Are you suffering with an addiction to alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs? Are you, or is someone you care about consumed by secret repetitive behavior?
Do you wonder if you might be addicted?
Do you have trouble giving up something or stopping a repetitive habit—even if you know it’s bad for you? Do you feel dependent on something to get you through the day? Do you crave something if you don’t get it but get out of control when you get it?
Do you feel like you’re spiraling downward?
Have you said these things before?
“I know my drinking hurts my family but I can’t stop.”
“I don't feel normal without it; and I can't even imagine living completely without it."
“I always lie to the doctors to receive more prescription medications when I don’t really need them for the pain anymore."
“I struggle with myself constantly because I know it’s killing me; but I'm afraid that I will lose my creative edge if I stop.”
“I’m afraid of losing my good friends, so I want to just learn to control it or cope with it— before things in my life get worse."
"I can't imagine my life without being able to party and drink; people will probably make fun of me if I stop drinking."
“At the end of the workday, I always feel tense and stressed. I use drugs to relax, but feel bad afterward.”
There are treatments for addiction that work
You may feel helpless, but there is a way to a healthy life free of addiction to substances or behaviors. Since addiction in this country has become a common problem, many professionals and educators have focused on creating and improving more modern approaches to assist individuals and their loved ones. New methods are available for treating addictions to substances and behaviors.
There are many types of addictions, each with many different approaches to treat them. For the vast majority of people, serious addiction problems need to be evaluated and then treated with the professional guidance of a clinician. But this does not mean the person must enter into a hospital for 30 days, or even attend support groups for the balance of their life.
Successful long-term changes needed to overcome an addiction occur only when treatments are well-matched to the individual. A dramatic improvement in the quality of most individuals' daily lives can be achieved and maintained with modern therapy.
“I’ve tried everything to rid myself of my addiction, but nothing has really ever worked.”
It’s likely you just haven’t found the right treatment for you. A trained therapist can help match you to a treatment that will work for you.
“I’m afraid my family or spouse will find out.”
There’s always a risk that your family or spouse will find out you are seeking education or therapy for yourself or another person. We have taken many steps to protect your privacy. No one will ever call you. You won’t be copied on email questions you send to therapists unless you request a copy. All treatments and educational resources are completely 100% private and confidential.
“How can I be sure that the treatment will work this time?”
It’s understandable to be skeptical, but remember that many people have successfully rid themselves of addictions through the help of trained professionals who work on a daily basis with people just like you. By using a more individualized, focused approach with the right therapist you can accomplish your own personal goals.
Others have succeeded
Prescription drugs and the college student
“Derrick had his wisdom teeth pulled at the beginning of his second year of Law School, and his mouth was healing properly. Derrick liked the Vicodin he had for his pain, and when he ran out he told his doctor he hurt himself playing basketball. He wanted more Vicodin. Derrick needed more Vicodin to maintain the good feeling it originally produced as he developed a tolerance. He started buying the drugs on the street and over the Internet. His grades dropped and his friendships were failing.
Derrick made a commitment to change when he was put on academic probation. He went into therapy and began to understand why the pills took over his life; he saw the things that were troubling him. He started to change his habits and to deal with some of the real issues he had been avoiding. He broke his reliance on Vicodin.”
—Derrick, 23-year-old law student
Illegal drugs and rock bottom
“Cocaine was fun five years ago, but Sarah was desperate to get off the drug now. She looked ten years older than she was, her job was in jeopardy, and her parents had just about given up on her. To make matters worse, Sarah was in a terrible auto accident that nearly took her life. While driving home from an all-night party, drunk and high on cocaine, she lost control of the car and slammed into a tree. That crash was her wake-up call to finally seek help for her uncontrollable drug problem.
Finally with the help of a certified clinician along with her parents' support, Sarah was able to successfully start to rid herself of her addiction to cocaine. Sarah's determination gave her the courage to keep going each month and to win through the toughest lows in her life. For the first time in years, she began to enjoy the normal things in life again, such as clothes shopping at the mall with girlfriends, taking art classes at the nearby junior college, and taking weekend trips to the coast with her family.”
—Sarah, a 34-year-old receptionist
The dad in a bottle
“Gary was an athletic-looking, divorced man, and the father of two teenage children from a turbulent six year marriage. He managed a men's clothing store for over 20 years. From an early age, Gary was renowned for drinking, yet he never considered his behavior to be extreme. In fact, he was totally dismissive when a girlfriend suggested that he had a problem with alcohol.
Gary’s life took a turn for the worse when he got involved with a young woman who was using cocaine. He said it was a very sexual experience. His alcohol use escalated as he realized the cocaine kept him awake and therefore he could drink later into the night—until he ended up in a hospital emergency room one night. Gary finally felt he had hit rock bottom and admitted he needed professional help. He was directed to an addiction therapist.
After a year of intensive therapy, Gary got clean. He has been clean for three years. He has enrolled in a technical school to acquire additional computer and business skills, while working at his uncle’s family business part-time. His best achievement though is his improved relationship with his children.”
—Gary, a 55-year-old store manager
What's the first step?
Educate yourself at your own pace by perusing through and reading articles on this website and others. Take your time. You may find these articles interesting and helpful. There is nothing you have to do right away with this information. This is your own personal journey to find what you need (privately).
If you decide you want to find an experienced therapist in your community, search through our therapist directory. Have you found an author in our article library that you like? Maybe that therapist is in your area or does phone consultations. If not, there are other therapists that may be closer to you. You are in control to make the contact with a therapist, or several different therapists. Listen to the therapists voice by clicking on their audio under their picture in the therapist search. Feel free to request a free telephone consultation from an individual therapist, if that would make you feel more at ease. We want you to feel confident about your decision. We want you to find a therapist that matches your needs and works well with your personality.
Why use 1 Therapy Place instead of other directories?
1Therapy Place helps you like no other resource available.
Our goal is to find the best patient-therapist match possible. Most directories just give you a list of therapists in your area. At 1TherapyPlace not only do we give you that list, but we filter the list down by specialts in your area. Then, we go even further to find the best patient-therapist match. We feature audios from therapists so you can hear their voices. We feature articles from therapists so you can guage therapist personalities and styles. Additionally, we provide a contact form so you can ask the therapist questions via email. We want you to find the best therapist for you, and we want our therapists to find people they can help.