Addictions or substance use disorder and compulsive behaviors such as hoarding and gambling can be the most complex problems faced in counseling. Frequently there are other mental health problems that may have contributed to the addiction, such as depression, anxiety or compulsive disorders. These need to be addressed along with the actual substance use or behavioral addictions to be successful in gaining recovery.
It takes a comprehensive plan to overcome these addictions. Also there are several levels of readiness that have to be reached to have much success. There needs to be a plan to learn new skills and new ways of living. A person with an addiction needs to learn new ways of handling problems that previously was handled with the drug of choice (or the drug that “almost” handles it). It takes never giving up, persisting, and picking oneself up and starting again however many times it takes to finally be recovered. It takes working with other helpers (such as AA or similar programs) and a support team.
Included in the category of addictions are:
Smoking cessation
- Hoarding
- Gambling
- Overeating
- Alcohol and
- Substance use
