Youngstown, Ohio man Sean Cregan starts new 501(c)3

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.”

Source
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/media-guide/science-drug-abuse-addiction-basics

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
http://fibrofighter.tripod.com/17stages.htm

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