Alcohol and Drug Addiction: Issues of Self-Esteem

When a person struggles with chemical, alcohol or behavioral addictions, self worth often suffers and in a strange manner, it perpetuates the addictive process.

Self esteem means the appraised and felt "self worth" of an individual at any given time. We all suffer with periodic poor self-esteem. For example, when we lose a competition, or making mistakes that hurt others, etc. However, many people have fixed, chronic low self-worth.

In the early days, weeks and months of substance abuse the effect is euphoria, "top of the world". However, this is a false, delusional reality. You've done nothing to earn such a euphoria. That is the drug's allure! Later, when you cannot stop the addiction, you begin to realize how the drug, alcohol, sex, etc. has caused you tremendous personal, interpersonal, vocational and economic crises.

How to sustain a healthy self-worth? First, to understand you are vulnerable and permit others in to assist you. Later, you may be one of those people and help others. Once you gain your self-worth back you will feel no greater, no lesser than anyone. You are able to thrive...being FULLY ALIVE!

NO DRUG ADDICT OR ALCOHOLIC CAN TRULY ATTEST TO BEING FULLY ALIVE! If you, or someone is suffering with drug/alcohol addiction please call us at our 24/7 Call Center at (866) 478-9898 and speak with one of our recovery counselors.

Recuperatio Primoris,

Dr. Bill

Great Alcohol Detox

Many people are afraid of alcohol detox because they are afraid of feeling sick and having all of the withdrawal symptoms that go along with it. Paradise Recovery, though, has a great alcohol detox program that is very easy on the body. They combine medications, really good food, and a new process called auricular acupuncture (which is optional if you want it) that makes your alcohol detox very comfortable. You are able to start participating in your treatment usually within a day. In other words, you start to feel "human" again very quickly. The transformation that people experience early on is truly amazing.

You can call them and get more information about alcohol detoxification. They have a toll-free number and they are located on a beautiful beach in Honolulu, Hawaii. What better place to get recovery both on the inside and the outside? Here is their number: 866-478-9898. If you make the call, you'll be happy that you did!

Kauai Addiction Treatment/Rehab

Finally there is one of the best drug rehabs and alcohol rehabs in the country able to cater to the residents of Kauai and all of the Hawaiian Islands. Paradise Recovery is an addiction treatment center that also treats the psychiatric conditions that also happen very commonly with addiction (co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis).

Kauai residents now have a choice to get private addiction treatment with individualized care. Paradise Recovery can also do detox if that's what you need. But detox is only the beginning. Paradise Recovery will teach you how to live a new life. A life of sobriety. They have a HelpLine that you can call to get more information about the program. It is toll-free: 866-478-9898. They can also help you if you are looking for treatment for a loved one, but your loved one refuses to come in to treatment.

Best of luck to you and your search for sobriety. Hopefully, the search has now ended and you can start acting on a plan to get well.

Gratitude as a tool for recovery: Wisdom from the Rehab

Today, we often hear in recovery circles how we should develop an "attitude of gratitude". I wonder if many people know what that is, let alone putting it into practice on a daily basis to fight the spiritual ravages of addiction. Gratitude comes from the Latin grates, or habere, meaning to feel gratitude. When people think of gratitude, they think of thankfulness, or the response when you receive something of value from someone. However, it is much, much more.

Practicing gratitude is acknowledging that you are vulnerable and able to receive and be aware, intimately, of the person giving or exchanging with you. You may just have a thought of gratitude, while not receiving anything other than the overwhelming sense of gratitude for living, breathing, loving, etc. A person in this state most likely seeks what is good and right for themselves and others.

If you, or someone you love is struggling with an addiction. Please call our Call Center and speak with one of our recovery counselors at (866) 478-9898.

Primoris,
Dr. Bill Heran

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by the spark of another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. Albert Schweitzer

Thinking Errors

Loss of sobriety can often be linked to Cognitive Distortions which are also called thinking errors. A cognition is a thought. A distortion is a misrepresentation of an object, situation, or thought. For example, when you stand in front of a mirror in a fun house it reflects a distorted image of yourself. A Cognitive Distortion, or think error, is also a distorted reflection of a situation.
"All or Nothing" thinking is a Cognitive Distortion. An example is when some says: "I am always late" when they arrive after the start time of their work schdeule. They may be late occassionally they may be late frequently; but, it is doubtful they are late every day and still have a job.
Recognizing thinking errors is often part of the treatment for addiction in the best alcohol rehabs and the best drug rehabs.

Rules in Drug Rehab

The best drug rehabs and best alcohol rehabs have a structure within which the staff and clients go about their business of achieving recovery. Why are rules so important? Because rules are a major component of the structure. OK, so why is structure important?

Structure = Recovery. Got it? Structure is the essential foundation for building a lasting recovery. The rules, adherence to the rules, and enforcement of the rules promotes addiction recovery. Addiction loves chaos and confusion. Addiction hates structure and rules. The lack of rules and structure promotes chaos. Addiction loves that!! If you want to get well in rehab, there has to be a structure rooted in personal and house rules.

Rules and structure may seem a bit painful or bothersome at first glance. However, they are the foundation to your beginning journey on the road to addiction recovery. Call Paradise Recovery at 866-478-9898 to learn more about what it takes to get on the recovery path.

Alcohol Detox in Rehab

There are several different types of alcohol detox that you will encounter as you are looking for an alcohol rehab program. They can be classified into several categories:

1. None
2. Almost none
3. Medically supervised detox

Let's start with the first. The vast majority of alcohol and drug rehabs do not offer detox, period. You have to go off site to another center which is most likely a hospital-like, cold environment for your detox. However, this is generally a safe option if the detox center is good.

The second category is "almost none". I refer to social detox centers as "almost none". That's where the center says "sure, we offer detox", but in reality the detox is mostly in the form of encouragement and support from others who survived the experience. There is no medication given which would ensure your safe detox from alcohol. (Some people die from alcohol detox. It is one of the most dangerous detoxifications out there). This is not a safe form of alcohol detox and is not at all recommended. In this category I also place alcohol rehab centers where medications are used for alcohol withdrawal but on an extremely conservative basis. Hopefully the detox is medically monitored, so you would presume it is safe. However, you have to be in extremely rough shape in order to receive medication to make you more comfortable. So, you go through the detox feeling extremely ill, tremulous, and miserable.

The third category is that of alcohol rehab programs who offer alcohol detoxification which is medically monitored and provided in residence. Staff are trained to measure your alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Medications are given to slow the withdrawal, so that it is much more comfortable and safe for you. You are able to do some treatment work often times during the detox period. The psychiatrist and internist work closely with the staff to provide a detox protocol that meets your safety and comfort needs.

Take the time to find the alcohol rehab and alcohol detox program that is best-suited for you. You might just save yourself a lot of misery by chosing wisely.