thinking recently about getting some counselling for my addiction issues.
Ever since I was a teenager I've done the same thing, I always seemed to want to take more drugs than my mates, I was always the one who was the last to crash after a party and even then I would just want to keep going the next day.

Since COVID came along and I've been out of work I seem to have got back into those old habits.

So has anyone had counselling and has it helped??

I’ve gone to counseling for 3 years. SAMHSA recommends it as a combined treatment model with MAT (like suboxone). At first I was just doing it because that was the only way I could get my medication, but I reached all treatment goals and ended up being successfully discharged but it was bittersweet ending it. I had come to lean on the extra support. I enjoyed going and it’d pile up all the things from that month that we’re going on to talk about even if they weren’t substance abuse related.

Counselors should have unconditional positive regard for you and always believe you, if not anyone else. It’s always good to have atleast one person in your corner. My counselor would believe me over the doctors because that’s her purpose. I don’t think I would have come as far as I did without mine. Sometimes we didn’t have any drug related things to talk about so we’d talk about whatever was going on.

She had great info that helped me pay for things like housing when I couldn’t afford it, and she convinced me to go back to school by calling me out on being all talk but no action. I don’t see any negative to having a counselor. It may seem like wasted time at first but if you find the right one they can help you work things out. And having someone to talk to is always great. They have to listen to you even if it’s the most stupid stuff. You can just talk about whatever you want for that hour. Which was always nice lol.

 

[strangelemon]

Hello, how are you chinup?

I am wondering, what does your counselor do exactly that makes her effective and has she helped you to cut back signifcantly on using?

Back when I was out of the hospital, they suggested I see a therapist at an addictions based center. I did and the one I ended up with was one of the most empathetic and gentle therapists I had ever had. However, I was never able to quit drinking while seeing her. My life was pretty royally fucked at that point and it would have taken a whole lot more to allow for a safe and secure enough space for me to be able to start to cope without alcohol- but, I am curious anyway what she does that works for you- if you do not mind sharing

RomanJ- best of luck on your quest and hope you find one that helps! And good on you for recognizing the old pattern.

 

[RomanJ]

I still haven't arranged any counselling yet but I'm planning on doing something soon.
I believe anything that you do for yourself is going to help.
I had a mental breakdown a few years ago and was put on medication. After I had gone back to work I decided to get some counselling for my social anxiety. The combination of anti depressants and the counselling really changed me for a while, I was completely clean for a long time and even at social events I didn't feel the need to drink and was confident talking to anyone.
But somehow I ended up drinking and using drugs again, which wasn't a bad thing as I felt it was fun and controlled. It's only recently that things have got crazy so I feel I need to do something to help myself again.

 

[Jerry Atrick]

I still haven't arranged any counselling yet but I'm planning on doing something soon.
I believe anything that you do for yourself is going to help.
I had a mental breakdown a few years ago and was put on medication. After I had gone back to work I decided to get some counselling for my social anxiety. The combination of anti depressants and the counselling really changed me for a while, I was completely clean for a long time and even at social events I didn't feel the need to drink and was confident talking to anyone.
But somehow I ended up drinking and using drugs again, which wasn't a bad thing as I felt it was fun and controlled. It's only recently that things have got crazy so I feel I need to do something to help myself again.

I'm glad you were able to find help before. You know what it's like to use therapy to your advantage. As always, the first step to getting help is admitting you need help.

I don't know where you are located but in the US there is what is called an LCDC, which stands for Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. It's like an LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) but for addiction issues. Good luck getting the help you need. I'm sure you won't regret it.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Hello, how are you chinup?

I am wondering, what does your counselor do exactly that makes her effective and has she helped you to cut back signifcantly on using?

Back when I was out of the hospital, they suggested I see a therapist at an addictions based center. I did and the one I ended up with was one of the most empathetic and gentle therapists I had ever had. However, I was never able to quit drinking while seeing her. My life was pretty royally fucked at that point and it would have taken a whole lot more to allow for a safe and secure enough space for me to be able to start to cope without alcohol- but, I am curious anyway what she does that works for you

hey sorry i didn't see this earlier. i'm ok thanks, battling insomnia for a change. you know how that goes.

i couldn't quit with my therapist alone. tbh when i started seeing her i was dragged by my parents and had no intention of getting clean. she's seen me nodding out, rattling my back off. i had to go to rehab to get clean. then out of rehab i was seeing her twice a week, then once a week, now we are down to once a month just for check ins.

what i think makes her good: she actively publishes research on addiction, so in addition to her lived experience of severe addiction, she is up to date with the latest academic work being done; i have a good rapport with her; she can tell when i'm reluctant to talk about something; she supports multiple treatment modalities so you can do what works for you, i've done cbt, inner child stuff, some intensive work on trauma things, some 12 step-inspired stuff (i.e. tlaking about defects of character, reservations and what needs to happen to make them not reservations), now we just do more kinda check ins and whatever's bothering me now. i don't intend to ever stop seeing her. it does give me some accountability, and she can tell if i am trying not to say something. my dishonesty with her is by complete omission, i don't think i actually could lie to her face, she can see right through me. which is annoying but also great.

 

[strangelemon]

Hi chinup, thanks for checking in

So, are you a youngster? Your folks took you in? Just asking- no judgement.

Ah, I see. Well, I am without family of any kind, and never had a caring one so that's a huge disadvantage. Was forced to go No Contact with parents decades ago for purposes of survival. Attempting to do life with undiagnosed complex ptsd from abuse by aforementioned "family" as well as peers for many, many years = unabated shitshow.

I have no supportive backdrop- it would be just me and whatever support group pf strangers, essentially.

Hm.

This is why I never get anywhere in life. The only support I have ever had in life has been paid and transient in nature- therapists and the like. Or free support groups. I truly believe it's the lack of anchoring in any caring backdrop (my spouse mostly ignores me and makes it clear I will be snapped on and further punished with more emotional abuse for having any needs) that has halted my ability to beat addictions. I really just can't do it without anyone who is actually invested.

 

[Jabberwocky]

So, are you a youngster? Your folks took you in? Just asking- no judgement.

i'm nearly 36 and was being taken by my parents when i was 32. so i'm younger than you but not really young.

before i lost my job, my boss had noticed i was way better (he didn't know what was up just that my attendance and performance were in freefall) when i'd been to my parents or they'd been to visit, cos i couldn't use as much. so he arranged for me to work from theirs every other week. fucking amazingly accommodating and helpful. but yeah my parents figured pretty quickly what was up.

i am really lucky to have my parents, just by how much they've helped me, even though i do have huge issues with my mum, i can see how difficult it must be without that support.

Ah, I see. Well, I am without family of any kind, and never had a caring one so that's a huge disadvantage. Was forced to go No Contact with parents decades ago for purposes of survival. Attempting to do life with undiagnosed complex ptsd from abuse by aforementioned "family" as well as peers for many, many years = unabated shitshow.

I have no supportive backdrop- it would be just me and whatever support group pf strangers, essentially.

Hm.

This is why I never get anywhere in life. The only support I have ever had in life has been paid and transient in nature- therapists and the like. Or free support groups. I truly believe it's the lack of anchoring in any caring backdrop (my spouse mostly ignores me and makes it clear I will be snapped on and further punished with more emotional abuse for having any needs) that has halted my ability to beat addictions. I really just can't do it without anyone who is actually invested.

i'm really sorry that after everything with your family, your husband is not supportive either.

believe it or not, peer support groups, if you find the right ones, can be an amazingly supportive community. you get what you put in obviously, and not all groups will be the same. but where i'm living, the NA guys are amazing. firstly they convinced me to go to rehab cos i kept concocting stupid reasons why i didn't need that help. they do loads of social stuff together, its not like organised fun, its come up organically, but there's constantly people going for coffee/dinner/hikes/to fucking thailand jammy bastards. i really wanna get back into meetings here not cos of the meetings, but cos i miss that social side.

this isn't me trying to push NA btw, i'm pretty sure any peer support group, if it contains the right kind of combination of people, will be similar. its just my experience is in NA. i know you have expressed some reluctance wrt 12 steps and i respect that.