What a Therapist Sees Behind Self Medication Patterns
- donna5686
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
When faced with emotional triggers, many people try to numb the pain with substances, which they see as a quick fix. In the process, they may start taking prescription drugs or alcohol and food in excess.
On the surface, most of these seem like simple bad habits. And all of us have had bad habits in our lives occasionally. However, therapists can recognize when these habits mask deeper issues, like chronic stress or unresolved trauma. With proper help, people can break negative self-medication patterns and learn better ways to manage their stress.
Common Self-Medication Behaviors
Self-medication doesn’t always look extreme. For most people who end up with substance abuse issues, the problem starts almost innocently. A drink that helps you relax after work, or sleeping pills to deal with a bad bout of insomnia.
The issue is when an occasional indulgence turns into a habit. And that habit turns into a daily routine, which people use as a crutch. Instead of addressing the root cause of their problems, they seek a way to deal with discomfort temporarily.
Therapists often see clients overwhelmed with stress or emotional pain. And they don’t know any other way of managing it. The problem is that people often reach for substances before they think of going to therapy. It’s a common response that can quickly turn into a dependency.
Emotional Triggers Beneath the Surface
People struggling with self-medication patterns often come to therapy believing they’re there to resolve that specific issue. However, therapists look at substance abuse issues from a different perspective. From their perspective, it’s more about resolving the underlying issue that led to substance abuse in the first place. If the grief, anxiety, or trauma that triggered self-medication remains unresolved, you can never deal with the substance issue permanently.
That’s why therapists try to see which root issues people are trying to manage with substances. This is the crux of the issue because panic attacks and intrusive thoughts may require different approaches than post-traumatic numbness. Patients may also be dealing with financial strain and other practical stress triggers.
Depression and the Appeal of Numbing
Depression is a common cause of self-medication. It’s easy to understand why people who feel hopeless or empty would seek temporary relief wherever they could find it. In most cases, they turn to alcohol because it’s readily available during depressive episodes.
For a moment, alcohol may dull their pain or reduce negative feelings. However, this coping mechanism becomes an unhealthy habit almost immediately. And the person struggling with depression might not even notice their alcohol problem. When it starts affecting their career, relationships, and health, they may feel it’s too late to fix.
Therapists understand how alcohol traps people in a negative cycle. In the process, their depression only gets worse. They enter an emotional fog that makes it harder to seek help or believe recovery is possible. This pattern is commonly referred to as drinking as a coping mechanism, a harmful response to unmanaged depression. At first, it may seem helpful, but it only deepens negative emotions over time.
Seek Help Right Away
Casual substance use can be fine, but it’s hard to recognize when it turns into self-medication. The line is blurry, and people with substance abuse issues actively try to avoid facing the problem. Of course, there are practical reasons for this. Substance abuse comes with a heavy stigma in our society, and many people don’t want to admit they need professional help.
Professional therapists understand this and don’t judge any of their clients. They know that their role is only to offer compassion and support.
Before you can deal with substance abuse, your first step is to recognize you need help in the first place. And there’s no need to worry about what your therapist will think. Experienced therapists have seen it all, and they’re trained to see past surface behavior. Their only goal is to guide people toward clarity and healing.
What Therapists Look for in Treatment
When people seek help, the therapist won’t solely focus on stopping practical substance abuse. Of course, stopping bad behaviors in the near term is important, but addressing the underlying cause matters even more.
So, the therapist wants to see what’s driving the need for alcohol or other substances. What is the patient trying to achieve with alcohol or drugs in practice? For example, are they trying to escape their thoughts or to get some sleep?
In the process, therapists look at two important factors: how frequently the patient is using a substance and the surrounding context. They explore the various triggers that might contribute to the patient’s need. These include environmental stressors, past trauma, and various emotional triggers.
When the therapist understands the root of self-medication patterns, they try to help the patient understand their underlying problems. They guide clients to recognize their feelings and their triggers. Over time, they also learn safer ways to cope.
Healthier Coping Strategies
Building healthy habits is difficult for everyone because they’re rarely as fun as their unhealthy counterparts. And that’s especially hard when you’re dealing with substance abuse. Even with therapy, it will take time, as well as patience and support.
The best place to start is with mindfulness-oriented activities. Depending on the patient’s lifestyle and preferences, these may include anything from journaling to meditation. In the process, patients should also build strong social connections. Everyone needs a support network, especially in hard times.
If patients are dealing with trauma or depression, therapy is even more important. It’s the safest place to come to terms with painful emotions. Naturally, this is only possible through regular sessions. People need to slowly build a tolerance for discomfort and regain control over their thoughts and feelings.
Wrapping Up
Self-medication patterns are often seen as bad habits or poor choices. However, therapists can recognize signs of deeper unresolved struggles, like depression, trauma, and chronic stress. To truly recover, you must address the emotional roots instead of just the behavior. Otherwise, you’re just setting yourself up for a relapse when the times get tough again.
Feeling isolated or struggling with substance use? You don’t have to go through it alone.
Connect with our compassionate therapists at Global Therapy—book a session today or call us at 479-268-4598 for a free consultation..
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