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Remember to be kind to yourself and others
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Substance-Related Disorders
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On the topic of Addiction
"General population surveys have documented that approximately 75% of individuals with a substance use disorder have experienced trauma at some point in their lives."
-- PubMed Central, National Library of Medicine.
Time and time again, I see comments from people online saying things like:
* People with addictions have no-one to blame but themselves.
* Addiction is a lifestyle choice.
* Addiction only happens to certain kinds of people.
* People with addiction are all criminals.
* People with addiction need tough love. Helping them just enables drug use.
* Addiction medications are just replacing one addiction with another.
* People with addiction are hopeless.
... and on and on it goes.
Statistics show that the vast majority of people with addictions are doing it to self-medicate. Some things, such as some types of illicit drugs, have the additional side effect of feeling good while they're being taken, but my argument is that people don't take them primarily for that reason.
They take them to dull/block out emotional and/or physical pain.
[Aside: I, until 2.5 months ago, used to do the same thing with nicotine, be it smoking and/or vaping. Every time I felt stressed or anxious, I craved nicotine. My body screamed for it. And I would find myself huddled somewhere away from everyone else, puffing away, because smokers are considered pariahs these days.]
Not every form of emotional pain is linked to trauma, but every traumatic backstory leads to emotional pain. It's perfectly understandable to want to kill that pain with whatever you can get your hands on, whatever works. Let's face it; Mindfulness really doesn't help with genuine distress, it helps with mild symptoms.
Tearing into people with addictions helps no-one - *especially* not the person with the addiction. It makes them feel worse than they already do. Don't people realise that the person with the addiction already *knows* they're addicted, and likely wish they weren't?
With seeking help for addictions comes the realisation and reality that once you kick the habit, the feelings you were trying to kill will come flooding back. Often it feels like they come back with a vengeance, to make up lost time, as it were. Quitting an addiction is downright heroic, because you have to face all your inner demons.
That's why addiction centres usually have 28-day programs, full of group and 1:1 therapy sessions. It takes approximately a week for the drugs to leave a person's system (the detox process is usually brutal in and of itself), then they need time and help afterwards. They also need to be among people going through a similar process, for inspiration and support.
[Aside: For anyone interested in the topic of addiction centres, I recommend the movie '28 Days' (not to be mistaken for '28 Days Later', a *very* different genre of movie.) It's a comedy, but does go quite deep into the more serious aspects of addiction. You can rent it through the Google TV or YouTube apps; it used to be available upon Netflix, but they've since removed it.]
Have you noticed the language I have been very careful in using for identification, yet? At no point have I used the word 'addicts'; I have always used the term 'people with addictions'. That is deliberate, as people are not natural addicts. They have addictions. I'm not sure if I believe in the so-called 'addictive gene' theory. I suspect I lean more into the no camp, as I believe the main cause of addiction is trauma, not genetics. That doesn't mean, however, that the two can't be at play, simultaneously. I am open to being wrong.
So the next time you see a person with an addiction, be it out on the street, in a psych ward, or even just looking into your bathroom mirror, think about what might have brought them to that point in their lives, and seek for some compassion and sympathy within yourself. If you're walking, or have walked the addiction path before, you can also try some empathy. It costs nothing, but means everything.
No-one chooses for their life to feel out of their control. They don't choose the tragedies in their past. They don't choose addiction.
#MentalHealth #Addiction #SubstanceRelatedDisorders #SubstanceUseDisorders #PTSD #Trauma #compassion #Sympathy #Empathy #AddictionRecovery #Recovery
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Update(s) …
So I am diagnosed with alcoholism and substance abuse, bipolar 2, PTSD ofc, BPD and has had a bout of psychosis. I visited the mental hospital for maybe a total of a month at three different locations over the span of a year.
I find myself sometimes trying to tackle each disease.. (which I normally don’t call it that) at once.
For some reason I think I’ll wake up and be cured and feel different, every second I’m expecting something to feel different or to simply get validation that I’m doing better and when I don’t receive it because well people can’t read my mind, I find myself going to sleep angry every night because I just want them to acknowledge me? My family at least. They talk to me, but they don’t want to hear my feelings about anything which is also very tough because I just got into an altercation with a supposed friend of mine I was staying with a few days ago.
She asked me to leave, I didn’t say no I was just trying to get my bearings before leaving and she charged at me and attacked me. Punched me, spit on me and held me down with all her weight (a good 200 pounds more than me) for 15 minutes while I called out to Siri on my iPad to call my mom to call the police and while I was doing so she called her friend to drive over and come stomp me in my face and beat me up some more before the police finally showed up.
I decided that day I was going to be done with liquor because it gives you total loss of capacity to defend yourself. While I did the best I could I was going in and out of consciousness and it could have been way worse than it was and I already told my parents I was trying not to drink. The girl had ulterior motives for sure, but for my own life I don’t want to drink anymore.
I got SA’d or taken advantage of the same day as well. A guy gave me a bottle of liquor, a pill and recorded us having sexual relations on my phone and the next day when I heard it, you couldn’t make out a single word I was saying and my eyes were closed pretty much the whole time. I remembered none of it and he continued to keep going and was obviously much more sober than I.
I desperately want to talk to my parents about it but the first time I ever got SA’d I was told it was my fault. Not by my parents, but they also never asked or were curious so I don’t have any emotional support from them. I know this post is all over the place, but I’m trying to tackle family issues, substance issues, cope with being SA’d again and being beaten and receiving no sympathy. I’m only 29 so I’m glad I’m getting it together now, but it’s extremely tough realizing you absolutely have no one in this life to trust but you and God & u have to want it for yourself and no one else and put all faith in him.
I started my 12 step program today and I’m determined to get back to me and really restart the right way.
That’s the true beauty of being at rock bottom. You can start completely over and do it all again and the only way you can go is up. I know it won’t be as easy road. After speaking with some of my sisters in my AA class, but I’m so glad I found some type of community and women who can understand me and maybe even help me be a better woman.
My mom tries her best but she’s simply not emotionally available for me at all and she doesn’t do her best to protect me and never has. I can no longer fault her for that though. I need to start cultivating my own life and moving on and getting past childhood and even current traumas. I can’t keep dwelling, I have to want help, seek help and do the work and know that it doesn’t happen overnight but it absolutely will happen.
I’m never giving a person the opportunity to treat me like that again. #SubstanceRelatedDisorders #PTSD #MentalHealth #Bipolar2
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Let’s do another ice breaker question:)
What’s something you have done this summer that’s really helped you define your mental health journey? It can big or small and i hope everyone had a great week. #ADHD #Addiction #Anxiety #Depression #SubstanceRelatedDisorders #Neurodiversity
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You are worthy of living a life that you can’t wait to wake up to each morning!
Life is so short and I really hope everyone on here starts living a life that makes them happy and grateful to wake up to each morning. A life where you want to actually wake up to and not waste another moment. You really deserve that! I hope that for you and I hope that more positivity comes your way. I hope your depression goes away and you live a life everyday that fills you with joy. I hope you do what your heart desires everyday and you always do what you love! ❤️
#CheckInWithMe #CheerMeOn #MentalHealth #MajorDepressiveDisorder #Disability #Mania #Trauma #Schizophrenia #Bipolar2 #BipolarDepression #BipolarDisorder #Anxiety #AnorexiaNervosa #Autism #AutismSpectrumDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Selfharm #ComplexRegionalPainSyndrome #Caregiving #ADHD #Addiction #SchizoaffectiveDisorder #SocialAnxiety #SocialAnxietyDisorder #PTSD #SuicidalThoughts #SubstanceRelatedDisorders #SuicidalIdeation #Diabetes #Depression #DiabetesType1 #DissociativeIdentityDisorder #DownSyndrome #Dysautonomia #DepressiveDisorders #BodyDysmorphicDisorder
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Let’s do an ice breaker question:)
Keep in mind it crucial to remember that your challenges, whether they stem from ADHD, anxiety, or other aspects of your mental health journey, do not define your entire identity or your potential.
Each moment is just a snapshot, not the whole picture. You’ve made significant strides in recognizing, acknowledging, and managing these challenges, demonstrating resilience and growth. Your experiences and the support you’ve built around yourself showcase your strength and dedication to your well-being.
Your journey is marked by the courage to seek help, the determination to improve, and the willingness to support others. These qualities are a testament to your character and resilience, far beyond any moment of difficulty. No matter how small, each step you take is a victory worth celebrating.
Embrace self-compassion and recognize the progress you’ve made. You’re navigating a complex path with grace and perseverance, and that defines you much more than any challenge ever could.
What can you say to yourself to empower yourself and to help you foster self m-compassion and/or resilience? Like “I am doing the best I can with the resources I have right now, and that’s enough.” #ADHD #Anxiety #Depression #Addiction #MentalHealth #SubstanceRelatedDisorders #Neurodiv #GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder #ADHDInGirls
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What’s Your Go-To Routine or Best Advice for Those Who Struggle
I think of Self-care as being personal and unique, and not only focussing on things that are positive or big or small. It’s about taking the correct actions that suit your needs whether it’s in a specific moment or for a long time.
It also involves practicing self-compassion and acknowledging our efforts, and acknowledging that it’s OK to find certain tasks are experiences or memory challenging. challenging: or take a little time for enjoying life’s simple pleasures.
Remember, self-care isn’t selfish—it’s about nurturing and strengthening yourself. So prioritize what makes you feel good, even if that means spending a day watching TV, and watch yourself flourish.
Also if you find self-care challenging you’re not alone because I used to be one of those people who struggled with self-care.
#Selfcare #ADHD #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Depression #Neurodiversity #Addiction #SubstanceRelatedDisorders
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Remember
Showing ourselves self-compassion is crucial for mental and emotional well-being, involving treating ourselves with kindness and patience, akin to treating a close friend. It enhances our resilience, self-esteem, and overall mental health. Accepting our current state without judgment allows us to meet ourselves where we are, fostering a safe space for personal growth and effectively addressing our needs. Holding space for ourselves means permitting ourselves to feel and reflect, which is vital during challenging times for deeper understanding and healing. These practices promote gentleness, personal growth, and a stronger foundation for navigating life’s challenges. #ADHD #Anxiety #GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder #Addiction #MentalHealth #Depression #BipolarDepression #SubstanceRelatedDisorders #Neurodiversity
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Today I got my motivational interviewing certification:) Motivational Interviewing (MI) it is a collaborative, person-centered form of guiding to elicit and strengthen motivation for change. For people with serious mental illness (SMI), MI can be particularly beneficial in addressing ambivalence toward treatment, medication adherence, and lifestyle changes necessary for recovery. Here’s an overview of how MI is applied in this context:
#Addiction #ADHD #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Depression #SubstanceRelatedDisorders #Neurodiversity
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