Addiction Recovery

Addiction is a family disease. The addicted person becomes the focus in the family. If the addict is sober, everyone relaxes; if high, everyone is tense. To relieve the tension, family members may try to pretend the addiction does not exist, minimize the extent of the problem, or cover it up to protect the family secret. To compensate for the dysfunction, they may try to be perfect, charming, or funny. They may stay away from home to get away from the chaos. Often, communication becomes faulty and feelings are ignored.

Recovery is a family process, too. If the family does not change, the family disease will persist and the addicted person will have an excuse to continue with addictive behaviors. It is up to each family member to look at his or her own behavior and come to understand how the disease has affected them. Family members need to find healthy ways to change for themselves. Family members must get well simultaneously but separately. Later, family members can work on healing family relationships if additional work is needed.

If you have a loved one who is in recovery, here are some suggestions for you and your recovering family:

• Understand the Disease

  Addiction is a chronic disease. Refer to the article, Why an Addicted Brain Makes Such Poor Decisions, Recovery Solutions, August 2005, for a comprehensive explanation of what happens in an addicted brain. It is important that you recognize that your loved one cannot get well by willpower alone and, while there are medications that provide much help in managing moods and cravings, the addict will have serious work ahead to maintain a sober lifestyle.

• Have Realistic Expectations

  We often blame addiction on a host of behaviors that may not be caused by it. A husband who used to watch sports all weekend while he drank beer will not become a Read the rest of this entry »

It is heartbreaking for most of us to think about teenage drug addiction. The statistics show that the majority of our children have been involved in at least some type of drug use before they even enter into high school. The younger the child is when they start experimenting, the better the chance is that they become addicted and end up in some type of drug rehab facility.

Most parents want to believe that their children will not drink alcohol, smoke marijuana, or try other drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine, and prescription drugs sold on the street for entertainment purposes. Drug use is most common with teens that have started drinking and it is proven that the teen that drinks is more likely to suffer from teenage drug addiction.

There have been many cases of teenage drug addiction that involve teens that are barely in junior high, the problem is getting worse in America and our children are the ones who are suffering. Simply talking to your kids about drug use and alcohol is a great way to prevent them from experimenting and becoming addicted. Teenage drug addiction is usually due to a trauma in their life, self esteem issue, or some form of abuse in their home, but this does not mean that your straight A’ student that lives in a happy home and is the star of the football team is immune.

We as parents have to talk to our kids about drug use and teenage drug addiction, making it clear that we are willing to answer their questions with honesty and without judgment. The amount of teens in drug rehab facilities is growing and the problem seems as if it will not go away. We can not ignore the problems in our children’s lives and ignore the signs when they are acting out to ask for our help.

If you feel that you have a child suffering from teenage drug addiction, the first thing you have to do is talk to your child. Be prepared fo Read the rest of this entry »

There comes a time when it is time to see a Professional. Be it a Doctor, Counsellor, Social Worker, Psychologist or Psychiatrist. The Anxiety of telling it like it is and your ongoing Addiction of the mind and body will, more than likely mean you will lie through your teeth. Try not to. Normally by this stage of your journey you are not feeling too great. In many cases you will going just to keep the family off your back. Fair enough. At least you have started on the road to recovery. Those initial appointments are probably conducted with you as a disbelieving shell of your former shelf. “How in the hell can these guys help me? They have no idea how bad I feel. Look at them with their sweet smelling offices and a grumpy receptionist at the front?” In you go, more than likely fueled by your favourite brew or pill. I recall leaving one appointment and immediately cracking a brew open in my car followed by an old fashioned puke. My attention span could be measured in seconds rather than hours.

The terrible truth is that all those Professionals are way ahead of you. Been there. Got that T Shirt. They generally have seen it all before and nothing you can tell them will knock them out of their stride. So you got pissed three weeks ago, stayed pissed, wrecked the family runaround, shagged the pastors wife, knocked the boss on his behind and ran up a debt of thousands at the local betting shop. All this while your wife and kids had no food at home. And you think you are unique and hard done by. Well have I got news for you. YOU ARE NOT. Join the club and take a number please.

As I staggered into their offices I used to wonder what they thought of me. Pity? Disgust? Compassion? The reality is that the vast majority are well qualified and experienced in dealing with the difficult cases. You are probably nothing unique to them. Alcoholism and Depre Read the rest of this entry »