What Causes Addiction?

Psychological Factors Often Play a Role

Addiction is one of the most common and tough-to-cure disorders affecting people today. It has psychological and physical causes, and research shows the tendency toward some addictions like alcoholism can be inherited. The good news is it is treatable with methods including counseling.

Various psychological conditions and life experiences can be risk factors for addictions that become additional problems. Seeking treatment helps restore your well-being, repair relationships, and prevent job loss. When you’re battling addiction, all areas of life are affected.

Addiction can be to a substance such as alcohol or drugs or be behavioral, like excessive gambling, shopping/overspending, etc. If you’re in Oahu and need help, our experienced counselors provide addiction therapy in Honolulu. You can attend sessions in person or by telehealth appointment.

Common Causes of Addiction

Psychological factors on their own can be causes of addiction, or they can combine with genetic (inherited) factors. It also matters when they occur during life’s developmental stages — unlucky timing can increase the risk considerably more.

• Stress
• Peer pressure
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Early exposure to substances
• Parental relationships

Regardless of what triggers your addiction, it can quickly develop a firm hold on you. Our counselors understand this and will work to address the root causes, either alone or with other addiction treatment professionals. Breaking free from addiction is the first step to regaining control over your life.

No two people and their issues are alike, and our treatment plans are personalized based on your needs. They’re adjusted over time as what is most helpful and healing becomes clear.   

How Does Therapy Help?

First and foremost, it offers you a safe, non-judgmental space to explore your feelings while receiving support and guidance from a mental health professional. Therapy helps you understand your negative behaviors and teaches you to replace them with healthier ones.

Addiction recovery can bring positive changes that last for a lifetime.

It’s a process that unfolds over weeks or months, and you’ll notice immediate and longer-term improvements—increased self-awareness combined with improved self-esteem and confidence to put your life on a new path. You can also work on damaged relationships, improving your health, and restoring your career.

Can Addictions be Cured?

Success in any mental health treatment requires your commitment and determination to become better. Addiction counseling helps you reach those desires and good intentions with consistent support and guidance. You’ll learn to avoid relapses as you navigate daily life more confidently.

• Cope better with challenges
• Express your feelings and communicate
• Seek the support and assistance of others
• Identify triggers and unhealthy patterns
• Let go of negative emotions from the past

Effective and successful treatment can involve counseling sessions in combination with medications that help you manage impulses and moods. Our therapists are experienced in working collaboratively with medical and other professionals in determining the optimal treatment approach for you.

What Will My Therapy Sessions Be Like?

Our Wellness Counseling addiction therapists are experienced in helping clients with varying needs and can employ the optimal technique. It always begins with a careful assessment and getting to know you during the initial sessions. The intake process helps inform the decision about the treatment approach.

Working with a counselor helps you from the first session.

Two of the most frequently used approaches for treating addiction are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Both are talk-based therapies that have helped millions of people overcome various problems. DBT also enables you to identify and replace negative behaviors with more positive ones.

Conclusion: Treating the Causes of Addiction

If you’ve battled addiction continuously or at certain stressful points in life or tried to overcome it on your own and failed, let a therapist help. We’re one of the leading Honolulu addiction therapy practices, and our counselors are caring and experienced – we can treat the causes of your addiction.

• Feel better
• Enjoy life
• Be present for loved ones
• Improve your health
• Do better at work

The sooner you begin treatment, the sooner you’ll recover. An addiction of any kind impacts your life in many ways and holds you back from leading the life you want to live. There is every reason to give yourself the chance to heal and reset your life on a positive, productive path.