Addiction Counselling PDF
Addiction Counselling PDF
Addiction Counselling PDF
UNIT 4 ADDICTION/ANXIETY
COUNSELLING
Structure
4.0 Introduction
4.1 Objectives
4.2 Meaning of Anxiety Disorder
4.2.1 Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders
4.3 Alcohol and Drug Addiction
4.3.1 Meaning of Substance /Abuse
4.3.2 Addictive Behaviour
4.4 Developing an Addiction
4.4.1 The Hallmarks of Addiction
4.4.2 How Anxiety can Lead to Addiction
4.5 Symptoms of Addiction and Anxiety
4.6 Causes for the Addiction and Anxiety Abuse
4.6.1 Other Causes for Addiction/ Anxiety
4.7 Treatment for Addiction and Anxiety
4.7.1 Group Therapy and Counseling
4.7.2 Behaviour Counseling
4.7.3 Environmental Therapies
4.7.4 Supportive Psycho Therapy
4.7.5 Re-Educated Psycho Therapy
4.7.6 Self Control Brain Technique
4.7.7 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
4.7.8 Individual Counseling
4.8 Let Us Sum Up
4.9 Unit End Questions
4.10 Suggested Readings
4.0 INTRODUCTION
Addiction and anxiety often go hand in hand. Depression may be the reason an
addict begins using drugs or alcohol or, it may develop as the addiction progresses.
Dual diagnosis of addiction and anxiety is, when a person has an addiction plus
a psychiatric illness such as anxiety, doctors say that they have a “dual diagnosis”.
The term is a reminder for the counselors, physicians, and other medical
professionals that this client has extra challenges on the road to recovery.
Depression and other psychiatric illnesses increase the risk of addiction. Of all
people who are diagnosed as having a psychiatric illness, roughly 29% are alcohol
or drug abusers. As many as 37% of people who abuse alcohol and 53% of
people who abuse drugs, have at least one serious mental illness. Depression,
already common in the general population, is even more common among
alcoholics and drug abusers.
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Addiction/Anxiety
4.1 OBJECTIVES Counselling
Drug addiction can be seen in the people who are non adjustable and not able to
cope-up with the problems to greater extent. In the 21th century the drug abuse
has increased in an enormous proportions and is becoming a serious problem of
the people of by which the survival of the society is in a threat too.
The drugs consumed by the people can vary in various forms, from taking of
direct drugs to indirect forms of the drug e.g. alcoholism poses a serious social
problem which involves teen age to old age people.
Today the use of drugs and even addiction have increased even at the school and
college level. So is the case of anxiety. In other words because of the anxiety
factors, use of drugs is rising; therefore today the importance of the role of the
teachers and the counselors has increased as they not only have to educate the
students, help to make wise choices but also to educate them, help them to know
about the substance abuse/drug addiction and the danger related to it.
Addiction may occur at any age but the onset is more during young adulthood
and the adolescent too (APA, American Psychological Association). The use of
drugs /substances in today’s youth may be because of anxiety, natural curiosity,
impact of westernization, peer pressure, to express their own indentify, by
experimentation and may be because of environmental and hereditary factors.
Other reason for being addicts may be that today more youth is becoming
unemployable and competition is increasing day by day, expectancy age is
increasing that is wellness of health, by which the retirement age is also increasing.
The increase in population is also one of the cause of frustration among the
youth and to release their frustration, stress, anxiety the youth is becoming drug
addicted to substances or drugs. The use of drugs is becoming the means of
escape from feelings of void and helplessness.
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Two categories of drugs are commonly used, which the counselor must keep in Addiction/Anxiety
Counselling
mind which are the tranquilizers and sedatives. The counselor should also keep
in mind, the individual’s (client’s) lifestyle and personality as it also plays an
important role in the development of addictive disorder and are the central themes
in some type of treatment.
The most commonly used problem substances are the psycho-active drugs .The
psycho-active drugs are those drugs that directly affect mental functioning:
alcohol, nicotine, barbiturates, minor tranquilizers, amphetamines, heroin, and
marijuana.
Increased drug use leads to increased physical dependence, and users may find
that they get sick if they do not take drug.
• Increased drug use leads to increased tolerance to the drug, and users may
find that they need to take more of the drug to get the same effect.
• Drug users may harm themselves or others while intoxicated (e.g. drinking
and driving) or by the actual act of drug taking (e.g. catching or passing on
an infectious disease such as AIDS or Hepatitis, through shared needle use).
• Drug addicts may resort to criminal activities such as theft or prostitution to
fund their drug taking, particularly if their drug addiction has forced them
to lose their job.
• Drug addicts may overdose, die of drug related disease or suicide.
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Type of Counselling
Self Assessment Questions
1) What do you mean by anxiety disorder?
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2) Describe the symptoms of anxiety disorder.
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3) Define substance abuse.
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Using drugs in a contained way might seem fairly harmless, and certainly some
people are able to use drugs sporadically or only in particular and limited
circumstances. But for many others, drug taking can become habitual,
desensitization leads to increased use, and the addiction takes hold.
Drug addicts typically spend a lot of time (and money) thinking about, purchasing
and taking drugs – the process of buying and taking drugs becomes the central
interest in their lives. Other pursuits and responsibilities, such as work, study,
friends and family, often fall by the wayside – jobs get lost, exams failed, and
relationships fail.
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4.4.1 The Hallmarks of Addiction Addiction/Anxiety
Counselling
Addiction can be characterised as a state in which the person or their relatives
and friends come to experience their drug use as a hindrance to the quality of
their everyday life. This interference to one’s life may come in many forms; but
often involves an experience of depression or anxiety, for some people issues
with violence or loss of control, for others loss of good judgment or a loss of a
significant relationship. Counselors and psychologists have developed a number
of evidence based approaches for the treatment of addiction.
Even for people who aren’t using alcohol or drugs to self-medicate and haven’t
lost their social connections, anxiety appears to increase the risk of addiction.
Many doctors think that whatever makes people vulnerable to anxiety also makes
them more likely to abuse alcohol or drugs. Someone without anxiety may be
able to try an illicit drug or drink alcohol regularly without any long-term
problems; for a depressed person, these same activities may be more likely to
lead to addiction.
Symptoms of Addiction/Anxiety
Early recognition of the symptoms of addiction/anxiety increases chances for
successful treatment and favorable out come. The role of counselor is preventive,
remedial and educative.
Addiction/anxiety leads to changes in behaviour which can be seen in terms of
psychological and physiological conditions of individual. 55
Type of Counselling The symptoms can be described as follows:
• Sudden mood change
• Anger
• Irritation
• Low self esteem
• Loneliness
• Depression
• Lack of interest
• Change of priorities
• Personality changes
• Poor judgment
• Negative attitude
• Dishonesty
• Starts arguments
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Family relation problem
• Lacks intimate relationship
Certain physiological changes are also seen in the client such as,
• loss of memory
• Restlessness and fatigue
• Distortion in health
• Increase in heart rate
• Sweating
• Palpitation
• Confusion
• Irritation
• Weak immune system
• Chances of suffering major disease (Cancer, HIV AIDS)
• Difficulty in speaking
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When a person has both addiction and anxiety, one of the first steps in treatment
is to figure out which came first. That may be possible from the patient’s history.
The person may be able to describe depressed feelings that preceded the addiction.
Or, they may describe self-medicating with alcohol or drugs. Sometimes, it’s
necessary to help the person quit drinking or doing drugs first, and then evaluate
for anxiety.
If it’s clear that the anxiety is a consequence of the addiction, treating the addiction
is usually all that’s needed. If the anxiety is a separate issue, it must be addressed
as well. Treatment may include special counseling and antidepressant medicines.
The combination of addiction and anxiety can make it more difficult to recover.
When a person feels sad, hopeless or exhausted, battling an addiction is a special
challenge that may be difficult to face. However, knowing about the link between
addiction and anxiety, being aware that dual diagnosis is possible and seeking
treatment to address both issues can help make recovery possible.
The counselor should keep in mind the psychological treatment which aims at
alleviating the individual’s maladjusted behaviours and strive to bring about
personality change to foster more effective adjustment. The counseling techniques
which are used generally are as follows –
1) Group therapy
2) Behaviour therapy
3) Environmental interventions
4) Supportive psycho therapy
5) Re educated psycho therapy
6) Self control training technique
7) Cognitive behaviour therapy
8) Individual Counselling
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4.7.1 Group Therapy and Counseling Addiction/Anxiety
Counselling
Group therapy and Counseling aims at releasing of emotions and perception
through sharing. The goal of group therapy is to modify attitude and behaviour
.It provides the clients with incentive and motivation to make changes by
themselves, because in anxiety/drug addiction group counseling may be used for
resolving problems which the individuals have developed. They have inadequate
understanding of one self, not aware of harmful effect of faulty habits, dealing
with rejection and abuse. Group psychotherapy is considered to be remedial,
supportive and reconstructive. The focus is on the conscious, unconscious and
subconscious aspect of personality of the people.
The selected group members should be of same age, same problem and having
same socio-economic status. The aim of group counseling is to make each member
take on responsibility to put forth his /her experience by sharing and listening.
The members are able to express their views and ideas.
In group counseling self help groups are formed by interested individuals that
come together, to deal with common problems, for example, smoking, alcoholism,
drugs etc. The counselor should keep in mind to generate community feeling
within the members which is one of the important parts of the healing process.
The steps and skills followed by a counselor, in group counseling are as follows:
1) planning the group
2) selection of members
3) stages of group process
1) Planning the group in counseling process comprises of following:
i) Purpose: The counselor first identifies and clarifies the purpose of
counseling, i.e. why group counseling is required for the addictives.
ii) Size: The counselor should look into the size i.e. number of clients.
The average group size should be of 5-7 members who are having same
problem.
iii) Length and frequency: The duration of session must be decided well
in advance looking into the severity of addiction, in the starting the
session should be of 45 minutes to 60 minutes and later can be adjusted
according to the need.
iv) Time for counseling: Time should be set well in advance by the
counselor looking into the mood of the clients.
v) Physical sitting: The group session is best conducted in a room or
open place with minimum noise, comfortable sitting arrangement in a
circle with good ambience.
2) Selection of members – While providing group counseling the selection of
group members is very important. This will depend on the addiction level
i.e. mild, moderate, and severe of the clients.
i) Level of commitment: Before counseling a good rapport must be
established among the members so that they know each other which
will facilitate their sharing of their problems.
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Type of Counselling ii) Acceptance and trust: In order to develop trust, the counselor must
remember his/her role, so that clients will trust him and a positive
therapeutic force is seen in the group.
3) Stages of group process:
i) Beginning stage: starts in rehabilitation center .In the beginning of
counseling session the group may take rather longer couple of sessions
to develop trust for working in sharing environment.
ii) Working stage: This is the main stage of group discussion. At this
stage the problems are redefined and causes for addiction/anxiety is
known. Not only this, the group members try to find out solutions by
themselves with the help of counselor .Conscious efforts are made to
solve the problems. At times group situation can be very difficult for
alcoholics, who are, engrossed in denial of their own responsibilities
but at the same time, they also provide the opportunity to see new
possibilities for coping with circumstances that have led to their
difficulties.
iii) Closing stage: It is the stage where the members share what they have
learnt. The counselor summarizers the outcome. This stage takes 1-2
session, the bonding is seen amongst the group member and the
counselor. The counselor should note that if required the parents/
relatives/spouse/children must also be counselled.
Follow up: Follow up enables the group members to keep in touch. The counselor
should take the feed back so that follow up plans could be discussed before
termination.
Anxiety level and other symptoms can be cured by various other behavioural
therapies such as token economy, positive reinforcement, systematic
desensitization, flooding etc. Not only this, exposure therapy is used for reduction
of anxiety, negative feeling, emotions etc. This exposure is usually done in gradual
manner under safe and control conditions in the presence of therapist. Training
and muscular relaxation given by Jacobson is one of the popular method for
effective anxiety management. Moreover yoga and meditation is also useful in
reducing anxiety/addiction.
Therefore preventive interventions can provide skills and support to high risk
people to enhance level of protective factors and prevent drug abuse. The
prevention program should address all form of drug addiction whether legal
drug such as alcoholism, tobacco etc. and use of illegal drugs like heroin,
marijuana or inappropriate use of drug e.g. inhalants.
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Addiction/Anxiety
2) How can cognitive behaviour therapy help in the treatment of addiction/ Counselling
anxiety?
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3) Explain Individual Counselling.
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