Addiction seems to start out innocently enough. Although there ARE drugs and substances that can make an addict overnight, in most situations, addiction evolves progressively. Substance use and behavior is generally rooted in pleasant experiences that release endorphins to the brain and body. These experiences are often so pleasant that people just can’t get enough. Therefore, they often begin a pattern of behavior in an effort to experience the pleasure they felt initially.
A great analogy to define someone who is addicted is that of being enslaved to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming to the extent that using the drug and/or the suddenly stopping the drug may create a crisis of some kind...whether physical, emotional, financial or relational. It is a lose/lose situation: 'If you use, you could die; If you don't use, you could die.' For the alcoholic, this is the later stages of addiction where death could occur. You may have heard that for the alcoholic one drink is TOO MANY and a thousand is NEVER ENOUGH. Hence, the inability to stop using despite the desire to do so due to physiological, psychological, spiritual and emotional consequences.
The first step to successful addiction counseling is coming to terms with the nature of the beast and understanding that things have gotten to the point where YOU are the slave and the DRUG is the master. It enslaves your mind, your body and your emotions. This is known as powerlessness. You have probably heard it before, "doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results." This is a perfect place to gain humility and acceptance which is necessary during the process of recovery. THIS is where we begin the journey to hope and healing.
When a person is addicted, the focus of living is directed into obtaining the chemical of choice. You can easily feel as though you have no control over your life or your actions. The good news is that the stage of addiction can be arrested and recovery is possible. The bad news is that, in most cases, you can’t do it alone.
Addiction counseling and recovery is for everyone of every age. Children, teens, adults and even the elderly battle dependencies that have wrecked lives. Successful addiction recovery counseling doesn't just focus on the object of addiction, but also the underlying issues that lead to addictions in the first place. If the object of addiction is addressed at the exclusion of the underlying and surrounding issues, relapse is a likely to happen.
Addiction counseling takes many forms, including one-on-one, in-person sessions with an addiction counselor, group sessions, 12-step programs, online addiction counseling, outpatient treatment programs, inpatient rehabilitation services and/or hospitalization. The important thing is to understand that there is a problem and that help is available.
Addiction doesn't just affect the addict, but it also affects friends, families, spouses, children, coworkers and even clients or customers. For those who love the addict, their role in relation with the newly recovering addict will also change. This could lead to much resentment and confusion. Therefore, it is important that they, too, undergo a period of recovery from potentially enabling the addict to continue his use while catering to his or her needs out of fear, love or simply not knowing how to address the situation. Loved ones often have become addicted to the addict being 'sick' where they, themselves, are the 'caretaker'. Once the addict begins to recover, the caretaker is no longer needed and will then begin their own process of recovery through support, education and healing from co-dependence.
If you need help and guidance understanding addiction and getting into recovery, reach out. There are many tried and true methods that can be a great start for you as well as some new protocols that might make getting into recovery a little easier and a lot less frightening.