Addiction Blog | The Raleigh House of Hope

It cannot be disputed that substance abuse is extremely detrimental to your health and should be considered a major cause for concern. Addiction, no matter what the substance may be, usually requires rehab and therapy in order to promote effective and healthy recovery. Attending a drug rehab program can prove difficult however, when the program directly interferes with your job.

The Family and Medical Leave Act or FMLA, allows employees to seek needed medical attention for serious issues with paid leave and without fear of resulting termination. A question often asked of the act: Is drug addiction covered under FMLA? The answer, yes. Although there are a few qualifying circumstances, overall, FMLA covers addiction help and drug rehab center enrollment.

FMLA, which went into effect on August 5th, 1993, protects your employment while help is sought for serious medical issues. Drug addiction can certainly be considered a major health concern and subsequently any stay in a rehabilitation or treatment center qualifies as a FMLA leave of absence.

There are a few specifics to keep in mind however. FMLA leave can be taken in circumstances of substance abuse and drug addiction when treatment is provided by one of two avenues

1.) Health care provide

2.) Provider of health care services on referral by a health care provider

An FMLA leave is not approved if the absence is due to the use of drugs or alcohol but rather the active participation in a treatment program. Employees are granted up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave within a 12 month period. The employee must also have been employed a minimum of 12 months, although they do not have to be consecutive. Within those 12 months, the employee must have worked at least 1,250 hours.

is only one situation in which an employer can implement termination: if a substance abuse policy was directly and concisely expressed to employees. Of course, the application of such a policy must be non-discriminatory in nature. FMLA coverage can also be implemented in cases where an employee must take care of a child, spouse or parent currently going through drug rehabilitation.

There are numerous drug rehab facilities located all across the country. The Denver area is home to the Raleigh House of Hope whose focus is holistic in nature. Such rehab centers emphasis group support to encourage healthy living. It is important to research such programs thoroughly to determine what type of rehab program will work best for you.

Quitting drugs "cold turkey" can be a scary proposition for addicts who are worried about the potential consequences of dropping their addiction without first weaning their body off the substance. It's important for addicts to acknowledge that there is no easy way to stop the addiction in question, but it's also important for addicts to reflect on how difficult even a weaning process would be. In many instances, addicts who try to wean off their drug of choice find the transition more difficult because they are sustaining the sensation, relief, urge, and general addictive properties regardless of interacting with them at lower and lower dosages.

Drug rehab is a difficult process no matter the avenues you use to find it. Drug risk and drug abuse are difficult weights to shake off, but it's exactly that mode of thinking which inclines institutions to explore the idea of leaving the addictive substance immediately and with haste - without a weaning process or a "cheat day," Quitting drugs cold turkey means dropping the drug from your life forever in an instant. Because of this, cold turkey processes are often difficult for addicts who must cope with the shock of being without their addiction, but it is this jolt that has helped many stay strong in their recovery from addiction.

Statistically speaking, cold turkey methods are some of the most successful and healthy ways addicts can quit their addiction. On the other side of that lucky coin, however, addicts of any drug or substance can suffer severe health consequences from the physical withdrawal of quitting cold turkey. It's important for addicts to consult with professionals before trying to quit cold turkey to ensure they are not at risk of any serious consequences.

Help and treatment centers like the Raleigh House of Hope in Denver, Colorado provide helpful brochures and information to explore options available for every kind of addict. The truth of the matter is that the body can experience both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms with every addictive drug on the market, and it would be incorrect to believe those withdrawals can stand in the way between an addict and their goal of achieving a post-drug life.

When quitting your addiction becomes too difficult, you may find that a change in lifestyle is the missing piece needed to strengthen your efforts. Studies have begun to show that a fixation on healthier activities can act as an effective method for weaning an addict off any drug. Exercising in particular can have a positive effect on drug dependency, stimulating important reward systems in the mind and body that only the drugs were responsible for stimulating before.

Physical exercise also helps to mediate the withdrawal symptoms from quitting the drug. The stimulation of exercise is a natural way to regulate the chemical centers of the body in order to stave off the emptiness that many addicts experience when they put down their vice. A 2001 study on marijuana dependence showed a fifty percent decrease in a pool of twelve participants who began routine exercises on a treadmill. Other studies have also shown that a healthy and exercised body will begin to see improvements in sleeping habits, appetite, and emotions that stem from the proper regulation of the body's system through an active lifestyle.

Exercise may also aid in the battle against drug addiction in a simpler way. If idle hands truly are the devil's workshop, then idleness can often lead into recreational drug use that gives way to addiction for some. Adopting exercise can often become an outlet for addicts to channel their needs into cycling, walking, jogging, or going to the gym. Nicotine dependence studies have also proven a strong correlation between exercise and a smoker's ability to quit their addiction. A regular exercise routine reduces the frequency as well as the severity of withdrawals. Additionally, exercise is effective for combating and diminishing the discouraging weight gains that many smokers experience when they quit cigarettes.

Help centers like the Raleigh House of Hope in Denver, Colorado passionately promote the discipline necessary to overcome a person's vices. Make no mistake, however: exercise is not the cure-all solution for fixing debilitating addictions. It is, however, a powerful tool that people struggling with addiction can use in their road to recovery - one among many.

Being admitted to a drug rehabilitation center by relatives, friends, authorities, or even your own willpower requires one to place trust in the institution in order to begin recovery. Being in a center may seem limiting at first, but it's important to understand that their only mission is to remove you from an even more imprisoning situation - drug addiction. Numerous rehabilitation and help centers like the House of Hope in Denver, Colorado open their doors to people who are at risk of addiction, recovering from addiction and drug abuse, or currently in addiction's powerful thralls.

Life after drug rehab can hold a stark contrast to the life before. To many recovered addicts, the distinction is freeing. Life after drug rehabilitation marks the arrival of a new time that does not have to answer to addiction. Although many rehabilitation centers implement relapse prevention plans or enforce outpatient treatment programs, the contrast is still immensely empowering and the fact remains that you are in control of your life again. The management of your health, finances, relationships, and even your personal time is lightened from the needs of drugs. The loss of addiction transforms the impediments which used to burden you into opportunities that can help to further distance you from that addiction.

Experts have determined the first month out of drug rehab as the most important indicator for permanent recovery, so it is important to make every step count. Statistics have cited that between forty and sixty percent of recovering addicts relapse post treatment. That means any addict who steps foot outside of a drug rehab center should be proud of themselves for bucking the trend.

Studies have shown that addicts are more prone to return to their ways when associating with other addicts. This suggests that recovering addicts should distance themselves from enabling environments that might cause them to waver in their willpower. It is recommended that recovering addicts enjoy the company of other people who put an emphasis on sobriety. It is also beneficial to seek the company of those who are also in recovery in order to provide encouragement to one another.

The Americans with Disabilities Act now protects people with alcohol and drug problems from certain disciplinary and legal actions taken by their employers. Alcoholism and drug addiction has officially become a disability, thereby falling under legislations protecting people with disabilities from certain prosecutorial steps by their employers. The ADA protects people who are currently suffering from alcohol problems as well as those who have struggled with addiction in the past.

For recovering addicts, having an ample amount of family support is crucial to the success of their recovery. From the time an addict admits they need help until they are discharged from drug rehab, their recovery will go more smoothly if they have plenty of support. This support can help an addict in a number of ways.

One of the most difficult hurdles for recovering addicts to overcome is a drug craving. Drug cravings can torment recovering addicts for weeks, months and even decades after their sobriety began. For an addict experiencing a drug craving, nothing is more relevant to them then acquiring and enjoying the drug they are craving. This means they will do or say whatever they feel is necessary to get the drug, and they won't care whom they hurt in the process.

Realizing the need to get support for an addiction is a major and important step towards recovery. Fortunately there are plenty of different options for addiction treatment for all lifestyles and budgets. Getting the right type of support can help to curb an addiction, assess a person's mental and physical states, and prevent them from succumbing to addiction again in the future. Below are some of the main forms of addiction support:

After seeking treatment at a drug rehab center for addiction, the biggest battle is life after drug addiction. Dealing with a drug addiction is a lifetime journey for many people that doesn't come easy. At the Raleigh House of Hope, we will give you the tools needed to overcome a drug addiction for a lifetime.

Therapy

Our center offers therapy to our patients. This will teach you how to handle your cravings both in and out of our center. We will give you skills that you will be able to use throughout your lifetime that will help you live a fulfilling life after drug addiction. Our therapy techniques are tailored to fit your needs. We offer a high staff-to-client ratio. This means that your rehabilitation will take place in an intimidate setting filled with compassionate people who want to see you have a successful life after rehab.

Counseling

Many times drug addiction is just part of an underlying problem. Whether there are issues such as depression, stress or anxiety, we will work with you through counseling sessions to help you figure out what made you turn to drugs in the first place. After pinpointing that out, we can better understand your addiction and positive ways to deal with the underlying problem.

Continued Support

We're with you on this journey. We will work with you every step of the way. Your feelings are important, and we will listen to you in a caring manner. Your success is important to us and that is why we offer continued support even when you are finished with our program. We will always be there when you need us at the Raleigh House of Hope.

At the Raleigh House of Hope, we are here to give you the tools you need to handle life after drug addiction. Our center is open to not only residents of Denver, Colorado, but anyone who is willing to come to our center for help. If you are ready to kick your drug addiction, please contact us today. The sooner you do, the sooner you can begin your new life drug free.

We at The Raleigh House of Hope know that teen drug addiction can be hard on everyone involved and hope to shed some light on this growing problem and at the same time help the teens, as well as the parents involved. We feel that the first step in this process is to know why teenagers use drugs.

As parents we are not too old to remember being offered our first cigarette or that first joint. Peer pressure is the leading cause of drug addiction in teens. The Raleigh House of Hope in Denver, Colorado works to help you understand and get the help you need. Knowing what causes a teenager to try drugs is the first step in preventing them from taking that first pill, or that first toke.

Curiosity:

Curiosity is one of the five most common causes of drug use. Every parent knows that the quickest way to make a teen want to try something is to tell them they can't. We beat it into their heads that drugs are wrong and it increases their curiosity. Most teens try drugs, that is a given, however they usually decide they aren't for them and move on. There are that select few though that become a statistic and get addicted to marijuana or worse. Drug rehab centers can help to cope with the emotional and physical damage, but first you both have to admit there is a problem and ask for help.

Peer Pressure:

Peer pressure has always been a problem but it seems to be more prevalent in today's society. The feeling of wanting so desperately to fit in drives many teens to take "just one toke," or succumb to "Ahh don't be a wuss man." The need to belong is overwhelming in teenagers, who are just beginning to find their way. It's easier to just say yes than to say no to a teen who wants to fit in.

Coping:

Coping is one of the top reasons for teen drug use. Drugs make them forget for just a little while that the world is cruel. Teens with a bad home life or thoughts of suicide will often turn to drugs in order to "just escape" for a time. Yes, they know that the problem is still there when they come down, but the high is just too good to give up.

These are just a few of the reasons that teens use drugs, there are more. If you have a teenager that you suspect of using, the first step is to understand why, then you work together to get the help that you both will need.

In a survey conducted by the Partnership at DrugFree.com and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), ten percent of adults across the United States state they have had problems with using and abusing drugs or alcohol at some point in their lives. These addiction problems are more common than many people realize. Although the drug that is abused may differ across socioeconomic lines, drug addiction can strike anyone, regardless of their life circumstances.

Drug addiction is something that affects the whole family. Deciding that a loved one needs to enter a drug rehab center is never an easy decision. Choosing the right type of treatment that allows for a customized treatment plan is vital to an individual's long term success.

The Raleigh House is a drug rehab center situated in a Victorian house nestled in a quiet Denver, Colorado neighborhood. Their specialty is a a comprehensive treatment plan that focuses on a combination of the best in both holistic and traditional recovery methods. Engaging physical activities, nutritional education and support, personal spiritual growth and experiential learning all provide a supportive and caring environment in which an individual can become free of drugs. Highly knowledgeable professionals who personally understand the challenges of entering a drug rehab center work with each individual to craft a treatment plan designed to address key issues that arise during their evaluations.

With an approach to drug treatment that is unique and all-natural, The Raleigh House of Denver, Colorado is a drug rehab center that focuses on holistically empowering an individual so they have the tools and support they need to lead a sober and successful life. This approach has shown to reduce the relapse rate of participants.

By focusing on the biochemical reasons behind their additions, individuals learn to rely less on pharmaceutical drugs for their recovery. Because repairing the biochemical imbalances helps minimize withdrawal symptoms, relapses are reduced. The psychological and physiological issues that are often an underlying issue for people with addictions are addressed using sociological techniques designed to support the individual as they are working through them. Long term planning includes a network of individuals focused on recovery as well as fellowship within a 12 step program

Statistics show that the primary drug for kids under the age of 18 is Marijuana. Recent studies have revealed that on a normal day over one million teens smoked cigarettes, over half a million drank alcohol and a whopping 563,000 smoked marijuana. This is a daily average and can lead to other addictions that are serious and life threatening. We at The Raleigh House of Hope in Denver, Colorado want to see these numbers decrease as more and more teens seek the help they need in order to overcome these addictions.

While there are other more serious addictions out there, marijuana is the drug that kids seem to try first. Rumors say that marijuana is not physically addictive and that it isn't bad for you because it comes from "nature." Teens are impressionable and buy into this theory easily, especially when it comes to peer pressure.

How many times have we heard "but it's only a little marijuana or "it's only one drink?" What parents and teens need to realize is that the world has changed. Marijuana is much stronger than it used to be, which leads to more negative effects. Think of an answer to this question if you can. If marijuana can't hurt you, then why do you need a drug rehab center in order to give it up?

Even experimenting with marijuana can lead to addiction or at least to bad choices concerning school, sex, and other important decisions that can ruin your life. Not everyone who experiments with marijuana, or other drugs, moves on to addiction but do you really want to take the chance that you are one of the select few who just might?

At this moment there are more teens in drug treatment centers for marijuana abuse than any other type of illegal drug. Another thing to remember before you take that first toke is that marijuana causes changes in your brain that are similar to cocaine, heroin, or alcohol. It affects your cognitive thinking, which can affect your ability and judgment when driving. Do you honestly want to be responsible for the death of an innocent person?

There is a reason that you should just say no to drugs. Think before you act and dare to be different.

Working through an addiction can be almost impossible without help. We at The Raleigh House of Hope in Denver, Colorado work to make sure that addicts are not alone during their recovery. One of the best ways to help a recovering addict is by having compassion. Despite popular belief no one chooses to become a drug addict. Some people can experiment with drugs and alcohol all day long and walk away; however there are a select few that just aren't that lucky.

In the past recovery has focused on the addict as a sick person and tried to help them become "well" again. While you can get sick from withdrawals symptoms if you think about it almost everyone in society has an addiction, whether it is to alcohol, drugs, pornography or even caffeine. The best way to work through an addiction now seems to be to not treat the individual drug addiction but to treat the reason behind the addiction.

Often an addiction starts as the need to cling to something, once an addict recovers they may turn this need for drugs to other things, such as a person or coffee. The addiction started as a need to belong or to be taken away from life's problems for a short period of time. Addiction is a nasty word that doesn't have to mean you are on drugs. If we treat the root of the problem them we help the addict work through the addiction as well.

Three such methods of working through an addiction are to rest, inquire and enjoy life. These methods get to the core of the problem and help the addict to finally see that life is worth enjoying. An addict has to have a reason to want to recover. If they feel worthless or have nothing to look forward to why would they go through the suffering of trying to recover?

As with every other part of recovery in a drug rehab center, compassion and understanding is the key to helping addicts finally lead a healthy lifestyle that they enjoy and love. If you know an addict who needs help then this may just be the key.

Teen drug addiction is a tragic situation that affects not only the child but everyone around them. Admitting that your teen has a problem is the first step towards getting that child the help that they not only need but deserve. We at the Raleigh House of Hope feel that every teen can be helped and we will never give up on them.

While the thought of placing your addicted teen in a drug rehab center is heartbreaking, the alternative will be much more so. Don't let anyone tell you that your teen is beyond help; that is not and never will be the case. There are some tips that will come in handy when your teen is ready to give up hope. It's very easy to drift back into a drug habit, especially in the teenage years when peer pressure is so hard to resist. Following these tips and getting help from a center like The Raleigh House of Hope in Denver, Colorado will ensure that your teen has the help, and the hope, he needs to beat the drug addiction that is ruling his life.

Make sure to offer unconditional support to your teenager. Many parents go into denial or even lash out because they feel that it is something they must have done wrong, when in most instances this is not the case. You have to support them throughout this ordeal in order for them to hold onto the hope they so desperately need. Drug addiction is not easy to beat and without your support it will be easy for them to be led back into the drug scene by their peers or on their own as well.

Tell them on a daily basis that you love them and that they can do this. It is also important to remember that drug addiction is something you have for life. Even after a teen addict seems cured there is still a hard road to travel ahead of you both.

The key here is to never ever let your teen give up hope and to never give up hope yourself. Teen drug abuse is a tragedy, giving up hope is an even bigger one.

Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant. It works by giving you a high that makes you feel on top of the world, but in actual fact it's destroying your brain cells. Habitual users of the drug increase the risks of suffering from the numerous side effects, including overdoses, heart attacks and mental health problems such as paranoia and panic attacks. Many users find themselves craving ever increasing quantities of the drug, and this can be so expensive that the only way to pay for their fix is to resort to crime. You might have been relatively lucky so far and got away with a few bad come downs, but if you persist, you're playing a game of odds and in the end chances are they'll catch up with you.

It takes real courage to admit you have a problem and seek help for it. In order to successfully break the cycle of addiction, you not only need support from your loved ones, but experts who know what you're going through. That's why so many people go to rehab centers to help their recovery. By following a treatment program in a safe, supportive environment such as the Raleigh House of Hope, you are giving yourself the best opportunity to make a full and lasting recovery.

Rehab centers like the Raleigh House of Hope don't just treat the physical cause of your addiction. Therapists help you look much deeper by using techniques such as hypnosis and somatic experiencing to find out why you started taking cocaine in the first place. Getting to the root of the problem is instrumental in your recovery, and is the main reason rehab centers offer a better chance of successful lasting recovery than physical withdrawal on its own.

At the Raleigh House of Hope your drug treatment program is personalized for you. Everyone is unique, and the right solution for someone else isn't necessarily the best way for you. By pinpointing any nutritional and digestion issues, staff at the center enable you to begin the physical healing process; this is designed to lessen the symptoms of withdrawl and make the process as pain free as possible.

No one is saying battling cocaine addiction is easy, it will take all your mental strength and willpower. However, by using a rehab center like the Raleigh House of Hope, you are giving yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in your battle. I wish you the best of luck.

An alcoholic is not simply a frequent drinker. People who suffer from alcohol abuse reach a point in their lives when their bad habit may significantly impair their work, their social relationships, family life, behavior and even basic daily functioning. Official statistic data reveals that up to 20 percent of male adults and up to 10 percent female adults in the United States suffer from alcohol abuse and meet the criteria defining an alcoholic at some moment in their lives. Besides damage caused by the negative alcohol effects on the liver, brain, stomach, pancreas and other organs, it also causes dramatic personality changes and alterations of normal behavior. An alcohol abuse sufferer is obsessed about obtaining alcohol at any cost to relieve daily tension or stress associated with work, family life or social interactions, which, over time, becomes a typical addiction. Fortunately, the Raleigh House Of Hope is a professional rehab center that can provide relief and hope to alcoholics who are willing to make efforts to improve their life.

Alcoholics May Suffer Brain Damage And Changes In Normal Behavior

Excessive alcohol consumption directly affects the brain cells, by slowing down their responses and impairing their metabolism. Alcohol has direct toxic effects on the brain when the capacity of the liver to eliminate alcohol from the body is exceeded. However, alcohol can also affect the brain indirectly in many other ways. It can cause a poor absorption of food components such as vitamins, minerals or antioxidants in the stomach and intestines, which indirectly affects the nutrition of nerve cells. It can alter the ability of the liver to protect the body from toxins and metabolic byproducts, and the brain is the first organ to suffer. Soon after the initial damage caused by excessive alcohol consumption, severe psychological changes occur, which define a typical alcoholic. The brain becomes dependent upon the temporary relaxing and calming effects of alcohol, and if the alcoholic does not drink soon enough, withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, irritation, aggression, agitation and insomnia may occur.

The Raleigh House Of Hope Provides Solid Medical And Psychological Support To Alcoholics

The family and close friends are the first to take the hit when an alcoholic is denied his or her drink. The person may lose his or her job, may become isolated because former friends try to avoid him or her, and the family may reach a point when they no longer see hope for a happy life. The Raleigh House Of Hope is a specialized rehab center that can transform people suffering from alcohol abuse in fully functional individuals through professional services that include a thorough assessment and diagnosis, management of withdrawal symptoms, alcohol detoxification and professional counseling.

Low to moderate occasional consumption of alcohol usually does not cause substantial harm to one's health. However,

excessive, repetitive alcohol ingestion can lead to severe body and mental health damage. Alcohol is classified as a sedative substance, meaning that it temporarily inhibits the brain and induces a transient state of calm and relaxation, but also impairs normal speech and body coordination. However, alcohol can cause disinhibition and aggression in certain individuals, can alter normal sleep patterns, and cause anxiety and insomnia in the long run. Alcohol abuse may lead to significant changes in behavior and work productivity, which may result in problems at work and in the family, unless the individuals are not treated in a specialized rehab center.

Alcohol Abuse May Cause Dysfunction In Several Body Systems

The liver is the organ that attempts to remove alcohol from the bloodstream by neutralizing it. However, in heavy drinkers, the capacity of the liver to eliminate alcohol is progressively diminished. Moreover, people who abuse alcohol may exceed the capacity of the liver to neutralize alcohol, meaning that free-circulating alcohol can exert its toxic effects on the brain. Alcohol abuse can lead to malnutrition. There are two reasons for that. Alcohol causes damage to the pancreas, which produces digestive enzymes to facilitate the digestion and absorption of protein, fat and carbohydrates. Alcohol also directly slows down the absorption of vitamins and minerals in the gut. These two combined negative effects create enough conditions for a poor nutrition of brain cells, which further aggravates brain damage and mental effects. Because the brain becomes addicted to the "calming" properties of alcohol, alcoholics start experiencing withdrawal symptoms when alcohol is not available. They may include restlessness and agitation, anxiety, panic attacks, irritability and moodiness, poor mental concentration and low productivity. At the Raleigh House Of Hope, a specialized rehab center, highly skilled rehabilitation medical specialists can help reduce the impact of alcohol on one's health, efficiently manage withdrawal symptoms and cure alcohol addiction completely through a gentle and professional approach.

Alcoholics Experience Degrading Social Functioning And Family Problems

People abusing alcohol become addicted to the temporary stress-relief, brain-inhibiting properties of alcohol and try to obtain it whenever they can. It may cause serious financial problems in the family and can ruin one's career and social functioning. Medical experts at the Raleigh House Of Hope employ efficient counseling and psychological techniques to achieve functional and social recovery of the individual suffering from alcohol abuse. If one of your family members or friends struggles with alcohol addiction, don't hesitate to contact the Raleigh House Of Hope and schedule an appointment for a thorough evaluation and safe treatment.

The first step to getting help is admitting that you have a problem. It is important to understand that if your life hasbeen adversely affected by drugs or alcohol, there is professional help available to you. Raleigh House Of Hope offers comprehensive addiction treatment in a comfortable and caring setting. When you are ready to get help, it is important to reach out to those who can help you, even though it may be difficult. It can be very intimidating to get help because it may seem like admitting failure. The truth is, addiction is not a moral failing, it is a serious disease. The experienced professionals at Raleigh House Of Hope can help you learn how to manage the serious disease of addiction and begin the process of recovery.

Parents of addicts have a very difficult time because so often they feel hopeless, frustrated, afraid and angry.  As parents, there is a natural inclination to try to remain in control of the child that is a drug abuser or alcoholic.  All these feelings are complicated by a parent’s tendency to place blame on themselves.  Blaming oneself dilutes the opportunity not only to help one’s child but also to help and heal themselves and the family.

Many addicts are skilled manipulators which frequently drives the family to continue their behavior.  It is challenging and imperative to gather one’s inner strength and not allow guilt to become the primary motivating force to help the recovering addict.  Family members unwilling to accept that addiction is a disease tend to hold onto an illusion of power. That is, they believe they caused the addiction and must strive to control it so the addict ultimately will be cured.   

When mind-altering addiction controls any member of a family, life for that family cannot be normal.  Dependence upon drugs and alcohol cause users to behave in ways that hurt the people with whom they are closest.  Unless experienced firsthand, it is almost impossible to imagine the pain suffered by the family members of the addict. Their lives become filled with anger, guilt, shame, hurt, fear and loneliness.  They live with constant unpredictability.  The family revolves around the addict who in turn revolves around addiction.  Brief periods of sobriety do little to lessen the tension.  The family has learned not to rely on the addict’s promises.  The family suffers a lack of trust; they lose the ability to communicate in healthy ways; they have lost the ability to deal with emotions in a healthy way; their feelings of love become confounded by feelings of hatred; they find themselves unable to separate the person from the problem.  The family becomes filled with anger, fear, resentment and despair.  

There is help for the family.  There is a way out.  Families can recover and get well when they seek help for themselves with the same intensity they sought help for the addict.

Through counseling the family will learn:
·         How to create and maintain boundaries with the addict. 
·         Effective communication styles within the family and with the addict.
·         To identify and deal with their emotions on a more timely and effective basis.
·         To forgive themselves.
·         There is nothing they do that causes the addict to use.
·         There is nothing they can do to prevent the addict from using.
·         As their attitudes and behaviors change, likewise the addict’s attitude and behavior will change.
·         They can become well, productive and serene in their own lives.

Everyone has their own definition of hitting rock bottom. Sebastian had many. From a young age, addiction was all he knew. I'm happy to say The Raleigh House is helping him write a new definition for sober living.