It is no secret that millions of Americans struggle with addiction, and it goes beyond drug and alcohol dependency. Individuals may be addicted to social media, gambling, shopping, sex, pornography, and even relationships — virtually anything, whether tangible or intangible, that fills a void and numbs pain to mask some type of suffering can become an addiction. Dr. Blair offers addiction counseling services in Beverly Hills that can help individuals overcome their addictive tendencies, allowing them to achieve the meaningful life and relationships that they desire.
In our previous post, we reviewed the six stages of addiction: initial use, continued use, tolerance, addiction and dependence, withdrawal, and relapse. In today’s post, we’ll cover a few warning signs of addiction and review five key stages of readiness for breaking the addiction cycle. Let’s get started.
Warning Signs of Addiction
The face of addiction looks different for everyone. Signs and symptoms may vary depending on the type of addiction, the severity of it, and the individual struggling with it. The Mayo Clinic offers several warning signs of addiction that include:
- Difficulty at work or school
- Physical health issues
- Neglected appearance
- Behavioral changes
- Financial issues
If any of these signs pertain to yourself or a loved one and you are concerned there may be an addiction present, it is wise to seek out addiction counseling services as soon as possible.
If you are examining your own behavior for possible signs of addiction, it may be helpful to ask yourself the following questions:
- If I want to stop using the substance or engaging in the behavior, can I?
- If I stop, will I experience withdrawal?
- If the substance or behavior affects my mental or physical health, will I stop?
- Have I made sacrifices in relationships or social activities to continue my behavior or substance use?
- Do I become uneasy if I don’t have opportunities to use the substance or behave in the way I want?
- Do I deny that the substance or behavior is a problem?
- Am I obsessed with using the substance or engaging in the behavior?
- Has my behavior or substance use isolated me from friends and family?
- Do I take risks as a result of my substance use or behavior?
- Do I lie about my substance use or engagement in the behavior?
This is not a comprehensive list of questions, and Dr. Blair can help walk you through other insightful questions to determine the scope of any possible addiction.
Breaking the Addiction Cycle
Once an individual is aware of them, an individual may desire to stop their addictive behavior. However, for recovery to be successful, an individual must be truly ready to change. There are five stages used to describe this readiness:
- Pre-Contemplation: The individual has not considered stopping the addictive behavior
- Contemplation: The individual has begun to consider stopping
- Preparation: The individual takes steps to mentally prepare themselves for stopping
- Action: The individual stops their addictive behavior and begins seeking treatment
- Maintenance: The behavior is still absent and the individual is following their recovery program
It is important to note that although it might seem ideal for an individual to progress through these stages in the order they appear, the individual’s progress may not follow that path. Working with Dr. Blair who specializes in addiction and substance abuse counseling services can help ensure that you progress through these steps to successfully achieve recovery.
Addiction Counseling Services in Beverly Hills, Irvine, and Newport Beach
Overcoming addiction might seem challenging, but with the help of a qualified and experienced addiction and substance abuse “psychologist” and “therapist” like Dr. Blair, you can break free from the chains that are holding you back from having the life that you want. Dr. Blair offers addiction counseling services in Beverly Hills using a wide variety of modalities that are designed to help you set treatment goals that are measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-sensitive.
Are you ready to take the first step in beating addiction? Contact Dr. Blair at Blair Wellness Group today to request an appointment.
