Posts Tagged ‘alcoholism’

A Sunday School Teacher Gets Arrested for Driving While Inebriated, Gets Motivated and Inspired To Obtain Treatment for Her Abusive and Hazardous Drinking and Her Depression and Mental Health Issues, and Strengthens Her Sense of Worth

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

For the past seven years Jenny has been an RN at a small trauma hospital. Moreover, she has also been teaching Sunday school at the local Nazarene Church. Despite the fact that she lived in a medium size rural community where it appeared like everybody knew everyone’s business, relatively little was known about Jenny. Needless to say everyone knew that she had worked many years as a professional nurse and that she taught Sunday school for as long as she lived in their small town. Other than that, nonetheless, it almost seemed as if Jenny was simply a visitor in their community.

You can picture the hubbub that took place when it was discovered that one Sunday morning Jenny had passed out because of intoxication. If truth be told, the article in the local weekly paper claimed that Jenny not only became unconscious, but that she also received a DWI because her blood alcohol content was one-and-a-half times the legal limit. This is evidently one of the alcohol effects on the body that no Sunday school teacher wants to have publicized by the entire town. But this is exactly what transpired, much to the embarrassment of Jenny.

Jenny Gets Very Depressed About Her Arrest For Driving While Intoxicated

Evidently, Jenny was extremely letdown about her arrest for drunk driving. Not only should she have known better about drinking and driving because of her nursing status, but she also should have conducted herself according to a more elevated standard because of the straightforward fact that she taught Sunday school.

After her arrest for driving while inebriated, Jenny contemplated whether or not she should move out of town so that she would not have to feel dismayed about her arrest and also so she wouldn’t have to explain her actions for the millionth time to the other members of her community. After talking to her minister, nonetheless, she decided that she would get alcohol therapy at a local rehab center. She did this for two straightforward reasons. First, it was easy for her to drive to a local treatment facility. And second, she sincerely wanted the message to get circulated among all the residents in town that she was truly addressing her drinking problems.

Jenny Goes Through Alcohol Detox and Gets a Complete Physical Exam

After Jenny went through detoxification, she got extensively checked by a healthcare professional at the rehab hospital. She then underwent several laboratory tests where it was confirmed that she was not alcohol dependent but rather was engaging in abusive and hazardous drinking. In a word Jenny was engaging in long term alcohol abuse.

Jenny was provided with the alternative of getting registered as an in-patient or getting admitted as an outpatient. Jenny, however, believed that she could still work at the hospital and go on with her Sunday school teaching job if she were to be admitted as an out-patient and this is specifically what she did.

According to her counseling action plan, Jenny went to three treatment sessions every two weeks, she learned more than a little about alcohol info, she worked on her take home “assignments,” she received treatment for her depression and other mental health issues, and she learned how to involve herself doing things in life that did not have anything to do with drinking.

After eight weeks, Jenny determined that her abusive and excessive drinking was under control and so she got discharged from the drug and alcohol treatment center under the specification that she would return for follow up treatment once every three months for the next six months. Jenny agreed and followed through on her “word of honor.”

Jenny Finally Determines to Abstain From All Drinking Situations and Finds Out That Her Self Worth Increases

After she finished her rehabilitation Jenny concluded that she would be able to drink more responsibly and in moderation. After pondering her situation more rigorously, however, she figured out that she would completely remove herself from all drinking situations.

When Jenny arrived at this conclusion, she learned that her self-respect became stronger the more she took charge of her life. And as her self-respect grew more pronounced, it appeared that she became more outgoing and started attending more community functions such as local high school basketball and football games, music festivals, carnivals, Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, flower festivals, rib roasts, and strawberry festivals.

Jenny Faces Her Excessive and Irresponsible Drinking, Makes up Her Mind To Do Something Beneficial About It, and Reaffirms Her Faith

As the years passed, the individuals in the community exhibited more affection for Jenny because she was intermingling with them more regularly and also because she addressed her hazardous and careless drinking and made up her mind to do something affirmative about it. It may have been her imagination, but it also appeared that her Sunday school pupils demonstrated more respect and appreciation for her.

Jenny is a living example of a person who faced a dangerous predicament and who did something productive about it. She is also a person who learned that her religious faith is not only something that is intrinsic, but that it is also something that affects the way in which a person interacts with other people.

Dishonesty, Enabling, and Alcohol Relapse

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

It is worthy of note to articulate something that family members who have been unfavorably affected by the alcoholism of another family member evidently do not grasp. It seems that by protecting the alcohol dependent person with falsehoods and deceit to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in essence created a circumstance that makes it easier for the alcohol addicted individual to carry on and press forward with his or her injurious, detrimental daily life.

To be sure, rather than helping the alcohol addicted individual and themselves, these family members have in truth become enablers who have unintentionally helped deteriorate the alcoholic’s drinking problem even more.

Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcohol addicted person will continue drinking in an irresponsible and abusive manner and go through diverse “alcohol side effects.” Some of these side effects include employment difficulties, poor health, deteriorating relationships, diminished mental functioning, legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DUIs), and considerable financial problems.

The Likelihood of a Relapse is Real

According to the research findings and statistics on alcohol addiction, another key alcohol dependency issue involves alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol dependent person has fruitfully gone through alcohol addiction rehabilitation and then resorts to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first thought, this circumstance flies in the face of rational thinking and looks so improbable that it forces an individual to question why anyone who has lived through the dreadfulness of alcoholism can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol rehab and in turn after attaining sobriety. There are, to be sure, many possible reasons for this.

It should be noted, conversely that alcohol dependency research that has centered on the enduring effects of alcohol dependency has revealed that long after the alcohol dependent person has stopped his or her drinking, major changes in the way in which the alcohol addicted individual’s brain works are still present. As a consequence, all a recovering alcohol dependent person has to do to involve himself or herself in behaviors that correspond with the transformations that have taken place in the brain is to engage in drinking once again.

A Requirement for A Crucial Lifestyle Change

There are even more reasons why more than a few recovering alcohol dependent persons return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after attaining sobriety. In accordance to the alcohol addiction research literature, to make a successful recovery, the alcoholic needs new ways of acting and thinking in order to deal more competently with difficult alcohol-related circumstances that will take place.

Conditions such as returning to the same alcohol addictive environment or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the time when the alcohol addicted person was drinking excessively; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these conditions can elicit memories that can trigger psychological tension or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol addicted individual to engage in excessive drinking once again. Unfortunately, all of these situations may not only contradict long standing sobriety for the alcoholic but they can also result in relapse and consequently go against one’s alcohol recovery.

The Good News: There’s a Lot of Hope for Lasting Sobriety

In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol addicted individual, family members can in point of fact cause unintentional destruction by enabling the negative drinking behavior of the alcohol addicted individual.

The addiction research literature demonstrates the fact that most individuals who effectively complete alcohol therapy experience at least one relapse. Alcohol dependent individuals and their family members need to know this so that they do not get crestfallen or beleaguered when a relapse manifests itself.

Happily, involvement in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up rehab and education have resulted in more effective, ongoing alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency rehab outcomes, have helped reduce alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol dependent persons reach lasting alcohol recovery.

Is Your Drinking Starting to Become a Mental Health Problem?

Saturday, October 31st, 2009

How do you identify the fact that you have a problem with your drinking? When is it evident that you are involving yourself in irresponsible drinking?

If you have unproductively attempted to quit drinking or if you have given your word to yourself that your drinking days are behind you and then you were made aware that you were drinking in an abusive way just a few days later, the odds are exceedingly good that you have drinking problems. The fundamental idea is that if you have made an effort to quit drinking and cannot do this, then your drinking is controlling you, rather than the other way around.

Likewise, if it takes greater amounts of alcohol to get the same “high,” more likely than not you need to become aware that you have a drinking problem.

You may be telling yourself that the reasoning for your drinking is so that you can lower your nervous tension or get rid of the sorrow that you feel. Likewise, you may be trying to steer clear of a harmful situation and may be looking for something more useful, more positive, or less regretful.

As you keep on drinking, nonetheless, you will grasp the fact that drinking does not bring about the same high and you will also realize that drinking doesn’t help remove whatever elicited your discomfort in the first place.

Along the way, unfortunately, you may become addicted to alcohol and, as a consequence, you may add another key issue to deal with rather than finding more effective and beneficial ways of managing your alcohol induced predicament.

The Necessity for an Alcohol Evaluation

If you have figured out that you have a problem with your drinking, conceivably the most expedient thing you can do for yourself is to call your physician or healthcare professional and schedule an appointment for a thorough physical and for an appraisal of your drinking circumstances.

If you actually believe that you have a critical drinking problem, it may be a good idea to get prepared to find out that you need to get alcohol therapy.

At this point, what are your choices? You can certainly say no and refuse to see your health care practitioner and persevere with your pattern of abusive drinking.

It actually doesn’t take a rocket scientist, to the contrary, to comprehend that continuous, excessive drinking, if left untreated, will go downhill over time and more likely than not bring about an early death. Consequently, your most expedient choice is to confront your drinking problem and get the alcohol rehab you need.

The Deceit of the Functioning Alcohol Dependent Individual

It is somewhat peculiar to note the fact that multitudes of alcoholics lead busy and active lives and have vehicles, jobs, pets, houses, families, and any number of material possessions just like people who are not addicted to alcohol.

Many of these “functional” alcohol dependent individuals may have never been apprehended for a DUI and may have been fortunate enough to avoid all alcohol induced legal issues. In spite of this fortunate situation, however, these alcohol dependent people need to drink in order to live on a day to day basis while sustaining their facade as they associate with the outside world.

Ask anyone who has seen them when they are out on a drunken binge or in a drunken stupor or ask a family member about the problem drinker’s alcohol dependency, on the other hand, and they will be quick to state the authenticity of the drinker’s situation and the particulars about the alcohol addicted person’s drinking predicament and about his or her alcohol generated issues.

Why Do Alcohol Addicted People Fail to Address Their Drinking Difficulties?

As alcoholism research and statistics on alcohol abuse have underscored, no matter how observable the alcohol-related issues seem to those who interact with the alcohol addicted person, alcohol addicted individuals usually deny that drinking is the root of their alcohol generated problems. Not only this, but alcohol dependent individuals normally blame their alcohol-related predicaments on other individuals or upon other situations that surround them instead of seeing their part in the problem.

The root of the issue is that alcoholism is a disease of the brain. Once the problem drinker has become an alcoholic, he or she frequently resorts to denial, manipulation, and lying as a way of dealing with the fact that his or her drinking is out of control. And to make things more difficult, the experience of alcohol withdrawal symptoms commonly counteracts the alcohol addicted person’s rare attempts to suddenly quit drinking. As grim as the alcohol dependent person’s way of life is, on the other hand, the encouraging news is that quality help is usually accessible – if the alcohol addicted individual reaches out and gets alcoholism rehab.

Conclusion

Owning up to the fact that drinking is eliciting issues in your day to day functioning is perhaps the most trouble-free way to find out if you have a problem with your drinking. In other words, if your drinking is triggering problems with your health, with your employment, in your relationships, with your finances, at school, or with the law, then you have a drinking problem that needs to be tackled.

If you have a drinking problem, furthermore, this means that you are involving yourself in irresponsible drinking.

While some people may be able to detect their “alcohol signs,” pinpoint their difficulties, and significantly reduce the quantity and rate of their drinking, other drinkers, then again, need to manage their drinking problems by getting quality alcoholism therapy. Moreover, due to their penchant to deny the facts and alter the truth, alcohol dependent people certainly require professional alcoholism treatment for their irresponsible drinking.

A Young Man’s Excessive Drinking Results In a DUI, Mental Health Issues, and Time Incarcerated in Jail

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Jesse had an exceedingly difficult time keeping a job. In truth, due to his languor and lack of incentive, he was out of work far more often than he was employed. And when he did land a job, he had an exceptionally hard time getting to work when his shift began, he typically got less than passing performance assessments, and he called off sick so habitually that he usually got fired a week or two after he started working. Obviously, one of the results of Jesse’s shameful employment track record was the fact that he was virtually without a dime on a day-to-day basis.

Regardless of Jesse’s less than great employment track record and financial lack of attention, however, somehow, someway he made it his business to drink heavily much of the time.

So it came as no big surprise when Jesse received a third DUI. When he went to court, the magistrate clearly stated to Jesse that his alcohol-related conduct was shameful and, as a consequence, he was going to sentence Jesse to spend nine months in the municipal jail.

Time While Locked Up In Jail To Think About The Demoralizing Consequences of Irresponsible Drinking

During his time while locked up in jail, Jesse was required to learn more about alcohol facts, about the disruptive effects of abusive drinking, and he was expected to get alcohol rehab. The magistrate accentuated the fact that unless Jesse receives professional alcohol counseling and learns how to live a life of abstinence, he will most likely be spending a considerable amount of time incarcerated in jail.

Jesse stated that he grasped what the magistrate was proclaiming but he still felt that placement in the city jail was not the most productive verdict. The magistrate saw things in an entirely different way and said that it was his job to keep alcohol addicted individuals off the streets who drive under the influence and who receive multiple DWIs. To authenticate this statement, the judge listed some long-standing, extensively researched alcohol statistics that pointed to some of the damaging results that are correlated with irresponsible drinking.

Even though Jesse realized that he drank in a hazardous and irresponsible manner, he never thought that he was an alcohol dependent individual. So it was quite a surprise when Jesse began experiencing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal around three hours after after getting locked up in the city jail.

To manage his alcohol withdrawal symptoms in a safe and secure manner, Jesse was taken to a rehab facility for alcohol detoxification and then returned to jail. While locked up in the local jail Jesse got a mental health appraisal and got alcohol therapy but since he got this treatment as something that was forced upon him, he neglected to take ownership of his excessive drinking.

When his time in the local jail was over, the magistrate without wavering told Jesse that he would be under stringent observation and would be mandated to take periodic alcohol tests.

Jessie’s Irresponsible Drinking Stops Him From Living in an Accountable Manner

After hearing how Jesse neglected to take ownership of his drinking circumstances and how he reluctantly followed the treatment protocol while in jail, the judge knew that it was simply a matter of time before he would be seeing Jesse once again in court about his hazardous drinking behavior. As the magistrate reflected on Jesse’s situation, he couldn’t help but think about how some people never ”get it” and discover how to live in a mature and accountable manner.

When Irresponsible and Heavy Drinking Results in Serious Health Problems and Mental Health Issues

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

For a number of years alcoholism research has demonstrated the fact that there is strong association between alcohol addiction and life-threatening health conditions and mental health issues such as depression.

As an illustration, in 2005, scientific investigation and alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics demonstrated the fact that that alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency cost the United States an estimated $220 billion annually. It can be stressed that this considerable alcohol-related expense was substantially more than the cost linked with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion). While it is important to accentuate these facts, it is also important to highlight the fact that an interrelationship exists between all three of these health problems.

More precisely, chronic alcohol abuse and alcoholism are also highly interrelated with obesity and with cancer.

Undeniably, substance abuse exploration has revealed that alcohol dependency can boost the risk for various kinds of cancer, particularly cancer of the liver, voice box (larynx), kidneys, colon, esophagus, rectum, and the throat. Hazardous and recurring drinking can also result in immune system problems and deformity to the fetus during pregnancy.

Hazardous and Excessive Drinking Destabilizes the Person’s Organs and Systems

What is more, if alcoholism continues over a period of years, the individual’s body organs will more likely than not be affected in an unsafe manner. For instance, repeated, hazardous drinking is especially dangerous to the liver due to the fact that the liver does most of the work of processing the alcohol that has been ingested. Unwarranted amounts of alcohol kills liver cells and eradicates the ability of liver cells to reproduce. This condition leads to a progressive inflammatory malfunction of the liver that can in the long run lead to cirrhosis of the liver, a precarious and possibly lethal medical problem.Heavy, long-term drinking not only can lead to serious liver damage, but it can also lead to damage to the heart and to the brain. Physical damage this serious may be unalterable and may, in turn, lead to serious illness or premature death.

The Significance of Alcohol Counseling

It is critical, then, to know how to identify the various alcoholism symptoms and the “alcohol signs” so that the alcohol addicted individual can be given the opportunity to get the quality alcohol rehabilitation he or she needs.

Alcoholism and Technologically Advanced Brain Exploration

Fortuitously, medical exploration is persistently uncovering unique and important information. Recent alcoholism exploration offers a first-rate example. More specifically, for approximately the last ten years, sophisticated brain-imaging scanning instruments have confirmed that repetitive and long lasting irresponsible drinking modifies the structure of the brain to a significant extent, thereby resulting in brain disease that can last months, years, or conceivably as long as the person lives.

More explicitly, medical examination has shown that individuals who have been drinking excessively for a considerable length of time increase their risk for developing long-term and serious changes in the brain.

This type of damage may be directly related to severe liver disease, to the alcohol’s effects on the brain, or might be indirectly associated with the drinker’s poor overall health.

Excessive Drinking, Malnutrition, and Mental Disorders

As a final example of different medical problems that are substantially associated with alcohol dependency, take into consideration the fact that in accordance with scientific investigation, the abusive and repeated abuse of alcohol can lead to erosive gastritis, a medical condition that reduces the absorption of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

This kind of organ malfunctioning is associated with malnutrition and to a variety of critical neurological and mental disorders including sleep disturbances, memory loss, and psychosis such as Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This latter medical condition is a long lasting debilitating health problem that is characterized by incessant memory and learning problems.

Summary

It is evident that continued, hazardous drinking is directly or indirectly correlated with a variety of serious medical conditions that can and do result in serious ailments and premature death. Such information needs to be emphasized and presented to everyone in our society so that a large number of people will be able to abstain from irresponsible drinking while others who have a drinking problem will get the professional rehabilitation they need.

A Young Gentleman Hits Rock Bottom, Faces His Depression, Gets Alcohol Treatment for His Irresponsible and Excessive Drinking, and Increases His Self Esteem

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Samuel was a forty-four-year-old interior designer who was sick of feeling depressed everyday of his life and sick of his unhealthy drinking behavior. In a word, he missed his old drive for doing the things he liked, he was annoyed with himself for spending his hard-earned money on a useless habit, he hated the hangovers he experienced on a regular basis, he was tired of going through shattered relationship after shattered relationship because of his constant drinking, and he was sick of feeling weary every morning.

Moreover he was bored with his drinking friends, he hated the fact that he had to go to court for his second DUI, he was disgusted with how out-of-shape he was, he was irritated with the many times he failed an alcohol test at work, and he was fed up with paying for alcohol-related lawyer fees.

On top of the obvious alcohol-related health problems he was experiencing, in all probability the unhealthiest part of his drinking routine was the undependable and scheming individual he had become. In his heart of hearts he knew that he had been less than truthful about his drinking behavior to his family, friends and relatives and he also knew he had been less than honest with himself about the “positive” effects of drinking. Not only this but he justified wolfing down two or three drinks before going to social events and he also made excuses for needing a few drinks as soon as he awakened so that he could deal with the “tension” at his job.

His Depression and His Excessive and Abusive Drinking Lead to Significant Changes in His Life

It was clear that Samuel was sick of putting up with the adverse outcomes of his depression and his abusive drinking and decided that something important had to change in his life. So he determined that he would abstain from drinking, involve himself in some worthwhile hobbies, develop a new circle of friends, start exercising, start focusing on becoming a more healthy person, and get professional counseling.

In short, Samuel got to the point in his life during which he understood that he hit rock bottom and was now ready to begin the gradual road to health.

One of the ways that Samuel put his “plan” info operation was by asking for a transfer at his place of employment. When his request was granted, he moved 900 miles away to a new city. If nothing else, this without a doubt made making new friends and pals and detaching himself from his old pals simpler. Then he phoned a doctor in his new city and made an appointment for a complete psychological and physical examination.

Samuel Meets With a Healthcare Professional About His Hazardous and Heavy Drinking and His Depression

After meeting with the doctor and taking a number of laboratory tests, it was decided that Samuel had made the transition from alcohol abuse to alcoholism and as a result was in need of alcohol detox and alcohol therapy. At this time, the healthcare professional made it a point to discuss the diverse signs of alcoholism, the symptoms of alcoholism, and information about long term alcohol effects with Samuel.

The doctor then told Samuel that it was determined that he was clinically depressed and in need of counseling for this medical problem.

Samuel Makes up His Mind to Revitalize His Body by Exercising, Drinking Filtered Water, Eating Healthy Foods, Living an Alcohol-Free Way of Life, and Taking Vitamins and Minerals

Due to his enthusiasm for following through with the rehab program, after eight weeks of residential treatment, Samuel was ready to begin treatment on an outpatient basis. At this point, he started working at his new job and over the weeks began fortifying his body by living an alcohol-free lifestyle, drinking spring water, eating nutritious foods, exercising, and taking vitamins.

Samuel also dealt with his spiritual life by joining the local Presbyterian church and going to the weekly services.

After approximately four months of outpatient treatment during which time he never suffered through an alcohol relapse, Samuel stopped going to alcohol rehab and instead started going four times per week to local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Going to these meetings helped Samuel maintain his alcohol-free style of life, they provided him with the support he required, and they served as a constant reminder of the damaging outcomes that are linked to careless and hazardous drinking.

After going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings just about six-and-a-half months Samuel felt that he was ready for a relationship and so he started dating Kelly, a young woman he met at church. It clearly surprised Samuel how much more ready he was for a dating relationship now that he had his abusive and excessive drinking under control. Indeed it also amazed Samuel how much better life was now that he wasn’t under the control of his abusive drinking. Life was now meaningful and full of potential that he could have never hoped for or attained when he was involved in abusive and unhealthy drinking less than a year ago.

A Success Story That is a Testimony of the Value of Alcohol Rehabilitation and the Power of Positive Change

Samuel’s success story is a demonstration of the value of alcohol therapy and the power of positive thinking. As Samuel reflected on his newfound lofty self concept and drive for involving himself in worthwhile, healthy activities, he was actually thankful that he made up his mind to do something worth while about his excessive and hazardous drinking rather than giving into his depression and into the lure of his addiction. The result: he enjoys his new job responsibilities, his life now has a positive direction, he is in command of his life rather than letting himself languish under the control of his alcohol addiction, he has more energy now compared with any time in his adult life, and he is involved in a loving relationship.

A Woman Exhibits Signs of Depression and Alcoholism and Makes an Appointment to See Her Medical Practitioner About Her Irresponsible and Excessive Drinking and Mental Health Issues

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Teresa was a forty-seven-year-old legal secretary who realized that she had some problems with her drinking. For instance, within the past two months she has felt the need to have a few drinks before going to work, a week ago she failed a random urine alcohol test at her place of employment, two months ago she got stopped by the police for a DWI, and last but not least, for the last seven months she has begun to forget what she says and does when she goes out drinking.

Similar to multitudes of other individuals, Teresa’s alcohol involvement began slowly and stayed at this level of involvement for quite some time because every now and then she engaged in intermittent social drinking. In truth, for around six months, every time she went out to drink, she made sure to drink in a responsible manner. Something about her drinking, nonetheless, seemed to radically change when her husband divorced her.

In Order To Overcome the Divorce of Her Husband With Less Distress, Teresa Came to the Conclusion That She Will Begin Hanging Out More Regularly With Some of Her Pals Who Love to Whoop it Up and Drink

Teresa got very despondent about the loss of her husband, and as a way to refrain from fixating on her depressing feelings she determined that she would start associating more routinely with some of her buddies who love to drink.

Quite candidly, Teresa truly believed that having fun almost every day by drinking and partying with her buddies would help her come to terms with the breakup of her husband in a less painful manner.

Teresa’s Drinking Escalates Considerably the More Often She Goes to Happy Hours, Family Get-Togethers, Private Parties, Sporting Events, and Dinner Dates With Her Friends

It didn’t take very long, however, before her drinking increased to a significant extent the more frequently she went to and drank at dinner dates, sporting events, happy hours, private parties, and family get-togethers with her friends. Furthermore, the fact that her drinking buddies were all quite a few years younger than she was and therefore able to drink and party more carelessly was one of the reasons why she didn’t direct more of her attention to her increased drinking. Simply put, she was having lots of fun drinking just like everybody else in her group of buddies without much reflection about the unhealthy results of her hazardous drinking.

Yet in the back of her mind she knew that she most likely required alcohol counseling but avoided the thought as much as humanly possible.

Teresa Gets a Physical Examination, Admits Her Drinking to Her Healthcare Practitioner, and Acknowledges Her Dejection

One afternoon during her twelve month physical exam, her healthcare practitioner asked her if she drank alcohol. Not wanting to lie to her physician, Teresa acknowledged that she commonly drinks more than she should. If truth be told, she stated that she regularly drinks in an abusive manner. Then Teresa informed her doctor about her constant negativity. More explicitly, she mentioned that wrecked relationships often elicited a depressing progression of events typified by increased drinking which further resulted in more discouraging feelings that, in turn, resulted in even more drinking. And this is explicitly what happened when her husband and she got divorced nine months ago.

When her healthcare professional heard this, he informed Teresa that according to various alcoholism facts and statistics on alcoholism he was reviewing, alcoholism and depression many times happen in the same person. He then informed her that some of the alcohol statistics, facts, and research investigations he has been reading about also emphasize the fact that individuals who drink in an excessive manner and who also experience depression need to receive treatment for both medical circumstances.

Teresa’s Physician Makes an Appointment for a Psychological Appraisal and For an Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Assessment

Teresa’s healthcare professional then told her the following: “I am not trying to make an unprofessional diagnosis, but with your medical condition we may be dealing with two separate problems. Consequently, I think we need to make an appointment for you to get an alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction assessment from my partner, Dr. Hults, who is an alcohol and drug addiction specialist. Whether your drinking circumstance is more correlated with alcohol addiction or alcohol abuse is unknown, but I feel that further evaluation is warranted. Then I feel we should make an appointment for you to get a psychological exam from another one of my partners, Dr. Schmidt, who is a counseling psychologist. I want to get a better handle on your depression and see how much your depression and drinking are associated.” Teresa displayed her agreement with her healthcare practitioner’s “game plan” and thanked him for his help. Now all she had to do was to try to decrease her drinking and get ready for her appointments.

A Young Man Needs Therapy For His Severe Depression, Relationship Problems, and For His Drug and Alcohol Dependency

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Roughly four months ago I had breakfast with a thirty-four-year-old man named Alexander who suffers from severe depression, has relationship problems, and who is alcohol and drug dependent. As explained by Alexander, it is his drug addiction and alcoholism and his intense depression that had the most to do with his unceasing relationship difficulties.

I recollect hearing that a history of mental health issues, drug addiction, and harmful drinking quite often happen in the same family. Moreover, I remember hearing that under such circumstances, a person needs to get treatment for both medical situations and that addiction and mental health difficulties frequently occur in the same individual.

As declared by Alexander, he is so dejected by his relationship difficulties and by both of his medical problems that he basically has little or no reason to do much of anything. What is especially sad about this is that earlier in his life, Alexander managed to finish five semesters of grad school in biology.

Alexander’s circumstance makes me question if he is an example of an individual who can look in the mirror and see his drug abuse and alcohol drinking problems and do something healthy about these problems or if he is an individual who has to hit the bottom of the barrel before he gets drug and alcohol rehab that leads to lasting sobriety.

The Need For a Rehabilitation Program He Can Believe In and a Psychologist He Can Trust

If it would be helpful I would assume that I could advise him about numerous blogs and websites that could possibly help him locate information about drug abuse symptoms, the stages of alcoholism, chemical dependency information, and relationship issues. From my vantage point, nevertheless, Alexander needs to find a counseling protocol he can believe in and follow through over the long term and locate a therapist he can trust.

I could be in the wrong but it seems to make sense that Alexander more likely than not needs to look honestly at his life regarding his drug addiction signs and alcoholic symptoms and recognize the fact that he cannot use drugs or even drink responsibly if he wants to get sober, stay sober, and start on the path to lasting sobriety.

It may be asked how treatment would help his drug and alcohol addiction. First of all, there are several recently produced doctor-prescribed meds that can help Alexander through his withdrawal symptoms, through the drug and alcohol detoxification process, and help him avoid a drug or an alcohol relapse.

Second, Alexander would learn to concede the fact that there is completely nothing useful about chemical dependency and excessive and abusive drinking and that involving himself in one or both situations is the road to legal problems, deteriorating health, a premature death, poor work and school performance, shattered relationships, and financial difficulties.

Third, treatment for his relationship problems and his depression might help him manage these psychological issues more successfully and perhaps create less of a need for him to engage in addictive behavior.

The Significance of Support Groups Such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous

There are realistically several friends, other people, and family members who would desire to help Alexander with his substance abuse and his hazardous and excessive drinking. He probably would experience greater acceptance from a recovery group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, however, instead of getting advice from individuals who rarely drink or who have never taken drugs.

When Individuals Do Things They Love and About Which They Are Passionate

There’s a philosophical attitude that contends that individuals who do things they like and something about which they are dedicated reach a magnificent place in life. Stated another way, when people do what they love, they almost never experience an uneventful life or boredom. If they involve themselves in something that is enjoyable, what is more, they become more actualized and experience more gratification and delight in life and in their relationships.

When this is examined more closely it becomes clear that this positive mindset is worlds apart from a life that is grounded in drug and alcohol addiction because such a lifestyle removes the satisfaction and joy that life has to offer.

Because Alexander lacks the fortitude to do much of anything in his life, it is obvious that he definitely needs some hope for a better existence. And the unfortunate thing is that hope is all around Alexander if he could only get to the place in life to get the therapy he needs for his acute depression and dependency and continue with his treatment routine.

Better Relationships, Beneficial Change, Self Respect, and a Meaningful Life Are Possibilities

Alexander is simply too young to be defeated in life. He doesn’t comprehend this right now but if he can learn how to refrain from drugs and alcohol through drug and alcohol rehabilitation and get the counseling he needs for his severe depression, he can reorient his life and start living with passion, self-respect, and direction.

More positive relationships, productive change, self esteem, and a wonderful life are certainly possibilities for Alexander if only he could become motivated to get the medical rehabilitation he requires, follow through with his treatment program, live his life in an addiction-free and healthy manner, and learn how to acquire a more positive attitude about life.

A Young Female Requires Treatment for Her Mental Illness and For Her Chemical Dependency

Saturday, October 17th, 2009

Nearly two weeks ago I read about a twenty-two-year-old female named Rachael who is manic depressive and who is also addicted to alcohol and drugs. I have read that in such situations, an individual needs to get counseling for both medical conditions and that mental health problems and chemical dependency tend to take place in the same individual. In addiction, I recall hearing that a history of abusive drinking, drug abuse, and/or mental health concerns routinely occur in the same family.

Obviously, Rachael is so overcome by both of her medical conditions that she essentially has no reason to achieve much of anything. What is particularly unfortunate about this is that earlier in her life, Rachael completed two-and-a-half years of college. Rachael’s situation makes me wonder if she is an illustration of a person who has to hit the very bottom before he or she gets drug and alcohol addiction treatment that results in long-term recovery.

The Need For a Healthcare Practitioner She Trusts and a Rehab Program She Can Believe In

If I were in contact with Rachael I could suggest quite a lot of blogs and websites that could possibly help her locate info about addiction and alcoholic behavior, relevant chemical dependency information, facts about alcoholism and drugs, and more info about addiction symptoms and alcoholism warning signs. From where I stand, however, Rachael needs to locate a doctor she trusts and a treatment protocol she can believe in and follow through over the long term. I could be mistaken but it seems to make sense that Rachael probably needs to understand the fact that she cannot drink at all or use drugs if she wants to get sober, stay sober, and start on the route to long-lasting recovery.

I am aware that there are some recently produced physician-prescribed drugs that can help Rachael avoid an alcohol or a drug relapse, help her through her withdrawal symptoms, and help her through the drug and alcohol detox process. Obviously it would be in Rachael’s best interests if she became conversant with these drugs.

It is apparent that Rachael needs to admit the fact that there is absolutely nothing useful about hazardous drinking and drug abuse and that messing around with one or both situations is the route to financial difficulties, deteriorating health, poor work and school performance, shattered relationships, a premature death, and legal problems.

The Importance of Recovery Groups Such as Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous

There are realistically several persons such as other individuals, friends, and family members who would want to help Rachael but she more likely than not would experience greater understanding from a recovery group such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous instead of listening to people who drink in moderation or who have never abused drugs.

When Individuals Do Things They Like and About Which They Are Dedicated

There’s a school of thought that emphasizes that individuals who do things they like and something about which they are zealous reach a wonderful place in life. Stated more specifically, when people do what they enjoy, they hardly ever experience boredom or an uneventful life. If they get involved in something that is satisfying, what is more, they become more fulfilled and experience more satisfaction and joy in life.

To me, this sounds diametrically opposed to a life that is rooted in substance abuse because such a lifestyle removes the gratification and delight that life has to offer.

Due to the fact that Rachael lacks the determination to succeed at doing much of anything in her life, it is obvious that she definitely needs a little bit of hope for a better life. And the sad thing is that hope is virtually everywhere around Rachael if she could only get to the place in life to get the therapy she needs for her mental illness and dependency and stick with her treatment protocol.

Constructive Change, Self Respect, and a Wonderful Life Are a Reality

Rachael is simply too young to be beaten in life. She doesn’t comprehend this right now but if she can learn how to abstain from alcohol and drugs through alcohol and drug therapy and get the treatment she needs for her mental health problem, she can redirect her life and start living with direction, self-respect, and passion.

A wonderful life, self esteem, and beneficial change are certainly a reality for Rachael if only she could become inspired to seek the professional treatment she requires, follow through with her treatment regimen, live her life in an alcohol and drug-free and healthy manner, and acquire a more positive attitude about her life.

Irresponsible and Hazardous Drinking Leads to Depression and Mental Health Issues, an Enabling Wife, and Encouragement for Constructive Change and Successful Alcohol Abuse Treatment

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

It took quite a few years but Emily at long last made up her mind that she had enough with her husband’s careless drinking. She was weary from seeing Barry come home in the early hours of the morning from drinking rather than spending time with her and the children. She was also exhausted from the DUI Barry recently got. Moreover she was weary from creating reasons for her spouse when he couldn’t show up for work on time due to his problems with drinking. In a similar manner she was nervous and depressed about the fact that their relationship was going downhill due to Barry’s unhealthy and excessive drinking. And finally she was fed up from the risky financial quandary into which he had placed his family due to his hazardous drinking behavior.

When Abusive and Excessive Drinking Motivates a Person to do Something Affirmative About a Person’s Drinking Problem

One Monday evening when Emily was thinking about what she could do about her husband’s abusive drinking, she got to the point that she frankly had to do something helpful to cut into the destructive cycle of Barry’s unhealthy and excessive drinking behavior.

So she looked on the Internet under “alcohol treatment” and found several rehab facilities that were all located less than fifteen miles away from where Barry and she lived.

Because she didn’t know a lot about these rehab clinics, she at long last finally decided to call some of them and ask some important questions. When she called each treatment clinic she identified who she was and articulated that her husband was involved in hazardous and excessive drinking behavior. She also stated that Barry, her spouse, had a top quality health insurance program at his job and that outpatient or residential alcohol addiction treatment would be covered if a physician in the company health program suggested the treatment.

At one rehabilitation facility, Emily was stunned that she was able to communicate directly with a healthcare practitioner who asked her to come to the rehab clinic to go over her husband’s abusive and careless drinking behavior in much greater detail.

Emily Talks to a Healthcare Professional About Her Husband’s Abusive and Irresponsible Drinking

When Emily arrived at the rehabilitation clinic, she filled out some paperwork and then after around ten or fifteen minutes got to see a therapist.

After listening to Emily discuss her husband’s hazardous drinking, the healthcare professional in an encouraging but firm manner told Emily how she probably played a part in her spouse’s hazardous drinking through the years by making excuses for him rather than allowing him to suffer the outcomes of his hazardous and excessive drinking behavior.

Emily Finds Out She Has Been Enabling Her Husband’s Abusive and Excessive Drinking

More to the point, the physician told Emily that she may have been accidentally enabling Barry’s excessive and hazardous drinking behavior. The physician also highlighted the fact that while Emily could not control her spouse’s actions, with the support and guidance of the rehab team at the rehabilitation clinic she would not only be able to learn how to refrain from contributing to Barry’s hazardous drinking but she could also learn how to help him schedule an appointment at the rehab clinic so that he could talk about his hazardous and abusive drinking behavior with a therapist.

Fortunately after Emily revealed this to her husband, and he saw that she was serious, Barry told her that he had been quite uneasy with his hazardous and careless drinking behavior and that he was somewhat thankful to know that Emily wanted to do something helpful about his abusive and unhealthy drinking behavior. As a result, he made an appointment to see a therapist at the local alcohol treatment center.

Barry Agrees to Meet With a Physician About His Harmful Drinking

While simply calling a rehab center does not guarantee that an individual’s abusive and unhealthy drinking behavior will stop or that one’s warning signs of alcoholism or the alcohol abuse signs one manifests will simply fade away, calling for an appointment is obviously a necessary aspect in the treatment process. And due to the fact that Barry was serious about getting therapy for his unhealthy and excessive drinking, the likelihood of a successful recovery was significantly enhanced.