ADDICTION, depression and other such life-controlling issues can be a destructive force, and admitting you need help can be incredibly difficult.

For those in need of support, a group in Okehampton offers a helping hand to everyone who needs it.

Living Free is a support group for people who have 'life-controlling issues' such as addiction, that they would like to deal with. The group meets weekly on a Tuesday evening and can offer either group or one-on-one sessions.

The group aims to provide those who come for help with 'tools' to use to deal with the stresses faced on a daily basis. These tools include methods to deal with issues, or providing healthy attitudes to adopt towards the stresses members face. In turn these attitude changes will assist in exchanging unhealthy coping behaviours with healthy ones.

The support group was set up in November 2009 by a group of professionals in Okehampton who saw a need for such a group, offering support and advice to people with addiction and other related problems.

A minister from a local church, a GP, two councillors, a drugs counsellor and two members of staff from Gilead Foundations Charity formed a committee to create the group.

Laura Bird works for the Gilead Foundations Charity, which offers a residential rehabilitation programme for people suffering with compulsive behaviours such as drug and alcohol addictions.

She is heavily involved with Living Free and explained to the Times how the group offers a crucial lifeline to those needing help.

She said: 'At Living Free we help people with the main addictions, like alcohol and drugs. But we also want to help those with other problems, like depression, eating disorders and anxiety.

'We want to work with all sorts of people and have an open door for them to come along and get help. Some people who come to us are just a bit stuck.

'The conditions we see can be life-threatening.

'Addiction to alcohol or drugs can threaten life in an obvious way. But those suffering with anxiety and depression can be just as much at risk.

'People can become addicted to self-harm, using physical pain to take away from their emotional pain. Eating disorders can lead to health problems and eventually become life-threatening themselves.

'There are many different groups around Okehampton to help people facing problems. But I think this is possibly the only evening session of its type in the town.

'It got started when a group of people in the town saw the gap, identified the need for such an evening group and it has gone from there.

'Taking that first step can be really hard. It can be very hard for people to come to that first meeting.

'To admit they have a problem and seek help. We find that once they come and realise we are OK and Living Free is non a judgmental environment, a place they can feel safe and welcome, they tend to come back.

'Nobody who comes to Living Free will ever be judged. Nothing they say will ever be judged. That is so important to all the work we do. We just want to help people, to let them know we are here to help.'

A user of the group explained how the group has helped them.

They said: 'When I first contacted Living Free, I really didn't know what I wanted or needed. I just knew what I didn't want.

'I didn't want to have a drink problem like other members of my family had.

'I wasn't really drinking a lot, but I was drinking more than I wanted to. I'd vow to have a rest for a few weeks and find myself with a glass in my hand just days later.

'I'd vow to lose weight and find myself eating foods I was trying to avoid. I wanted to work out why I was behaving like this and how to make better choices.

'I was quite nervous going there for the first time, afraid it would mean I had a "problem".

'I remember thinking, "I'll just go once, just to see". I was made so welcome and received so much support and help, I am still attending the groups almost two years later.

'Living Free has tools that help you work out why you behave the way you do, where habitual behaviour comes from, why we repeat the same patterns.

'More importantly, it teaches you how to take control again and get your life back, free from negative habits and coping behaviours.

'How do you know if Living Free can help you? Ask yourself one question: Am I doing anything that I'd rather not do? If the answer is yes, then Living Free can help you too.'

If you would like to know more about Living Free or would like to join the group on a Tuesday evening, call Laura Bird on 0300 321 4804.