Addiction has become increasingly problematic in the last 20 years. It has taken the lives of many innocent people. People who were not even aware that they had a medical condition that had a solution.
In Canada, it is estimated that approximately 21% of the population (about 6 million people) will meet the criteria for addiction in their lifetime. Alcohol was the most common substance for which people met the criteria for addiction at 18%.
Most relationships and families will suffer for a very long time in the midst of this disease As the addiction becomes progressively worst, the alcoholic will start lying about his/her substance use and hide particular behaviours that would otherwise reveal their true self. It is not their fault, they suffer from a disease called “alcoholism” and it centers in the mind.
In most cases, the individual as no intentions of lying or harming the family, however, at certain times they find themselves powerless over their “alcoholic” behaviours and make the ultimate sacrifice by picking up that first drink or drug again despite knowing the consequences of their past experiences. Essentially, they build up the trust of their families, partners and themselves, and then tear it all down over another spree. This happens repeatedly over and over again, until this person gets the right kind of help.
Alcohol & Drugs are the best cleaning agents! They will clean you right out of your self respect, self dignity, self love, self reliance, and self confidence etc. As the persons addiction keeps cleaning the person right out of their true “self” they become emotionally unstable or rather vulnerable. This is part of the disease called “alcoholism,” where it wants you to become vulnerable and destroy all your relationships by inserting fierce resentments towards people, circumstances and situations. As you burn all bridges and have no remaining support left, it starts feeding you darker thoughts of; Should I go? Whats the use anyhow? No one cares? I have no purpose to be here? I have no reason to live? This becomes the progressive stages of alcoholism and the person may eventually find themselves hospitalized, in jail or dead.
It is critical that this person finds the right kind of help and addresses the root causes of their alcoholism. The Gobind Wellness Addictions Recovery Program is one of the best alcohol and drug treatment programs out there.
A complete recovery program that ensures you a better life!
The successful participant of this Recovery Program will:
- Have complete knowledge of his/her addiction, external & internal triggers, addictive behavioural patterns and a new positive experience
- Have complete knowledge of the disease and how it works
- Have an aftercare plan set in place, which entails an introduction to community-based meetings, 24hr emergency contact number and opportunities for community engagement initiatives
- Have a deeper understanding on past experiences and a new perspective on life
- Become more efficient at day to day tasks, work, relationships and self care
- Will be able to better deal with emotions and better understand situations
- Will have a better sense of accountability and responsibility
What is Addiction
Addiction is “the obsession of the mind,” where the person becomes powerless over the repeated use of mood altering substances, despite knowing the harmful consequences of using the substances.They have lost their power of choice and mindlessly keep using over and over again.
This behavioural pattern can be characterized by the minds effort in trying to become more efficient. Just like how we don’t really think which hand we should write with, we just pick up the pen and write mindlessly, the same goes with addiction. At one point in time, the substance gave the persons mind a good experience, making them feel exhilarated, happy and good about themselves. They had forgotten the troubles/stressors of their minds and temporarily got mental rest. As brilliant the mind is, it stored that experience in the sub-conscious and allowed it to become a behavioural pattern. So, every time the person feels irritable, restless or discontent in the mind, the mind will automatically present a thought to use that substance. The thought will eventually become an obsession and the obsession will eventually become a craving. The craving is where the person finds themselves powerless over the temptation of using that substance.
Addiction is also defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain. It is considered both a complex brain disorder and a mental illness.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as “a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviours that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.”
What is Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a disease that centers in the mind rather than the substance. The substance is more of a “solution” or a “coping mechanism” that helps the individual deal with all the things that make them feel irritable, restless or discontent in the mind such as; fears, worries, doubt, guilt, shame, remorse, disappointment, trauma, lack of control, resentments etc.
What is an Alcoholic
An alcoholic is someone who has the disease “alcoholism.” The alcoholic name is not just restricted to the substance “alcohol.” alcoholic refers to someone having an addiction to any mood altering substance.