A substance use disorder (SUD) is a psychiatric condition that affects a person’s development and behavior, causing them to lose control over their use of materials like intentional or accidental drugs, drinking, or prescriptions. Addiction is the most extreme condition of SUDs, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. The brain changes as a result of continued drug use, including regions of the brain that provide the person with self-control. In brain imaging examinations of persons with heroin addiction, these and other alterations can be seen. Even when an addiction appears to have a clear nature and an obvious solution, these physiological changes reveal why stopping is so tricky.
I started having lifestyle problems at the age of 16, and it was cannabis. This was not given much importance since alcohol does not seem to be the most vital drug at first glance. Drinking too much alcohol can have several negative ramifications, including an increased risk of developing a variety of health issues. Severe alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a progressive brain disorder marked by compulsive alcohol consumption, a loss of control over it, and a poor psychological response when not consuming. I acknowledged that I had a disorder when I could not perceive reality without drinking alcohol. After that, I realized that my life would not be the same, and sooner or later, I would have to be treated. Before developing an addiction to alcohol, I began to use marijuana, not considering it a hard drug. I did not think that I would not be able to get rid of the addiction later. Marijuana use disorder looks to be reasonably comparable to other substance use disorders, albeit with less significant long-term therapeutic efficacy.
Then I started having severe problems in my life and started using hard drugs like cocaine. This was because, unfortunately, I led a criminal lifestyle. I have eight criminal offenses and 25 misdemeanors, which affected my psyche and perception of the world. Eventually, heroin and meth came into my life and led me to the needed treatment. This type of drug was, for me, the last point in the life of an addict, and the beginning of treatment, since further consequences could only get worse.
Throughout my criminal years, my girlfriend and I, despite all the difficulties, had two children, but they also developed substance misuse rather quickly. After I got out of prison for the second time, we started using heroin, but this did not apply to children. Unfortunately, the babysitter who looked after the children gave them drugs, and with God’s help, I was able to help my daughter in a difficult moment.
All the problems that have accumulated throughout my life have affected not only me but also my family, which ultimately influenced me and opened my eyes to the fact that it is necessary to treat addiction collectively. At the moment, my family and I are undergoing treatment for addiction to start an entirely new life. Previous attempts at treatment were not as effective as I was forced into treatment, but now this decision was made voluntarily for the future of the whole family.
The beginning of the treatment was not easy; however, over time, I was able to analyze all the moments of my life when I became addicted to substances. I realized that many moments could have been avoided if I had taken a more comprehensive view of the world. Still, the predisposition to such a simple decision to get away from problems got the best of me, which led to harmful consequences in the family and further treatment.
Throughout the process of substance misuse management, I studied various methods and how they affected me; the plans included both mental exercises and physical ones since drugs affected the whole person. In this way, I became familiar with the nine aspects of wellness. They show how each level of well-being manifests in daily life. Wellness encompasses an individual’s ability to set and achieve objectives, meet needs, and alter and cope with the challenges of the human environment, in addition to physical condition.
Throughout my treatment, I studied these dimensions of health to understand what I should strive for. A physically fit individual gets enough sleep, eats a well-balanced and nutritious diet, exercises regularly, has regular medical checkups, and engages in safe sexual behavior. The emotionally healthy person can recognize, express, and manage a wide range of emotions and may seek help to address issues of concern. To understand and appreciate the world around them, the creatively thriving person cherishes and actively engages in diverse artistic and cultural events.
The environmentally conscious individual understands the importance of preserving, protecting, and improving the environment, as well as the interconnectedness between nature and the individual. Recognizing the importance of physical and emotional well-being was central to my recovery since it allowed overcoming the uncontrollable aspects of my dependency on drugs. In turn, intellectual and cultural dimensions of wellness, namely, cultural, social, and environmental ones, have helped me create a setting where I did not feel inclined to continue misusing substances. Finally, the financial and occupational dimensions of wellness allowed me to return to a healthy work environment where I could continue supporting myself financially, therefore, severing the remaining of my ties with substances.
A financially healthy individual is fully aware of their financial situation and budgets, saves, and manages money to reach reasonable goals. A person who is occupationally well working to attain personal fulfillment and enrichment, following their values, objectives, and lifestyle. The intellectually healthy individual places a high priority on continuous learning and strives to encourage the ability to think critically, enhance ethical judgments, broaden worldviews, and participate in education for the sake of knowledge. Through discussion and personality, the spiritually healthy person seeks harmonious relationships by exploring the depths of human reason, significance, and the ability to connect. Overall, during the recovery process, I learned that physical and emotional health issues are closely intertwined, and managing one without recognizing the influence on the other is highly unproductive.
After studying nine aspects, I concluded that restoring a normal lifestyle is not as difficult as it seems. A bad past will always remind us of itself, but this is not a reason to stop. Self-development and mental peace are the most important aspects for me, followed by physical and social health. Starting treatment, I did not think that it could have such a good effect on my perception of myself as a person and the world around me.
Over time, I want to recover lost time by learning new information for myself. Cultural development in the form of literature and music will be good for my mental health. This does not require significant investments, but there will be many benefits. I would also like to study for possible employment. To do this, I look at current professions and choose possible directions to try myself in courses for beginners. This treatment helped me and my loved ones to restore myself and my world around, which means that there are no insurmountable tasks. This experience will help me build my new life based on the mistakes of the past and the materials learned during the treatment.