Alcohol Problems

Problems related to alcohol use can affect people from all walks of life, and they aren’t always severe.
Many people in our community struggle with problem drinking week to a week although they function well and lead very normal lives. Most of the time, we prefer to think that we don’t have problems and rationalise the issues that alcohol can cause.

Counselling can be a huge help in both working out if you have problems with drinking, and how to resolve a problem if you have one. While helping services such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) have focused only on ‘alcoholism’ in the past – described as a life-long disease meaning you can never have a drink again – contemporary services focus on building skills to manage alcohol so that it is no longer a problem.

It is best to get help as soon as you think there might be a problem rather than letting it snowball.

Here are some signs that you may be having problems with drinking:

• You’re keeping secrets about drinking from others (eg. when, how much)
• Drinking heavily while alone
• Regular binge drinking
• Being unable to sleep or feel calm without drinking
• Drinking to ignore problems/escape
• Problems with relationships due to drinking
• Problems at work or education because of drinking
• Wanting to drink in the mornings, including to take the edge off a hangover
• Others telling you that you need help
• Getting drunk without meaning to (eg. “I’ll just have one”)
• Not being able to stop when you want/try to
• Blackouts
• Mood swings
• Being injured due to drinking
• Problems with Police because of drinking
• Some common goals for therapy/counselling include:
• Controlling or reducing alcohol use
• Abstinence or stopping drinking altogether
• Repairing relationships and providing reassurance to friends and family
• External requirements/goals such as court orders/reports, workplace directions, GP health check-ups

Get In Touch with us today for more information.

Other Drug Problems

When people start using drugs, they never intend to develop a problem or addiction, and not every problem is severe.

Problems with drugs tend to creep up slowly over time, often starting with small amounts in the context of occasional recreational or peer use of less problematic drugs. Over time, this can expand to polydrug and heavy/regular use until life seems to centre around using, or something significant happens (eg. a car accident, problems with Police or DHS, relationship breakdown, problems with family, “losing it” one night, financial problems, making bad decisions while affected, ending up in the hospital, etc.).

While using drugs starts off as fun, it sometimes becomes a nightmare and this can impact many areas of life.

The major classifications of drugs being targeted by health services are:

• Alcohol
• Cannabis
• Ecstasy
• Heroin
• Pharmaceutical Opioids
• Methamphetamine
• Cocaine
• New Psychoactive Substances (NPS, Ketamine, GHS, LSD, synthetics, etc.)

At Life Resolutions Essendon West, you will get a confidential service focused on the goals you have for change. We can support you in dealing with any external parties (eg. courts, tribunals, DHS, workplace, etc.) including attendance letters and reports (fees apply), and liaison with your legal rep at your request.

Get In Touch with us today to book in to see us discuss further.