For many people the holiday season is a time of celebration. However people who are struggling with an addiction to drug or alcohol often find that the holidays are a depressing time that’s filled with denial and secrecy. People with an addiction have trouble often have trouble enjoying themselves when the holidays arrive and they feel ashamed of their addiction so they work to hide it from their family and friends. It’s not a very happy holiday season.
It tends to be difficult for people to admit that they have a problem. Even when someone realizes that they struggle with addiction, it can be overwhelming and frightening to take the step necessary to make a change and overcome the addiction. As a result, many people simply maintain the status quo, even if it makes them and their loved ones unhappy.
For people who are ready to take the next step and move forward with getting treatment for their addiction, it can be tempting to wait until after the holidays to begin treatment. Many people tell themselves that the holidays are meant to be fun and spend with loved ones at home, not at a drug and alcohol treatment center. Besides, they tell themselves that going to rehab can be their News Year’s resolution after the holidays. However, the team at HARP can think of many reasons why people should actually consider going to rehab around or during the holidays.
To show you that is it a good idea to enter a treatment program for a drug or alcohol addiction during the holidays, the
Addiction is a medical condition. It is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory, and related circuitry (Halter, 2014). There is no real difference between alcoholism and drug addiction, other than the substance of choice being different. In both cases, use of alcohol or drugs continues despite the presence of related problems and a tendency to relapse. This paper includes a student nurse’s experience of two twelve-step meetings: Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Tracy Fellowship AA Group had meeting at 2531 North Holly Drive, Tracy, CA-95376 on September 24, 2014. The NA meeting was at 219 East Poplar Street in Stockton at 12 pm on September 25, 2014.
Addiction is a theme that has been present throughout my life through members of my family and myself. My father was addicted to gambling and alcohol until finally, his drinking ended his life. My brother struggles with alcohol and keeping ahead of his problematic drinking. I have several cousins that float between alcohol and drugs to fulfill the need for an outside substance. For many years, I pondered how I had escaped the addiction curse in my family only to realize that my addiction is food. I overeat and self-sooth through food even though I have health concerns and know a better way. I spent most of my young adulthood angry at my father because he could not or would not change for his family. I am understanding more through education
There has been an expectation of society that substance abuse treatment should eliminate alcohol and illicit drug use while improving individual health and social functioning as to reduce the public safety threat. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 also known as Obama Care was created with intentions of expanding the availability of health insurance. In 2011 the President’s National Drug Control Strategy requested investments in screening, intervention and referral to treatment, and expanded the Access to Recovery voucher program. These initiatives are a start towards total care for alcohol and substance abuse patients, however from our study we have found that treatment may be best when considered as a long term possibly life resource for these individuals to become successfully sober and healthy.
Addiction to drugs and alcohol has changed the lives of millions of Americans. According to Alcoholics Anonymous: Addiction will play tricks on the mind, forcing it to get stuck in an emotional and intellectual limbo. This limbo paralyzes rational associations by replacing a traditional outlook on life to one of an addict. The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. In order to grow emotionally its important to analyze our own actions and behaviors according to the Alcoholics Anonymous book. The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous; the stories of experience, strength and hope come together to form a compilation of success stories(Alcoholics Anonymous, 2001, p. 562-566). This books treatment for the disease of addiction is a series of reconditioning interpretations and a understanding of behaviors. The treatment for psychological issues that have been coped with by means of addiction is enough for a free life time membership to A.A. The A.A. way of life is relatively simple but many still relapse again and again. Those that work the program recondition their mind and eventually find serenity. Often, more times than
The best part about having an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol is finding out there are many people out in the world who are willing to helps others recover from their addiction. If you are suffering due to your inability to stop abusing substances, you can put an end to your suffering by taking two important steps, admitting your are helpless over drugs and/or alcohol and finally reaching out for help.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the most well-known and widely available self-help group for alcoholics in treatment and recovery. AA uses fellowship and a set of guided principles—the 12 steps—to help members achieve and maintain sobriety. The goal is total abstinence from drinking. In the beginning stages, “clients can be emotionally fragile, ambivalent about relinquishing chemicals, and resistant to treatment. Thus, treatment strategies focus on immediate concerns: achieving abstinence, preventing relapse, and managing cravings. Also, to establish a stable working group, a relatively active leader emphasizes therapeutic factors like hope, group cohesion, and universality. In the middle, or action, stage of treatment, clients need the group’s assistance in recognizing that their substance abuse causes many of their problems and blocks them from getting things they want. As clients reluctantly sever their ties with substances, they need help managing their loss and finding healthy substitutes. Often, they need guidance in understanding and managing their emotional lives. Late‐stage treatment spends less time on substance abuse per se and turns toward identifying the treatment gains to be maintained and risks that remain. During this stage, members may focus on the issues of living, resolving guilt, reducing shame, and adopting a more introspective, relational view of
The most important objective that I feel will assist to achieve the Healthy People 2020 goals for individuals that are addicted to substances are to increase the percentage of the patients to enroll in follow-up treatments that are available and utilize the emergency department services. “estimated 22 million Americans struggled with a drug or alcohol problem. Almost 95 percent of people with substance use problems are considered unaware of their problem” ("Overview," 2010, para. 2). Most hospitals offer follow-up outpatient intensive recovery treatments, Alcoholic Anonyms, Churches, and private companies, such as Twin Towne in Orange County. Emergency Departments are available, approximately 35 in Orange County open 24 hours catering to patients in crisis. A patient struggling with substance abuse could go to any of those areas to start a sobriety program, they will get guidance according to funds and insurance.
As part of this assignment, I went to a "celebrate recovery" thinking that it was only for AA members, until I realize that the event covers in its recovery process, all types of addictive behaviors. They perform large group CR praise events every Thursday night including all holidays at South Tampa Fellowship Ballast Point Campus 5101 Bayshore Blvd, Tampa, FL 33611. There, I met with some AA members, NA members who were seeking help and many other people and relatives who visited the encounter only as
After all, it doesn 't leave people with an addiction very many choices. Not only do they have to keep their addiction a secret, they must also keep their recovery a secret or find a way to beat addiction on their own. The false narrative created by many Hollywood movies and television series is that a person MUST defeat addiction on their own to be successful.
In result of his death are relationship failed to exist, however my mother concluded his alcohol consumption elevated after war attendance. Due to dramatic war background he attempted to reduce his pain with alcohol and isolated himself from people. Dr. Gabor Mates specialist in treatment of addiction “confirms that all addictions are attempts to sooth the pain.” In addition individuals more often than not seek stimulants that decrease pain temporarily. Depending on the individual, distracting stimulants are commonly establish in shopping, drugs, alcohol and sex. In place of utilizing stimulants as an escape goat, pursuing comfort from loved ones is a respectable method to prevent addiction. Dr. Gabor Mates concludes addicted people need a compassionate present which will permit them to experience their pain without having to run away from it.” In response to Mates claim, confronting pain with supportive individuals can help avoid bondages that produce deeper issues to accrue. Furthermore it is soothing when a person obtains compassionate assistance from another individual during hardship, rather than exploiting stimulants for
In the article “What Can I Say to Make You to Stop?” written by Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation writes about how a friend/family member can do to help their loved one find help with addiction. It also gives advice regarding how to help them. When I was going through my addiction days this sort of information would have helped my family immensely. It’s hard to have someone you care about have an addiction and not know what to do, or how to help. So, I will be discussing on how the main points the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation talk about in their article could really help others, with friends/family members that have an addiction problem.
Addiction is all around us. It may be that cup of coffee in the morning for the caffeine stimulation, the cigarette that is smoked for the nicotine, or an alcoholic drink used to relieve a stressful day or situation. For some, the addiction may not be to a substance, but to compulsive behaviors such as gambling, playing video games, or shopping. Consequences to addictions can impact an addict’s physical or mental state. Addiction can also have detrimental impact on the people that surround them. Watching a relationship fall apart because a person has an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or another addictive behavior is a sad thing to happen to anyone. Unfortunately, those with addictions usually won’t admit they even
“Addiction is a choice not a disease”, is a common phrase that stigmatizes drug addiction in our everyday language. The lack of public knowledge about this social problem causes widespread stigmatization and discrimination of the ill. As a result, many individuals who seriously need professional help feel isolated and hopeless, making it harder for them to recover.
I forgot to mention about the many other treatments there are out there such as individual, group therapy, or 12 step programs some people would prefer the individual therapy because they don't want a lot of people in their personal business about their addiction(s). I know it may be hard for some people to sit in a group session and talk about their problems but sometimes you will be able to meet people that suffer from the same addiction as you then you can talk to them privately about how they beat the addiction then you will be able to practice the same procedures they took to get over their addiction.
Drug addiction is a complex problem in society today. Addiction is a condition that extremely affects the person’s mind and body. Addiction also has wide sweeping effects on that person’s social connection and functioning. Unfortunately, many addicts don’t realize the social influence of their addiction until much of their functioning has greatly deteriorated.