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.