Substance Abuse Counseling
Do You Want To Stop Using Substances Once And For All?
Does drinking or using drugs help you cope with everyday problems?
Have you tried to quit substances, only to fall back into the same patterns again and again?
Has your substance use begun to negatively impact your relationships with loved ones?
Maybe your alcohol or drug habit started out fairly innocuously, yet now it’s started to take control of your life. Perhaps you began using to deal with difficult life circumstances, but you kept using even when circumstances got better. Maybe you sought treatment or had a period of sobriety and then quickly relapsed back into substance abuse. Over time, your addiction may have led to anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. As a result, you might be thinking about seeing a therapist who treats substance abuse.
Perhaps You Fear That Life Without Substances Would Be Boring
Although part of you desperately wants to quit using, another part of you may fear that life without substances will feel empty or boring. You might worry that you won’t be as fun to be around. After all, substance use may be an integral part of your social life—it’s what you and your friends do when you hang out. It’s hard to imagine yourself going to bars and other public places and refusing drugs or alcohol.
Yet at the same time, your habit may have reached a point where it’s starting to hinder your ability to be present in your relationships. Your loved ones might have noticed a change in you—they might be walking on eggshells around you because you’re irritable, impatient, and characterized by frequent mood swings.
If this is the case, we encourage you to pursue therapy with us. Here at Milford Counseling, our therapists specialize in helping people overcome substance abuse and heal the underlying emotional wounds that are fueling their habit. Whether you are struggling with an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or something else, we’re confident that our approach to counseling can empower you to create a life that’s free from dependency.
Anyone Can Fall Prey To Substance Abuse—No One Is Immune
Our culture stigmatizes people with dependencies as weak, deviant, or destitute, but this is merely a myth. The truth is that substance abuse doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, driving a Ferrari or riding a bike with no license, highly educated or a high school dropout—anyone can fall prey to addiction regardless of how their life is going or how much money they have.
Roughly one in ten Americans suffer from a substance abuse problem, and that’s only the reported number.* Given that many people don’t come forward about their dependencies, it’s likely that the actual number is much higher. Needless to say, substance abuse is arguably the biggest problem facing America today. Although there is still a stigma around the epidemic, millions of people are finally reaching out for help and seeking to release substance use’s grip on their lives.
Substance Abuse Disorder Is A Disease—And It’s Highly Treatable
Since 1955, the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association have categorized substance use disorders as a disease. And unlike many diseases, substance abuse can actually be solved. The caveat, however, is that it’s a disease that many people don’t want to let go of. For most medical conditions, it’s hard to imagine anyone refusing a cure or a revolutionary new form of treatment. But when it comes to substance abuse therapy, there’s an attitude of: “Well, let me think about it.”
After all, addiction is a disease of the mind. It messes with your brain and tells you that life without your dependency will be boring, meaningless, or unfulfilling. To help you sort through these false messages, sometimes you need the support of a wise and empathetic professional.
Counseling Can Help You Break The Chains Of Substance Abuse
Milford Counseling has been on the frontline of the mental health and substance abuse epidemic, offering therapy services to Michigan Residents since 2008. Our substance abuse counselors have helped hundreds of teens and adults find freedom from addiction and go on to live a life of sobriety. We’re confident that we can do the same for you.
Our practice brings a holistic approach to counseling, looking at how substance abuse impacts your mental health, your relationships, and every aspect of your life. We want to make sure you get the most well-rounded treatment possible. If needed, we can help you get connected with detox facilities, residential treatment, case management services and other forms of care. The goal is to broaden your support system so that you have a strong foundation on which to begin the recovery process.
What To Expect In Substance Abuse Counseling Sessions
Addiction and trauma usually go hand in hand, as addiction is often the result of deep emotional scars that have been left untreated. Our practice takes a very trauma-informed approach to therapy, looking at how painful past experiences may have led you to start using.
At the same time, we recognize that simply treating the root cause often isn’t enough when it comes to addiction. Many people think: “If I could just get rid of the depression or anxiety that’s fueling my habit, I would no longer use.” But even though deeper mental health issues often lead to addiction, many addictions persist even when the mental health issues improve. This is why it’s so important to address the practical side of things and equip you with new skills and resources for controlling your substance use.
Working together, we will help you identify your triggers, challenge unhelpful beliefs, and develop a plan for relapse prevention. We want to figure out: What do you do after work each night? What are the triggers and stressors that lead you to use? What kind of thoughts and beliefs are preventing you from letting go of your habit? Answering these questions can help us map out a recovery plan that takes every aspect of your life into account.
Through this holistic approach to therapy, we believe we can help you get control of your addiction and begin the road to healing and restoration. Ultimately, the goal is to empower you to live in a way that plays to your strengths and reflects your true values. Dealing with an addiction can feel like throwing darts blindly—it’s like you’re going through life on autopilot, reacting instead of responding. But when you’re in tune with your strengths and values, it becomes easier to live in a more thoughtful way and invest your time and energy in what’s truly important
You May Have Some Concerns About Substance Abuse Treatment…
What if my addiction doesn’t get better?
Nothing in life is 100 percent guaranteed. Yet if you’re reading this page, chances are that you’ve already tried to overcome your addiction multiple times—only to fall back into using each time. Counseling gives you a better chance of addiction recovery than you would have on your own. What’s more, part of our mission is to help you increase your support network so that you have resources to rely on outside of sessions.
I’m worried that life will be boring if I stop using.
This is a common fear that a lot of people who are new to recovery have. It’s especially common if a large part of your social life revolves around substances. The truth is that addiction recovery can be a switch that suddenly makes your life more colorful and exciting. It makes it easier to pursue ideal and supportive relationships and put your time and energy toward what really matters.
What if I don’t have the time or money to seek help?
A lifestyle of drinking or drug abuse is expensive and time-consuming. The time and money needed for therapy is a drop in the bucket compared to a lifetime of substance abuse. Your happiness and wellbeing are very important and making the investment in yourself is the best decision you can make!
Recovery Is Always Possible
If you’re ready to say goodbye to your habit and reclaim your life, we encourage you to pursue substance abuse counseling with us. To get started, you can use the contact form or call us at (248) 529-6383 to schedule your initial session.
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