Treating Substance Abuse: How to Drop the Anchor

Picture this: a war veteran is sent back home after a tour of duty. It feels good to be home, but things have probably moved on without him. Old friends may have gotten new jobs. The crowd at the local bar may have changed. Aside from that, his experiences in the war may have given him a different feel. A different aura. His conversation patterns have changed. People who were once close start drifting away.

Clinging to an Anchor

Experts at any reliable drug rehab in San Diego know this kind of isolation and helplessness isn’t exclusive to war veterans. It could happen to someone who lost a job, or someone whose marriage just ended. People who suffer from psychological disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder, may go through the same suffering. Everything hurts; it feels like they’re adrift.

Unfortunately, many such people choose to escape through substance abuse. Whether it’s alcohol or drugs, it doesn’t matter. Any cure against the pain. Any anchor against the tide.

The Anchor Is a Weight

After a while, it just becomes routine. Any time they start to feel something they can’t cope with, the temptation kicks in. They need to counter the tide of negative emotions with a rush, a high, a light-headedness, anything that can make them feel other than they do. It’s a habit that’s become ingrained. It’s an anchor that starts weighing them down.

Get Back on Course

Experienced workers at drug rehab centers in San Diego know that it’s not just a matter of cutting someone off from their supply. To really make sure that someone can beat his or her drug habit, they have to be enabled to recognize their behaviors, to know what alternative actions they can take to resist their cravings, and to trust that they matter enough that their lives are worth fighting for. 

Rehabilitation isn’t just about fighting an addiction; it’s about helping people let go of their anchors and sail to a better life ahead.