Casual drinking and even some drug use is often seen as acceptable.  However, there are ways to tell if someone you care about (or even you) are succumbing to a drug or alcohol addiction.  Addiction is not easily treated by going cold turkey.  It really is best if drug treatment professionals are involved.  Don’t know if drug rehab is necessary?  Take a look at the next two symptoms and see if they fit.

Going On Drinking Benders Delaying Withdrawal Symptoms

In an earlier post I described various physical withdrawal symptoms.  These are essentially the body’s physical responses to the drug leaving the body.  These symptoms can be very uncomfortable such as a bad headache, shakiness, upset stomach, and other strong aches and pains. 

A person who knows they react like this often may start doing “benders”.  This is essentially using more drugs or alcohol to treat their hangover or keep it from coming on.  This may include morning drinks or small breaks from drinking despite still feeling drunk.  It ends up creating a long drinking binge that may span more than one day. 

Of course this would also apply to drug use such as prescription drugs, heroin, and methamphetamine.  The person having morning drinks or drug hits may very well know they are using way too much.  However, their denial and self-medication may seem too important to them to stop.  If they stopped, they may not know how to cope as a sober person.

Loss of Control Using Larger Amount and Longer Period Than Intended

Loss of control is a definite sign of addiction.  They may claim they can control how much they drink, when they can stop, often claiming they could quit anytime.  They don’t need to quit because they know what they are doing and what they can handle. 

However, you may also hear them describe how a few drinks often turns into getting wasted and staying for hours.  They were going to hang out with a friend for an hour and they ended up smoking weed and losing all track of time.  Again, this may be minimized by the person using, but you can often hear the twist of how one intention turned into something much bigger. 

Many people delude themselves that they haven’t really had that much alcohol or drugs and they are OK to drive.  Nearly every community has a sad story about someone seriously injured or killed by a drunk driver.  Loss of control is not only harmful to the drug addict or alcoholic, it is often harmful for others.

Loss of Control Means Drug Rehab Is Necessary

When you hear stories about someone who can’t remember how many they drank or how a drug user lost track of how long they were using, you have a person who needs drug and alcohol rehab.  The same is true for someone who goes on extended drug and alcohol benders, often using for many days in a row.  No matter what they say, this kind of use is not social drinking or safe controlled use. 

People who use drugs and alcohol like this are ticking time bombs, putting themselves and others in danger.  If you see these trends in yourself or someone you care about, don’t hesitate to talk about drug and alcohol rehab.

You know what the biggest problem is with New Year’s Resolutions?  Follow through.  The ideas are nice, but people hardly stand behind what they promise to do.  What’s holding you back from following through on your thoughts on going to drug rehab?  Let’s look at some compelling reasons to consider a fresh start with drug rehab right now. 

Why Wait To Go To Drug Rehab

Why Wait?  Really, what are you waiting for?   The approval of your mom?  A time when they won’t miss you at work?  Saving up all your money to pay for it outright?  The right weather?  The planets to line up?  For almost any reason you could think of, you need to just go to drug rehab more than you need to consider waiting. 

Drug addiction is life threatening, costly, miserable, dangerous, and often fraught with legal problems.  Short of imminent physical health problems requiring hospitalization, there isn’t much that ranks ahead of going to drug rehab when you have a dangerous addiction. 

Start a New Habit of Drug Addiction Relapse Prevention

In January you start a new calendar, use a new year when you write the date, say “this year’ instead of “next year”, sometimes change insurance, start a new tax year, etc.  Why not start some positive habits to replace your addiction?  Drug rehab will help you drop your old thinking, drug use habits, and poor self care habits.  You can also start yoga, learn about healthy eating, learn how to handle stress, and understand yourself better.  It’s a natural time of change and renewal.  Embrace the new calendar page and put your drug rehab start date on it. 

You Wait On Drug Rehab You Might Lose Your Life

Probably the best reason to start drug rehabnow is that you don’t know when you might lose your life because of your drug use.  You might overdose one too many times.  You may unknowingly aggravate or trigger health problems that don’t show obvious symptoms.  Driving while intoxicated can kill you or others.  Drug warfare can literally put you in the crosshairs of someone’s gunfire.  Every day you linger in the world of untreated drug addiction, you put your life at a great risk.

Your Family Gets Hurt Every Day You Stay Addicted

Even if you are a single person, someone cares deeply about you.  You mean something to your best friend.  Your daughter looks up to you.  Your husband, boyfriend, or partner loves you and your relationship.  Your brother counts on you for laughter and family connection.  They hurt right along with you for every day you stay addicted and untreated.  They are waiting, hoping, praying for your wellness so you can be yourself again.  They are powerless but persistent in their wish for you to go to drug rehab and get well.

Don’t Wait Another Minute To Start Drug Rehab

If you’ve read this post and still have reasons why you don’t think you can go to drug rehab right now, call the Orchid Recovery for Women.  They can answer any remaining questions you have and assure you about the quality of care at drug rehab.  Don’t wait another minute to get drug treatment - your life truly depends on it.

DUI charges, cocaine rehab, car accidents, being late or just not showing up for work.  Does this sound like a person who needs drug rehab.  LindsayLohan even thought so.  Her journey with drugs and alcohol has become famous, or infamous, over the last two years.  Lindsay even checked herself into drug rehab voluntariliy.  She managed to do better in 2008 regarding her drug and alcohol problem headlines.  She continues to prove the point that money and fame do not protect against drug addiction. 

Lindsay Lohan Faces Drug and Alcohol Problems

photo credit: Hot Rod HomepageDUI

Lindsay Lohan Faces Addiction Problems

Lindsay had a problem with cocaine that plagued her legal record.  She was twice charged with cocaine possession and even tested positively for cocaine in her blood.  It was only a few days later that she spent almost a month and a half in a drug rehab center to get her life on track again. 

As of August 2007, she announced publicly that her life had gotten compleltely unmanageable because of addiction to drugs and alcohol.  She had been giving excuses for missing work like “exhaustion”, even though people she was working with knew about her partying lifestyle.

Drug Rehab Can Make A Difference For Drug Addicts Famous Or Not

Drug rehab really can change lives.  Lindsay certainly just one of many celebrities who’ve been there.  But drug rehab doesn’t have to seem like a celebrity luxury.  It is available to people all across the country, with financial options to make it work.  If there’s one thing you can take from Lindsey’s ride with drug and alcohol problems, celebrities need drug rehab like anyone else with addiction.

However, her legal woes have not yet come to an end.  She was sentenced to three years of probation just one year ago.  Also, she was recently (October) sued by the men who were in a car chase with her resulting in her 2007 DUI arrest (and suspended license).  Like many others with drug and alcohol addiction, legal and money issues often drag on for months and years.

Drug Rehab Three Times Not Uncommon

Three times in drug rehab and it seems she has moved away from drugs and alcohol, at least enough to escape damaging headlines.  Certainly hope she’s had enough drug treatment to really find some personal growth and relapse prevention.  Again, her experience shows that it sometimes takes several difficult events and multiple times in drug rehab to really create change in your life. 

Doesn’t  matter how rich or famous you are, drugs and alcohol wrecks people’s lives.  Unfortunately, many celebrities go through this process with the world’s eyes watching.  Best wishes for your continued recovery, Lindsay.

Sarah, a fictitious 9 year old girl, gets her wish of having her mom home at Christmas from drug rehab 

Christmas Wish of Mommy Coming Home From Drug Rehab

My best Christmas wish ever came true!  Mommy was gone at the drug rehabplace for a super long time, and I really missed her.  Then I wished for her to come home for Christmas and she did.  I told Daddy if I couldn’t have any other present this was what I wanted. 

Mommy said we have to do some things differently this Christmas.  We usually go to my aunt’s house on Christmas day for a big supper and opening presents.  Then the adults play card games and all the kids watch movies and play with our new Christmas toys downstairs.  But mommy said we can’t do that this year.  It’s just too many people at one time right now. 

Christmas Will Be Different This Year After Drug Rehab

Also, I know the adults always have wine and other drinks that are really stinky when they’re playing cards.  And the kids get the fizzy grape juice that looks like wine but it isn’t.  Mommy said she can’t do that anymore either, which I guess is something the people at her drug rehab place must have told her.  I don’t really know why, but I don’t care because I’m just glad Mommy’s better.

She said we’ll just have our own Christmas at home with just us this time.  I like that, and I guess I’ll just see the other people in my family some other time.  But I don’t know when that’s going to be because we just have one Christmas.  It’s going to be really weird this year.  I’m kind of wishing we could go, but I think we have to do what the drug rehab people say to keep Mommy staying better. 

Healthy Eating During Drug Rehab And At Home

Also, Mommy wrote to us before she came home about the food she’s been having.  It sounds like a lot of healthy stuff like carrots and fruit and chicken, but not fried chicken.  She said we’re going to have that kind of food now too because it makes her body better or something.  I don’t really know why that helps her with not taking that medicine, but she said this is what she did when she was at the drug rehab place. 

I guess she’s going to be doing a lot of stuff that’s different from before, plus she won’t be sleeping all the time and not doing stuff with me.  She said we’re going to be spending more time doing stuff like a family with Daddy too.  But she also has these meetings every week.  Mommy said she talks about how she’s feeling or if she’s been taking that medicine.   

Family Helps Mom In Recovery After Drug Treatment

We all need to be a family team to help her, I think.  I just don’t want her to take that medicine anymore.  We threw it out as soon as she left, and I hope her doctor doesn’t give it to her anymore either.  I was really really sad before and I don’t ever want to feel sad like that again.  I try to forget, but I don’t always forget very well.  Mommy said she wants me to talk to her if I feel that way. 

But mostly I’m just so happy Mommy’s back home.  I don’t want this Christmas wish to ever end.

Women with dual diagnosis have a double edged sword to deal with.  Addiction can temporarily block out the pain of a mental illness, but it makes the whole problem worse at the same time.   Find out about women’s unique vulnerabilities and drug treatment options here. 

Women Have Greater Emotional Vulnerability for Mental Illness

Emotional pathways are a likely starting poing for both mental illness and addictions.  So, it’s no surprise that women have vulnerability to having both at the same time.  Certainly, both depression can lead to addiction or an addiction can lead to depression.  However, experts have observed that in most cases the emotionally distraught state created by mental illness opens the door to addiction. 

One of the general traits that make women stand apart from men is their greater ability to perceive and communicate emotions.  While there are always exceptions to the rule, women and men do have significant brain differences in emotional functioning.  This makes them more skilled with emotional subtleties and relationships, it also makes them more susceptible to emotional problems.  

Social Stigma and Distorted Thinking Lead to Underreporting

Social stigma for mental illness is still present in our world today.  While efforts have been made with public announcements and community outreach, there is still a negative shameful perception about having a mental illness.  Thought part of this stigma is from the public’s general perception of mental illness, the more difficult part originates inside the affect person themselves. 

Mental illness has a way of distorting a person’s thoughts.  The affected person may think they are too crazy to be believed, or that others would judge them harshly if their secret problem were known.  This happens even if their loved ones would (in reality) be quick to help and long on empathy.

A mother doesn’t want to see herself as unable to take care of her children.  A wife doesn’t want to seem needy and weak to her husband.  A working woman doesn’t want to appear incompetant to her boss.  In the face of such rejection, real or imagined, she will most likely try to put on a good face and pull herself together in secret.

Dual Diagnosis Rehab and Women

Addiction and mental illness are two things that are best handled with professional help.  A women with a dual diagnosis may be able to do outpatient mental health and drug treatment.  If their situation is more severe, it may be necessary to begin with a residential drug rehab equipped to deal with dual diagnosis. 

The modern approach to dual diagnosis is to treat both the addiction and the mental illness at the same time.  Very likely, the emotional pathways that are part of the mental illness are similar if not the same as the starting points for the addiction.  Therefore, it is in the best interest of the affected person to be treated for these problems simultaneously. 

Orchid Recovery Center Offers Focus on Women With Dual Diagnosis

Drug rehab can seem like a daunting commitment to make.  You live somewhere with strangers for several weeks or months, sometimes far from home.  However, a well-staffed holistic drug treatment center like the Orchid Recovery Center for Women is a great choice for many reasons. 

The unique needs of a woman are recognized and met with an all-female staff and spa-like surroundings.  Exercise and physical health are emphasized with nutritional counseling, yoga and meditation classes, and vigorous exercise sessions.  A woman with dual diagnosis will have a long road of recovery, but there is certainly help and hope available today.