When is use of alcohol and other drugs an ‘addiction’?

People drink alcohol and take drugs – both prescription and recreational – for a variety of reasons. But when does it become a problem?
As a recovery coach who specialises in helping people with substance misuse, I can tell you it really comes down to the impact the usage has on an individual’s daily life. Sometimes addiction can lead to low self-esteem and motivation, and hiding away from family and friends. If addiction or misuse of alcohol or other drugs is affecting your work or your relationships or causing other obstacles for you, it might be time to think about making a change.
You might be reading this because you’re concerned that a friend or family member’s use of alcohol or other drugs is adversely impacting their life. This can be difficult to see, and sometimes you may feel you can’t do as much to help as you want to. In these moments, listening is a powerful tool for support. You can also show support by, as well as providing information to a loved one about the available help and resources they can access when they’re ready.

How can recovery coaching help with addiction?

Recovery coaching is a form of coaching that focuses on your own personal journey to recovery from your addiction. A qualified recovery coach will work with you at your own pace to help you identify your recovery goals (which can be different for every person) and put a plan in place to help you get there.

The plan will include steps along the way so you can monitor your progress, and your coach will help keep you accountable, in a non-judgmental way. Planning is a really important way to set yourself up for success – for example, your coach can help you identify triggers and work through potentially difficult scenarios and how you might handle them. Together, you and your coach will come up with coping strategies and navigate life in sobriety.

Recovery coaches can also help you with other aspects of your life, as everything is related to your recovery journey. This could include career, education, relationships, eating, sleeping and exercise habits, and daily routine. Some recovery coaches (including our coaches at Goal Coach) also have the experience and qualifications to support you with mental health conditions.

Recovery coaching provides you with an experienced professional who will be by your side throughout your recovery journey, there to support you with the challenges and celebrate successes with you. We’ll keep you focussed on the big picture and your personal goals.

At Goal Coach, we support you by:

• taking the time to listen and learn about you

• providing a respectful, confidential, and safe environment

• exploring addiction concepts

• helping you to figure out the best way forward, based on your goals – which may be abstinence from alcohol or other drugs, or focusing on harm minimisation

• working through the stages of change model with you

• helping you to be optimistic and to see a better future for yourself.

We believe you can achieve your goals and we’re here to help you make it happen.

Types of addictions recovery coaching can help with

Recovery coaching can help with any kind of addiction. We predominantly work with people who have physical addictions, which means they are addicted to substances (such as alcohol and other drugs). Recovery coaching can also be effective for people who have psychological addictions, which means they are addicted to behaviour such as gambling, gaming, shopping or eating.

Who is affected by addiction?

One of the myths surrounding addiction is that only people with difficult upbringings or traumatic life experiences can be affected by substance misuse. I have many years of experience helping people with similar challenges, and I can narrow it down to one common factor: access to the substances. That’s it. Most of us have ready access to alcohol and could probably access other drugs too. So, addiction can affect almost anyone, from any walk of life.
Sometimes addiction can happen subtly, over time. Sometimes it’s preceded by challenges in life that may seem too hard to deal with – and sometimes it’s not.
But it’s important to realise that these challenges are common in the community, and if you’re in this situation, you are not alone. You don’t need to feel ashamed, and there are professionals who can support you to get back on track. It’s ok to seek help: that’s what we’re here for.
If you’re concerned about a friend or family member with addiction issues, you might find it hard to understand why they have these problems. Just know that everyone deals with things differently, especially when they are overwhelmed. Try not to judge, because that can make seeking help more difficult for them.
Addiction and substance misuse can lead to feelings of shame, low self-esteem and motivation, social isolation, and a sense of not belonging. For some people, it can also go hand-in-hand with mental health issues or other diagnoses.

When is the right time to get help?

When you’re ready: it’s your journey. If you don’t know whether you’re ready, you can give us a call for a free 15-minute chat to find out more about what we offer, and whether you think it’s the right time for you.
Unfortunately in some parts of Australia at the moment, there is a wait for some types of treatment for addiction, but we have specialist recovery coaches available at Goal Coach, and our virtual service is available anywhere in the country.
At any time, you can get in touch with Beyond Blue or Lifeline, which both have trained counsellors available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you in a crisis.

Getting started with recovery coaching

Recovery coaching provides you with an experienced professional who will be by your side throughout your recovery journey. At Goal Coach, we support you by:

• taking the time to listen and learn about you
• providing a respectful, confidential, and safe environment
• exploring addiction concepts

• helping you to figure out the best way forward, based on your goals – which may be abstinence from alcohol or other drugs, or focusing on harm minimisation
• working through the stages of change model with you
• helping you to be optimistic and to see a better future for yourself.

We believe you can achieve your goals and we’re here to help you make it happen.

If you want to find out more about Goal Coach’s NDIS eligibility access service or how our counselling, support coordination or recovery coaching can support you live a life beyond the label of psychosocial disability, book a free 15-minute chat with one of our friendly team.