Addiction

Addiction happens when you become overly dependent on something, often when you’re trying to escape from other problems. Addiction is a form of defence from experiencing emotional pain and connecting with traumatic experiences in your life that occurred when you didn’t have the resources available to deal with the problem. The use of harmful or hazardous use of substances for mind-altering purposes is technically known as substance abuse. It has a negative effect upon your life, your relationships, your ability to function as well as your physical and mental health. Substances can include alcohol and other drugs, both legal and illegal.

Alcohol is the most common form of substance misuse, but drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and cannabis also come into this category, as well as the misuse of glue and aerosols.

You can be addicted to many things including:

• alcohol
• drugs
• gambling
• sex
• the internet
• shopping

Therapy can help you address the causes of your addiction to help you stop your addictive behaviour.