By Josh Williamson, LPC, Life Balance Counseling
Have you ever wondered if you have a problem with alcohol or marijuana or another drug but struggle because so much of our society encourages the use of these substances? It can be difficult in our current culture to see any problem with legally using alcohol or marijuana every day to cope with the stresses of modern life. But those who have fallen into a daily addiction to these substances and then successfully quit will tell you there is a dark side for many who spend years self-medicating their mental health with mind-changing substances.
The problem is, addiction tricks you. The negative side effects sneak up on you over time. No one becomes an alcoholic or marijuana addict after one use, rather, it often takes a slow path where you begin not just using for fun, you start using to cope and get through the day. You believe you need it just to feel okay. The challenge with addiction is that it is characterized by denial. When you are caught in the cycle of addiction you can’t see clearly to recognize just how much it has affected you and taken over your entire life, until consequences come. And that’s how addiction takes root.
Addiction is a disease of escape. It is an attempt to avoid, numb, or not feel whatever it is that you are feeling or don’t want to deal with in your life. The problem is, avoidance never really fixes anything. And in the case of substance use, it actually creates new problems on top of whatever you were trying to avoid or cope with in the first place.
The reality is, substances like alcohol and marijuana can actually start to make mental health issues worse, and can even become the primary source of mental health problems. Many people use alcohol or marijuana to relax, feel better, or cope; but in actuality those substances can block your brain’s natural ability to regulate, calm itself, and experience positive emotions. Substance abuse can start creating problems that may not exist if there was no underlying substance use impacting your brain and body.
Many people have to experience hitting rock bottom or experience some type of crisis before they consider quitting whatever their substance of choice is. It is much less painful to come to this realization before staying addicted for years or before something so bad happens that you simply have no choice but to quit. We all have seemingly rational reasons to continue doing whatever we think helps us feel better, but what do you do when your preferred medicine actually starts making you feel worse and starts creating more problems than it is “fixing”? That’s when it’s time to think about reaching out for help. If you or someone you know is starting to realize they may have a problem with addiction, reach out for help today.
To begin your recovery journey, contact Josh Williamson of Life Balance Counseling Peoria, to schedule a free phone consultation.