Addiction Therapy Explained: What to Expect and How it Works
When you hear the word addiction, your mind might immediately go to alcohol or drugs. But the reality is, addiction takes many forms and it’s not always about substances. According to Webster’s Diction, addiction is “a compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity having harmful physical, psychologic, or social effects and [that can] typically causing well-defined symptoms (such as anxiety, irritability, tremors, or nausea) upon withdrawal or abstinence.”
At Restartt, our Addiction Therapy services don’t just focus on substances like alcohol or drugs. We also work with individuals struggling with gambling, pornography, shopping, compulsive eating, and other behaviors that feel impossible to control; even when they start to affect daily life, relationships, or emotional well-being.
Discomfort Anxiety
Our therapist are trained to view addiction as a result of unhealthy coping mechanisms, rooted in what we call discomfort anxiety. Discomfort anxiety arises when you believe that a thought, feeling, or belief is so unbearable that you must escape it immediately. That escape—through alcohol, porn, overspending, or any other compulsive behavior—may offer short-term relief, but often leads to longterm consequences.
When we try to withhold or abstain from a habit-formed behavior, discomfort shows up. We might tell ourselves “I can’t handle this,” and return to the behavior to make the feelings go away. At Restartt, we help you review these vulnerable moments and overcome them—not just by resisting the behavior, but by challenging the irrational beliefs that create it and changing your perspective on what you can handle.
How do I Know I’m Addicted?
One common concern we hear from clients is: “I got really drunk at my birthday party. Does this mean I’m an addict?” This is where education matters. Addiction is not defined by a single bad night. Together, we explore what led up to the behavior, what consequences followed, and whether a deeper pattern might by emerging. Sometimes it’s addiction; other times, it’s a lapse in discipline, coping, or emotional regulation.
To help clarify the difference, we often look at three key markers of addiction:
Frequency: How often is the behavior happening? Are you engaging in it daily or multiple times a week?
Intensity: How strong is the urge or craving? Do you feel overwhelmed, anxious, or irritable when trying to resist it?
Duration: How long has this been going on? Is this a recent habit, or has it become a long-standing pattern that’s getting harder to break?
These questions can help identify when something shifts from occasional behavior into a cycle of addiction.
At Restartt, we don’t label, we listen, educate, and guide. Whether you’re worried about a recent behavior or navigating a long-term struggle, our harm reduction approach empowers you to take realistic compassionate steps forward.
