Fall is here. Summer is over. Kids are back in school. It’s time to get back on the road.

Every summer always goes by so fast and every end of summer I am excited about the next alumni tour. The air is crisper, the days are shorter, and things seem to calm down for a sweet moment or two.

I’m currently on the ferry looking out at the beautiful BC coastal mountains. The Pacific Ocean glides by and mirrors the clouds above. It’s a peaceful moment. I made a quick one-day trip to give the Nanaimo meeting some new, fresh breath after a long hot summer. I think everyone is in back-to-school mode still because they all seemed scattered everywhere.

No eyes on support meeting prizes quite yet, but there was still a good showing and I’ve come to terms with the fact that it does not matter how many people show up. What’s important is to take in the moments with the ones that did. It’s what it is supposed to be about. If you build it, they will come. So, in the end, that means steady Eddy will win.

We had pizza, we talked candidly, we laughed, we spent time outside in the fresh September air, and we knew that we had each other’s support and were unequivocally each other’s ‘cheerleaders’ for better or worse for recovery and for life.

There’s something to be said about this club. No matter the whispers, the judgements, the bullshit – it’s really the stigma that attaches itself to these undercurrents in society. I have never been prouder actually – battling addiction myself and living my own recovery. Never prouder to stand by people who fight every day, who have fought adversity, traumas, the list goes on. But the fighter keeps fighting. 

I drove away that dark September evening feeling full of love and thinking that life is full of promise. Deep inhales of hope and deep exhales of love.

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The definition of willpower is “control exerted to do something or restrain impulses”. At SCHC, we believe that we are the authors of our own lives. It’s just a matter of finding our purpose and taking control over the story. But how does one do this? And why are some people able to find this power while others keep losing sight?

When thinking of addiction people tend to think of a lack of willpower. This makes me think about when I tried to quit smoking cigarettes for the hundredth time and I said “I can do this! I won’t smoke. I don’t want to smoke. I have the willpower to get through this!” Then I wouldn’t smoke for a little while. I’d distract myself. Then I would crave one so bad or give in when I was with friends who smoke, and I’d say “Just one. It’ll be fine, it won’t kill me.” Then that was it. I was buying cigarettes again and felt so guilty and blamed myself for my lack of willpower – I was a bad person for giving in. I let my addiction have control.

Bringing Your Will to Meaning

Addiction, however, is a change in the brain. It’s something that we cannot control if we do not understand why we are addicted in the first place. However, we can control our will to meaning, and give ourselves something that gives us greater pleasure.

When I finally looked at my addiction from a different perspective, things changed. I had a discussion with my seven-year-old daughter about smoking, about how it can cause cancer and other health problems and is very hard to stop. The look of worry on her face when she made the connection that I might get sick and die from smoking changed the game for me. My reason to quit smoking and to keep on living had a purpose that wasn’t just for me. But it wasn’t just willpower. No, willpower is the wrong word. It was bringing my will to meaning.

Finding Your “Why”

I’ve learned along the way that willpower doesn’t work if you don’t know why you are doing what you’re doing. Someone can say “I’m going to quit smoking because I know it’s bad for me”, but if they don’t understand why they are doing it in the first place, then it’s hard to tell your brain and yourself that this thing that makes you feel good, even if it’s only temporary and even if there are consequences, is worth giving up.

When you can find your reasons, your purpose, your meaning, for why you do the drugs, drink the alcohol, smoke the cigarettes, and you can get down to the brass tacks of it and fix the real, underlying issues, then getting through the tough part of actually becoming sober becomes a lot easier. But it’s not totally easy. It’s never a free ride, and it can sometimes really suck.

Willpower vs. Authorship

Willpower is the wrong word because willpower only works if you do. Discovering the purpose behind your actions and allowing yourself to be vulnerable with yourself enough to give meaning to your life makes your will stronger. Strong enough to inspire you to do better and strong enough to get through any addiction.

So, how can we change our thinking? How can we find our meaning, our purpose in life that keeps us going each day? It’s not about finding out the “meaning of life”, but of living a more meaningful life. We have discussed meaning as a way of living before on the blog, but here is a list of things that we all can do to live more meaningfully:

1. Do things for a purpose and not merely to keep busy
2. Do things based on what you truly want out of life, not on your fears
3. Try new things simply for the experience
4. Remember: “To thine own self be true.”
5. Care for others
6. Live from the inside out
7. Love and be loved
8. Attach your life to something bigger than you
9. Recognize that all people are imperfect, including you
10. Ask for help when you need it
11. Learn that negative emotions can be very useful if you choose to use them for your benefit
12. Remember Rule 62: “Don’t take yourself so seriously.”
13. Get rid of any thoughts that include “If only….”
14. Take responsibility only for yourself (except if you have kids, of course)
15. “Live life on life’s terms.” (Viktor Frankl’s version: “What does Life demand of you?”)
16. Don’t “should” on yourself.
17. If you don’t know what to do, do the next right thing

It’s more than just thinking about the things in your life you don’t like or wishing for life/things/situations to be better. “The key is to act. Not merely to think about it.” Bring your own “willpower” to meaning, make the choice to change the things you can and work towards your goal. You got this!

Sources: 

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/willpower

https://www.sunshinecoasthealthcentre.ca/2016/06/meaning-of-life/

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Relapse and Fear

For families with loved ones in recovery from addiction, the R-word is a very scary word. Family members typically fear relapse because they make sense of it as a disaster or failure or as evidence that their loved one is not serious about his recovery.

At SCHC, every client leaves with a plan for what to do after treatment, that they create with their counsellors and alumni support staff. Clients, themselves, report that they feel less pressure from family and jobs. They say their guilt has eased and others are not getting visibly angry with them. They feel better. Even family members typically remark on how well their loved one looks and acts.

Their plans can include what they will do every day for the weeks or months after leaving treatment, directions on what to do in various risky situations, and includes supports in their hometown that are easily accessible. Yet, in spite of this, research indicates that even in the best mainstream treatment programs, about 75% of clients will use a drug or alcohol within a year after treatment.

Based on scientific research, addiction experts view relapse as one of the 6 stages of recovery. This model of recovery is called the Stages of Change Model which includes pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation/determination, action/willpower, maintenance, and relapse.

Stage One: Pre-contemplation

Those in the pre-contemplation stage have little interest in changing. The government offers help in the form of clean needles, safe injection sites, and so on.

Stage Two: Contemplation

Those in the contemplation stage have decided that they might get a better life by quitting the drug. Although they are “contemplating” change, they tend to be ambivalent about it.

Stage Three: Preparation

Those in the preparation stage have made a commitment to make a change. Their motivation for changing is reflected by statements such as: “I’ve got to do something about this-this is serious. Something has to change. What can I do?” In this stage, they learn what they need to do to change.

Stage Four: Action

Those in the action stage have learned what they need to do to recovery and are actively putting into practice their new knowledge and skills.

Stage Five: Maintenance

Those in the maintenance stage have been doing what they need to do to get on with their lives without the drug. They may be experimenting with new ways to live, learning new skills. They anticipate triggers and risky situations and plan for contingencies.

Stage Six: Relapse

Although many people see relapse as a failure, the Stages of Change model interprets relapse as a normal part of the recovery process. It’s not a requirement, of course, but the vast majority of people who enter recovery will relapse. The belief that someone who enters recovery for the first time will never touch a drug again is simply not reality.

In fact, many experts have pointed out that expecting your loved one never to use again is setting him up for failure because the scientific evidence shows that most will relapse. Relapse is a time for your loved one to figure out that what he is doing isn’t working.

How the Stages of Change Model Works

The stages of change are a cycle. Almost everyone needs to move through the cycle several times before they are stable in recovery. Research suggests that, on average, a person will go through the cycle between 4 and 7 times. Entering recovery does not necessarily mean attending a residential treatment program. It may be attending a community support program. It may be simply quitting without help. Although each time someone relapses the relapse is intense, they tend to be shorter and farther apart as the person cycles through the stages of change.

Reasons for Relapse

There are many reasons why those in recovery will relapse. According to SCHC research, the single greatest cause of relapse is boredom. Although we stress to our clients that they need to pursue a personally meaningful life, many still think that recovery means living with healthy-mindedness and good order. According to our best research, a client whose recovery plan is limited to eating well, exercising, seeing a counsellor, attending community support meetings, and other healthy activities will relapse in 3 to 6 months, mainly because of boredom.

Fear is another reason. Many people who suffer from addiction are uncomfortable taking personal responsibility for their lives. They recognize that in recovery others will expect them to keep their promises, show up to work on time, and do the household chores. For those who are uncomfortable with these expectations, they can relieve all this outside pressure by relapsing. They know that in active addiction, no one expects anything from them.

The belief that “bad things always happen to me” is also common for some in recovery. Even if things are going well, they can feel uneasy because their personal experience is that something or someone will screw things up. It’s inevitable. Rather than being caught off-guard, they deliberately relapse. That way, they get to choose the time and the day. It’s an odd thing, but it makes them feel more in control of their lives.

Stable Recovery

If addiction is a response to living a life that lacks personal meaning, then the solution is to live a meaningful life. Those who live personally meaningful lives without the drug have figured out how to feel alive and vital. They feel they are in control of their lives. Their actions match their values and beliefs. And they don’t worry that they’re only one drink or drug away from being plunged into active addiction. They have simply lost interest in being intoxicated. In other words, intoxication has lost its purpose, which was, of course, their doomed attempt to feel more comfortable in a life they felt was meaningless, monotonous, and boring. SCHC’s psychiatric and clinical teams advise clients after they complete treatment to focus not on staying away from the drug, but rather focus on getting a life.

The Best Way to Support your Loved One

It’s important to recognize that because each adult is the author of his life, you cannot cause another person to relapse. You can provide the best support for your loved one by asking yourself, “Is what I am doing supporting my loved one’s journey to be the author of his life?” Everyone is imperfect. Everyone makes mistakes. You and your loved one will likely trip and stumble a few times. Embrace imperfection. This isn’t a sign of failure or disaster. It’s a sign you’re human. And as always, if you need support, please reach out to us at any time.

Stages of Change model:  Prochaska, J. O., DiClemente, C. C., & Norcross, J. C. (1992). In search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviors. American Psychologist, 47(9), 1102-1114.

General material on relapse prevention: Marlatt, G. A., & Donovan, D. M. (2005). Relapse prevention: Maintenance strategies in the treatment of addictive behaviors (2nd ed.). New York: The Guilford Press.

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Visiting Sunshine Coast Health Center Alumni 7 Years Post-Recovery!

I’m back in the throes of adventures with our alumni and it’s pretty exciting stuff! I was back on the road (literally), driving from Powell River to Edmonton and Calgary. It’s not an easy drive, but it is an absolutely beautiful one.

The Edmonton dinner brought out a few alumni I haven’t seen in years! They are doing well and have been in recovery for the 7+ years since before I even started working for Sunshine Coast Health Centre. What a joy to be around a crowd that continues to fight for life.

I’ve noticed something over the years when I do these events. It seems that my Alberta homies don’t come out in huge droves in late Spring or early fall. I’m not sure if the correlation is that there are people trying to tend to their fields, finish up outside construction or what, but in the dead of winter they come out in full force. Strong Albertans!

It was a good gathering with lots of extra food. So, we did what we needed to do. We built meals with the extras and handed it out to the homeless. It is always hard to see people struggling to live and even more so when they are on the streets. It was a reminder that if each of us did a little bit extra for our communities – it would/could be a better place.

“There is no need for people to go hungry in this day and age.” – Jaymie Bryan

Sunshine Coast Health Centre Working Hard to Battle Hunger, Poverty and Addiction Across Canada

There is no need for people to go hungry in this day and age. The owners of Sunshine Coast Health Centre and their family work hard at fighting and combating child poverty and hunger in the local schools. They even started a local organization called “Friends of Powell River”, which donates food, money, clothing, and basically anything else you could think of for kids in our local school district. We do it together as a collective society.

That night in Edmonton, it was nice to experience helping others with a few of our alumni and to be driven home afterwards by a couple of them who were staying together. The relationships and friendships that are built here go way beyond what you could imagine. I enjoyed the catch-up, the extra time to connect a bit more, and the opportunity to laugh a little (A LOT) – especially when you all get lost!

More memories for the memory bank.

Support Sunshine Coast Health Center by Spreading the Word About our Rehabilitation Resources

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Typical Family Reactions are Normal and Understandable

To understand how addiction affects the family, it is helpful to first examine the relationship of your loved one in active addiction with the drug. According to the medical definition of addiction, the most important relationship in an addicted individual’s life is with the drug.

If you visit the self-help section of your local bookstore, you will see many books with the word “codependent” in the title. Psychologists have studied this idea and dismissed it because they have found no evidence to support the concept of codependency. Psychologists now recognize that families do their best to cope with a family member who is addicted. In other words, families display normal reactions to a condition that is difficult to understand. 

This is NOT a simple choice between the drug and family (or job or friends or community). The medical definition interprets drug behaviour as a compulsion – an irresistible urge to use drugs. If the relationship between the addicted person and the drug is primary, then all other relationships take a back seat. This dynamic is why some people say that those with addiction issues are selfish or self-centred. The addicted individual will tend to do whatever he or she needs to do to protect the primary relationship.

Family Reactions, Emotions and Coping Skills

Many families, usually parents, harbour a secret suspicion that they have done something to turn their loved one into an addict. This seems particularly true if there are other children who are not addicted. Why did one succumb to drugs while the others did not?

The emotions of family members of those living with addiction can range from loneliness and helplessness to guilt and chronic anxiety. The most intense emotion that families face, however, is fear. Often, this is a fear that their loved one will die. Families develop many different coping skills to deal with the abnormal situation of a loved one’s addiction. The most common of these are anger, taking control and continuing to believe their loved one is honest with them despite evidence (denial).

Results of these coping skills can vary.

For example, families tend to react to their loved one and their addiction behaviour, making them feel as though they cannot help. Families also typically feel that their loved one is incapable of making healthy decisions on their own. They feel obligated to take responsibility and try to control them. This can create tension and can ultimately make it hard for family members to talk about their own suffering, so they stay silent. Because of this focus on the addicted loved one, family members will often lose their sense of self.

New Coping Skill: Authorship

If you were not aware of your strategies/tactics when your loved one was in active addiction, you will likely transfer these over to when they are in recovery. Reminding him of appointments, offering to drive him to a community support meeting, and other behaviours may be signs that you are still taking responsibility for him.

The best way to cope with situations is to keep in mind: Each person is the author of his or her life. This means not only your loved one but you as well. Psychiatrist Irvin Yalom wrote about authorship: “Responsibility means authorship. To be aware of responsibility is to be aware of creating one’s own self, situation, feelings, and, if such be the case, one’s own suffering.” We know that authorship – taking personal responsibility for one’s life – is a key to health and well-being. This also includes how a person chooses to deal with adversity.

You Are the Author of Your Own Life

The biggest problems in families occur when one adult tries to be the author of another adult’s life. Telling another adult what to do, think, feel, or say is attempting to take authorship over that person. On occasion, when someone has completed treatment, they may return home and then demand you or other family members act, think, feel, or speak in certain ways, based on things that they learned in the treatment program. However, the decision to act, think, feel or speak in those ways are yours alone, not your loved one’s. In respect and in turn, families need to remember that their loved one’s recovery, feelings and choices are his responsibility and only under his control.

In all, the best way to encourage someone else to take responsibility for themselves is to take responsibility for yourself. So how can you demonstrate this? You must realize and embody the fact that no matter what, you are always the author of your own life. Nothing can change this fact. Authorship is taking ownership of your behaviour under all circumstances, realizing and living the reality that no one can force you to feel any particular way, even though it really seems that way sometimes. How you feel arises from your interpretation of an event, and you alone can change that interpretation.

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I was on my way back from Alberta and knew that the “Men Being Honest” meeting was happening. I also knew that the gracious host of these meetings over the last 6 years was doing something a little special. So, SURPRISE – I hung around the city to go to it! He had invited his meditation teacher as a guest speaker to talk about the many benefits of meditation practice and what she offers as a private practitioner.

For me personally, it was a healthy reminder that I need to include some form of daily meditation into my life so that I may reap of all the benefits it offers us. We provide a lot of meditation at Sunshine Coast Health Centre for this reason. Many clients find developing a meditation practice helps them with presence, mindfulness, self-regulation, and a deeper understanding of self.

At the meeting, we enjoyed healthy snacks, Perrier and San Pellegrino. We had an impactful check-in and it was magical to hear of the years our different clients talked about. The other side of the coin is that some were struggling with how to help peers who were not doing well. There were candid conversations around the deadly consequences around continued substance use in Vancouver currently. We recently lost a few brothers who were much, much too young and brothers who have children. What an impact on those families’ lives.

For me, it is all about the preservation of life until they can get a handle on their recovery. These meetings always mean so much to me and I know it’s the same for our alumni too. It’s an opportunity to take off their mask and be honest in a safe place.

We ended the night with a raffle for 2 Canucks tickets and boy was that fun pulling the name out of that hat! I was escorted back to my hotel by one of our alumni and what a beautiful way to end my night. We had talked about recovery – he is almost at his one year! He showed me the most beautiful parts of that city at night.

Lucky are those that take the time to connect with people, and to be present with the “right-here-right-now”. Life is happening everywhere around us – we just need to pause, take a deep breath, and enjoy the hell out of it.

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Courageous is just one of the words I use to describe John and his recovery. I’ll also use determined, motivated, goal-driven, and compassionate. I applaud his ability to really know himself and what he needs.

John and I have stayed very close in his four years post-treatment from Sunshine Coast Health Centre. He has been the steady Eddie in Calgary. In the beginning, he helped launch our support meetings in Calgary, being the glue that kept that group together while we went through our growing pains. He’s the guy you always want on your side and the one who you can count on.

John and I recently celebrated his four-year soberversary at our favourite dinner spot in Calgary, The Native Tongue. We didn’t enjoy margaritas, no. But we enjoyed Topa Chico (Mineral water) with lime, tostadas, and soft tacos.

John is the epitome of what a solid recovery looks like. He attends our exclusive alumni SCHC support meetings. He is going back to school, has a weekend job, and still enjoys his hobbies like going to concerts. He really knows himself and what works for him. He is also truthful about his struggles and that it isn’t always a cakewalk. There are many down and dark days, but it’s really how he copes through them that matter – life is a series of ups and downs.

So, I raise my sparkling water and wish you a Happy Soberversary, John! I’m proud to call you a brother and for always making time for me and your SCHC peers. So much love to you.

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Grief

I lost two friends to drugs and alcohol recently. One of them I’d known since high school. We weren’t close anymore, but my memories of him are fond. He was a good kid, and he was far too young to die. The other one really hits home. He was the best man at my wedding. Our kids have grown up side-by-side and were born within months of each other. He was a generous and kind man who put everyone he knew before himself. He chose drugs and alcohol to cope with struggles he had throughout his life and there was a moment where he took it too far and lost sight of what was most important. I chose to support his wife and kids over him when things got really bad. But he was lost and needed help, and now I don’t know how to feel.

Drugs are a powerful thing and so is grief. Growing up, I witnessed my mother head down that dark road with alcohol, and my husband’s mother died due to addiction when he was young. I’ve been down those roads before myself, and luckily, I found meaning in my life and I have learned my limits. I know for certain, though, that if I were to give myself permission to do drugs or let alcohol get the better of me, I wouldn’t be too far behind those friends or my mother. There was a time in my life that the possibility of that happening was forthcoming.

The thing is though, it is you who takes that first hit. And once you’ve taken that hit, nothing will ever feel like that again. So, you go on chasing that first one, over and over and over again, until nothing can stop you, but the drug itself. But I digress. I know that this is the grief talking and I feel angry and sad and confused. I look at his kids and my heart aches.

Stigma

One hundred and thirty-four people died from fentanyl overdoses in BC this past July. I knew 2 of them personally. That’s what gets me. I’ve been following, reading, and researching addiction and the opioid crisis for the past year working at SCHC. I have felt empathy towards those that have lost loved ones because of this. At SCHC, we know loss first hand. I never thought that I would find myself so close to it, and the hardest part is knowing how easy it is. It’s things like this that make us here at Sunshine Coast Health Centre work harder to break down the stigma and barriers so that we can help stop more people from dying or becoming lost in their addictions.

There is a quote I read recently from Washington Irving that says, “There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep connection and unspeakable love.” I think in this current battle the world is facing against drugs and addiction, against stigma and against lack of meaning, we have to embrace the feelings we feel when we experience grief and use that power to our advantage to make the world a better place.

Where do we go from here?

So, what can we do? Where do we go from here? If you have a loved one who is struggling, if you are struggling, if you’ve lost someone close to you because of this, there can be a lot of mixed emotions. It can become very overwhelming and there are always more questions than answers. You should know that even though there is this crippling stigma surrounding addiction, you are not alone on this journey. We have written before about what you can do if your loved one is struggling and have resources available for family intervention. There are also many available resources for yourself if you have experienced loss or are just having a rough time dealing with the pressure of loved ones struggling with addiction.

The thing that I recommend (FYI I’m not a professional), is to talk to someone—a friend or close family member, a doctor, a counsellor, or a support group of other individuals that have experienced something similar. The best way to reduce the stigma surrounding all of this is to talk about it. When we talk to others about the things we are feeling, people begin to feel less shame, seek guidance and help, and feel less alone on this journey. That, I believe, is a solid first step.

When I spoke to others about my friend and his struggles, about the guilt and the feeling that I had let him down as a friend, I learned that they felt it too. We all agreed that we didn’t know what to do to help or if we could have done anything at all. We all wish we had known how bad the situation was. Hindsight can hurt, but now I feel like I can look the shame and stigma of addiction right in the face if I see it rise again in anyone else I know and do whatever it is I can. I guess all we can do is the next right thing.

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So, there were two days in a row that I met up with alumni at the Starbucks for quick check-ins and a chance to catch-up. The afternoon before our dinner, an alumnus and I were sitting there deep in conversation when another alumnus popped in. He never saw us, so the man I was with went up close and blew on the other’s ear as he stood in line – it was priceless! We laughed and laughed.

One of the major advantages of our SCHC Support Meetings across Canada is the opportunity for alumni to connect with other alumni that had been in programming at different times. They often make wonderful support connections and friendships outside of the meetings. It’s truly remarkable to witness when I get the opportunity.

We sat there for a while longer and finished up our coffees. The three of us walked down the street to our alumni dinner. There’s something to be said about the ‘Band of Brothers’ we have. It’s unique, it’s real, there’s depth and genuine love for one another.

I am always so privileged and honoured to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. I’m also grateful for my own addiction recovery as we get to be a part of one another’s journeys. The reality is support is there for as long as they need/want it and my own journey is a reflection that it can be done and it’s worth it.

It’s a community I am proud to be a part of. It shows strength, resiliency, determination, and faith that life can and will get better. As always – thank you, Calgarians for having us in your circle!

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Neurobiological Component

Scientific research has shown that addiction has a physical basis in the brain. Although researchers do not agree precisely on how addiction affects the brain, they all agree that chronic drug use is not a mere matter of free choice.

Psychological Component

Some psychologists have suggested that those with addictions have certain personality traits, such as impulsiveness. Some even go so far as to suggest chronic drug users have an “addictive personality.” There is, however, little scientific evidence to support such claims. Most research in the past 50 years has shown that those with addictions have personalities that are as varied as what we find in the general population.

Despite this, research has found some shared personality issues. Perhaps the most common psychological condition of those who are addicted (or vulnerable to addiction) is that they are easily bored.

Boredom is also the likely cause of their yearning for emotional intensity. They may live their lives at the level of a soap opera, and it doesn’t appear to matter what the emotion is. As long as it is raised to an extreme level, it’s good. Narcotics Anonymous says that those with addictions are famous for “making mountains out of molehills.”

Guilt is another psychological issue attached to addiction. This is not merely the guilt of hurting others, but also the guilt that they know that they have not lived up to the standards they have set for themselves.

Social Component

A growing body of research is showing that social factors profoundly affect the initiation and maintenance of addiction. The famous Rat Park experiments showed that a rat in a cage (an unnatural environment) would choose morphine over water. However, a rat in a community of rats with plenty of food and things to do (a natural environment) would choose water over morphine. 

Relationships are part of the social component, and research has indicated that those in active addiction have weak connections with family and friends, at work, and in the community. Much of this lack of connection is related directly to the stigma of addiction, which encourages chronic drug users to hide their drug use. Research has also shown that once a person’s addiction becomes public, all relationships become warped.

Meaning Component

Essentially, this component says that a person in active addiction (or vulnerable to addiction) feels that life is meaningless, monotonous, and boring. Intoxication is a response to such a dull life, in which the person finds little significance. This idea was first proposed by the great psychiatrist, Viktor Frankl, and is the basis for SCHC’s definition of addiction. While acknowledging the neurobiological, psychological, and social components, SCHC pays special attention to the idea that addiction is a response to a life that lacks personal meaning.

Based on this scientific interpretation, we can say:

• Addiction is not in the drug, it’s in the person
• Not everybody will become addicted from using drugs or alcohol
• Physical dependence on a drug does not equal addiction
• The type of drug used has little meaning
• Parents are not to blame for addiction
• Addiction can afflict Nobel Prize winners, corporate CEOs, and the homeless

Struggles in Early Recovery (Life Without Drugs)

Neurobiological Struggles

Drug Cravings

A common condition for those in early recovery is to crave a drug. According to most brain theories of addiction, the brain adapts to drug use. Without the drug, the brain, in a sense, “craves” the drug. In other theories of addiction, the craving arises when a person is triggered. In other words, when a person experiences some cue in the environment that is associated with using. Typical cues or triggers are sitting in a bar, hanging out with drug-using friends, and getting into an argument. Many experts also point out that certain conditions can create cravings, such as working in a high-stress job.

Post-Acute Withdrawal

There are two stages of withdrawal. The first stage is the Acute Withdrawal, which usually lasts less than a week. Acute withdrawal is a medical concern because it poses risks to the individual’s immediate physical health, such as seizure. During this stage, some may experience symptoms, such as agitation or nausea. The exact symptoms depend on the drug.

The second stage of withdrawal is what some experts have called Post-Acute Withdrawal (PAW). Although the individual is now stable from medical complications, he is still in withdrawal. Recall that the brain adapts to chronic drug use. Once the individual quits the drug, the brain has to re-adapt to not having the drug. Essentially, the brain is in an unbalanced state. This is PAW, and it takes time for the brain to rebalance itself. Typical symptoms of PAW include problems with short-term memory, depression, and anxiety. Other PAW symptoms include mood swings and lack of coordination.

In total, the time the brain needs to rebalance itself is 24 months, but most experts look to the big milestone: 6 months. At 6 months, the brain is not free from PAW, but the individual feels significantly better and has noticeable improvements in mood, emotional stability, thinking, memory and coordination.

Psychological Struggles

Addiction books typically suggest that the psychological struggles of those in early recovery include depression or anxiety, emotional overreaction or numbness, sleeping problems, sensitivity to stress, and mood shifts. As with the changes in the physical brain, these psychological conditions can persist up to two years.

However, it is more valuable to appreciate that many of the psychological symptoms are related directly to the struggle to feel that life is meaningful and significant. For example, the most common psychological symptom of those suffering from addiction is boredom. One of the most powerful effects of the drug and the drug lifestyle is that they eliminate boredom.

Another big psychological struggle is regaining a sense of hope for the future. And this is often especially difficult because those struggling with addiction know that the “wreckage of the past” is still waiting for them. Many of those suffering from addiction want to fix problems immediately, but this is often impossible. They have to learn to take life slowly, another big challenge.

Finally, those in early recovery struggle to answer the question, Who am I? The reason is that those in active addiction have, in a very real sense, lost themselves. It takes time for the real person to emerge.

Social Struggles

Rebuilding Relationships with Others

Those struggling with addiction need to create an environment where they feel free to be themselves. This is not merely about home life, but also work life, community activities, and hobbies. Psychologist Rollo May says that those with addictions engage the world by artificially altering their mood and emotions with chemicals. But this is not an authentic connection. Even when not actively intoxicated, those with addiction are likely self-conscious around others, which makes it impossible to have a deep emotional connection. Overcoming old coping skills and learning new coping skills take time.

Rebuilding Relationships with Family

Those in active addiction have superficial family relationships. Learning to reconnect takes time and effort. It may also be that they have developed a dependency on the family. Recovery demands that they take control of their life. Again, this takes time and effort to overcome.

Meaning Struggles

Recall that Viktor Frankl said addiction is a response to a life that feels meaningless, monotonous, and boring. The solution to addiction is, therefore, to live a life in such a way that you feel alive and vital. This is not a quick or easy fix. Healthy people are anchored within themselves and from that anchor reach out into the world. They understand who they are, what’s important to them, and their strengths and limitations. Those in active addiction, however, have little self-awareness. What is particularly important is the pursuit of meaning, rather than its attainment. Research has shown that the journey toward living a personally meaningful life offers great mental and physical health benefits.

Co-Occurring Disorders

In the general population, mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, trauma, and attention deficit disorders occur on a statistically predictable basis. Those suffering from addiction experience these disorders at similar rates, with a few exceptions. These extra mental disorders present unique obstacles in recovery. Many clients, therefore, suffer from two mental health conditions: addiction and another issue, which is called a “co-occurring disorder.”

At SCHC, we treat both conditions at the same time with, what we call Body & Mind Therapies. Biology, psychology, social, and spiritual factors are all addressed in the treatment of addiction at SCHC. In keeping with current research, we recognize that thoughts and feelings can have a significant impact on physical health. This mind-body connection recognizes that psychological and physical health are interdependent, not separate, factors when achieving overall health.

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