Thursday, March 22, 2007
The Slippery Slope of Drug Usage, Pt 2 of 4
The Slippery Slope of Drug Usage, Pt 2 of 4
A Typical Picture of Drug and Alcohol Addiction by Paul Pribuss MFT
There is another group who discover the drug has enhanced their lives in a variety of questionable ways, which they previously had difficulty achieving. With drug usage they become more popular and fit in with a desirable social group, find a method of rebelling, become less self conscious, take on a false bravado, self medicate depression, lose one’s inhibition, and the list continues on. Typically there is a great degree of fun and excitement associated with early drug use, but as involvement expands a problem or two will start to occur. These problems are easily overlooked or denied and considered “part of the territory”. We start to believe others don’t understand us, families are over involved in our lives, and it becomes easier to avoid scrutiny and isolate, find associates who have similar or worse patterns of use, and in truth continue in our addictive path. What started out to be “a little fun” has now taken a habitual turn. We try to convince ourselves we can control the habit and stop whenever we choose, but when tested, find the pattern more entrenched than anticipated. We may be able to take a brief respite from our use but find we revert back to the old ways in a short amount of time with the same or greater intensity.
What does a life look like, teetering on the verge of addiction? Once again, the view can take on a wide variety of images. On the upper range of the scale an addict is able to ignore the issue because they have friends, family and associates who seem to have a greater problem. Their external world (job/school, marriage/family, material possessions) may not have substantially deteriorated and this becomes the rational to continue on. On closer inspection the deterioration is far greater than acknowledged or realized. Their internal world is in shambles and true quality of life is negligible. At the bottom end of the scale the deterioration is impossible to ignore and has occurred repeatedly. This stage is as bad as I can only imagine and typically involves legal involvement, perceived mental illness, homelessness, loss of most material possessions and alienation from not only family but also any meaningful human contact. Is one stage worse than another? Not really, because the pain and suffering is the real determinate and who can claim superiority or inferiority in this regard?
What transpires in an addict’s life to bring about change? The list or circumstances is endless. Who knows why one person will suffer to the point of jail, psych ward, homelessness and total devastation while another, who is seemingly healthy, decides change is imperative? People in the field of recovery refer to a “moment of clarity” and/or a “miraculous intervention”. These can be difficult terms to accept and often an impediment to accepting help. I like the 12-step phrase “sick and tired of being sick and tired”, which speaks to my experience. I don’t believe it is necessary to lose everything before change can take place, yet realize everybody has to walk their individual path. A family intervention, legal issue, threatened or realized divorce, lost job, financial problems, are all situations the addict chooses to change. There is no one “right way” or “sufficient reason” to get sober!
How do people address their addictions? Again the possibilities as well the results are vast. Typically an addict starts to understand the drug is causing some problem in their life and they feel some urgency to change. Initially, controlled using, cutting back, some reduction in the current pattern, seems to be a logical concept. This is an individual pursuit and promises, agreements and written contracts are established. It becomes apparent this isn’t as easy as it seems and there occur some concessions, changing of the rules and failure before it is time to seek some form of professional help.
This is an article about drug and alcohol addiction therapy by Marin Drug Recovery
A Typical Picture of Drug and Alcohol Addiction by Paul Pribuss MFT
There is another group who discover the drug has enhanced their lives in a variety of questionable ways, which they previously had difficulty achieving. With drug usage they become more popular and fit in with a desirable social group, find a method of rebelling, become less self conscious, take on a false bravado, self medicate depression, lose one’s inhibition, and the list continues on. Typically there is a great degree of fun and excitement associated with early drug use, but as involvement expands a problem or two will start to occur. These problems are easily overlooked or denied and considered “part of the territory”. We start to believe others don’t understand us, families are over involved in our lives, and it becomes easier to avoid scrutiny and isolate, find associates who have similar or worse patterns of use, and in truth continue in our addictive path. What started out to be “a little fun” has now taken a habitual turn. We try to convince ourselves we can control the habit and stop whenever we choose, but when tested, find the pattern more entrenched than anticipated. We may be able to take a brief respite from our use but find we revert back to the old ways in a short amount of time with the same or greater intensity.
What does a life look like, teetering on the verge of addiction? Once again, the view can take on a wide variety of images. On the upper range of the scale an addict is able to ignore the issue because they have friends, family and associates who seem to have a greater problem. Their external world (job/school, marriage/family, material possessions) may not have substantially deteriorated and this becomes the rational to continue on. On closer inspection the deterioration is far greater than acknowledged or realized. Their internal world is in shambles and true quality of life is negligible. At the bottom end of the scale the deterioration is impossible to ignore and has occurred repeatedly. This stage is as bad as I can only imagine and typically involves legal involvement, perceived mental illness, homelessness, loss of most material possessions and alienation from not only family but also any meaningful human contact. Is one stage worse than another? Not really, because the pain and suffering is the real determinate and who can claim superiority or inferiority in this regard?
What transpires in an addict’s life to bring about change? The list or circumstances is endless. Who knows why one person will suffer to the point of jail, psych ward, homelessness and total devastation while another, who is seemingly healthy, decides change is imperative? People in the field of recovery refer to a “moment of clarity” and/or a “miraculous intervention”. These can be difficult terms to accept and often an impediment to accepting help. I like the 12-step phrase “sick and tired of being sick and tired”, which speaks to my experience. I don’t believe it is necessary to lose everything before change can take place, yet realize everybody has to walk their individual path. A family intervention, legal issue, threatened or realized divorce, lost job, financial problems, are all situations the addict chooses to change. There is no one “right way” or “sufficient reason” to get sober!
How do people address their addictions? Again the possibilities as well the results are vast. Typically an addict starts to understand the drug is causing some problem in their life and they feel some urgency to change. Initially, controlled using, cutting back, some reduction in the current pattern, seems to be a logical concept. This is an individual pursuit and promises, agreements and written contracts are established. It becomes apparent this isn’t as easy as it seems and there occur some concessions, changing of the rules and failure before it is time to seek some form of professional help.
This is an article about drug and alcohol addiction therapy by Marin Drug Recovery
Friday, March 16, 2007
The Slippery Slope of Drug Usage, Pt 1 of 4
The Slippery Slope of Drug Usage, Pt 1 of 4
A Typical Picture of Drug and Alcohol Addiction by Paul Pribuss MFT
Chemical dependence has been studied and treated for hundreds of years with varying degrees of success, dating back to the Neolithic period. (cir. 10,000 B.C) There are a variety of modern theories and programs to treat the addiction process, many claiming a high degree of success. Some of these programs do achieve results while others seem to have a great amount of recidivism. What would distinguish one process from another? Why would a person suffering from addiction chose plan A over plan B? These questions continue to vex many addicts and their long-suffering families to the point of indecision and confusion.
What is the bottom line regarding addiction and recovery? My belief at Marin Drug Recovery is that the initial goal is clearly to get clean or sober. Whatever works in this regard is good-enough. The method can vary from “cold turkey” detox in a jail cell to a private suite with gourmet food in a recovery/spa type center. Sometimes we aren’t able to chose or afford our preferred method of getting clean. Additionally the event or circumstances, which precipitate sobriety, can also vary. A judge may sentence one to a 12 step or recovery program. One’s spouse or employer may insist upon abstinence to continue with the relationship. Family members can initiate an intervention, resulting in sobriety. Again, whatever works is good-enough. If the choice or circumstances were left up to the individual, waiting for the correct timing, well that might never happen, resulting in excessive and needless suffering.
People become addicted to drugs and alcohol in a variety of manners, yet there are some basic concepts similar for most people. Typically a young person will start to experiment with an easily accessible drug, usually alcohol or pot. There is a certain amount of curiosity as well as peer pressure involved in the initial phase. Many people at this stage discover the effects of the drug are somewhat detrimental to their current life and decide the experiment is over. They frequently return to the drug in an appropriate manner, using it socially, in what is described as “normal” use.
A Typical Picture of Drug and Alcohol Addiction by Paul Pribuss MFT
Chemical dependence has been studied and treated for hundreds of years with varying degrees of success, dating back to the Neolithic period. (cir. 10,000 B.C) There are a variety of modern theories and programs to treat the addiction process, many claiming a high degree of success. Some of these programs do achieve results while others seem to have a great amount of recidivism. What would distinguish one process from another? Why would a person suffering from addiction chose plan A over plan B? These questions continue to vex many addicts and their long-suffering families to the point of indecision and confusion.
What is the bottom line regarding addiction and recovery? My belief at Marin Drug Recovery is that the initial goal is clearly to get clean or sober. Whatever works in this regard is good-enough. The method can vary from “cold turkey” detox in a jail cell to a private suite with gourmet food in a recovery/spa type center. Sometimes we aren’t able to chose or afford our preferred method of getting clean. Additionally the event or circumstances, which precipitate sobriety, can also vary. A judge may sentence one to a 12 step or recovery program. One’s spouse or employer may insist upon abstinence to continue with the relationship. Family members can initiate an intervention, resulting in sobriety. Again, whatever works is good-enough. If the choice or circumstances were left up to the individual, waiting for the correct timing, well that might never happen, resulting in excessive and needless suffering.
People become addicted to drugs and alcohol in a variety of manners, yet there are some basic concepts similar for most people. Typically a young person will start to experiment with an easily accessible drug, usually alcohol or pot. There is a certain amount of curiosity as well as peer pressure involved in the initial phase. Many people at this stage discover the effects of the drug are somewhat detrimental to their current life and decide the experiment is over. They frequently return to the drug in an appropriate manner, using it socially, in what is described as “normal” use.
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