A Young Man Requires Therapy For His Extreme Depression, Relationship Issues, And For His Alcohol And Drug Dependency
About eight months ago I had breakfast with a thirty-nine-year-old man named Benjamin who suffers from severe depression, has relationship problems, and who is alcohol and drug dependent. As articulated by Benjamin, it is his alcoholism and drug addiction and his severe depression that has had the most to do with his perpetual relationship issues.
As articulated by Benjamin, he is so overcome by his relationship issues and by both of his medical problems that he basically has no aspiration to do much of anything. What is particularly unfortunate about this is that earlier in his life, Benjamin finished three semesters of grad school in Italian.
Benjamin's situation makes me wonder if he is an example of an individual who can address his drinking problems and chemical dependency and do something healthy about these problems. Or, conversely, if he is someone who has to hit the very bottom before he gets drug and alcohol rehab that results in long-term sobriety.
It may be asked how counseling would help his alcohol and drug addiction. For starters, there are several newly created doctor-prescribed meds that can help Benjamin through his withdrawal symptoms, through the alcohol and alcohol detox process, and help him avoid a drug or an alcohol relapse. Second, in counseling he could also learn more about his alcoholism symptoms and also about the different stages of alcoholism.
Third, Benjamin would learn to acknowledge the fact that there is absolutely nothing beneficial about substance abuse and excessive and abusive drinking. In a similar manner, he would also learn that messing around with one or both of these unhealthy conditions is the route to shattered relationships, poor work and school performance, financial difficulties, deteriorating health, legal problems, and a premature death. Fourth, counseling for his depression and for his relationship issues might help him deal with these medical conditions more effectively and perhaps create less of a need for him to engage in additive behavior. And finally, in treatment he could also learn more about the different symptoms of alcoholism that he has exhibited.
Since Benjamin lacks the motivation to accomplish much of anything in his life, it is evident that he badly needs a little hope for a better lifestyle. And the sad thing is that hope is all around Benjamin if he could only get to the point in life to get the treatment he needs for his severe depression and chemical dependency and remain in his treatment protocol.
Benjamin is clearly too young to be overwhelmed in life. He doesn't understand this right now but if he can learn how to remove himself from alcohol and drugs via drug and alcohol rehabilitation and get the treatment he requires for his extreme depression, he can turn his life around and start living with passion, self-respect, and direction.
Better relationships, a wonderful life, self respect, and beneficial change are certainly a reality for Benjamin. But only if he can get inspired to seek the medical treatment he needs, follow through with his treatment regimen, live his life in a healthy and drug and alcohol-free manner, and learn how to foster a more positive attitude about his life.