Approximately a month ago I read about a twenty-two-year-old female named Rachael who is manic depressive and who is also alcohol and drug dependent. I remember hearing that under such circumstances, an individual needs to get treatment for both medical conditions and that mental health difficulties and dependency often occur in the same person. Additionally, I remember reading that a history of hazardous and excessive drinking, drug abuse, and/or mental health problems routinely occur in the same family.

Obviously, Rachael is so defeated by both of her medical issues that she essentially has no aspiration to do much of anything. What is particularly sad about this is that earlier in her life, Rachael completed three-and-a-half-years of college. Rachael’s situation makes me wonder if she is an illustration of an individual who has to hit life’s bottom before he or she gets drug and alcohol addiction rehabilitation that results in long-term sobriety.

The Need For a Physician She Trusts and a Counseling Regimen She Can Believe In

If I were in communication with Rachael I could recommend numerous websites that could possibly help her find info about addiction and alcoholic behavior, relevant substance abuse information, facts about alcoholism and drugs, and info about addiction symptoms and alcoholism warning signs. In my honest opinion, nevertheless, Rachael needs to find a healthcare professional she trusts and a treatment protocol she can believe in and follow over the long haul. I could be mistaken but it seems to make sense that Rachael more likely than not needs to accept the fact that she cannot drink in moderation or use drugs if she wants to get sober, stay sober, and start on the road to long-lasting recovery.

I am mindful that there are several recently developed physician-prescribed drugs that can help Rachael through the drug and alcohol detox process, through her withdrawal symptoms, and help her avoid a drug or an alcohol relapse. Clearly it would be in Rachael's best interests if she became conversant with these medications.

It is apparent that Rachael needs to admit the fact that there is entirely nothing useful about unhealthy drinking and drug abuse and that engaging in one or both situations is the route to deteriorating health, shattered relationships, a premature death, financial difficulties, legal problems, and poor work and school performance.

The Importance of Recovery Groups Like Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous

There are reasonably several persons such as family members, other people, and friends who would love to help Rachael but she more likely than not would experience greater acceptance from a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous instead of listening to people who drink in moderation or who have never abused drugs.

When People Do Things They Like and About Which They Are Dedicated

There’s a school of thought in psychology that claims that individuals who do things they like and something about which they are ardent reach a great place in life. That is, when people do what they love, they hardly ever go through boredom or an uneventful life. If they involve themselves in something that is fulfilling, moreover, they become more complete and experience more contentment and delight in life.

To me, this sounds like the exact opposite of a life that is rooted in drug and alcohol addiction because such a lifestyle removes the happiness and delight that life has to offer.

Since Rachael doesn’t have the willpower to carry out much of anything in her life, it is obvious that she badly needs a little bit of hope for a better lifestyle. And the sad thing is that hope is virtually everywhere around Rachael if she could only get to the place in life to get the counseling she needs for her bipolar illness and addiction and continue with her treatment protocol.

Positive Change, Self Esteem, and a Meaningful Life Are a Reality

Rachael is clearly too young to be beaten in life. She doesn't realize this right now but if she can learn how to remove herself from drugs and alcohol through alcohol and drug therapy and get the treatment she needs for her manic depression condition, she can reorient her life and start living with passion, direction, and with self-respect.

A wonderful life, self respect, and constructive change are certainly possibilities for Rachael if only she could get inspired to seek the professional treatment she needs, follow through with her treatment protocol, live her life in an alcohol and drug-free and healthy way, and cultivate a more positive attitude about life.