“When you love someone who suffers from the disease of addiction you await the phone call. There will be a phone call. The sincere hope is that the call will be from the addict themselves, telling you they’ve had enough, that they’re ready to stop, ready to try something new. Of course though, you fear the other call, the sad nocturnal chime from a friend or relative telling you it’s too late, she’s gone.” ~ by Russell Brand
With the recent death of Amy Winehouse, addiction has again reared it’s ugly head in the media. The loss of Amy demonstrates the havoc alcohol and drug abuse can cause. Celebrities are people like the rest of us, and this is a devastating loss for her family and close friends.
My hope is that teenagers will take pause even for a moment, and realize where substance abuse can lead.
Prevention is the key to helping kids live a drug free life and to use alcohol, if they chose to, with responsibility and mindfulness.
Once substance abuse has turned into addiction, the process is difficult and there are no guarantees. There is however, always hope, and when those who are addicted to drugs or alcohol as well as gambling, sex, food and other problem habits seek help, they can find their way to recovery.
Many celebrities, as well as everyday people have found recovery and are now leading productive and creative lives. Some are giving back and work in the recovery field. Others give back by pursuing their dreams and their passions.
The experience of being addicted, which has brought so many to their knees, will remain with those in recovery forever. Their lives and the lives of their family members will never be the same.
Here are some ways to get help and ease your pain:
1. Work with a counselor.
Seek a counselor who specializes in addictions and make regular appointments to see them. Depending on how severe and long term the addiction, treatment could take from several months to more than a year. The counselor will help you discover why you became addicted and what role addiction plays in your life. You will learn to reduce and eliminate your dependence on your addiction, and you will learn new tools that will help prevent a relapse. This approach works well with nonphysical addictions.
2. Go to a Treatment Center
Treatment Centers are not just for celebrities. Treatment Centers are an intense inpatient stay at a facility that focuses on your addiction and recovery. Medical and mental health professionals are on staff to assist you with your recovery. Recommended stays can be from 28 to 90 days or longer depending on the severity of the addiction. Prices and accommodations can vary. Some health insurance policies cover treatment, and there are scholarships and financial aid which can be made available. One of the benefits of a treatment center is that you are in a new environment and focused on your recovery.
3. See a Doctor
You may need a medical intervention if you are addicted to drugs or alcohol. If your body has been physically dependent on alcohol or drugs you may need medical support. This is especially true of prescription drugs. It may be fatal to abruptly stop using some prescription drugs. By having the support of a medical supervised withdrawal, you ensure a safe detox.
4. Attend Group Meetings
It can be very helpful to attend a group meeting to find the support from those who have also been addicted. Group meetings are available for almost every addiction and are free to join. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are just two examples. You will be able to hear other’s stories of their addiction and recovery and you will be able to share your own.
Going to a group meetings allows you to learn from other’s experiences and to gain valuable tools to help with your long term recovery.
5. Encourage Family Members to Attend a Support Group
Family members can attend a support group as well. They will learn tools to help them deal with the effects of addiction on their family. People at the support group will have experience with their loves one’s addiction. They will share their stories and resources that will help family members let go of their shame, and learn how to interact with the addicted person in a constructive way. The group will help them to see the benefit of detaching with love and getting on with their life. Al-Anon, Alateen and Families Anonymous are three examples.
“Addiction is a very dark force that sucks families in, slowly eating away at the ties that bind, but there is hope and I want to illuminate the way out. There is a well traveled path to a better way of life for addicts and their families…Sober and Shameless…” ~ Kristina Wandzilak
How do you think people can get help with addiction? Leave your thoughts in comments.
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Be Well.
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This does make me sad about Amy. So many have died at 27, it’s very strange.
I hope when a celebrity loses their battle this way, that the teenagers will pause for just a moment and consider where substance abuse will lead. Hopefully these steps will remind people that there is hope and a way to recovery. Thanks for your comment.
Cathy recently posted..How to Get Help with Addiction
Hi Cathy… this is such an important post. Something else that may help your readers is to understand how substance abuse during the critical brain development that occurs from ages 12-15 can contribute to a young person developing an addiction. Here is a related post discussing this: http://tiny.cc/262uf. Thanks, Cathy!!
Lisa Frederiksen – BreakingTheCycles.com recently posted..Two-Part Interview: Lisa Frederiksen with Gabrielle Antolovich on Drug Addiction, Alcoholism & Help for Families
It’s never too late to get help and hopefully more parents will be aware of substance abuse in their children and seek help as well anyone with an addiction problem.
Russel Brand is a great example of a celebrity role model who has overcome addiction. I believe that he has said that he owes a lot of it due to Transcendental Meditation. Meditation, in general, is a really great way to overcome addictive behaviors. I’ve found this STOP method and urge surfing to be great at helping to overcome impulsive decision-making.
Obviously, as you mention, seeing a professional counselor and establishing trustworthy support groups is really important too.
Thanks for this!
Steven recently posted..How to use Exposure Therapy for Overcoming Social Anxiety
Hi Steven,
Thanks for sharing. I was impressed reading about Russell. It is wonderful to see celebrities who have found their way to recovery. My hope is that they will speak out as role models for our young people. Appreciate your comment.
Hi Cathy,
You do such a wonderful job of countering the effects of addiction (publicized and otherwise) with the solid truth of recovery. Like you, I pray that teenagers grow to understand the potential slippery slope of alcohol and drug usage. I pray too, that families grow to understand that living with a young addict is not a death sentence; help is available and plentiful. May I add a plug for The Partnership at Drugfree.org? This organization offers many resources for parents (including ALL who influence a child or teenager’s life). In fact, tomorrow, Thursday, July 28th, at 11 a.m. Central, The Partnership’s Facebook site will host a conversation with its national celebrity spokesperson, Melissa Gilbert, about how parents can deal with drug and alcohol abuse in their families. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/#!/partnershipdrugfree.
Keep up the solid work, Cathy! I’m a huge fan.
B Well
Beth Wilson recently posted..Changing Playmates and Playgrounds
Hi Beth,
It is wonderful to share experiences of those that have come before us and walked in our shoes. Parents want and need voices of hope, to know that their children have a chance. I am happy to share Melissa’s chat tomorrow. Thanks for your comment.
As a sibling trying to help another sibling recover from addiction to pain meds, I appreciate all of the advice and information you provide. Still, because of there being no financial resources, we’ve been met with nothing but roadblocks to seeking inpatient rehabilitation treatment. Without financial resources, we’ve been shut out and shut down. If anyone has information on facilities that might have scholarships available for people in dire financial straights, I would greatly appreciate the feedback. God bless you one and all for your support and your personal testimony. Keep the faith!
Hi Susan,
I’m sorry to hear about your situation. I will contact you through email, but there are free and low cost services available that can help. Thanks for your comment, and hopefully we can connect through email.
We too can become ill.Al-Anon..If you have a loved one with an addiction problem you know that they arent the only one suffering. In a family struggling with addiction every family member is affected in some way.