About six months ago I had dinner with a thirty-three-year-old male named Alexander who suffers from acute depression, has relationship issues, and who is dependent on alcohol and drugs. As declared by Alexander, it is his drug addiction and alcoholism and his intense depression that had the most to do with his constant relationship problems.
I remember hearing that a history of mental health concerns, drug addiction, and hazardous and excessive drinking quite often take place in the same family. Moreover, I remember reading that under such circumstances, an individual needs to get counseling for both medical situations and that dependency and mental health difficulties often occur in the same person.
As affirmed by Alexander, he is so overcome by his relationship issues and by both of his medical issues that he basically has little or no reason to do much of anything. What is especially unfortunate about this is that earlier in his life, Alexander managed to finish two semesters of grad school in sociology.
Alexander’s condition makes me question if he is an illustration of a person who can address his drug abuse and alcohol drinking problems and do something positive about these issues or if he is an individual who has to hit rock-bottom before he gets addiction treatment that leads to lasting sobriety.
The Need For a Rehabilitation Regimen He Can Believe In and a Psychologist He Can Trust
If it would be helpful I would suppose that I could suggest quite a lot of websites and blogs that could possibly help him locate info about drug abuse symptoms, the stages of alcoholism, chemical dependency information, and relationship difficulties. From my perspective, nonetheless, Alexander needs to find a rehab program he can believe in and follow through over the long haul and find a doctor he can trust.
I could be wrong but it seems to make sense that Alexander more likely than not needs to look in the mirror regarding his drug addiction signs and alcoholic symptoms and understand the fact that he cannot use drugs or drink at all if he wants to get sober, stay sober, and start on the path to long-term recovery.
It may be asked how counseling would help his drug and alcohol dependency. First of all, there are some newly discovered doctor-prescribed medications that can help Alexander through the drug and alcohol detoxification process, through his withdrawal symptoms, and help him avoid a drug or an alcohol relapse.
Second, Alexander would learn to accept the fact that there is entirely nothing positive about chemical dependency and excessive and careless drinking and that involving himself in one or both conditions is the road to shattered relationships, deteriorating health, financial difficulties, a premature death, poor work and school performance, and legal problems.
Third, treatment for his depression and for his relationship difficulties might help him deal with these conditions more successfully and perhaps create less of a need for him to engage in addictive behavior.
The Relevance of Recovery Groups Such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous
There are possibly numerous friends, other individuals, and family members who would love to help Alexander with his substance abuse and his excessive and hazardous drinking. He more likely than not would experience greater understanding from a recovery group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, then again, rather than getting guidance from individuals who drink in moderation or who have never abused drugs.
When Individuals Accomplish Things They Like and About Which They Are Fervent
There’s a philosophical outlook that proclaims that individuals who do things they love and something about which they are passionate reach a splendid place in life. Stated more explicitly, when people do what they enjoy, they almost never experience boredom or an uneventful life. If they involve themselves in something that is worthwhile, moreover, they become more actualized and experience more happiness and delight in life and in their relationships.
When this is thought about even for a few moments it becomes clear that this affirmative perspective is worlds apart from a life that is grounded in drug and alcohol dependency because such a lifestyle removes the satisfaction and joy that life offers.
Due to the fact that Alexander doesn’t have the willpower to achieve much of anything in his life, it is obvious that he definitely needs a little hope for a more productive life. And the sad thing is that hope is almost everywhere around Alexander if he could only get to the point in life to get the therapy he requires for his intense depression and dependency and stay with his treatment program.
More Solid Relationships, A Wonderful Life, Self Esteem, and Beneficial Change Are Possibilities
Alexander is simply too young to be beaten in life. He doesn't realize this at the moment but if he can learn how to abstain from alcohol and drugs via drug and alcohol therapy and get the counseling he requires for his intense depression, he can redirect his life and start living with direction, passion, and with self-respect.
More positive relationships, affirmative change, self esteem, and a wonderful life are certainly a reality for Alexander if only he could become motivated to seek the medical rehabilitation he needs, follow through with his therapy protocol, live his life in an addiction-free and healthy way, and learn how to cultivate a more positive attitude about life.
