There are many ideas about addiction and what it is. Dr. Gabor Mate’ gives a very reasonable explanation of addiction.
http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/what-is-addiction-gabor-mate/
There are many ideas about addiction and what it is. Dr. Gabor Mate’ gives a very reasonable explanation of addiction.
http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/what-is-addiction-gabor-mate/
Yes, life is difficult. No matter who you are, few escape unscathed from life and it’s stress.
Not everyone handles stress well. You may think you do, when in fact, you really don’t. Many addictions are the result of one’s efforts to cope with anxiety and pain while hoping to find relief. Addictions are escalating and so is anxiety when fueled by compulsive behaviors. It becomes a continuous cycle. Consider alcohol, drugs, sex, work, food, money, exercise, gambling, and shopping addictions. Frankly, you can become addicted to just about anything in an effort to self-medicate. Not all addictions are chemical, (drug and alcohol) but can be what we call process addictions (gambling, sex, exercise, etc.) Sometimes addictions present together such as alcohol, nicotine and work, or drugs and sex, for example. We have learned that they need to be treated simultaneously, or the progress made with one addiction will be undermined by the continuance and destruction of another.
Growing up is the perfect time to learn coping skills as ideally, we have a safety net provided by out parents. They teach us and protect us. In a perfect world, they model how we are to deal with problems so that we learn to solve them wisely. Unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world and not everyone has perfect parents. Often times, parents are doing all they can to cope and keep their heads above water. Perhaps they do not model good coping skills and we can learn their behavior, taking on their attitudes, temperament and sometimes even addictions.
Whether your timing is age appropriate or not, there is no better time than the present to learn to cope in a healthy way. If you have compulsive behaviors that are interfering with your everyday life and functioning as well as the wellbeing of yourself and those you love, you may have an addiction. If you have tried to stop and been unsuccessful, or have found yourself obsessing about the compulsive behavior, it is time to consider help.
Learning to establish healthy coping skills and boundaries can be life changing at any age as you learn to manage compulsive behaviors rather than them managing you.
As a therapist with special training in these areas (both Certified Sex Addictions Therapist and Certified Multiple Addictions Therapist) as well as other mental health concerns, I can help you learn coping skills that you can take with you into life. Treatment is confidential and individualized as we are all complex and different from each other.
Healthy couples are in a partnership, a sharing relationship.
Perhaps you have never really thought about this or discussed it between yourselves, but what does a partnership mean to you? A discussion of this may be insightful, surprising and fruitful.
Whereas there are certainly characteristics of a healthy relationship, such as each being considerate, responsible, loving, committed, loyal, trustworthy, honest, etc., each relationship is different as people are different. Not all people require and desire the same. That being said, compatibility is important as well.
Emotional and sexual intimacy is not about being joined at the hip. Yes, not every detail needs to be shared as this can be too much information and overwhelming. On the other hand, too little sharing creates a distance making intimacy difficult.
What is your idea of partnership? While exploring this, perhaps a new facet of intimacy and understanding can emerge.
I recently heard this remark. Not sure if they were joking or serious. I think the best way to approach this question is to ask what constitutes an addiction. Merriam Webster defines addiction as: The compulsive need for and use of a habit forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; broadly: persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful. With regard to sexual addiction, I have heard several definitions, but I deferred to Patrick Carnes and his explanation. “Sexual addiction is defined as any sexually-related, … Read More >>>
As a problem becomes more complex, it requires more specialized treatment. Certified Sex Addiction Therapists (CSATs) are recognized as experts in sex addiction treatment. Often sex addiction has underpinnings of trauma and abuse. CSATs are trained to pick up on things that another counselor would perhaps not see.
The Sex Addiction Screening Test (SAST) is designed to assist in the assessment of sexually compulsive behavior that may … Read More >>>
There are many signs that point to sex addiction, below is a list of some symptoms and signs to watch out for: Loss … Read More >>>
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Professional Counseling and Mental Health, LLC
Beverly B. Steinhauer
MS, RN, LPC, CSAT, CMAT
bbs.pca@gmail.com
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Mobile, Alabama
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