Where and Who You Can Seek Help For Your Addiction From

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If you are facing an addiction you might feel as if you are alone with your drug or alcohol addiction. However, that is not the case. While it might not feel that way, there are plenty of people and resources that you can use to find help for your addiction. Some of these resources are fairly simple to figure out while others people may or may not know about. Here is a look at some of the places that you can turn to find support for your addiction.

Hotlines. There are many hotlines that handle both drug and alcohol addiction. These hotlines are free to call and allow you to talk to a trained professional. The professional is there to listen and offer you advice when you need it the most. These professionals can also help you find the help you want and need.

Health Care Provider. Your health care provider can offer some great resources for you to use to help you with your addiction. A doctor or health care provider can recommend a rehab center or a support group in the area that will help you with your addiction.

Minister/Pastor. Many religious centers have some type of minister or pastor that will allow you to seek spiritual help during these trying times. You can talk to anyone in a religious center regardless of if you belong to that church. They will offer you spiritual support as well as emotional and physical support. They can also help you find a rehab or support group to help you with your addiction.

Support Groups. There are dozens of support groups that are specifically designed to help you with your addiction. These support groups are usually made up of former addicts who can relate to the situation that you are in at the moment. Should you need other resources like rehab or medical help they can also help you find these resources.

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Alcoholics Anonymous for Treating Alcohol Abuse

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Alcoholics Anonymous will be the first organization to admit that it is not for everybody. Treatment for alcohol abuse is not a one-size-fits-all thing, meaning what works for John may not work for Mary. However, AA is a good start for those needing rehabilitation.

In spite of what they think, those attempting to give up alcohol need help. It is a known fact that addicts are not good at quitting substances on their own. A good support group is the key to giving up any kind of dependency.

AA is not new in the business of helping recovering alcoholics. It has a very long history of getting “drunks” back on their feet and functional in society again. The term “drunks” is not derogatory; it’s simply what they call themselves.

That is because one of the first things AA teaches is facing and admitting the truth. Without that, there is no rehabilitation. In fact, they teach that the whole life of an alcoholic is based upon lies; lies that abusers constantly tell themselves.

In addition to the support offered by other abusers who are trying to quit, one of the most successful features of AA is the 12-step Program.

The 12-Step Program is a “to-do” list for recovering alcoholics. It starts with simple things like the admission of being powerless over the substance. It gets deeper with each step and eventually includes the 12-stepper apologizing to those he has hurt and helping other sufferers become free of their abuse.

Those desiring to get control of their lives should consider getting involved in AA to help them stay alcohol free for life. Getting involved doesn’t just mean going to the meetings, but taking an active part in the whole 12-step program. Then, if they find the program isn’t for them, they can seek out other avenues.

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Addiction Counseling for Chemical Dependency

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There are a few common sayings you might here in substance abuse support groups, such as: “It works,” and “Keep coming back.” These are not just for the benefit of the cheerleaders in the group, but because the statements are true. The nature of chemical dependency is that it cannot be self-managed, but requires group support and addiction counseling for full and life-long recovery.

Addiction counseling can speed up the recovery process by light-years. Counselors are normally trained and certified, and are sometimes recovering addicts, as well. A patient has the benefit of all the counselor’s instruction and experience. Counselors can teach patients things about substance abuse and chemical dependency that the abusers may never learn on their own.

There is no question that once an addict goes through detoxification, the next step is ongoing rehabilitation. The question is, though, is the patient ready to open up, talk, listen and learn. That makes all the difference, because without the desire and willingness to do those things, the counseling is just a waste of time and words. The patient will soon be back to using.

Why Would a Patient Not Respond to Addiction Counseling?

There has probably never been a substance abuser or sufferer of chemical dependency born that didn’t have a lot of pride. Sometime, that is what brought the dependency on in the first place. Quite often, that same pride stops an addict from seeking help, or talking with someone about treatment.

However, it is important to recovery that the abuser understand that. To get help, a patient must be willing to get addiction counseling. Moreover, the patient must be willing to apply what is learned herself, the substance, and the addiction. This is the only way to make it down that long road to recovery without wavering; or running head on into a train.

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Avoiding Relapse on the Road to Recovery

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Taking the first steps toward seeking treatment for drug and alcohol abuse is not easy; continuing down the path and staying on track can be even more difficult. It is critical for people seeking treatment to utilize resources offered by their counselor or treatment center, and learn as much as possible about the recovery process by doing their own research. Rehab-International.org provides ongoing support through updated information and articles to help people in recovery stay in recovery.

Besides seeking knowledge, there are other ways to avoid relapse in the first few weeks and months following rehabilitation.

Start by sharing. Don’t hold feelings in; whether its anger, frustration, sadness, or even happiness, let it out. Go to a support group and talk with people who can relate to exactly what you’re going through. Talk to loved ones and friends, and be sure they know what you’re struggling with.

Find healthy friends. One of the hardest parts about rehab can be the necessity of finding a whole new set of friends; hanging out with other users will most likely send you into a relapse. Seek friends from support groups and find new hobbies and friends who share your new, healthy interests.

Distraction through doing. There’s a lot to be said about keeping busy, with healthy habits. Look into free community education classes, start an exercise program, learn a new hobby, volunteer, or learn a new language. Occupying free time will help avoid using substances out of boredom.

Avoid tempting activities. This includes going to places you once hung out at, as well as emotional circumstances that might throw you off track in your recovery.

Mistakes don’t matter. Don’t sweat the small stuff, a mistake does not mean complete failure. Start again, and keep moving forward, learning from the mistake.

Remember, it’s not an easy journey, but the benefits of staying sober are well-worth the effort.

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Addictions to Exercise

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An addiction that is rarely touched on in mainstream media is exercise addiction. It is an addiction that is pushed to the side and sometimes viewed as a healthy addiction. In general, there is nothing wrong with exercise or exercising often. The problem enters when people begin to handle the past-time as any other addiction. The addiction takes over their lives, relationships, and even careers. Money and time is devoted to making their body bigger, better, and more beautiful. The addiction takes over and nothing is ever enough. Distorted body views, supplements, and in some cases steroid type drugs begin to take over and become part of the daily grind.

Exercise addicts, in many cases, have the same background story. They were accepted during their formative years and at some point began gaining weight. During weight loss programs they may have become to involved and determined to loose the weight. Loosing the weight became the only important issue and when the weight was off the addiction turned to making the body better. Unfortunately, this may never have happened due to distorted body views.

As with many other addictions a popular treatment method is building a support system. Letting the addict know that there are other people with the same addiction is key to letting them accept the addiction and treat it. If support groups are not available in the community there is always the option of virtual support groups. The idea of virtual support has been turned down by many therapists as being a probable new addiction. Many addicts will replace one addiction with another and keep a vicious cycle going that requires constant treatment.

The optimum treatment plan is one set up by a doctor or psychologist that can re-acclimate the addict back into normal society daily living. As with any addiction the addict must first admit there is an issue. This is the first step to any treatment plan. Once the admission and the plan have been established the treatment can begin along with the healing and recovery.

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Sex Addictions…What You May Not Know

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People who are addicted to sex face ostracization, illness and injury, just as people suffering from other addictions do. What makes a sex addict different is the lack of satisfaction that is generally experienced during or after the sexual acts. Additionally, it is unusual for a person in the throes of addiction to form attachments to the persons with whom they are involved.

Is it passion or a sexual addiction?

A healthy, active sex drive is not the same as a addiction to sex. The symptoms of a sexual addiction include:

1) Near constant masturbation
2) Multiple short lived, sexually based relationships, or one nights stands
3) Frequent change of sexual partners
4) Sexual harassment or sexual assault
5) Pornography, phone sex, or cyber-sex that seem to be crucial to your happiness
6) Obsession with sex

Overcoming Your Addiction

You can overcome your addiction. To do so, you will need to have the belief that you can overcome it. You also need to have:

1) Free will
2) Knowledge, about yourself and your disease
3) Hard work

Even if you have tried before to stop the dangerous acts you are participating in, you have the ability to stop. You have to believe in yourself, before others will believe in you.

Treating your sexual addiction

Your sexual addiction is a unique addiction, and is one that is hard to treat. The vast majority of recovering sex addicts credit their recovery to support groups. You may feel the pull of your addiction for a very long time, and you may wake up every day with the desires you feel today.

Controlling your addictive behavior and developing a healthy sexuality is vital to your recovery. Education, as well as marital or individual counseling is equally crucial. Some individuals have found success by combining one or more of these with medication to help curb your urges.

The addiction and pain that you are feeling do not have to continue. You can choose to change your life, and go on to have successful relationships.

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Food Addictions, Could You Have One?

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Until a few years ago, the concept of people being addicted to food was a foreign one. However, as more people have come forward and spoken about their inability to control their food intake, it’s rapidly growing in acceptance.

This is an addiction that is very hard to combat, simply because it’s legal and necessary to live. You may have an addiction to food if you:

1) Find yourself using food to feel better, or consume an inappropriate
amount of food frequently as the result of an emotional upset.

2) Think about food almost constantly, and seem to always be having a sugar high, or planning for your next one.

3) Hide either food you are planning to consume, or the amount of food you have consumed. In general, food is something that most people are comfortable sharing with others. If you are not, you may well have a problem.

4) Eat even when you are no longer hungry, or when you were not hungry in the first place.

5)Feel guilty about eating. You need food to live, you should not live to eat.

I Don’t Overeat All the Time, It’s Just Once in Awhile

Most people will occasionally overeat. If you simply have your third piece of pie after dinner once or twice a year, it’s probably not an addiction. If you have that third piece of pie, even when you’re already full, every time you have a bad day, you may have a problem.

A quick way to see if your eating has become a problem, is to try going without the extra comfort of food on a day that would normally have it. If you have no problem doing so, you might not have an addiction. However, if you have any doubts whatsoever, you may wish to consult a licensed therapist, or attend a support group.

You can overcome a food addiction. You have the ability to do this, and to change your life.

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