Paul Parkin is a qualified, experienced Counsellor and Life Coach offering Confidential help and support to people with an addiction worry. Paul has several years experience in the Addictions field and understands the issues affecting his clients around the world. Counsellors Onine now offers the cheapest counseling available anywhere, only 19.99GBP for a full 50 Minute session. To book a session click here
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What is Addiction? An Addiction is a Recurring Compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity. The term is often reserved for Drug Misuse/Addictions but it is sometimes applied to other compulsions, such as problematic Gambling, Pornography, and Compulsive Overeating. Factors that have been suggested as causes of addiction include Genetic, Biological/Pharmacological and Social factors.  Counselling for people with ANY Addiction
When Habits or Behaviours such as Drinking, Drug Taking or Gambling come to dominate daily life and people find themselves powerless to stop the chaos despite many promises to do so, then it is very likely that an Addiction is active. Addictions can be formed to any activity or Behaviour which allows people to escape from life and its problems and includes Shopping or Spending, Sexual Activities, Gambling, Food, Prescribed and Illegal Drugs, Alcohol and even other people.
An addiction is a complex illness with Physical and Psychological Symptoms, affecting not only the patient, but their family, friends and social environment too. The way to recovery is long and painful and there's always the danger of relapsing. An estimated 2 million people in the UK have an Addiction, yet it remains a taboo subject. Online Counselling can help with many of the underlying Issues, which can result in Addiction. Addiction counselling works by addressing the underlying issues which led to the addictive behaviors.  Alcohol Dependency Counselling
Dear Online Counselors, I am not sure if I need an online counselor or a online life coach, I have been addicted to betting and gambing on horse racing since I was 13 years old, I am now 50. I have run up huge debts, my mood is low and I have become isolated and never leave the house except to go to the allotments and to the races. I think I started Gambling with my father to feel close to him and it just never stopped. My relationship is going downhill rapidly because of my gambling addiction, I have also lost my Libido. Please help me stop gambling and feel like a real man again. Rob. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hello Rob, Thank you for your message and for sharing what seems to have become a destructive habit for you. Starting betting and gambling with your Dad is one of those things we hold on to emotionally, you didn't say if your Dad is still alive, but the bond between you was undoubtably strengthened as a result of the betting together. So, you have debts and your relationship is suffering, it sounds like an easy choice on the face of it, but of course a habit or addiction of any kind is much more difficult to kick than simply realising it is a problem. First of all tell your partner that you have a problem, admitting this will add credence to your efforts to stop gambling. Tell your partner about the debt too, your partner has a right to know. You should also talk to Citizens Advice Beaurea re debt management. As for the addiction itself, you can contact an organisation called GAMCARE or I would be happy to work with you if you prefer. You can learn more about Gambling and it's affects at my gambling information page, just click on the word Gambling. Low mood and isolation are symptoms of Depression and the issues the gambling are causing are very common side effects of gambling and can be addressed in counselling. Depression is common in people with addictions, Libido can be affected by Depression, so treating Depression will often cure the Libido issue too, you should talk to your GP about this though just in case it is not linked to the Gambling addiction, it is very likely it is all linked, but it is wise to get checked over medically. If you prefer you can visit your local hospitals GUM unit. Rob well done recognising that you need help. All you need to do is drop me an email as you have contacted me via an anonymous link, so I do not have your contact details. I hope my reply helps. You may also find the information re Men's Health useful, here is the link http://www.counsellors-online.co.uk/mens-health-issues.html Take care and best wishes Paul Parkin - Online Counsellor and Life Coach. |
Physical Dependency Physical Dependence on a Substance is defined by the appearance of characteristic Withdrawal Symptoms when the Substance or Behavior is suddenly discontinued. While Opioids, Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates, Alcohol and Nicotine are all well known for their ability to Induce Physical Dependence, other categories of Substances share this property and are not considered Addictive: Cortisone, Beta-Blockers and most Antidepressants are examples. So, while Physical Dependency can be a major factor in the Psychology of Addiction and most often becomes a primary motivator in the continuation of an Addiction, the initial primary attribute of an Addictive Substance is usually its ability to induce pleasure, although with continued use the goal is not so much to induce pleasure as it is to relieve the Anxiety caused by the absence of a given Addictive Substance, causing it to become used compulsively. A notable exception to this is Nicotine. Users report that a cigarette can be pleasurable, but there is a medical consensus[citation needed] that the user is likely fulfilling his/her physical addiction and, therefore, is achieving pleasurable feelings relative to his/her previous state of Physical Withdrawal. Further, the Physical Dependency of the Nicotine Addict on the Substance itself becomes an overwhelming factor in the continuation of most users' Addictions. Although 35 million Smokers make an attempt to Quit every year, fewer than 7% achieve even one year of Abstinence (from the NIDA research report on Nicotine Addiction). Some Substances induce Physical dependence or physiological tolerance - but not addiction - for example many laxatives, which are not psychoactive; nasal decongestants, which can cause rebound congestion if used for more than a few days in a row; and some antidepressants, most notably venlafaxine, paroxetine and sertraline, as they have quite short half-lives, so stopping them abruptly causes a more rapid change in the neurotransmitter balance in the brain than many other antidepressants. Many non-addictive prescription drugs should not be suddenly stopped, so a doctor should be consulted before abruptly discontinuing them. Addiction Therapy helps to address the underlying life issues which can lead to addictions. An experienced, qualified Addiction counselor will be able to offer safe and tested advice and support.  Counselling - all Addictions The speed with which a given individual becomes addicted to various substances varies with the substance, the frequency of use, the means of ingestion, the intensity of pleasure or euphoria, and the individual's genetic and psychological susceptibility. Some alcoholics report they exhibited alcoholic tendencies from the moment of first intoxication, while most people can drink socially without ever becoming addicted. Studies have demonstrated that opioid dependent individuals have different responses to even low doses of opioids than the majority of people, although this may be due to a variety of other factors, as opioid use heavily stimulates pleasure-inducing neurotransmitters in the brain. The vast majority of medical professionals and scientists agree that if one uses strong opioids on a regular basis for even just a short period of time, one will most likely become physically dependent. Nonetheless, because of these variations, in addition to the adoption and twin studies that have been well replicated, much of the medical community is satisfied that addiction is in part genetically moderated. That is, one's genetic makeup may regulate how susceptible one is to a substance and how easily one may become psychologically attached to a pleasurable routine.  Gambling Addiction Counselling Psychological Dependency Psychological Dependency is a dependency of the mind, and leads to psychological withdrawal symptoms (such as cravings, irritability, insomnia, depression, anorexia etc). Addiction can in theory be derived from any rewarding behavior, and is believed to be strongly associated with the dopaminergic system of the brain's reward system (as in the case of cocaine and amphetamines). Some claim that it is a habitual means to avoid undesired activity, but typically it is only so to a clinical level in individuals who have emotional, social, or psychological dysfunctions ( psychological addiction is defined as such), replacing normal positive stimuli not otherwise attained (see Rat Park).
It is considered possible to be both psychologically and physically dependent at the same time. Some doctors and GP's make little distinction between the two types of addiction, since the result, substance abuse, is the same. However, the cause and characteristics of each of the two types of addiction are quite different, as is the type of treatment required.
Psychological dependence do not have to be limited only to Substances; even Activities and Behavioral Patterns can be considered Addictions, if they are Harmful, e.g. Gambling, Internet use, usage of computers, Sex / Pornography, Eating, Self-Harm, Vandalism or Work. Click Here to book your *Special Introductory session with our Addiction Counsellors and start getting the help you need for your addiction Or go back to our home page, click here.
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