When peoples lives are affected by Drugs or Alcohol addiction, the world around them becomes
unmanageable. People will struggle with simple daily tasks, and lose all structure in their lives.
They will not have the ability to take on responsible tasks, or chores.

Paying Bills
Making Doctors Appointments
House Work
Cooking
Shopping for Themselves.
Self-Care
Keeping Appointments
Not Getting into Work

When a person’s life is ruled by substances, the substance will always come first. The substance of their
choice becomes the centre of the universe. The addict rejects themselves, and any people, places or
things that are surrounding them.

An addict will go to any lengths to fund their addiction this can result in them committing a crime and
ending up going to prison. Or a person my stop paying their mortgage and lose their home, this can
leave the person in great financial debts. Both of these examples are outward unmanageability.

There also will be what is known as the internal unmanageability. Daily a person who is abusing
substances will be struggling to cope with any thoughts, feelings and emotions. An addict can experience
a number of emotions throughout the day.

Guilt
Shame
Remorse
Regret
Self-Loathing
Sadness
Anger
Desperation
Loneliness

The addict will fall apart and not be able to cope as these emotions arise for them. For example they have an
argument with a loved one, instead of resolving the argument they will be more likely to leave and use. Or even
something as simple as missing a bus, can cause a massive overreaction to their emotions. This can lead them to
fall in to a mental melt down.

All addicts need structure and daily routine when they enter recovery. Over a period of time they will
need to address the consequences of their unmanageability.

They can do this by sitting down with someone and making a plan. Looking at all the bills they need to
pay, and asking that they are consolidated in to one debt. Any court orders that have been passed will
need to be seen out, and all appointments will need to be attended.

Over time relationships that have been damaged by a persons unmanageable behaviour can be
repaired. Repairing relationships is a process both parties will need to heal from any harms that may
have been caused.

A daily routine will need to take place, getting up at the same time in the morning ,trying to eat meals at
the same time each day is another form of structure. Getting to appointments on time or even attempting
to get their early is another way to regain structure in a person’s life.

By working some kind of recovery model, be it the 12 steps, or SMART recovery and Holistic Therapy’s a
person will learn how to manage and maintain any emotions, or feelings they are experiencing. They will
gain the tools on how to do this without the use of substances.

Recovery is about regaining what was lost due to substance misuse. Hundreds of thousands of people across the
world are living happy, fulfilling, productive lives, along way from the unmanageable chaotic lifestyles they once
knew.

It is important to learn the difference between recreational drug taking, and drug abuse.

While drug use should not be promoted at all, some people are able to smoke a bit of cannabis and have a drink with friends at the weekend, while their life doesn’t become out of control.

But where is line crossed over from having a good time, to drug use becoming a problem?

The signs to look out for in drug abuse can be.

Are you constantly thinking about the weekend while you’re at work in the week? Planning what drugs, you are going to be taking, and where you will be going. This could be the obsession to use drugs Slowly creeping up on you.

Are you having an extra bottle of wine when you get home from work? Because you’ve ‘earned it’. Is that one bottle in the week, slowly becoming 2,3 or 4 through the week.

Are your bills slowly becoming unmanageable, as you’re spending more money on substances, then paying your bills?

Are you finding yourself slacking with work, taking time out, making up excuses and not going in?

Not getting work done, is your work performance slacking?

Do you feel run down, and tired most of the time?

These are the warning signs, and at this point you are becoming chemically dependent.

Talk to your family and friends about your problem and seek help through either 12 step mutual aid groups, or on-line support groups.

Of course, the signs of chronic drug abuse are completely different. Chronic drug users will use every day without fail. They will find the ways and means to get their drug of choice, not caring who they harm in the process.

In a chronic drug user there will be many other tell-tale signs, they will have become very isolated and alone, they could have lost their job, their home and completely lost all contact with family and friends.

They could be out committing crime to feed their habit, facing custodial sentences.

They will become dependent on prescribed medication, as well as the street drugs they are taking.

They will suffer mood swings, suffer from bouts of depression and anxiety. They can present as angry all the time.

For the chronic drug user, it can prove fatal.

If you, or someone you know is suffering from chronic drug or alcohol abuse seek help. You can enter a detox program, then go on to treatment. Or there is also support online. And you can seek help through Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous or Cocaine Anonymous. There are many ways to help even the most hopeless case find recovery.

Any kind of drug or alcohol addiction can affect every aspect of your life, especially when it’s an addiction that involves alcohol or drugs. To help regain normality in a healthy, successful manner, you need a drug or alcohol treatment plan that not only helps you to overcome the addiction itself, but also looks at the many factors that either contributed to or were caused by the substance abuse. Holistic drug or alcohol rehab is one such program. Whilst you have to ultimately choose the treatment that best meets your needs, here are three reasons you should consider a holistic drug or alcohol rehab program.

Treating the body

Treating the body to help get over a physical addiction is a crucial part of any rehab program as it involves putting the body through detoxification and then withdrawal, a process that isn’t always pain-free or easy. Not only does a holistic program help you through alcohol detox and withdrawal, it will also help you to repair any damage that the substance abuse has caused. Learning about a healthy diet and engaging in practices such as yoga or massage to ease the physical pain of withdrawal can all play a key part in a holistic program.

Treating the mind

An addiction almost always never just happens on its own; there are often other factors that drove the patient to substance abuse in the first place. Holistic treatment restores the mind by identifying and treating these factors through therapy. Any psychological factor that has had an effect on the patient’s life can be treated including major depression and bipolar disorder.

Individual treatment plan

No two people are the same, and so a holistic or alcohol rehab clinic offers individualised treatment for every patient. Even if two patients are being treated for a similar problem, the best treatment to help them through will not be exactly the same, and this is where holistic rehab excels. A drug rehab centre that offers holistic treatments can differ from an alcohol rehab clinic, yet both will help you to find the rehabilitation program that works best for you so you can go back to being your old self again. So take time finding the right drug rehab and alcohol compare against any alcohol rehab clinics. most do both and there a special clinics for your needs too.

Please contact Serenity Health anytime for any information

Modified on March 10, 2018, by Daniel Santano

A key element of the treatment which we are proud to support is our progressive learning and development which is a vital part of the treatment and aftercare. We thrive on welcoming those at the cutting edge of research and new techniques and we run an on-going development programme entitled ‘In Research We Trust’. Funded opportunities are available for research professionals and graduates to use our facilities to present current addiction and mental health findings.

At Serenity Recovery, we support innovative programmes and provide sponsorship events for students and graduates. We encourage others within addictive and mental health disorder fields to promote their innovative research. Our aim is to support those who will be able to provide an improvement of diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation in this field. We are encouraging of further professional development of researchers and, by providing a high impact platform, we can help make advances in addictive disorders and mental health research.

The main goal of this initiative is to support research which further explores the key elements in developing treatments: biological, psychological, social and spiritual. We also aim to have improved knowledge of intervention and prevention.

Serenity Recovery provides an arena for researchers to have their work recognised nationally and internationally by providing their findings to practitioners, students and other professionals at events and through our social media outreach. Their knowledge can then be shared and applied in an attempt to provide better care for all.

Note: The information provided are also based on my personal research or opinions.