Everybody who attends a drug and alcohol rehab program has different reasons for going.  A lot is made in drug and alcohol addiction about hitting bottom.  It is like a certain amount of pain is needed in someone's life before they decide to change.  Is this really true?  Once someone has become addicted to a drug or alcohol is the only way for them to change behavior through losing everyone and everything of value in there life?

Probably not.  People with an addicition have a lot of pain in their life most of the time once they are addicted.  Many clients seem to last a long time in a state of waking up every morning not knowing how they will get their drug of choice or pay for it.  They spend weeks and months not knowing how they will get food that day.  This has to be painful.  Very very painful.  Pain on its own is not the key determinent.

People change when they look inside and connect with something of higher value inside of them.  People change because they raise the standards in their life.  If pain is the ultimate motivator, people would be simply looking for ways to stop the pain.  Change isn't about covering up pain.  Change involves moving to new levels of understanding and values. 

Being 100% truthful and honest is a requirement for dealing with a loved one who has an addiction.  Cutting them off, threatening them and removing yourself from their life is not.  You don't have to give them money for drugs.  However just adding to their pain in hopes of them "hitting rock bottom" doesn't make much sense either.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 9th, 2007 at 9:47 am and is filed under Drug Rehab. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.