Around seven weeks ago I read about a twenty-eight-year-old woman named Rachael who is bipolar and who is also addicted to alcohol and drugs. I remember reading that in such situations, an individual needs to get counseling for both medical conditions and that mental health difficulties and dependency frequently take place in the same individual. In addiction, I recall hearing that a history of negative drinking, drug addiction, and/or mental health problems quite often take place in the same family.

Plainly, Rachael is so crushed by both of her medical problems and her relationship problems that she in actual fact has little or no reason to accomplish much of anything. What is particularly unfortunate about this is that earlier in her life, Rachael managed to finish three-and-a-half-years of college. Rachael’s condition makes me wonder if she is an example of an individual who has to hit the very bottom before he or she gets drug and alcohol counseling that results in lasting recovery.

The Need For a Physician She Trusts and a Rehab Program She Can Believe In

If I were in communication with Rachael I could recommend several websites that could possibly help her learn more about addiction and alcoholic behavior, important chemical dependency information, facts about alcoholism and drugs, information about addiction symptoms and alcoholism warning signs, and relationship info. From where I stand, nevertheless, Rachael needs to find a physician she trusts and a counseling program she can believe in and follow over the long term. I could be incorrect but it seems to me that Rachael probably needs to comprehend the fact that she cannot drink in moderation or use drugs if she wants to get sober, remain sober, and start on the path to long-term recovery.

I am aware that there are more than a few newly discovered doctor-prescribed medications that can help Rachael avoid an alcohol or a drug relapse, help her through her withdrawal symptoms, and help her through the drug and alcohol detoxification process. Obviously it would be in Rachael’s best interests if she knew about these drugs.

It is fairly obvious that Rachael needs to understand the fact that there is completely nothing useful about careless and hazardous drinking and chemical dependency and that engaging in one or both situations is the road to financial difficulties, legal problems, deteriorating health, shattered relationships, a premature death, and poor work and school performance.

The Importance of Support Groups Like Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous

There are more likely than not a lot of persons such as other individuals, family members, and friends who would like to help Rachael but she probably would experience greater understanding from a recovery group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous instead of listening to people who drink in moderation or who have never taken drugs.

When People Accomplish Things They Love and About Which They Are Dedicated

There’s a school of thought in psychology that affirms that individuals who do things they love and something about which they are ardent attain a fantastic place in life. Stated more exactly, when people do what they enjoy, they rarely if ever experience an uneventful life or boredom. If they involve themselves in something that is enjoyable, furthermore, they become more complete and experience more pleasure and delight in life and in their relationships.

To me, this sounds like the exact opposite of a life that is rooted in substance abuse because such a lifestyle removes the satisfaction and joy that life has to offer.

Because Rachael doesn’t have the drive to achieve much of anything in her life, it is clear that she badly needs a little hope for a better lifestyle. And the unfortunate thing is that hope is virtually everywhere around Rachael if she could only get to the point in life to get the treatment she needs for her mental illness and drug dependence and alcohol addiction and adhere to her treatment program.

More Meaningful Relationships, A Wonderful Life, Self Respect, and Affirmative Change Are Possibilities

Rachael is simply too young to be overwhelmed in life. She doesn’t understand this at this time in her life but if she can learn how to remove herself from drugs and alcohol through drug and alcohol rehabilitation and get the treatment she requires for her mental health issue, she can redirect her life and start living with passion, self-respect, and direction.

More meaningful relationships, a meaningful life, self respect, and beneficial change are certainly a reality for Rachael if only she could become motivated to seek the professional rehabilitation she needs, follow through with her treatment protocol, live her life in a dependency-free and healthy way, and acquire a more positive attitude about life.