Holiday Season Not a Time of Joy for Some

There are millions of people in America that aren't exactly looking forward to the Holiday Season.  These are people that have an addiction to drugs or alcohol. 

Drug and alcohol addiction affects everyone in one way or another, whether as an addict, a friend or family member, or an everyday citizen that is charged with carrying some of the burden through tax dollars.  Without a doubt addiction is the world's number one health problem, and is the underlying cause for many other societal ills, including accidents, diseases, abuse and other criminal activity.

Guilt is a major component in the life cycle of addiction.  Most addicts are basically good people before they become addicts and have some sense of right and wrong with no intention of hurting others.  As they become dependent on the chemical, they begin experiencing situations where they are doing and saying things they know deep down aren't right. 

They begin to lose their ability to control themselves.   They become trapped in a vicious circle of using drugs, lying about it, stealing to support more drug use and at each turn the addict is accumulating memories of each these negative incidents.   

The addict commits a negative action and he records a memory of that moment, which includes whomever he was involved with at the time.  The addict knows these negative actions are wrong and so feels bad about them after the fact.  These memories of guilt can then get triggered in the present or future when he sees the people and places that were involved when the transgressions were committed in and feels bad about it. 

In time these transgressions are committed more and more often and the people in the addict's life where these transgressions have occurred become "triggers" of the dishonest act or deed.  The people, family members, loved ones and friend\s appearance to the addict triggers the guilt.  Family or friends don\'t necessarily have to say a word to the addict; just the sight of them can trigger the guilt. 

To avoid these unpleasant guilt feelings, the addict will use more drugs to insulate himself from the guilt.  Addicts will also begin to withdraw more and more from friends and family as the transgressions committed increase in number. They will eventually pull away from the family, seclude themselves and/or become antagonistic towards those they love.

This is a scene that is far too often played out during the Holiday Season, which is when families often reunite.  The display of negative emotions and the guilt from the past transgressions typically drives addicts to use drugs heavily during or directly after time spent with family, attempting to chase away the guilt. 

According to Luke Catton, President of Narconon Arrowhead, "We see a substantial increase in number of people reaching for help this time of year and during the immediate weeks after the Holidays.  We have experienced counselors, many of whom have overcome an addiction themselves, that can now effectively help others do the same." 

As the coming weeks unfold, we will look at many of the factors of substance abuse and how this time of year has an impact, and visa versa. 

Narconon Arrowhead is one of the nation's largest and most successful residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers and uses the drug-free social education methodology developed by American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, achieving a success rate many times higher than the national average. 

To get help for a loved one battling the dwindling spiral of drug or alcohol addiction, contact Narconon Arrowhead today.  Log on to www.stopaddiction.com or call 1-800-468-6933.  Drug addiction can be overcome.

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