If you are suffering from an addiction issue, then you might want to start looking into a drug or alcohol therapist.
There are a number of signs and symptoms of someone suffering from an addiction issue, including mental health issues.
What once seemed like a way to unwind or relax might now feel automatic, necessary or quietly concerning. You may have also noticed changes in your sleep, concentration, motivation or in your relationships.
Likewise, you might have started to gain a growing sense of unease about how often you rely on alcohol or other addictive substances.
Choosing to seek professional support for your addiction is not an overreaction.
In fact, it is a thoughtful decision which will allow you to take back control and improve your overall well-being, including your physical health and mental stability.
At Rehab 4 Addiction, we support individuals across Sheffield and South Yorkshire by connecting them with experienced and fully qualified drug and alcohol therapists.
Whether you are considering one to one outpatient therapy, inpatient structured therapy, a medically supervised detox at home, or residential rehabilitation, we are able to help you to explore your options clearly and confidentially.
If you are struggling from an addiction issue, then it is important to understand that no two people experience alcohol misuse in the same way.
For example, some people benefit from weekly therapy sessions, whereas other people require medical support to withdraw slowly and safely.
Whatever your circumstances are, your recovery journey begins with an open and honest conversation about what you are addicted to and how long you have been addicted to them.
Unfortunately, lots of people hesitate to reach out for professional help because they believe their drinking isn’t bad enough to warrant getting help.
However, in reality, you do not have to reach a breaking point before asking for help, especially when it comes to an addiction issue or mental health issue.
You might benefit from speaking to an alcohol therapist in Sheffield if you are drinking more than you intend to, you are binge drinking on a regular basis, or if you feel guilty for the amount of alcohol you are consuming.
Likewise, you might need to gain access to professional help if your sleep or mental health has become affected.
For some people, alcohol might have started to become your copy mechanism to deal with stress or anxiety, or it might have started to impact your relationships with loved ones.
It is also important to remember that alcohol problems often develop gradually, and that they do not happen overnight.
You may find yourself drinking alone more often, planning evenings around alcohol or other addictive substances, or using alcohol to manage your depression, anxiety or low mood.
Sheffield’s social culture is filled with busy pubs, long shifts in healthcare, manufacturing, education, or professional services which can also make alcohol seem like a quick way to decompress.
Therapy offers space to step back, reflect about why you have turned to addictive substances and most importantly, decide what needs to change.
For those who suffer from a mild to moderate alcohol addiction, outpatient rehab and therapy is often deemed an effective and flexible starting point for you to build from.
Outpatient rehab treatment involves attending regular therapy sessions, typically once a week at a private rehab clinic in Sheffield.
Alternatively, you can visit the therapy sessions via a remote appointment, while continuing to live at home and maintain your daily responsibilities.
Therapy sessions generally last between 50 to 60 minutes and generally tend to focus on exploring your addiction issues and patterns, identifying what the triggers might be and learn how to better cope with your emotions.
Outpatient rehab therapy can also form part of aftercare following detox or inpatient rehab, helping you maintain progress as you step back into everyday life.
For many people suffering from an addiction or mental health issue in Sheffield, this type of approach provides structure without requiring a complete break from work commitments or family commitments.
If you are considering attending therapy for an addiction issue, then it is important to understand that alcohol therapy is not simply about being told to stop drinking. In fact, effective treatment looks a lot deeper into the addiction itself.
If you have never attended therapy before, then it is normal to feel nervous or anxious about what therapy might look like.
If you are interested in attending therapy, then you need to understand that addiction often serves a function to help you deal with a crisis. It may reduce your anxiety, dull difficult emotions, ease your loneliness, or create a sense of reward after a stressful situation or stressful day at work.
Therapy helps you to better understand the role alcohol plays in your life and how to solve those underlying issues and needs in healthier and more sustainable ways.
In therapy, you will likely explore any emotional triggers linked to drinking, any workplace stress or burnout, or past trauma. You will also be asked about any negative relationships in your life, as well as your thoughts surrounding your own self-esteem.
Addiction therapists in Sheffield commonly use numerous different therapy approaches to help to tackle some of the above issues, including some of the techniques listed below [1].
The above therapy techniques are supported by numerous research studies and national treatment guidelines. It is important to remember that therapy is collaborative and that your goals are agreed together, as a team.
Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, remote therapy has started to become increasingly popular, with many people opting for video and telephone therapy sessions rather than in person sessions.
It is important to understand that not everyone feels comfortable attending face to face therapy sessions due to difficult work patterns, childcare issues, transport issues or privacy concerns [2].
Online and telephone therapy provide flexible alternatives across Sheffield and the wider UK.
The benefits of this type of therapy include more flexible appointment times, less travel, greater privacy and discretion as well as easier consistency for those who travel for work.
If video sessions feel uncomfortable for you, then telephone therapy is equally as effective.
In fact, research now shows that remote talking therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy can achieve the same outcomes as in person treatment for many individuals.
Unfortunately, many people struggling with an alcohol addiction continue to maintain a work and social life whilst meeting responsibilities. This is sometimes referred to as high-functioning alcohol use.
When someone is classed as high functioning, they might drink most evenings but still perform well at work, use alcohol as a reward after demanding shifts or feel irritable or restless without drinking on a regular basis. This type of sufferer may appear outwardly successful while struggling privately.
Sheffield has numerous strong working sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, education, engineering and digital industries.
This means that Sheffield is home to many high achievers where pressure, long hours and performance expectations can make alcohol seem like a coping tool and crutch.
Addiction and mental health difficulties often occur together and when they do, it is known as dual diagnosis.
Many people who experience mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD or chronic stress may turn to addictive substances as a way to cope with their struggles.
Likewise, those who have struggled with an addiction for many years might go on to develop a mental health issue as a result of their addiction.
For many, alcohol or other addictive substances such as cannabis, cocaine or heroin may feel like a temporary relief. Unfortunately, over time it tends to intensify mood swings, disrupt sleep and increase anxiety as well as depression.
Therapists experienced in dual diagnosis understand how these challenges interact.
Therapy treatment focuses on both the addiction and the underlying psychological difficulties at the same time, helping you to build healthier coping strategies that support long-term recovery.
If you are physically dependent on an addictive substance, then stopping consuming it suddenly can be unsafe.
This is because people who are severely addicted to certain substances such as alcohol experience withdrawal symptoms which may include some of the below symptoms [3]:
When someone suffers from these withdrawal symptoms, medical supervision is always advised around the clock to ensure that your symptoms do not become life threatening.
You should never attempt to detox at home without a doctor or medical professional saying so, as doing so could put your life at risk.
For individuals with mild to moderate addiction issues, a medically supervised home detox may be more appropriate than inpatient treatment.
This type of detox allows you to withdraw from alcohol in your own home with additional support.
It is incredibly important to stress that you should only ever attempt a home detox if a doctor or medical professional has given you the go-ahead.
A home detox usually includes a comprehensive clinical assessment, prescribed medication to manage withdrawal as well as phone calls on a regular basis with a doctor or healthcare professional.
Detoxing at home can be more comfortable and discreet, but it is important to understand that it is not suitable for everyone.
Those with severe addiction, complex mental health conditions, or limited support at home, they may require inpatient therapy treatment.
Outpatient rehab therapy treatment is effective for many with a mild addiction issue.
However, inpatient rehab treatment might be advised if you have experienced repeated relapses in the past, your home environment is unstable or if you require 24-hour medical supervision.
Those with a more severe addiction issue will experience more severe withdrawal symptoms and will need more intensive support throughout the process.
Inpatient rehab treatment usually lasts around 28 days, although this might vary. It combines a medically supervised detox with daily therapy, structured routines, group work and relapse prevention planning.
For some individuals in Sheffield, temporarily stepping away from daily pressures provides the focus needed to recover.
If considering addiction therapy, it is important to understand that recovery timelines vary and depend on your addiction and engagement with treatment.
Some individuals with a mild addiction benefit from short-term support lasting around 8–12 sessions.
However, others may require long-term therapy to address deeper emotional patterns or mental health difficulties.
Again, progress is rarely linear and setbacks can occur. However, it is important to view these setbacks as part of the learning process, rather than signs of failure.
Over time, therapy builds resilience, insight and practical coping tools to take with you in the future. This process should be respected and cannot be rushed.
Your rehab specialist will discuss how long they think you might need to attend rehab or therapy for and will be upfront with you that the duration of your treatment might need to change depending on your recovery.
When it comes to anything personal such as therapy, privacy concerns are common and only natural.
However, all qualified therapists in Sheffield operate under strict confidentiality and data protection standards.
Your information is not shared without your consent, except in rare situations involving serious risk to either yourself or to someone else.
If you feel that your information has been shared breaking confidentiality and consent rules, then you should report this immediately to someone outside of the therapy or treatment facility.
When it comes to addiction recovery, relapses are often misunderstood as an entirely negative thing that should be frowned upon.
However, a relapse does not mean you lack commitment or willpower to your recovery, it simply means that there is more work to be done in your recovery journey.
In therapy, relapses are treated as an information-gathering exercise, rather than failure.
Once you release, you and your therapist will explore what triggered it, what you need to change going forward and what you learnt from the process.
If you are considering speaking to an alcohol therapist in Sheffield, you do not need to wait for your situation to worsen to seek the help that you need and deserve.
Early intervention can prevent more serious physical and psychological consequences and should be taken seriously.
Whether you are exploring outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment or a medical detox, speak to our friendly and helpful team at Rehab 4 Addiction.
Our team of specialists are on hand to offer you confidential, no-pressure support.
Our fully qualified recovery specialists will ask you a number of questions to determine which treatment might work best for you, and outline the process and costs involved.
If you are ready to explore your treatment options in Sheffield and the surrounding areas, then speak to the team at Rehab 4 Addiction by calling us for free on 0800 140 4690 or by visiting us online by searching for www.rehab4addiction.co.uk.
