I was with a client the other day and felt that helplessness I sometimes feel working in addictions. This person wanted it all to stop and I wanted to help them. I discussed my frustrations with a colleague and was reminded that it takes time. Cravings won’t go away immediately. There is no quick fix. It is a process that takes time, commitment, and most of all, hope. If you are a parent or a service provider, being reminded that change takes time will help you have the space to actually help. I couldn’t “fix” that client that day and it wouldn’t even be beneficial for that person to be “fixed”. The change process is full of learning and growth that does not come easy. Addiction perpetuates a need for quick fixes and immediate gratification. As helpers, or family members of substance abusers, clients will do best with our consistent plugging away with them combined with the instillation of hope. People change. People can change. People do get clean.

If you are addicted, this mindset can also benefit you. Seeing the process a little more realistically will help to keep the discouragement at bay. Know that if you stay on the road to recovery and seek help, you will get clean. There might be ups and downs but that doesn’t mean you’re not going forward. Give yourself some time. Change is a combination of baby steps and periodic leaps. It takes time.

Post written by: Jason McCarty, Outpatient Therapist

This entry was posted on Friday, January 22nd, 2010 at 12:16 pm and is filed under Clinical Insights, Family & Friends, Treatment Strategies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.