Contacting a Drug and Alcohol Counsellor

Beating an addiction is never easy; this is an illness of the brain that changes the way this organ functions. Over time, it learns to adapt to the presence of alcohol or drugs in the body to the point where it craves it when the effects wear off. A drug or alcohol addiction usually causes the person to become manipulative in his or her attempts to satisfy the cravings, so changing this addictive behaviour can be very difficult. In most cases, the services of a drug and alcohol counsellor will be required to help the affected person overcome the addiction.

Recognising the Problem

Many individuals who have beaten their drug or alcohol addiction have said that the hardest part of the journey was accepting that the problem existed in the first place. Many individuals find it hard to accept themselves as addicts because, in their own mind, they are completely different to what an addict actually is.

These people have an image of what an addict is or does, and because this is different to how they act, they convince themselves that they cannot be addicted to either alcohol or drugs. However, in reality, addiction affects everyone differently.

Many people are what is known as high functioning addicts. These individuals manage to go about their daily business despite the fact that they do have an addiction to alcohol or drugs. This can be dangerous as it can give the affected person a false sense of security in that he or she thinks they do not have a problem. Since they are not falling drunk all day long or injecting themselves with drugs in a dark alleyway, these people are of the opinion that they must not have an addiction.

The First Steps

If you are such a person but have slowly come around to the fact that you may have an issue, after taking the first significant step of recognising that addiction exists, you will need to be willing to make the changes that will help you overcome your illness. A drug and alcohol counsellor can help you to decide what type of treatment you will need to make this a possibility.

Here at Recovery.org.uk, we have a number of drug and alcohol counsellors that work very hard to ensure that as many people as possible can access the treatments that will help them recover. Our expert staff can provide you with a full assessment of your situation so that you have a clearer picture of what you are dealing with and what you need to do next.

The first steps can always seem the most difficult ones as everything will be new to you. In most instances, you will need to detox from drugs or alcohol before you can begin seeing a drug and alcohol counsellor on a regular basis for rehabilitation.

What is Detox?

Detox is necessary for those who are physically dependent on a chemical substance such as alcohol or drugs. As your body may have become used to the presence of these chemicals, you will find it hard to let go. Every time you stop drinking or taking drugs, your body will crave them to a point that you will find it almost impossible to resist.

This is what happens during detox; patients quit the substance to which they are addicted, and as all traces of the substance are expelled from the body, it will react by going into overdrive. As the body tries to get back to normal, the patient will usually experience unpleasant side effects that may make him or her feel very unwell.

These withdrawal symptoms can be mild to severe and will vary depending on the substance that was being abused. In a supervised detox facility, however, staff can ensure that patients are completely safe and comfortable at all times. Most people are advised to detox under the care of a medical professional because there is always the risk of complications and it is impossible to know who will experience the most severe withdrawal symptoms before the detox begins.

After Detox

Once detox is complete, the person will be ready to start a programme of rehabilitation. There are a number of options when it comes to rehab. Inpatient treatment is usually offered by private clinics where an intensive and structured programme is provided. This type of treatment usually means staying for a period of four to six weeks in a private clinic with access to staff such as a drug and alcohol counsellor, psychologist, nurse, doctor, therapist, nutritionist, and other support staff.

Inpatient treatment has many benefits; those who opt for this type of treatment can begin their drug and alcohol recovery away from their everyday life and, therefore, away from distractions and temptations. Many recovering addicts feel that this gives them the head start they need because they are able to expend all of their energy concentrating on recovery and nothing else.

Nevertheless, inpatient treatment is not the only option; outpatient programmes are just as effective when it comes to helping affected persons to overcome addiction. These programmes occur on a regular basis without the patient actually staying overnight at the facility. They can be daily or weekly and involve the patient visiting a drug and alcohol counsellor to receive treatments that will help him or her to identify the cause of the addictive behaviour and learn how to change it.

How a Drug and Alcohol Counsellor Can Help

An experienced drug and alcohol counsellor will help patients to get to grips with the cause of the illness before assisting when it comes to reinforcing positive behaviour. Most addicts need to learn how to recognise cues and triggers to their addictive behaviour as well as how to resist them when they are back living in the ‘real’ world. A drug and alcohol counsellor is the ideal person to help with this.

At Recovery.org.uk, we have many counsellors and therapists with experience and knowledge of all types of addiction. They can help you find a suitable provider based on what you need in terms of your illness and your personal circumstances.

If your life has been negatively affected by addiction, contact us today for more information on our service as well as how we can help you.