Helping a Loved One with Addiction

Family members suffer when a loved one struggles with addiction. Although they are not physically affected by the illness, they do suffer mental and emotional issues and it can place an enormous strain on family relationships. It is hard to watch a loved one struggle in this way, and family members will all react in different ways.

Some will want to take over and will believe that they can ‘fix’ their loved one. They are of the opinion that all that is needed is to make him or her see sense and that the affected individual will then stop drinking or taking drugs. If only it were that simple. Sadly, many addicts are unable or unwilling to stop, and no amount of pleading or begging will change that.

Addicts are skilled at making others believe what they want them to and will tell their loved ones whatever it is they want to hear if it means the addict can continue with his or her destructive behaviour. Family members are often left hurt and disappointed with their loved one’s actions. After a while, they will find it hard to believe anything their addicted loved one tells them.

If a Loved One Recognises the Problem

In the beginning, most addicts will not be able to see that they have a problem. As addiction is a progressive illness, he or she will slowly get worse; it may take some time before the addiction is something this person can see as being a destructive force.

The ideal situation for family members and friends is that their addicted loved one will get to a point where they can see that there is a problem and will reach out for help. Before this can happen, the affected individual will have to firstly recognise that the addiction is out of control.

You may have heard the expression ‘rock bottom’ in relation to addiction. This is typically the point at which an addicted person realises that his or her addiction has become a problem and that a change needs to be made. It could be triggered by a health issue or an ultimatum given by a loved one. Either of these situations can make an addicted person see that his or her actions are causing negative consequences for themselves and those around them.

Helping with Treatment

However, it is not enough for the addicted person to simply agree and promise to stop. He or she must take steps towards rectifying the situation. This is where you can help – you can encourage your loved one to get help and do whatever it takes to make this possible.

This could mean helping out by taking care of children or pets so that the addicted person can enter a rehabilitation treatment centre if necessary. You could also help by taking the individual to a doctor or counsellor for appointments.

If you really want to help, contact us here at Middlegate today. We offer a free service to those dealing with addiction as well as to their family members. We have a team of expert advisors ready to take your call and they will be able to offer you helpful advice on taking the next steps.

As a referral service, we do not provide treatment for addiction. However, we work with a wide range of organisations in both the public and private sectors and we will be able to make a referral to a suitable treatment provider based on the needs and circumstances of each client. We will carry out a full assessment of the situation before offering advice and information on the treatments available and how to access them.

If you would like more information on our free and confidential service, contact us today.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here

Will an Alcohol Relapse Hurt those Around You?

One of the biggest fears amongst those who are attempting to recover from an alcohol addiction is the risk of hurting those around them. They do not want a relapse to cause people to pity them or feel as if they have failed them in some way. This applies to both family members and the people who they are trying to recover alongside.

In this article, we are going to discuss the issue of alcohol rehab and alcohol relapses. Let us take a closer look at it.

The General Perception

The general perception amongst people is that they are going to potentially affect their recovery partners if they fail. This is both a good thing and a bad thing. Firstly, it is thought that the fear of letting everyone else down will serve as some sort of motivator. The problem is if it does go wrong and the person relapses it could make them feel that much worse about it.

Staying Strong
Contrary to popular belief, it is not always the case that people will collapse alongside whoever has relapsed. Drug rehab breeds a culture of support. When someone fails, the chances are everyone else will close ranks and attempt to help the person. They will actually take their attention away from their cravings in order to help them. In other words, a slip here and there does not have to mean causing a significant amount of damage to others. It can actually make everyone else stronger.

Should You Tell Someone You Have Had a Relapse?

It is not uncommon to see people deciding to suffer in silence when they relapse. They do not want to go through what they see as the humiliation of telling their support group what has happened. The belief goes that they are doing a good thing by doing this. In reality, they are only reducing their chances of success in the future. By bottling up these feelings, it allows the negativity to grow. When people allow negative thoughts to fester, the chances of a further relapse increases.

Always seek professional help when experiencing a relapse. Yes, it will mean that other people will know about what’s happened, but that is not a bad thing. It is a good thing. Someone who can be honest with themselves and those around them is a strong individual. They can cope with the realities of their situation. Not being able to cope with what is going on is an example of what got the person stuck in an addiction rut in the first place.

You Are Not Responsible

Nobody should ever feel as if they are responsible for someone else’s recovery. This does not mean nobody should care about anyone else. It means if someone relapses,that is his or her problem. They did it to themselves. They have to take responsibility for their actions. Unless someone else tipped a bottle of beer down their throats, this was a decision they made.

One of the biggest mistakes any alcoholic can make outside of rehab clinics is to make themselves believe that their actions will affect upon another person’s recovery journey.

Middlegate have worked with hundreds of rehab clinics in the UK. Through their experiences, they can show you how to use alcohol rehab to turn your life around.


This article originally published at Middlegate.co.uk Blog here

Staying on Track While in Recovery

One of the biggest fears that a recovering addict will have is that he or she is going to relapse and end up back where they started. If you are a recovering addict, it is important to remember that, especially in the early days of recovery, addiction is an illness that affected you over an extended period of time. If you were drinking alcohol or using drugs for many years, then it is going to take a while for you to get better. Recovery does not happen overnight and you are bound to have periods where you experience intense cravings. However, you do not have to give in to those cravings and you do not have to have a slip-up. Relapse is not inevitable but it is also not uncommon. Many recovering addicts have had a slip-up before getting themselves back on track again.

Beware of Your Emotions

Certain emotions can lead to relapse, so you need to be on the lookout for them and how they make you feel. Dealing with your emotions as they arise is the best way to ensure that you do not give in to them. Fear is a common emotion, and it is a healthy one. If you were not afraid of relapse, then you would be in danger of succumbing to it. Nevertheless, if your fear begins to take over your life, you need to do something about it. You cannot let your fear prevent you from living; if you feel that your fear has become debilitating, you should speak to your counsellor or sponsor.

Resentment is another common emotion that can be hard to let go of. Many recovering addicts cling to their feelings of anger against others but this can prevent you from having true success. Whatever happened in the past should be left in the past. While some people may have hurt you, you have probably done your fair share of hurting too. Learn how to forgive and forget so that you can move on.

Move Forward
If you are feeling guilty about things you have done while you were addicted, this is normal. If you use that guilt to make amends, then this will improve your chances of a successful recovery. Nonetheless, do not dwell any longer than necessary on these feelings of guilt. Make amends to those you have hurt and then move on. Remember that you are not a bad person because you had an addiction. You did not choose to have an addiction, nor did you have any control over your actions when you were addicted.

Addiction affects the brain and changes the way it works. Alcoholics and drug addicts are people with illnesses. These chemical substances can impair the brain and affect behaviour and cause individuals to act in a way they never would when sober.

Telling Others

A primary concern for recovering addicts is whether or not they have to tell others that they are in recovery from addiction. It is natural to be embarrassed or ashamed about your addiction and you may not want to tell others. You do not have to tell everyone about your problems if you do not want to, but many recovering addicts feel that talking about it helps.

These days, there is not as much stigma attached to being an alcoholic or addict. People are more accepting about addiction and realise that it is an illness. It is entirely up to you, but you may be surprised at how understanding others will be. Most people these days know someone who has suffered from some type of addiction. Moreover, you may find that many already had their suspicions that you were suffering from an addiction.

Whatever you decide is your choice. You may not feel ready to talk now, but you may want to open up as time goes on and you feel stronger about your recovery.

This article originally published at middlegate.co.uk -   Alcohol Rehab Clinics Blog here

Is There a Difference Between Helping and Enabling?

If you are the parent of a child that has an addiction, you will probably want to do everything in your power to help. Even if that child is married with children of his or her own, you will still worry and will be devastated to see him or her struggling in this way. However, it is important to realise that there is a very fine line between helping and enabling.

Your child may have no money and no opportunity to get credit anymore, so you may be tempted to help out financially. You may have already been doing this for some time, but this is not always the best idea. The problem that many parents face is that they do not want to see their child struggling financially if they feel they can help. This is even more of an issue when children are involved.

Are You Enabling Your Child?

If you are giving your child financial help, you have to ask yourself whether or not this kind of help is allowing him or her to carry on with the addiction. You may have decided that instead of giving money to your child you will take care of their grocery shopping each week. This may sound the perfect solution because you will be providing your child and his or her family with essential items but you are not providing money that could be spent on the addiction.

Nevertheless, by taking care of this expense, you are giving your child the opportunity to spend money elsewhere. Instead of having to put money aside for groceries, your child can now spend that money on gambling, alcohol, drugs or whatever it is that he or she is addicted to.

It would be far better to do things such as offer lifts to meetings if needed or take care of their kids when necessary. You can also help him or her to manage the money coming in and going out of the home so that the family can get back on track financially. And offering support throughout drug and/or alcohol rehab and recovery is another way to help.

Being Cruel to be Kind

The important thing to remember as a parent of an addict is that your child needs to learn how to stand on his or her own two feet. While your natural instincts may be to help, you may be doing more harm than good by doing so.

You might feel guilty for taking a step back but, in most instances, this is the best way to handle the situation. Let him or her start taking care of managing the issue of recovery. Do what you can to get your child to accept that help is needed, and help find the best treatment centre for this. Nonetheless, once his or her treatment has started, it is a good idea to let him or her manage it. The more you do for your child, the less he or she will do.

It is tough for parents to take a step back and to see their child struggling, but in many cases, this ‘cruel to be kind’ approach will work and will encourage your child to take control of his or her life again.

Make Treatment a Condition of Help

If you want your child to get help for addiction, you can help but you should make sure that he or she understands that you expect some guarantee on their part. You should make a commitment to treatment a condition of any help you offer, and instantly stop helping if your child decides to stop attending meetings or going to counselling sessions. Make sure that help is not something that could enable his or her addiction.

This article originally published at middlegate.co.uk -  Rehab Clinics Blog here
https://www.middlegate.co.uk/is-there-a-difference-between-helping-and-enabling/

Are You Scared of Facing Rehab?

You may have been struggling with addiction for many years and have spent much of that time either denying you had a problem or downplaying the severity of it. Most addicts will do this at some stage during their addiction. It may be because they genuinely do not think they have an addiction or because they do not want to have to give up the chemical or activity to which they are addicted.

However, what once made the addicted individual feel good has no doubt become a huge problem in his or her life. Most people begin taking a specific substance or engaging in a particular activity because they think it makes them feel better about their life. However, after a while this substance or activity will take over and will cause more problems for them. There will come a time when they finally realise that they need to stop taking drugs, drinking alcohol or gambling (or whatever else it is this person is addicted to). They will finally accept that they need help because their addiction is negatively affecting them and the people they love.

If you are one such person and you have agreed to get help for your addiction, then a programme of rehabilitation may be on the cards. You may be excited at the prospect of getting help for your addiction but you may also be feeling apprehensive or worried. You may even be a little bit scared of what is ahead.

Fear is Natural

It is natural to feel scared about something new and you may be worried about being away from home and work or leaving your family behind. You may not like the idea of having to spend time in a rehabilitation facility and feeling as though you cannot leave. However, look at it this way – if you suffered a heart attack, for example, you would be taken to hospital without question. You would be leaving your home, work and family behind in order to get better. You would not think twice about it in this situation, as you would understand that being away was the best chance of saving your life.

Your addiction is a serious illness that needs treatment. In the same way that being in hospital could save your life after a heart attack, a rehabilitation centre could save your life – if you do not get treatment for your addiction, you could die.

Think of the Positives

The worst that could happen in a rehabilitation centre is that you could be lonely or that everyone will find out you are an addict. Nevertheless, if you do not go, your addiction will undoubtedly get worse and everyone will find out regardless.

You are unlikely to be lonely in rehab. You may not be with your family all day but you will meet new people and will learn to live without the substance or activity that has been controlling your life for so long. This means that when you do return to your family, you can start a new, fulfilling life together.

Rehab is your chance to get your life back on track and to do something positive. No matter how scared you are feeling right now, by taking a step towards recovery, you will soon lose those fears. As you begin your treatment, you will slowly lose your fears and will start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

You will see how it is possible to overcome your addiction and to live a life free from chemicals. As you learn more about addiction and how it affects you, you will become more powerful and will know that you can live a long and happy life with those you love. Fear of rehab is natural but it should not be allowed to prevent you from beating your addiction and getting better.

This article originally published at middlegate.co.uk – Rehab Clinics Blog here

How to Avoid Temptations When Not at Home

If you are learning to live a sober life after a programme of recovery, then you will have to change certain things about your lifestyle. You may have to stop socialising with certain people as well as change the places you frequent. However, what happens when you are away from the security and comfort of your home? How will you cope with temptations when you are away?

Away from Home

If you are travelling for business or pleasure, it may not be as easy to stay on the straight and narrow. Travelling alone makes it very easy to think that you could have one or two drinks, and nobody would know. It is easy to let your guard down when you are away from home and your support network. It is, therefore, crucial that you plan ahead and prepare before you leave home so that you do not end up back where you started.

Before you head away, check out the nearest fellowship meeting to where you will be staying. If you are worried that you may fall off the wagon while away, take a sober companion with you. If you cannot do this, then make a point of letting colleagues know that you will not be drinking. If you do not want to tell them you are in recovery, say you cannot drink for medical reasons.

Flying in Recovery

Flying can be tough for many individuals, and a vast majority of people will try to calm their flying fears by drinking alcohol. Those in recovery cannot do this, so it can be a struggle for those who are afraid of flying. There is also the worry that the person next to you will be drinking. If you are flying alone, you have no control over who sits beside you and you cannot stop them from having an alcoholic drink if they want to.

If you do find yourself sitting beside someone who is drinking and there is no possibility of switching seat, you should close your eyes and zone out. Meditate, watch a film or listen to music to help you forget about the fact that you cannot drink.

Coping with Temptations

Below are a few examples of ways to deal with temptations when not at home:

1. If you are finding it tough while away from home, contact your sponsor or someone you can talk to about your feelings. This may be a close family member or friend who will be able to get you through this tough

2. Take some literature with you that you can read when you are feeling particularly low – you may be surprised at how much this helps. Also, practice any meditation techniques you have learned to help you to move past these feelings.

3. Remember why you wanted to get sober in the first place and what it was like during the darkest periods of your life before alcohol rehab. It is easy to fall back into the old ways if you begin to glamorise your drinking or drug-taking past. Instead, think of all the good things in your life and remind yourself of what you could lose if you succumb to drinking or drug-taking again.

4. Find something to do that does not involve drinking. No matter where you are in the world, you should be able to find some activities that should take your mind off any cravings you may be experiencing. Ideally, you should research these before you leave home so that you know what opportunities you will have for sober activities should you need them.

5. Go for a walk or find a local gym or leisure centre where you can do a workout.

Source: https://www.middlegate.co.uk/how-to-avoid-temptations-when-not-at-home/

Top Myths and Misconceptions of Alcohol Drinking Revealed

Alcoholics struggle to understand their addictions and how they should treat them. The same applies to people on the outside. If you are coping with someone who needs the help of alcohol rehab centres, you need to know about some of the myths and misconceptions of drinking alcohol. They are extremely damaging and they often form part of the conventional range of excuses and lies brought out by addicts who are still in denial about their addictions.

In this article, we are going to explore the top three myths and misconceptions of drinking alcohol. The chances are you already believe in many of these yourself.

Sobering Up with Hot Coffee and Cold Showers

Someone who is drunk may resort to drinking hot coffee or taking a cold shower. These are common tricks used by functioning alcoholics –typically, after a hard night’s drinking before work. Many people in rehab clinics report these tactics make them feel more alert and awake. Whilst they may do this, they do nothing to reduce the concentration of alcohol in the blood.

The alcohol remains in your system and your reaction times will not have changed. It is still dangerous to drive or go to work even after trying out these tactics. In a standard drink, it will always take about an hour for your body to process the alcohol within. This does not change no matter how many external treatments you attempt to bring in.

Beer is Better than Hard Liquor

There is absolutely no difference between the alcohol in whisky and the alcohol in a beer. This misconception does have some truth to it, though. It has some truth because someone who drinks whisky is more likely to consume more alcohol units than someone who has a few beers.

However, you can only measure alcohol in terms of units. This is what alcohol rehab clinics drill into their patients. Someone who drinks twelve units of alcohol will consume twelve units of alcohol whether it comes from vodka or wine.

Someone is drunk based on their blood alcohol content not on the type of drink they consumed.

Eating Before Drinking Helps with Sobriety

This is perhaps the biggest myth of all. Some people believe that if you eat before you drink the food will help to soak up all the alcohol. A full stomach does have an effect, just not in the way you think. Instead of removing the alcohol, it delays its absorption into the bloodstream. In other words, it slows down the absorption of alcohol, as opposed to preventing it.

When you think about it, this makes complete sense. The alcohol does not leave your body. Even if we assumed food did absorb alcohol, the alcohol would reach your blood after the food was broken down regardless. Once it goes in it cannot just disappear. It has to be processed by the body in the same way as before.

In fact, if you need to absorb the alcohol and process it quickly in time for an engagement the next day it can be better to drink on an empty stomach.

Middlegate understands many of the myths and misconceptions surrounding drinking and alcohol rehab clinics. They specialise in providing aid to people who need the help of rehab clinics to get sober.

Source : Apsense

Stop Feeling Guilty for Being a Recovering Alcoholic

Many people assume that those with addictions are bad people. They have a stereotype in their mind of what an addict is, which is often a layabout who does not work or lives on the streets. They fail to realise that addiction can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender and social background.

Alcoholism, for example, is an issue that many individuals all across the UK deal with on a daily basis. Many of these people are high-functioning alcoholics who go to work every day and who are still providing for their families, despite the fact that they have developed a dependency on alcohol.

Alcoholics are not always bad people; however, many recovering alcoholics believe themselves to be bad. They are wracked with guilt about their past behaviour and, in many cases, this guilt begins to eat away at them. It is important that recovering alcoholics learn to let go of the guilt they are feeling and to remember that they are not bad – they may have done some bad things while addicted, but that does not make them a bad person.

Alcoholism is an Illness

It is important to remember that nobody chooses to be an alcoholic. No one in the world would choose to be so addicted to a substance that it becomes the only thing they can think about until it begins to destroy their lives and the lives of the people around them. The truth is that alcoholism is an illness just as the flu or shingles are illnesses. Those affected by alcoholism are no worse than the individuals hit by the flu or shingles.

Alcoholism is an illness that affects the brain. Those who do bad things while under the influence of alcohol do so because of the way that alcohol has affected their brain. Even small amounts of alcohol are enough to affect the workings of the brain. Those who drink alcohol find that their judgement is often compromised. Feelings and emotions are also affected long before speech begins to slur and movement is impaired.

Inappropriate Behaviour
Alcohol often affects people’s ability to determine what is right and wrong. In some cases, those under the influence of alcohol may have some idea that something is wrong but they will ignore it and carry on regardless. Alcoholics often act aggressively or display inappropriate sexual urges. This type of behaviour is completely different to the way the person acts when sober.

Violence is often displayed by alcoholics, and domestic abuse is quite common in homes where one person suffers from alcohol addiction.

You are Not a Bad Person

It is important to remember that alcoholics have no control over the way they act. As mentioned above, they have developed an addiction to a substance that alters the way their brain works. If you are in recovery from alcohol addiction, you may be feeling guilty about the way you behaved when under the influence of alcohol. This is natural but there is no need to keep beating yourself up about it. As long as you can make amends with those you have wronged, you should be able to move forward and begin enjoying your life again.

You do not need to wallow in guilt for the rest of your life. You are not a bad person because you were alcoholic. Feeling guilty will only drag you back down and prevent you from making the most of your new sober life. Provided you stay clean, you can be sure you will never hurt anyone in that way again. All you can do is show your loved ones how sorry you are.

Get FREE Help & Advice Today, Please contact us for information on Alcohol rehab as well as drug rehabs, Through our alcohol rehab clinic. Call now for the best addiction help in the UK

Source : [ Middlegate Blog]

How Rehabilitation May Be Sabotaged by the Addict

Getting an addict to accept that he or she needs help for their problem can be tough. Many do not want to hear from loved ones that they need professional treatment for an illness they do not think they have. Some will become aggressive or defensive at the mere mention of addiction while others will just avoid getting into any discussion that revolves around drinking or taking drugs.

However, there will come a time when family members can break down the defences of their loved one and may be finally able to get through to him or her. This is generally when the addict is open to the idea of a sober life; this often occurs after behaving badly or while suffering from a bad hangover. During these periods, it may be possible to get a loved one to agree to get help for addiction.

This can seem like a monumental victory for family members; they have finally managed to get their addicted loved one to get help and for them it seems as if life is about to get back on track. If you are in this situation, it is important that your loved one has agreed to get help for the right reasons and not just to get you off his or her back.

Fear of Failure

Your loved one may be reluctant to enter rehab for fear of failing. He or she may not want to get help for addiction and, if they feel as though they have been forced to attend, they may do everything in their power to sabotage their treatment. Below we have listed a few ways in which treatment can be sabotaged by an addict:

1. The addict spends his or her time doing anything other than getting help for the problem. This could be playing video games, texting friends, surfing the web, or watching TV.

2. The addict pretends to pay attention when really he or she is just going through the motions with the counsellor to keep family members happy.

3. The addict is resentful of the fact that he or she is in rehabilitation instead of being with drug-taking or drinking friends and is unwilling to put in any effort.

4. The addict wallows in self-pity and fails to commit to the programme of rehabilitation. He or she blames others for the way life has turned out instead of taking responsibility for their actions.

5. The addict acts as if he or she knows better than the counsellors who have been trained to help them.

6. The addict spends his or her days glamorising the past when they were drinking or taking drugs.

Can You Help an Addict Who Doesn’t Want Help?
It is important that your loved one understands that treatment could save his or her life. You cannot force a loved one to get help for addiction no matter how much you want to. Unless you can get through to them about how rehabilitation is in his or her best interests, you could be fighting a losing battle.

You may want to get a qualified therapist or counsellor to speak to your loved one about the benefits of treatment. Taking him or her to a rehab centre where they can see how the programme works may be the solution. Your loved one must be ready to make a change in order to get the most from treatment.

Be realistic in your expectations and remember that this may not be the right time for your loved one to enter rehab. If you force the issue, you could find that this person is simply biding his or her time until he or she can get back to feeding their addiction.

If you need help in the london area, then please contact us for information on the latest information on places in london rehab clinics as well as greater london drug rehabs, Through our alcohol rehab clinic.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here

How Alcohol Addiction Can Destroy Lives

Alcohol addiction is a major problem in the UK. The global recession has led to a number of people suffering financial hardship and facing growing amounts of debt. This financial strain can be hugely stressful, and, therefore, many individuals are self-medicating with substances such as drugs and alcohol.

What may have started as a glass of wine at the end of a long day could have developed into a bottle of wine every night when the kids are in bed. Some will find that they spend much of their waking hours either drinking or thinking about when they can get their next drink.

Once they have become tolerant to the effects of alcohol, they will require more and more to experience the same feelings; this is when addiction has become a problem. Many people do not even realise they have developed a dependency on alcohol until they try to give it up and start suffering withdrawal symptoms.

Why Do People Drink Alcohol

Alcohol addiction affects individuals of all ages, regardless of gender, background, or race. There are various reasons why people drink alcohol, but it is a socially acceptable vice in most countries. Most drink alcohol in moderation, but there are a number who drink alcohol to excess and develop addictions.

Alcohol addiction occurs when someone loses control over the amount of alcohol he or she drinks. Those affected become dependent on alcohol and cannot function without it. Many drink to blot out the pain of a previous experience or loss. Others drink because it helps them cope with the stresses of everyday life.

How Alcohol Addiction Affects Family Life

As well as having a detrimental effect on the person with the addiction, alcohol addiction also negatively affects their family members. Living with an alcoholic can be extremely stressful, with many family members admitting that they are living in constant fear of how their addicted loved one will behave. They may also be fearful of conflict as alcoholics can often become aggressive and violent.

Children of alcoholics may experience feelings of sadness, loneliness, despair, and exclusion. They may be embarrassed that their mum or dad acts the way they do and will avoid bringing friends home for fear their situation will be discovered. These children are often neglected and have to learn to fend for themselves from a very young age. This can cause numerous problems in later life.

Alcohol addiction can also cause a number of health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, liver disease, infertility, pancreatitis and some forms of cancer. Those with severe alcohol addictions can do irreversible damage to their liver and are unable to get a liver transplant because of their addiction.

Home life is often damaged beyond repair too, with many marriage breakdowns resulting from one spouse’s addiction. Those who suffer from an addiction may become self-absorbed and will have little time for others, including their loved ones. They may neglect relationships with their spouse or partner and with their children.

Alcohol addiction can affect a person’s ability to work and, therefore, financial hardship typically follows, leaving the family in an even more precarious position. It is not uncommon for family life to completely break down because of one person’s addiction to alcohol.

Help is Available

It is important that those with an addiction to alcohol get the help they need as soon as possible. Middlegate is here to provide free advice and support to those who need it. We work with addicts and their families to ensure they get access to the treatments that could turn their lives around. If you or a loved one needs help for addiction, contact Middlegate today.

If you need help in the london area, then please contact us for information on the latest information on places in london alcohol rehabs as well as greater lodnon drug rehabs, Through our alcohol rehab clinic.


This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here

How to Handle Low Days During Recovery

Living in the grip of addiction can be devastating for all involved. Those who suffer from addiction can find it hard to break the habit, and those who love them suffer the heartbreak of seeing their loved one in such despair.

Getting help for addiction is important but many addicts are reluctant to accept that they either have a problem or that they need external help. Many are unwilling to try rehab because they are afraid that it will be too painful or that they might not succeed. Others believe it is better to not try than to try and fail.

However, there are some who get to a point when they know they need help. They have reached their low point, and they are ready to make a positive change to their lives. These individuals may be prepared to accept help and are optimistic about their future sober life. This positive attitude can be hugely important in terms of a successful recovery, but it is common for these feelings of positivity to subside once the person is living their new sober life.

Ups and Downs

Those in recovery tend to have great days and then have days when they are feeling low. During these low periods, it is easy to feel disheartened but it is important to realise that these feelings are normal. However, if you notice that the low periods are lasting longer than the good periods, you may be in danger of relapse. It is vital that you learn how to get past these bad times by focusing on the good things in your life.

Learn to Love Your Life
One of the reasons you may feel down is because you are unable to appreciate the good things in your life. It is important to learn how to be grateful for the things you do have rather than focusing on those you don’t. It is easy to take things for granted, so learning how to appreciate your blessings may help you get your life back on track when you are feeling down.

Spend More Time with Those Who Inspire You

There are no doubt people in your life who inspire you, or maybe you have met someone in recovery who motivated you to get through your rehabilitation. If this is the case then spending time with these individuals is an excellent way to keep you on the straight and narrow. Try to avoid spending time with negative individuals as this can make you feel even more down and prevent you from enjoying the fact that you are proof that successful recovery is possible.

Read about Other People’s Recovery Journeys

Inspirational stories of other recovering addicts can be immensely powerful and can help you to remember why you wanted to be sober in the first place. There are many books available that document people’s stories but there are also plenty of options online including blogs, YouTube videos, and podcasts. Take the time to read about other people’s journeys as this can motivate you and inspire you to stay healthy and sober.

Think About What You Want from Life

You may have set yourself the goal of getting sober and, now you have reached that goal, you may be wondering what to do next. Think about the plans you had for yourself before you became addicted and maybe you can achieve those once-forgotten goals. Alternatively, set a new goal for yourself and put your energy into achieving your aims. This can be a great way for you to rekindle your positive energy and to focus on something else.

Speak to Someone Who Can Help

If you are still feeling low, talking to a professional can help. Middlegate has a team of experienced advisors and counsellors who can help by providing you with a listening ear. Call today to speak to one of our dedicated members of staff.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here

How to Get the Most Out of Your Alcoholism Treatment

Treatment for an alcohol addiction is always something that is going to be traumatic. The fact is that many of the obstacles are made by ourselves. We have the power to create them and we have the power to break them. During alcohol and drug rehab, you need to act if you are going to make the most of it. Let uslook at some of the ways you can get the most out of this experience and break your addiction.

Beating the Denial Demons : You have to accept that your alcoholism is a problem. So many people who enter alcohol rehab continue to deny that they have a problem. This is why we recommend everyone who visits rehab should do so voluntarily. They should not have been bullied into it by a family member or their friends because they will not respond to the treatment. If you are still defiant about your current lot in life, this is essentially a barrier. You are not going to take the treatment seriously if you do not believe you have a problem. Honestly, look at yourself in the mirror and learn to understand that you need help and you are negatively effecting everyone around you because of your addiction.

Strengthen Your Motivation : Nobody can force you to stay within counselling sessions and listen to what people are saying. You are free to walk away whenever you like. This is why you need to strengthen your motivation to improve. When the conversations get difficult and drive close to home, you need to be motivated to not walk away and to confront your demons. There are a number of ways you can strengthen your motivation. Some people hold onto inspiring words. They may write down the words a family member says to them. They may also hold a picture of someone close to them. Just find something that inspires you and keep it with you when times get tough.

Include Your Family : Family dynamics are important in the development of any addiction. This does not mean it is the family’s fault. All it means is the family dynamics can play a part in fostering an addiction. Bring the family into the treatment process. They need to know how you feel and where you think your drive to drink comes from. Even if it is nothing to do with your family, you need a support network. By bringing them into your recovery, you can create that support network that is going to drive you to greater and greater heights.

Work with the Program : Anyone can sit in the middle of a counselling session and listen to what people are saying. You are there, but this does not mean you are really taking the messages on-board. Make the most of what rehab clinics have to offer by actively engaging in the programme. Make a point of participating as much as you possibly can. If you are willing to indulge in the programme during every waking moment of the day, you are far more likely to leave rehab with the tools needed to comprehensively defeat your addiction demons.

The Truth - What You Need To Stop Doing If You Love an Alcoholic

Loving an alcoholic is one of the most noble and difficult things you could ever do. However, the truth is it is going to take a toll on you. It can even make you question whether you are doing the right thing. It does not matter if your loved one is in alcohol rehab left or not, you need to manage your own emotional health at the same time. Here are some of the things you need to stop doing if you love an alcoholic.

Blaming Yourself : It is easy to blame yourself for someone else's problems. You question whether you have done something that drives them to drink in the first place. It is even worse when the other person claims it is your fault they drink. You need to take this on the chin and believe that it is the alcohol talking. You have done nothing wrong, and you should ignore anything they say whilst they are drunk.

Controlling It : Never try to control someone else's drinking. You will run yourself into the ground trying to do it. Your loved one needs a professional drug rehab centre for something like this. The chances are each time you try to control it they will resist and it will only convince them to keep on drinking. Your best option is to let them go and keep trying to convince them to seek help.

Curing It : Even if your loved one is willing to let you help them cure their alcoholism, you must not do this. Helping them can cause additional medical complaints that you will not be able to handle. Are you going to have the power to control someone who is caught in the middle of a relapse? The chances are you will not. Never try to cure alcoholism. Point them in the right direction for where they can get the help they really need.

Don't Accept It : We have discussed the importance of not trying to act against someone who drinks heavily. What we also need to reinforce is that you should not accept abusive behaviour or the fact they want to drink themselves to death. Do not lose hope with them and do not give up on them. Keep trying to convince them to find help. If the relationship does become abusive, you need to consider yourself first. You always have choices available to you and you should not feel obligated to stick around if someone does become abusive. Keep trying to help them, but do not put yourself in harm's way in the process.

Enabling Them : Loved ones often fall victim to enabling the ones they love. Rehab clinics commonly have to educate families on how they should behave around someone who is afflicted with alcoholism. There are many ways you can enable someone. It can be as simple as giving them money to go to the shops to buy alcohol or as serious as actively supplying them with alcohol. You should not actively try to fight someone away from alcohol, but this does not mean you have to start giving it to him or her as a gift. Enabling acts are not done out of love. They are done out of fear and self-delusion. Do not inadvertently become a supporter of alcoholism.

Top Tips for Staying Alcohol Free After Rehab

Many people mistakenly believe that the journey to becoming addiction free ends when you leave alcohol or drug rehab. This is not the case because there are always triggers that remain in your mind. What you need to understand is that even someone who has stayed sober for decades has the potential for relapse. The difference between them and someone at the beginning of their journey is they know how to handle triggers.

After you leave rehab, you will still experience triggers. This is why we have teamed up with http://www.middlegate.co.uk/ to provide you with some top tips for staying alcohol free after rehab.

Keep Busy at All Times : Always stay busy. If you are not doing anything, the only thing you have to do is drink, and your mind is going to tell you this over and over again. The busiest people do not have enough time to think about alcohol or starting to drink again. This is why alcohol rehab will explain the benefits of getting a job, spending time with friends, and finding a hobby you can dedicate your time to.

Stay in Good Health : Believe it or not, other physical issues can drive people to drink. This is why clinics often prescribe courses that include exercise. People who are tired, hungry, or lonely are more likely to drink than those who are in good health. You need to take care of yourself if you are going to have the mental strength needed to beat this alcohol addiction.

Slipping Away : So you have relapsed and you had a drink of beer? You are rightly feeling angry with yourself, but this does not have to become full-blown abuse again. Get back on the horse and pretend that it never happened. This is not a situation where you have to be an addict or completely sober. Even the strongest people have relapsed before. Be honest with yourself about what happened, talk to a professional about it, and come back to your relapse prevention training.

Talk about your Emotions : Your emotions are not something to be locked away. Not talking about yourself can lead you back into the arms of addiction. This is one of the reasons why people start to drink heavily in the first place. Develop open communication lines with your family members and friends. Always make sure you have someone to talk to.

Think About Using Avoidance Strategies : Try to avoid triggers in the real world. Alcohol is particularly difficult to deal with because it is targeted at us on TV, on billboards, and in magazines. It can be as simple as changing the channel when an advert comes on or changing your commute so you do not pass the local bar. Little things like this are great for avoiding temptation. You are not avoiding your problems by doing this. You are doing the right thing by dealing with potential trigger points. Smart people will not go looking for trouble by exposing themselves to temptation. They will look at where temptation is and turn the other way. Doing this gives you the best chance of success.