Shame and Blame: Why Rehab Doesn't Work

There is a growing rumbling about the failure of the addiction field to adequately address the needs of its clients. Every one can probably think of a favorite celebrity who has been in and out of rehab more than a dozen times with no apparent success. Panicked parents will send a teen who is experimenting with pot into horrendous boot camps or shuttle them off to alateen meetings only to see things get worse, much worse. Self help support groups routinely mandated by the courts as a treatment for drug/alcohol abuse despite a great deal of evidence that their efficacy rate in maintaining long term sobriety is negligible. No wonder there is grumbling; why do we keep banging our heads against the proverbial wall?

Addiction counseling is plagued by several factors that limit its success, not the lest of which is the glamorization of the addiction counselor as some sort of all knowing TV deity issuing judgmental proclamations about people he or she has has never personally met. There are several of these individuals out there; their "treatment" protocol is apparently based on the dubious tenets of shame, guilt and ridicule. While it makes for entertaining, self-righteous sermonizing that would make an old timey backwoods Baptist preacher blush in embarrassment, it does nothing to encourage an addicted person to seek out treatment. There is already enough shame and blame to go around as is.

The blame and shame attitude is at the core of an addict's "denial." The natural human tendency when aggressively confronted with one's misdeeds is to be defensive. We see this with our children, our spouses, parents, friends, colleagues and total strangers. Yet, when it comes to addiction, common sense communication skills aimed at avoiding defensiveness transform into finger wagging dramas about ruined lives, death and other mayhem. It is psychological preservation for any normal human to defend against this type of verbal onslaught so it is no wonder interventions are so ineffective.

This is not to say that some individuals do not have very destructive addictions: frequently they have and these should be addressed. However, shuttling someone off to rehab or continuing to enable them is not the answer. Nor is mandating self-help groups or berating them. These are forced solutions don't resolve the issue for them or anyone else and may actually be more harmful than not in the long run.

Education is key; an addict won't change until he or she is ready to do so. If the person does change, he or she will change in the manner that is more personally suited to that individual and this will almost never match the expectations of anyone else. It is the old rule of thirds: some will never change and will eventually need palliative care, some will struggle on and off with it their whole lives and others will "age" out of it. Moreover, some were never more than dabblers to begin with and over reacting frequently pushes this type of person past experimentation levels.

It takes careful discernment to understand where an addict is any stage of the addiction process. A thirteen year old caught smoking pot with other thirteen years olds requires a much different approach than a 38 year old who has been on the streets for a number of years. One joint doesn't equate to a life time of addiction just as one drunken binge does not an alcoholic make. Eliminating the hysteria and handling the situation calmly is of vital importance in actually resolving any issues.

A quiet word about what your feelings and refusal to cover up or bail the addict out of trouble and backing it up may be far more effective than all other treatment methods combined when dealing with a functional addict. We all do well to remember that, no matter how much we may love an addict, we can't control what they do or make them change. We can be compassionate, protect our own boundaries and set firm limits on their behaviors around us. If some day they are ready to change, they will. When and if this happens, support them in this change in as positive manner as you can, but always understand it is their process. Remember, shaming and blaming are about our feelings, not theirs.

Illuminosity life is a professional coaching practice dedicated to the high achiever who wants to move to the next level. This practice has been in existence since 2006 and has helped many clients create the type of changes they want to see in their personal and professional lives. Pat uses a variety of techniques to assist individuals in attaining their most cherished goals.

Pat has a master's in addiction counseling and is currently working on a professional counseling masters. She has extensive experience in behavioral health and working with special needs adolescents.

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Logistics of Drug Rehab

If you or someone you care about is struggling with an addiction to drugs, it is time to think about getting them into a drug rehab program.

For a long time, these programs were seen as a sign of bad behavior, a kind of omen on the family, but by today's standard, it is more of an omen when you let a loved one go on untreated. There are just too many options out there that suit an individual's lifestyle for a road to recovery. Why not embrace them?

Not to mention, many of the drug rehab programs one will find are not as far away and secluded as many people consider them to be. Yes, years ago many people were shipped to all different parts of the country to quietly battle whatever demonic addiction they supposedly had, but that is not the case any longer. There are all sorts of affordable options in your hometown giving you the convenience of keeping in touch with your friends and family, and letting them be around for what you are going through. That is one of the gravest problems with treating addiction today, not letting people in.

On the opposite side of things, one can also seek to recovery from their drug addiction safely away from their family. In such an instance, there are probably even more drug rehab facilities available than one could imagine. They range in all sorts of locales, from the beach, to the desert, to another major city. The intention is to get out of rehab what you put in, so whichever atmosphere seems most conducive to recovery you should consider taking.

Price has long been another way in which to measure one's need for drug rehab, in that many of the best programs require a substantial fee. However, because so many drug rehab facilities have emerged, one now has a better lay out of options when it comes to price.

It is the simple law of supply and demand. The demand came about, the supply went up, and now competition in such avenues keep these prices stable.

As well, many of these prices, you will find, will come down after just meeting with a financial supervisor at the drug rehab clinic. That's right, just like hospitals and other medical facilities you visit with, a drug rehab center has a number of financial advisers who will work on your behalf to determine what kind of insurance coverage you will be able to get during your stay. Sometimes it is only a little, but other times it is a significant piece of the pie, so keep in open mind.

In the end, if you or a loved one are making the final steps toward narrowing in on a drug rehab center, just be prepared for the journey. It is not going to be an easy one, for either party, and you will need the love and support of one another the whole time through.

Alice is an intern specializing in drug rehab with a passion for treating alcohol & drug addiction.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Tanston

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Going to an Alcohol Rehab Center

And so, if you are going to be looking into the services of an alcohol rehab center, all you need to remember is that entering a rehab center is going to be half the battle.

While the door leading you in may be tough to get through, the door you leave out of is going to be twice as difficult. You will be leaving a comforting surrounding where your addiction was being handled and you will be returning to the place where your addiction began. One needs to have a support staff on the outside that will be willing to hear them out at difficult crossroads and show them the way back to recovery. Without that, it will be impossible to stay sober and keep your life on the path you fought for.

Without question, the most centrally concerning aspect of going to an alcohol rehab center, and therefore successfully making your way out of an alcohol rehab center, is what you will do with your life away from your treatment facility.

There are many reasons for this, but let's begin with the overriding situation that will be in hand. Once out of the treatment facility, you will be faced with everything you had left behind, meaning potentially a life that is still in shambles, and you will have to do so without the crutch you once had to lean on, without the help of a chemical dependency.

So, the situation could realistically appear as so. You are at your old house or apartment and you realize you have not been working and so are probably low on money if you have a job at all. You owe your treatment facility money, and you owe money to continue living in the comforts you once were. All the friends and family members you probably once could have relied on if you found yourself out of work and a home are no sworn against you because the last version you showed of yourself was an addict.

And, to top it all off, if you even think about getting another sip of alcohol, you may find yourself knocked off the lowest level peg you had just spent months climbing onto.

That does not sounds so welcoming and so you must keep in mind that as hard as rehab is, you have something even more difficult waiting on the other side, and so you will need to line up as many friendly faces as possible, and you will have to begin a line of support to prop you up in place of your old chemical dependency. Keep your eye on that very real prize, and say hello to your new life. You're sober. You're safe.

All this being the case, you might have a lot to handle you were not expecting, but have no fear. An alcohol rehab center will no doubt show you the ropes, just be prepared to work for it, and everything will come out smoothly. Or at least, everything will come out, and you can't short change that.

Alice is a nurse for a alcohol rehab center with a passion for treating alcohol & drug addiction.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Tanston

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The Truth About a Drug Rehab Center

There are not too many people who have experience with a drug rehab center, and thus they have a pretty inaccurate picture of what is actually happening inside of one on a day to day basis.

You see, it is no surprise that Hollywood has tried to exploit the idea of a drug rehab center incorrectly, just as they have tried to exploit the premise of doing a lot of drugs and nothing going wrong.

Sure, there are exceptions in a lot of films where people die of a drug overdose, or their life trails away and fades due to the risk of drugs. But, more often than naught, audiences are treated to depictions of drug and debauchery where everything turns up okay, and the crazy individual still gets praised no matter who they hurt.

The truth of a drug addict often looks more like this: Lose your possessions, lose your friends, lose your mind. It's just that the painful attributes of addiction, if repeated over and over on screen do not sell tickets so well.

Well, what does go on then, if movies are so far off base?

To be honest, it is not the difference of what as it is the difference of how.

For instance, during the detox stage of rehab, one spends painstaking hours in sweats, feeling as if their heart is about to burst. They throw up repeatedly until there is nothing left inside themselves but hollow hunger pangs. This last for hours on end, and a movie generally shows a thirty second clip of the viscera and moves on. It is far more intense, and appears far more life threatening in real life. On top of that movies always show therapy in stages, the entertaining ones, and, again, not the hours on end that people spend awkwardly admitting what they have done and working at relationships. A lot of times in rehab, movies make it seem like everyone is instantly one big family. We are sorry to say that is just not accurate to what happens.

The truth of the matter is that addiction to drugs or alcohol is a disease and should not be seen otherwise. Sure, someone who has lived through an addiction is certain to have made their fair share of enemies, and having projected a lot of wrong doing onto others. However, if those others do not come to terms with the fact that individual was battling a demon they couldn't control and living a life they could not realize, they may miss out on the recovery of a dear friend. That is the true aim of most every drug rehab center. Not just to get someone a second chance, or to get them free of their drug, but to reacquaint them to the people who they wronged. It is to give friends and family members their loved one back. Each and every patient turned successfully out of a drug rehab center is a testament to such a cause.

Alice is a nurse for a drug rehab center with a passion for treating alcohol addiction. Visit milestonesranch.com to learn more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Tanston

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Drug Rehab For Young Adults

If you are a young adult and have a drug problem or have a family member who is suffering from addiction, an option would be to attend a residential young adult drug rehab clinic. There, you or your relative can start to make roads into recovering from dependency on drugs. Rehab clinics can offer the encouragement and support needed to be able to conquer this habit.

Adolescent Years

The teenage years and early adulthood can sometimes be a traumatic part of a person's life. They are much more emotionally vulnerable than people in their thirties and this can sometimes manifest as extreme mood swings. Many turn to drugs for different reasons, from emotional problems to peer pressure, and can easily become addicted. A rehab clinic can offer an ideal environment to deal with not only their addictions but also any associated problems.

Health Insurance

The cost of the stay could be covered by health insurance, so it is worthwhile to check this with the provider. These privately run clinics are comfortable and clean and the patient will be made to feel secure that they are going to receive the best possible treatment. All staff at the clinic is supportive and sensitive to each person's needs.

Peers

All the other patients are suffering from similar experiences and peer-to-peer support from people in a similar age group is an important part of the treatment. Group sessions can give the patient an opportunity to express their feelings and exchange ideas on how to overcome their cravings. They will also receive one to one counseling to try and get to the root of the problem.

Mental Illness

Sometimes, addictions can be indicative of mental illness and there are psychiatrists and psychologists at these residential care homes to provide any extra help needed. This could be through the use of medications. Other therapies can also be discussed.

Holistic Treatment

A much more holistic approach is taken by many clinics. For example, there are places that could offer treatments based on alternative therapies. These can deal with the stresses caused by cravings without the need for medication, or as a complementary therapy in addition to them if needed.

Recreation

Recreational activities are also on offer to ensure that the patient has something to keep him or her motivated in their recovery. They can take part in sports such as swimming or basketball. Other leisure activities on offer at many of these residential clinics are horse riding, fishing and even the occasional outing to the shops.

Life Skills Training

Young adults will also receive life skills coaching. This will help to prepare them for their future and get the ball rolling on their future plans such as education or career options. This is a very important part of treatment as it gives the young adults options and helps them think about their future enabling them to get better to achieve their goals.

Family

The family is also very much involved in the patient's recovery program. They can receive advice and education on recognizing emotional triggers that could lead to a relapse. They also get emotional support and family counseling. Families are also encouraged to get involved in some leisure activities with their loved ones.

Staying at a young adult drug rehab clinic can be a positive experience. Young adult rehab centers cater to any addiction and provide treatment for all drugs. From weed treatment to heroin detox, a young adult is sure to find a program that will hep them get their lives back on track. Once the patient is ready to leave, they will receive ongoing support. Addictions can be conquered is you seek the right help.

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Residential Prescription Drug Rehab Centers

Considering the idea of going to a residential prescription drug rehab center can be a hard choice for many people. It can also be confusing for some individuals, since there are often a number of different programs, facilities and methods to choose from these days. Even so, many find that this type of approach can be the ideal way to get back on track again, so that they're better able to fight their addiction in general.

A Hard Fight

People commonly have a hard time fighting their addiction, regardless of what it might be. However, those who suffer from an addiction regarding medically prescribed products often have a more difficult time in most cases. Sometimes, this is due to the easy access they have, for the most part, and because it is technically legal.

Easier Access

Oftentimes, the difficulty that people have when it comes to working on their addiction with prescription-based medication, along with it being so legally accessible, is the fact there are fewer things to stop them. Granted, the person prescribing such medications may often limit their patient on how often they can get a new one but it's not always possible for professionals to recognize when a situation may be headed in the wrong direction for someone. In the end, it's up to the individual, their willingness to accept their addiction, as well their ability to fight against it.

A Good Fit

Although there are several types of programs available, it's important to make sure that you choose something you can feel comfortable with. If you don't feel comfortable or pleased with the approach that you choose to use then you may not have the ideal results. Either way, many find that there are flexible options, depending on what one might prefer in general.

Choose A Center

Despite the different programs you can decide on, many people have found that treatment centers can generally provide the most success, depending on one's circumstances. These centers tend to vary in nature when in regards to the type of treatment that they provide. Most, however, tend to focus between group and individual care, so it's key to choose what may be more appealing to you.

Different Approaches

Even though some programs may focus on certain beliefs and religion, many centers use a psychological approach. This is usually something that is based on cognitive behavior. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be ideal for those who not only want to work toward their recovery, but also to be able to survive the temptation that can be involved when in regards to everyday life.

The Right Tools

Many individuals find that they can gain the most success when they're able to gain the right tools to be able to do so on their own. This generally involves being able to dig deep into their own mindset so they're able to assess their life, choices, and behavior more effectively. This is because many addictions tend to be based around such factors.

Since one prescription drug rehab may vary from another, it's important to do your research before deciding on one. This is because it's important to find one that will suit your needs and personality so you're able to find use and comfort with that particular environment,especially when going through drug detox. Some may provide a strict or structured environment for those who feel they need it while others may offer male or female-only living situations, which some people may prefer as well.

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Drug Rehab Helps Addicts Overcome Addiction

Many people wonder how drug rehab works and if it is worth the cost. Anyone whose life has been changed due to successful completion of the programs can testify to its great benefit. The steps involved include physical, emotional and mental treatment to help an addict overcome the physical addiction and prevent relapse. There are many reasons a person may turn to drugs or alcohol including family, work, or general stress. To overcome the addiction, the person also needs to learn better ways of dealing with the stress as well.

Detox

Detoxification is the first step in the process. This step often involves medical treatment for the physical addiction. When your body becomes addicted to a drug, it begins to need it. Without the drug, the body can have severe physical problems. There are different medical procedures including using other non-addictive drugs to reduce the dependency. This is a very trying time in the process and patients can often become sick, depressed, and even violent as they pass through this stage.

Therapy

Therapy is the second step in the process. Most initial therapy happens in a drug treatment center. In this situation, the patient lives with other recovering addicts going through the same process. Individual and group therapy is applied. This helps people understand the struggles, build a support system and learn to overcome the stresses that caused them to rely on drugs or alcohol. Other activities include outside activities to provide encouragement and promote healthy living.

Outpatient Therapy

Outpatient therapy is usually the third step. By this point, the patient has achieved a level of control that satisfies the counselors that the person can reenter society with success in dealing with stresses the right way. During this time, the patient is in frequent contact with their counselor and will attend Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings for group support. Part of this time is to help promote a concept called sober living. When a person has been addicted to something, it is often difficult for them to avoid that addiction when the stress of life attacks again. Having this support available, helps them turn to people that will encourage them instead of relapsing into their previous addiction.

Time Frame

The length of treatment varies by individual needs. Many programs have set time limits, but can vary the limits depending on the types of addictions the individual experiences. Most people who enter rehab centers have a pretty long treatment plan implemented. Some last a month, while others may last many months before leaving the center.

Relapse

People relapse for various reasons. It is extremely important for a person to learn how to appropriately cope with different stresses in order to survive in life. The treatment programs work hard to teach these coping skills and provide the support needed in aftercare. However, if a person reenters life in a situation where others around them continue to use drugs and alcohol it can be very difficult for him or her to abstain.

Drug rehab treatment works by dealing with both the physical and mental portions of the addictions. Through the therapy, individuals learn coping skills to help them find better ways of dealing with the stress that life sends their way. Rehab also helps the families of addicts by providing information and family counseling. Treatment costs outweigh the negative impact, both on society and on the individual.

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Guide To Cocaine Rehab

When you first recognize that you are finding it difficult to deal with your cocaine addiction, you have begun the journey towards recovery. The next step is to want to change this and start your road to recovery. That may be the time to think about how cocaine rehab could help you.

The Right Fit

You will be able to choose the sort of facility you want to stay in. For example, you may want to stay with others in the same age group as yourself or you may not want to stay in a mixed sex clinic. But one thing that all clinics will have in common is the comfortable and peaceful surroundings where you will be made to feel at home and receive all the help and encouragement you need.

Level Of Care

Wherever you go to recover from your drug addiction, you will discover the same level of care and support to help you kick the habit. The only requirement is that you do not bring any drugs into the clinic. If your habit has overtaken your life to the extent that you have lost your job or home, you will be helped with this. You can also receive skills training with math and literacy, which will help you to secure employment once you leave.

Your Surroundings

The clinic where you stay during your treatment will have all the comforts you can expect to make your stay more pleasant and help you overcome your drug problem. The staff has been specially trained to give you lots of encouragement to help you change your ways. Your family can also receive advice on the best way to help you during your stay and once you leave the clinic.

Different Treatments

Different types of treatment are available. There are some clinics that take a holistic approach to addiction problems and you could benefit from receiving some alternative therapies. This could be reflexology, massage or acupuncture. These techniques can help you cope with the stress that sometimes makes you want to give in to your cravings.

More Help

Other methods that are in use are counseling sessions, either on your own or with a group, or both. Peer support can be an excellent way to recovery, as you can share problems with others suffering from similar addictions and you can help each other along the way. Staff are also available 24 hours a day should you need help any time during the day or night.

Psychiatric Help

Sometimes, drug addictions can lead to mental health problems. Or it could be the other way around and mental health problems could have contributed to your dependence problem. The professional medical personnel you will meet during your stay in rehab will give you all the help you need, including psychiatric help and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Once you have made the decision to live a life free of drugs, it may be time for you to consider staying at a cocaine rehab clinic. Receiving support during and after your stay will help you stay free from addictions as well as continuing with drug counseling after rehab. Drugs do not have to take over your life, you can overcome this problem.

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Is Outpatient Drug Rehab Right for Me?

Outpatient drug rehab can be an invaluable tool for those struggling with a substance abuse problem. But how do you know if it's the right fit for you compared to the other treatment options that are available? Well, there are a couple different things to consider when answering that question. If you have an active addiction which means that you are currently abusing and dependent on illicit drugs or alcohol, typically a residential treatment program would be recommended for you. This level of care provides the 24 hours a day supervision that you need. If you are a recovering drug addict who still needs assistance staying sober while transitioning back to your pre-rehab life, then outpatient drug rehab will often be the recommendation.

What Do You Learn in Outpatient Drug Rehab?

Outpatient drug rehab is a great follow up to a residential program. It's often not realistic to think that a recovering addict can leave rehab and jump headfirst into their old life without a serious risk of relapse. While inpatient treatment will help us learn why we started abusing drugs or alcohol, outpatient drug rehab places the vast majority of their focus on relapse prevention.

If you are in an outpatient drug rehab then you are most likely living at home, possibly heading back to work and are therefore exposed to all of the old risk factors that influenced your substance abuse in the first place. A large part of relapse prevention is learning additional and fine-tuning existing coping strategies. Coping strategies are what we as individuals utilize to help us deal with stress and anxiety. For many former addicts, drugs and alcohol were their coping strategies so they need to learn new, healthier ways to process their emotions. Inpatient treatment will help start that education but outpatient drug rehab is really where those concepts are expanded on and put into practice.

Are There Any Drawbacks to Outpatient Drug Rehab?

The plus side to outpatient treatment is that the recovering addict gets to go back home and start assimilating back into their old routines. In this instance however, the plus side is also the risk factor as these individuals now have access to all of the substances that they used to abuse. They also have access to their old friends and acquaintances they used to abuse with. In outpatient drug rehab, the individual is not under any sort of supervision (other than possibly family) after they leave their scheduled meetings at the facility which is why their risk for relapse is increased. It's because of this that a recovering addict should have a very organized and scheduled life for the first several months after they leave residential treatment and should absolutely enter an outpatient program to support their recovery efforts.

Ben Brafman, LMHC, CAP is the President and CEO of Destination Hope, a licensed dual diagnosis substance abuse treatment center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Ben has more than 20 years of experience in the addiction and mental health fields, which led him to develop a combination of innovative treatment protocols at Destination Hope. He has been published on various topics including dual diagnosis and chemical dependency, and gives back to the community by educating other addiction counselors at his Academy for Addiction Professionals. Destination Hope offers 30, 60 and 90 day residential treatment programs as well as intensive outpatient drug rehab and aftercare as well.

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