Do You Feel Unable To Control Your Substance Use?

Are drugs or alcohol getting in the way of your best life? Has your addiction spun out of control and made you feel like a failure? As much as you want to stop, do you worry that life would be boring without your substance use?

Maybe you started using or drinking to cope with trauma and suffering, or perhaps your using has progressed from manageable to unmanageable. It’s been the solution to your discomfort for so long now that you struggle to envision a life without it. You don’t know where else you’d turn for relief.

Unfortunately, your habit only makes your pain worse. Each time the relief wears off, you find yourself left with the same struggles that made you turn to drugs or alcohol in the first place.

Drugs And Alcohol May Affect You Differently Than Others

Your addiction could permeate every area of your life. It might cause problems with school, work, or your relationships. On the other hand, maybe you’re a high-functioning alcoholic or drug user—you feel perfectly capable of succeeding in the workplace and keeping up appearances in daily life. Yet deep down, you know something isn’t right. Your habit is still preventing you from enjoying life and feeling good about yourself.

If you want to break free from your dependent mindset and unbalanced relationship with drugs and alcohol, we encourage you to contact us. Counseling with Pinkerton Psychotherapy can help you overcome substance abuse and heal the emotional wounds at the root of your addiction.

Millions Of People Suffer From Addiction In Silence

Roughly one in ten Americans struggle with a drug use disorder[1]and about 14 million have an alcohol use disorder.[2] Unfortunately, many people who suffer from substance abuse do so in silence. They’re usually afraid that they’ll be seen as “weak” or a “failure” if they’re honest about their struggles.

Addiction is not a moral failure nor a sign of weakness. Many people have a genetic vulnerability that is easily triggered by substances. For them, the risk of developing an addiction is simply higher than it is in most of the population.

Additionally, many people start using substances because of trauma and suffering that’s outside of their control. They often drink or use as a way to relieve discomfort and the initial benefits are valid. But over time, their substance use becomes a dependency—so much so that they rely on it to feel good about themselves and their lives.

Here at Pinkerton Psychotherapy, you have a chance to work with someone who understands that addiction is real, that it’s not a “choice” you made, and that you deserve the most compassionate support possible.

Counseling Can Help You Recover From Substance Abuse At Your Own Pace

Let’s face it: you may have already tried to quit your habit, but as soon as you relapsed, you gave up trying. Part of addiction recovery means accepting that there may be relapses. After all, complete abstinence may not be realistic right away. Substance abuse counseling is not about teaching you to quit instantly, but helping you recover at your own pace and weather the ups and downs that happen along the way.

Most importantly, therapy provides a safe space to speak honestly about your substance abuse without being judged. If you relapse, there is no need to hide it. Every recovery process has good days and bad days. Overcoming an addiction is like a breakup—you’ve had a relationship with drugs or alcohol and now you have to figure out life outside of that relationship. Doing so can feel scary, like starting your life from scratch again. We’re here to make the process more manageable and help you find joy in other ways besides substance use.

What To Expect In Sessions

Oftentimes, substance abuse stems from an innate belief that you’re not okay without drugs or alcohol. Deep down, you might believe you’re not good enough and feel uncomfortable in your own skin. Counseling is a chance to figure out where your negative beliefs came from and address any unresolved grief or trauma that’s fueling them. When you address the emotional wounds at the root of your addiction, it becomes much easier to break out of a dependent mindset.

But substance abuse counseling isn’t just about focusing on your hurt. It’s also a time to explore what brings you joy and fulfillment. After all, life without drugs or alcohol may feel empty and boring. Counseling can help you fill the void that led to your addiction so that you have other sources of happiness outside of drugs and alcohol. The ultimate goal is freedom from a life directed by a substance and the development of a life that you direct instead.

It’s easy to feel hopeless in the midst of addiction, but we encourage you to take heart. The life available on the other side of substance use disorders is usually unimaginable until it is experienced. It’s difficult to see the extent of pain you’ve grown accustomed to until the opposite is witnessed firsthand. At Pinkerton Psychotherapy, we want you to experience freedom from substance abuse and discover a newfound sense of meaning and purpose in the process.

You May Have Some Questions About Substance Abuse Treatment…

Will I have to be abstinent?

No, you don’t! We will honor any hesitations you have about quitting. There is no shame in admitting you’re afraid to stop. What’s more, your goal doesn’t even have to be quitting. Maybe you just want to moderate your drinking or drug usage. Or perhaps your main goal is addressing a negative consequence of substance use (e.g., you become depressed when you drink). There is no wrong way to experience recovery—it’s all about finding what’s best for you and your needs.

I’ve done treatment before and it didn’t work. What will you do that’s different?

We recognize that traditional addiction treatment programs are not the best fit for everyone. That’s why we offer a more individualized approach that can identify your unique needs and implement ways of meeting them that work for you. We want to help you get to the bottom of your substance abuse and heal the emotional hurt that led you to drink or use drugs in the first place.

I think I can overcome my addiction on my own.

If you could’ve stopped based on your own willpower, you probably would’ve done so by now. Addiction is an issue that thrives in isolation—it is most powerful when you are alone and relying on your own strength. Talking about your addiction with someone else gives you a chance to release the feelings that you normally hold inside you. And the more you talk about these feelings, the more you may find that their grip on you loosens.

Let Us Help You Find Freedom From Substance Abuse

A happier, more fulfilling life awaits on the other side of addiction. If you want to connect with one of our substance abuse therapists, you can fill out the contact form or call 713-800-6999.

[1] 10 percent of US adults have drug use disorder at some point in their lives | National Institutes of Health (NIH)

[2] Alcoholism Statistics & Alcohol Abuse Demographics