Honesty, Open-Mindedness, and Willingness
If you’re reading this page it’s because you or someone you care about is struggling with alcohol and or drug use. You are going to bed at night and waking up in the morning telling yourself, “I’m done with this. I mean it this time. No more drinking.” Or it sounds something like, “This is the last time. I’m cutting down, and by next week, I’m done.” Maybe you get a few days, weeks, or months, but when the stress hits, you always go back to it. The thing is, when you told yourself, “I’m done”, you meant it. If we hooked you up to a lie detector test you would have passed. But for some reason you keep going back. Your family and friends don’t understand. They say things like “Why can’t you just quit?” Or, “You just need to make up your mind.” They mean well, but just don’t understand. It’s hard to be around people and you feel yourself pulling away from family and friends.
It started out as fun. It’s what everyone did on a Friday or Saturday night. But over the years it has turned into something more than just fun. It became routine. Now it’s part of what you do. As time went on you began doing things you told yourself you wouldn’t do. Things like drinking and driving. Things like trying “hard” drugs. Maybe you did other risky things that in a sober mind, you would never do. Sometimes you wake up with that terrible feeling of shame because of what you did the night before. Other times it’s the worry and fear of the unknown, because you can’t remember what happened. The drinking has become the cause and the cure for your pain. You’ve gotten to the point where can’t picture life with or without it anymore.
I want to put this out there to be clear: If you are using alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines daily, you will likely need to be under the care of a physician. These substances can be very physically addictive and dangerous to come off of without medical supervision. I do not prescribe medications and I do not offer detoxification services. If I determine you need them, I am happy to refer you to these supports so that you can be safe. In order to benefit from our therapy, you need to be physically stable.
Why do I relapse?
Those of you that have been at this a while and continue to relapse wonder, “Will I ever get this? What’s wrong with me? How can I stop relapsing?” You want to know if it’s possible to be free and confident in sobriety. Not the overconfidence of ego and denial, but the hopeful confidence that knows things are going to be ok. You want to be able to live a full and balanced life. You want your relationships and work to bring you happiness instead of feeling stressful.
I have been working in recovery from substance use for years and have seen many people recover when they are motivated to do the work. You can live not only without using the substance, you can live happily without it. According to a 2012 comprehensive survey, there are 23.5 million people in the United States living in long-term recovery.
It’s normal to be unsure about getting help. You may be thinking seeing a counselor is not necessary or that your alcohol use is not that serious. You may be right. You also ought to know that I can work well with people at all stages of substance use, whether you have had serious or minor consequences. Chances are, if you’re on this page, there’s part of you that is thinking there may be an issue. I’m happy to help you explore that part of you, and outline some clear goals.
You also may be thinking that having an issue with substances makes you weak willed, and feel guilty or ashamed about asking for help. Despite increasing understanding and awareness in our culture, there remains a stigma associated with addiction. The terms used to describe people struggling with substance use are hurtful. Terms like “addict”, “alcoholic”, “junkie”, “drunk”, “bum.” At Rapid Recovery Counseling you will be treated with the utmost dignity and respect. I believe that you are much more than your issues, and that your rights to privacy are essential elements of your counseling experience.
My goal is to get you in and out of counseling at the pace that is right for you. Because I utilize clear goals, and methods such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy, most of my clients are able to get what they need without spending months and months in counseling. With that said, it is important to know that addiction is a chronic condition, meaning you will need to continue to practice living a recovery lifestyle if you want to keep the results. I’m happy to help you continue to grow and protect your recovery.
As you can see on my about page, I have a passion for helping people recover from substance use that is rooted in my own experience. While I don’t claim to have the cure, I am confident that I can relate to you from a place of genuine empathy and perspective that can not be learned through a textbook.
Reach out now to set up an appointment or to schedule a free consultation call.
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Nags Head, NC 27959