Hope, Healing, Ease, Comfort
All words wanted, needed, longed for.
- When will it ever be different I might ask myself.
- Have I ever once or more said or thought –
- It will be different this time
- I’m not hurting anyone
- I’ll only have a few or won’t use as much this time
- I don’t remember
- What did I do?
- I don’t want to do this anymore
- I don’t know how to stop
- I am overwhelmed
- Where do I start?
- It’s too much
- Why, why, why.
- Help
I want to help you guide you on a path out of these thoughts, feelings, and the landscape of fear that has taken over and made your life, head, and heart unmanageable and difficult. You and I can discover the causes and conditions for what you cannot stop on your own.
What is substance use disorder?
Substance use disorder is the medical term used to describe a pattern of using a substance (drug) that causes significant problems or distress. This may be missing work or school, or using the substance in dangerous situations, such as driving a car. It may lead to substance-related legal problems, or continued substance use that interferes with friendships, family relationships, or both. Substance use disorder, as a recognized medical brain disorder, refers to the use of illegal substances, such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine. Or the misuse of legal substances, such as alcohol, nicotine, or prescription medicines. Alcohol is the most common legal drug associated with substance use disorder.
Substance (drug) dependence
Substance dependence is the medical term used to describe the use of drugs or alcohol that continues even when significant problems related to their use have developed. Signs of dependence include:
Tolerance to or need for increased amounts of the drug to get an effect
Withdrawal symptoms happen if you decrease or stop using the drug that you find difficult to cut down or quit
Spending a lot of time to get, use, and recover from the effects of using drugs
Withdrawal from social and recreational activities
Continued use of the drug even though you are aware of the physical, psychological, and family or social problems that are caused by your ongoing drug use
What substances are associated with substance use disorder?
Substances frequently include:
Alcohol
- Marijuana
- Prescription medicines, such as pain pills, stimulants, or anxiety pills
- Methamphetamine
- Cocaine
- Opiates
- Hallucinogens
- Inhalants
- Substance and Alcohol Use
Alcohol is among the most used drugs, plays a large role in many societies and cultures around the world, and greatly impacts public health more people over age 12 in the United States have used alcohol in the past year than any other drug or tobacco product, and alcohol use disorder is the most common type of substance use disorder in the United States.
NIDA works closely with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the lead NIH institute supporting and conducting research on the impact of alcohol use on human health and well-being. For information on alcohol and alcohol use disorder, please visit the NIAAA website.
Because many people use alcohol while using other drugs, NIDA supports and conducts research on both the biological and social dynamics between alcohol use and the use of other substances.
You could be thinking you have crossed the line into unwanted feelings, consequences, and harm due to the use of substances
If you are not ready to talk yet, please I ask that you take a look at the resources I have added.
I want to build trust with you, to help you uncover, discover, and recover from the hopelessness that comes from not wanting to do "This" anymore, to continue harming yourself or others through these behaviors. Fear will play a part in developing a voice of your own, past trauma and other factors can be challenging to process, let's support and nurture healing and recovery from the hopelessness that comes from the pain resulting from substance use.