A Young Man Needs Therapy For His Acute Depression, Relationship Issues, and For His Substance Abuse

About nine months ago I had breakfast with a forty-six-year-old man named Alexander who experiences severe depression, has relationship problems, and who is dependent on drugs and alcohol. As declared by Alexander, it is his alcohol and drug addiction and his intense depression that had the most to do with his unceasing relationship difficulties.

I remember reading that a history of mental health issues, chemical dependency, and excessive and abusive drinking routinely occur in the same family. Furthermore, I remember hearing that in such situations, an individual needs to get counseling for both medical problems and that chemical dependency and mental health difficulties often take place in the same individual.

As affirmed by Alexander, he is so defeated by his relationship problems and by both of his medical issues that he in essence has no aspiration to complete much of anything. What is particularly sad about this is that earlier in his life, Alexander completed one semester of grad school in linguistics.

Alexander’s condition makes me question if he is an example of an individual who can look within and perceive his drug abuse and alcohol drinking problems and do something meaningful about these issues or if he is someone who has to hit life’s bottom before he gets alcohol and drug dependency rehabilitation that leads to long-term sobriety.

The Need For a Rehabilitation Program He Can Believe In and a Therapist He Can Trust

If it would be helpful I would assume that I could advise him about more than a few blogs and websites that could possibly help him find information about drug abuse symptoms, the stages of alcoholism, chemical dependency information, and relationship issues. In my humble opinion, nonetheless, Alexander needs to locate a rehab protocol he can believe in and follow over the long term and find a psychologist he can trust.

I could be in error but it seems logical to conclude that Alexander probably needs to look in the mirror regarding his drug addiction signs and alcoholic symptoms and acknowledge the fact that he cannot abuse drugs or even drink responsibly if he wants to get sober, remain sober, and start on the path to lasting recovery.

It may be asked how treatment would help his drug and alcohol addiction. First of all, there are quite a few newly discovered physician-prescribed medications that can help Alexander through his withdrawal symptoms, through the alcohol and alcohol detox process, and help him avoid a drug or an alcohol relapse.

Second, Alexander would learn to understand the fact that there is completely nothing positive about chemical dependency and unhealthy and abusive drinking and that involving himself in one or both circumstances is the road to legal problems, poor work and school performance, shattered relationships, financial difficulties, deteriorating health, and possibly a premature death.

Third, therapy for his depression and for his relationship difficulties might help him manage these mental health issues more effectively and possibly create less of a need for him to engage in addictive behavior.

The Significance of Support Groups Such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous

There are probably several other individuals, family members, and friends who would offer to help Alexander with his drug abuse and his abusive and careless drinking. He more likely than not would experience greater acceptance from a recovery group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, then again, rather than getting guidance from people who rarely drink or who have never taken drugs.

When People Do Things They Love and About Which They Are Fervent

There’s a philosophical viewpoint that states that individuals who accomplish things they love and something about which they are zealous reach glorious place in life. Stated more exactly, when people do what they love, they almost never go through boredom or an uneventful life. If they involve themselves in something that is rewarding, what is more, they become more fulfilled and experience more contentment and joy in life and in their relationships.

When this is thought about even for a few moments it becomes clear that this uplifting way of thinking is widely divergent from a life that is grounded in alcohol and drug addiction because such a lifestyle removes the pleasure and delight that life offers.

Since Alexander lacks the motivation to accomplish much of anything in his life, it is apparent that he badly needs some hope for a healthier existence. And the sad thing is that hope is almost everywhere around Alexander if he could only get to the place in life to get the treatment he needs for his acute depression and addiction and adhere to his treatment program.

Stronger Relationships, Productive Change, Self Respect, and a Wonderful Life Are a Reality

Alexander is simply too young to be crushed in life. He doesn’t understand this at the moment but if he can learn how to remove himself from alcohol and drugs through alcohol and drug rehabilitation and get the treatment he needs for his intense depression, he can turn his life around and start living with self-respect, direction, and passion.

Better relationships, positive change, self respect, and a meaningful life are certainly a reality for Alexander if only he could become inspired to get the medical rehabilitation he needs, follow through with his therapy program, live his life in a healthy and drug and alcohol-free manner, and learn how to acquire a more positive attitude about his existence.