Edit: so please also help me understand this- if a person doesn’t have family and friends to support, sounds like therapy won’t really help this person unless they change their living conditions, or they relapse?
In: 68
Like with physical therapy, where you slowly retrain your body to do what it (seemed like) it could not before, you use a therapist to retrain your own thinking and the habits that spawn from that. From an unconscious “oh I can’t help this” to a “oh, ok I can redirect myself” to, maybe eventually a “hey! I can handle this and it barely even happens anymore”.
It requires willingness to do the work, and forgiving yourself if you slip up.
Rinse, repeat, live a better life.
Now. You said /relapse/. And that’s /addiction/. You’ll first have to identify what the using is for (with a therapist), and then figure out if your addiction is something your environment is enabling, or if your environment is simply just because of your addiction. And what safety factors need to be handled before you do dangerous things in the name of recovery. And, again, if your specific will and circumstances will allow you to survive the transition from worse choices to better choices. How much support you need depends on the person, and a therapist can help you figure out what is needed.
It all starts with wanting the change, and going to a therapists, and doctors, and whatever, to get honest evaluations and to commit to the work needed to get better. If you’re alone, they can help you find support groups near you, if you need stable housing, there are outreach programs.If you need to detox, I’m sure there are services for that too. etc etc etc. One by one, So you have good ground to stand on.
But at no point should you think it’s not possible. Especially before you go and talk to them.
Latest Answers