Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) Counselling
Get individual help by an AOD specialist
We provide the best alcohol and other drug (AOD) counselling service in Footscray and Epping
Dependence on alcohol and/or other drugs can have a destructive effect on our lives and those we hold closest. Millions of people worldwide experience the physical, emotional, interpersonal and financial consequences of their substance use every year, and countless families and communities are often impacted in the process.
If you feel your use may be causing problems in your life, for example you’re finding it difficult to reduce or stop your use despite your best efforts to change, you are not alone. Many people, perhaps like you, have been contemplating or even attempting change but find it either too daunting or difficult because they find they lack the tools necessary for making the changes they want.
If this applies to you, maybe it’s time to think about reaching out for some outside support to help you achieve your goal/s?
After having initially acknowledged that you need some help to change your use, you might now be finding that the next step is more challenging or uncomfortable than you’d originally anticipated, leaving you unsure about what to do next. In some cases, the act of stopping or significantly reducing your substance use may in the short term pose a risk of physical harm.
In this instance, professional help may in fact be recommended, for example to provide specific support around some of the risks that can result from alcohol or other substance dependence. For example, this might include withdrawal management support, which is best provided by an AOD specialist which might include a GP (Addiction Medicine) or an AOD professional/counsellor.
Are you dependent on alcohol or other drugs?
This can be difficult question to answer. Sometimes there’s a fine line between recreational, regular or problematic use, and some professional support can help you to think about, or better understand, your use.
Alcohol use
A 2021 survey looking at rates of alcohol use around the world indicates that Australians consumed almost double the average amount of alcohol compared to the worldwide average.
That said, perhaps it’s helpful to understand that regular or binge drinking does not necessarily mean that you are psychologically and/or physically dependent. Only you know whether your consumption has become problematic, is perhaps taking a toll on your job, health, relationships or aspirations, or general performance in daily life.
Sometimes someone we’re close to might help us think about the nature of our use or provide us with some feedback we might initially find confronting, but which later prompts us to reflect on our use. Everyone’s path is different, and whatever your experience is in relation to your use, is uniquely yours. The important thing to remember is that there’s professional help available if you need it.
Other drug use
In 2020, around 16.4% of the total Australian population had reported illicit drug use during the previous year.
Moreover, 1 out of 20 Australians had also developed dependance upon certain substances, such as pain medications or tobacco/nicotine.
Signs of alcohol or other drug dependence
Drug or substance (including prescription medication…) use can become problematic when you start consuming regularly, perhaps in an effort to relive the pleasurable effect that you experienced when you first took that substance.
This can lead to increased dependence on that substance, as indicated by the experiences of ‘tolerance’ and ‘withdrawal’. ‘Tolerance’ means that you need more of the substance to get the same effect, while ‘withdrawal’ describes the mild to occasionally severe psychological and/or physical effect of removing a person’s access to that substance.
At this point, dependence becomes established, further indicated by some of the other physical, emotional, psychological and/or behavioural signs of dependence:
Physical signs of substance abuse
Signs of substance use or dependence may manifest in physical changes to a person’s presentation. These may include:
- Dilated or pin-prick pupils
- Red eyes
- Significant weight loss
- Pale or dull skin
- Hot/cold sweats
- Increased/decreased heart rate
Psychological or emotional signs
Psychological or emotional effects of substance use or dependence may be indicated by:
- Increased agitation or irritability
- Increased anger or aggression
- Lack of pleasure from interests or activities (anhedonia)
- Increased paranoia or hypervigilance
Psychological or emotional signs
Signs of substance use or dependence may manifest in behavioural changes to a person’s presentation. These may include:
- Sleeplessness
- Mood swings
- Drug-seeking behaviour
- Social withdrawal
How to address your dependence
Just as it takes time to become dependent on a substance, the process of treating the physical and/or psychological symptoms of dependence also take time. Here are some suggestions about how to start this process:
Recognise the pros and cons of change
Once you’ve acknowledged that your alcohol or other drug use might be causing you problems, start to list some of the pros and cons of changing your use. Initially at least, many people have mixed feelings about this kind of change and so the act of listing the good and less good things about making change can help to empower you to begin to work toward your goal/s.
Seek support from your family and friends
Recovery from addiction and dependence can be a challenging and confronting experience. Many people find this process lonely and isolating and so the help and understanding of people best placed to provide you with the right support is essential. This might include a trusted family member and/or friend, or you may benefit from professional help to get this process underway
Speak to an AOD Counsellor near you
Because the process of recovery can be as challenging as it is rewarding, the support of an AOD counsellor or professional can be of benefit to help you:
- Recognise the signs of alcohol or other drug misuse and/or dependence
- Develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs and circumstances, in collaboration with your counsellor or therapist
- To better manage your withdrawal symptoms. These might include cravings to consume substances
- To discuss and implement relapse prevention strategies and techniques
The team at Safe Place Therapy can help with alcohol and other drug (AOD) counselling.
Get in touch with the team at Safe Place Therapy to learn more about treatment and recovery from AOD addiction and dependence.
Our Therapists
- Footscray
- Footscray
- Footscray, Online
