Brain, please be quiet. I'd like to sleep now.

[lifeaskatie]

I wish I could leave my patients at the hospital when I go home.  But no, they hitch a ride in my head and make me, like, think about things.

One my of patients last night was a middle aged guy, pretty high up in his company, typical family with a nice house in the 'burbs.  He's also an alcoholic.  We were talking about why he was there being

Comments

[randomseiko]

My theory--addicts use and abuse because they can't be alone with themselves or their thoughts. They are not in control and their thoughts can easily go to dangerous places where it's hard to come back from unscathed. With one drink, snort, shot, they forget for the time being until their buzz wears off. Replacement behaviors and therapy are key in getting the addict to cope and move on. In therapy, there is a moderator for the unwanted thoughts and help in tackling issues. The replacement behaviors come in to help distract when the client is alone. Those are my two cents. I could be totally off here. I'll drink your martini ;)

[lifeaskatie]

I do agree, and I think that the replacement theory is key to why so many of them relapse - they go back to the same situation they came from and aren't actually changing anything. But then again, not all of them even want to change, some are only in the hospital because they'd otherwise be in jail.

Martinis for everyone!