Meth and mistletoe holiday hopes for a life regained

This is the time of year in which many people contemplate their New Year’s resolutions. Some will set these goals and be consistent for the first few weeks of the year until they eventually lose focus and quit. Others will struggle to keep these aspirations as a focal point for the whole year. The good news is that with very rare exceptions, every aspiration is attainable, including sobriety.

I work with a lot of clients who struggle with many situations in their lives regarding honesty, safety and fulfillment.

Unfortunately one aspect that negatively affects so many people is the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs.
We all look for enjoyment and passion from life. Yet, when substances are involved, our lives quickly lose that enjoyment and the passion gets transferred into trying to maintain the high. It can destroy our relationships with others, but most importantly our relationships with our dreams, our souls and our selves.

There is a long-standing debate about addiction being perceived as a disease. Regardless of your perception, unfortunately the “pill” prescribed to treat addiction can look extremely large and may need to be taken multiple times a day for a long time … perhaps for the rest of one’s life. This metaphorical “pill” is composed of therapy and reconstructing lives, but most importantly maintaining the strong and rigid belief that addiction stops you from living the life you want to live and keeps you from the love you want and deserve.
When taken correctly, this treatment can be quite effective.

There are many reasons people may opt not to take the treatment. Some don’t want to deal with the potentially adverse and painful side effects. Stopping drug use and taking this pill will most likely cause some discomfort, either through withdrawal, losing party buddies, things seeming unfulfilling or having to figure out how to live life again. This is completely normal. People may decide to take it for a time and then stop for a while. Others will decide that it is not the right time to start taking the pill, but may do it later. Many are really frightened to start taking it.

For the addict, life is terrifying, reality is scary and sobriety can be incredibly difficult. Many are promised a party when they start using, but the fun rarely lasts and the party can turn extremely dangerous really quickly. Sobriety isn’t always comfortable or fun, but having a life run by an addiction isn’t enjoyable either. It inflicts pain on yourself and people who love you.

A life without the control of addiction can be incredible and fulfilling.

What is important to remember, is that it is possible to achieve peace back into your life. An addict needs to find the desire and motivation that will drive them to face their demons, stop using and recreate their lives.

For those who have loved people struggling with addiction, they know how the addicted person’s struggle can take over our lives in various ways. We can get pulled into their chaotic world where we can feel trapped and bound to actively participate in their pain. As we lose our ability to walk away and allow them to find their own path back to sanity, our lives can become entwined with their’s and we stop living for our goals, passions and well-being.

Until someone wants to change, nothing will change. Situations transform in our lives because we decide that there are aspects that we want to be better and we are going to take the initiative to improve on those. I know we sometimes feel that we can persuade people to do what we want them to do. Begging, bargaining with, beating down or blasting on someone struggling with addiction will not only frustrate you, but will most likely not be effective and may push them away or further into their addiction.

There are many organizations that provide services for people struggling with addiction in Colorado, including Narcotics Anonymous, Crystal Meth Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous. Other groups like The Huddle offer support groups for gay men, while Mile High Meth Project is designed as a comprehensive treatment program for meth and stimulant drug addiction.

People don’t have to go through this alone.

Enjoyment of life can be found again. If this is something you want to change, do it. There are people and resources out there to support and help you. This journey begins with the first step. There are many people along the path to help you regain the life you have lost.