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“Shame is born in public, yet kept in secret.” – Unknown
Shame is one of the main triggers of continual substance use. Like many mental health disorders, substance use disorders can be mild, moderate, severe. Addiction has the potential to be all consuming of our lives. Many individuals who begin using a substance may be using to avoid or escape one particular emotion, however, the result usually ends in numbing all emotions and life experiences. In more severe cases with substance use disorder, the individual’s behaviors becoming more of a predictable cycle – the primary goal is seeking and obtaining the drug to relieve withdrawal, maintain tolerance, and/or continuously avoid/escape negative emotions. The brain literally begins to interpret substance use not as a want, but a need for survival.
Many recovery communities have a motto like “secrets make you sick”. Treatment provides a space for you to unravel those secrets. Finding a therapist who you feel you can trust is essential in the recovery process. Recovery is a process of coming back home to yourself – who you are meant to be; no longer defining ourselves through the symptoms of the disorder. We can learn to coexist with our emotions and actually participate in our lives!
How could a therapist help us become allies with our emotions? It is important to collaborate with your therapist (meaning sharing your thoughts, feelings, etc.) on creating an individualized plan to meet you where you are at in life and motivate you to where you want to go in life. Whether you are looking for harm reduction, complete abstinence, or something in between; look for a therapist who is open to applying these types of treatment to your goals.
