Are you someone whose family is exposed to drug abuse? I am. And here’s my story of substance dependence and how healing came to him and the rest of the family.

Introduction To Drug Abuse Treatment

Does drug addiction exist in your family? Let’s learn about it from a real-life experience since it is a widespread problem that needs awareness and attention.

This is why substance help such as addiction treatment or therapy is a significant topic to discuss because not everyone is open about it.

Substance Abuse Treatment – A Story I Will Remember

When I was much younger, my dad’s little brother and sister went to another location to look for greener pastures.

Soon after they moved, my aunt married.

Whenever Uncle Jay would call us back home, he would sound really well, like he was not into drugs.

He told us that he had already become a sous chef at the restaurant where he used to work as a busboy.

The whole family was happy for him! The support for him was overwhelming.

As the number of substance use disorders and alcohol abuse cases continues to rise, more and more family members are seeking healing and recovery.

Addiction counseling can provide invaluable support and guidance to those struggling with these disorders, as well as help them cope with the addiction symptoms and effects of their disease and rebuild bonds with children and spouses.

There are many different types of substance abuse prevention therapy programs you can access, so it is important to do some research in order to find one with high effectiveness.

Looking Into Rehabilitation Programs – A Way To Healing And Recovery

One of the most important factors to consider is whether or not the program has experience treating patients with your specific type of dependence or craving.

Check with your local site to see how you can avail of the services offered by your substance abuse counselor using health insurance. Counselling services for substance use disorder requires addiction treatment.

My aunt saw my uncle less and less since she got pregnant and started her own family. They would no longer go out together, especially when Aunt Mary gave birth and got busy looking after her kid.

Still, we had the impression that there was nothing wrong with them. We would eventually find out that he was indeed into drug use (or substance use) and he was able to manage cravings for some time.

At that time, he would have benefited from treatment and therapy. The addiction treatment really helps. The mental health counselors assist with behavioral disorder and mental and behavioral disorder.

Bringing Substance Abuse Into The Family

Once Aunt Mary called and found out that my uncle would be bringing his friend home, though, she was a little offended. She said, “What was he doing? Why would he bring substance abuse to our family?” Of course, my dad was confused. Alcohol (and other substance) abuse was nowhere in our minds.

We were just there to support each other in everything. All of us were not aware that the addiction was slowly creeping into the family.

Was it opioid or alcohol dependence? What kind of substance use was it? We had no idea at all! We never had any abuse problems in the family. We have never talked about substance abuse treatment for any substance use disorders before.

Substance Abuse Interventions

Seeking substance abuse or drug addiction counseling and getting clinical information with a mental health addiction counselor or licensed professional was not a topic in the family back then. We always thought we were the healthy ones. We were stubborn to seek health counselors help for disorder and mental issues.

It was difficult to process. Dependence was only something that happened to other families – not ours! But, yes, sadly, we were one of those families.

My aunt divulged that the same guy introduced my uncle to substances that could potentially lead to dependence on drugs. When I heard the truth about it, even I could not believe it. I thought my Uncle Jay had always been sensible and responsible enough to know that substance abuse is not good for anybody.

My dad did not believe it either and even got a little upset with my aunt for thinking awfully about their brother. All she said was, “You’ll see what I mean when they get there.” It was then that my dad thought about therapy for dependence.

He looked into residential treatment facilities, treatment providers, and counselors. He didn’t expect to be dealing with substance abuse when it came to his brother.

Now he was worried about his mental health and the mental health of the whole family. Was substance use really in the family?

Abusive Behavior And Therapy

Since I heard about my uncle’s possible dependence, I began observing the signs. It had been almost ten years since I saw him last, but Uncle Jay did not change much.

He had no apparent mental health conditions.

The most apparent thing was that he wore more expensive clothes these days, which was nice.

You wouldn’t think about substance ABUSE when you looked at him.

He wasn’t someone who would go into Counseling or someone who had drug cravings.

Then, one evening, my mom asked me to call my uncle and his friend since dinner was already prepared. They shared the guest room while staying with us. I slowly walked up the stairs for some reason. That’s when I saw Julio in the act of inhaling two lines of cocaine on his side table. And my dad saw everything too. Substance abuse right in front of my face!

Dad kicked Julio out that same night and told him never to come back since he was no longer welcome in our family because of his addiction problem. He wanted him to swear that he’d go to therapy or counseling. The family was just shocked.

What Happened To The Individual?

As all the drug dependence drama was happening, my uncle was rooted in the bathroom entryway. He only moved when Dad returned upstairs and asked him if he knew that Julio was a user and addict.

Uncle Jay was adamant about denying his friend being an addict. He said he wouldn’t have made friends with the guy if he knew his addiction problem beforehand. However, since Aunt Mary forewarned us, my dad did not believe him. He brought my uncle to the hospital the next day for a drug test, regardless of how much Uncle Jay protested. The results turned out positive, of course.

As it turned out, Uncle Jay started using drugs when my aunt got married. He was not used to being alone, so he turned to illicit drugs to feel less lonely in life and not go into depression.

While it was no excuse to use, my dad’s heart softened and allowed him to stay in our house while getting addiction therapy. He talked to some substance abuse counselors who discussed family therapy sessions, treatment facilities, support groups, and treatment approaches and education that might help my uncle.

These support groups and treatment approaches may also be found online.

Seeking Help

The counseling and treatment, which included individual therapy and group therapy, practically aimed to help my uncle avoid relapse, learn independence, and become less gullible than usual when it came to friends who use drugs like Julio.

It only took six counseling sessions, but the change in my uncle’s disposition was incredible. The group therapy was really helpful in improving my uncle’s life. We were all hoping for a successful treatment process for him. He had all the support from his family.

When my uncle left, the first person he went to was Aunt Mary. Uncle Jay told her everything that happened during his visit, and they patched their relationship up. Last I heard, he was volunteering at a local counseling facility in his spare time to help with treating addicts like him.

He still went for counseling and therapy for his individual needs and was keen to read through treatment plans to keep himself at bay. He would also visit residential treatment facilities and attend alcoholics anonymous meetings.

All these became an important part of his life.

The state of Maryland is home to many top-rated addiction counseling programs. In Rockville, the community comes together to share resources and ensure that everyone has access to the help they need. States like Maryland are leaders in the fight against dependence, and they ensure that their communities are safe and healthy places to live. The SAMHSA National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals, teens, families, and communities facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or contact “Home” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741. In addition, they are open 24 hours. Part of their role is to connect you with local resources or addiction counselor to page you and help you reduce your mental health worries and behavioral disorders.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Can You Help Those Persons Who Are Into Substance Abuse?

2. Where Can I Ask Questions About Drugs?

3. What Does An Addiction Counselor Do?

4. What Is The Most Effective Way To Deal With Substance Abuse?

5. How Can You Help Yourself Or Others To Say No To Drugs?

6. What Are The Common Stages Usually Included In A Drug Abuse Recovery Program?

7. What Are The Primary Goals Of A Recovery Program?

8. Initially, How Do You Approach Someone Who Is Addicted To Help Him Start His Recovery?

9. Does Substance Abuse Affect A Person’s Brain And Other Parts Of His Body?

10. What Entails The Process Of Substance Abuse Therapy?

11. What Are Some Ways That You Can Help Minimize Substance Abuse In Your Own Neighborhood?

12. What Are Some Of The Most Common Conditions That Result From Drug Abuse?

13. What Is The Best Solution To Substance Abuse And Misuse?

14. What Are The Two Most Addictive Things?

15. What Are The Consequences Of Substance Abuse?

Our world is facing a severe health issue. The COVID-19 has been rapidly spreading across 185 countries, with more than 2.8 million infections and counting. As confirmed cases continue to rise, leaders around the world implemented extreme measures to help contain the disease. From strict lockdowns, travel bans, and social distancing measures— people’s lives changed abruptly.

As establishments close down, we are suddenly disengaged from society. Forcing to adapt to this new way of life in self-isolation can be challenging. These unexpected events can lead to stress, fear, and anxiety. With our daily routines disrupted, the activities that usually help us destress or relax may be temporarily inaccessible.

The pandemic and how we react to it can vary widely from one person to another. However, we must keep an eye out for ourselves, ensuring that we are managing our life in pandemic through healthy coping mechanisms.

How The Pandemic Can Impact Your Health

The pandemic has put our mental health is at risk, making us prone to stress, anxiety, fear, sadness, and loneliness. As we adapt to our new daily routines, we are at risk of adopting unhealthy coping mechanisms such as lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating habits, increased consumption of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs, and changes in sleeping patterns.

To manage these negative impacts, some people may result in unhealthy coping mechanisms. Dr. Navya Singh, PsyD, said, “Definitely, I can foresee a spike in all these different means of coping instead of engaging in positive coping mechanisms.” It is essential to watch out for these occurrences, especially for those who are recovering or have pre-existing mental and physical health conditions.

Healthy Coping Mechanisms During A Pandemic

As different quarantine measures resulted in the closure of establishments, cancellation of gatherings, and lockdowns, the usual activities that help us cope may no longer be accessible. Doing our hobbies, enjoying leisure and entertainment activities, or even seeing our friends and family may be temporarily not possible.

We must learn how to effectively manage stress, anxiety, and other adverse effects of the pandemic. As our usual coping mechanisms become unavailable, we must keep ourselves in check to avoid getting lured into unhealthy coping mechanisms. We have suggested below some healthy activities which can help you cope.

• Explore New Hobbies And Talents

Being idle at home can leave us with a lot of time on our hands to dwell on negative thoughts. Instead of resulting in unhealthy coping mechanisms, we can use this time to explore new hobbies and talents. It can help us entertain ourselves and even develop some new skills.

• Take Care Of Your Body

Feeling great on the outside can help us manage our stress and anxiety better. Directing your focus on taking care of your body is a healthy coping mechanism. You use this time to prioritize yourself by taking lots of rest and eating healthy. Taking good care of your body can also help you strengthen your immune system to fight off illnesses.

• Exercise And Stay Active

Being confined indoors could leave us with a lot of unreleased physical energy. This energy can be unloaded by exercising and staying active. Exercise is also a great stress reliever as it boosts your endorphins. It can also benefit your physical well-being as it helps improve blood flow and develop your body.

• Go Outdoors Once In A While

Depending on your location and imposed quarantine measures in your area, go outdoors once in a while. Confinement and seeing the same things every day can be detrimental to our well-being. Get some fresh air from your balcony or backyard. Even if you have no reason to go outside as establishments are closed, take a walk around your area if it is permitted.

• Connect With Others

Whether staying in touch with friends and family or connecting to new people – having someone to talk to during life in self-isolation can help you cope with the pandemic, it can also distract yourself from any negative thoughts or urges for unhealthy coping mechanisms. This activity can be both beneficial for you as well as for them, drawing strength from each other.

Despite all else, if you still need guidance and reinforcement to help you move past life’s challenges, you can always reach out to one of the professional counselors at BetterHelp. Their team is ready to work with you 24/7, anytime and anywhere with just one click. Check out their app today.

 

Final Thoughts

Although we temporarily live in self-isolation, coping with the pandemic does not have to be a lonely fight. Technology can help you seek comfort from friends and family, or even connect you to your community around you, forming new relationships. Seeking professional help also remains an option.

We live in a truly challenging time. It will test our resilience, but hopefully, we all come out of it better. We must remember that unhealthy coping mechanisms will not help us cope in the long run as it can be detrimental to our overall health.

Do you have alcohol addiction or do you just simply love drinking? Do you find it helpful to just drink alcohol to drown away your problems and overcome sad experiences in your life? Let’s go deeper into an addiction to alcohol. What causes people to abuse alcohol and be addicted to alcohol? Does too much alcohol consumption have any effect on one’s mental health?

Alcohol Problems And Mental Disorders

This goes without saying, but excessive alcohol consumption can lead to alcohol addiction. The negative effects of alcohol consumption could result in disorders for both the individual and their family members, who may require treatment and emotional support.

Another common term for this mental health condition involving the excessive consumption of alcohol is alcohol abuse. Alcohol affects brain function, personal relationships, and the way you process health information and your feelings. Research shows that the effects of alcohol are similar to those of other drugs. Excessive intake of alcoholic drinks, especially among young people, can impair brain activity, disrupt nerve function, and pose risks to mental health, potentially leading to long-term mental health problems. In fact, individuals diagnosed with mild to severe mental illnesses or those who have attempted suicide before have a higher risk of developing alcohol dependence.

A person who is struggling with alcohol abuse is engaging in regular heavy drinking and has a high likelihood of encountering problems in their daily life – including mental health issues (e.g., bipolar disorder) and other health risks, such as high blood pressure, liver disease, and breast cancer, among others. Most individuals with alcohol use disorder also have a family history of excessive alcohol use and alcoholism. Additionally, the age and severity of alcoholism contribute to the risk of trauma. Access to appropriate health services is crucial for individuals dealing with alcohol abuse.

Consuming alcohol, including fetal alcohol, is not necessarily a bad thing, especially when people with alcohol use it in moderation. However, it becomes dangerous when individuals engage in alcohol consumption to excess, leading to binge drinking (five or more drinks) and the development of dependency or long-term alcohol use disorder. In many cases, those struggling with alcohol abuse may also involve themselves in other forms of substance abuse, such as drug abuse, resulting in serious consequences. Over time, individuals with early alcohol use disorders may ultimately experience liver disease and other mental health problems. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism provides valuable resources to help individuals better understand the risks associated with alcohol consumption and how to make informed choices about their drinking habits.

Additionally, if you have an alcohol use disorder and some mental disorders, you must not stop abruptly or else your alcohol withdrawal effects will be detrimental to you.

Alcohol Addiction And What To Do About It

The best way to find out if you have an alcohol-related problem, such as alcohol abuse and alcoholism, is to seek professional treatment advice from a certified professional. They may encourage you to initially join support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or refer you for alcohol treatment in a treatment facility.

Relapse is a common occurrence in adults with mild to moderate substance use disorders, and various factors can contribute to it. Avoid making any self-diagnosis, as there are potential health consequences for abruptly stopping without help from medical professionals. There are uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms that a person suffering from heavy drinking, which is alcohol-related, cannot easily manage.

As much as possible, book an appointment with a treatment provider or support groups so that the treatment provider can start the recovery process appropriately by first explaining what this addiction entails while minimizing the withdrawal symptoms as well as other negative consequences that might arise.

Some Of The Most Common Signs That Indicate The Presence Of Addiction To Alcohol

• • You are ashamed or guilty about your drinking habits.
  • You start to lie, hide, or conceal all your alcohol use and binge drinking.
  • You seek more liquor to make you feel better or to relax, and then experience anxiety, high blood alcohol levels, long-term health risks, and other mental health issues when you are sober.
  • You usually black out after drinking too much liquor.
  • You make it a habit of engaging in excessive drinking – a few drinks first and then eventually too much.
  • You cannot control your consumption.
  • You fail in some aspects of your life because of your drinking habits.
  • If you try to stop suddenly, you start having severe withdrawal symptoms and need to get into a treatment facility.

There are several ways that can help you deal with alcohol abuse and alcoholism. First of all, if you’ve decided to stop drinking alcohol, you need to begin seeking treatment and reach out to a professional who can guide you throughout the process of detox and recovery. The assistance of a specific treatment provider allows you to have a better understanding of your developing alcoholism and early alcohol addiction management. At the same time, treatment providers also give you a chance to find the cause. Keep in mind that finding what causes this is necessary for a fast recovery.

Even if you are too busy at work or in your business, it is essential to seek early treatment for your alcohol addiction. Fortunately, there are the latest improvements in the way sessions are made by treatment providers with their patients. Nowadays, you can easily try online counseling, even with long-term alcohol use disorder. This method may be useful and efficient on your part, most importantly if you prefer to have online interaction with your treatment providers. All sessions will be made in a virtual environment, which is why you need to have a good Internet connection. It also offers access to mental health treatments to people in remote areas as well as those with physical limitations. Research has shown that this has had more or less the same effect as going to treatment centers.

Seeking Advice Through Online Counseling In BetterHelp

If you’re concerned about a family member, friend, or neighbor who is under a long period of alcohol dependence, call human services to help you. BetterHelp is a great example. It’s an online application that caters to people who want to know more about their mental health illnesses, including alcohol misuse. It has a team of therapists who are experienced in providing essential information on how to tackle mental illness and successfully manage life’s challenges. Learn more about it here.

The issue of dependence is dangerous. In order to cope with daily life stressors, you must be responsible with your behavior patterns. It involves making sure that you do everything you can to save yourself, which is an important role you must extend to others.

FAQs

How Many Drinks A Day Is Considered Abuse?

According to NIAAA, heavy drinking is consuming 4 drinks or more on any day or reaching 14 drinks or more in a week for men. For women, it would be drinking more than 3 drinks on any day or reaching 7 drinks or more per week.

SAMHSA, on the other hand, says that binge drinking for five or more days in the past month can be defined as heavy alcohol usage.

What Are The 4 Types Of Drinkers?

What Causes Someone To Be An Alcoholic?

What Are The Symptoms Of Alcoholism?

When is one considered an alcoholic?

How do I stop drinking?

Why does taking in liquor change people’s personalities?

What happens if you drink liquor every day?

How does drinking liquor affect behavior?

Which behavior is most likely to indicate liquor abuse?

Who is at risk of alcoholism?

What makes a person an alcoholic?

How do I know if I’m an alcoholic?

What does liquor do to your brain?

Does alcohol affect intelligence?

Addiction can affect anybody, no matter how old or young, and counseling is a necessary step to recovering from it. Proper counseling addresses its underlying causes and prevents these triggers from causing a relapse.

Teens And Substance Abuse

Teenagers can fall into addiction. Their decision-making capabilities are misguided and easily affected by herd mentality. When they’re troubled or simply curious, teens tend to get high or drunk as a form of escapism from life. Unfortunately, those one-time tries may develop into frequent usage or intake. Later on, they may develop a severe addiction to alcohol, drugs, and other harmful chemical substances.

Although binge-drinking and drug abuse rates among adolescents have lowered in the past year, teens need proper counseling for the treatment to become successful. Compared to their adult counterparts suffering from any form of addiction, adolescents rely heavily on therapy. Medications are more prominent in adults.

Recovery Process

Professionals recommend a rigorous process of achieving sobriety. It starts with good old-fashioned detox. In this step, the expert helps the patient clear his or her body of the substances. Depending on the intake and quantity of the substance, the body expels the substances within days. Severe cases involve medical detox interventions in an in-patient setting.

Since therapy is more effective than medications for young people, professionals turn to talk therapy and teen drug counseling to help the child. Here are a few substance abuse counseling tips for adolescents.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a technique that helps patients control their emotions and reactions. Professionals uncover the leading causes of a patient’s excessive usage. The CBT approach entails anticipating risky situations and managing a patient’s responses. Through avoidance or self-control tactics, patients can apply these coping strategies and prevent a relapse.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Patients who are comfortable with sharing their emotions are better off with Dialectical Behavior Therapy. By accepting uncomfortable feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, patients can overcome these. They can also release their pent-up emotions through exercises like breathing and muscle relaxation and yoga.

Because addiction is closely associated with mental health, dialectical behavior therapy can also help patients entertaining thoughts of suicide. This therapy helps patients control these self-destructive urges and encourages healthy change.

Family-Based Therapy

In family-based therapy, professionals emphasize the family’s role in a teen’s substance abuse. They encourage therapy sessions with the family present because families have a long-lasting influence on a young person’s life.

During these sessions, concerned parties work towards addressing issues that may have triggered this addictive behavior. It uncovers the deep wounds of the patient and unveils stories behind these wounds. For example, when the patient was still young, a parent might be a drunkard and this unpleasant memory imprinted on the young. In other cases, the family may not necessarily refer to blood-relatives, but any person playing a supportive long-term role in the patient’s life.

Recreational Therapy

Also known as therapeutic recreation or TR, recreational therapy is a method engaging rehab patients in active leisure activities. Among these activities are sports, arts and crafts, and games. This technique allows both the mind and the body to develop healthy habits and build social relationships. Recreational therapy aids patients in discovering positive traits about themselves. The goal of recreational therapy is to improve health and boost self-worth and self-esteem.

There are many other techniques counselors can choose from when helping out troubled teens. They should not be treated as helpless cases, for there is always the road to recovery. With the help of reliable counselors, young lives can be saved one therapy session at a time.

Teachers are the mentors of learners when it comes to learning, but they can also be of help in stabilizing a student’s mental health. Teacher and student relationship happens inside the classroom and goes for hours in a day. Fact is, some kids see their teachers more often than their actual parents who were busy working. Thus, as teachers, you also need to “check” their mentalhealth conditions just like how you check their papers and tests.

Continue reading Mental Health Support Tips For Teachers