Category: Understanding Addiction

A Recovery Roadmap to Discovering Your Value

Treatment, Understanding Addiction

A-Recovery-Roadmap-to-Discovering-Your-ValueRecovery is a life-long journey that fueled by understanding the root of an addiction problem. Recovery also helps you learn coping mechanisms to help enjoy life as a healthy and happy individual.

Many treatment facilities utilize a recovery “roadmap.” A recovery roadmap will have several stages that will help you reach key milestones.

  1. Getting Started
    This first phase can last from the first few days to the first few weeks. This phase involves completing a detoxification program and getting substance abuse treatment, as well as a recommendation for placement in a treatment facility. You will enroll in your chosen program and start your psychosocial therapy meetings.
  2. Early Recovery
    The second phase generally lasts anywhere from six weeks to three months. In phase two, participants learn to change their behaviors. You will begin working on your personal problems and learn how to control personal emotions. At this point, you will also become active in a self-help program, such as the 12 step program.
  3. Recovery Maintenance
    The third phase lasts anywhere from two months to one year. Phase 3 offers benefit from continued participation in outpatient substance abuse treatment sessions. You will be putting your prevention plan into action and learn new coping mechanisms. Phase 3 helps improve on personal issues, educational and career dreams, while you work alongside support groups.
  4. Continued Recovery
    This phase lasts for the rest of your life. If necessary, you will continue to participate in support groups and work on becoming more independent and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The goal in continued recovery is to maintain independence and develop positive interests and new hobbies.

A treatment facility also makes it a priority to personalize programs for each individual by being mindful of their strengths and interests so they are primed for success. Once on a path to successful recovery, you’re empowered to rebuild self-esteem and rediscover your value.

Teen Drug Abuse

Education, Understanding Addiction

Teen-Drug-AbuseA parent’s worst nightmare came true for Rod Bridge, of Perth, Australia, when his son Preston died in a drug-related accident. In this particular case, the drug had been sold as LSD when in fact it was a counterfeit psychedelic called NBOM-e. The high-school student was killed in a fall from a hotel balcony while under the influence.

The substance, originally a research chemical, has been duplicated by underground chemists. It’s hard enough to enforce existing drug laws; authorities around the world are having difficulty stemming the tide of new drugs that evade being listed as illegal.

From a parent’s perspective, the fact of the drug world being as open and available as a candy store (Preston Bridge bought his alleged LSD online via “the Silk Road” for two dollars) is frightening. Parents are cautioned to watch for signs that may indicate experimentation with drugs, but adolescent behavior can have so many challenging aspects—rebellion, secrecy, recklessness, etc.—that it’s difficult to discern what is normal behavior and what might be incipient teenage drug abuse.

Until it becomes not so difficult. A young person’s drug problem can be chalked off to “typical teen behavior” for only so long before reality sets in—reality that has to be acknowledged, understood, coped with, and responded to.

The initially most agonizing thing for parents of drug-abusing children is that the parents will know something is going on, but the child will deny it. The parents, in the early stage, want so badly to believe that this problem hasn’t intruded into their lives that they will deny what common sense tells them. This is a setup for eventual disappointment, resentment, and alienation for the parents (the child is already experiencing alienation and resentment).

Here are a few signs that teenage drug abuse may be occurring:

  • School performance drops suddenly
  • Change of friends
  • Sleep patterns change (can’t get up in morning, sleeps in afternoon, or—conversely—is wide awake for inappropriately long times)
  • Deceptive and furtive behavior, dishonesty
  • Argumentative or sullen and withdrawn
  • Loses interest in formerly loved sports or hobbies
  • Sudden weight loss and/or change of appearance

As with a physical illness, parents will—if the above signs are present—need to enter into an entirely new world of awareness, education, and coping strategies. There will be conflicting advice. There will be internal conflicts between the parents, and the drug-abusing teen will exploit these conflicts.

Resources are available for parents entering this new world (or already immersed in it). Al-Anon Family Groups has meetings and valuable printed material.

If you, or someone you care about, needs help for a drug or alcohol addiction,
contact us at 1-888-457-3518 US, 0-808-120-3633 UK or 1-800-990-523 AU.
We’re here to help you take that first important step.

Substance Abusers and Families Often Suffer From Guilt

Understanding Addiction

Substance-Abusers-and-Families-Often-Suffer-From-GuiltGuilt, even if unacknowledged, runs rampant in the minds of substance abusers and their family members. Because denial is the No. 1 symptom of alcoholism and drug addiction, guilt may go unrecognized at first, but it plays a major role in the family dynamics of addiction. For the addicts, guilt results from the embarrassment to themselves and their loved ones caused by their behavior and their lack of responsibility for their actions. Guilt also gives them a false excuse for continuing to drink or use because alcohol and drugs alter their reality and enable them to hide from their feelings.

Denying feelings

Substance abusers are masters at making excuses for their excessive and obsessive use of alcohol or drugs. They see themselves as victims, and they can offer up untold reasons why they do what they do. The underlying reason, however, is to stop feeling how they are feeling. They may be angry or sad. They may feel afraid or insecure. They may even be joyful and exhilarated and want to enhance those feelings. As their drinking and using increases, the guilt they feel over their behavior also increases. They become trapped in the cycle of addiction. Recovery involves taking a serious look at the emotions underlying substance abuse and dealing with the guilt.

Family embarrassment

Family members begin to take on the emotional symptoms of addiction, including guilt. They become anxious and worried about the consequences of the addict’s behavior. They worry about paying the bills or the possibility of abuse. They suffer embarrassment when others see the foolish behavior caused by drinking and using. In an effort to control the addict’s behavior, they begin to wonder if something they are doing is causing the addict to drink or use. They want to solve the problems endured by the addict and the family members, so they grasp at every possibility, either real or imagined. Spouses, for example, may think they can change their partners by trying to become more attractive and appealing, or by manipulating and pleading. When families participate in recovery, they gather tools for letting go of guilt and learn new ways to conduct their own lives.

Can Drugs Cause Mental Illness?

Articles, Understanding Addiction

Can Drugs Cause Mental IllnessDrug addiction and other mental illnesses can be co-occurring disorders, and it is often the case that one causes the other. If an underlying disorder such as depression or anxiety is a pre-existing condition, substance abuse may develop in response. The person may find relief in self-medication and, upon repetition, not only develop a dependency but also exacerbate the original problem, resulting in what is referred to as comorbidity.

On the other hand, where there is no pre-existing condition, but drug experimentation elevates to abuse and dependency, the long-term effects of the drug being used can result in the emergence of other types of mental illness, ranging from moderate to severe.

Most studies indicate a clear correlation between amphetamine use and acute psychosis. Although in many cases the condition is resolved by abstinence, in others there are spontaneous relapses (of psychosis). “Flashbacks” to prior psychotic episodes can be triggered by stress. As not all amphetamine abusers experience psychosis, it is unclear whether the syndrome is caused by the drug (or by the associated lack of sleep, hydration, and nutrition) or an underlying, pre-existing tendency is being triggered by the drug.

There is evidence that marijuana can induce psychosis, and hallucinogens such as psilocybin and LSD can trigger episodes, although these latter substances are not considered addictive. Extended heavy marijuana use can more likely promote depression, but abstinence, aided by treatment, can ameliorate or even eliminate the effects.

Long-term abuse of alcohol can produce a number of mental-health problems, including depression, anxiety, paranoia, phobias, and suicidal tendencies. Whether or not these conditions were pre-existing, perhaps at sub-clinical levels, alcoholism can, over time bring about the full expression of any or all of these problems to the extent that dual-diagnosis is appropriate for treatment. As most current alcoholics also abuse drugs and most drug addicts abuse alcohol, the likelihood of another mental health condition arising is high.

Sponsors Provide Spiritual Direction in Recovery

Articles, Treatment, Understanding Addiction

Sponsors Provide Spiritual Direction in RecoveryOne of the most difficult decisions for people in alcohol recovery programs is giving up the stubborn self-pride that tells them they can “do it alone.” The notion of having a sponsor, which is a valued part of Alcoholics Anonymous, often makes them fearful or resentful. They may be willing to work the 12 Steps, albeit reluctantly, but draw the line at having an AA sponsor. Because direction of another person who has experienced alcohol addiction and knows the roller coaster of recovery makes a difference, it is important to answer the question: What is an AA sponsor?

Simply put, an AA sponsor is someone who has accumulated some years in the program and who can offer spiritual guidance. Balanced recovery includes spiritual and emotional growth, as well as lifestyle changes. It is much more than “white-knuckle” sobriety, which means putting down the alcohol but making no attempt to change one’s thinking and behavior. The person who understands the struggle of recovery best is someone who has accomplished it and who continues to focus on a spiritual way of living.

Experience, strength and hope

An AA sponsor is someone who shares experience, strength and hope with a newcomer. Most people choose their sponsors after listening to the sharing in meetings. When they hear someone whose story is similar or who is truly experiencing the joy of living, they may ask that person to sponsor them. The AA sponsor serves as a spiritual guide, listening and making suggestions.

Spiritual advisor

Following the guidance of a sponsor requires trust, and the steps of recovery deal with issues of character – self-worth, honesty, reliability, and compassion. These are spiritual traits, and the AA sponsor is a spiritual guide. AA sponsorship does not involve any particular religious belief, nor is it linked to any denomination. Developing spiritual strength improves the chances of living a sober life without relapse. Many failed attempts at trying to stay sober without the help of an AA sponsor is enough to convince most people to seek the guidance of someone who can give clear-cut direction.