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Counsellors Calgary welcomes those who are struggling with the cycle of substance abuse. If you have never heard of the cycle of substance abuse let’s, take a closer look at it so it can be understood how you might
recognize that you or a loved one might be stuck in this cycle and get support
from counsellors Calgary.

The cycle of substance has 6 stages and it is like a circle
that goes round and round until the individual caught in the constantly
rotating circle decides it’s time to stop the cycle and get support.

Counsellors Calgary Cycle of Substance Abuse Stage 1: Using what you know you shouldn’t be using.

The first stage is where the individual tries something that can lead to addiction. It could be out of curiosity, peer pressure, or
unhealthy coping strategies, however, a substance such as drugs or alcohol is
taken, thus beginning for some (not all) the cycle of substance abuse.

Counsellors Calgary Cycle of Substance Abuse Stage 2: Using
Regularly

Some will try a substance once and never try again, however in this case the person starts to use the substance regularly. Often the need for re-using the substance is used as a negative coping strategy to deal with life, hard times, fears, bad relationship (s), anxiety, ADHD, etc, etc…

Counsellors Calgary Cycle of Substance Abuse Stage 3: The Usage Becomes a Problem

It’s one thing to occasionally use a negative substance to
once in a while numb your feelings, it’s a whole other level to recognize your
usage is increasing and it’s starting to affect your daily life including your
relationships, work, health, employment, and education. Even though you know
you should be stopping you continue to use the substance that is impacting your life in a very negative way. In other words, your usage is now a problem.

Counsellors Calgary Cycle of Substance Abuse Stage 4: The Dependent Need for Your Substance.

The need for your substance is where the actual clinical
literature describes someone as having an Addiction and/or Dependence on a
substance. This is important to know as many addicts are now at a point where
they NEEEEEED the substance to survive. This substance dependence goes beyond a physical craving. It now becomes a psychological and physical craving that causes someone to look for their substance and sometimes even do whatever it takes to get a hold of the substance. If this wasn’t bad enough, the substance-dependent
individual now thinks about their addiction much of the time. In other words,
the substance has taken over their life.  

Counsellors Calgary Cycle of Substance Abuse Stage 5: Withdrawal (Trying to stop)

Sometimes an addict will wake up in the moment and realize they need to get out of the cycle of substance use. This is often when the
symptoms of withdrawal begin. Think of it in terms of the ultimate craving. Not
just craving, but doing anything you can to get the substance, even if illegal.
Withdrawal outcomes can include negative physical reactions such as feeling
like getting sick, an increase of fear, being ticked off at everyone, feeling
like you’re in a sauna wearing a sweater, and ultimately just neeeeeeeeeding the substance just one more time.

Counsellors Calgary Cycle of Substance Abuse Stage 6: Doing it again (Relapse)

Often, and not to sound to negative, it’s not if but when
someone trying to recover from a substance will fall off the bandwagon (relapse) and use their drug/substance of choice again. It’s important to also
realize someone could be free from the substance and one day goes back to using
the negative substance again. Re-using is unfortunately very common in working towards freedom from addiction and it’s important to work through any reasons that might be causing you to re-use again.

If you recognize someone, or even yourself, is caught in the cycle of substance use it may be time to seek out a qualified counselling
therapist, clinical counsellor, or psychotherapist and begin to walk in a
positive cycle of change at New Life.