What happens when you struggle with a substance use disorder that doesn’t respond to medication alone? Are you doomed to suffer for the rest of your life, or are there other alternatives? Addiction is a complex and multifaceted illness, and everyone struggles differently. Some have childhood trauma, others start with prescription medication, some come from
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As a person in long-term recovery working with families, it’s evident that substance use disorder devastates everyone in its path. Addiction is a soul-destroying disease, and in the throes of getting high, folks seldom think about how their actions affect the people who love them. Yet, addiction isn’t a singular act. It goes hand in
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Dave’s Story. The first time I met Dave, he was bent over a pool table with a cigarette dangling from his lips. Dave squinted down the table, yelled, ‘bank,’ and shot the ball. The ball careened off the sidewall and landed in the corner pocket. Dave spun on his heels, grinned at me, and drained
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When I first started using at fifteen, it didn’t occur to me I was self-medicating. All I knew was that the pain and turmoil inside me lessened when I drank or used drugs. Long before I picked up my first substance, I chose unhealthy roles to cope with my emotions. My first role was the
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Have you ever heard your addicted loved one say, “I’m only hurting myself?” You probably want to scream, are you kidding me?!The truth is, they’re not.That’s why it’s important to have outside help. When you love someone struggling with addiction, it hurts. You’ll be overwhelmed, angry, frustrated, worried, and anxious, all at the same time.
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