Addiction Counseling in Pflugerville, TX
Choosing addiction counseling and therapy is a vital step for physical dependence on substances, such as alcohol, prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, marijuana and cocaine. Additionally, there are process addictions, including shopping, sex, the internet and gambling. Addiction, though, is more than physical dependence, and counseling can help with the issues that surround their behaviors.
Once the physical dependence on substance or process addictions has been diminished, addicts are in danger of a recurrence. Addicts also face psychological and social issues in their daily lives, such as the stresses of a job, maintaining a family’s harmony, visiting places that are reminders of the addiction and associating with people who continue to abuse substances or process addictions. These factors may be cause for a relapse. Thriveworks in Pflugerville, TX offers addiction counseling that can help people avoid their need for these dependencies, giving them the tools to face life without using substances or other addictions.
Thriveworks in Pflugerville, TX offers addiction counseling and therapy that has helped people with many issues. Therapists help their clients to understand and learn emotional skills, as well as get them on a path to practice these new skills and learn positive ways that can make a big impact on their lives, and it starts here.
Addictions will be explored with the help of a professional therapist who can guide individuals through tough times and seemingly unbeatable odds. Some of the most common reasons for addictions are:
Environment
A person’s environment—family, friends, socioeconomic status, quality of life—are all influences. Many factors can set the stage for addiction in a person’s life, including peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, stress and a lack of parental involvement.
For adolescents, one of the biggest contributing factors to drug abuse risk is having friends who engage in the behavior. Friends with favorable attitudes toward drug use can increase the risk.
In families with conflicts like divorce or a transition, a child may be at an increased risk of addiction. In addition, parents who have a positive outlook on or use drugs are more likely to have children who abuse drugs.
A student’s lack of performance, participation and commitment to school can be a major risk factor for addiction.
Unstructured Setting
In the college setting, drinking alcohol has become a cultural rite of passage, which worsens the problem for young adults who risk developing alcoholism. Staggering statistics report that about 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related, unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes. In addition, one of four college students suffers academic consequences from alcohol abuse: falling behind and missed classes, not performing well on exams and papers and receiving poor grades overall. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, factors that contribute to student drinking include unstructured time, widespread availability of alcohol and limited interaction with parents and other adults.
Development
Critical developmental stages in a person’s life affect addiction vulnerability. Adolescents experience a double challenge. While taking drugs or other substances at any age can lead to addiction, the earlier it begins the more likely it will progress to more serious abuse. Adolescent brains are still in development in the decision-making, judgment and self-control areas, and they are especially prone to risky behaviors.
Using Drugs to Feel Normal
Studies have shown that steady drug use severely limits a person’s capacity to feel pleasure at all. With time, the drug use leads to smaller releases of dopamine—the brain’s reward center is less receptive to pleasure and enjoyment from the drugs and from daily sources, such as relationships or activities the person once enjoyed. When the brain is altered by drug use, it requires more drugs just to function at a basic level.
These examples are only a few of the many reasons people turn to addictions. Whether the addiction is drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, the internet, food or shopping, there is help. Call Thriveworks in Pflugerville, TX at (512) 955-3074 to schedule a session or to find out more about how addiction counseling and therapy can help you get on the road to a healthier, stronger you. Thriveworks is located at 2911 South AW Grimes Blvd, Suite 330 Pflugerville, TX 78660.
