06 Aug What Is Addiction?
What comes to mind when you think of ‘addiction’?
We usually have a picture in our mind that arises whenever we hear the word. Sometimes we think of alcohol, sometimes illegal drugs, then often our mind adds to the picture with thoughts of loss of employment, family, livelihood and health. What if we broadened this picture?
According to a government health website (www.healthdirect.gov.au), addiction is defined as “a physical or psychological need to do, take or use something, to the point where it could be harmful to you”.
An addiction is often a strategy used by someone to block out difficult issues. Studies have shown that people often engage in addictive activities to escape pain or discomfort – both physical and emotional. People engage in these activities to make themselves feel better – even if for a short period of time. The roots of addiction reside in activities associated with seeking sensation and self medication.
Less commonly considered addictions can be gambling, work, sex, computers, shopping and anything else that produces a mental ‘high’.
Here at The Whitehaven Clinic, we don’t just treat the symptoms of addiction but rather look deeper into the root cause of ‘why we do what we do’. For this reason, individuals battling with any form of addiction or unhealthy behaviour are suitable for our program. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to recovery and with this in mind, your treatment program is tailored to your individual needs. You will learn the ‘why’ behind your addiction and get to know yourself in a new light, understanding what ‘makes you tick’.
There are many routes and options for recovery and the road may take some time but we are here to help.
Some client testimonials…
“The best part of the program was the depth of subjects and how our facilitator can connect and talk to us. I learnt that I have more options at my disposal than I thought!”
“The program was brilliant! It gave me insight into myself and the reasons why I use as well as tools to help me towards rehabilitation. This was the best program I’ve ever done and I’ve been to rehab three times – counsellors, the works – since I was 14 years old!”
“Before I was really selfish, just because I had that life and drugs offered on a plate, doesn’t mean I should have accepted it. They should teach Whitehaven in schools because to me this has been more than just drug counseling. It covers everything I’ve needed to work on. It helps you deal with the emotions and everything”.
If you, or a partner or loved one is looking for help and this sounds like something that could benefit you or somebody you know, contact us at the clinic for more information or to schedule an initial consult.
Email: info@whitehavenclinic.com.au
Phone: 1300 766 925