When I decided to finally treat my drug addiction and admitted myself into a drug rehab facility I learned that not only was I a drug addict but I was also a clinically depressed.  I learned that one of the reasons that I would abuse drugs was to self medicate for the depression I was suffering.

Unknowingly the treatment facility that I went to had a special program meant for dually diagnosed clients.  There I worked with therapist both individually and in a group setting that addressed both my depression and my addiction.  I learned that in order for me to stay sober  it was going to be necessary to deal with my depression.  In my case the depression was what was making me feed my addiction.  I was looking for temporary relief.

Addiction treatment allowed me to learn about myself and what I was going to need to do in order to achieve long term sobriety.  At first I was upset I was dually diagnosed and thought that I was “sicker” then others.  Now I have a positive attitude and feel grateful that I am.  Knowing that I suffer from depression allows me to know exactly what was causing me to act out in addiction and what I need to do so that I do not fall back into the same trap.

Without the help I received from the treatment facility that I went to there is no telling where my life is headed.  I used to stay locked in my house feeling bad for myself and pumping my system full of drugs.  Now that I am sober and have my depression under control I am happier then I have ever been and able to lead a sober and productive life.

Our alphabet letter of the day, boys and girls, is “D”. “D” stands for Desperate. Desperate because a Florida man, out of cell phone minutes, called 911 multiple times and attempted to arrange a sexual encounter with the dispatcher. He was arrested at his home about 15 minutes later. “D” also stands for Denial. Reportedly, the 29-year-old man told officers that he did not know he would get into trouble for his calls. “D” also stands for Defense. He will need a good one.

To many people this is just a funny story that you preface with, “Did you hear what some guy in Florida did? You will not believe this one!” To others of us, we recognize the signs and symptoms of addiction that this story illustrates. Caught in the throes of addiction, addicts will often go to extreme lengths to get their lust fix. For example, why did this man call 911 for sex? Because he was out of minutes on his calling plan. One of the characteristics of addiction is loss of control, or the inability to stop your behavior, especially in situations when “normies” would have quit long ago. However, being out of minutes is certainly no barrier to a determined sex addict. Another illustration of loss of control is the fact that he allegedly called back four times to 911 even thought the dispatcher hung up on him. Addicts just do not know when to stop.

For some of us, the harder thing to comprehend in this story is the fact that the man claimed he did not know that he would get in trouble for his calls to 911. Addicts, however, understand all too well how their denial and rationalizations cause them to see the world through a unique set of rose-colored glasses. Things that would be so obviously inappropriate to everyone else seem perfectly acceptable to the addict. In recovery programs they call this “stinkin’ thinkin’”. Good call, that one.

Sometimes addicts are aware that they have a problem and seek out help for themselves. Recovery from an addiction is typically not something that a person can accomplish alone. There are many types of help available from online sober communities, to 12 step anonymous programs, to psychotherapy, and even hospital programs. For other addicts their denial is so strong they genuinely do not believe that they have a problem. These unfortunates do not typically ask for help for themselves and have a much farther fall to find their “bottom”. For some, eventually, the progressive nature of the addiction leads to a situation like this one, where they are caught, confronted, and in all likelihood in this case, convicted.

This article was written By Laird Bridgman Ezine article.

Dual diagnosis treatment in New Jersey has come a long way in the last couple of years but still do not compare with the dual diagnosis programs in Florida. Most of the dual diagnosis treatment in New Jersey or even in New York for that matter, are edsigned anywhere from a few dayy to a few weeks in either a psychiatric hospital or residential dual diagnosis treatment program. Florida dual diagnosis programs provide care which can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months followed by supportive housing for those individuals that require ongoing structure and care.

This could be the reason that so many people from New York and New Jersey are traveling to Florida for a dual diagnosis treatment program. In many cases, the longer a patient can remain in structure coupled with therapy the better the likelihood of a positive outcome.

Don’t get into a relationship for a while, wait a year to get romantically involved, you are not emotionally ready, you need to concentrate on your recovery for now.  These are all things I would hear in the first year of my recovery and unfortunately I did not listen.

For the first six months of my sobriety I was firing on all cylinders doing whatever my sponsor told me to and listening to all those that had more sobriety then me.  I was working the twelve steps, going to meetings every day, enjoying the fellowship… Everything that is suggested during early recovery.  Then I met a girl.  During the beginning of my relationship I was doing okay at keeping a balance between my recovery and my relationship. Eventually that was not the case.

Slowly but surely all my concentration was focused on my relationship.  My happiness was completely dependent upon on the dynamics of my relationship.  When things were good I was good and on the contrary when they were bad so was I.

Eventually the relationship ended and I was completely loss.  The fellowship that I had with other men in the program was gone.  I had not been going to meetings and staying sober so I didn’t think that that was the answer.  I had stopped working the steps and therefore did not have a sponsor whom I could call.  My story is no different then anyone else who did what I did.  I eventually relapsed and my drug addiction went to a level it has never been before.  I now understand what is meant by the progression of the disease.  I went into a tailspin that I never thought possible.

After a relapse that lasted nearly two years and another trip to addiction treatment I am able to look back and see the importance of staying out of relationships in early recovery.  It is a complete distraction from what the task at hand is supposed to be.  Drug addiction is a serious matter that needs an individuals undivided attention when trying to get clean and sober.  Besides, in early recovery who is really emotionally stable enough to handle a break up and stay sober.  Speaking from personal experience my advice is to stay out of relationships for at least a year.  When my relationship ended it proved to be nearly fatal.