by jonboyac » Thu Jan 31, 2013 5:47 am
I appreciate your concerns.
I've been totally and continuously sober, from everything, in AA for over 20 years. I spent at least 20 years before that in intensive (weekly) psychotherapy, with medications - but I never totally stopped drinking - or using (and abusing) psychotropic meds - which I now consider (for myself only) to be "using." I've been at one time or another diagnosed as chronically depressed, as hypomanic, as cyclothymic (a form of bi-polar) and I do in fact have PTSD (I was a combat medic in Vietnam at ages 20 -22). I am now retired, function well, have a host of friends, am NOT on any psychiatric meds, and am active in life and happy most of the time.
The only therapy I needed, in the end, was for the PTSD, which was never addressed in all the years of treatment before I got sober (denial anyone?). BUT, I never could have endured that therapy if I had not been sober in AA for several years first. It is mere speculation, but I also may not have remained sober if I had not gotten that therapy at that time. AA saved my life - and by "my life" I mean a lot more than my physical survival.
Any rehab that is certified properly will do to get your son detoxed and pointed in the right direction - a 12 Step program after discharge. There IS an underlying issue - it is called ADDICTION in the case of drug addicts and ALCOHOLISM in the case of chronic alcohol abusers. Any treatment I am aware of is useless as long as he is actively using mind altering substances, or is in early recovery from them (a year or less). Any helpful therapy must first be directed to permanent and total abstinence. If a therapy supports that, then it is the only one he needs for now. Addiction will mimic and/or mask any and every mental illness, syndrome, mood disturbance or psychological condition. All substances of abuse create a chemically induced, artificial personality, which has to be eradicated - by abstinence - before the real person can be reached and recovered. An accurate diagnosis - if there is indeed an underlying psychiatric condition - can only be made after he is thoroughly detoxed from the addiction(s) and stabilized in sobriety for a substantial period of time. A 12 Step program can do that, but only if your son is willing to completely give himself to that program as a first priority - as a matter of life or death.
Most newcomers to recovery and their family (and many medical practitioners) have no idea what they are up against. It is essential that the focus be relentlessly and single-mindedly on the drug and alcohol use and abuse. Do not let your son, or yourself, divert your attention to any other issues - none. Or he will relapse repeatedly, blame everything else and everyone else under the sun, and end up God only knows in what condition before the addiction kills him, directly or indirectly.
I appreciate your concerns.
I've been totally and continuously sober, from everything, in AA for over 20 years. I spent at least 20 years before that in intensive (weekly) psychotherapy, with medications - but I never totally stopped drinking - or using (and abusing) psychotropic meds - which I now consider (for myself only) to be "using." I've been at one time or another diagnosed as chronically depressed, as hypomanic, as cyclothymic (a form of bi-polar) and I do in fact have PTSD (I was a combat medic in Vietnam at ages 20 -22). I am now retired, function well, have a host of friends, am NOT on any psychiatric meds, and am active in life and happy most of the time.
The only therapy I needed, in the end, was for the PTSD, which was never addressed in all the years of treatment before I got sober (denial anyone?). BUT, I never could have endured that therapy if I had not been sober in AA for several years first. It is mere speculation, but I also may not have remained sober if I had not gotten that therapy at that time. AA saved my life - and by "my life" I mean a lot more than my physical survival.
Any rehab that is certified properly will do to get your son detoxed and pointed in the right direction - a 12 Step program after discharge. There IS an underlying issue - it is called ADDICTION in the case of drug addicts and ALCOHOLISM in the case of chronic alcohol abusers. Any treatment I am aware of is useless as long as he is actively using mind altering substances, or is in early recovery from them (a year or less). Any helpful therapy must first be directed to permanent and total abstinence. If a therapy supports that, then it is the only one he needs for now. Addiction will mimic and/or mask any and every mental illness, syndrome, mood disturbance or psychological condition. All substances of abuse create a chemically induced, artificial personality, which has to be eradicated - by abstinence - before the real person can be reached and recovered. An accurate diagnosis - if there is indeed an underlying psychiatric condition - can only be made after he is thoroughly detoxed from the addiction(s) and stabilized in sobriety for a substantial period of time. A 12 Step program can do that, but only if your son is willing to completely give himself to that program as a first priority - as a matter of life or death.
Most newcomers to recovery and their family (and many medical practitioners) have no idea what they are up against. It is essential that the focus be relentlessly and single-mindedly on the drug and alcohol use and abuse. Do not let your son, or yourself, divert your attention to any other issues - none. Or he will relapse repeatedly, blame everything else and everyone else under the sun, and end up God only knows in what condition before the addiction kills him, directly or indirectly.