{"id":575,"date":"2019-08-31T13:54:42","date_gmt":"2019-08-31T12:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.normanclaringbull.co.uk\/?p=575"},"modified":"2019-08-31T13:54:42","modified_gmt":"2019-08-31T12:54:42","slug":"blog-post-summer-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/normanclaringbull.onplexaweb.co.uk\/index.php\/2019\/08\/31\/blog-post-summer-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"BLOG POST – Autumn 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ADDICTION:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addiction isn\u2019t just a problem limited to a small, very troubled, sector of society. It\u2019s not just a condition that only threatens heavy drinking \u2018boozers\u2019 or party going \u2018pill poppers\u2019. The unfortunate reality is that addiction, (also known as \u2018substance dependency\u2019), is found throughout the entire population – all ages – all occupations – all communities. Not only is such substance misuse widespread but it can involve dependence on virtually any mood-altering substance taken in excess, (alcohol, nicotine, prescription drugs, legal drugs, illegal drugs, performance-enhancers, caffeine, chocolate, sugar \u2013 almost anything). However, we usually tend to only notice the more obvious, the more extreme cases – the so-called \u2018winos\u2019, the \u2018alkies\u2019, the \u2018junkies\u2019. This is because most addicts are very good at appearing to live normal lives. They manage to keep their over-indulgences well-hidden and keep the rest of us well fooled. Many addicts deceive themselves too \u2013 they kid themselves that nothing is really wrong. They are in denial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The overwhelming majority of addicts seem to manage their lives OK \u2013 to\nbegin with at least. However, even for these \u2018hidden\u2019 or \u2018high-functioning\u2019\naddicts, eventually the party has to stop. Their bodies and their minds start\nto deteriorate and their lives begin to spin out of control. That\u2019s when\nsubstance misusers start to go downhill rapidly. If they are lucky they come to\nrealise that they can\u2019t go on like this. At this stage in their lives, addicts only\nhave two choices left: 1) Get clean or 2) Continue to deteriorate, eventually\nto die a particularly nasty death. It\u2019s that simple. For them, the party is\nover! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, can substance misusers and\/or addicts get clean by themselves? Well obviously\nthe first task is to stop the boozing and stop the drugging. Put simply – stop\nusing!  Actually, for most people stopping\nis easy. It is the second task – staying stopped – that is hard. This is when substance\nmisusers most need help. This is when counselling and psychotherapy comes into\nthe picture. However, even for experienced therapists, helping addicts to successfully\nstop relying on their \u2018chemical friends\u2019 is far from simple. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What about you? Do you have a problem? If you are confident that you\ndon\u2019t, then why not prove it? Take this simple test. See if you can give up one\nof your over-indulgences for just 90 days. If you can\u2019t, then it\u2019s time to\nthink. It\u2019s time to start making some decisions about your lifestyle. In the\nmeantime, if you want to know more about the emotional and physiological\nimpacts of mind altering substances, legal and illegal, why not have a look at\nChapter 8, \u2018Prescription Drugs, Recreational\nDrugs and Addiction<\/em>\u2019, in my latest book \u2018 Mental Health in Counselling and\nPsychotherapy\u2019. You can find out more about this book and any of my other books\nand publications by going to the \u2018MY BOOKS\u2019 page on my website \u2013 www.normanclaringbull.co.uk<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n