Is drug addiction a choice?

Addiction is a disease. Just like hypertension or diabetes is a disease. Did you make a choice to be hypertensive? How about a choice to be diabetic? Of course not! Given the choice, obviously no one would choose to have diabetes, high blood pressure or addiction.

By the same token, can you choose to no longer have the disease? No on that count as well... the choice we have is to treat the disease. With high blood pressure and diabetes, we choose to get education, information, see a doctor and a nutritionist. The doctor and nutritionist follows our case as we move through the recommended course of treatment. Periodically, the doctor checks our blood pressure or sugar level to see if the treatments are working. Medication may need to be added to get the disease under control. Ideally, a treatment plan is worked out that provides a management solution to the disease without the use of medication on a long-term basis.

Addiction is no different. As a disease, it requires treatment. You can't simply decide that you no longer suffer from addiction. Treatment of addiction (just like diabetes or hypertension) can be a life-saving action. Notice the word "action". Treatment implies action. You must be the first one to act to save your life. No one can make the choice for you to accept addiction treatment. You can be sent to treatment against your will in some circumstances, but accepting the addiction treatment and taking it to heart is altogether different.

Make the decision to save your own life! Call a top addiction treatment program today to start your path to recovery.

You can make or break your recovery

Who is in charge of your recovery? Sounds silly to ask the question, but the obvious answer is "you are"! The best drug rehab or alcohol rehab can treat you for the disease of addiction but still fail if you do not work your program. Let's face it, addiction is a disease that takes work to overcome. It takes a lot of work. It is a battle. One that you have to face head on. But, you are not alone in the battle. The best drug rehab centers have treatment staff that are there for you. They are on your side. Just make sure you are on your side, too.

What I mean by that is all too often addiction (being the sneaky sort of disease that it is) can pull you over to its side. Often it is able to do this without you even realizing it! Listen to your staff. Listen to your sponsor. They will often be able to see when this is happening, even when you can't.

Remember, you can make or break your recovery. Make the choice to win that fight, no matter what. Your life depends on it.

John Neuhaus, M.D.

Drug Treatment Centers are not all the same

Private drug or alcohol treatment centers vary vastly in what they offer, treatment philosophy, and treatment milieu. Many centers simply are not private. They are private pay, but there is nothing private about being in a large facility with 100 other people! Those that truly are private, such as Paradise Recovery and some of the treatment programs in Malibu can vary in treatment philosophy.

Sometimes you can tell a little bit about the treatment philosophy by looking at the staffing page. Look at the staff's credentials. Does the program believe in holistic treatment? Part of doing a holistic program means looking at individual core issues that have served to either trigger the addiction or continue to foster it. These issues, given enough time, need to be treated! Make sure that the staffing of the program is equipped from an educational perspective to navigate those delicate waters.

Not all addiction treatment centers are the same. Choose the one that offers you what you really want. If you want privacy, a holistic approach with high level staffing, individualized care, and a beautiful, healing location, there are very few choices out there!

Getting sober in Hawaii

There is no better place to get sober. Hawaii has an intangible spiritual and healing environment that is difficult to describe. You feel it when you get here. I don't know if it is the blue Pacific waters, the lush green mountains, or the purest air and natural water in the world. Something about these Islands is very special. Maybe it's the people. Hawaii is known for its mature recovery community. There are a lot of people active in recovery here in the Islands. They take their recovery to heart and are great people to help you along the way.

No other place on earth can compare with the beauty, spirit and power of healing that Hawaii has to offer. That's why this is the best place on earth to have a drug rehab center. Addiction treatment is a difficult process that is made so much easier when the forces of nature are behind you. Not to mention a lot of beautiful people who are on your side.

Enjoy Paradise.

Making treatment your own!

Entering an addiction rehab center is, well, a sobering experience! You will experience a number of emotions as you go through the experience. It is not easy. But it can be life-saving!

Drug rehab or alcohol rehab is a highly personal experience. At least it should be. There are many elements that brought you down the road that you are on. Those elements, some healthy, some not, are uniquely your own. That's why the treatment you should receive is going to be individualized according to your individual needs.

Keep in mind, you are unique. The disease of addiction, however, is not unique. The treatment, therefore, is a delicate balance between treating the non-unique disease with the unique issues that you brought with you. You will not be asked to just "go through the motions" of treatment. You will not be a passive participant in your own treatment. You are going to be an active participant in making the addiction treatment experience your own. This will require a lot of hard work on your part, but with the proper guidance, it will all be very much worth it.

Holistic Drug Rehab. What does it mean?

Better said, what should it mean? A holistic rehab experience, whether it is for drugs, alcohol, sexual addiction, or gambling addiction means that the treatment approach looks at the mind, body and spirit.

Mind, body, and spirit is a sometimes overused phrase that actually does not fully encompass the meaning of holistic treatment. "Mind" actually has two components that need to be addressed. One is the psychological aspect of the addiction. The individual core issues. Also, the behavior of addiction. Yes, addiction is a behavior, as well as a disease, as well as a way of thinking. "Mind" also should address psychiatric issues such as depression and anxiety that often accompany addiction. Left untreated, the risk of relapse is much higher. Plus, who wants to go around with a depressive disorder or anxiety disorder? Both conditions, and many others, are highly treatable. "Body" issues refer to the healing and return to health of the body. Taking care of yourself again! Even before that, though, is learning to take care of yourself. Many people don't know how to properly care for themselves. Now you will learn! Healthy diet, exercise, regular sleep, structure, treating ignored health conditions, etc. "Spirit" is a deeper sense of nurturance that occurs through many different avenues. "Spirit" can be found in the ocean, the wind, the land. Spirit may be found through re-connecting with a religious affiliation or re-connecting with whomever is your higher power. Meditation, yoga, and movement therapy can all help you re-connect with the spirit again.

Mind-body-spirit are not totally separate entities, as you might guess. They are all three connected and intertwined with one another. Balance is key. Balance is one of the keys to a successful holistic addiction rehab experience.

Alcohol Rehab Made Simple

The start of a good alcohol rehab experience always begins with a medical detox that is comfortable and safe. Actually, alcohol detox and benzodiazepine detox (things like Xanax, Valium, etc) are very similar. Since stopping alcohol or benzos "cold turkey" can be dangerous, or even fatal, a safe detox is in order.

Alcohol rehab may not be so simple because even after the detox, you are highly likely to be affected by a syndrome called PAWS (post-acute withdrawal syndrome). I will talk about this more in a future post. Basically, PAWS makes you feel out of sorts, you are unable to think as clearly as normal, you are moody, have trouble remembering things, and many other symptoms. PAWS can last for months, but usualy the first 30-45 days is the worst part. This is another reason why it is good to be in a structured environment with a daily routine and the support of professional people around you. That is the kind of support that a best drug and alcohol rehab will offer.

You need to be able to think clearly and make good decisions in order to be successful with your alcohol rehab. Obviously, this can take time due to the natural syndrome of PAWS that develops as your brain and body works on physically healing itself. Give yourself some time. Be patient. When recovery comes above all else, there is no reason to rush it.

John Neuhaus, M.D.

Drug Rehab Success

In our experience, the most successful drug rehab experiences have one thing in common: Recuperatio Primoris.

What the heck does that mean? Dr. Bill is always using that phrase.... and for good reason! Recuperatio Primoris means to put recovery first. Recovery above all else! Your life now needs to be centered around your recovery. As soon as other things in life begin to take priority over recovery, relapses are going to happen. It is simply a matter of time at that point.

So, there you have it. The number one key to a successful drug rehab experience is making recovery the number one priority. And keeping it that way!! Don't let anything or anyone else stand in your way of recovery.

Sounds simple, right?


John Neuhaus, M.D.

Drug Rehab Fights

We are not talking about shouting matches or fist fights here... When you enter drug rehab, you are making a commitment to put up a fight. A fight against the disease of addiction. It is going to be a life or death battle. Addiction can be overwhelming. Therefore, the fight against addiction needs to be even more overwhelming.

What kind of fighting will you be doing when you enter a treatment program? That depends on the individual. Sometimes it is a fight to focus on one's own self. Let's face it; it's not usually a fun process to focus on yourself. It is much easier to look at others and their faults. Then there's the fight of "do I really need to be here?" There's the fight of craving. The fight of feeling like you don't deserve to get better. I mean, you've done so much damage already, right? There's the denial.... oh, the denial.... You see, addiction is a very, very clever disease. It plays all sorts of mind games. The mind games all revolve around trying anything and everything possible to get you to not focus on yourself, get you out of treatment, blame others, pity yourself, make excuses, etc, etc, etc!! This is the fight that is going to take place as soon as you enter treatment.

Remember, this fight is normal. Everyone goes through this battle. Just persevere through it. Don't fall for the clever ways that addiction will try to de-rail your recovery (there will be many). Just remember, recovery above all else!

John Neuhaus, M.D.

"Pharm Parties".... prescription drugs and college students

The Wall Street Journal reported this morning on a trendy but disturbing phenomenon called "Pharm Parties" at college campuses across the U.S. Instead of the traditional "kegger" (or in addition to the keg of beer), the students b.y.o.p. (bring your own pharmaceuticals) to the party and mix them in a big bowl and eat them like candy. Tragically, it is not surprising that there has been an increase in fatal unintentional overdoses recently that is 4 to 5 times that of what was seen in the black tar heroin epidemic of the 1970's!

There has been an alarming increase in narcotic drug use among college students of late. The annual prevelance of narcotic drug use among college students now stands at 8.8% according to the University of Michigan study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Specifically, the annual prevelance of OxyContin use doubled to 3%; the use of Vicodin rose to 7.6%.

What makes these drugs so available? Teens and young adults may be prescribed pain killers at one time or another and have saved them up. Mom and Dad's medicine cabinet or from a friend are other sources. Narcotics are much more widely available, in part, due to the soaring rates at which narcotics have been prescribed. Online pharmacies have sprung up by the thousands and offer additional impersonal access to narcotics.

Not only do you not know what you are taking when you reach into a bowl of narcotics, but people generally don't realize how addictive these pharmaceuticals can be. Repeated use by students, in particular those who may already have a genetic predisposition to addiction, can quickly lead to addiction.

What to watch for if you suspect something with a friend or with your child? Obviously, disappearing medications from the home medicine cabinet. A quickly disappearing bank account or going through money unusually quickly. A drop in grades, loss of interest in activities that used to interest them, a change in friends, unusual mood swings, lying behaviors, stealing, and personality changes.

If your friend or family member is suffering from any of these behavior changes, it is important to get help for them. Addiction and other mood disorders are very common and can have lethal consequences if they are not treated. Best to go with your gut instinct and err on the side of getting an evaluation with a mental health professional than doing nothing and risk losing a loved one.

John Neuhaus, M.D.

Rehabs offer a new beginning!

Spring is often associated with new life and new beginnings! It reminds me of the first week of September, or New Year's Day...all of these remind me of new beginnings. As human beings, we are fortunate that often, not always, able to start anew and make courageous steps and efforts towards change and new life. None of this just happens, it takes intention, choice and a significant investment in positive self-care.

Entering into rehab gives you a sort of a retreat experience, a time to review your life and see who you have become in the past years and set a course towards health and wellness! You do this with sensitive women and men who are committed to walk with you during the beginning steps towards recovery and serenity! You address both addictive patterns of thoughts and behaviors, as well as, stabilizing mental health concerns. To be able to grasp new beginnings you need to grieve the loss of the old self, with all of its resentments, offenses, etc. Learning how to "stay" with your new, more authentic self that practices more fulfilling relations and practices life-giving virtues, resulting in living...simply living!

At Paradise Recovery, we do this by integrating Eastern and Western philosophies of wellness and offering many possible ways towards recovery from addictions. No one way is enough! This is what is meant by a holistic addiction treatment. The best drug rehabs use a holistic approach to drug and alcohol treatment. We are a complicated society, which calls for multiple doors and pathways that leads to the same end: human flourishing! Recovery requires nothing less than transformation.

We at Paradise Recovery wish you and yours a Happy Holiday Season! Please contact us today if you or a loved one needs help. Our HelpLine is available 24 hours a day (866) 478-9898. Don't hesitate, please call today and start your new beginning!


Reflection

when i looked into the mirror
last night
i didn't see myself
staring back at me, were all the expectations
of an unlived life
but i knew this couldn't be right

i ran into fields of spring flowers
fresh with living and satin petals
i saw myself in the way the broke through winter's ground

i watched a harbor boat bump against the shore
and knew how i too, always find home

there in the night sky, thousands of stars
all a part of something, painting a picture
for me below, navigating a sailor
to new lands

i am a beautiful story of colors, if you look
long enough
i am a way to get to the rolling hills of possibility
in a far away place

an anonymous client in rehab. Seattle, 2003


Recuperatio Primoris!
Dr. Bill Heran

Addiction Recovery: The Wounded Healer!

Many times when an addict or alcoholic has maintained significant time in recovery, they have strong desires to help others, particularly other alcoholics and addicts hurting. This is a very strong and often effective phenomenon that has touched the lives of many recovering addicts and alcoholics. In an executive drug treatment program or alcohol treatment program, you will find that many of the staff have been personally touched by addiction.

The wounded healer is someone who uses her or his painful life experiences as tools to assist people in need. Often the person in recovery can immediately relate to the suffering of another addict or alcoholic and provide strength and hope through their experiences. Most of the famous healers throughout history were men and women who suffered first, then transformed their suffering into strength to not only help themselves, but others as well.

The smart wounded healer knows when she or he needs to refer to a professional. We need to emphasize the "healing" that needs to take place. We cannot permit our woundedness to direct our actions, it is our experience of healing and strength that acts as support and guidance for the person in need.

Let us all work on our woundedness, so we can become better healers for those of us in need of help and recovery! Together we can make a better and healthier humanity!

Happy Easter from Paradise Recovery!

Recuperatio Primoris,
Dr. Bill Heran

Which are the Best Drug Rehabs?

The best drug rehabs are those that have a treatment philosophy based on what has been shown to work through the scientific literature. These rehabs are not always the most expensive. But, let's be realistic... great care is usually not cheap, especially in the medical field. It would be great if there were an easy answer to addiction. Maybe a pill that we could take to overcome it? Hmmm.... that would be nice and easy. Most people want to take the easy way, or the path of least resistance. If there were a pill to take for addiction, there would be a long line. Who knows, people might even become addicted to it!

What does the most recent literature say around addiction treatment? The most cutting edge comprehensive studies on addiction are finding that you can't just treat one part of the addiction or one part of the person and expect successful outcomes. You see, addiction is not just a disease. It is not 100% biology. It is also a behavior. It is a complex way of thinking. And there are often underlying core issues that need to be addressed because they are either the precipitating factor for the addiction or they are making the addiction resistent to treatment. These issues often need intensive individual therapy work, not just groups!

Remember, the best drug rehabs out there see you as a unique person who has individual core issues that need to be addressed in the context of a very non-unique disease. Remember, you are unique but the disease is not.

John Neuhaus, M.D.

Addiction is Poisonous: Respect the warning signs!

It takes years to nurture a well developed addiction. You're damn good at it! Why quit now?
Well, you just need to watch the daily news to see celebrities and non-celebrities; rich and poor; women and men; teens and seniors; whites and persons of color struggle with the consequences from daily doses of toxic substances into their bodies and lives. Imagine, drinking poison for 20-30 years...how does it affect you? You BECOME poisonous! We spend most of our time, our money and relationships centered around our addictions...whew, a lot of work for one addict! Addiction requires your full attention. It doesn't like to share. No way!

Some of the warning signs of an addiction are

* people who normally love and care for you appear concerned for you, * your hopes and dreams become less and less important, * you are quick to argue and become agitated with anyone inquiring about your alcohol/drug use, * rules/laws become less important to you, * you become depressed or anxious more often, * difficulty sleeping, * needing more and more of the substance...it occupies more of your "head" and thoughts, * ignoring the news about your addict friends being hospitalized or incarcerated because of their alcohol and drug abuse, * getting high after the funeral of a close friend who dies from a drug overdose.

Think about it. What a life! Remember, addiction requires your full attention...nothing less! To become a poisonous person takes time, effort and skill.
Recovery asks for the same...your full and undivided attention! Now, imagine transforming your life in such a way that you become the opposite of poisonous...well! The Buddhists call this "Enlightenment"! Addiction treatment takes a great deal of courage, effort, patience and diligence to avoid the strong pull of the poison. If you, or a loved one is struggling with being "poisonous", please contact our HelpLine today at (866) 478-9898 and begin the path towards "wellness"! Don't delay, you are worth becoming well.

Recuperatio Primoris (Recovery above all else!),

Dr. Bill Heran

How do I know if I am an alcoholic?

That is a good question. In fact, most doctors will not pick up a diagnosis of alcoholism in their patients, despite all of their medical training! There are a number of signs and symptoms associated with alcoholism and many different types of tests that can be done.

Without getting too complicated, here is a very simple 4 question test called the CAGE Questionnaire that is fairly good at picking up if you have an alcohol problem. The CAGE (C-A-G-E is an acronym) questionnaire was developed by Dr. John Ewing in 1970, founding director of the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Even though it was developed a long time ago, CAGE is still one of the best internationally used assessment instruments for identifying problems with alcohol. Here is the test.... just answer yes or no to the following 4 questions:

1. Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking?
2. Have people Annoyed you by criticising your drinking?
3. Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking?
4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady
nerves or get rid of a hangover (Eye-opener)?

If you answered "yes" to two or more of these four questions, it is very likely that you are a problem drinker.

One of the most important questions that a counselor can ask when assessing whether a person has an alcohol problem, is "how has the use of alcohol impacted your life?" If alcohol has had a negative overall impact on you as a person, some soul-searching must be done, regardless of how you scored on the CAGE.

John Neuhaus, M.D.

Happy "sober" St. Paddy's Day!

We often associate two words with the March 17th remembrance of the death of a 5th century Roman Catholic missionary to Ireland: green and drunk! We know that green is a symbol of spring and new life, but why drunkenness? I guess we've made alcohol, or more specifically, green beer, a part of St. Patrick's day celebrations for a very long time. Tipping one too many has become as Irish as a four leaf clover or the blarney stone!
So, how can a person in recovery avoid alcohol or any addictive substance on this day where so many people are indulging? The answer: People, Places and Things! First, it's wise to surround yourself with PEOPLE who can celebrate without alcohol or drugs. Yes, it does happen! You will find that hanging out with friends and family who do not drink will help you to stay sober today. If you have no family or friends that don't drink, then get thyself to an AA meeting. This is the PLACE. You can find a meeting in your hometown by searching: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org. There you'll find others who will be emphasizing the "green" association with St. Patrick. The green of spring, of new life...of recovery!
So, what are the THINGS? I often define "things" as what inspires you. For example, instead of a glass pipe, or a cocktail glass..why not try a book, a treadmill at the gym, or even a gift for your spouse or child. The things we surround ourselves with affect our character, hence the way we are in the world.
Thank you for reading our daily Blog at Paradise Recovery! We wish you and yours a very Happy St. Patrick's Day. I want to end with one of my favorite Irish Blessings:

Wishing you a rainbow for sunlight after showers, miles and miles of Irish smiles,for golden happy hours, shamrocks at your doorway for luck and laughter too, and a host of friends that never ends, each day your whole life through!

Have a cup of green tea today in celebration of St. Patrick's Day...believe me, you'll thank me tomorrow!

Recuperatio Primoris,

Dr. Bill Heran

Strike while the iron is hot...call a rehab today!

The decision to enter into a drug rehab and begin the all important work of recovery is fearful for most people! Aloha and thank you for taking the time to read our daily blog at Paradise Recovery. We often here from our HelpLine operator that people will desperately need help and describing an all too familiar story about personal and interpersonal tragedy and how addiction has destroyed all that is important in their lives.

However, a percentage of the callers will then want to "schedule" their rehab until a later day...one, two or even three months in the future. Why do you think this is not helpful? Well, just so you know, all, yes I said ALL, of these callers do not end up in rehab at the time they desired. The misunderstanding that attacking this disease of addiction is like scheduling a spa appointment is a gross underestimation of the control that the disease has over you.

The First of the Twelve Steps say, "We admit we are powerless over our addiction and our lives have become unmanageable." To deny this, is to hand over the power to the disease and in many cases, ending in death!

If you, or someone you know needs help, then please respond to your intuition and make the call immediately, or arrange for help and act quickly. Our experience is when you act quickly, you have a greater chance for transformation, hence a sustaining recovery from drugs and alcohol or any other type of addiction! In "taking control" over getting help, you are "surrendering" to the recovery process away from a life of addiction.


Recuperatio Primoris,

Dr. Bill Heran

What makes private rehabs work?

The term "rehab" has become quite sexy in the past year. From the Spears to the Lohans, from most members of the Baldwin Family to dozens of trust fund babies across the country. We even have award-winning Amy Winehouse singing about rehabs! Rehab has become "cool".
Imagine not even ten years ago when the social stigma attached to rehabs, otherwise known as primary treatment were "low life" or "down and out" or "weak". Today, people from all segments of society are checking-in to rehabs with less of a stigma. Their families are hiring interventionists, in some cases forking out big bucks, and taking more of a total family approach to the disease of addiction, instead of merely blaming the alcoholic/addict of their flaws and infirmities.
Studies are showing that the 'ole 28-Day model is becoming a preferred treatment of the past. Today, we are seeing people staying in rehabs from 30 to 60 to 90+ days. They are extending their experience of "stopping to smell recovery" much longer than there alcoholic and addict predecessors. Why is that? Is it because there is a new way to treat alcoholics and drug addicts? Are alcoholics and addicts more patient than addicts in the past?
The private rehab experience ensures that the client will receive individualized care and begin to touch on the core issues that may be maintaining their drinking or using. I don't believe there's been independent studies that look at the outcomes of private rehabs vs. state operated rehabs, but I wouldn't be surprised that the outcomes would be similar.
The purpose of rehabs, in general, is to introduce the client to many tools, ways, or therapies that they may continue after their relatively brief stay in primary treatment. The rehab experience is sort of a retreat, a calming of the chaos, insanity that has affected their loved ones and families.
What makes rehab work? YOU! If you feel you may have an addiction of some kind, please contact a trusted friend or family member...someone who will not judge you, but support you in making a courageous move to get the help you need and want.


Recuperatio Primoris!


Aloha,

Dr. Bill Heran
Honolulu, Hawaii
March 14, 2008

Drug Rehabs that say Addiction is not a Disease

As a medical doctor, it bugs me when I read or hear about drug rehab programs that teach "addiction is not a disease".

Clearly, if you look at addiction through a scientific lens, there is no refuting that addiction IS a disease. First, what is the definition of "disease"? One definition is that a disease can be a hereditary condition that causes major illness or impairment. Let's compare addiction to heart disease. Have you ever gone into the doctor's office and filled out a new patient form? It will invariably ask if anyone in your family has had heart disease. Why do they ask that? Is your doctor just being nosey?? I don't think so. You are being asked that because heart disease is what's called a heritable condition. Your doctor needs to know that information because family history is a risk factor for developing heart disease. Does this mean that you will, for sure, develop heart disease just because some of your relatives had heart disease? No, of course not. But it creates a situation in which you are more predisposed to develop heart disease, especially if you have other risk factors (smoking, overweight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc). The more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to develop the "disease".

Addiction is not all that much different from heart disease. It is also a disease that runs in families. It can be quite disabling. And, it requires treatment. If your mom, dad, brothers, sisters or grandparents suffered from addiction, you have a higher chance of developing addiction yourself. You are predisposed to developing addiction because of heredity. Some people may be more highly susceptible to the throws of addiction than others. Addiction may also be subject to risk factors such as repeated exposure to drugs or alcohol, childhood trauma, depression, anxiety, stress, etc.

So, now there is no question. Addiction is a heritable condition that causes major impairment or disability. Hence, it is a disease.

Now, I must say that there is some good that comes out of the mind-set of saying that addiction is not a disease. Well, let's say "half-good". The half that is good is that it forces you to look at underlying causes behind the addiction. That is to say, underlying core issues that have further predisposed you to develop the disease of addiction. Thus, in the treatment of addiction, one does not totally focus on the disease process. That is only half of the story. The other half focuses on the behind the scenes stuff that precipitated the addiction in the first place. Maybe it was repeated trauma in childhood or a major depressive illness. In any case, it is just as important to look at the reasons behind the addiction as the disease itself.

So now you can see, the viewpoints that addiction is a disease and it is caused by underlying issues can peacefully co-exist. Most importantly, they should be treated simultaneously. That is the focus of the cutting edge addiction studies currently. And guess what? The best success is seen when both the disease process and the core issues are treated concurrently.
Surprised? Not me!

John Neuhaus, M.D.
Paradise Recovery

Eliot Spitzer: Sex addiction and powerful men!

Eliot Spitzer is just the latest example of a powerful man caught in a private and covert life of sexually charged behaviors. Is there a common thread between Roman Catholic priests, State Governors, Senators and other men in powerful positions acting out in sexually inappropriate manner?

Yes and No.

Yes, because they all display a public image of service and invite us to trust them with their confidence to do their job, while representing something "greater than themselves". A priest represents all that is good and moral, an elected public official represents justice and the common good. Another theme that connects powerful men with sex addictions are the need to compartmentalize their lives and therefore isolate the feelings/emotions associated with the addiction. Oftentimes a sex addict will vehemently deny their behaviors even with video evidence! Denial is, of course, a hallmark sign of any addiction. That is probably why Senator Larry Craig is insisting to keep his post as a senator despite the obvious scandal and embarrassment to his family, friends, staff and the public.

The "rush" that a sex addict gets is not unlike the high from most substances. The thoughts and feelings associated with the "danger" element is off the charts for these men. They know, whether a priest, a doctor, senator or governor that if caught, their life will be pure chaos! That is a kind of warped attraction for the sex addict...the thrill of not getting caught and the allure of possibly getting caught in the act.

No, since some of these men are not similar since they exhibit more predatory behaviors including: victim grooming, lack of empathy, targeting specific victims (e.g. children, vulnerable subordinates, etc.). The predator sex-addict is much harder to treat, since they usually have more of a anti-social personality. Others are more acting out of poor self-esteem/self-worth, repressed sexual identity, or impulsiveness. These two groups should be treated differently and actually should not be treated in the same group!

Overall, it appears that Eliot Spitzer could be classed in the second group. Despite his over-confident public appearance, he may have poor self-efficacy beliefs about himself and was unconsciously trying to "get caught" as a fraud and an addict. We shall see if he will seek treatment...btw, most sex addicts do not seek treatment without some external motivation.

Treatment is highly recommended for anyone caught in a sex addiction. It is recommended that the addict be admitted to a residential program to "retreat" from their stressors and triggers and be able to explore what is driving and maintaining such a destructive process in their lives, affecting their work, play and loved ones!

Recuperatio Primoris!

Dr. Bill Heran
CEO
Paradise Recovery
Honolulu, Hawaii