Category: Australia

Coming off drugs or alcohol is no walk in the park. There are many elements to getting and staying clean, but a major obstacle and a topic we will address is; what’s with the fear of withdrawal.

Ignore increased use at your peril:

What starts out as a bit of fun and an occasional drink or drugs binge can quickly turn into a weekly event where you overindulge. From there it is easy to think that a couple of drinks each day or a little ‘toot’ will not do any harm.

In reality it is leading to great harm. Those couple of drinks will turn into a bottle, the little ‘toot’ will become large.

This is because you become dependent upon the lift and feelings given. Once dependency sets in you will not be able to do without that livener, and ensuring you have access to the alcohol or drug of your choice will become an integral part of your life.

Why not just stop?

So, what’s with the fear of withdrawal if you can simply stop this overindulgence when you please? If only!

Were it possible for each of us to simply turn the tap off after a sustained period of drinking and then turn it on when we fancied another session, or we could consume copious amounts of drugs for a while, stop for as long as we felt like it, and then start again at intervals to suit our mood then a lot of addiction specialists would be searching for something to do with their time.

The truth is, this profession is in constant demand, many are overworked and a good proportion of rehab centres in the west are overflowing with those in need of help.

Many have waiting lists that will immediately discourage an addict from marking time and patiently waiting for such help.

No, or minimal waiting lists is just one of many reasons that for those with addiction issues are opting to start their long term rehab recovery at quality overseas rehab establishments.

This ‘dream’ of controlling heavy drinking or constant drug abuse will never become a reality. Once addiction has its all-enveloping grip on you professional rehabilitation is your only way out.

Fear and Denial:

These two issues are exactly what’s with the fear of withdrawal.

Denial:

Those currently addicted to alcohol or drugs will deny they have a problem. This denial will be regularly reinforced to those closest to them and themselves.

If you are currently in denial then it must be made very clear that such a stance will only get worse. There is no magic wand to help you.

The reality is that deep down you are not fooling those around you and just as importantly you are not fooling yourself.

Fear:

The fear an addict has is very clearly understood by rehab councilors. They understand how fearful you are of not having access to that much needed bottle or ‘hit’, they understand how scary what’s with the fear of withdrawal. But they also have answers and solutions for you.

Through tried, tested and successful treatment and teaching they will help you understand why such fear is nowhere near as frightening as you think it is.

They will clearly explain the uncomfortable symptoms withdrawal brings, and that this tough, but relatively short period of discomfort will rise, peak and then subside.

Once you are through this trying episode their constant help, care and guidance will then assist you with progression and the ultimate aim of looking forward to a drug or alcohol free future.

Help awaits, do not be ashamed to seek it:

Those currently addicted to drugs or alcohol have a stark choice to make.

They can continue with their current lifestyle and face potentially life-threatening physical and psychological health problems.

They can keep drinking themselves into oblivion, or regularly get so out of it that days simply blur into one and bring with it social isolation. If so heartbreak, angst and the ruination of close relationships will be yours.

The answers to what’s with the fear of withdrawal and everything that surrounds addiction are readily available.

There is NO shame whatsoever in seeking professional addiction help. Indeed it is a very brave thing to do.

Those suffering with addiction need to stand up, be counted and contact a well-established inpatient rehab establishment. By doing so it will be the best decision you have made for a very long time.

As continual alcohol and drug use increases in amount, and the periods between each slug or that much needed hit reduces, fear drives addiction to the edge of self-destruction.

We will look at the different ways fear affects those dependent upon alcohol or drugs, but first let’s understand why the use of legal as well as illegal substances need to be regularly increased for ‘satisfaction’.

Tolerance torment:

During the early stages of drug or alcohol use no one expects addiction to become an unwanted companion.

Unfortunately what is not realised or understood is the hugely powerful effect substances such as alcohol, cocaine, its relative; crack, and heroin have on the mind and body.

The fact is, regular abuse of alcohol or drugs leads to a downward spiral. The more you have, the more you need, the more you need the more you want.

This is totally down to tolerance of the mind and body. They both accept your ‘poison of choice’ as readily as a duck takes to water, but this acceptance holds a double-whammy.

The mind and body demand to be fed on a regular basis and to achieve the same ‘high’ as previously experienced they demand more of the same.

To deny them these expectations is frowned upon in the form of withdrawal symptoms that quickly come knocking.

For many such feelings of unease, uncomfortableness and pain give only one answer. That is to quickly put things right by taking another ‘pop’ to soothe oneself.

Fear drives addiction and wears several disguises:

Those dependent upon their regular fix find fear comes upon them in a variety of different ways, here are just two that can devastate a normal lifestyle.

Fear of where your next ‘livener’ is coming from:

Once a user is dependent upon alcohol or drugs they live with thoughts of where and how their next bottle or drug stash is coming from. As this dependence increases so do these unwanted thoughts.

Although many non-users may see that alcohol is far more easily obtained due to is legal status, the fact is that illegal drugs are very often on tap and ‘friendly dealers’ are never in short supply.

Thus that downward spiral mentioned earlier spins rapidly out of control.

Fear drives addiction – The thought of coping without drugs or alcohol:

This really is the killer in more ways than one. Those with dependence issues will deny to themselves and those around them that they are fearful of having to cope without their regular fix.

In reality they are petrified that their supply will be severed. Their need is so deeply entrenched in almost every thought and action that it becomes all-consuming.

Whilst in denial this constant worry will lead only one way; deeper and deeper dependence.

Those who do not reverse such a denial will find this fear can turn into a real killer.

Alcohol kills:

Constant and excessive drinking does very nasty things to the brain and body. It rots the liver, destroys the kidneys and ensures your cardiovascular system has to work overtime to keep the body functioning.

Make no mistake, without facing up to and confronting this fear you are heading to an early grave. It is essential that you seek the assistance of qualified alcohol rehabilitation services if you are to avoid standing on death’s unwanted doorstep.

Drugs debilitate then you die!

Fear drives addiction to drugs in a direction that must be avoided. Tales of tragic overdose cases are all too common, contaminated batches of illegal substances lead to coma and death, shared needles give shared infections that kill.

Drug addiction is not a game. It is a very real and serious situation. It cannot be stressed strongly enough that the longer you continue to deny there is a problem, the more likely you are to die.

Don’t Deny – Be decisive:

Many currently suffering from alcohol or drug addiction feel the world is against them and that they are lost in a haze maze without exits. Please realise this really is not the case.

It is understandable that you are scared, it is fully understood that fear drives addiction, but you cannot and must not let this fear prevent you from taking positive action.

Inpatient rehab facilities have been established for a very good reason. That reason is to help those currently addicted to alcohol or drugs.

They will help an addict accept the unwanted situation they find themselves in, and then progress with proven methods towards a life that is free from the burden of drink and drugs.

If you are one of the millions of men or women who currently THINK you are hiding your drug abuse please reflect on the quotation below.

Abraham Lincoln famously stated “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time”.

So, why do the vast majority of drug users invest a lot of wasted time and effort trying to hide their use from others?

Denial:

Without a shred of doubt, denial is a major factor in both hiding drug use and attempting to convince yourself that you are in control of your drug use and not the other way around.

It is denial that causes you to lie to others about the amount and regularity of your drug use.

It is denial that stops you from seeking help. Many feel ashamed at their reliance on drugs, many others wrongly think that if they ignore such dependence it will simply ‘get better’

Unfortunately those who think this way are wrong on both counts. Here’s why:

Feeling ashamed:

Hiding your drug abuse is a natural reaction to something that is taking over your life. It is very difficult to admit to yourself, let alone others that drugs have currently got the better of you.

While it may appear contradictory; feeling ashamed is nothing to be ashamed of! Yes, feel shame. Yes, feel regret, but NO do not feel sorry for yourself or wallow in self-pity.

It is vital for those currently dependent upon drugs to face up to the fact, admit they have a serious problem, and to seek professional rehabilitation assistance.

When you take such action it will not be shame you feel, but a positive, uplifting reaction in the knowledge that drug addiction can be beaten.

If I ignore it, my drug problem will go away:

If only that was the case! Many who are currently dependent upon drugs try to fool themselves that they can stop use ‘when they are ready’ or, that if they put such thoughts to the back of their mind, the problem will go away.

The reality is that hiding your drug abuse will NOT make it go away, indeed such actions will only lead to deeper dependence and the traumatic lifestyle that addiction offers.

Rather than ignoring your problem it needs to be faced head on, and this is not something you should do alone. There are caring, professional and fully qualified personnel at drug rehab centres that are there to help you overcome your problems.

Please understand that you are not the first, and will most certainly not be the last to fall into the addiction abyss that constant and increased drug use brings.

Telltale signs that tell others!

Let’s take a look at just some of the major signs that are clear to others even though you think you are successfully hiding your drug abuse. Please rest assured there are many more.

General health and appearance:

Your complexion and general health start to wane. Not only do you feel unhealthy, but your appearance takes a turn for the worse. This is often coupled with a disregard for how you dress and your personal hygiene.

The eyes say it all:

Extra-large or dilated pupils are an instant giveaway to others, and NO, wearing sunglasses while indoors does NOT lower suspicion!

As your habit heightens you will regularly excuse yourself to visit the ‘bathroom’. Once your fix has been taken you then bounce back into the room. Such mood swings along with the fact that one moment you are happy and genial, the next sullen and grumpy only add to the awareness of others.

Avoiding obligations:

Work, appointments and social engagements are regularly missed. This is because you either forget about them, or can’t face up to mixing with people who are ‘straight’. This sign is particularly obvious if in your ‘previous life’ you were a happy, outgoing and sociable person.

Things go missing:

Money or items of value mysteriously disappear when you are around. As this increases it will become apparent to those closest to you just exactly why you need additional money.

Take a very important step backwards:

While hiding your drug abuse fools no one but yourself, it is important to understand that your actions, attitude and state of health impact strongly on those around you. You are causing them anguish, despair, heartbreak and angst.

For those currently in the depths of drug dependence it is vital to take a step backwards, wake up and smell the roses, and realise just exactly what harm you are doing to yourself and those around you.

Once this is clear in your mind you will be able to take the first important steps towards drug rehabilitation and

Drug users come in many shapes and forms, outgoing and extrovert, silent and deeply ‘deep’ are just two examples, but what does it do for you? Lights and music or glazed and spaced out?

We will consider the effects certain drugs have on a person, and intersperse this with words of advice relating to the fact that regular and sustained drug use of any kind will leave you in serious need of long term rehab treatment.

Before we get to the differing effects certain drugs can have, let’s consider a question that has no set answer:

Why do so many use substances that are clearly illegal?

It is statistically clear that millions of people across the globe dabble with drugs, even though they know by doing so they are breaking the law of the country they are in.

You will have your own answer, but here are 3 suggestions to set the ball rolling:

Peer Pressure:

Peer pressure is one oft-cited reason. Growing up can be tough, you want to fit in, you want to feel part of the group you hang out with. It therefore follows that if drugs are introduced into this circle that you will feel obliged to ‘have a blast’, ‘take a toot’ or ‘pop a pill’.

Many in their mid to late teens see this as being cool, being ‘in’ and an accepted part of growing up.

One thing is for sure, at this early stage of drug use, lights and music or glazed and spaced out will be a novelty expression you do not yet fully understand.

Thankfully many who try drugs due to peer pressure realise that such a pastime is not for them. As they grow into adulthood an increased knowledge and awareness will reinforce just how dangerous regular drug use is.

Curiosity:

Others try different drugs out of curiosity, they will have read about the effects certain substances have on the mind and body, they will have listened first hand to friends or acquaintances who have ‘dropped a bomb’ or snorted a few lines, and are keen to try things for themselves.

Experimentation:

While this can be linked to curiosity, it is a more worrying trait. Those wishing to experiment with drugs are not likely to stop at one type of drug, but will cast a wider net in search of the different effects on offer.

Wider exposure increases the possibility of sampling a range of drugs with a higher addiction potential. This can quickly lead to a hunger for more of the same on an increasingly regular basis.

Lights and music or glazed and spaced out – The ‘club’ scene:

Those who lean towards such drugs as ecstasy, cocaine and amphetamines are the ones who enjoy getting high at raves, clubs and raucous house parties. These drugs give energy and colour, along with effects that are increased by loud music and bright lights.

Excessive use can mean a long weekend blurs into one continual drugs binge. Regular and sustained sessions such as this are leaving you wide open to health issues, ‘aftermath’ depression and a desperate desire for more.

Continuing to regularly feed this desire will rapidly find you sitting in the dependence depot. Your baggage will include unwanted physical and psychological health problems, and social issues ranging from job loss to devastating relationship breakdowns.

Lights and music or glazed and spaced out – ‘Man’ it can get heavy!

Those wanting to ‘travel’ with deeper thoughts and feelings and experience what they see as their own personal utopia will opt for drugs from the opioid family such as methadone, opium or heroin.

The latter is by far the most common, it is also one of the most addictive drugs out there. Regular use of such drugs is a fast-track to ruination of health and personal relationships.

In the vast majority of cases the only hope of recovery is a challenging stint at an inpatient rehab centre, assuming a fatal infection or overdose does not get you first.

Don’t be fooled – Regular use of any drug is inviting dependence:

While many people who try drugs quickly understand this is not the way to go, many others get caught in the dependence and addiction trap.

Regular, sustained use is something that can creep up on you. What starts out as an occasional blast, becomes a weekly ritual, this then turns into a ‘need to feed’ on a daily basis.

While certainly not condoning ANY drug use, it would be foolish to ignore the fact that millions have access to, and take advantage of a wide variety of drugs.

If you are one of these, please understand that whether you are in it for lights and music or glazed and spaced out experiences one thing is very clear; regular use of these highly addictive substances is leaving you brutally exposed.

Addiction brings many negatives. Amongst these are serious physical and psychological health issues, torment, heartbreak and a period of your life that will never be forgotten.

It is hard to sit back and watch a family member or friend struggle with an alcohol dependence. If you are reading this article, it is likely you are looking for a way to help your loved one who is using alcoholism as a means to cope. The person may or may not want your help, but your are searching for ways to guide him toward recovering from the addiction. Here are some ways you can do to help your loved one with his alcohol dependence issues.

To start, learn as much as you can about addiction. It will aid you to know how to best guide your loved one. There are many reliable websites online to look at to educate yourself about addiction.

Set a specific time to talk to your family member or friend. Decide on a neutral place or a place where the two of you can talk openly about the subject. Make sure you will be able to have the person’s undivided attention and distractions are few. Do not have this conversation when the person has already been drinking. If the person has already been drinking, then he will only be more agitated.

Be honest with the person you care about who is suffering from addiction. If your relative or buddy has an alcohol problem, whether he can see it or not, you should talk with him about it. An alcoholic is typically not willing to bring up his problem addiction because he is ashamed and embarrassed by it. It is often easier to deny he has a problem than talking about it. If the person is dependent on alcohol, then there are possibly numerous ramifications to stopping alcohol use for him, both emotionally and physically. You can approach the person to let him know how worried you are about him. However, do not be surprised if the person reacts negatively to you bringing up your concern about his alcohol use. Instead, be prepared for the resistance you might receive. Also, keep in mind you cannot force anyone to change or want recovery, but you can help him understand why you believe he needs help for his alcoholic tendencies. Do not be judgmental and be sincere when you are talking to your loved one about this topic. Try to put yourself in his shoes and think about how you would want someone to talk to you if a loved one was talking to you about these issues.

Rehearse what you will say before speaking to your family member or friend. Practice positive ways of saying what you want to say, rather than phrasing them in a negative connotation. Prepare yourself for negative responses you may encounter in return. Practice how you will handle the conversation if the person get angry. How will you remain calm and bring the conversation back to a less negative place? Practice with a friend if that will help you feel more relaxed about having this type of conversation with your loved one. Practicing will aid you in feeling more confident while communicating with your loved one about this topic.

If the individual is willing, ask him to make a firm commitment to make a change. Realize the person may mess up along his path to sobriety because committing to change is often very difficult, but asking him to make a commitment will allow some leverage to hold him accountable.

Request others family members or friends to get involved and talk to the alcoholic about his addiction and have them tell him why they see it as a problem. You can seek professional help for yourself and ask your loved one to seek professional help as well. By getting professional help yourself, the counselor can help you learn new ways of talking to your friend and perhaps develop a better plan with you of how to push your loved one toward the path to recovery. Helping a loved one get over an addiction can be taxing on a person’s life, so make sure you are seeking help for your emotional and physical help as well. A counselor can help you deal with the stress you are feeling about your loved one’s addiction too. There are also many support groups set up to help family members and friends of addicts, so those groups might be a good thing to look into to help you deal with your feeling about your loved one’s addiction also. Providing counseling for your loved one will allow a professional to assess his addiction and provide a plan to move forward. A professional can also help the person understand why he needs to go to a treatment facility if necessary and calm his fears related to his recovery process.

Know that it is important to always be there for the person, even throughout the treatment process. Keep in mind, treatment for drinking is not always foolproof the first go around. It may take several tries for the person to remain abstinent from booze. Addiction is a disease and fighting the battle of sobriety is often very difficult. Have patience with your friend or family member when he is recovering from this disease. Encourage him when he messes up instead of shaming him and support him and praise him when he is on the right track. It is also a good idea to find out what he learns throughout his treatment process and help him stay on track with his goals. Be invested long-term to help him continue on his path of recovery. Remember to be supportive, but refrain from being codependent. Do not get so wrapped up in your loved one’s recovery that you lose yourself. If you believe you are codependent, seek help from a professional to overcome these issues in your life too.

The best thing to do when your family member or friend is dealing with alcoholism is to educate yourself. Next, you should rehearse what you want to say to him and, then, talk to him about how it affects your life as well as his life. Ask him to make changes in his life and to get help for his problem. More importantl, be there for him while he is going through the difficult recovery process and removing alcohol from his life. Constantly remind him you are there to support him through his journey to better his life and to have freedom from drinking.