Addictions can ruin lives. That’s why I specialize in reducing the negative impact that addictions can have as well removing addictions, quickly and easily, once and for all.
One in three people suffer from an addiction at some time in their life. It is very common.
It can break up families and it can damage communities and destroy people’s lives.
There is a great deal of misunderstanding about addiction - what it is, who it effects and how to get help and support.
Here is some information about this subject which will help you understand the issue better.
An addiction is a set of behaviors, commonly known as a habit, which has become out of control. It is a harmful and recurring compulsion to engage in a particular activity such as drug taking, drinking, smoking, gambling, eating and having sex. Often these activities alter the chemical behaviour of the brain temporarily.
An addict engages with the activity to which he is addicted not to induce pleasure but to relieve the anxiety of withdrawal.
Addictions are traditionally considered to be difficult to break. With new techniques this now does not have to be the case.
Dependency on substances or behaviors can be driven by a multitude of factors, for example, self-esteem, sensation-seeking and childhood issues.
Signs of addiction
Physical dependency
This is caused when repeated use of a substance changes your body’s chemistry and you become physically dependent.
Psychological dependency
This is caused when you repeat certain behaviour, such as drug and alcohol use, until your mind is hooked on that pattern of behaviour, causing mental cravings.
Identifying an addiction problem
Drugs
Drugs, both illegal and prescription can be extremely addictive. You may be looking at this website because you are worried about your drug use. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, it may be time to think about getting help.
Are drugs adversely affecting your relationships?
Have you ever thought about stealing to pay for drugs?
Are you in debt because of drugs?
Do you need more drugs to get the same effect?
Do you need drugs to get through the day?
Signs of addiction
Due to the physical and/or psychological dependence there are types of behaviour that may indicate an addiction problem such as an inability to relax, erratic behaviour with violent mood swings, incoherent speech, hyperactivity; talking for long periods of time, deterioration of physical appearance.
These are just some of the possible signs of drug and alcohol misuse but when you are suffering from an addiction you may sometimes be the last one to recognise your own symptoms.
Alcohol
Drinking in moderation is not detrimental to your health and can actually be beneficial. It is a good idea to work out whether you are drinking within healthy limits, and try to cut down if you’re not.
However, one in ten of us drink too much. From binge drinking to alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse is a huge problem in the UK.
Safe drinking limits
The recommended units of alcohol are 14 units a week for women and 21 units a week for men. These guidelines have now been refined to incorporate a daily limit of three units for women and four for men, with at least two alcohol-free days a week.
Older people have reduced body water content, and slower metabolism of alcohol. Therefore it is recommended that older men drink no more than two units of alcohol per day, and older women only one.
Why does it matter how much you drink?
The long term health implications of drinking too much alcohol are huge. There are up to 100 different health conditions associated with alcohol misuse from liver cirrhosis to impotence.
Someone who is addicted to alcohol may fail to fulfill major obligations at home, work or school as a result of drinking, or drink in physically hazardous situations.
Signs of addiction
There are types of behaviour that may indicate an addiction problem such as an inability to relax, erratic behaviour with violent mood swings, incoherent speech, hyperactivity; talking for long periods of time, deterioration of physical appearance.
These are just some of the possible signs of drug and alcohol misuse but when you are suffering from an addiction you may sometimes be the last one to recognise your own symptoms of addition.
Getting help.
• Drink in moderation
• Be mindful that you drink more when standing up. Remember to pace yourself.
• Have at least two drink-free nights a week
• Drink one soft drink with every alcoholic drink
• Eat before starting to drink
• Dilute your drink with mixers
• Stick to the recommended weekly and daily units
Smoking
Smoking is in decline in the UK, however around 100,000 people die prematurely each year because they smoke. Giving up can have a positive effect on your health, and your purse.
Whether you smoke every day or consider yourself to be a ‘social smoker’ you should stop, as even infrequent smoking can seriously damage your health.
Why give up?
22 per cent of all male deaths and 11 per cent of all female deaths are due to smoking. Within 10 to 15 years of giving up, an ex-smoker’s risk of developing lung cancer is only slightly greater than someone who never smoked.
Although smoking less is obviously better than doing nothing, it is not a recommended strategy. It is thought that having fewer cigarettes can encourage you to smoke more ‘aggressively’ in order to take in the same level of nicotine.
What sort of help can I get?
Willpower alone is not a very effective way to stop smoking. Receiving support from a specially trained therapist will help you to succeed.
Take these easy steps to help yourself giving up
• Keep a smoking diary for a week before you stop. Write down when, where and why you smoke and how it makes you feel.
• Then consider when you might miss smoking.
• Think of things you could do instead.
• Focus on why you are pleased to be giving up smoking.
• Think of all the benefits you’ll gain.
• Pick a day to give up. Go for a day when you are likely to be relaxed and not under pressure. Plan ahead for a day when it will be easier to avoid smoking.
• Make the decision to stop.
• Don’t give up giving up! Keep focusing on the positive things you have achieved. If you do relapse, set a new date to stop again.
• Use your friends and family as support
• Ask your local GP for information on local smoking cessation clinics or support groups
• Try Nicotine Replacement Therapy, such as patches, gum, nasal sprays, inhalers or lozenges.
• Try therapies such as hypnosis or acupuncture
• Buy a self-help book such as Alan Carr’s ‘Easy Way to Stop Smoking’.
Other Addictions
An addiction is defined as a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity. It can therefore refer to more than just alcohol, drugs and nicotine.
Gambling addiction is the fastest growing addiction problem in the UK. Like any other addiction it can be tackled effectively through treatment and rehabilitation.
Addictive relationships can include other behaviours such as sex, shopping and exercise. It is important for an addicted person to understand the connections between different compulsive behaviours as they can reinforce addictive behaviour and increase the risk of relapse.
I specialise in one to one sessions to remove addictions easily and quickly. If you would like some help with an addictive behaviour please contact me on the numbers given on the contact page or fill in the form on which is also on the contact page.
One in three people suffer from an addiction at some time in their life. It is very common.
It can break up families and it can damage communities and destroy people’s lives.
There is a great deal of misunderstanding about addiction - what it is, who it effects and how to get help and support.
Here is some information about this subject which will help you understand the issue better.
An addiction is a set of behaviors, commonly known as a habit, which has become out of control. It is a harmful and recurring compulsion to engage in a particular activity such as drug taking, drinking, smoking, gambling, eating and having sex. Often these activities alter the chemical behaviour of the brain temporarily.
An addict engages with the activity to which he is addicted not to induce pleasure but to relieve the anxiety of withdrawal.
Addictions are traditionally considered to be difficult to break. With new techniques this now does not have to be the case.
Dependency on substances or behaviors can be driven by a multitude of factors, for example, self-esteem, sensation-seeking and childhood issues.
Signs of addiction
Physical dependency
This is caused when repeated use of a substance changes your body’s chemistry and you become physically dependent.
Psychological dependency
This is caused when you repeat certain behaviour, such as drug and alcohol use, until your mind is hooked on that pattern of behaviour, causing mental cravings.
Identifying an addiction problem
Drugs
Drugs, both illegal and prescription can be extremely addictive. You may be looking at this website because you are worried about your drug use. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, it may be time to think about getting help.
Are drugs adversely affecting your relationships?
Have you ever thought about stealing to pay for drugs?
Are you in debt because of drugs?
Do you need more drugs to get the same effect?
Do you need drugs to get through the day?
Signs of addiction
Due to the physical and/or psychological dependence there are types of behaviour that may indicate an addiction problem such as an inability to relax, erratic behaviour with violent mood swings, incoherent speech, hyperactivity; talking for long periods of time, deterioration of physical appearance.
These are just some of the possible signs of drug and alcohol misuse but when you are suffering from an addiction you may sometimes be the last one to recognise your own symptoms.
Alcohol
Drinking in moderation is not detrimental to your health and can actually be beneficial. It is a good idea to work out whether you are drinking within healthy limits, and try to cut down if you’re not.
However, one in ten of us drink too much. From binge drinking to alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse is a huge problem in the UK.
Safe drinking limits
The recommended units of alcohol are 14 units a week for women and 21 units a week for men. These guidelines have now been refined to incorporate a daily limit of three units for women and four for men, with at least two alcohol-free days a week.
Older people have reduced body water content, and slower metabolism of alcohol. Therefore it is recommended that older men drink no more than two units of alcohol per day, and older women only one.
Why does it matter how much you drink?
The long term health implications of drinking too much alcohol are huge. There are up to 100 different health conditions associated with alcohol misuse from liver cirrhosis to impotence.
Someone who is addicted to alcohol may fail to fulfill major obligations at home, work or school as a result of drinking, or drink in physically hazardous situations.
Signs of addiction
There are types of behaviour that may indicate an addiction problem such as an inability to relax, erratic behaviour with violent mood swings, incoherent speech, hyperactivity; talking for long periods of time, deterioration of physical appearance.
These are just some of the possible signs of drug and alcohol misuse but when you are suffering from an addiction you may sometimes be the last one to recognise your own symptoms of addition.
Getting help.
• Drink in moderation
• Be mindful that you drink more when standing up. Remember to pace yourself.
• Have at least two drink-free nights a week
• Drink one soft drink with every alcoholic drink
• Eat before starting to drink
• Dilute your drink with mixers
• Stick to the recommended weekly and daily units
Smoking
Smoking is in decline in the UK, however around 100,000 people die prematurely each year because they smoke. Giving up can have a positive effect on your health, and your purse.
Whether you smoke every day or consider yourself to be a ‘social smoker’ you should stop, as even infrequent smoking can seriously damage your health.
Why give up?
22 per cent of all male deaths and 11 per cent of all female deaths are due to smoking. Within 10 to 15 years of giving up, an ex-smoker’s risk of developing lung cancer is only slightly greater than someone who never smoked.
Although smoking less is obviously better than doing nothing, it is not a recommended strategy. It is thought that having fewer cigarettes can encourage you to smoke more ‘aggressively’ in order to take in the same level of nicotine.
What sort of help can I get?
Willpower alone is not a very effective way to stop smoking. Receiving support from a specially trained therapist will help you to succeed.
Take these easy steps to help yourself giving up
• Keep a smoking diary for a week before you stop. Write down when, where and why you smoke and how it makes you feel.
• Then consider when you might miss smoking.
• Think of things you could do instead.
• Focus on why you are pleased to be giving up smoking.
• Think of all the benefits you’ll gain.
• Pick a day to give up. Go for a day when you are likely to be relaxed and not under pressure. Plan ahead for a day when it will be easier to avoid smoking.
• Make the decision to stop.
• Don’t give up giving up! Keep focusing on the positive things you have achieved. If you do relapse, set a new date to stop again.
• Use your friends and family as support
• Ask your local GP for information on local smoking cessation clinics or support groups
• Try Nicotine Replacement Therapy, such as patches, gum, nasal sprays, inhalers or lozenges.
• Try therapies such as hypnosis or acupuncture
• Buy a self-help book such as Alan Carr’s ‘Easy Way to Stop Smoking’.
Other Addictions
An addiction is defined as a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity. It can therefore refer to more than just alcohol, drugs and nicotine.
Gambling addiction is the fastest growing addiction problem in the UK. Like any other addiction it can be tackled effectively through treatment and rehabilitation.
Addictive relationships can include other behaviours such as sex, shopping and exercise. It is important for an addicted person to understand the connections between different compulsive behaviours as they can reinforce addictive behaviour and increase the risk of relapse.
I specialise in one to one sessions to remove addictions easily and quickly. If you would like some help with an addictive behaviour please contact me on the numbers given on the contact page or fill in the form on which is also on the contact page.
