Mini Series 7 - Why is my loved one like this?

12/22/23 • 3 min

In this podcast, the producer of our podcast series, Tony, asks the following question:
Why is my loved one like this?

Addiction often isn't recognised until it's too late to prevent it from taking hold. By the time it rears its ugly head, it has already caused confusion and anxiety.
Family members will often attribute their loved one's behaviour to causes that they can relate to other than the addiction itself. They will cite stress, a new job, a troubled marriage and so on as underlying causes.
Further, addiction is often not recognised as a compulsive disease that the addicted person has no control over. Instead, it is seen as a moral weakness that can be corrected.
Irrational and self-destructive behaviour needs to be addressed as a sign of addiction and not be dismissed. The sooner the family recognises that truth with the help of a trained counsellor, the sooner they can help the addict get the help they need.

Shame and denial are companions that prevent a family from taking the action needed to make progress against an addictive disorder. Education on the nature of addiction is therefore the first step in healing.

In this podcast, the producer of our podcast series, Tony, asks the following question:
Why is my loved one like this?

Addiction often isn't recognised until it's too late to prevent it from taking hold. By the time it rears its ugly head, it has already caused confusion and anxiety.
Family members will often attribute their loved one's behaviour to causes that they can relate to other than the addiction itself. They will cite stress, a new job, a troubled marriage and so on as underlying causes.
Further, addiction is often not recognised as a compulsive disease that the addicted person has no control over. Instead, it is seen as a moral weakness that can be corrected.
Irrational and self-destructive behaviour needs to be addressed as a sign of addiction and not be dismissed. The sooner the family recognises that truth with the help of a trained counsellor, the sooner they can help the addict get the help they need.

Previous Episode

Mini Series 7 - Does treatment take into account cultural and social differences?

In this podcast, the producer of our podcast series, Tony, asks the following question:
Does treatment take into account cultural and social differences?

Addiction is an equal opportunity predator. It strikes anyone and everyone regardless of race, social class, religion, gender, age or any other category of human you can name.
It is said by AA that "we are people who ordinarily would not mix". That in itself is a telling statement, that there is a common purpose that unites all by a desire to recover.
By the time addicts and alcoholics make it into treatment, they have become so humbled by their disease that they are glad only to be among people just like them. They feel relieved by the ending of their isolation.
There are, in truth, some cultural barriers that need to be addressed. These often consist of cultural taboos that represent outdated ways of thinking about addiction. We teach clients that addiction is simply a disease that responds to proper treatment, regardless of culture or social class.

Addiction is a great equalizer across all types of people. So long as we apply the principles of best practices, all who wish to recover are guaranteed equal opportunity to do so.

Next Episode

Mini Series 7 - What freedoms are allowed in treatment?

In this podcast, the producer of our podcast series, Tony, asks the following question:
What freedoms are allowed in treatment?

Treatment programs require a balancing of structure and the right level of freedom, so as not to signal license to behave irresponsibly.
The freedoms that are allowed consist of the things that make a client feel at home, such as the freedom to call home, watch anything they want on TV at night, the freedom to smoke at the right time and place, and the freedom to enjoy the fitness centre, etc.
Treatment teaches clients to use their freedom responsibly, albeit under supervision, something they will have to do without after they get home.
Where before recovery they did as they pleased pursuing the next high or some form of excess or excitement, now they are free to choose the action that supports their recovery or go back to the slavery of their addiction.

Before recovery, we acted on our whims, believing we were free when we were in truth enslaved by our disease. It doesn't occur to us until much later that there is liberation in the disciplines that we learn in recovery.