Substance Use
Have you ever wondered if your substance use is problematic? Using alcohol and drugs to help cope with pain, discomfort, trauma, loss, depression, anxiety, and more is very common. Yet more people than not that use substances of any kind report using substances in excess at least once in their lives.
Substance use is different for everyone, and use of any kind and in any frequency can be problematic. Whether you use alcohol and/or drugs infrequently or daily, if it’s bothering you, it may be a habit worth changing. Here are some things to consider when it comes to evaluating your relationship with alcohol or drugs:
- Do I dislike certain aspects of drinking or my substance use?
- Does my substance use interfere with aspects of my life like work, family, or other responsibilites?
- Have I tried to cut back before but not been successful?
- Do I struggle with sticking to consuming a specific limit or amount I’ve previously told myself I would?
- Are others concerned or have they previously voiced concerns about my substance use?
- Do I desire to cut back in any way?
- Could my life improve in some way if I were to cut back?
Substance use is different for everyone, and use of any kind and in any frequency can be problematic. Whether you use alcohol and/or drugs infrequently or daily, if it’s bothering you, it may be a habit worth changing. Here are some things to consider when it comes to evaluating your relationship with alcohol or drugs:
- Do I dislike certain aspects of drinking or my substance use?
- Does my substance use interfere with aspects of my life like work, family, or other responsibilites?
- Have I tried to cut back before but not been successful?
- Do I struggle with sticking to consuming a specific limit or amount I’ve previously told myself I would?
- Are others concerned or have they previously voiced concerns about my substance use?
- Do I desire to cut back in any way?
- Could my life improve in some way if I were to cut back?
If you are wondering if it could be helpful to change your relationship with alcohol or drugs, OR you know it’s a habit you need help addressing, therapy at Psychotherapy for Women may be a great supportive option for you.
There are many benefits that can come from changing your relationship with alcohol or other substances. Decreasing and/or completing ceasing substance use can positively impact your life by:
- Improving relationships with family/friends/children
- Decrease depression and anxiety symptoms
- Improve sleep habits
- Decrease current health problems and lower your risk for future health complications
- Improve concentration and focus
- Reduce involvement in criminal justice and family court settings
- Improve overall satisfaction in life
- Increase self-esteem and confidence
- Decrease negative thoughts and beliefs about yourself
- Decrease the need for crisis intervention services
- Increase involvement in the life/lives of your child(ren)
- Decrease thoughts of self-harm and suicide
- Improve physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health
- Connection with positive, like-minded individuals
- Reduction in use of emergency medicine
- Improved alertness and safety while operating vehicles and machinery
- Improved performance at work/school
- Reduction in engagement in other high-risk behavior
Help is just a call away
Psychotherapy for Women offers evidenced-based treatment using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and integrative change therapy (ICT) through the SBIRT model to help you make lasting, sustainable changes to your substance use habits for a healthier and happier you. If you are struggling with your relationship to alcohol or drugs and desire to explore ways that cutting back or completely ceasing all use could positively impact your life, let Psychotherapy for Women help.