Susan Berlin

http://www.sdbpsychotherapy.com/pages/tandr/topics/topic-addiction.shtml

Addiction

An addiction is a condition that develops over time and ultimately leads you to feel like you must have that drink, drug, or partake in some other behavior.

Are you struggling with obsessive and compulsive behavior that you can’t control?

You may be suffering from an addiction where counseling and therapy can help.

An addiction is a condition that develops over time and ultimately leads you to feel like you “have to” have that drink or that drug, or partake in a particular behavior like having sex, or shopping. You surrender to something habitually or obsessively causing behavior that is harmful, ruinous or even dangerous and life threatening. An addiction will have a serious and negative effect on your body, mind, spirit, emotional state and your relationships. You can have a psychological addiction as well as a physical one.

Addiction can take many forms:

substance abuse (alcohol, drugs, marijuana and other substances)
gambling
sex
shopping and or spending
work
food, and even
exercise

Some signs of addiction that may indicate you can benefit from therapy or counseling are:

Continued and or compulsive use of a substance or behavior regardless of it’s detrimental effects.
The feeling like you “can’t stop” doing this substance or behavior, even when you want to.
Consequences of your use or behaviors are increasing, and that doesn’t stop you.
You feel dependent on the substance or behavior…you have to do it or have to have it to feel ok or even to feel “normal”. Normal changes when you are addicted to something.
Preoccupation or obsessive thinking about the substance or behavior.

If you are suffering with an addiction to any of the above, then you are likely hurting and struggling. This can get better through counseling and therapy. We can work together to help you find some relief from this addiction that is holding you prisoner.

Although treatable, without intervention and help by a trained counselor or therapist, the problems of addiction become unmanageable—even chronic—and may progress toward disability or death.Please take the first step to get help and contact me or call my Washington, DC office (202-333-1787) to seek help with addiction.