A Young Woman Needs Counseling for Her Manic Depression and For Her Drug Dependency and Alcoholism
About two months ago I met a twenty-two-year-old woman named Rachael who is manic depressive and who is also drug and alcohol dependent. I have read that in such situations, an individual needs to get counseling for both medical situations and that mental health issues and chemical dependency commonly take place in the same person. Not only this, but I remember hearing that a history of careless and excessive drinking, drug addiction, and/or mental health problems frequently occur in the same family.
Obviously, Rachael is so overwhelmed by both of her medical problems that she basically has little or no desire to complete much of anything. What is particularly unfortunate about this is that earlier in her life, Rachael managed to finish two-and-a-half years of college. Rachael’s condition makes me question if she is an illustration of an individual who has to hit the very bottom before he or she gets drug and alcohol treatment that results in long-term sobriety.
The Need For a Therapist She Trusts and a Rehabilitation Program She Can Believe In
If I were in communication with Rachael I could advise her about numerous websites that could possibly help her find information about addiction and alcoholic behavior, relevant substance abuse information, facts about alcoholism and drugs, and information about addiction symptoms and alcoholism warning signs. From my vantage point, nevertheless, Rachael needs to find a doctor she trusts and a rehabilitation program she can believe in and follow over the long haul. I could be in the wrong but it seems logical to conclude that Rachael more likely than not needs to acknowledge the fact that she cannot drink responsibly or abuse drugs if she wants to get sober, remain sober, and start on the path to lasting sobriety.
I am aware that there are quite a few recently created physician-prescribed medications that can help Rachael through the alcohol and drug detox process, through her withdrawal symptoms, and help her avoid an alcohol or a drug relapse. Clearly it would be in Rachael’s best interests if she knew about these meds.
It seems clear that Rachael needs to accept the fact that there is absolutely nothing constructive about hazardous and careless drinking and substance abuse and that messing around with one or both conditions is the route to deteriorating health, legal problems, shattered relationships, poor work and school performance, a premature death, and financial difficulties.
The Importance of Support Groups Like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous
There are reasonably numerous persons such as friends, family members, and other individuals who would want to help Rachael but she probably would experience greater acceptance from a support group such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous instead of listening to people who drink responsibly or who have never abused drugs.
When People Accomplish Things They Love and About Which They Are Passionate
There’s a philosophical attitude that contends that individuals who accomplish things they like and something about which they are ardent reach a great place in life. Stated more precisely, when people do what they enjoy, they almost never experience boredom or an uneventful life. If they get involved in something that is fulfilling, what is more, they become more whole and experience more happiness and delight in life.
To me, this sounds diametrically opposed to a life that is grounded in drug and alcohol addiction because such a lifestyle removes the contentment and joy that life offers.
Because Rachael doesn’t have the willpower to succeed at doing much of anything in her life, it is obvious that she desperately needs a little bit of hope for a better life. And the unfortunate thing is that hope is almost everywhere around Rachael if she could only get to the place in life to get the therapy she requires for her mental illness and drug dependence and alcohol addiction and continue with her treatment protocol.
A Wonderful Life, Self Respect, and Positive Change Are a Reality
Rachael is simply too young to be crushed in life. She doesn’t realize this at this time in her life but if she can learn how to remove herself from alcohol and drugs via alcohol and drug rehab and get the treatment she requires for her mental health problem, she can redirect her life and start living with self-respect, passion, and direction.
Productive change, self esteem, and a wonderful life are certainly possibilities for Rachael if only she could become motivated to seek the professional rehabilitation she requires, follow through with her treatment regimen, live her life in a healthy and alcohol and drug-free way, and acquire a more positive attitude about life.