Addiction and Mental Health Disorders.The Chicken or the Egg ?
Speaking as an expert through experience, I use the term addiction deliberately as there is no other term I can think of that describes the condition I have recently survived. My addiction happens to be alcohol, but there are more similarities than differences to any other substance.
Alcoholism is defined and classified as a mental disorder by many medical institutions, I do not feel like referencing (too much like work) Google it if it makes you feel better. The long term effects of alcohol are devastating, and they work on the body as well as the mind. Anyone who got this far knows these effects, probably too well.
Alcoholism will definitely aggravate any existing mental problems, and will cause more over time if untreated. But who came first ? Did the depression or other ailments cause the abuse, leading to alcoholism ? Or did the abuse/alcoholism cause the depression or other conditions. Long term abuse will definitely trigger depression physically. On the mental side, a host of issues arise ranging from anorexia to zenophobia. (psycho-humor) I can still have some fun now
but this is life and death for millions.
My experience was from the first time I consumed enough alcohol to get drunk, it was game over. From then on it was what do I have to do to feel like that again. I was 11 or 12 on summer break before 6th grade. My family had relocated at the end of 4th, cross country, 5th from LA to Orange county and I was the new kid in the neighborhood as summer started, so I did not even have school to meet new kids. Perhaps some social skills were becoming unused or abused. Why make friends ? I won't have any again next year... That beer will be my friend forever...
40 years later it turns out that he was most definitely NOT my friend. He just wanted to use me for all my money, destroy everything that most people hold dear and meaningful in life, and when I was out of those...Kill Me.
In my case, the physical effects of the alcohol on my brain almost certainly assured me to be alcoholic. I may have been affected by some degree of fetal alcohol syndrome, of course back then, everyone got smashed at baby showers. I can't help but think in retrospect how traumatic all the moves were, they continued of course and even after high school I could count my circle of "friends" on one hand. Would counseling stopped me from being alcoholic ? In my case, not a chance. It may have helped me adjust socially and perhaps given me other reasons to address the problem earlier.
In the 60's and 70's and today as well, to a slightly lesser extent, there is stigma associated with mental illness, especially with children. The parents say "MY kid can't have any emotional problems" or they are absent altogether. Then the rest of society speaks only in hushed voices "Did you hear about Soandso ? they went to a shrink, or sent their kid, must be really bad, I hear they are on medication".
This type of thinking has to stop.
We have 9 year olds planning mass shootings, and being treated for stress disorders, 11 year olds getting pregnant, the technology and information age has nearly eliminated the age of innocence. And made the rest of us just a little less balanced.
Lose the fear of seeking advice and of the opinions of others. Do not gossip or deride when mental issues arise. Seek out information and educate yourself when these arise among your friends and family. Show love, tolerance and support. It is a better way to live in all areas anyway. Relax and smell the roses, never know what will happen with the lawnmower tomorrow.
There is most definitely a way out from alcoholism that is working for me, but I now am clear headed enough to realize that just because I don't have to drink today, all my issues will go away. I have sought help and proudly announce it in the hope others will be helped.
84
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Kudos & a tip of the Swami's turban to you, 1984...
You've pinpointed of of the 'great debates' in treatment, for which there isn't (yet) either a simple or definite answer. By one definition, addiction (to alcohol or anything else) falls under the psychological umbrella of 'obsessive/compulsive disorders'-- "I know it's not good for me but I just can't stop". And there are certainly plenty of people who started with some underlying depression, anxiety, etc, and wound up drinking or drugging to 'medicate' or alleviate the initial problem. But , there's also good evidence that for at least a percentage of folks, there is a genetic influence, inheriting liver and/or brain chemistry that just doesn't 'work' with booze (or other drugs) they way that most folks' process it. AND on top of all that, the effect of alcohol or dope on anybody's brain chemistry makes it easier to screw up the longer we go on. Bottom line is there are multiple routes to wind up in the shitter, and oncethe brain is toasted, the machine we rely on to solve problems IS the problem.
Congratulations on breaking out of the trap & escaping the nightmare. Recovering alcoholics & addicts are some of the strongest people on earth-- they have to be in order to survive & get healthy. Sounds like you've found a path that works for you... just stay on it. You may be 'powerless', but not helpless...
Thanks Swami,
It will be a long road, but I at least have regained some hope and a will to live. For this I am grateful. There will be more on the subject, but I figured I would stop while I still sounded coherent
Say hi to Bill for me.
84
Hope you manage to stir up some further discussion w/ this, 84. A few folks on NT have opened up a bit about their own struggles with emotional 'disorders', but I haven't seen anyone really come out about the recovery process for such diseases. After 30+ yrs as an A&D therapist, I'm positive that better recognition and understanding of those concepts would guide all kinds of folks toward 'a better way to live in all areas anyway' ...
I'd call the Doctor, but I see you've already been in touch...
Thanks 84 for the article.
I have been afraid of alcohol since an early age. Many relatives were addicted to it, and that scared the shit out of me. Being that my race has a problem with it, very high rates of alcoholism in American Indians, I was determined not to become one myself. I rarely if ever drink alcohol, a rare glass of wine, one is my limit.
Thanks again for the insight.
84, I can only admire you for the openness with which you have come forth with your struggles and conquered the "fear of seeking advice". So many of us battle addictions of all sorts, depression, isolation, and the many disorders of modern life and lack the courage to speak out, or even to address them head on. Thank you for showing us that it is possible.
Take it "One Day At A Time" I commend you for posting this article about yourself. IMO it's a start to recovery. Having recovering alcoholics in my family I can kind of understand what you have gone through and the day by day struggle to say sober. Best of luck to you!
I think that mental illness is very misunderstood. I also think that our society paints anyone who has it with a stigma. If this didn't exist, then maybe more people would seek out real help, instead of self-medicating.
Thanks for sharing your story with us. That was very brave of you.
Congratulations '84 and thank you for your courage in sharing your story! I've always thought from past reading that there are two distinct conditions: 1) alcoholism--which is a genetic dependency that 'can' be controlled; 2) addiction--that is not genetic, but is the result of the body forming a dependency through use (caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and other sugars-even natural sugars such as fructose, drugs, etc.), can be eliminated. I agree that mental conditions should not carry a labeled stigma. People handle their disorders differently; showing "love, tolerance and support" for all would seem to lessen anxiety for everyone in their circle and in their whole family. Wishing you continued success.
'Addiction' is an older medical-based term, where body/brain chemistry has 'adapted' to a substance (alcohol or another drug) and experiences physical 'withdrawal' symptoms when the substance is not longer available.Heroin, prescription painkillers and alcohol are all 'addictive',meaning that when the person can't (or won't) getthe substance, there are serious physical withdrawal symptoms.
'Dependency' is a somewhat newer, more psychology-based term, focussed on a mental/emotional state where the user becomes reliant (or dependent) on the substance to feel 'normal'. While there may not be signnificant physical withdrawal symptoms without the substance, the user may have intense anxiety, depression, panic-attacks and 'craving' for the substance. Alcohol (like all other mood-altering substances) will produce 'dependency' as well as 'addiction'.
Examples:
A person with multiple broken bones & injuries from a car accident might be weeks in hospital, constantly dosed with painkillers while getting surgery & the fractures heal. The person will become 'addicted' to the painkillers & will have phsyical withdrawal when they stop taking the drug. However, heshe won't necessarily be 'dependent' on the drug, meaning there won't be anxiety, depression or 'craving' for the feeling of being medicated.
A person smoking crack cocaine or using methamphetamine for a few days can develop such an intense desire for the intoxication that he/she becomes 'dependent' on that substance, experiencing profound anxiety, depression etc. and doesn't feel 'normal' without using more of it, even though there may not be any significant physical 'withdrawal' symptoms without the stuff.
Addiction and/or dependency for a lot of folks is a matter of 'genetic pre-disposition', where brain/body chemistry is abnormally sensitive to booze/dope, an 'accident waiting to happen'. For others, there may not be identifiable genetic factors, but mental/emotional/lifestyle conditions make a person especially vulnerable. Tragically, addiction &/or dependency apparently create permanent neural 'pathways' in the brain which make the person exremely likely to be unable to 'control' reactions to drugs or booze at any time in the future. The only really safe choice for the recovering alcoholic/addict/dependent person is total abstinence from the substance(s)-- any future use of the substance is highly likely to wake up the 'sleeping tiger'...
Nice comment, Swami. Thank you. Please excuse me if I missed where you or anyone already commented on this, but another dichotomy that is relative to this article would be the term 'depression.' Clinical Depression relates to being in a manic phase, often implying the condition associated with Bipolar. (There is also being "depressed" which is caused emotionally vs. Depression that is an actual chemical imbalance caused by different things -- just like alcoholism is a chemical, neuronal imbalance vs. 'addiction' being an emotional dependency that causes imbalance.)
'84, I avoided trying to opine on the chicken vs. the egg in all cases. It is apparent, however, that substances can have us experiencing the egg first, producing a chicken of gloom and doom.
In other cases, we genetically have a chicken already growing inside of us, that is always pecking at us for what it wants - and, it will likely lay eggs, if we allow it to do so. Silly metaphor, but the best I could do on short notice. 
I confess to curiousity, fish... where did you get your training/experience in detox?
Which controlled substances have you detoxed, in what setting? Ball-park, how many detox cases have you handled?
BF, Good that you are further discussing this, because I thought you meant 'yourself,' not someone else, with that comment. ..oops!
What would you recommend for someone using Seconal orally & IV?
Congratulation 84!!!
I know some things which will benefit you.
Exercise. Get a fair amount of exercise. Exercise will help put your mind and body in a better mood.
Don't procrastinate. Do what you have to do when you should and don't put it off until later.
Drink plenty of water. Water will cleanse your body of impurities and give you energy, surprisingly.
Find something you really enjoy doing and pursue it with vigor. Having goals helps keep a person's mental facilities from having a void that must be filled.
Thank positive no matter what the situation is. Force yourself to do this. Don't allow yourself to be controlled by your thoughts. Cancel that bad thought as many times as you have to in order to replace it with a positive thought.
Write down all of this and the goals you have in mind. Read them often and if you are of a religious nature pray and believe.
Just interested to see what boundaries your expertise would extend to, Bf. After 30+ years as an addictions therapist with twelve years in hospital-based inpatient & outpatient programs, I tend to get a little spooked when somebody is willing to offer detox guidance on the internet...
84, thank you for being honest with this.
In my family, there are many alcoholics, but it seems to work on the men more than the women. The women tend to be more friendly with drugs. I don't take drugs recreationally, but I do have a mini pharmacy for the ailments I have. When prescribed a new one, I question the Dr. on why and what happens if I DON'T take this. I don't want to be dependent on anything but coffee, but I am very friendly with tobacco unfortunately, and I am doing my best to stop that.
Again, thank you so much for telling this, I just hope it will open some eyes.
I think many have been down this trail to some extent. Stopped smoking and drinking the same way Cold Turkey. Not at the same time. Went to AA about three times and listened to the excuses of how they fell off the wagon. I have never allowed myself that excuse if I decide to do something I do it. If I tell some one I'll do something I do it or pass out or die trying. Same for Stopping smoking three of us stopped or so we said I'm the only one who did. Carried an unopened pack and a lighter with me for weeks then gave them both to one of the other two who didn't quit.
Losing weight is along the same lines over eating is also an addiction sugar and Carbs that turn to sugar. That one I haven't got totally wipped yet. But as A diabetic i'D better get my act togeather. Just as dangerious to my self as the rest. Dead is dead.
Thanks to all for participating, sorry I could not follow up with all the comments, but I still have very limited access to a keyboard on a regular basis. Besides that, isolating myself in a virtual world instead of the real one did not help me much before.
Thanks Swamijim for lending some clinical perspective, the heartbreak of trying to fix cases such as mine must take a heavy toll after all these years. I hope the success I have accomplished is a nice cookie for one in your field. The miracle can happen, but you have to work for it.
The stigma of emotional and mental disorders is a banner I shall take up though, I may not be affected by the more traumatic mental diseases, but the emotional ones can be perhaps more devastating in the long run as the prejudice of an unenlightened society clamors, oh just snap out of it.
That's all I got tonight. 84
84--
While its sometimes tough watching people struggling against themselves, Im not arrogant enough to think its my job to fix anybody. A counselors job is mainly a) to listen when people talk about whats going on in their heads, b) offer some feedback and maybe guidance that helps folks find their own way past the stuck points, c) say the things that family & friends would say, if they had the experience & werent themselves caught in the middle of the emotional tornado of addiction.
Booze & dope can become kind of like mental/emotional judo or ju-jitsu addiction turns a persons own strengths against them so they keep on beating themselves into exhaustion. As youre undoubtedly learning, a large part of recovery is not that you have to beat the tigeryou just have to stop feeding the beast. The satisfaction & payoff of being an A&D counselor is being one part of that process where folks stop beating themselves and work their way out of the briar-patch they got stuck in.
Bottom line, being an addictions therapist is usually enjoyable and in one sense, surprisingly simplemy competition is bartenders & dope-dealers: how good do I have to be to offer better advice than they do?
One day at a time, bud...