Calming the Waters: The importance of a stable mood in addiction recovery
Have you ever been on a small boat away from shore during a storm? The tides and strength of the ocean is overwhelming and scary. You know there is a force much stronger than you and the boat. You're unsure if you'll be able to manage the boat into safety. Sometimes dealing with emotional instability can feel very similar.
Many people who suffer with mood disorders such as: major depression, anxiety, mania, bi-polar illness, severe irritability, etc. often will describe a life that is not their own. They feel hopeless and helpless in their efforts to bring control and calm into their chaotic and painful emotional worlds. Often, women and men dealing with strong emotional pulls and tugs will try alcohol, drugs, sex and other forms of addition to suppress or alter the emotional state that is causing them stress and discomfort.
When treating an alcohol or drug addiction, a major task of the treatment team is to treat the mood disorder from many different perspectives and disciplines. Often a person needs: a psychiatric evaluation, psychological testing, dietary assessment, physical fitness evaluation, family and spiritual histories. Some of the more effective treatments are: medication, diet changes, exercise, meditation practice and much more. It takes your full attention to manage and change a mood disorder that is complicated by an addiction issue.
Without a stable mood for any significant period of time, it makes recovery almost impossible! The cognitive and learned behaviors associated with the mood issue often makes sobriety a less effective option. The alcohol and/or drugs will be immediately gratifying and will lure you into thinking it is helping you with your problem.
Read the weather reports and know your nautical mapping before you go on your next boating trip! Making significant and conscious transformations are required to attend to these life-threatening illnesses.
If you or someone you love is suffering from a mood disorder and addiction, please call us today on our 24-Hour HelpLine at (866) 478-9898 and speak with one of our trained recovery counselors.
Recuperatio Primoris,
Dr. Bill
"After half a century in psychiatric practice, I know without a doubt that the source of addiction is spiritual deficiency. Irrespective of whether we are religious or atheist, all human beings are spiritual by nature and spirituality is the cornerstone of our recovery.” Abraham Twerski, M.D.
Many people who suffer with mood disorders such as: major depression, anxiety, mania, bi-polar illness, severe irritability, etc. often will describe a life that is not their own. They feel hopeless and helpless in their efforts to bring control and calm into their chaotic and painful emotional worlds. Often, women and men dealing with strong emotional pulls and tugs will try alcohol, drugs, sex and other forms of addition to suppress or alter the emotional state that is causing them stress and discomfort.
When treating an alcohol or drug addiction, a major task of the treatment team is to treat the mood disorder from many different perspectives and disciplines. Often a person needs: a psychiatric evaluation, psychological testing, dietary assessment, physical fitness evaluation, family and spiritual histories. Some of the more effective treatments are: medication, diet changes, exercise, meditation practice and much more. It takes your full attention to manage and change a mood disorder that is complicated by an addiction issue.
Without a stable mood for any significant period of time, it makes recovery almost impossible! The cognitive and learned behaviors associated with the mood issue often makes sobriety a less effective option. The alcohol and/or drugs will be immediately gratifying and will lure you into thinking it is helping you with your problem.
Read the weather reports and know your nautical mapping before you go on your next boating trip! Making significant and conscious transformations are required to attend to these life-threatening illnesses.
If you or someone you love is suffering from a mood disorder and addiction, please call us today on our 24-Hour HelpLine at (866) 478-9898 and speak with one of our trained recovery counselors.
Recuperatio Primoris,
Dr. Bill
"After half a century in psychiatric practice, I know without a doubt that the source of addiction is spiritual deficiency. Irrespective of whether we are religious or atheist, all human beings are spiritual by nature and spirituality is the cornerstone of our recovery.” Abraham Twerski, M.D.
Labels: addiction treatment centers, best alcohol rehab, best drug rehab, drug rehab programs, dual diagnosis
1 Comments:
Love the analogy to the boat out in the ocean. Now I know why I hang out inland in my recovery, and the spirituality quote is challenging. Thanks.
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