Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Affects Everyone in the Family

Our Nation's #1 health concern is substance abuse.  In addition to epidemics such as opiates, methamphetamine, and prescription pills, alcoholism remains an issue that plagues many families.  As such, alcoholism knows no race, gender, moral, religious, or socioeconomic lines.  It can affect any of us and can quickly creep in to the many facets of one's life.  Perhaps, the most deadly factor is that is legal and therefore easily accessible. So realize that alcoholism is not the homeless person asking for change, although it can be, alcoholism may be the effective CEO, the great mom, the high achieving teen- alcoholism can occur anywhere, to any of us.





I often work with families in the midst of crisis, reeling from the problems substance abuse has left and continued turmoil.  Alcoholism effects mothers, fathers, children, and everyone around them. Imagine being the child of an alcoholic, going to school, unable to concentrate because you do not know the state of your parent when you return.  Will they be in a good mood, will there be food, will you be beaten or neglected, will mom/dad be alive?  How can a child focus at school with this on their mind?  How can a child function at home in this environment?  You can change the nouns child and school to woman/man and work.  The thought is the same.  Imagine a life where everyone is afraid and suffering.

Alcoholism is a family disease.  Relatives of alcoholics often develop emotional or behavioral issues as a result of trying to cope with their life as it relates to that of an alcoholic.  Forget enabling (although that term is important), think about how the relatives temperament, emotions, and behaviors are affected.  Constant worry, fear, anger, sadness are common.  Helping (enabling) the relative so that the effects of their alcoholism is minimized in the public can be taxing.  The Alcoholic and family deserve help, they all deserve a better future.
​The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence shares the following information to help families*:                                                                                                     
"What Can Families Do ?
Learn About Alcohol, Drugs, Alcoholism and Addiction:
Our ability to cope with anything is a function of how much we know about what we are up against. Although you have been living with alcohol and/or drug problems for some time, learning about alcohol and drug addiction is a critical first step. You cannot rely on common sense or popular myths (preaching, complaining, acting like a martyr, dumping the alcohol or drugs). Getting the facts about how alcohol and drugs affect the individual and the family is very important (see “Learn About Alcohol” and “Learn About Drugs”).
Seek Help and Support For Yourself:
The disease of alcoholism and addiction is a family disease and affects everyone close to the person. Not only does the alcohol or drug user need help, so do you, even if you don’t realize it at the time. You and other family members need and deserve appropriate education, help and support in finding healthy ways to overcome the negative effects of the disease. Education, counseling and Mutual Aid/Support Groups can help you realize that you are not alone, that you are not responsible for the drinking or drug use and that you need to take care of yourself, regardless of whether the person you are concerned about chooses to get help.
NCADD Affiliates offer a range of services including help for individuals and family members. If you are concerned about your own alcohol or other drug use or that of someone you care about—a child or other relative, a friend or co-worker—please make the contact. You will be able to speak to someone who will listen, assess your needs and provide information about available services, costs and how to deal with another person’s alcohol and/or drug use. Help is just a call or visit away—Make the contact now!
Learn What You Can Do To Help:
Treatment programs, counseling, mutual aid/support groups are all options for getting help. Only the person using alcohol and drugs can make the decision to get help, but you can help create the conditions to make that decision more attractive. Seeking help and support on your own can encourage interest in treatment or self-help. Look into treatment options and costs together and express your belief that treatment will work.
If Needed, Consider Family Intervention:
If the person you are concerned about is unable or unwilling to seek help, you should consider a planned, professionally directed intervention. Intervention, with support of a trained and experienced interventionist, is a powerful tool for the family to receive education, guidance and support, with a focus on getting the person to accept treatment.
Be Patient With The Recovery Process:
As with all chronic illnesses, everyone needs time to recover and regain health. For both the individual and family member, there may be relapses or breaks in treatment. Old tensions and resentments may flare up occasionally. Learn from these events and stay focused on recovery.
Hope For Long-Term Recovery: 
While addiction to alcohol and drugs has no known cure, the disease can be stopped once the individual abstains from alcohol and other addictive drugs. Today, there are millions of Americans living life in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. And, millions more family members and children of addiction have also found recovery!​"
More Thoughts:

Alcoholism affects the entire family.  Death, illness, violence, danger, conflict, psychological issues, trauma, and separation of families are all common and real consequences. Treatment depends on the severity of the illness and other factors and may include options such as detoxification, residential treatment for 30 days or up to 1 year, intensive outpatient, supportive outpatient, outpatient treatment, support groups, a sponsor, and other medical care.  The journey will be distinct for the individual and family.  Families will benefit from counseling and support as well.

I often tell my clients and families to get ready to meet a new person.   The alcohol created a person with feelings, behaviors, and a personality with whom they became accustomed.  As much as we want the person to stop drinking, we must also prepare to meet the person that is now walking in the light of life and sees people, places, and situations differently as well.  In addition to the resolution of old wounds, discovery begins.

At Momentum Behavioral Health Concepts, we help the whole person as they embark on the journey to restore and discover life once more.




​Be well, be informed, find your momentum....
Syreeta 
​References*:
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence www.ncadd.org

Avoiding Substance Abuse and Improving Mental Health in Seniors

Avoiding Substance Abuse and Improving Mental Health in Seniors

Image via Pixabay by omeralnahi

Guest Author: Pat McGraw

Substance abuse in seniors is a much more common problem than one might think. It can go untreated if loved ones don’t take the warning signs seriously and take action. Substance abuse in seniors is commonly the result of poor mental well-being. If your aging loved one is not caring for their mental health, they could easily become at risk for addiction. If you’re concerned about an aging loved one’s mental health, there are a few things you can do to help reduce the risk of substance abuse.

Know the Signs

The signs of addiction in seniors can sometimes be brushed off by family members. For example, if your grandparent loses a spouse or a close friend, relatives may turn a blind eye to an increase in drinking. Loved ones may think that drowning their sorrows is an appropriate and temporary response to cope with a loss, or they may not be aware that addiction is a potential concern among older adults.
However, it is important that you know and acknowledge the signs of substance abuse and addiction in your elderly loved ones in order to get them the help they need. Treatment can make a world of difference, helping your loved one find effective coping strategies to work through the loss while maintaining sound mental health.

Promote Social Interaction

Social isolation is a leading cause of mental health concerns in seniors. After retirement, older adults don’t have a job to go to that puts them in contact with other people. Perhaps their spouse passes away, and their life-long friends begin to pass on as well. Gradually, due to these circumstances and health conditions that impact mobility, some older adults become increasingly isolated.
Social isolation can contribute to depression, which in turn increases an individual’s risk of turning to substances as a coping mechanism. Ultimately, using substances as a means of self-medicating may lead to substance abuse and addiction in some older adults.
As social creatures, it is critical that your loved one find new ways to meet others. A few good examples are crafting groups, book clubs, exercise groups, returning to school, or volunteering. Anything that gets your loved one out of the house and talking to new people is beneficial, not just for their emotional well-being but also for their physical health.

Encourage Mental and Physical Exercise

Physical exercise is just as important for mental health as cognitively challenging activities. Physical exercise helps stave off depression and improves quality of life, promoting strength, flexibility, and balance that can preserve seniors’ mobility as they age.
Seniors seeking fun and engaging ways to be more physically active might consider yoga, tai chi, swimming, or even something as simple as taking a daily walk. Senior centers in many communities offer senior exercise groups focused on these and other activities that promote physical activity among older adults. Participating in a group fitness program helps seniors stay both physically active and socially engaged.

There are dozens of ways to exercise the brain as well. Activities that require cognitive engagement include puzzles, math exercises, attending college courses, reading, and more. Keeping the brain engaged throughout aging helps to maintain existing neural pathways, improve memory, and reduce cognitive decline, which in turn lowers an individual’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

It’s never too late to start learning something new, so encourage your aging loved ones to pursue interests they didn’t have time for during their working years. By staying cognitively, physically, and socially engaged, seniors are less likely to become isolated and develop depression, thereby lessening the risk of substance abuse and addiction.

Maintaining mental health in seniors is the best way to prevent addiction and help them enjoy retirement. If your loved one does experience substance abuse, remember that many seniors successfully recover with proper treatment and go on to live an active, healthy lifestyle. Programs to treat addiction in seniors can be highly effective and will work to get your loved one back on the right track. What matters is that you care about your loved one and want to help them enjoy a vibrant, active lifestyle throughout their golden years.


About the Author:
Pat McGraw is a firm believer in maintaining a healthy, clean lifestyle. Her mission is to make sure awareness and resources are made available to young people to help prevent drug and alcohol abuse.