Addiction therapy is often a personal and complex thing, which relies on interaction, bonding, and communication between counselors and their patients. This often happens because many of the people choosing to become addiction counselors were once addicted or dependent themselves, and chose to focus their energy on helping others to recover. In fact, it
Opiate addiction is a serious problem, one that is increasing every day in certain areas. Access to opiates is often unlimited and affordable. Anyone who is addicted to an opioid knows how difficult it is to break the addiction and get help. The severity of withdrawal leads users back to the drug, but detoxification
For many people, relying on a higher power is key to their recovery. But what if your faith has been rocked by tragedy or you are an agnostic or atheist? I was on the tragedy end of the spectrum, so I wasn’t feeling too keen on the whole higher power thing. I learned, however,
When you are in recovery from an addiction you may feel a variety of emotions. When this happens you may experience the feeling of having a variety of thoughts that are conflicting and may be negative or confusing. When we are going through stressful times we may not have a clear idea of what
Addiction is often approached with a sort of mixed sense of shame and adulation in the United States. On the one hand, addiction, drug use, and alcohol are often glamorized on television and by pop stars and actors who often use, while appearing to live an idyllic lifestyle. On the other hand, addiction is
I managed to hide my alcohol abuse from my boss and colleagues for quite some time, but I reached the point that it was getting harder and harder every day. I knew I needed to go into rehab, but that meant taking time off from work. I was petrified that I would lose my
People who identify as gay, bisexual or transgender are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol than those who are straight. This fact comes from a report conducted by the Department of Health Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In fact, the percentage of LGBT drug abuse is over twice as high
“Therefore, the main problem of the (alcoholic or addict) centers in their mind rather than their body.” Alcoholics Anonymous, p 23. Our ability to think is one of our greatest gifts. Rational thought, you might argue, is what differentiates human beings from all other life forms of which we are aware. To be able
