Sean Cregan Pinnacle Impact Foundation
Addiction is a disease!
Acceptance is the answer!
Many people including
those that suffer from addiction do not want to believe that addiction is a
disease. What I am referring to is that
it is a real disease like Cancer or Diabetes.
It is a chronic brain disease.
“Is Drug
Addiction a Mental Illness?
Yes.
Addiction changes the brain in fundamental ways, disturbing a person’s normal
hierarchy of needs and desires and substituting new priorities connected with
procuring and using the drug. The resulting compulsive behaviors that weaken
the ability to control impulses, despite the negative consequences, are similar
to hallmarks of other mental illnesses.”
Source https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/comorbidity-addiction-other-mental-disorders
“Addiction
is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by
compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It is considered
a brain disease because drugs change the brain; they change its structure and
how it works. These brain changes can be long lasting and can lead to many
harmful, often self-destructive, behaviors.”
The problem
is that the very mind of those addicted has been compromised and hijacked by
the phenomenon of craving which is like a chemical compound or recipe in the
brain casing it to malfunction.
“Why are
drugs more addictive than natural rewards?
When some
drugs of abuse are taken, they can release 2 to 10 times the amount of dopamine
that natural rewards such as eating and sex do.15 In some cases, this occurs
almost immediately (as when drugs are smoked or injected), and the effects can
last much longer than those produced by natural rewards. The resulting effects
on the brain’s pleasure circuit dwarf those produced by naturally rewarding
behaviors. The effect of such a powerful
reward strongly motivates people to take drugs again and again. This is why
scientists sometimes say that drug abuse is something we learn to do very, very
well.”
The addict
can have a genetic predisposition and also people who suffer from addiction may
be self-medicating anxiety, depression or other mental health problems.
“Though
symptoms of chronic illnesses differ, people with them are united by the
denial, anger, fear, hope, and acceptance and other feelings they bring. Below are the five stages that people
typically go through when they find out they have a chronic illness. Not
everyone goes through these stages in the same order and it is common to go
back and forth between stages as your physical health improves or worsens.
No matter
what stage you are in, just accept that this is where you belong, go with it,
and feel all the emotions you need to feel in order to move to the next stage.
Don't rush this process. Let it happen naturally.
If you
believe that you are stuck in one of the first four stages permanently, you may
want to consult with a therapist. We all have problems that we need to cope
with besides this illness, and they can sometimes prevent this process from
occurring naturally.
1.Denial.
Any change or loss in your life is likely to bring denial, and learning that
you have a chronic disease can bring large doses of it. Someone in denial may
believe a disease can't hurt them. They may ignore their doctors' advice that
could help keep the disease under control. In the case of people with diabetes
that may mean refusing to take medications or eat a proper diet. On the other
hand, some people quickly accept a disease and turn their attention toward
healing. These people stay abreast of medical advances and work with doctors to
keep the disease in check.
2. Anger.
What often fuels denial is anger--anger that an individual was the "one in
1,000" to get a disease. Anger may also be directed inward, with an
individual blaming him or herself for having the illness. The best way to
minimize anger is to find outlets for it. Writing in a journal, attending a
support group or meeting with a counselor are constructive ways to express
anger. Anger is normal and can take a long time to work through. Sometimes a
small part of anger stays with you throughout the entire illness.
3. Fear.
Often underlying anger is the fear that comes with having a disease that can't
be cured. People with chronic illnesses may start to view life through a
"telephoto lens" instead of a "wide-angle lens". They stop
planning ahead or making life changes because they believe they won't be around
much longer. Fear is often enhanced when people know little about a disease, so
combating it often begins with education. The more a person learns about a
disease, the more they feel in control of it. Fear also occurs when you lose
faith in your ability to fight and to believe in the plan of the Universe. This
is the most important stage to work through. Fear does no good. It only causes
toxins in your body that will make you sicker. Believe in the Master Plan and
let the fear go as soon as you can. It will come back, but don't let it take
over. Tell it that it is a useless feeling and that you are stronger than it
is.
4. Greif. Feelings
of grief and loss are common because chronic diseases bring life restrictions
that others don't have to face. These may include no longer being able to
participate in activities once enjoyed, like eating a favorite meal or playing
catch with a grandchild. Grief can cause feelings of inadequacy and lead to
withdrawal and isolation. Focusing on activities that remain unaffected by an
illness can help people overcome these feelings. Those who refuse to think of
themselves as 'sick' will have a more positive outlook. Joining a support group
can also help. Groups allow people to meet others with the same disease who are
still active and accomplishing goals.
5. Acceptance.
Though managing a long-term illness can bring emotional upheaval, it also
brings the triumphant feelings and strength that come with overcoming
obstacles. Success comes in a variety of forms, whether it's controlling a
disease with positive thinking, biofeedback, or physical therapy so well that
less medication is needed or accepting that the illness has irrevocably changed
your life and some of it is very, very good. With each success comes the
confidence that you're able to live a full, rewarding life and maybe even a
more meaningful life than if you hadn't gotten the illness.”
Source
Because this
can be extremely demoralizing and most addicts suffer a lot guilt and shame
because of the things that they have done while under the influence. However those things that they have done under
the influence are not who they are those are the things that they did while
they brain was literally hijacked by the drugs or alcohol.
When the
very thing that you use to make decisions becomes compromised through drug and
alcohol abuse you no longer are running the show the drugs and alcohol take
over and the things that those who suffer from addiction do under the Influence
are not who they Are although many people around them label them as bad.
This is not
the case they are not bad people they are sick people that need love, direction
and prayers just as if we they had cancer or diabetes. The problem is that because of the things
that they do under the influence many people get angry with them and want to
label them as bad people which makes complete sense however, when society and
the addict finally accept the fact that they have any incurable chronic disease
then and only then can recovery begin.
Acceptance
is the answer!
-PG 417
Alcoholics Anonymous
Both
socially and internally, this is something that I believe is not addressed as
well as it could be and this is my mission to get this word out to the world
that addiction truly is a disease not simply bad people making bad choices
these are sick people that have a disease a chronic brain disease it can only
be treated with the help of God just like any other disease, and what is
happening in the brain is still being studied to this day by researchers of pharmacology.
It is the
Last Frontier in Medicine, brain chemistry, but they know that even when the
addict stops using the drink or drug there are certain chemicals that only
alcoholics and drug addicts continue to produce in the brain. It's fascinating
however, all the knowledge in the world will not make the addict be able to
drink or use like a normal person, actually the opposite, the bottom line of
what I'm communicating here is that we all need to stop beating up those
suffering from addiction and we need to start praying for these individuals and
supporting them and reinforcing positive patterns of behavior in their life and
that is exactly what the NA AA programs do.
Recovery truly
does work if they do the work and get involved , but they need to stop beating themselves
up and realize that they have a real disease a real clinical disease. Accept it and get the help you deserve and
don't become a statistic in the newspaper.
Every real
alcoholic or addict should understand it truly is a miracle when they can set
down the drugs or the alcohol even for one day.
They must retrain their thinking and behaviors all over again and it can
be a very difficult process especially if the person feels as though they are
worthless, stupid, evil, bad, filled with guilt and shame many of them have gone
back to the insanity of alcoholism and drug addiction because they didn't
believe there was another way or we didn't think that we deserved a better
life.
Today after many years of researching this
disease I know better, but it is been a long painful path and if WE can share
this information with the world hopefully less and less alcoholics and drug
addicts have to die under the guilt, shame and addiction that comes along with the
disease.
Please dear
Lord Help alcoholics and drug addicts around the world realize that they have
an incurable disease that can only be arrested with acceptance, cleaning house,
trusting God, and helping others!
AMEN
Sean Cregan
Founder
Pinnacle
Impact Foundation Ohio
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