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Understanding Addiction

Addiction has long been misunderstood, more to the point it has been shamed and seen as a moral failing.

The “Just Say No” (Guardian Newpaper, n.d.) approach and the war on drugs[1] has proven to be ineffective and, in some ways, perpetuated the problem. We still have millions of individuals suffering from all kinds of addictions as the problem itself seems to be getting worse.

Some who are actively suffering from addiction are experiencing levels of shame that can be so intolerable that the fact they have an issue remains hidden, whilst externally their life looks fine but internally, they are suffering immensely, and that shame also is a perpetuating driver of the addiction itself.

This kind of problem comes from the stigma and the misunderstandings around the issue we have as a collective.

Jacqueline Gordon has set up Open 2 Talk Counselling, a private counselling practice, for those who are actively suffering from addiction and feel at a loss as to what to do, for those who may feel fear reaching out or admitting to themselves that they may have lost control. You may find some hope in reading through this article which explores the nature of addiction itself.

Jacqueline at Open 2 Talk Counselling does not take a one size fits all approach. We simply want to help YOU to better understand what you are experiencing, to explore your options and perhaps let go of some shame in the process.

 

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Meet Jacqueline Gordon

Introduction

Jacqueline is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and a Therapeutic Addiction Counsellor and Founder of Open 2 Talk Counselling

Her passion for helping people with Mental Illness and Addiction comes from her own struggles.

Jacqueline suffered from anxiety for as long as she could remember and that manifested in many destructive patterns throughout her life, culminating in a hardcore drug addiction to Alcohol, and Substances.

 

Whilst this addiction took everything material from her life, it was also Jacqueline’s greatest blessing.

She was forced to face up to her mental and emotional demons, and she not only overcame the addiction but also her anxiety to feel peace for the first time.

This led her to completely immerse herself in how people end up in emotional pain and how it’s possible for anyone to be free from it.

This led her to opening intense period of inner work, training as a CBT, Trauma Informed and Addictions Counsellor and opening Open 2 Talk Counselling, to help people who have found themselves in the pain she once was in.

She has successfully helped many hundreds of people in getting past their Addictions & Mental Health issues through her experience, understanding and knowledge.

'Looking back at my experiences throughout life, I never felt safe, I never felt like I belonged here.

From a very early age, I began to build what I now call a deficiency story, a narrative about myself that was telling me there's something really wrong with who I am.

I started to gather beliefs about who I was, and about what the world is, none of which were true.

Unfortunately, I was never taught how to process emotions, I was taught by our culture to run away from negative feelings, and as a result of this I then carried a large amount of unprocessed pain in my body and I’m sure a lot of you reading this can probably relate. 

I spent the next 13 years from age 12 through to 25 in chaos. I used all kinds of drugs as a way to escape myself, I attempted suicide several times and continued to relapse. 

My addiction was a symptom of my trauma which is now so clear was the motivating factor behind the need to use, I was seeking relief from my pain, from my trauma, from myself.

When I got into recovery, I began to really work with and let go of a lot of the trauma in the body with the help of a skilled trauma therapist, I processed large chunks of the unprocessed pain and belief systems I had acquired over the duration of my life up until that moment.

I started to experience a rapid falling away of who I had taken myself to be. A moment occurred when I realised there was something left, something had always been there, changeless and ever-present. Beyond the painful identity structures, even beyond positive identity structures. I realised the truth of who I was. 

My aim now, is to work with people be free from trauma and all the issues I suffered from my whole life. To assist someone to see through the narratives that the mind tells us about who we are, and my first-hand experience is invaluable when connecting with clients.'

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Your sessions with Jacqueline at Open 2 Talk Counselling may follow the structure of what is written below, you may want to have longer in therapy to process your trauma whilst working through the processes of becoming free from addiction, trauma and pain

Session 1 - Do I Have a Problem?

Topics covered in the first session:

- Do I have an Addiction?

- Why Do I Use?

- Why Can’t I just Stop?

 

Session 2 - Underlying Drivers

Topics covered in session 2:

- The Things We Become Addicted To

- Trauma & Addiction

- The Guilt & Shame Cycle

 

Session 3 - What Are My Options?

Topics covered in session:

- Am I Ready?

- Environment

- Short & Long Term Plans

Six sessions are highly recommended to work through trauma, mental health issues, addiction, and build the life you want giving you the freedom to live the life you truly deserve.

What's Next?

A big thank you from us for reading this far and learning the basics of understanding addiction. To continue your learning and dive much deeper into the topic of addiction, please join us for your free 30-minute telephone consultation here:

 

Book Understanding Addiction – Three initial assessment appointments

 

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Are you worried about your drinking?

Are you worried about your relationship with alcohol? Acknowledging you have a problem with drinking is the first step to getting help.

 

The UK Chief Medical Officer advises not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week (spread over several days and with at least a couple of alcohol-free days a week) on a regular basis, to keep health risks to a low level. One unit means 10 ml of pure alcohol. But alcoholic drinks come in a variety of strengths and sizes, so it's not always easy to work out how many units you're drinking. A good guide is 14 units is equivalent to six pints of average strength beer, or six medium (175 ml) glasses of average strength wine a week.

 

A lot of people don't know how much they're drinking, if it's within the recommended limits and whether they should take action. DrinkAware has a self-assessment tool that may give you an idea of your drinking habits and what to do next. 

 

Your drinking may be a problem if:

 

You find yourself 'needing' an alcoholic drink.

You get into trouble because of your drinking.

Other people are concerned about your drinking.

You think alcohol is causing you problems.

If one or more of these bullets apply to you, it's a good idea to visit your GP. They'll be able to suggest the different types of assessment and alcohol support options available to you.

Speaking with your doctor is especially important if you have become physically dependent on alcohol because stopping overnight could be harmful. You may need medication to do this safely.

If this doesn't apply to you, or you don't want to make an appointment with your GP, and you want to work directly with a professionally trained Therapeutic Addiction and Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Counsellor Click the link below. 

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Are drugs causing problems for you?

Perhaps you've realised that you're not in full control of your drug use, and it's causing problems in your life? If you have a problem with drug addiction, remember, you're not on your own. You're entitled to NHS care just like everybody else, and there are lots of support services to help you.

 

It's not just recreational drugs that can cause trouble; prescription or over-the-counter tablets can also lead to dependency issues too. If you find you've been hiding the number of pills you're taking or lying about your symptoms to obtain more medication, you need support.

Your GP is a good place to start if you're unsure how to get help. They can discuss your problems with you confidentially and find a treatment to get you drug-free.

But if you're not comfortable talking with your doctor, you can approach your local drug treatment service yourself, without a referral. You can use the links below if you know which city or Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) your GP is in.

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If you want to speak directly with a professionally trained Therapeutic Addiction and Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Counsellor, Click the link below to speak with a trained counsellor.

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Book a private telephone consultation with a professionally trained Therapeutic Addiction and Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Counsellor today

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1] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/jul/24/war-on-drugs-40-years