If you have an addiction, your brain associates this habit with relief or escape from something. But as you well know this relief is temporary and yet the consequences of addiction can be long lasting and devastating for you and anyone around you. The addiction is a symptom of something else and stopping it is only the start of the change work; getting to the root of what’s causing the addiction is the real work to be done.
We are not born with addictions, they are learnt habits and anything we’ve learned can be unlearned. This is exactly the same for any addiction to alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, pornography- they are all learned habits that the unconscious mind has decided serve a useful purpose to help you cope with life better.
It takes more than just talking about it to change an established habit or dependency. Believe it or not, the opposite of addiction is not being abstinent, it is connection. When you truly connect with yourself, you’ll know what’s right for you so leaving these learned habits behind gets much easier.
My approach works on several levels:
- To identify when the habit started and work on the underlying reasons for it
- To find other ways to meet the needs that the habit serves
- To work with the unconscious to establish long-lasting change
- To manage setbacks positively.
This short video Nuggets illustrates well how an addiction takes control and we are driven to continue doing something that harms us.
If you would like to discuss further how I can help, please get in touch
