For the individual seeking help with recovery from drugs and alcohol, it can seem that there is nowhere to turn. Many addicts and alcoholics have been told they need help, but how is that help obtained? Unfortunately, many people think it’s as simple as saying, “No.” Others look down on individuals suffering from this disease because they fail to recognize it as a disease.
For an addict – entering a treatment facility can be a traumatic experience. Some have been court ordered to attend and their minds may be filled with resentment over having to go. Sometimes family or loved-ones may have intervened, and that can lead to rocky relationships. When checking into a treatment facility, the fear of the unknown can cause anxiety. Anxious thoughts often surface when an individual is confronted with something they have previously done everything in their power to avoid.
If you or a loved one has a substance use disorder, whether it is related to drugs or alcohol, you may feel helpless. How should you deal with and decide which route to get help with substance abuse and addiction? There is never one right answer on how to deal with it as every case is unique but guidance and support at a treatment center could be the answer.
Why is it then that the American Medical Association declared alcoholism a disease in 1956, and yet, in 2017, alcoholism and drug addictions are still considered by some to be something that weak-minded people succumb to?
Addiction is a family disease, we have heard it over and over, but making sense of it can be tricky. Substance abuse recovery isn’t something done alone, as they say, “It takes a village to raise a kid”, the idea rings true when trying to make recovery a reality in a family dynamic. Addict’s best recover with the support of family, friends, and the recovery community around them when they finally reach treatment.
Living with an addict can be a living hell. Unpredictable and dangerous, yet sometimes exciting and romantic. Never knowing when we’ll be blamed or accused. Not being able to dependably plan social events. As the addict becomes more irresponsible, we pick up the slack and do more, often becoming the sole functioning parent or even the sole provider; yet we’re unable to lean on our partner for comfort or support.
