Alcohol and Other Drug Addiction in Australia
Australians mostly use alcohol and other drugs (AOD) to relax, for enjoyment, to be part of a group and to avoid physical and/or psychological pain
They may also be used to cope with problems, relieve stress, cope with shyness or social anxiety, boredom, or as a form of rebellion.
Most people who drink alcohol and/or use legal or illegal drugs do not become dependent on any of these substances.
For some – usually due to a combination of genetics, life events, trauma, and environment – their AOD usage will progress to addiction, which can be life altering and life threatening
So what is addiction?
Addiction is usually characterised by increasing physical tolerance, requiring more frequent and/or higher quantity of AOD usage, more evident and severe withdrawal signs and symptoms if intake is delayed or ceased, and an inability to cease or limit AOD intake, despite desiring or deciding to do so.
Addiction is also mental, with intrusive AOD focused obsessive thinking, impaired judgement, poor decision making, continuing AOD usage despite negative consequences, compromised capacity to maintain work and/or study and/or home responsibilities and compromised self-care.
Addiction is also emotional, with mood swings, irritability, reactivity, sadness, depression, anxiety, desperation, suicidality, social isolation, social impairment, avoidance of non-AOD using friends and family, and hyperactivity all possible, depending on the nature and pattern of AOD usage.
So what is AOD counselling and how can it help with addiction?
AOD counselling is a specialist ‘person-centred’ and integrated therapeutic approach which seeks to support in gaining self-understanding, insight, practical tools, and psychoeducation to permanently recover from addiction/s.
AOD counselling is its most effective when an individualised assessment is completed to ensure case formulation and all therapeutic interventions are the most appropriate and evidence informed to assist permanent positive change.
Therapeutic interventions used include Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, AOD specific Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy, Trauma Recovery work, Family Systems Therapy and Life Coaching.
Where appropriate, investigations and/or referrals will be actioned, to understand any active mental health presentations and/or physical health issues and how to best support these.
This can inform individualised dietary and lifestyle recommendations and specific natural supplementation to assist the neurobiology of addiction and enhance the physical recovery and safe detoxification.
If needed, Judith is affiliated with various Detox Facilities in Australia to ensure that initial AOD cessation is medically safe and withdrawal signs and symptoms are manageable.
Contact Judith today and make the first step to your new life