RP
Rao Psychiatry
Thoughtful Care. Personalized for you.
Substance Use & Addictive Behavior Treatment in Dallas
Understanding what the substance or behavior is doing for you.
Alcohol, marijuana, illicit drugs, nicotine, and compulsive behaviors involving pornography or sex can gradually interfere with health, relationships, work, judgment, finances, or the law — and the line between use and a problem isn't always obvious. These struggles are common: the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 48.4 million Americans age 12 and older — 16.8% of the population — met criteria for a substance use disorder. Substance use often coexists with depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, bipolar illness, or sleep problems, so understanding what the substance is doing for a person — relieving anxiety, aiding sleep, easing loneliness — is often key to changing it. Recovery can mean different things for different people, from harm reduction to sobriety, and relapse is treated as information rather than failure.
How do I know if my use has become a problem?
The line isn't always obvious, especially once a behavior becomes part of everyday life. Dr. Rao helps evaluate the impact on your health, relationships, work, and functioning.
Is recovery only about becoming completely sober?
No. Recovery can mean harm reduction, treating an underlying condition, rebuilding relationships, or learning to tolerate difficult emotions — it looks different for each person.
What if I relapse during treatment?
A relapse or setback is treated as information about what still needs attention, not as a reason to end the conversation.
Does substance use often relate to other conditions like anxiety or ADHD?
Often, yes. Substance use frequently coexists with depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, bipolar illness, or sleep problems, which Dr. Rao evaluates together.