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An “enabler” is a person who encourages or allows self-destructive behaviour in another. That means any habit that’s detrimental to the person and usually those around them too.
It’s most often used around someone addicted to alcohol or drugs. By enabling the addict it means the addiction is more likely to continue.
For instance, it’s when an alcoholic’s partner does things for the alcoholic they could do for themselves if they were not drinking so much. That is such as repairing something they damaged in a drunken state.
Many people would see this as just being helpful. But there’s a big difference.
Helping is doing something the addict could not do for themselves. Enabling means you do something they could do themselves if their addiction wasn’t in the way.
Common traits of enablers are:
It’s very hard not to do everything you can for someone who’s clearly struggling. But an addict needs to realize that their behaviour has consequences.
They never will if someone else is always mopping up their mess. That means they will be much less likely to seek the help they desperately need.
Stopping being an enabler can be extremely difficult. An alcoholic’s partner may, for instance, fear the family income will be lost if the alcoholic loses their job. Or that the alcoholic will have a terrible accident or end up taking their life.
It’s such a recognized problem that in 1951 Al-Anon was formed. It’s an organization that helps anyone who is worried about someone with a drinking problem.
One of its strongest suggestions is not to cover for a problematic situation that an alcoholic’s behaviour causes. That’s described as “putting pillows under them”. This means the heavy drinker will never feel any of the pain caused by their actions.
While we cannot change other people, we can always change our attitude, behaviour and reactions towards them. We need to learn the difference between enabling and helping.
It’s important to remember you can choose not to accept or tolerate certain behaviour. You can “detach with love”.
This means you are letting go of solving the addicted person’s addiction and all its difficulties. But you still love that person.
Make sure not to:
Make sure to:
Everything needs to be assessed as it arises. You cannot say such as that you will never give the addicted person a lift anywhere. For instance, if they ask for a lift to a 12 Steps meeting you would be helping if you took them. But giving them a lift to somewhere they could visit a bar would make you an enabler.
Many addicts become skilled manipulators and regularly deceive to keep their addiction going. This could be such as saying they need money for food when it’s really for a drink.
Many people in a relationship with an addict discover they are a co-dependent person.
A co-dependent is someone characterized by excessive psychological or emotional reliance on a partner, usually one who requires support for an illness or addiction. Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) is a group that helps co-dependent people.
Many times when an addict’s enabling system is removed, it causes them to seek help. But it’s not guaranteed. This is often very difficult to accept.
We are experienced in all aspects of addiction. Get in touch today to find out how we can help you or someone you care about.
Not everyone who takes drugs is an addict. Many users are able to control their substance intake and live a fairly normal life. Although in the long long-term, any level of substance abuse does affect our lives.
If you are frequently using drugs, and are worried about the level of intake, how do you know if your drug or alcohol use has crossed the line to substance abuse or addiction?
Drug abuse can cause a variety of physical disorders and have a negative impact on your mental, behavioural, social and emotional wellbeing.
Drug addiction is an illness. A brain disorder which presents itself through the uncontrollable consumption of a drug, even though the user knows that to do so is damaging their health.
Even though the user knows the abuse will not end well, the impulse to continue is too great to stop. They find substance abuse both rewarding (in the desire for the drug and the short-term high it delivers), and the need strengthens as the abuse becomes more frequent.
A user may become physically or psychologically addicted, or both; depending on the drug they are using.
When mind-altering drugs enter our system, there are a number of ways our body will react and be affected. Firstly, changes will occur within the brain and its chemical composition.
Specifically within the brain’s chemical messengers – or neurotransmitters, which control how we feel and therefore impact on our behavioural pattern.
When we ingest drugs, our neurotransmitter levels – dopamine and serotonin – increase and we feel a ‘high’. Our positive and happy senses are heightened, as these drugs focus on the ‘pleasure and reward’ areas of our brain.
Other characteristics are a loss of inhibition, and therefore our social ability increases. Many drug users who find it hard to socialise under normal circumstances, will feel less inhibited and socialise more after taking drugs.
The negative side is that our decision-making capabilities are impaired, and we don’t consider the consequences of dangerous situations, such as driving while under the influence of drugs, and we become less inhibited by sexual encounters.
Different drugs have different effects on the brain and therefore, will affect us in different ways:
Stimulants: cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), amphetamines (speed and ice) and caffeine, speed up or stimulate our central nervous system.
They make us feel more aware and confident, but at the same time, they have a negative side, with symptoms including increased heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature; loss of appetite, stomach cramps, sleeplessness, anxiety and paranoia.
Hallucinogens: LSD, ‘magic mushrooms’ ketamine, cannabis, and PCP. These drugs warp your sense of reality, causing you to see or hear things which do not exist or see real things in a distorted way.
They will also bring on moments of emotional euphoria. The negative side of hallucinogens brings symptoms, such as paranoia, panic attacks, jaw clenching, nausea and gastric problems.
Depressants: alcohol, cannabis, opiates (heroin, morphine, codeine), GHB and benzodiazepines (mild tranquilisers). These drugs slow or decrease the function of our central nervous system. In small amounts, they can help us feel more relaxed and less inhibited.
They slow the messages being sent to our brain, which affects our coordination. When taking in higher quantities, they can cause vomiting, dehydration, and unconsciousness.
There are many reasons why a person may become dependent or addicted to a substance. Most start taking drugs as a recreational diversion to ‘real’ life. We may start taking drugs due to peer pressure, career or financial concerns, or simply because we want to have a go and see what it’s all about.
When recreational drug-taking goes further, research shows that often environmental or genetic factors may be to blame.
Genetics: it’s thought that some people are generally more inclined to develop a drug addiction because they have been exposed to a drug environment during childhood.
Either their parents or siblings were substance abusers, or they suffered childhood trauma. This is not to say that all users with a family history of abuse or trauma become substance abusers, but there is a strong possibility that it can become hereditary, increasing the likelihood of our own abuse later in life.
Environment: scientific research shows that certain environmental factors can make us more likely to become dependent or addicted to drugs or alcohol.
These include poverty, witnessing a traumatic event, dysfunctional family environment and abuse amongst our peers.
The difference between drug dependence and drug addiction can be complicated to decode, but a simplistic way of looking at it is if you are physically dependent on a substance you will be affected by tolerance and withdrawal.
Although some users can be dependent on a substance without being an addict, there is a high possibility that the dependence will become an addiction.
Drug addiction is characterised by behavioural changes which occur when biochemical changes happen in the brain. They come after prolonged substance abuse.
The addiction takes over the life of the user; the next hit becomes ‘the’ most important thing in that person’s life.
The user will act irrationally to get more of their drug of choice regardless of the damage it will do to them and to others.
How do you know when recreational drug use becomes a dependence or an addiction? There are certain signs and symptoms to watch out for, whether you are concerned for yourself or a loved one:
Physical symptoms to watch out for include: weight fluctuation, mood swings, increased heart rate, panic and anxiety, fatigue and insomnia.
Thankfully, drug dependence and drug addiction are both treatable. However, to maximise treatment and minimise relapse, it’s important to choose a drug treatment centre – ideally away from your comfort zone – which offers a good range of care and treatment options which will nurture the recovery period.
It’s essential to choose a specialised centre for substance abuse where the staff understand addiction and the problematic patterns of abuse.
Here at White River Manor Luxury Rehabilitation Centre in South Africa, we are proud to have a world-class team of therapists and addiction recovery specialists with decades of experience, on hand to provide bespoke treatment through holistic and collaborative therapy.
Our dedicated team includes addiction specialists, clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, a professor of psychiatry, a CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) expert and a behavioural specialist.
A dietician and personal trainer look after your health and fitness requirements, and a dedicated team of nurses are on-site 24-hours a day. What is essential is that clients feel safe, supported and connected during their stay.
Our treatment centre is set on a sprawling 100-year-old estate with beautiful tranquil gardens in the heart of Mpumalanga and just 30 minutes drive from the Kruger National Park.
Originally an old English farm, the property has lots of space and fresh air, it’s a wonderfully therapeutic setting. The accommodation has been designed for maximum comfort and privacy, with a choice of luxury shared suites and private individual villas with pretty verandas. The estate also provides a fully secure environment.
Our specialised environment and addiction treatment program will help you to manage and reduce your drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
We provide supportive care for the user and their family, helping to get you back on track and enjoying a substance-free life.
If you believe you are dependent on drugs or a drug addict, please get in touch with us today for a confidential chat. It’s never too late to seek help.
If this headline has piqued your interest, it’s probably because you’re questioning whether you do indeed have an addiction to technology.
Are you dependent on your devices? Do you feel the need to be in constant contact with others? Do you find yourself obsessively checking for emails, messages, missed calls? Are you continually engaged on social media – mindlessly scrolling for satisfaction?
Like millions of us, we are attached to our devices most of the time, with some of us even “wearing” smartphones as a brand accessory.
A study carried out by software company RescueTime showed that an average user spends around 3 hours and 15 minutes per day on their phone and a top smartphone user will spend 4 hours and 30 minutes per day on devices.
As many of us struggle to go a day without technology, the threat of tech addiction is a growing problem.
Technology addiction is often described as the inability to control the use of technological devices such as smartphones, tablets, computers, and gaming systems. And in particular as a result of the use of various types of technology involving the internet, video gaming, shopping and numerous social media sites.
Although technology is inevitable in our everyday lives, it’s important to differentiate from the regular use and the problematic, addictive use.
The effects of over-dependence can manifest itself in both physical and emotional symptoms.
Common symptoms include mood imbalance, insomnia, agitation, poor diet, denial, lack of control, loss of interest in important daily activities and neglect in relationships, work or school life.
Some individuals become so obsessed with online activities and social media that they have difficulties engaging with the present world.
Excessive use of technology, especially social media may have a negative impact on mental health and development, particularly among children and young adults.
Research suggests that young people who spend more than three hours a day on social media are more likely to report poor mental health and internalising behaviours – including anxiety and depression.
While we are manipulated by the most powerful digital marketing channels that have a vested interest in keeping our eyeballs glued to their screens, we are also driven by the top tech forces the world has ever seen.
Tech giants like Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon who have a far-reaching influence on millions of consumers worldwide.
As these multi-billion companies fight for first place, a record-breaking number of active users are influenced by compelling technology. These sophisticated technologies rely on persuasive and motivational techniques to lure us in and keep us hooked.
Techniques which encourage specific human behaviour, for example, video gamers are driven by a developmental desire to gain skills and accomplishments.
The latest generation of video games are designed with triggers to increase the time spent playing on them – the more time spent, the more rewards you get or add-ons you’ll purchase.
Similarly, with social media companies, the motivation is the craving for social connection and popularity. A breeding ground for comparison, young adults, in particular, spend hours perfecting profile images and making comparisons with one another.
Social media influencers, notorious for creating that perfect “Insta” pic, have a direct impact on the behaviour of followers – leading to the development of a self-absorbed culture of young people with potentially harmful outcomes.
As advancements in technology continue to develop, the problem with addiction to smartphones becomes great. Dependency leads to feelings of distress and anxiety if we are out of mobile contact or without our phones. Often fuelled by the overuse of internet addiction, these feelings of fear and separation anxiety are known as “nomophobia” aka no-mobile-phone-phobia, a term coined by researchers 12 years ago and added to the online Cambridge dictionary in 2018.
Even the most influential tech figures in the world: Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, are known to have limited their kid’s tech time at home.
After years ensuring dependency is at the core of their designs – how have tech companies responded to consumer criticism on the overuse of technology?
Tech giants Google and Apple offer screen time features that monitor and restrict phone use. Apple has also implemented a communications limit so that parents can set limitations on kids Contacts lists for incoming and outgoing phone calls, messages and FaceTime – whether during the permitted screen time or otherwise.
With family time often compromised by continuous screen time, adults should also set a good example. Yet many parents find it challenging to limit screen time and are often just as guilty of digital distraction. To ensure children develop healthy habits parents need to first be aware of their own habits and introduce real boundaries and balance. Curbing screen time by banning phones or iPads at mealtimes and spending quality time together as a family doing fun activities is a good start.
Technologies like social media can offer a range of global benefits and opportunities. One of the most powerful benefits is the ability to raise global awareness of an important issue. Every day, more people, such as mental health and body-positive advocates, promote change and make positive interactions to a mass audience.
Social media is also a great platform for like-minded people with similar interests to share their views. It provides them with the opportunity to stay in touch and nurture relationships around the world.
Like it or not, technology has also become essential in today’s schools. It is an integral part of modern-day learning with students and teachers constantly engaging inside and outside of the classroom.
Technology in the classroom can help students learn useful life skills needed to be successful in the education and careers of the future.
While technology can add a wealth of value to our lives it’s important to use it mindfully and find a healthy balance with other aspects of “real” daily life.
If you’d like to discuss your tech use with one of our clinicians, contact us today for a free and no obligations chat.
There are so many stresses in life between work, personal relationships and social commitments. Sometimes we forget that contact with another being can seriously affect our stress levels – in a positive way!
Believe it or not, science research has established that daily cuddles with your pet are good for both of you. Just 30 minutes with a puppy positively affects your brain chemistry and changes the bodies stress response.
Pet cuddles can also play an important role in improving your physical health and helping relieve anxiety and depression. They can help to reduce our blood pressure in stressful situations, lower cholesterol and increase physical activity.
What are the other benefits of spending times with pets or animals?
When you are battling with substance addiction, the support you receive from your loved ones is vital. Having people around to love and care for us goes a long way to aid our rehabilitation. But what about love and cuddles from a pet? Can that also help?
The answer is yes, pet therapy, or animal-assisted therapy can have far-reaching benefits in addiction therapy and rehabilitation.
Animal-assisted therapy uses animals to support clients with mental health disorders or addiction problems. Research shows that it improves our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
A study carried out in 2015 with 231 people taking part demonstrated that mental health rehabilitation which involved animal-assisted therapy strengthened the therapeutic alliance between patient and therapist.
In fact, animal-assisted intervention is widely recognised as being beneficial to addiction therapy and has been used in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, prisons, and nursing homes.
Undertaken alone, pet therapy isn’t the answer. To be effective, it should be included as a goal assisted intervention, directly linked to the client’s overall treatment plan.
If you are seeking an addiction rehabilitation program which includes animal-assisted therapy, make sure you choose a centre that has practitioners with experience working with animals in a mental health environment.
In most countries, there are no specific qualifications or occupational standards for practitioners working in the AAT field. The therapy is generally carried out in a controlled environment with a multi-disciplinary team of certified therapists, where some have taken AAT as an extended module to their overall qualification or taken part in a stand-alone certification course for animal professionals.
Dogs (canine-assisted therapy) are the most commonly used animals in pet therapy. But what animal you work with, will depend on your specific needs and the chosen centre. Horses (equine therapy) are also commonly used in the treatment of substance abuse.
A centre that uses animal-assisted therapy will carefully select and train the animals, which are typically mature dogs or horses. When trained and used correctly, they can become your loving and supportive companions during your rehabilitation time.
Other animals that are used in animal-assisted therapy include:
No research has been done on whether some animals are more successful than others in addiction and mental health disorder treatment.
There are many benefits to using animals as part of a holistic program for addiction treatment. The most important recognised benefit is the strengthened alliance between client and therapist.
Animal-assisted therapy creates a better bond between the two, and when there is a strong relationship, it supports the success of the treatment.
In turn, this decreases the problem of the client pulling out of rehabilitation treatment before they have recovered, which can often happen. The stronger the bond between client and therapist, the more likely the client is to continue treatment and improve their chances of success.
The other important benefit to animal-assisted intervention during addiction treatment is in improving the client’s range of emotional responses.
Client’s suffering from substance abuse or trauma disorder often experience a reduced range of emotional responses and have difficulty experiencing and processing their emotions. When their treatment incorporates animal-assisted therapy, it can help to regulate their emotional responses to situations.
In these cases, pet therapy acts as a model for mindfulness. Teaching clients how to experience emotions in real-time and how to navigate the world of emotions.
Other ways that AAT can help in addiction treatment
Animal-assisted therapy isn’t a stand-alone therapy for substance abuse disorders. The intervention should be used to complement traditional and holistic therapy methods where it can improve the bond between patient and therapist, help to strengthen our emotional processes and motivate patients to stay in treatment.
At White River Manor in South Africa, we take a whole-person approach to addiction therapy, using a range of treatments and activities. Our professional team has decades of experience in addiction treatment.
Our holistic programs are individually tailored to the client and incorporate the required level of intensive therapy, medical management, psychiatric evaluation, invigorating exercise options, healthy eating, and incredible experiences exploring this beautiful part of the world.
We have all experienced a bad night’s sleep. Lying there counting sheep in the hope it will send us back to sleep. Or waking up in the middle of the night with a thousand thoughts running through our mind.
The alarm goes off at 6 am, and we’re back up and heading for work feeling like we had less than a minutes’ sleep.
A bad night’s sleep every now and then is fine. But when a bad night, turns into a bad week, turns into a bad month. Sleep deprivation starts to take over our lives. We feel tired all day, our work performance drops and we’re grouchy with our family.
At this point, it’s normal to turn to medication in the hope of improving your zzz’s. Yes, sleeping pills can be beneficial – even life-changing. Waking up after a good few hours sleep, feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day is the best feeling in the world. Why shouldn’t we help that along if needed?
Statistics show that in the UK alone, insomnia affects around a third of the population at any one time. And thousands of people suffer from the effects of sleeping pill addiction.
In fact, a 2012 study carried out for the Economic and Social Research Centre revealed that 1 in 10 British adults regularly take sleep medication.
There is a myriad of reasons why sleep may evade us.
At the start of the Coronavirus situation, the world was so worried about their future that insomnia levels that #cantsleep and #overthinking were trending globally on Twitter.
Which troubles keep you awake at night?
Many different substances have been used to treat insomnia throughout the centuries. And as science progressed, different types of medication were found to successfully aid a better night’s sleep.
In recent years, many different drugs have hit the market, both traditional and natural alternatives.
The pharma industry is continually researching new sleep aids, and it’s no surprise when you look at the global figures of sleep deprivation, it seems we are living in an age of insomnia, and the market for sleep aids is huge.
The choice of sleeping pills available to us – both over the counter and via prescription is turning many of us into sleeping pill slaves.
We call them sleeping ‘pills’ because those that we purchase as consumers generally come in a ‘tablet’ format. However, the correct terms for sleep medication are ‘hypnotic’ or ‘soporific’ drugs. Both types of drug are used to encourage sleep where a sleep disorder exists and also in anaesthesia used in surgery.
Makes them sound a little bit more dangerous, doesn’t it?
We might think the sleeping aids we buy over the counter are harmless, but the most common non-prescription sleeping pills are addictive and should be taken with caution, as they can have seriously damaging consequences and lead to addiction.
Drugs that are prescribed for sleeping problems and severe anxiety are termed as both sleeping pills and minor tranquillisers.
Both are sedatives, which means they have the effect of slowing down your body and brain’s functions and processes, such as our heartbeat, thought pattern and breathing.
In the UK, the are various drugs which are registered to treat sleep disorders or anxiety. Doctors are very cautious about prescribing sleeping pills or minor tranquilisers because of the harm they can cause.
Simply broken down, they include:
These drugs can be recognised under different guises, depending on the reason you are being prescribed them, they will fall under the categories: sleeping pills, minor tranquillisers, sedatives or anxiety-busters. Doctors may also call them hypnotics, sedatives or anxiolytics.
Sedatives are prescribed to calm our nerves and reduce stress and anxiety. Hypnotics are used to improve sleep and anxiolytics are used to inhibit anxiety.
When used in any combination, they can be lethal.
Not all types of sleep medication are habit-forming, but many are. And when taken without caution they can cause serious physical and mental health problems; and lead to an overdose.
A tolerance to sleeping pills can develop very quickly. Whether you have been prescribed a sleep medication or have bought an over-the-counter option, it’s generally recommended that you should take them for 2-4 weeks and a maximum of three months, depending on the type of medication and severity of your sleep or anxiety disorder.
After continued use, the effects can reverse:
When you take them for a longer period, you become reliant on the medication and can become addicted.
If you think you or a loved one may have an addiction to sleeping pills, these are some of the signs and symptoms:
Many people who become addicted to sleeping pills start with a real need to aid a better night’s sleep. They head to the chemist and choose an over-the-counter sleep aid, or their doctor may prescribe a prescription drug for a short period to get the sleep rhythm back on track.
However, sleep is addictive, and once we experience a wonderful night’s sleep, we want more. We worry that when we stop taking these wonder pills, our sleep pattern will once again become irregular. It becomes a craving that we need to keep feeding.
When we take any substance because we ‘enjoy’ rather than ‘need’ them, we call this abuse. And of course, it’s a vicious circle; the longer we take the sleeping pills, the higher dosage we need to maintain the effect. Before we know it, the abuse becomes an addiction.
And, when sleeping pill addiction sets in, we can suffer from extreme mental and physical health problems:
There is another side to sleeping pill and minor tranquiliser addiction. A worryingly high number of people take them for a purely recreational purpose. This poses a very dangerous scenario, as most don’t take heed of the side effects or dosage limits. In which case, they could be taking them in excessive quantities.
If you are regularly taking a sleeping aid, then you need to wise up to the dangers of long-term use. Read through the signs and symptoms in this article.
If you are experiencing a combination of symptoms, it’s probable your sleeping pill consumption has got out of hand, and it’s time decide on a course of action.
At the least, you will need to ween yourself off them and look at natural ways to improve your sleep pattern. If you think that you are past this and maybe suffering from sleeping pill abuse or addiction, for example, if the problem is affecting your work performance, energy levels and personal relationships, then we highly recommend you get professional help.
As many sleep issues come from anxiety and worries, an addiction specialist will want to tackle the root of the problem that is causing you insomnia, together with the addiction itself.
In the last few years, therapists have been trialling Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to help chronic insomnia.
We already use CBT to help with substance addiction, but research shows that it can also be effective in helping insomniacs change the way they think and approach sleep itself.
At White River Manor, we offer a five-star inpatient rehabilitation centre for addiction. This is an ideal scenario if you have a serious addiction to sleeping pills.
The tailor-made program will take you out of your normal environment, where drugs are readily accessible, and put you into a supportive environment, where our addiction specialists will take you through to recovery using different therapies, wellness activities, self-care and relaxation techniques.
Getting treatment for sleeping pill addiction will not only help you restore healthy sleeping habits, but it will also lead to more energy, better concentration, higher performance levels and a happier home life.
Through exhaustive research, psychologists are slowly discovering the reasons and triggers which cause substance abuse and addiction.
Research tells us that biological and experiential factors trigger addiction.
Categorised as a chronic psychiatric disease, addiction forces the person to seek recompense in substance abuse.
However, although there is no research to prove it, evidence leads us to reason that addiction can also be caused by relationships: by an individual’s ‘past’ experience.
A study on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) found that almost two-thirds of addicts have at some point experienced a form of childhood trauma, whether physical, mental or sexual.
This evidence clearly shows that there is a connection between substance addiction and childhood trauma. That trauma increases an individual’s vulnerability to addiction. Evidence shows us that the higher the level of trauma, the higher the risk factor of addiction in later life.
If we wish to understand the link between addiction and childhood trauma, we first need to look at how ‘experiences’ influence brain development.
Essentially, the human brain reacts to biology and genetics; however, it’s also highly adaptable to environmental stimulants; this is known as ‘plasticity’.
The brain can be moulded or shaped by our experiences.
During childhood, our brain grows and matures: creating, strengthening and discarding neural associations. So, although some experts argue that trauma can’t shape the brain, experiences do affect brain development.
If a child lives in fear and dread that experience can eventually lead to a higher risk of addiction in adulthood, and cause problems, such as substance and alcohol addiction, eating disorders, depression and anxiety.
A high number of reports directly correlate child trauma with child abuse, but there are many situations that can cause trauma, such as the death of a parent, neglect, bullying, having a parent or family member with depression, or domestic violence.
Children also need love, support and guidance during difficult periods of their life.
When they don’t receive it, or the parent is the cause of the trauma, these factors can also greatly affect them in later life, because they have lacked parental reference.
As children grow into teenagers and young adults, they may start to self-medicate to get through the pain of childhood trauma.
Equally, if a child has witnessed the substance abuse of a parent for many years, then the child is more susceptible to reproduce the addiction.
All of the above situations, which cause high levels of stress will impede normal brain growth, which can lead to mental health issues in later life. Children who have been affected by abuse or trauma – even lesser experiences, can’t cope in the same way we can as adults.
A negative experience during childhood can shape our psychological and physical development and many adults who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experience turn to substance abuse as a pain killer.
Survivors of childhood abuse and trauma view themselves in a negative way, believing they are unworthy and more often than not, blaming themselves for the abuse they have suffered.
Yet, as appealing as it might seem, blocking out the past is not the solution. All that happens is that we harm our present and future.
One of the biggest obstacles to addiction recovery is letting go of the fear that has eaten us up since childhood.
We don’t want to face up to the trauma we experienced. We fear the memories and facing up to the reality of our past. Instead, choosing to obliterate them through drug or alcohol abuse.
The other obstacle is change.
Many of us find change stressful, choosing bad habits because they fit. When we behave in a certain way over a sustained period of years, we get used to living within that habitual behaviour. We are even fearful of the possibility of a sober future.
One of the most widely recognised therapies to help addiction is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
CBT is a talking therapy which is used to support individuals who are suffering from addiction issues, compulsive behaviours, and also for those who have experienced childhood trauma.
The method behind cognitive behavioural therapy is focused on helping an individual change or adapt their negative behaviour and replace it with positive behaviour.
It works on thoughts, beliefs, and memories, which are thought to have contributed to a person’s addiction.
Through CBT, a therapist can work through a client’s negative thoughts and beliefs and help them to think them through rationally. These thoughts and feelings finally being replaced by positive thoughts and behaviour.
When deciding to tackle addiction, it’s vital to challenge your fears and face up to your past. And accept that change is for the better.
The best way to do this is with the support and guidance of professionals.
When you make the decision to seek help for addiction, you must accept that successful recovery can only happen if you choose to live up to your past. Only then can you let go of the demons that are binding you to addictive behaviour.
Many addicts spend a lifetime avoiding these fears or detaching themselves from them. We understand that being forced to address these issues can be hard.
At White River Manor our specialist team have decades of experience treating addiction. We use a 360º whole-person approach, which Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, together with methods such as Adult-Child Therapy, Trauma Specific Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy.
It is our objective to help you leave the future behind and live in the present.
We tailor the program to individual experiences which helps to make addiction treatment more effective.
If you or a loved one are suffering from addiction linked to childhood trauma, please contact our team for a confidential and informal chat about how we can help you start living in the present and looking forward to the future.
There’s no denying it. Alcohol is an integral part of everyday life for many of us. We joke about our intake and the need for alcohol to get us through stressful situations. Mostly, we don’t even consider alcohol to be a drug, in the sense of marijuana, cocaine or heroin.
Albeit in the back of our minds we might harbour some concern about our intake, more often than not, we sweep the thought aside, because why would we want to give up?
This scenario can be especially prevalent for people with high powered careers who turn to alcohol as a stimulate to push further, or as a relaxant to calm nerves and feel less anxious in highly stressful situations.
Alcohol is a sedative and as such can reduce stress.
When we drink on a casual basis, alcohol helps us to unwind and forget our problems. If you are shy or introverted in social or work circles, alcohol can help you to lose those inhibitions and relax in company. It acts similarly to anti-anxiety medication.
If we keep alcohol intake low, then yes it can be the answer to reduce stressful situations.
Unfortunately, alcohol is also a depressant and after long periods of heavy drinking, it will negatively affect our central nervous system, causing us to feel more anxious.
A survey carried out by the UK’s Mental Health Organisation reported that 74% of us have felt completely overwhelmed with stress or unable to cope. And in a high percentage of cases, that stress is work-related.
When faced with difficult challenges, long hours and high levels of responsibility, we feel stressed, and after a prolonged period of time can lead to chronic stress.
In our article on coping with chronic stress and anxiety, we discussed how we often turn to self-medication at times of stress.
Heavy alcohol use has a huge impact on our work and home life. It can hugely impair our focus and critical thinking skills and has the power to strip us of our goals and ambition. It also wreaks havoc with our emotional, mental and physical health.
We suffer from frequent hangovers and symptoms of withdrawal, and gradually our tolerance against stress and ability to withstand pressure is depleted. It’s hard to function at full capacity when every morning we wake up with these symptoms:
Stress coupled with alcohol dependence can lead to severe anxiety and depression, and potentially the loss of a job, business or personal relationship.
If we want to stay top of our game, alcohol is not the answer.
Stress is one of the greatest triggers of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). In its most severe form, AUD can lead to alcoholism and other substance abuses. Unfortunately, stress is on the rise, especially in work-related scenarios.
When we start to use alcohol as a support to get us through stressful periods at work or to make us feel comfortable in social situations this is alcohol dependence. There are several signs to watch out for:
The line between dependence and addiction can be confusing. We use the term ‘addiction’ to characterise excessive behaviour, even though addiction is a very serious mental health issue.
So when do we cross the line? There is some interaction between the two, but it’s important to understand the differences.
We define substance dependence when a person develops a physical tolerance – whether that be to alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, or any other substance.
The dependency can be broken by slowly reducing the amount taken. The user may experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop completely.
Addiction is diagnosed when extensive alcohol or drug use causes a person’s brain chemistry to change. An addiction manifests as an uncontrollable urge or craving to use the substance. The addict will continue using despite the fact they are harming themselves and those around them.
The only way to overcome an addiction is through recovery treatment and rehabilitation.
When a person gives in to an addiction such as alcohol, it is extremely difficult – if not impossible – to quit on their own. Seeking professional help is the only option.
White River Manor is a 5 Star Addiction Treatment Centre in Mpumalanga, South Africa, just 17kms from the Kruger National Park.
This is the ultimate recovery destination combining the highest standards of addiction treatment with the latest therapeutic techniques.
We look at the individual case of each client and tailor the program and treatment plan around the specific needs. Identifying negative thought patterns and emotions that may trigger harmful behaviour.
When deciding to undertake treatment for an addiction, it’s essential to step away from the routine of daily life and the environment where your addiction has manifested. South Africa is an excellent recovery destination.
Here you can enjoy an exceptionally high-quality treatment at a fraction of the cost of European treatment centres. More importantly, the warm climate, stunning natural landscape and vibrant climate provide the best tonic for your recovery.
During the stay, we encourage clients to partake in the myriad of outdoor activities on offer in this stunning region: Day safaris, horse trail riding, cycling, hiking, and trips to visit some of the iconic sites and cities of South Africa.
Admitting you have an alcohol or drug problem is difficult, especially when it’s affecting your career. You might put off getting professional help, worried that taking time away from work and personal relationships is going to cost you your business, job or family.
Actually it’s the opposite.
Admitting you have a problem and deciding to get professional help is the first step to a better and more successful life. A life where you’ll wake up feeling great, work more productively and enjoy better relationships.
What’s stopping you?
Call us today for a confidential, no-obligation conversation with one of our professionals.
Whether you’re calling for yourself or someone you know, you needn’t suffer alone.
They call ecstasy the ‘love drug’ because it ramps up your sensations and people using it feel things at a heightened level; colours, sound and touch. It’s great if you’re clubbing or at a manic music concert because you lose all your inhibitions and can dance and rave all night long. And sex on ecstasy is mind-blowing.
But what they don’t tell you is ecstasy also causes deep depression, confusion, severe anxiety, paranoia and other very scary psychotic episodes. It’s a synthetic drug and the short burst of exhilaration on ecstasy doesn’t last anywhere as long as the depressed slump you go into after your crazy night out.
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) goes by a few names; ecstasy, Molly, Adam, beans, clarity, E, hug, love drug, roll, Scooby snacks or snowball. It’s a synthetic drug that acts as a powerful stimulant and a hallucinogen.
People mainly use it for parties, clubbing or music festivals because within an hour of taking Ecstasy your inhibitions or anxiety disappears and you experience an overload of mental and sensory stimulation. That’s if you’re lucky.
It’s a chemical street drug with hectic side effects, the worse being vivid and often frightening hallucination. You see and feel things that aren’t there and if they’re bad things, they’re amplified to a terrifying level.
The problem with ecstasy is it can cause severe emotional damage; either over the long term or even after one-time use. This ranges from chronic depression and confusion to severe anxiety, paranoia and psychotic behaviour.
“Did you know?
MDMA is highly addictive; not so much the chemical dependence but the psychological dependence. They say when you start liking ecstasy, it’s too late; you’re sunk!”
Merck, a German pharmaceutical company, first developed MDMA in 1912 as a pharmaceutical compound that could be used to develop other medications to control bleeding. They soon realised that it had hallucinogenic properties and patented it in 1914, although the drug wasn’t developed further for a few decades.
MDMA was used in the 1950s and 1960s during the Cold War for use in psychological warfare. In the 1960s and 1970s, a few psychiatrists prescribed MDMA to patients to lower their inhibitions during psychotherapy, despite the fact that the drug was not FDA-approved.“Did you know? 92% of those who begin using ecstasy when they’re underage move onto harder drugs including amphetamines, cocaine and heroin.”
By the 1980s, MDMA was on the street being used by the party people at music festivals, raves, concerts and clubs. It’s listed as a Schedule III drug meaning it has a high potential for abuse.
More recently, studies have been conducted to see if it’s effective for treating anxiety in people with a terminal illness as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Ecstasy works by boosting the activity of three ‘feel-good’ chemicals in the brain; dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. These chemicals control a variety of functions including your mood, energy levels, appetite, trust, sexual desire, emotions and sleep.
Positive effects of ecstasy include:
Negative effects of ecstasy include:
The problem with ecstasy is the feeling of complete freedom and heightened sensations you get when you take Ecstasy is soon replaced by very unpleasant feelings. These range from feeling tired and irritable to having panic attacks and nightmares. These side-effects can last up to 3-4 days which is a lot longer than the amount of time you feel good on the drug.
People with an ecstasy addiction may lose weight and start feeling weak. They become moody and aggressive and in serious cases, develop long-lasting psychotic issues such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder.
Ecstasy is not a harmless party drug. It’s a potentially fatal drug if you have a bad reaction on it and with regular use, can cause serious brain and heart problems. At the very least, you risk hyperthermia, a heart attack, impaired mental clarity, risky and dangerous behaviour and an overdose.
The big risk is that the majority of MDMA produced today is laced with extremely dangerous compounds found in bath salts, cocaine, LSD and PCP aswell as steroids and pain killers. In fact, what you take probably includes almost no MDMA. It may also be cut with soap or detergents.
This is dangerous because you don’t know what you’re ingesting and how your body will react. Whatever is in that ecstasy pill might also react with other substances in your system such as alcohol, caffeine and other medication.
Hyperthermia is one of the most dangerous side-effects of taking ecstasy at clubs and raves. How it works is MDMA limits your body’s ability to regulate your temperature so you can overheat when your temperature becomes sky-high.
Hyperthermia needs to be treated immediately because it very quickly leads to muscle breakdown which causes kidney, liver or heart failure.
Ecstasy is dangerous for people who suffer with irregular heartbeats, asthma, epilepsy, kidney disease, diabetes, chronic fatigue or any psychological disorders.
People who regularly use ecstasy are at risk of developing cardiovascular problems because the drug causes your heart to stop working efficiently. This is big problem if you participate in strenuous activity, which includes wild dancing at clubs and music concerts.
Within an hour of taking ecstasy, you can suffer from memory loss, impaired concentration and your capacity to judge motion. This is very dangerous if you’re driving but worse, you could make a bad decision because you’re not thinking clearly which could cost you your life.
It’s important to drink water and/or non-alcoholic liquid if you have taken ecstasy because of the risk of dehydration. MDMA raises your body temperature and if you’re dancing at a club or music concert, you need to keep hydrated and replace lost minerals from sweating.
On ecstasy, you lose your inhibitions and your feelings of trust and emotional warmth increase. You’re likely to drop your guard and have unsafe sex with a stranger or someone you don’t know well. The result could be a sexually transmitted disease or worse, HIV.
Your body quickly absorbs MDMA but it battles to metabolise the chemical in your system. The risk is you take more ecstasy because you’re not feeling the desired effect. Coupled with alcohol and marijuana, this is a life-threatening scenario.
Symptoms of an overdose of ecstasy include:
You may feel anxious, restless, irritable and depressed for up to a week after taking ecstasy. You may experience gaps in your memory and have problems concentrating and your interest in sex might disappear for a while.
If you regularly take ecstasy, you might suffer from heart palpitations, insomnia, aggression and severe anxiety. MDMA can cause brain damage, which may only be noticeable several years after you first take ecstasy.
Studies show that ecstasy damages the neurotransmitters that secrete dopamine and serotonin. The neurotoxicity of MDMA is irreversible.
“Did you know?
Ecstasy comes in tablet form in all shapes and colours, with designs stamped on them such as hearts, stars, butterflies and cloverleaves. This creates the impression they’re innocent and pure, but that’s a big fat scam!”
Yes, you can! Well actually, it’s not so much addiction but a high tolerance for ecstasy that develops rapidly with repeated use. It becomes almost impossible to experience the same stuff you felt when you first took it so you take more ecstasy and that puts you at risk of overdosing.
You’re more likely to develop a psychological dependence on ecstasy rather than a chemical dependency. Like alcohol, you feel more confident and festive on ecstasy and you come to depend on this feeling of euphoria when you’re out at clubs or raves.
Ecstasy is what is known as a ‘designer drug’. The making of ecstasy has gone underground and who knows what they’re putting into it these days; definitely other drugs that are highly addictive. So the chances are it may not be ecstasy that you become addicted to but the other nasty stuff they put in the tablets.
Your brain releases a flood of ‘feel good’ hormones when you use ecstasy. This depletes your body of these hormones which is why you might feel extremely anxious, sad or restless afterwards. You’ll experience this slump in ‘feel good’ hormones as unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
You might feel confused, dejected and extremely tired as well as battle to sleep, concentrate and think clearly. The temptation is to use more of the drug to deal with the negative symptoms or substitute it with other drugs such as marijuana or cocaine.
If you’ve got to this point, you need help to stop using ecstasy and treatment to restore your body’s natural physical and emotional well-being.
When the party or love pill starts destroying you or someone you love, it’s time to get help. You’re not on your own.
White River Manor works closely with medical practitioners such as psychologists and psychiatrists who have years of experience in dealing with alcohol and drug addiction as well as a team of highly experienced counsellors who understand the intervention process and are strong counsellors.
Nestled in an ancient garden on the outskirts of the town of White River, the gateway to the Kruger National Park, White River Manor offers a comprehensive treatment programme tailored to meet the individual needs of clients seeking peace and quiet in one of the world’s most beautiful spots.
Regarded as one of the best addiction treatment centres in South Africa, it offers five-star accommodation and world-class treatment in a tranquil setting with the aim of offering clients a life-changing experience.ional use” was in fact regular use and he was likely dealing with a serious drug addiction.
White River Manor was founded by Jerry Hartless, Giles Fourie and Jeanine Fourie, who bought the 14-hectare property to create a facility that offered better care than Hartless had experienced in the United States. When it opened in 2015, the result was a top-class centre that offers luxury accommodation and faultless service at a fraction of the cost of international rehab facilities.
At its helm are the Fouries, who have more than 25 years’ experience between them working at a long-stay addiction treatment centre in South Africa. The centre also has a dynamic team of professionals consisting of clinical and counselling psychologists, psychiatrists, cognitive behavioural therapy specialists, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapists, music and art therapists, addiction and behavioural specialist as well as a pastor and spiritual counsellor.
Individual and group therapy sessions use an advanced addiction treatment approach along with holistic therapeutic activities to restore balance and help clients make a smooth transition to a new life; the whole team at White River Manor works together on a client’s recovery plan, with a highly personalised approach to individual and group therapy.
Fitness and exercise are seen as essential components of the recovery process and clients are encouraged to participate in activities designed to rejuvenate mind, body and soul.
Those at the centre have the freedom and flexibility to stay connected to both their businesses and loved ones; mobile phones and laptops are allowed and there is a business hub on the property with free wi-fi and a video conferencing facility.
Advocates of destination rehab say that, along with being a more affordable option, it offers an opportunity to put some distance between the person and their business or home situation and embrace new places, new cultures and new experiences.
At White River Manor there is an emphasis on adventurous activities which can have a powerful impact on a client’s recovery by building a renewed sense of self-worth. Experiences include a full-day safari tour of the Kruger National Park and a morning spent interacting with the gentle giants at Elephant Whispers, or hiking or mountain biking through scenic mountain and forest areas, ziplining across the expansive Graskop Gorge, canoeing on the wild Sabie River or quietly contemplating life while fishing on the stunning Komati River.
The minimum stay at White River Manor is 28 days but clients may stay for as long as they need for their recovery journey. All-inclusive pricing starts at $USD7950 for 28 days ($USD283 per day).
Visit their website whiterivermanor.com for more information or, for a more affordable option at sister facility the White River Recovery Centre, Click here.
That’s a question many people are asking now that dagga is legal for private use in South Africa. There were a lot of funny memes doing the rounds on social media when the news broke in September 2018 but the bigger debate is, “is South Africa courting the devil”?
Marijuana, weed, cannabis, dope, dagga… whatever you call it, tends to be used as a social drug and it’s seen as a ‘soft drug’. Supposedly, it’s harmless and not addictive, and certainly less harmful than hardtack alcohol and less addictive than cigarettes.
Is it?
Or is it a gateway drug that leads to harder and more destructive drug addiction?
The Gateway drug theory claims that so-called ‘soft drugs’ like weed set naïve users on a path to experimenting with other drugs such as cocaine, meth, heroin and opiates. Most people who develop an addiction to these drugs say they started off smoking weed.
Weed provides a safe ‘high’ experience which lures users into a false sense of security when it comes to trying other drugs. If they hadn’t started with a soft drug like weed, the thinking is they may not have progressed onto harder drugs.
This is based on the notion people who use illegal substances progress along a linear path from “socially acceptable and legal substances” like alcohol and nicotine; to soft drugs like weed; and then onto harder illicit drugs like cocaine and heroin.
What’s the reason for this?
Firstly, experimenting with weed increases the taste and perceived pleasure for other drugs. And secondly, there’s an increased likelihood you’ll be exposed to harder drugs if you hang out with people that have a free association with drugs in general.
The science people say that weed isn’t any more or less of a gateway drug than alcohol and nicotine is when it comes to kickstarting a drug-taking habit. If you have a genetic predisposition (the addiction gene) to drug use, the springboard could be booze, cigarettes or dope. In fact, regular cigarettes are far more addictive than weed.
It’s impossible to say that someone who experiments with weed is likely to go on and experiment with harder drugs, mainly because the vast majority don’t get addicted. The latest research stats show that between 10 to 30% of regular users will develop a dependency on weed, while only 9% develop a serious addiction.
A study by The Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia found that children who used marijuana, alcohol and tobacco were 266 times more likely to use cocaine than children who used none of the gateway drugs.
The same was true for adults. Adults who used marijuana, alcohol and tobacco were 323 times more likely to use cocaine than adults who used none of the gateway drugs. Adults who used all three were 104 times more likely to use cocaine than adults who used only one gateway drug.
The fact is marijuana has been around since ancient times. The earliest recorded use as a drug was 2 737 BC in China. It made its entry to the New World in 1545 when the Spanish brought it and produced it as a commercial crop to make hemp fibers.
Marijuana is not necessarily the problem; the habit is. In other words, smoking weed can lead to a drug-taking habit. This is where a person enjoys the experience, feels withdrawal symptoms when not taking the drug and seeks out the drug to relieve the cravings; repeat!
It’s known as ‘marijuana use disorder’ and it becomes addiction if you cannot stop using weed even when it starts having a negative effect on your life. Marijuana dependence occurs when your brain adapts to large amounts of the drug.
Marijuana often makes you irritable and moody, affects your sleep pattern and decreases your appetite. About 1 in 10 frequent marijuana users experience anxiety, hostility, insomnia and depression after the intoxicating effects of weed wear off.
If and when you try to quit, you’ll battle with mild to strong cravings, restlessness and different forms of physical discomfort. This is proof weed is not completely harmless and is addictive in the same way people become addicted to the habit of smoking cigarettes as well as the actual nicotine.
The big problem with weed today is its potency. It’s been steadily increasing over the past few decades. In other words, the weed you smoke in 2019 is a lot stronger than the weed your folks smoked 20 years ago. And the scariest problem with smoking weed in South Africa is it’s not always pure and clean. In other words, there’s a good chance it’s laced with something like Tic or Mandrax.
The verdict is still out whether weed is a gateway drug or not. One side says it’s a scare tactic and the other side says it is a gateway drug.
What we know for sure is; if you have a genetic predisposition to drug use, the springboard could be booze, cigarettes or dagga. If you develop an addiction, you can’t say for sure whether weed was the main culprit or whether there were other factors at play. If you have the addiction gene, something will ignite it.
If you or a family member need help with drug or alcohol addiction, all you need to do is call us. You’re not on your own.
White River Manor works closely with medical practitioners such as psychologists and psychiatrists who have years of experience in dealing with alcohol and drug addiction as well as a team of highly experienced counsellors who understand the intervention process and are strong counsellors.
This is a question only you can answer and it’s not the easiest thing to do.
Unless you’ve got to a really bad place in your life and risk losing everything; you can go a long time thinking, “I can handle this”. But in the end, the drugs you’re using will end up controlling you.
Here’s a list of questions that were drawn up by recovering addicts as part of their recovery programme. They’re blunt questions with no sugar coating. All you need to do is answer them honestly.
YES / NO
Do you ever use drugs alone?
YES / NO
Have you ever substituted one drug for another because you think the other one is a problem?
YES / NO
Have you ever deceived or lied to a doctor to obtain prescription drugs?
YES / NO
Have you ever stolen drugs or stolen to obtain drugs?
YES / NO
Are you hiding your drug use from family and friends because you feel ashamed?
YES / NO
Do you friends and family try to talk to you about your drug use and you avoid the conversations?
YES / NO
Do you regularly use a drug when you wake up or before you go to sleep?
YES / NO
Have you ever taken one drug to overcome the effects of another?
YES / NO
Have you stopped seeing friends and family and spend more time on your own using drugs?
YES / NO
Have you ever used a drug without knowing what it was or what it would do to you?
YES / NO
Is your job or school performance suffering from the effects of your drug use?
YES / NO
Have you ever been arrested for using drugs?
YES / NO
Do you lie to the people close to you about how much you use?
YES / NO
Do you ever buy drugs before you pay your bills?
YES / NO
Have you stopped and started using drugs a few times?
YES / NO
Do you feel it’s impossible to live without drugs?
YES / NO
Do you feel you don’t want to live without drugs?
YES / NO
Do you sometimes feel you’re going crazy?
YES / NO
Is your drug use making life at home unhappy?
YES / NO
Do you battle to fit in or have a good time without using drugs?
YES / NO
Do you get defensive when someone talks about how much you’re using?
YES / NO
Do you think a lot about drugs?
YES / NO
Do you have irrational or obscure fears?
YES / NO
Does your drug use make you feel uncomfortable and guilty around others?
YES / NO
Are you spending less time with loved ones because of drugs?
YES / NO
Are you afraid to stop using drugs?
YES / NO
Has using affected your sexual relationship with your partner?
YES / NO
Do you ever take drugs that you would prefer not to use?
YES / NO
Have you ever overdosed on any drugs?
YES / NO
Do you continue to use despite how bad drugs make you feel and affect your family?
YES / NO
Do you think that you have a drug problem?
The number of times you answered ‘YES’ doesn’t matter. It’s how you feel about yourself when answering these questions. Does talking about using drugs bring up feelings of guilt or self-loathing? Do these questions make you feel uncomfortable?
Addiction is a devious and sinister disease.
It sneaks up on you and takes over your whole life. You might think you’ve got a handle on your drug use; it’s just to get through a tough patch and you’ll be able to stop when you want to stop. But eventually drugs strip you of your pride, self-esteem and the love and support of your family and friends.
When you get to this point, you’ll realise 3 things:
The number of times you answered ‘YES’ doesn’t matter. It’s how you feel about yourself when answering these questions. Does talking about using drugs bring up feelings of guilt or self-loathing? Do these questions make you feel uncomfortable?
Addiction is a devious and sinister disease.
It sneaks up on you and takes over your whole life. You might think you’ve got a handle on your drug use; it’s just to get through a tough patch and you’ll be able to stop when you want to stop. But eventually drugs strip you of your pride, self-esteem and the love and support of your family and friends.
When you get to this point, you’ll realise 3 things:
The first step in your recovery is asking for help for addiction. Pick up the phone and speak to someone at White River Manor for professional advice and guidance.
White River Manor works closely with professionals with years of experience in dual diagnosis. Our multidisciplinary team includes a psychiatrists, cognitive behaviour specialist, counsellors, nursing sisters and a nutritionist. The aim is to ensure you receive a tailor-made recovery programme that’s holistic and comprehensive.
Recovery is a long journey of self-discovery and you walk it by taking one step at a time. One approach is to follow the 12-step programme that has strong spiritual roots and offers guiding principles to uncover deep-seated behavioural issues that drive addiction.
There is much debate whether the world-acclaimed 12-steps programme is still relevant considering how neuroscience and addiction therapy have evolved in the 80 years since the programme was first introduced. It’s relevancy is constantly questioned, but at the end of the day if the programme resonates with you and you’ll benefit from it; then there’s no harm in including it in a holistic therapy plan.
Although the 12-step programme is not central to White River Manor’s therapy philosophy, it can always be incorporated into your individual therapy plan.
Since it was introduced in 1935, the renowned 12-step programme has dominated the primary approach to treating addiction. In fact, more than two-thirds of addiction treatment centres solely focus on the 12-step programme and they advocate recovering addicts attend AA-type meetings after they complete a stay at a rehabilitation centre.
The purpose of the 12-step model is to aid recovery from compulsive, out-of-control behaviours that are ultimately linked to substance abuse. It’s one of the tools often used to understand what the root cause is of a person’s addiction; where participants attend self-help group meetings which serve as a safe place to admit past mistakes, surrender to a higher power and learn to stay sober.
These AA-type meetings are readily available, easily accessible and most often free to join. Men and women from all walks of life attend who share experiences and gain strength and hope from one another.
Alcohol Anonymous pioneered the 12-step programme which was established in the 1930s by Bill Wilson and Dr Robert Holbrook Smith, known to AA members as “Bill W” and “Dr Bob”. Together, they wrote about the positive effects people with alcoholism experienced when they shared their stories with one another and wrote down their own ideas for tackling addiction (to alcohol initially) in what came to be known as the Big Book.
Wilson and Smith’s guide to shared recovery was deeply rooted in the Christian faith and still is today, although non-religious people tend to swop a higher “God” with a higher “spiritual being”.
In addition to the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) franchise, many other similar programmes sprung up as an offshoot of the original 12-step programme. This included Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Heroin Anonymous (HA) and Gamblers Anonymous (GA).
For a long time, the 12-step programme dominated the world’s approach to treating substance abuse. However, over time, other therapy programmes have replaced the tradition 12-step programme and it’s no longer the preferred method for recovery.
This is largely because many people struggle with the strong religious element of the programme, where the basic premise is healing cannot come about unless you surrender to a higher power. This doesn’t sit comfortably in a multi-denominational and multi-cultural world, particularly as the 12-step programme has a strong Christian foundation.
The 12-step programme offers a set of guiding principles to help you on your journey to sobriety. More importantly, it provides continuity in the form of self-help group meetings once a person has left an addiction treatment centre and returned to daily life.
The programme gives recovering addicts a simple process they can follow which allows them to understand and manage their addiction, find a supportive and non-judgemental group outside of the rehab centre and mend broken relationships and/or end destructive relationships with enablers.
The focus of the 12-step programme is to enable cognitive restricting around substance abuse and similar behaviour. This entails understanding the root cause on the addiction and changing behavioural patterns.
The 12-step meeting is well-known. We’ve seen it in movies and television series where a group gathers and someone stands up and says, “Hello, I’m Mary and I am an alcoholic.”
One member of the group leads the meeting; it opens with a prayer or meditation and people introduce themselves and at the same time, acknowledge their substance abuse.
The rest of the meeting is spent either listening to an outside speaker or going over addiction literature, working through the 12 guiding principles and speaking out about experiences and challenges. You can choose to share or keep quiet and listen. It’s entirely up to you.
The meeting ends off in prayer or another meditation.
The 12-step approach to recovery from addiction follows a set of guidelines that act as steps in your journey of recovery. The idea is to visit these steps as often and whenever necessary.
The 12-steps in the 12-step program are:
1st principle: Surrender
We admitted we were powerless over our addiction – that our lives had become unmanageable.
2nd principle: Hope
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3rd principle: Commitment
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4th principle: Honesty
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5th principle: Truth
Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6th principle: Willingness
Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7th principle: Humility
Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8th principle: Reflection
Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9th principle: Amendment
Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10th principle: Vigilance
Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11th principle: Atonement
Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12th principle: Service
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics (addicts) and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
As they say; “it works if it works for you”. Basically, the 12-step programme works if you are motivated to recover and maintain sobriety. It doesn’t work if you don’t buy into it, aren’t committed to getting “clean” or are forced into it by, for example, a court mandate or family intervention.
The 12-step programme is not for everyone and if it’s the only approach offered by a rehabilitation centre, that would be limiting. Included in a holistic approach to addiction treatment, the 12-step programme has real value if it resonates with you.
Non-religious addicts or addicts who practise a different religion are as likely to benefit from the programme; particularly, as part of an after-care programme where the 12-step programme can help to reinforce what they’ve discovered about themselves in rehab. Like them or hate them, AA-type meetings have been around for decades and have been life-saving for countless people.
One would think that after so many years, the 12-step programme or modified versions of it would have evolved. It hasn’t; in fact, the 12-steps haven’t been touched since 1939… in other words, since the beginning of World War II.
In that time, 80 years to be exact; there have been incredible advances in the field of neuroscience, genetics and psychotherapy. This has led to the development of highly effective treatment approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Mindful Meditation (MM) and Contingency Management.
These therapy approaches have added to the arsenal that therapists have on hand to understand and treat the underlying causes of addiction. Used in isolation, the 12-step programme is limited when you consider how much more can be done to help a person seeking treatment for addiction.
In short, many addiction specialists view the 12-step programme as being antiquated and no longer relevant. And there’s much debate in general over its credibility and just how successful it is. At the end of the day, it comes down to the person in recovery and how committed he or she is to the 12-step programme. If it doesn’t work, that may have more to do with the person than the programme.
The AA-type meetings that form a big part of the 12-step programme are inclusive and provide comfort and support in a non-judgemental environment. However, critics of the spiritual-based model say that confession and prayer are not enough if addiction is to be treated as a medical condition. In many cases, substance abuse is linked to a mental disorder and simply handing something that serious over to a “higher power” can do more harm than good.
When dealing with drug or alcohol addiction, we’ve come to understand how complex the condition can be. Any recovering addict knows that the recovery process is like peeling an onion layer by layer. Just when you think you’ve uncovered a deep emotional issue, something deeper surfaces; and the next layer begins to peel off and so the process continues.
The modern approach to treating addiction involves a multi-disciplinary specialist team that designs a treatment plan for you that meets your individual needs, and always with your buy in. This may include the 12-step programme if the guiding principles resonate with you. An integrated, holistic approach that considers the whole being – mind, body and soul – is proving to be the most effective approach to treating addiction.
White River Manor has had years of experience in dealing with alcohol and drug addiction and works closely with a dynamic team of specialists, therapists, highly experienced counsellors, medical practitioners, psychologists, and psychiatrists to create a holistic nurturing environment for clients.
If you need expert advice and assistance, then White River Manor is the right place to go to make those changes in your life. You don’t need to struggle on your own.
Dual diagnosis is so common that most alcohol and drug recovery centres expect to find it in a patient. It’s where a patient is diagnosed with a mental illness and a co-occurring addiction. This ranges from alcohol and drug addiction to an addiction to sex, gaming and stealing.
Studies show that at least 50% of people living with a mental illness have a substance abuse problem. Similarly, more than half of the people battling with alcohol and drug addiction have a common mental health disorder.
The fact that there’s a link between addiction and mental illness is fairly obvious. If you’re feeling out of sorts emotionally, you’re likely to reach for alcohol and drugs to cope. Likewise, if you’re regularly abusing alcohol and drugs, you’ll likely develop symptoms of a mental disorder.
In the medical world, it’s called a co-occurring disorder or comorbidity when a person has more than one mental disorder.
A simple analogy to help you understand a dual diagnosis is comparing it to the science of fire. It takes more than one element to ignite a fire. Similarly, it takes more than one element to ignite an alcohol and drug addiction.
The fire triangle
For a fire to ignite, it needs fuel, heat and oxygen. They say that when all three elements are present and combine in the right mixture, a fire is actually an event rather than a thing.
You can prevent a fire or put it out by removing ANY ONE of the three elements in the fire triangle. For example, you can remove oxygen by throwing a wet blanket over the fire and remove heat by dousing it with water. And a fire will naturally die out when it runs out of fuel (wood, paper, grass etc.).
However…
If you don’t COMPLETELY remove that element, the fire will reignite. You think you’ve put the fire out but the woodpile is silently smoldering (heat). All it takes is for the wind (oxygen) to pick up and the fire reignites.
The Addiction Triangle
Let’s call a dual diagnosis the Addiction Triangle.
The three sides of your Addiction Triangle are alcohol and drugs, negative thought patterns and a mental disorder.
When all three elements are present and combine in the right mixture, a fire of pain and destruction will ignite. You can remove any one of the three elements to extinguish the fire of destruction but it’s only temporary if you don’t COMPLETELY remove it.
You can stop using alcohol and drugs and you can learn self-help tools to deal with feelings and situations that trigger a relapse. However, if you don’t deal with your mental illness; you’re highly likely to relapse if you turn to alcohol and drugs to cope with anxiety and depression.
This is why an integrated treatment plan is critical for a patient with a dual diagnosis. All three elements of the Addiction Triangle must be treated for successful recovery from alcohol and drugs.
Substance abuse and a mental health disorder needs to be treated simultaneously. If you’re staying at a recovery treatment centre that doesn’t offer an integrated approach, the chances of you relapsing are high.
Co-occurring mental disorders that go hand-in-hand with addictions include:
The integrated approach usually involves:
Detox
Detox is the first stage in the recovery process and the most grueling. The detox process purges your body of harmful chemicals and restores it to a clean slate.
During detox, a patient stops using what they’re addicted to immediately. You experience painful and very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms which include seizures, hallucinations and cravings.
Withdrawal symptoms such as seizures and a sudden drop in alcohol levels can lead to sudden death. It’s critical that you have proper medical supervision when you detox. This is very important for alcohol and opioid detoxification.
Your medical team will keep you safe and comfortable using the right medication and therapy to see you through the detox process.
Behaviour therapy (cognitive behavioral therapy and psychotherapy)
Behaviour therapy helps people uncover and address the negative thoughts, false beliefs and insecurities that lead to substance abuse. In the process, patients are provided with self-help tools to deal with situations that trigger cravings and self-destructive behaviour.
When an addict understands why they feel or act in a certain way and understand how these feelings or situations trigger substance abuse, they’re more likely to succeed in their recovery.
Medication
Depending on the diagnosis, this could include:
A person living with a mental illness is more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs mainly because they mask symptoms such as of depression, anxiety, self-loathing and low self-esteem. Using alcohol and drugs over a period of time will make a mental illness worse and the medical treatment less effective.
A bigger problem is alcohol and drug abuse can trigger a mental illness. If you have a predisposition to a psychotic illness such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia; alcohol and drugs may trigger your first episode which then becomes a lifelong illness.
The common mental health disorders linked to alcohol and drug addiction include:
Depression
Alcohol and drugs are a form of self-medication for people living with depression but it usually makes the problem worse. Feelings of self-loathing after alcohol and drug binges can drive a person deeper and deeper into depression.
Anxiety
People who suffer from generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) may use alcohol and drugs to cope with their anxiety. They’re more likely to abuse benzodiazepines which are prescribed for anxiety and highly addictive.
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
People living with OCD often suffer from high levels of anxiety and low self-esteem which leads to depression. They may use alcohol and drugs to cope with their feelings that arise from irrational obsessions and compulsions.
ADHD (Attention-deficit Hyperactive Disorder)
People, in particular school-going children, are prescribed a stimulant to treat their ADHD which can be habit-forming. When coupled with anxiety and low self-esteem, it can lead to destructive behaviour patterns and substance abuse.
Eating disorders
People struggling with anorexia or bulimia often use drugs to suppress their appetite. Cocaine is a common drug used by models forced to keep their weight down to the bare minimum as it takes your appetite away completely.
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
The brain of a person struggling with PTSD produces less endorphins which often leads to depression. Someone who’s experienced a traumatic or violent event and has not dealt with it in therapy may turn to alcohol and drugs to cope with their anxiety and stress.
Bipolar disorder
Alcohol and drugs provide temporary relief from the emotional, manic rollercoaster that people with bipolar travel in life. The statistics are that about half of people with bipolar disorder struggle with addiction.
BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder)
Research shows there’s a strong link between BPD and addiction. A person living with BPD is more likely to use alcohol and drugs to cope with their symptoms.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is characterised by bouts of severe hallucinations and delusional thinking. A person with schizophrenia may use alcohol and drugs to cope with their symptoms and this can make things much worse.
The most difficult thing about a dual diagnosis is separating the addiction from the disorder. This is because many of the symptoms overlap. It all depends on the type of substance abused and the severity of the mental health disorder.
Overlapping symptoms include:
Dual diagnosis is used to describe a person living with an addiction and a mental health disorder. More than half of people with a chronic mental illness will also have a substance use or abuse disorder.
Comorbidity is used when a person has two or more mental health disorders. They may occur at the same time or one comes after the other.
If an addiction and mental illness co-occurs in a patient, they need an integrated dual disorder treatment programme delivered by a multidisciplinary team.
The more severe the mental illness, the more likely the person will be to use and abuse alcohol and drugs. People living with a mental illness commonly use alcohol, marijuana and/or cocaine to cope with their symptoms.
Males aged 18 to 44 years old living with a mental illness are at greatest risk of developing an alcohol or drug addiction.
Teenagers and young adults with serious behavioural problems are 7 times more likely to eventually use and abuse substances.
Dual diagnosis should ideally be made by a multi-disciplinary team at an alcohol and drug recovery centre and needs to be treated using an integrated dual disorder treatment programme.
White River Manor works closely with professionals with years of experience in dual diagnosis. Our multidisciplinary team includes a psychiatrists, cognitive behaviour specialist, counsellors, nursing sisters and a nutritionist. The aim is to ensure you or your loved one receive a tailor-made recovery programme that’s holistic and comprehensive.
