Category: International

drug addiction

Stop Trying To Hide Your Addiction

Articles, International, Understanding Addiction

The amount of men and women currently struggling with addiction is quite frightening. Many will hide this fact from themselves and their loved ones far longer than they should.

We will consider why professional assistance is a must, but first let’s understand why addiction is allowed to deepen.

Embarrassment:

Many addicts are too embarrassed to admit their problem. They feel it will bring shame and disappointment upon themselves. This excuse cannot and must not be used.

There is no shame in admitting that addiction currently has the better of you. Indeed, it is a very brave and sensible thing to do.

In all likelihood those closest to you will be aware that you have a problem. The longer you refuse to discuss it and keep it hidden, the deeper addiction will become, the deeper personal problems will become, and the more you will damage your physical and mental health.

Denial:

This is the cornerstone of addiction. Anyone who is addicted to something will work extremely hard to convince themselves that the problem is nowhere near as serious as it really is. This denial then spreads itself into defiance towards anyone who tries to raise the topic.

The addict will vehemently deny any comments and vigorously deny there is a problem, but this stance is only fooling themselves.

It is crucial for an addict to end denial. Until they do so there will be no attempt to seek much needed help for their problem.

Those closest want to help:

While the fear of anger and disappointment prevents many addicts from seeking the help of those closest to them these thoughts must also be overcome.

Confiding in someone close to you will often mean they are only too keen to help in any way they can. Of course, they will be upset, perhaps shocked, but they will also be relieved that you have finally admitted the seriousness of your problem and will then look at ways to help.

This help can take different forms:

An immediate benefit for the addict is that this admission will take a huge weight of their shoulders and hidden fears can be revealed.

Those willing to help will often take it upon themselves to research and understand more about your current addiction. They will encourage you to visit your doctor, the local outpatient rehab clinic or to contact an inpatient rehab establishment and talk with a counsellor.

From these contacts and the advice received it will make an informed decision on what treatment will suit best far easier.

Their support can make the difference:

Treatment for addiction will not be a walk in the park. It will require self-determination and courage to get through, but the love and support of those closest to you can make a huge difference during what is certain to be a trying period for all concerned.

What needs to be remembered is that leaving addiction behind is a very real possibility. Countless men and women have achieved this in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

intervention alcohol

Can An Interventionist Help You?

Articles, Education, International, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Watching a loved one spiral deeper into addiction of any kind can be frustrating, heartbreaking, stressful and infuriating.

It is a given you will have tried:

Those closest to the addict will have tried many ways to convince them that professional help is needed because of the damage they are doing to themselves and the anguish it is causing those closest to them.

The problem is that addiction changes the way the brain works. Addicts do not always think rationally, sensibly, or as you would expect them to. The draw from their substance of choice is an extremely powerful one.

Even if they realise the damage this is causing they will not stop because their need is far stronger.

Where to next?

When trying to help an addict it is important that you understand as much as possible about their addiction. There are endless resources available on-line relating to every type of addiction.

Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss the problem in confidence and contact a local self-help group to seek advice on the different ways to deal with your loved one’s addiction.

Armed with such knowledge and insight you will be in a much stronger position to re-approach the addict.

Consider the use of an interventionist:

While this step may not be for everyone it is something that should be considered if the addict will not listen to your reasoning in terms of the professional help needed.

It must be understood that employing an interventionist will cost money. They are professionally qualified men and women who deal with addiction and as such are paid for their services.

Benefits of an interventionist:

If you have been unable to persuade the addict they need help then you need help to convince them this is the case.

In many cases a professional interventionist can be the difference that makes the addict sit up and listen. Confronting the addict with intervention assistance will not be an overnight occurrence. The interventionist will want to discuss things with you and any other family members or friends who will be involved.

This includes, but is certainly not limited to:

  • Understanding the background of the addict and personal history details.
  • Understanding their addiction history.
  • Understanding the substance or addiction they are currently saddled with.
  • What their recent and current state of mind is. Are they aggressive or hostile towards any attempts at assistance?
  • What steps have been taken to try and persuade the addict to seek help?
  • Have they received addiction treatment in the past?
  • Relationships of those family members or friends who will be involved in the actual intervention.

What you need to consider:

While telephone and/or e-mail contact will be essential it is also very important that you meet with the interventionist at least once before the actual intervention meeting with the addict takes place.

You need to understand such things as what qualifications they have, their experience relating to the addiction in question, their success rate in persuading addicts to accept treatment and what treatment options are available.

It is also crucial that all those involved understand how things will proceed and their role during the meeting.

Interventions are not for everyone:

This type of assistance may not suit everyone, but if all else has failed in terms of persuading your loved one to seek help it is certainly a route that is worthy of consideration.

inpatient rehab

What To Expect During An Inpatient Rehab Stay

Articles, Education, International, Treatment, United Kingdom, United States

Many men and women who are dependent upon drugs or alcohol to get them through their day will at some stage realise that professional help is needed.

While this help is available in a variety of guises, it is felt that an initial inpatient stay at a respected rehabilitation establishment is an extremely positive way to begin any recovery process.

We will explain what to expect and break this into two sections:

Facilities:

A respected inpatient rehab establishment will have been constructed and designed with healing in mind.

There will be comfortable, private accommodation with necessary facilities such as a bathroom, perhaps a small kitchenette, bed, seating, air-conditioning where required and often a private outside area with table and chair for relaxation and reflection.

The grounds will be part-landscaped gardens with other sections of natural habitat. These relaxing outdoor areas will offer additional reflection areas for those who wish to be alone as well as communal areas where socialising with other clients is encouraged.

A swimming pool is a common addition as is a fitness area with equipment. Then there may well be a yoga and/or meditation room along with massage facilities and therapy rooms.

The communal dining facilities will be set aside where 3-set meals each day will be served. Recovering from addiction requires routine. Set, communal meals are one of the small considerations that add to others in terms of the greater good of such a routine.

Treatment:

  • Therapy and counselling: It is recognized that everyone has their own individual needs. To this extent a personal counsellor will be allocated. It is expected that a healthy rapport be quickly established and in-depth discussions on a client’s history and the reasons they are unable to stop substance abuse understood.
  • Individually tailored: From these frank, open discussions with your counsellor a recovery plan will be agreed and put into place.
  • Group sessions: This is where clients staying together will discuss their current dependence issues and experiences.
  • Mindfulness sessions: These sessions are vital to help calm and relax a client
  • Fitness regimen: It is important to keep active. A daily fitness/exercise program will be put in place that is also tailored to the level of the client’s abilities.
  • “Homework”: Many establishments have working booklets with exercises that need completing either individually or as a group.
  • Progression update: During these sessions progress will be reviewed and new goals set. The intention is to leave behind those habits that are causing addiction.
  • Relapse prevention: These sessions are vital. They will help a client understand what personal triggers are responsible for potential relapse. How to identify them quickly and how to avoid them. Situations that cause a relapse come in many forms.
  • Weekly excursions: This is something all clients look forward to. A trip to the local sights, markets or an adventurous day out happens on a weekly basis. This is not only fun and interesting, it also builds a strong camaraderie with others fighting to leave their addiction behind.
  • Aftercare: This is another vital part of the healing process and aftercare options will be discussed and agreed before a client leaves the establishment.

A glimpse from the outside of inpatient treatment:

The above is just a snapshot of what is offered. Hopefully it is enough for those currently suffering from substance dependence to delve deeper in search of recovery.

alcohol tolerance

Are You Building An Ever-Growing Tolerance To Alcohol?

Articles, Australia, Education, International, United States

There is no real stigma attached to alcohol partly because it is legally available in many countries worldwide.

Brief overview of positives and negatives:

Alcohol is an expected ‘ingredient’ at celebratory events such as birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. It is a regular partner at dinner parties, and there is no doubting that it can add to social gatherings.

Having said these positive things, here are a few negatives: Just because it is illegal does not mean it is not addictive. Drinking to excess can lead to physical, psychological, relationship and social problems, and very importantly, it changes the way a person thinks and acts while under its influence.

Building a tolerance is not too difficult:

Drinking alcohol in moderation is not seen as being a problem, but the one word that stands out here is “moderation”.

The body and mind enjoy and appreciate alcohol, what needs to be guarded against is allowing them to enjoy it too much!

If a person drinks regularly and excessively, or goes on regular binge drinking sessions then they are guaranteed to build a tolerance to alcohol. This means the more you drink, the more that is required to achieve the same effects as previously felt.

There is no ceiling to this tolerance. It will simply keep on growing with the result that a person drinks greater and greater quantities. This habit will eventually lead to a dependence upon alcohol simply to function. They will be unable to get through the day without alcohol.

Signs that drinking is growing into a dependence:

There are many signs and symptoms of a growing alcohol dependence. Here are 6 to consider:

  • Increasing preoccupation: It is natural to think and look forward to meeting up with friends for a drink, but if your thoughts turn more and more towards when the next ‘session’ is going to be, it could be leading you down the dependence path.
  • Activities fall by the wayside: Activities, hobbies or pastimes you once thoroughly enjoyed are forgotten or rarely taken up because drink is becoming ever more important.
  • No self-control: You promise yourself that you will limit your intake before drinking begins, but end up drinking far too much and far more than you initially intended to.
  • Violent or irrational behaviour: People react differently when they have had too much to drink. Some put on a smiley face, others fall asleep, but if you feel more aggressive, look for trouble or regularly cause controversy then your drinking must be curbed before it gets you into real trouble.
  • Memory loss: Struggling to remember parts of the evening, or more worryingly suffering blackouts is a sign that you are drinking far too much.
  • The morning after: The vast majority of us have suffered the occasional hangover and it is not at all pleasant, but if you are increasingly waking up hungover and decide the best cure is to have a drink, help is needed.

Listen to others:

If loved ones or those closest to you comment that your drinking is getting out of hand please listen to them. It is quite often the case that the last person to realise they have a problem with drinking is the person themselves. The earlier excessive drinking can be addressed, the better.

taking drugs

Why Do People Take Drugs?

Articles, Education, International, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Leaving aside the need for drugs to help people with medical conditions let us consider why so many people take drugs.

Rebellion with a cause:

Throughout life a person is posed with challenges. The period between mid-teens and young adulthood is certainly one that affords unique circumstances that can shape lives.

Rebellion is often in mind and can cause a person to go against the grain. They will ignore the advice of parents and older members of society, and in many cases, do exactly the opposite.

A perfect example of this is the use of drugs and alcohol with little knowledge of the actual harm they can cause.

The problem is that what is seen as fun and giving vent to their rebellious streak can very quickly turn into an addiction that is not so easy to lose.

Peer pressure:

This reason for trying drugs can also be linked with a person’s rebellious stage, but also affects adults. Anyone around others who are experimenting or using alcohol and drugs can also feel pressured into trying them.

They do not want to be a minority voice in the group they hang around with and fear that saying “No”, will ostracise them and leave them out in the cold.

Anyone feeling this type of pressure must resist. It is important that a person never does something they are uncomfortable with simply for the sake of doing it.

Walking away from drugs and/or alcohol and withstanding peer pressure will strengthen your resolve and true friends will surely understand the reasons behind your decision.

Experimentation:

Curiosity is a normal trait of life. We are curious to understand how things work, how others live and what effects certain actions or substances can have on ourselves.

For this reason, many will dabble with drugs or alcohol. They will have heard the street-stories of those involved in escapades while high. They will also be given the glossed-over facts of how good certain substances can make a person feel.

What will always remain unsaid in these tales is the negative aspects of drug or alcohol experimentation. The comedown, the negative feelings, and just as importantly the need for more.

Loneliness:

There will be times in life when a person feels completely alone and perhaps is overcome by feelings of emptiness. An easy excuse is turning to drugs or alcohol in the belief that these substances will fill that void.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Indeed, after a heavy session on drugs or alcohol the negative feelings a person had could well be more pronounced.

Emotions:

Very often when a person tries drugs or alcohol it makes them feel good. They think they are forgetting their problems and containing certain emotions.

The use of substances to contain or control emotions often leads to a reliance upon them. This reliance turns into something a person cannot live without as the scope of emotions they mask grow wider.

Many more reasons:

There are many more reasons than the 5 mentioned above but none are valid for excessive use of alcohol or drugs. Such use will quickly turn into abuse and from there addiction awaits.