Around eleven months ago I had dinner with a forty-five-year-old man named Alexander who suffers from intense depression, has relationship difficulties, and who is drug and alcohol dependent. As declared by Alexander, it is his alcohol and drug addiction and his acute depression that had the most to do with his endless relationship problems.

I recall reading that a history of mental health issues, drug abuse, and excessive and hazardous drinking routinely take place in the same family. Additionally, I remember reading that in such situations, a person needs to get treatment for both medical problems and that addiction and mental health problems commonly occur in the same individual.

As articulated by Alexander, he is so dejected by his relationship issues and by both of his medical conditions that he in essence has little or no drive to complete much of anything. What is especially sad about this is that earlier in his life, Alexander managed to complete four semesters of graduate school in literature and fine arts.

Alexander’s condition makes me wonder if he is an illustration of an individual who can look in the mirror and perceive his drug abuse and alcohol drinking problems and do something healthy about these problems or if he is someone who has to hit life’s bottom before he gets addiction rehab that results in long lasting sobriety.

The Need For a Counseling Program He Can Believe In and a Healthcare Professional He Can Trust

If it would be helpful I would suppose that I could suggest quite a few websites and blogs that could possibly help him find info about drug abuse symptoms, the stages of alcoholism, substance abuse information, and relationship difficulties. From my vantage point, however, Alexander needs to locate a rehabilitation regimen he can believe in and follow over the long term and locate a healthcare practitioner he can trust.

I could be wrong but it seems logical to conclude that Alexander more likely than not needs to look in the mirror regarding his drug addiction signs and alcoholic symptoms and accept the fact that he cannot use drugs or even drink responsibly if he wants to get sober, stay sober, and start on the route to long-term sobriety.

It may be asked how counseling would help his drug and alcohol dependency. First of all, there are quite a few recently developed doctor-prescribed meds that can help Alexander through his withdrawal symptoms, through the drug and alcohol detoxification process, and help him avoid an alcohol or a drug relapse.

Second, Alexander would learn to understand the fact that there is absolutely nothing helpful about drug addiction and unhealthy and abusive drinking and that messing around with one or both situations is the road to shattered relationships, a premature death, legal problems, financial difficulties, deteriorating health, and poor work and school performance.

Third, treatment for his relationship problems and his depression might help him deal with these conditions more successfully and possibly create less of a need for him to engage in addictive behavior.

The Importance of Support Groups Like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous

There are probably several family members, other individuals, and friends who would like to help Alexander with his drug addiction and his careless and hazardous drinking. He probably would experience greater sympathy from a recovery group such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous, however, instead of getting guidance from people who do not drink or who have never used drugs.

When Individuals Do Things They Like and About Which They Are Passionate

There’s a psychological attitude that stresses that individuals who accomplish things they love and something about which they are dedicated arrive at a fantastic place in life. Stated differently, when people do what they enjoy, they hardly ever experience boredom or an uneventful life. If they involve themselves in something that is enjoyable, furthermore, they become more complete and experience more gratification and joy in life and in their relationships.

When this is thought about even for a few minutes it becomes clear that this positive orientation is the exact opposite of a life that is grounded in alcohol and drug dependency because such a lifestyle removes the pleasure and joy that life offers.

Since Alexander doesn’t have the motivation to succeed at doing much of anything in his life, it is apparent that he definitely needs a little hope for a healthier existence. And the unfortunate thing is that hope is almost everywhere around Alexander if he could only get to the place in life to get the therapy he requires for his extreme depression and addiction and stay with his treatment program.

More Positive Relationships, A Wonderful Life, Self Esteem, and Positive Change Are Possibilities

Alexander is clearly too young to be beaten in life. He doesn’t realize this right now but if he can learn how to abstain from drugs and alcohol through drug and alcohol rehabilitation and get the counseling he requires for his acute depression, he can reorient his life and start living with direction, self-respect, and passion.

Enhanced relationships, affirmative change, self respect, and a wonderful life are certainly possibilities for Alexander if only he could get motivated to get the medical rehab he needs, follow through with his treatment program, live his life in a healthy and addiction-free manner, and learn how to acquire a more positive attitude about his existence.