| Addictions ... |
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Substance Abuse SAP
Addictions are dangerously commonplace in our culture and include an
unhealthy dependence on things, people or behaviors.
An addiction not
only erodes the overall health of the addict but can have a shattering
effect on loved ones.
Some common addictions include:
| Drugs & Alcohol |
|
Shopping |
|
Gambling |
| Pornography |
|
Work |
|
Hoarding |
| Sex |
|
Money |
|
Food |
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How can you know the difference between harmless use and destructive
addiction? The important question is: Is this substance or behavior
bringing about significant negative consequences in my life? Consider the
following checklist:
- Is this habit negatively affecting my marriage or romantic life?
- Is this habit negatively affecting my relationship with my children?
- Is this habit negatively affecting me spiritually?
- Is this habit negatively affecting my career, livelihood, or school?
- Is this habit negatively affecting my health?
- Has this habit been the source of legal problems?
- Can I stop this habit for good or practice it in such a way that it
ceases from impacting one or more of these areas of my life negatively?
A yes answer to any one of these questions should raise your concern
level. If you suspect a problem with yourself or a loved one, keep in mind
that bad habits and addictions have stages.
A person willing to confront
their addiction early on will generally recover more quickly, with greater
ease, and will spend less time, money and other resources on recovery.
Those who have practiced a habit for a longer period of time generally require
more treatment to either practice the habit in a healthy way or stop it
altogether. Some individuals in advanced stages of addiction may even need
inpatient treatment.
Regardless of the extent of the problem the place to start is with an
assessment. A counselor will help you assess whether you are looking at a
genuine problem and will also offer professional recommendations of
intervention. In addition, a professional counselor can help you with a
formal intervention (a planned confrontation by the person’s loved ones) if
it is appropriate to help a loved one who refuses to admit there is a problem.
The information on this page is general in nature and not
intended as a substitute for a professional clinical evaluation.
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