What is Addiction and how can we help?

Addiction can take over a person's entire life. Not only can it threaten your life, but it can also interfere with personal relationships, jobs, legal issues and overall happiness.
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If you need to take a closer look at your relationship with alcohol and drugs, then I can be of assistance.  I have worked as a drug and alcohol abuse counselor, sober transport, sober companion, and sober coach. I specialize in addiction and understand what it takes to overcome such a debilitating condition. I employ many different approaches to dealing with addiction and tailor the treatment to the needs of the individual. I have both twelve-step and non-twelve-step tools to share. I value transparency and will always be open and honest with my clients about my intentions for their treatment. I consider the treatment process to be a collaborative approach between client and therapist. 

Contact Eric Kruse for an free consultation: Eric.Kruse.Therapy@gmail.com / (310)729-4362

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What is Addiction?

Addiction is the constant urge to engage in something excessively. Alcohol and drugs are a prime example and sometimes people who are addicted do not know it.  If you are uncertain if alcohol or drugs has become a problem for you, then ask yourself the following four questions:

1. Have you ever felt you should cut down on your use?
2. Have people annoyed you by criticizing your use?
3. Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your use?
4. Have you ever had to use first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or ease a hangover/withdrawal symptoms?

If you answered yes to 2 of these questions, then you may want to look more closely at your relationship with substances. 
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​How does addiction impact life?

Relationships, life, and work take time and effort. Energy is a limited resource. The more time and energy you devote to drugs and alcohol, the less energy you will have for the rest of your life.  If you are only content while intoxicated, then your capacity for human connection and relating will falter and deteriorate.  Some addicts can maintain their responsibilities and hold a job. We call them functioning addicts, but their relationships and wellbeing still suffer. ​

What is the cost of not getting help?

Excessive and prolonged drug and alcohol use often results in extreme irritability, confusion, cognitive distortions, depression, sadness, and chronic pain. These consequences are delayed making it difficult for you to recognize what is happening.  The initial response of pleasure eclipses the detrimental effects of the substance.  The longer you use the drug, the worse it gets and the harder it is to seek help.  Many addicts wait until they have lost everything (job, home, finances, relationships, etc.) before they reach out for help.   You don’t have to wait until you have lost everything and everyone in your life. 

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