Many people think of addiction as a one-dimensional problem. They think mainly of the physical symptoms and cravings or the emotional struggles associated with substance misuse. As such, it’s tempting to feel like the solution to addiction could be one-dimensional as well Most people struggling with addiction have thoughts like, “If I could only get past the pain and cravings, I’d stop using drugs in a heartbeat,” or “If I could just learn a better
If you love someone with a substance use disorder, whether they’re a spouse, parent, sibling, child, or friend, it’s important to set clear boundaries for the terms of your relationship. Substance use robs your loved one of the ability to think clearly. Instead of being worried about relationships with others or doing well at work, they are only worried about how to obtain more of the substance. If you do not set limits, your loved
Unfortunately, addicts in recovery are not treated in the same manner as people living with other chronic illnesses. There are a number of points their loved ones, friends, and others can find difficult to understand and accept, which can lead to uncomfortable situations on both sides. Addiction is a disease. The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as a “chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory, and related circuitry.” Its causes are complicated and
People suffering from the disease of addiction and alcoholism have a very difficult time seeing the problem for what it is. This is because of the defense mechanism of denial. Denial has been known to stand for ” don’t even notice I am Lying “, which means a person in denial isn’t lying, they believe there own perceptions. Addiction and alcoholism always have denial present, this is to ensure that the disease can continue to
Drug and alcohol addiction are lifelong diseases, yet many assume they’re more like bacterial infections, where a prescribed dose of antibiotics will cure the patient. Being an addict is a condition more like having diabetes, which benefits from a thorough understanding of the disease, how to monitor oneself, and learning to cope and live with it for the rest of their life. A person with a lifelong condition would be monitored by a physician, and
Recovery is a journey of rediscovery and determining what keeps you satisfied, comfortable and motivated. Alternately joyful and challenging, recovery is where people confront root causes of addiction, identify triggers for problematic behavior, and adopt ways to successfully address and manage addiction. It is a lifelong process that requires patience and self-awareness as individuals test ways to live free from substances and harmful habits. At Foothills Centre for Change, we’ve observed that a major element
What credentials does the program’s clinical staff hold, and how much education was needed to acquire those credentials? – Credentials and licenses ensure that the person providing treatment meets nationally recognized standards for professional practice. It is important to know that some credentials can be obtaining by just doing an online course, so ask how long it took staff to acquire their credentials and what was involved. Is the clinical staff part of a multi-disciplinary
One of the important aspects of becoming free of addiction is being able to control your emotional state, especially when life doesn’t go the way you think it should. A lack of emotional maturity brings unhappiness and can prevent a normal person from progressing. It can also mean a greater potential for addictive behavior as a means of escape from the pain caused by irregular emotions. And with addictions like drugs and alcohol, there’s not