Addiction Intervention Services Australia: Coaching With Substance Model.

ADDICTION AFFECTS THE WHOLE FAMILY....STOP ENABLING AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT TODAY! 

PH:07 560 66315 (7days)

COACHING WITH SUBSTANCE INTERVENTIONS MODEL.

INTERVENTION

Alcoholism, drug addictions, gambling addiction, sex addiction and eating disorders are progressive and chronic diseases that, if left untreated, will result in the premature death of someone you love. Help is available. No one has to hit their absolute bottom before accepting help…..Intervention works!

If someone you know is struggling with the disease of addiction, it is time to take action.

Intervention is the best way to make help available to those struggling with an addiction. 92% of those intervened on go to treatment and have the opportunity to change their lives.

Is now the time?

If your current situation has you concerned enough that you are exploring this option – it’s time. If you are concerned about someone you love, nothing can be gained by waiting. Crisis comes and crisis goes, but with the disease of addiction, we don’t get to choose the consequences our loved ones will face the next time.

If now is not the time, ask yourself: How much worse will it have to get before you are willing to act?

Will doing an intervention make matters worse? NO. Doing nothing will make matters worse.

Intervention Suppositions

COACHING WITH SUBSTANCE Intervention Services argues that certain widely-held suppositions are no longer true. We disagree with the following longstanding assumptions:

1. You can't help an addicted individual until they want help?

.  Addicts don't know what is happening inside of them—they are experiencing a loss of control.

. Addicts don't know why they act the way they do, every part of the brain lobes is affected by alcohol, drugs or other addictive behaviours.

. Addicts make excuses for what is irrational and destructive behaviour, Denial is strong. What will get them to want help?

2. An addict must hit bottom?

. Hitting bottom leaves them trying to find help on their own.

. Addicts may never hit bottom or may bounce around it with denial.

. The family will end up going along for the ride, bouncing at the bottom too.

. Addicts don't have relationships...they take HOSTAGES!

3. Addiction is a lack of willpower and a character flaw?

Addiction dismantles willpower!!

                                                    

4. Treatment only works if the addict wants it.

A 25 year study resulted in no statistical difference between self-referred clients and clients that entered treatment due to an intervention. It's not the willingness to go to treatment that matters. It's the willingness and commitment to continue working toward a healthy lifestyle when one leaves treatment that matters.

Interventions and the Holidays

Are you concerned about doing an intervention so close to the holidays?

If you are, you're not alone. It’s not uncommon for families to feel that they are somehow doing the wrong thing by helping a family member during this season.

The fact is, the holidays can be very stressful times for alcoholics, addicts and those struggling from other addictions and compulsive behaviours. This stress often contributes to an increased usage of drugs /addictive behaviours and the resulting consequences of their behaviours.

There is a way you can help.

Having a loved one get into treatment and recovery during the holidays can be one of the greatest gifts they will ever receive. It is also a chance for the entire family to get relief from the pain of knowing your loved one is suffering from their addiction. As difficult as it might be to have your family member in treatment during the holiday season, it is equally comforting to know they are safe, and that this may be the last holiday you'll spend away from each other.

What is an Intervention?

An intervention is a structured, solution-focused process that consists of a group of close friends, family members and others (co-workers, colleagues, spiritual advisors, etc.) who come together in a caring and non-judgmental manner to present their observations and concerns regarding an addict’s behavior.

A well-executed intervention is professionally facilitated by our highly experienced coaches and aims to move the family or workplace system out of crisis and assists in immediately addressing addiction through treatment.

To more fully understand how addiction affects the system surrounding an addict, consider the mobile. Each component of a mobile is related to and dependent upon the others for balance and stability. The mobile functions correctly when you pull one component, and every other element moves in response. The mobile ceases to function when force is applied to one piece and no movement or change occurs.

When there is active addiction within a family or workplace system, the people around the individual operate much like a broken mobile. Energy is applied in an effort to change the one addicted individual - surprisingly to no avail. However, when the combined pieces of the mobile are set in motion, through the process of intervention, those surrounding the addict or alcoholic can move from their established positions and the stubborn piece will be forced to change his or her actions.

CWS model of intervention has two stated goals:

1) To move the system surrounding the addicted individual out of the chaos and crisis generated by addiction;

2) To make help available to the individual. By focusing our attention on the system surrounding the individual, and working with them to make changes in their response to addiction, we change the system independent of his or her decision to accept help.

CWS responds quickly to calls for help. Family and workplace crises are treated as emergencies because the emotional pain and suffering of people close to the addicted individual can be extreme. The faster an intervention program begins, the faster that system will experience relief.

PHONE 07 560 66315 FOR IMMEDIATE HELP (7days) 

COACHING WITH SUBSTANCE (CWS) INTERVENTIONS

Email info@coachingwithsubstance.org.au

We are Australia's leading award winning addiction treatment and rehab consultants for gambling, drugs, alcohol, sex, eating and internet addiction, along with eating behavioural disorders and co-dependency for Australasia and New Zealand.

Maria Pau is a 4x No. 1 best-selling author on the subjects of addiction and co-dependency and spiritual wellness. She is the Program Director of Coaching with Substance, the first of its kind in Australia as registered public benevolent institution, charity and not-for profit association that focuses on wellness using coaching principles of peak performance. We run a cutting edge holistic addiction treatment program and outpatient rehabilitation consultancy firm that ensures you are released from the shackles of addiction once and for all.

Primary care at CWS is personalised to treat each individual using programs that integrate mind, body and soul. CWS programs are enhanced by highly effective group coaching and therapeutic processes as well as individual coaching, spiritual insights, therapy and extensive aftercare assistance.

All clients are thoroughly assessed by a highly trained and experienced recovery coach, registered provisional psychologist, ordained Monk, mental health officer and certified naturopaths (including Ayurveda and Acupuncturist). Clients may also be referred for psychometric testing and assessment, if needed. International clients welcome.

We welcome enquiries from all English speaking people from Asia, Europe, Africa, India and South America.

ALCOHOLISM SELF ASSESSMENT: Do you need HELP?

Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Self Assessment.

Individual drinking habits may be found on a continuum from responsible drinking through alcohol abuse to alcoholism, or physical dependence.

There are many signs that may point to an alcohol problem. Drunkenness on its own or solitary drinking does not necessarily indicate alcoholism. The questionnaire will be meaningful to you only if you are honest with yourself when taking it.

The important question is: Is your use of alcohol creating significant negative consequences in your life?

·        -  Do you sometimes drink heavily after a setback or an argument, or when you receive a poor grade?

·    - When you experience trouble or are undergoing stress, do you always drink more heavily than usual?

·         -  Can you handle more liquor now than you could when you first began drinking?

·        - Have you ever awakened the “morning after” and found that you could not remember part of the evening before, even though your friends said that you didn’t pass out?

·       - When drinking with others, do you try to have just a few additional drinks when they won’t know of it?

·        - Are there times when you feel uncomfortable if alcohol isn’t available?

·       - Have you noticed lately that when you start drinking you’re in more of a hurry to get to the first drink than you used to be?

·         - Do you sometimes have negative thoughts or feelings about your drinking?

·         - Are you secretly irritated when your friends or family discuss your drinking?

·    - Do you often want to keep drinking after your friends have said that they’ve had  enough?

·         - When you’re sober, do you often regret things you have done or said while drinking?

·   -Have you tried switching brands or following different plans for controlling your drinking?

·       - Have you often failed to keep promises you have made to yourself about controlling or cutting down on your drinking?

·         - Do you try to avoid your girlfriend/boyfriend when you are drinking?

·         - Are you having an increasing number of school, work, or financial problems?

·         - Do more people seem to be treating you unfairly without good reason?

·         - Do you eat very little or irregularly when you’re drinking?

·      - Do you sometimes have the “shakes” in the morning and find that it helps to have a  drink?

·         - Have you noticed lately that you cannot drink as much as you once did?

If you can answer “YES” to several of these questions, your drinking is causing problems for you and professional recovery coaching can help prevent problems from getting more intense or numerous. 

Some people resolve to curb their drinking and can do so for a time only to have their alcohol problems persist or reoccur. The drinking habits of alcohol abuse or alcoholism can become very entrenched. A professional Addiction Recovery Coach from COACHING WITH SUBSTANCE can guide and support you deal with problem and save you further misery for you and your family.

FOR HELP TODAY info@coachingwithsubstance.org.au  Confidentiality assured.

Ph 07 560 66315 (7days) Web www.coachingwithsubstance.org.au

ABOUT COACHING WITH SUBSTANCE (WINNER Best Not-for-Profit 2014)

We are Australia's leading award winning addiction treatment and rehab consultants for gambling, drugs, alcohol, sex, eating and internet addiction, along with eating behavioural disorders and co-dependency for Australasia and New Zealand.

Our Founder, Maria Pau is a 4x No. 1 best-selling author on the subjects of addiction and co-dependency and spiritual wellness. She is the Program Director of Coaching with Substance, the first of its kind in Australia as registered public benevolent institution, charity and not-for profit association that focuses on wellness using coaching principles of peak performance. She is currently completing her PhD on Recovery Coaching and is the first registered Recovery Coach in Australia.

We run a cutting edge holistic addiction treatment program and outpatient rehabilitation consultancy firm that ensures you are released from the shackles of addiction once and for all. Primary care at CWS is personalised to treat each individual using programs that integrate mind, body and soul. CWS programs are enhanced by highly effective group coaching and therapeutic processes as well as individual coaching, spiritual insights, therapy and extensive aftercare assistance.

All clients are thoroughly assessed by a highly trained and experienced recovery coach, registered provisional psychologist, ordained Taoist Monk, mental health officer and certified naturopaths (including Ayurveda and Acupuncturist). Clients may also be referred for psychometric testing and assessment, if needed. International clients welcome.

We welcome enquiries from all English speaking people from Asia, Europe, Africa, India and South America.

Addiction Recovery Coaching the Ideal private solution for Professionals.

Addiction Recovery Coaching the Ideal Solution for Professionals.

The most common reason that people give for not wanting to go through drug or alcohol rehab is that they are afraid of the social or professional ramifications. Specifically, they are most afraid that entering any type of rehabilitation program will damage their careers in some way.

Studies have shown that about 3 million people in Australia have a drug,alcohol, gambling or sex addiction for which they never seek professional help. Not only are these individuals damaging their physical and mental health, they are also putting their safety, and the safety of others, at great risk.

Ramifications of Seeking Help

Since so many people are afraid to seek help for their addictions, it is important to try to understand their reasoning. Many people believe that if they enter any type of addiction treatment, they will either be ostracised at work or fired from their jobs. Even if they have insurance coverage that would pay for at least a portion of their addiction treatment expenses, these individuals are still reluctant to seek help because they are afraid of their employers’ reactions.

Researchers have discovered that people’s fears are often greater than the realities that would be facing them if they would only come forward and admit to needing help. For example, someone who is addicted to alcohol might feel so guilty and self-conscious about their problem that they are afraid if they come forward, others will judge them as harshly as they are judging themselves.

While it certainly is possible for people to experience negative reactions from co-workers or employers when it becomes known that they have some type of addiction, the reality is that most often the reactions of others are not nearly as bad as people anticipate they will be.

Why Addiction Recovery Is Important

A very important thing to remember is that your health is the most important thing in your life. Even in these tough economic times, your health and well being is still more important than a job. In addition, statistics have shown that people are actually more likely to keep their jobs if they get help for their addiction than they are if they simply let their addictions go untreated.

Think about it: If you are addicted to drugs or alcohol, your life at some point is going to begin to unravel and, eventually, it will probably begin to spin out of control. If your addictions become the focal point of your life, you will probably wind up losing your job because of poor attendance or poor performance. As a general rule, people who regularly use drugs or abuse alcohol are much more likely to become chronically unemployed, as they will reach a point where they are simply no longer capable of holding down a job.

People who receive addiction help, on the other hand, not only stand a better chance of keeping the jobs they already have, they are also far more likely to obtain better jobs after they have completed help. Even if you find it necessary to quit your job or take a leave of absence while you are going through treatment, you are likely to be able to find another job once you have embraced your recovery.

Finding Support

Having a healthy support system is essential for people who are going through addiction recovery.  For professionals or sports people Residential rehab facilities are not ideal in regards to maintaining confidentiality. Recovery Coaching provides the support and a structured plan for getting people into a quality and sustainable recovery. Recovery Coaching provides a highly personalised process that can be maintained even while the individual continues their professional obligations and with absolute confidentiality.

If you are really worried about losing your job, your best option is to engage a highly experienced Addiction Recovery Coach from Coaching With Substance.  It isn’t necessary that you tell your boss or co-workers. Always remember that you are entitled to your privacy and that your treatment is nobody else’s business.

If you or someone you love is in the grips of any addiction call us today in confidence for immediate help. COACHING WITH SUBSTANCE  PH 07 560 66315 (7days)  

Confidentiality and privacy assured.

INTERNATIONAL CALLERS 61 7 560 66315

EMAIL info@coachingwithsubstance.org.au

We are Australia's leading award winning addiction treatment and rehab consultants for gambling, drugs, alcohol, sex, eating and internet addiction, along with eating behavioural disorders and co-dependency for Australasia and New Zealand.

Maria Pau is a 4x No. 1 best-selling author on the subjects of addiction and co-dependency and spiritual wellness. She is the Program Director of Coaching with Substance, the first of its kind in Australia as registered public benevolent institution, charity and not-for profit association that focuses on wellness using coaching principles of peak performance. We run a cutting edge holistic addiction treatment program and outpatient rehabilitation consultancy firm that ensures you are released from the shackles of addiction once and for all.

Primary care at CWS is personalised to treat each individual using programs that integrate mind, body and soul. CWS programs are enhanced by highly effective group coaching and therapeutic processes as well as individual coaching, spiritual insights, therapy and extensive aftercare assistance.

All clients are thoroughly assessed by a highly trained and experienced recovery coach, registered provisional psychologist, ordained Monk, mental health officer and certified naturopaths (including Ayurveda and Acupuncturist). Clients may also be referred for psychometric testing and assessment, if needed. International clients welcome.

We welcome enquiries from all English speaking people from Asia, Europe, Africa, India and South America.

The Addictive Brain

Summary

* Addiction can develop despite a person's best intentions and in spite of their strength of character.

* Repeated drug use disrupts complex but well balanced systems in the human brain.

* Many people are addicted to more than one substance, complicating their efforts to recover.

The human brain is an extraordinarily complex and fine-tuned communications network containing billions of specialized cells (neurons) that give origin to our thoughts, emotions, perceptions and drives. Often, a drug is taken the first time by choice to feel pleasure or to relieve depression or stress. But this notion of choice is short-lived. Why? Because repeated drug use disrupts well-balanced systems in the human brain in ways that persist, eventually replacing a person's normal needs and desires with a one-track mission to seek and use drugs. At this point, normal desires and motives will have a hard time competing with the desire to take a drug.

How Does the Brain Become Addicted? Typically it happens like this:

* A person takes a drug of abuse, be it marijuana or cocaine or even alcohol, activating the same brain circuits as do behaviors linked to survival, such as eating, bonding and sex. The drug causes a surge in levels of a brain chemical called dopamine, which results in feelings of pleasure. The brain remembers this pleasure and wants it repeated.

* Just as food is linked to survival in day-to-day living, drugs begin to take on the same significance for the addict. The need to obtain and take drugs becomes more important than any other need, including truly vital behaviors like eating. The addict no longer seeks the drug for pleasure, but for relieving distress.

* Eventually, the drive to seek and use the drug is all that matters, despite devastating consequences.

* Finally, control and choice and everything that once held value in a person's life, such as family, job and community, are lost to the disease of addiction.

What brain changes are responsible for such a dramatic shift?

Research on addiction is helping us find out just how drugs change the way the brain works. These changes include the following:

* Reduced dopamine activity. We depend on our brain's ability to release dopamine in order to

experience pleasure and to motivate our responses to the natural rewards of everyday life, such as the sight or smell of food. Drugs produce very large and rapid dopamine surges and the brain responds by reducing normal dopamine activity. Eventually, the disrupted dopamine system renders the addict incapable of feeling any pleasure even from the drugs they seek to feed their addiction.

* Altered brain regions that control decisionmaking and judgment. Drugs of abuse affect the regions of the brain that help us control our desires and emotions. The resulting lack of control leads addicted people to compulsively pursue drugs, even when the drugs have lost their power to reward.

The disease of addiction can develop in people despite their best intentions or strength of character. Drug addiction is insidious because it affects the very brain areas that people need to "think straight," apply good judgment and make good decisions for their lives. No one wants to grow up to be a drug addict, after all.

Co-occurring Addictions: Compounding Complexities

It is not unusual for an addicted person to be addicted to alcohol, nicotine and illicit drugs at the same time. Addiction to multiple substances raises the level of individual suffering and magnifies the associated costs to society. No matter what the addictive substance, they all have at least one thing in common - they disrupt the brain's reward pathway, the route to pleasure.

What is the best way to treat people who are addicted to more than one drug?

* Medications. In some cases, medications developed for one addiction have proven useful for another. For example, naltrexone, which can help former heroin users remain abstinent by blocking the "high" associated with heroin, has been found to be effective in treating alcoholism.

* Cognitive Behavioral therapy or other psychotherapy. Behavioral therapies do not need to be specific to one drug and can be adapted to address use of multiple or different drugs. It is the disease of addiction that the therapy addresses.

* Recovery Coaching works great because you are focusing on the person's wellness as opposed to their disease. A new alternative that we specialise in here at Coaching With Substance.

* Combined medications and behavioral therapy. Research shows that this combination, when available, works best.

* Multi-pronged approach. Treatment for multiple addictions should be delivered at the same time. This is especially true because there are always triggers, such as trauma, depression, or exposure to one drug or another, that can put the recovering addict at risk for relapse. In addition, treatment must consider all aspects of a person - their age, gender, life experiences - in order to best treat their drug addiction. Although the type of treatment may differ, it should always strive to address the entire person through a multi-pronged approach that tackles all co-occurring conditions at once.

Relapse: Part of Addiction as a Chronic Disease

Despite the availability of many forms of effective treatment for addiction, the problem of relapse remains the major challenge to achieving sustained recovery. People trying to recover from drug abuse and addiction are often doing so with altered brains, strong drug-related memories and diminished impulse control. Accompanied by intense drug cravings, these brain changes can leave people vulnerable to relapse even after years of being abstinent. Relapse happens at rates similar to the relapse rates for other well-known chronic medical illnesses like diabetes, hypertension and asthma. At COACHING WITH SUBSTANCE we recognise this and so we provide ongoing outpatient  programs to combat relapse. This also includes family coaching services and ongoing stragegies for healing.

How is relapse to drug abuse similar to what happens with other chronic diseases?

* Just as an asthma attack can be triggered by smoke, or a person with diabetes can have a reaction if they eat too much sugar, a drug addict can be triggered to return to drug abuse.

* With other chronic diseases, relapse serves as a signal for returning to treatment. The same response is just as necessary with drug addiction.

* As a chronic, recurring illness, addiction may require repeated treatments until abstinence is achieved. Like other diseases, drug addiction can be effectively treated and managed, leading to a healthy and productive life.

To achieve long-term recovery, treatment must address specific, individual patient needs and must take the whole person into account. For it is not enough simply to get a person off drugs; rather, the many changes that have occurred - physical, social, psychological - must also be addressed to help people stay off drugs, for good.

Repeated drug exposure changes brain function. Positron emission tomography (PET) images are illustrated showing similar brain changes in dopamine receptors resulting from addiction to different substances - cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, or heroin. The striatum (which contains the reward and motor circuitry) shows up as bright red and yellow in the controls (in the left column), indicating numerous dopamine D2 receptors. Conversely, the brains of addicted individuals (in the right column) show a less intense signal, indicating lower levels of dopamine D2 receptors.

If you or someone you love is in the grips of addiction call us today for immediate help. Coaching With Substance is Australia's No. 1 provider of Recovery Coaching Services and WINNER of the 2014 Best Not-For-Profit in ALL Addictions.
Email:  info@coachingwithsubstance.org.au

Call us 07 56 066 315 (7days) Confidentiality assured.

We are Australia's leading award winning addiction treatment and rehab consultants for gambling, drugs, alcohol, sex, eating and internet addiction, along with eating behavioural disorders and co-dependency for Australasia and New Zealand.

Maria Pau is a 4x No. 1 best-selling author on the subjects of addiction and co-dependency and spiritual wellness. She is the Program Director of Coaching with Substance, the first of its kind in Australia as registered public benevolent institution, charity and not-for profit association that focuses on wellness using coaching principles of peak performance. We run a cutting edge holistic addiction treatment program and outpatient rehabilitation consultancy firm that ensures you are released from the shackles of addiction once and for all.

Primary care at CWS is personalised to treat each individual using programs that integrate mind, body and soul. CWS programs are enhanced by highly effective group coaching and therapeutic processes as well as individual coaching, spiritual insights, therapy and extensive aftercare assistance.

All clients are thoroughly assessed by a highly trained and experienced recovery coach, registered provisional psychologist, ordained Monk, mental health officer and certified naturopaths (including Ayurveda and Acupuncturist). Clients may also be referred for psychometric testing and assessment, if needed. International clients welcome.

We welcome enquiries from all English speaking people from Asia, Europe, Africa, India and South America.

Addiction and The FAMILY: The Family roles.

Addiction a Family Disease!

The Merry-Go-Round of DENIAL

Addiction is a tragic three act play in which there is at least two characters, the addict and their family; friends; co-workers and even healthcare workers may have a part in keeping the Merry-Go-Round turning.

ACT ONE

The play opens with the addict stating that no one can tell them what to do. This makes it very difficult for the family to talk about drinking/drugging and its results. Even when the drinking/drugging is obviously causing serious problems, they simply will not discuss it. Talking is like a one-way street.

The key word in addiction is Denial, for again and again people do what they say they will not or deny what they have done.

As the addict acts out more and more, the helpers deny the problem and increase the addicts' dependency.

In act one, the addict kills all their pain and woes by getting drunk or getting high.

ACT TWO

In act two, the addict does nothing but wait for and expect others to do for them. Distinct characters begin to evolve from their helpers. A person can play more than one character and usually does.

The Enabler

The Enabler is a helpful type, trying to rescue their friend or family member from their predicament. The Enabler wants to save the addict from the immediate crisis and relieve them of the unbearable tension created by the situation.

In reality, this person is meeting a need of their own, rather than that of the addict, although the Enabler does not realise this themselves.

The Enabler denies the addict the process of learning by correcting and taking responsibility for their own mistakes.

The Enabler may eventually insist they will never again rescue the addict. They always have and the addict believes they always will.

The Victim

This may be the boss, the employer, the foreman or supervisor. The Victim is the person who is responsible for getting the work done, if the addict is absent due to drinking or drugging or is half on and half off the job due to a hangover.

The addict becomes completely dependent on this repeated protection and cover-up by the Victim; otherwise they could not continue acting out in this fashion. If the Victim stops helping, the addict will be compelled to give up drinking/drugs or give up the job.

It is the Victim who enables the addict to continue their irresponsible addictive behaviour without losing their job.

The Provoker

This is often the wife or mother and is a key person in the play. They are a veteran at this role and has played it much longer than others. They are the Provoker. They are hurt and upset by repeated acting out episodes; but they hold the family together despite all the trouble caused by the addiction/s.

In turn, they feed back in the relationship their bitterness, resentment, fear and hurt, and so becomes the source of provocation. They control, and try to force the changes they want; they sacrifice, adjust, never give up, never gives in, but never forgets.

The attitude of the addict is that their failure should be acceptable, but others must never fail the addict! They act with complete independence and insists they will do as they please.

This character might also be called the Adjuster. They are constantly adjusting to the crisis and trouble caused by the addiction/s.

Act two is now played out in full. Everything is done for the addict and not by them. The results, effects and problems caused by addiction, have been removed by others. The painful results of the addictive behaviour were suffered by persons other than the addict. This permits them to continue in their addiction as a way to solve their problems.

ACT THREE

Act three begins much like act one. The need to deny dependence is now greater for the addict and must be expressed almost at once, and even more emphatically. The alcoholic/drug addict denies they have a problem, denies they are an alcoholic or drug addict, denies that alcohol/drugs is causing their trouble. The addict refuses to acknowledge that anyone helped them – more denial. They deny that they may lose their job and insists that they are the best or most skilled person at their job. Above all, the addict denies they have caused their family any trouble. In fact, the addict blames the family, especially the spouse/parent, for all the fuss, nagging and problems.

Some addicts achieve the same denial by a stony silence, refusing to discuss anything related to their addiction. The memory is too painful.

The real problem is that the alcoholic/drug addict is well aware of the truth which they so strongly deny. The are aware of the drunkenness and chaos and the failure. Their guilt and remorse have become unbearable and the addict cannot tolerate criticism or advice from others.

Above all, the memory of their utter helplessness and failure is more than embarrassing; it is far too painful for a person who thinks and acts as if they were a little god in their own world.

The wheel goes round and round.

The curtain never closes after act three, but instead the acts run over and over again. As years go by the actors get older, but there is little change in the words or the action of the play.

It is not true that an alcoholic/drug addict cannot be helped until they want help. It is true that there is almost no chance that the addict will stop drinking or drugging as long as other people remove all the painful consequences for them. The other actors find it difficult to change. It is much easier and far less painful for them to say that the addict cannot be helped, than to go through the agony of learning to play a new role.

Self-creating crisis

If the addictive behaviour continues long enough, the addict creates a crisis, gets into trouble, and ends up in a mess. This can happen in many ways, but the pattern is always the same: they are a dependent who behaves as if they were independent, and drinking or drugging makes it easy to convince themselves this is true. Yet the results of their acting out make them ever more dependent upon others.

When their self-created crisis strikes, they wait for something to happen, ignore it, walks away from it, or cries for someone to get them out of it. Alcohol or drugs, which at first gave them a sense of success and independence, has now stripped them of their mask and reveals a helpless, dependent child.

The crisis is a way of reassuring the addict that they have control over the other players in the play.

The Little God

No one has a right to play God and demand that the addict stop. The reverse is also true. The addict can only continue to act like a little god, telling everyone what to do, while doing as they please, if a supporting cast continues to play their roles. Every player has every right and responsibility to refuse to act as if the addict in their lives were God whose every wish and commandment be obeyed.

Ending the play

There is no easy way to stop the merry-go-round, for it can be more painful to stop it than to keep it going. It is impossible to spell out definite rules which apply to all members of the play. Each case is different, but the framework of the play remains the same.

If you see yourself in this play do not despair there is help. Our specially trained and experienced coaches at Coaching With Substance fully understand this process and are very skilful in helping families and the addict break this cycle and help all players into a quality recovery. CALL US TODAY FOR HELP 07 560 66315 

COACHING WITH SUBSTANCE (CWS) ADDICTION RECOVERY COACHES.

Website www.coachingwithsubstance.org.au      

Email info@coachingwithsubstance.org.au

We are Australia's leading award winning addiction treatment and rehab consultants for gambling, drugs, alcohol, sex, eating and internet addiction, along with eating behavioural disorders and co-dependency for Australasia and New Zealand.

Maria Pau is a 4x No. 1 best-selling author on the subjects of addiction and co-dependency and spiritual wellness. She is the Program Director of Coaching with Substance, the first of its kind in Australia as registered public benevolent institution, charity and not-for profit association that focuses on wellness using coaching principles of peak performance. We run a cutting edge holistic addiction treatment program and outpatient rehabilitation consultancy firm that ensures you are released from the shackles of addiction once and for all.

Primary care at CWS is personalised to treat each individual using programs that integrate mind, body and soul. CWS programs are enhanced by highly effective group coaching and therapeutic processes as well as individual coaching, spiritual insights, therapy and extensive aftercare assistance.

All clients are thoroughly assessed by a highly trained and experienced recovery coach, registered provisional psychologist, ordained Monk, mental health officer and certified naturopaths (including Ayurveda and Acupuncturist). Clients may also be referred for psychometric testing and assessment, if needed. International clients welcome.

We welcome enquiries from all English speaking people from Asia, Europe, Africa, India and South America.