Answers on Addiction

One reason some people start using drugs is to overcome physical pain, while in other cases drugs are used as a means to escape emotional pain. While drugs do provide a temporary reprieve from suffering, it eventually leads to more pain and usually only furthers the users difficulties. The user’s problematic life – now complicated and made worse by the addiction – soon spirals out of control and may never be solved without outside intervention.

Those who are in pain – whether emotional or physical – should only use drugs as a last resort, and use it with extreme caution. This is because drugs can, in a short time, drastically alter the brain and body, making the user dependent on the drug. Additionally, drug use isolates users and disconnects them from everything around them: their family, their friends, and their work. Their world starts to revolve around drugs and they think about how to get the next hit and get high again.

As the addiction progresses, drug addicts start having troubles caused by their drug use. They lose their job, they are ostracized by the society, and even their friends and family may abandon them. They will also experience various medical disorders due to their unhealthy lifestyle. Without professional help, it is very likely that a drug user will succumb to his or her, limiting the chance of treatment in each day that passes, until the point that any help may be futile and the addict – as have been unfortunately been the case in many people – can no longer cope either with or without drugs.

There are many answers on addiction, but the most important of these is rehab treatment, which has to be taken as soon as possible as the longer treatment is postponed the more difficult it would be for the addict to return to normal life. This is why it’s important for drug addicts to find treatment on drug rehab centers that doesn’t just stop the addiction, but helps them regain a fresh start in life.

The best possible time for getting de-addicted is before forming the habit, which is to say that it’s best to never start using drugs at all. But it can’t always be helped. So what drug addicts can do is to try to find answers on addiction as soon as they recognize that they have a problem with their drug use. Given a timely intervention, and that treatment is provided through a rehab program, and with a strong will to recover, a drug addict can overcome his or her addiction and lead a clean and healthy life, free from the pains and dangers of drug use.

Recognizing the Powerlessness in Addiction

Addiction negatively influences an addict both physically and psychologically. A dependence on substances develops and withdrawal occurs when the substance is discontinued. The withdrawal for addicts can be extremely difficult producing cravings, thoughts and perceived opportunities to use. An addict begins to feel powerless in addiction, feeling trapped by unwanted thoughts, feelings and behaviors. The serenity prayer gives addicts the outline to combat the feeling of powerlessness.

The serenity prayer is broken down into a few questions that will help recognize and decrease the sense of powerlessness.

• What is my control? 
• What can I change?
• What can’t I change?
• How do I know the difference?

Control

To control is to exercise power or authority over something. Oftentimes, addiction will encourage the addict that they are in control over the use of substances. After the body becomes dependent, the brain produces cravings of a physiological nature that an addict cannot control. While the addict believes that he or she can stop substance abuse at anytime he or she wants, he or she is not able to because of physiological effects.

This type of thinking also translates into external situations for an addict. They will always believe that they can control the outcomes of situations based upon their input or involvement. This is most evident in the addict who continues to use despite family confrontations about addiction. The addict will lie and manipulate to continue using drugs and alcohol. He or she will have a false sense of being in control, although people on the outside clearly see the dysfunction.

What is actually in our control is how we respond to others, our own feelings and thoughts, and our physical actions.

Change

Attempting to change something that is not in our control is self defeating behavior. We are only able to change what is in our immediate control: our response to thoughts, to feelings, and to others.  The object is to respond and not react to circumstances which are not in our control. We can not change the past or predict the future so remaining in the present is key.

Forcing others to see our perspective or change their point of view is unhealthy, especially when under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Addiction causes addicts to respond irrationally when they are not in control. Addiction leads you to believe that you can control, change and predict outcomes.

Knowing What is in My Control vs. What Is Not

This is where most addicts struggle. Knowing what they can and cannot control. This is a skill that takes time and practice. Addicts will believe that they can control drugs and alcohol use despite negative consequences.

Some questions that may help are:

• Does this situation directly involve me?
• What can I do differently to impact this situation?
• Am I attempting to control outcomes?
• How can I manage this situation assertively without the use of drugs and alcohol?

Attempting to control situations that are not in your control can increase stress and arguments among loved ones. Admitting you are powerless in your addiction is the first step in the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Relinquishing control can be a freeing experience if you are willing to take the risk.