Drugs and Alcohol
While some people turn to drugs and alcohol to get "high", others turn to substances just to "feel normal" and feel "like everyone else". A lot of addicts describe feeling "different" from others. This difference may make a person feel insecure, alone, worthless, rejected or inadequate. These feelings are the essential ingredients to addiction and usually make a person more vulnerable to turning to drugs or alcohol to escape. It's important to note that these feelings are deeply rooted in distorted thinking that usually begins in a dysfunctional childhood.
I have done a lot of work with drug and alcohol addiction in residential treatment with teenagers, in a high-end treatment facility in Malibu, in an outpatient treatment center for adults and one for teens. Whether I am working with teenagers or adults, men or women, I've found that all the addicts I have worked with yearned to feel as though they "belong". Most addicts are hypersensitive emotionally, and drugs or alcohol serve as ways for them to get some relief from emotional discomfort and pain. The only problem with this temporary solution is that it has enormous psychological, financial, physical and spiritual consequences. Despite these consequences, the addict keeps using, keeps hurting themselves and others, and often will die without some kind of medical or psychological intervention. The disease of addiction is progressive, and without professional help very few people can get a "handle" on their drinking or drug use on their own. In addition to drug or alcohol abuse, at some point many addicts suffer from "addict" behaviors such as: lying, manipulating, criticizing and blaming. Their addiction can lead to personality defects such as: irresponsibility, self-absorption, and inconsideration of others. Other addicts are people pleasers, afraid of conflict and confrontation. Speaking directly about one's feelings may be so dreadful and scary, they might turn to drugs or alcohol to deal with these fears. Getting sober is a wonderful first step. However, real sobriety means a lot more than no drinking or drug use. Sobriety means addressing the underlying personality issues and "stinking thinking" that have led to the drinking or using in the first place. Sobriety doesn't just mean not drinking or using; it means being vigorously honest with yourself and others and managing life in a whole new way.
When working with addicts, I have a no-nonsense approach to psychotherapy, but I do this with a lot of compassion and understanding. There is so much shame that addicts feel for the hurt that they have caused themselves and others, so it's important to forgive oneself and make amends for wrongdoings. Most addicts I work with desperately want to get better and live a happier life. These words are easy to say, but for the addict, very hard to live by. Action is an important part of the addiction recovery process. Talking in circles will get us nowhere. It's also very important that the therapist and family don't work harder than the addict. Because alcoholism/drug addiction begins as a disease in the family system, I highly recommend family members, friends, spouses, and children to attend Al-Anon/Al-Ateen meetings and read Al-Anon literature to get support with co-dependency issues. If you are a family member reading this on behalf of your addicted partner, going to Al-Anon is the very best gift you have to offer. For all involved, learning about the roots and consequences of addiction is necessary; getting help as soon as possible is essential. Below are some helpful links and suggested readings. And always remember, "progress not perfection".....
Helpful Links:
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
www.recovery.org
www.aa.org The Big Book Online
www. lacoaa.org Los Angeles Central Office Website
Treatment Centers:
1. Camden Center, Los Angeles
2. Clearview Treatment Programs- www.clearviewtreatment.com Outpatient Center Westwood, California
3. Clearview Treatment Programs- www.clearviewrecovery.com Residential Treatment Center
4. Promises Treatment Center, West LA and Malibu
5. Of One Mind Teen Outpatient Treatment Center West LA, CA www.ofonemind.net
Contact: Richard Cohen MFCC, 310-479-9065 ext. 100
6. The Meadows, Wickenburg, AZ
7. Sierra Tuscon, Tuscon, AZ
8. Betty Ford, Rancho Mirage, CA
I have done a lot of work with drug and alcohol addiction in residential treatment with teenagers, in a high-end treatment facility in Malibu, in an outpatient treatment center for adults and one for teens. Whether I am working with teenagers or adults, men or women, I've found that all the addicts I have worked with yearned to feel as though they "belong". Most addicts are hypersensitive emotionally, and drugs or alcohol serve as ways for them to get some relief from emotional discomfort and pain. The only problem with this temporary solution is that it has enormous psychological, financial, physical and spiritual consequences. Despite these consequences, the addict keeps using, keeps hurting themselves and others, and often will die without some kind of medical or psychological intervention. The disease of addiction is progressive, and without professional help very few people can get a "handle" on their drinking or drug use on their own. In addition to drug or alcohol abuse, at some point many addicts suffer from "addict" behaviors such as: lying, manipulating, criticizing and blaming. Their addiction can lead to personality defects such as: irresponsibility, self-absorption, and inconsideration of others. Other addicts are people pleasers, afraid of conflict and confrontation. Speaking directly about one's feelings may be so dreadful and scary, they might turn to drugs or alcohol to deal with these fears. Getting sober is a wonderful first step. However, real sobriety means a lot more than no drinking or drug use. Sobriety means addressing the underlying personality issues and "stinking thinking" that have led to the drinking or using in the first place. Sobriety doesn't just mean not drinking or using; it means being vigorously honest with yourself and others and managing life in a whole new way.
When working with addicts, I have a no-nonsense approach to psychotherapy, but I do this with a lot of compassion and understanding. There is so much shame that addicts feel for the hurt that they have caused themselves and others, so it's important to forgive oneself and make amends for wrongdoings. Most addicts I work with desperately want to get better and live a happier life. These words are easy to say, but for the addict, very hard to live by. Action is an important part of the addiction recovery process. Talking in circles will get us nowhere. It's also very important that the therapist and family don't work harder than the addict. Because alcoholism/drug addiction begins as a disease in the family system, I highly recommend family members, friends, spouses, and children to attend Al-Anon/Al-Ateen meetings and read Al-Anon literature to get support with co-dependency issues. If you are a family member reading this on behalf of your addicted partner, going to Al-Anon is the very best gift you have to offer. For all involved, learning about the roots and consequences of addiction is necessary; getting help as soon as possible is essential. Below are some helpful links and suggested readings. And always remember, "progress not perfection".....
Helpful Links:
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
www.recovery.org
www.aa.org The Big Book Online
www. lacoaa.org Los Angeles Central Office Website
Treatment Centers:
1. Camden Center, Los Angeles
2. Clearview Treatment Programs- www.clearviewtreatment.com Outpatient Center Westwood, California
3. Clearview Treatment Programs- www.clearviewrecovery.com Residential Treatment Center
4. Promises Treatment Center, West LA and Malibu
5. Of One Mind Teen Outpatient Treatment Center West LA, CA www.ofonemind.net
Contact: Richard Cohen MFCC, 310-479-9065 ext. 100
6. The Meadows, Wickenburg, AZ
7. Sierra Tuscon, Tuscon, AZ
8. Betty Ford, Rancho Mirage, CA