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Addictions
Private addiction treatment, therapy and support in London at Schoen Clinic Chelsea
Addiction is a complex and chronic brain disorder which involves the compulsive need to stimulate rewarding stimuli in your brain despite the adverse consequences which will result from them.
These can range in severity from consuming an excess of your time to physical symptoms and more complex behavioural issues such as concentration issues, and absenteeism.
What are addictions and what causes them?
Addictions range in severity but can have a severe impact on aspects of a person's life and well-being, such as wider health issues and issues in relationships.
While there are many types of addiction ranging from internet addiction to substance abuse, the methods of recovery can be quite similar. Don't let addictions rule your life - if you or someone you love is showing symptoms of having serious medical addiction, contact Schoen Clinic and we can help you recover from this life-changing condition.
Addiction is more than just being drawn or ‘craving’ something. From a medical perspective, addiction is more harmful, a chronic disorder which is driven by compulsion, continued use of something despite its harmful consequences, and long-lasting cognitive changes. It is a complex condition involving both physical and psychological dependences which has many factors which contribute to its development.
The cause of addiction is It is widely taken to be a combination of interlinked genetic, environmental, and psychological factors, without one ‘key’ thing which causes life-altering addiction to happen. Some people’s brains are wired to be more susceptible to forming addictions, especially those who are exposed to their vice from an earlier age. Similarly, those with mental health issues tend to be more prone to developing harmful addictions. Certain personality traits such as those who are impulsive or risk-taking might also have an increased likelihood of developing an addiction.
Addiction is multi-faceted, and requires specialist healthcare - it generally won't ‘go away’ on its own. Contact Schoen Clinic to see how we can help you overcome your addictions.
It's essential to recognise that addiction is a multifaceted phenomenon, and individuals may develop addictive behaviours due to a combination of these factors. Treatment and prevention efforts often address these various aspects to provide comprehensive support for individuals struggling with addiction. Additionally, not everyone exposed to risk factors will develop an addiction, and protective factors can mitigate the impact of risk factors in some cases.
If you're looking for addiction support, please reach out to our caring team in London today. We have appointments available in as little as 24 hours so you can begin treatment with minimal wait.
To access private treatment as swiftly as possible, simply fill out our online pre-screening questionnaire at any time to suit you.
What are the symptoms of addictions?
Sometimes, determining if you or a loved one has a harmful addiction can be difficult. Symptoms will vary depending on the nature and severity of the addition, but there are common signs that will help to indicate that medical assistance should be sought.
Some of the things to look out for are:
Withdrawal, when the substance or behaviour is removed is a very common sign of addiction
Increased tolerance to an item such as in the case of substance, or eating
Loss of control when it comes to the substance or behaviour
An inordinate amount of time spent discussing, or thinking about the addictive item(s)
Secrecy around the item/behaviour
Especially those which contribute to relationship problems
Open attempts to quit, which subsequently fail
Responsibility neglect, or loss of interest in important facets of life such as childcare, career, or even hobbies
Financial or legal difficulties owing to the addiction.
Symptoms in others can be similar, but might be harder to witness or spot over time. These can include the above, as well as:
Changes in physical appearance such as weight loss or gain, bloodshot eyes, or other unexplained marks or bruises on the body
Behavioural changes like inconsistent sleep
Increased secrecy or attempts to hide activities
Unexplained mood swings or emotional instability
Loss of interest in hobbies or activities once enjoyed
Increased impulsivity or risk-taking behaviour
Social changes such as withdrawal or isolation from social circles, or struggling relationships
Neglect of responsibilities at home, work, or school
Frequent lateness or withdrawal from social events
Changes to daily routine, particularly those that centre around personal care, health and eating, or relationships
Unexplained changes to finances, requests for money, selling personal items
Arrests or legal consequences due to addictive behaviour
Constant talking or thinking about the substance or behaviour
Frequent, intense cravings or urges to engage in the addictive activity
Repeated unsuccessful attempts to control or stop the addictive behaviour
What are the most effective methods for treating addictions?
Successfully resting addiction often involves a combination of therapies, medications, and wider support networks, and can be highly nuanced depending on the nature and severity of the addiction.
At Schoen Clinic, our treatment plans are tailored to the individual, taking into account our initial assessment and understanding of your symptoms, the severity of the impact of the addiction on your life, and the needs of the individual.
While each patient is unique, many addictions will be treated using the same principles of:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which is the most common method of treating addiction and uses talking therapies to help you overcome your addictions. The overall aim of CBT is to help you understand and change how you think about your life, your relationships and your addictions so that you can better free yourself of them. It is a well-tested and well-established way of improving mental health issues, that is well-studied and proven to work in a multitude of scenarios. To find out more about cognitive behaviour therapy, click here [link to the therapy page].
Counselling Other therapy types such as family therapy, involve more members of your support network, to help you share your experiences with others to better understand your addictions.
Medication For certain addictions, medication can be used in conjunction with therapy to help either manage knock-on effects of the addiction such as depression and anxiety.
Aftercare An important part of the treatment process is aftercare support following the end of your main CBT or other therapy - ensuring that you have adequate support networks and regular check-ins, coupled with education about your condition and the long-term prognosis will reduce your chance of relapse.
Our multidisciplinary team of addiction specialists are here to help
Addiction requires a specialist approach, so our team of specialist psychiatrists, counsellors and therapists has a wealth of expertise and specialisation to help you towards recovery. Drawing on dozens of years of experience in a range of therapies, our multidisciplinary team offers support that's tailored to your needs.
Learn more about the team, or get in touch to book an appointment with your chosen specialist below.
