Dealing with Addictions (Part II)
Another variable in determining ones ability to get past their addiction is work history*. The more someone has a pattern of consistent employment the better are their chances of recovery. If someone has a managed to develop their work life it means they have the ability to do what it takes to accomplish a goal. Also not having a regular source of income becomes an additional stress that will contribute to their inclination to engage in the addictive behavior.
Having a strong support system is an important variable in being able to recover from addiction. The pressures that originally drove the addicted person to use their addiction to escape often times reappear in their life and when those times come it is extremely helpful to have people to turn to; people who can provide both emotional support and reminders of the consequences of making the bad choice of getting enmeshed with their addiction.
In summary the five variables which affect a persons’ ability to get beyond their addictions are:
1. The level of desperation, the more desperate the greater the chances that the addicted person will do what it takes to change.
2. The length of time of the addiction, the point here is the sooner the addiction is dealt with the greater the chances of recovery.
3. The intensity of the addiction – being aware of this variable is that both the addicted person and their emotional support system should look for early warning signs to prevent the addiction from being full blown.
4. A good work history is an important variable to be sensitive to because as soon as someone has sever work problems getting past addiction be comes ten times harder.
5. Having a strong support system is so important because having just one person there who does not enable but is both caring and limiting can make all the difference in the world.
* One never completely “gets over” or “kicks” an addiction. Being “clean” is a day to day, moment to moment decision.