What is Addiction Friday, Apr 17 2009

Before we get started let me apologize for being late with this post, I have been doing some tweaking on the website. That has been taking up a lot of my time being I am so new at it, but I am learning fast. That being said, let us continue.

For the addict, the downward spiral can be gradual at the beginning with the only effect experienced being that of the “hang over” when the substance of choice is metabolized by the body. The outward effects appear to be non-existent, which leads to the ongoing belief that “everything is all right”. Though with increased usage the effects become more and more apparent to those around the addict.

Let me include an allegory that might help you to understand what I’m talking about, the addict is assimilated into the addiction lifestyle and in order to remain there develops a blind eye to the conditions associated with addiction.

Now for the allegory .

Picture a frog being put into a pot with hot water, what is the frogs first reaction, to leap to safety. Now take the same frog and put it into a pot with cool water, what is the frog’s reaction, nothing, it just sits there. Add a fire to the mix and see what happens, nothing, the frog just sits there.

Now why is that? Quite simple when you think about it, as the temperature of the water rises the frogs temperature also rises, the change is gradual enough that the frog’s system does not register it and no message is sent to the brain that the frog is in danger, therefore the frog just continues to sit and enjoy it surroundings until it boils to death.

With this thought in mind, does the thought that the addict does not view his/her addiction as a problem start to make a little bit more sense. The addict is convinced that there is no problem other than that seen by other people. He or she views it as a choice they have made that harms no one, not even themselves.

As with any other form of addiction, the view is the same from the addicts standpoint, “What I do is my business, it’s not hurting anyone else. It’s my body. The addict is so closed off to the rest of the world, that almost no amount of persuasion will convince him/her of the danger they put themselves in. The danger is comprised off physical, emotional, and spiritual components and trying to work with an addict requires dealing with all three components, sometimes at the same time.

The first prerequisite though is getting the addict to the point of listening to what is going on, or breaking through the walls of “Denial” and friend “Dat ain’t da river in Egypt” Denial is the first and most solidified wall of defense for the addict. And quite often, penetration of this line of defense is the most difficult operation of the whole treatment milieu. In the next installment we’ll explore the boundaries of wall of defense, hope you’ll return.

D-Man

http://www.prlog.org/10219531-update-to-website-more-info-more-tools-at-addictsrcom.html

Leave a Response »

 

What is Addiction? Sunday, Apr 5 2009

Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual who is addicted and to those around them.

We have seen something of what the differing types of treatment available are, these were not meant to be an all encompassing declaration of the treatments available, just something to give you an idea of what’s available, hopefully to give you a starting point.

Now let’s look through the eyes of an addict, remember please, addiction takes on many forms, the list would cover a multitude of pages, suffice it to say we speak of a general subject but in particular terms.

It’s 2:00 AM on any given day, you are laying in bed staring at the ceiling, counting the number of holes in the ceiling panels, your stomach is a knot, you feel extremely restless, you want to move but you don’t have anyplace to go. Your mind starts to race with thoughts that are becoming disjointed, you can’t concentrate on anything very long. Your legs and arms begin to tingle, you feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Your breathing becomes rapid and shallow, your vision begins to pinpoint, you can hear the sweat run down your forehead towards your ears.

It has been 6 long hours since your last smoke; drink; fix; boost; meal; etc. etc. etc. There is a feeling coming up inside you that you cannot control, it gets stronger by the second, you feel yourself slipping out of this reality into another type of reality. In this altered state there is but one truth, you got to have it, nothing less will suffice. The thing inside is driving you to get the stuff, your whole being becomes focused on getting the stuff, no matter what the cost.

You make a call, you connect. The deal is half way done, out the door, in the car, or down the street. Walking in the shadows so as not to be seen, heading for the connection. You arrive, you make the deal, you head back, stay in the dark, don’t get caught. You get to your room. You do what you have to, the job is done. You feel the surge of the stuff, you lay back and let the feeling take you to where you can’t go yourself. Time becomes a blur, separate noises combine into a cacophony of sound you can’t distinguish. Lights passes rapidly, it is fleeting, here and gone.

Another trip, then coming down. You lay on the bed trying to recall the effect, but it’s gone, then the crash.

“God don’t let me do it again, please!”

Then it starts again, the “Repeatable Cycle” it doesn’t change, it just continues, and each time it takes a little more to get off.

To be continued:

http://www.prlog.org/10211487-launch-of-new-website-in-the-area-of-addiction-as-seen-by-someone-in-recovery.html

Leave a Response »

 

What is addiction Tuesday, Mar 31 2009

Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual who is addicted and to those around them.

What are the alternatives we alluded to in the last communique? There are a plethora of programs that run the gamut from the Original Alcoholics Anonymous (12 Step Program) to the Guru Programs( You don’t need AA or NA, come here and get cured in 30 days!). In all fairness I cannot qualify any program as better than any other one, being as I have not personally been to them, all I can vouch for are the ones I have tried while practicing my addiction. AA, NA, GA, PA, Over Eaters Anonymous or any other of the multitude of these programs are all based on the 12 Steps principal and have worked extremely well for the people they serve.

But there are always folks with a newer and better way of doing it, take for example a heroin addict going to methadone maintenance treatment, exactly what has that person accomplished, in my estimation, nothing. That person just traded one drug for another, but in a program, it’s legal, ethical you decide, switch one substance for another, get habituated on the substitute drug, and still continue using the original drug, don’t sound right to me.

The high end programs, are just that, high end. Not discounting their services, the prices they charge are to say the least outrageous. Middle end programs run on the average about $6,000 – $7,000 for a thirty day stay, high end $9,000 and up depending on the accommodations. On the other end of the scale is the indigent programs. There is no charge for these programs, the services are equal to the high end programs without all the fancy trim.

The effectiveness of thee programs is not dependent on the location, or the accommodations, but rather on the staff working there. A PhD in Psychology as opposed to a street smart LCDC does not improve your chances of success any more than a fancy Brandy snifter makes you any less of an alcoholic then a guy that guzzles right from the bottle. What I am trying to say is the program does not guarantee success, the people in it and their commitment to the success of the client does.

There is another alternative, usually found in your own neighborhood, Churches are now getting far more visible as a source of help for addiction of all types. The people of the local church body have developed a program called Celebrate Recovery, it is open to anyone, it does not just focus on chemical dependence, but rather a very broad spectrum of addiction related problems. This focus is primarily a God centered recovery program, which by the way is the basis for all the 12 Step Programs in existence.

No matter which type of program you choose, choose carefully, you are betting your life on it. Find out all you can before you commit, it will make a world of difference. See you next week.
Something new check it out at www.addictsr.com, it’s finally live.

2 Responses »

 

What is Addiction? Monday, Mar 16 2009

Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual who is addicted and to those around them.

If the “Addiction Cycle” is so powerful in the life of a person who is addicted, how can it be overcome? That question presents many problems, depending on which perspective is used. From the standpoint of the recovery programs, you receive the basis for overcoming the cycle through their ministrations, which in fact is partially right. From the standpoint of Counseling, the continuation of professional intervention plus the support of a group such as AA, NA, etc. will vastly increase the probability of success.

Programs run the gamut from Indigent, at no cost, to the high end, at anywhere from 6,000 to 15,000 for 30 days of therapy and relaxation depending on which you prefer. But at the best, the prognosis is often less than good (success rates < 15%), no guarantees. If the rate of success is so low, then how come these programs appear to be doing so well?

The answer is the dream of every on-line Marketer on the planet, “Return Business.”

It is not a big thing to see people in treatment 3, 4, or 5 times, which could run up a tab of about $30.000 in a three month period. If this seems exorbitant, your right, it is. But, that’s the business of recovery, with the involvement of insurance the cost rises exponentially. Which in the end, you pay for anyway.

You are probably wondering if there are any alternatives? As a matter of fact, there are. But it requires involvement, and dedication. When you think of that, think of this, The person that is the subject of this involvement is someone special to you, or you wouldn’t be doing it, would you?

In the next chapter, we will start to explore some of these alternatives, just remember, there is always a way to help, and the payback is unimaginable.

Leave a Response »

 

What is Addiction Sunday, Mar 8 2009

Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual who is addicted and to those around them.

Does an opportunity have to present itself in order for a person to become an addict? In a word, YES. The reason I say this is, each and everyone of us has the ability to become whatever we choose, often times, this choice is for the better. But, there are times when we manufacture opportunities in order to get what we want.

It is during these times of self manufactured opportunities that far reaching mistakes are made, and these mistakes will not be realized until latter in our lives. When we give in to the ease of doing things from home, IE, shopping, communicating, running a business, on line dating, we have a tendency to more and more seclude ourselves and interacting with others less and less. The more we do this, the more we are apt to develop methods of entertaining ourselves by ourselves.

When we run out of ways to do it on our own, we begin to seek methods of doing it by introducing either substance or situations as the opportunity arises, more often than not we manipulate our environs so these situations do arise.

The question then becomes, What is the goal of this manipulation, the answer is not pleasure, although that is part of the matter. The answer lies somewhere between realization and actualization. We realize that for some reason that we don’t know, something in our lives is missing, but trying to find out what that is is a problem of immense proportion, far to great for us to fathom. So the answer then becomes “Replace the missing with something I have enjoyed before, nothing wrong with that.”

When this action is employed, it eventually leads to tolerance which then leads to the deterioration of functions. This deterioration of function then leads to the loss of identity/relevance, which leads to depression, which leads to increased usage or increased instances of participation in situations we have chosen to engage in. Also known as the “Addiction Cycle”.

Leave a Response »

 

What is Addiction Thursday, Mar 5 2009

Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual who is addicted and to those around them. Although well said, the beginning of addiction is a personal choice, there are other factors that make their presence felt in the equation of addiction. Lets take a look at that equation:

Substance/Situation+Person+Opportunity+The absence of identity/relevance/purpose=addiction.

The person does make the choice to continue to use, as of yet, none of the implications of addiction have come home to that person. The uppermost thing in the future addicts thought pattern is the return to that feeling of the “Virgin High” complete and total euphoria, no concerns about what tomorrow may bring, no fears to deal with today, no concerns about what to wear, what to say, how to look, or what to own to be part of “The Group” The only thing that matters is what we think and feel, everything else is extraneous.

In todays society, individuality is pushed to the maximum, advertising is aimed at the individual IE; “You deserve it” “You are worth it” “it was made for you” “it is you” “An Army of One” “You deserve a break today” “Better living for you through chemicals” “Think of the fun you could have with this product” More and more we disenfranchise ourselves from our neighbors and friends and families. Neighbors become the person next door, friends become acquaintances, families become holiday contacts.

Intrinsically man is a gregarious creature, he is designed to be among others of his kind. In the Book of Genesis God created man and woman to be together not to live in two different sections of the house, alone and separate, children were created to be with families, not alone, friends were created to share, not horde, neighbors were created to say hello, nor seclude themselves. I don’t know what happened to create the difference we now experience, but happen it did. What purpose does it serve to have everything but be able to share nothing? Though this sounds like nothing, look again at the equation above, see if this does not lend itself to the fourth part of the structure?

Next the subject will be the third part of the equation, the opportunity, I hope you will return.

Leave a Response »

 

What is addiction Monday, Feb 23 2009

Starting a new subject, it is not unknown to me, I worked in the field of addiction services for quite a while.
What is Drug Addiction?

Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual who is addicted and to those around them.
There now that we know how the experts define addiction, lets undertake to find out what the people afflicted with this malady have to say.

According to some with whom I have dealt over the past 14 years + the descriptions run the gamut from escape, to self realization/actualization. Aside from the obvious side effects which are inherent with addiction, and the propensity of the addict to engage in activities which are bound to effect a loss of freedom, what really happens to keep the addict addicted to his/her substance of choice?

On many occasions, I have had the opportunity to sit and just talk with a multitude of addicts and really tried to listen to what they had to say in describing themselves and their habits. Accordingly these people’s addiction were classified differently, some were sex addicts, some were addicted to substance, some were addicted to gambling, etc, etc, etc.

The list of addictions would take up about a ream of paper, the point of interest to at least me anyway was that every time I had the opportunity to speak to a person that was addicted, aside from the terminology used, and the explicative being deleted, the substance of the conversation was always the same.

The basic make up of an addict is:
1.The person is male/female or whatever.
2.The person is white, black, brown, yellow, red, blue, pink or whatever.
3.The person is between the ages of 1 month to 100 years.
4.The economic status is poor low, poor middle, poor upper, middle low, middle middle, middle upper, rich low, rich middle, rich upper.
5.The person’s educational level is drop out, high school graduate, associate/bachelor/ masters degree, post graduate, doctoral degree.
6.The person’s religious ideology is Christian, Catholic, Jewish, Islam, etc, etc, etc.

In basic language, there is no predisposing sexual, racial, age specific, economic oriented, educational level determining factor that leads someone to becoming an addict. The addiction started when the person was first offered a substance, or situation that lent itself to transporting that person to a place of self identified safety or power. Within this sphere of safety or power, the person was beyond the harmful reach of today. This feeling has been described as Nirvana, Shangri-La, return to the womb, getting into, dropping out, getting wasted, getting high, etc, etc, etc. Once this alteration in reality is experienced, the desire to return to that same feeling is overwhelming to say the least. This is the “Virgin High”, reached only once and never again. The pursuit of this “Virgin High” starts the pathological behaviors that we recognize as part of the “Addictive Behavior”

6 Responses »

 

Still at it Tuesday, Feb 17 2009

Putting the final touches on site, getting things in order, testing and tweaking here and there but should be running soon, very soon. By next week should be posting blogs with a bit more meat and taters, hope you will be there. Until then, keep the faith

Leave a Response »

 

Still at It Wednesday, Feb 11 2009

Things are progressing along, had to stop for a short due to medical reasons, but back at it now.

The site is finally starting to come together, the content is put in place, just waiting on the results of the proof reader checking my grammar and flow.

Now that the launch is within eyesight, starting to get wired again, little things are starting to take on more importance, not quite at the nail biting stage yet, but getting there.

I find myself second guessing what I could have done differently, but everybody I talk to says leave it as is and see how it is received, little more anxiety added to the mixture.

Finding it hard to be patient, want to get to launch stage like yesterday, but I have to maintain, it’s got to be done right, or all the effort is worth nil.

Well back to waiting on the proof reader results, I hate to wait…

Leave a Response »

 

Still at it Monday, Feb 2 2009

Made a lot of headway over the past couple of weeks, I have the content ready to go. Now I just have to set up the site and launch. For me this has been an experience, I know things now that I never knew before. Setting up the following sites should be a piece of cake. Of course there is still testing and changing to be done but all in all I feel pretty good about what will be seen.

This experience has reacquainted me with a few things that I had forgotten about and some things I have been taken for granted. I’m glad that they were brought back, because they are important. It is for this reason that they are included in the site.

Once it’s ready to go, I will post again, go check it out and tell me what you think.

Until next time

Keep the Faith

Dman

Leave a Response »