Addiction Traits to Ditch in Recovery - and One to Keep

Many family members say that their addicted loved ones are no longer recognisable. The people they love have changed before their eyes and they cannot believe that this is the same person. It is true that addiction can have a profound effect on individuals, and many will pick up certain characteristics along the way. Addicts often learn the skills and traits they need to ensure they can continue with their addictive behaviour, which can lead to them to becoming self-centred and manipulative. They will often lie, steal, cheat and cover up in order to get what they want.

It can be difficult for recovering addicts to simply revert to how they were before they became addicted. Many family members expect to have the old person back once rehab is finished, but this is rarely the case. For many, the traits they have picked up while addicted can become entrenched and they will have to work doubly hard to get rid of them. Below are some of the more common characteristics perfected by addicts.

Dishonesty

Addiction and honesty rarely go hand in hand and many addicts will lie to everyone about their habit. They will not want others to know they are reliant on alcohol or drugs so will make up excuses for their behaviour and may deny any problem exists if challenged. Addicts become expert liars because that is how they survive and how they are able to continue with their destructive behaviour. However, if you are in recovery, you can no longer be dishonest. You must learn to accept any mistakes you make instead of lying about them or covering them up. Learning from your mistakes is a vital process in recovery and one that will stand you in good stead. You will not get better if you continue to lie to others or try to deceive them.

Self-Centredness

Most addicts have perfected this characteristic while they were ill as well as during their early recovery. In fact, recovering addicts are often encouraged to think only of themselves and their recovery during the early days. Nevertheless, you cannot continue in this vein as you move forward. It is now important to start learning how to heal or rebuild relationships with your loved ones. And, you will never make new healthy relationships if you are only focused on yourself and your happiness.

Anger

Many addicts feel anger at their situation and have a long list of people or circumstances to blame for their illness. They often believe themselves to be victims and get angry at the world. It is imperative that you learn how to deal with your anger issues in recovery as this is one emotion that can derail you if you let it.

Trait to Keep

While many of the characteristics you have picked up while addicted should now be dropped, there is one you should look to keep. The living one-day-at-a-time philosophy is one that many addicts will adhere to. Addicts do not look to the future, they simply concentrate on what they can and cannot do that day, such as getting through work in order to have a drink or finding enough money for that day’s fix.

In recovery, it is important to take things one-day-at-a-time too. Recovering addicts need to focus on each day as being another day of sobriety. Nonetheless, the difference is that recovering addicts can and should look to the future. They can start to believe that good things are possible and, the longer they are sober, the more achievable their goals become.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here

More Education Required to Highlight Dangers of Gambling Addiction

One of the most devastating addictions is a gambling addiction because of the effect it has on the sufferer and his or her loved ones. While all addictions can destroy lives, a gambling addiction directly affects family members and loved ones of the person with the illness. This addiction is one of the easiest to hide and so for that reason, it is known as a ‘secret’ addiction.

The knock-on effect of a gambling addiction can be far-reaching. It is not uncommon for problem gamblers to amass huge debts, leaving their family facing financial ruin. In addition, as with all addictions, a gambling addiction can cause mental and physical health problems that can include stress, depression and anxiety, for the person with the addiction and their loved ones.

A Common Problem

Gambling addiction is becoming more and more common in the UK, with many people developing this devastating illness. However, it is not just those who are desperate for a big win to change their lives who develop problems with gambling.

Many sports stars have opened up about their problems with gambling and have spoken out about how the illness has affected their lives. Former footballer John Taylor admits to developing a fascination with gambling at the young age of fourteen. Unfortunately for John, this attraction grew into an addiction that almost had deadly consequences. He said, “It got to the point where I knew that if I didn’t seek help, I would end up doing myself some serious harm. It had already affected my family, and I didn’t have many friends left because I was always caught up in my own little world.”

He confessed that there were several times when he considered taking his life. And, while he knows he is lucky to have never followed through on these thoughts, he says others have not ‘survived that thought process’.

Easy Access

John is not alone; there are an estimated half-a-million people in the UK struggling with a problem gambling habit. Many blame the fact that gambling has become more accessible than before thanks to online gaming sites and mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Addiction charities believe individuals need to be educated regarding the risks of gambling. The head of gambling charity Breakeven, Ian Semel, said the ‘face of gambling has changed massively in the past five to six years’ and he believes the most significant change is the easy accessibility of online gambling.

Online gambling is available twenty-four hours to anyone with a bank account and access to the internet. Mr Semel said, “One of the biggest problems that evolves with people who gamble remotely is that it does not feel like real money. There’s a big difference between withdrawing cash from a bank and placing a bet at the counter, compared with using a credit or debit card on a gambling website. The only evidence of what you’ve spent is when you see the account statements.”

Betting Machines

Nevertheless, it is not just online gambling that is causing a growth in the number of people developing crushing gambling addictions. Betting shops around the country have a number of betting machines or fixed odds betting terminals, installed where punters can bet up to £300 per minute on casino-style games such as Black Jack, roulette and poker. These machines have been dubbed the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling due to the number of people becoming addicted and displaying aggressive behaviour towards them after suffering substantial losses.

A Treatable Illness

Gambling addictions destroy lives, but it is important to remember that it is an illness. The good news is that it is a treatable illness. Here at Middlegate, we provide help and advice to those suffering from a number of addictions. Our aim is to put those who need help in touch with the organisations providing that help.

If you or a loved one are suffering from addiction, contact us here at Middlegate today for free, confidential advice and information.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here

Therapy During Rehabilitation and Recovery

One of the biggest obstacles most addicts face when it comes to recovery is their fear. They are afraid of admitting that they have an addiction because of what it will mean for them. Many do not believe they could survive without the drugs or alcohol they are addicted to while others fear they will be unable to cope with rehabilitation. It is often fear of the unknown that prevents them from accessing help and treatment for addiction, and many will wait until it is too late and their health has been irreparably damaged before they finally reach out.

What is Addiction Therapy?

Many addicts worry about what therapy is going to be like and it can prevent them from asking for help. They believe they will fail in their attempts to get clean and would rather not try than actually seek help and fail. However, with more information and education, they would be in a better position to understand what rehabilitation is actually like. Below are some of the therapy options used by various rehabilitation clinics around the UK.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of behavioural modification technique used by most therapists when it comes to addiction treatment. The idea behind CBT is to help the patient to identify the maladaptive behaviours he or she uses and to teach him or her ways of using more positive behaviours to deal with certain situations. Once the patient has established a way of dealing with situations and scenarios in a less destructive manner, these behaviours are continuously reinforced until they become natural. CBT is often used in conjunction with other treatments such as 12-step work.

Supportive Psychotherapy

Supportive psychotherapy is a type of counselling designed to change attitudes in patients struggling with addictive or compulsive behaviours. It can be provided on a one-to-one basis or in a group setting.

Motivational Interviewing

Denial is very common among addiction patients, and the inability to see the destructive path they are on often becomes a major obstacle in the recovery process. Motivational interviewing aims to help patients break down these barriers and become motivated to succeed in the programme. The therapist will use question and answer sessions that are designed to help the patient look at his or her attitudes and to gently encourage him or her to stop justifying addictive or maladaptive behaviours.

Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

Some rehabilitation clinics use DBT to help patients get a better handle on their emotions. CBT techniques are used alongside methods such as mindfulness or meditation to encourage patients to learn how to deal with situations in a positive manner.

Contingency Management
Contingency management is often used in the treatment of teenage addiction because it focuses on a rewards and consequences system. Teenagers often cannot see that sobriety is a reward in itself so need encouragement for positive behaviour. They are rewarded for good behaviour but there will be consequences when they do not behave well. The idea behind this type of treatment is that it encourages patients to get clean and stay clean. They know that if they stay clean, they will be rewarded but if they do not stay clean, they may lose certain privileges such as phone or internet access.

If you are an affected individual, then the type of therapy you will be given will depend on the facility you attend and your personal circumstances. Most rehab clinics will evaluate your situation before developing a tailored treatment programme based on your requirements. Nonetheless, the treatments used will be designed to help you overcome your addiction and to teach you how to live a clean and healthy, sober life.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here