Addictions Counselling Sounds Scary

Sometimes it not getting the help that ends up being scary.

Full disclosure - I am not a blogger. I am a lot of things, but a blogger is nowhere on my list of skills, wants or abilities. Red Cedar Alberta has certainly pushed me outside of my comfort zone - something that seeking any type of change or growth will do. I'm a Registered Psychologist here in Alberta and have been involved in Red Cedar Alberta's vision of moving equal access to specialized services across Alberta from a dream to a reality. I wanted everyone who needed help to have access not only to the right help (generalists are great but when you have heart failure you want a heart specialist) but in a timely matter without having to travel. Equal access to our hamlets, our small towns and our urban centres. We are still young and have a lot of growing to do, but we have been so fortunate to have been connected to the incredible Jocelynn DeVille, our Registered Addictions counsellor with ACTA who has spent her life supporting people on their journey to lead the lives they want.

How do I know when I need help?

There are a lot of models out there that help identify if you might need help. School taught me the four Cs of addiction; compulsion, cravings, consequence, and control. Healthline says the signs of addiction are:

• lack of control, or inability to stay away from a substance or behavior

• decreased socialization, like abandoning commitments or ignoring relationships

• ignoring risk factors, like sharing needles despite potential consequences

• physical effects, like withdrawal symptoms or needing a higher dosage for effect

The truth is though, that if you are googling “do I have a problem” or some version of this, you already know you might. I get it - lots of us want to know how bad it is, or is it bad enough, or is it even bad at all? Kevin Cameron, one of my favourite people in the world of Trauma Response says that denial gets a bad wrap (or is it rap?). Denial keeps you going. It keeps you believing you still can have the life you wanted. It helps you avoid- continue forward, denial provides a little grace in some weird way. It's hard when the truth doesn't line up with the vision you have for yourself.

Reach out

It doesn't have to be to us. Just reach out to the right person.

You know how when you are really ticked off at someone and you head straight to the person you know also dislikes them? Don't do that with this one. Don't go to a friend that will only agree with you or rationalize alongside you. If you think you have a problem reach out to someone with the capacity and ability to foster a solid conversation.

You got this

Have questions? Connect with Jocelynn or someone on our team today.