While some people can use prescription or recreational drugs with no negative effects, many others become addicted and face dramatic health and lifestyle problems as a result. Substance addictions negatively affect relationships, home, school or work, leaving the person feeling ashamed, helpless and isolated.

Physical symptoms of substance abuse and addiction are varied depending on the drug of choice, but the symptoms of the addiction itself are similar. People who are addicted to substances may neglect their responsibilities, take potentially dangerous risks and get into trouble with the law. As their drug use spirals out of control, they will lose interest in activities that used to be enjoyable and continue to take drugs despite knowing the harm it causes.

Substance addicts tend to build up a tolerance to their drug of choice, and get angry when they can't get more of it. Withdrawal symptoms are highly probable when an addict goes without it for too long. Depression, nausea, insomnia, sweating, restlessness, anxiety and shaking are all common withdrawal symptoms.

Psychotherapy can help you to overcome substance addiction by focusing on correcting maladaptive behaviors. Substance abuse is usually a coping mechanism against emotionally overwhelming past events or memories. Substances are often used to provide instant gratification instead of facing certain issues.

Therapists are equipped to help clients deal with addiction recovery through empowerment and helping them set simple short term targets. The first target is sobriety, followed by empowering the client with adaptive skills and finding new coping strategies that deal with the issues that caused the addiction. Substance addiction can be ended, allowing the person to live a healthy, productive life.

If you need a counsellor or psychologist to help you address the effects of substance addiction, you can search the directory below to find a professional with the approach best suited to your situation.

Dissociative disorders are common reactions, or defenses, to traumatic or stressful situations. It is normal for someone who has experienced a severe isolated trauma, or repeated traumas, such as abuse or domestic violence, to develop a dissociative disorders.

The main symptom of dissociative disorders is the fact that it alters a person's sense of identity, consciousness or memory. These symptoms are no less common than depression or anxiety, yet many individuals with dissociative disorders are frequently misdiagnosed. It could take years for the correct diagnosis to be made, and therefore, effective treatment is often delayed. During this time, they are often treated for headaches, psychotic symptoms, hearing voices, temper outbursts, poor concentration, memory lapses, mood swings, substance abuse, temper outbursts and more. Common misdiagnosis for dissociative disorders include Bipolar disorder, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, ADHD, and substance abuse.

Experienced mental health professionals know how to spot the hidden symptoms of dissociative disorders. They use scientifically proven diagnostic tests to arrive at the conclusion of dissociative disorders.

A wide range of therapies are used for dissociative disorders. It involves the client talking to the therapist about his or her  condition and related issues. The therapist will help the client understand the causes of the condition and finding coping strategies to cope with stressful situations. In some cases, hypnotherapy can help the client understand what triggered the dissociative disorder.

Some of the other treatment options that have been proven to help dissociative disorders, include creative art therapy and cognitive therapy. Applied by a qualified therapist, these methods can help you change your thinking and find beneficial behaviours that will improve your life.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who offers dissociative disorders therapy to address your symptoms, you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

Eating disorders comprise a range of attitudes and behaviors relating to food and body-image. The three main eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia, and ED NOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified). These conditions manifest to different degrees in different people and can sometimes be mistakenly judged as poor eating habits, or a lack of willpower.

People with eating disorders don't eat in harmony with their bodies' needs, instead, people with Anorexia Nervosa eat much less than they need, while Bulimia sufferers binge and then induce vomiting. They may also do other things to compensate for overeating, including exercising or fasting. ED NOS combines any combination of the other two conditions.

Apart from the physical symptoms and behaviors above, someone with an eating disorder will generally also have poor self-esteem and obsessively research or talk about food, dieting or exercise. Poor body image will cause them to either wear clothes that cover up every inch of their bodies, or flaunt  in order to attract attention. They will find it hard to accept criticism and compliments.

Therapy for eating disorders depend on the patient. While some people respond well to short term outpatient treatment, others respond better to long-term inpatient treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy and family therapy are long term treatments that have been proven to be effective, while group therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapies and feminist therapies work for people who will respond well to short term therapy.

Family therapy is often advised for children and adolescents who are experiencing eating disorders. Research has also shown dialectical behavioral therapy to be effective.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who addresses eating disorders, you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.