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Addiction 911 Magazine | Page 1

Welcome!
Welcome to Addiction 911 Magazine. I would it can tear a family apart. The delicate balance
like to take a moment and explain how this between helping and enabling an addict is
something we are personally familiar with.
app works.
We want to make sure that there are plenty of
All of our issues are FREE if you subscribe. So articles and resources available in each issue
please make sure to press the subscribe but- that directly address the challenges mothers,
ton and yes to sharing your email with us on fathers, siblings, grandparents, and friends and
the app so that we can notify you when new loved ones of addicts face when dealing with an
addicted loved one.
issues are released.
We will be expanding our Resources section in
upcoming issues and adding even more articles
and other important information about addiction. We will also be bringing you interviews
with top addiction professionals on the latest
cutting edge strategies, techniques and information in the addiction field.

Please feel free to email me directly at Christina@addictionproservices.com if you have any


questions or have a personal story about addiction you would like to share in an upcoming issue.
I am looking forward to hearing from you and
thank you for taking the time to subscribe to
Addiction 911 Magazine.

This magazine is dedicated to those who are


struggling with addiction, whether you are an
addict or a family member or friend of an addict
Best wishes,
and at a loss on how to help your loved one.
Christina Rowe
We know how difficult it is to watch someone Publisher
you love lose themselves to addiction and how Addiction 911 Magazine

Page 2 | Addiction 911 Magazine

>

CONTENTS

04

The Guilt-Ridden Addict


By Richard Anderson

06

Understanding addiction
By Richard Anderson

08

Teen Heroin Addiction Sweeping


the Nation
By Christina Rowe

09

Confessions from a Codependent


BY Debbie Sherrick

10

Mixing Pills and Alcohol - A


Dangerous High
By Christina Rowe

12

Breaking the Chains to Your Addict


How to Free Yourself
By Debbie Sherrick

14

Surviving the Holidays with


an Addict
By Robin Guterman

15

Does Brain Chemistry


Imbalance Cause Addiction?
By Dr. Sands

16

Are you being emotionally abused


byan addict?
By Debbie Sherrick

19

Obamacare and Addiction


Interview with Medivance

20

Resources

Letter From The Editor

Another Way for Your


Voice to Be Heard
Hello! And welcome to Addiction 911 magazine. My name
is Debbie Sherrick and I am a Holistic Codependency
Life Coach and Owner of Insideout Wellness Inc. I have
to say I am super excited about being the editor of the
Addiction 911 Magazine and that we are able to have the
opportunity to communicate and hear from readers who
are involved in some way, shape or form in the addiction
community. Our magazine and app provides yet another
way to hear about opinions, research and the latest news
about addiction. We value your perspective and are
eager to educate our readers on what is happening in the
field of addiction and recovery.
We would also like to hear your input and suggestions
about what you want to know more about. Because
my field of work is the area of how addiction affects the
families and loved ones of the addict, I will be contributing
articles on that subject and looking for writers to contribute
also. Our goal is to bring you high quality information.
We are passionate about spreading the word and
educating others about addiction. Personally, I
feel there is not enough information and ways
of educating the masses in the growing area of
addiction. Knowledge is power is my motto.
I believe that the more interactive we can be in this
publishing venture by using innovative ways to reach the
public (like this app!), The more quickly and easily we can
reach people and give them the information they need
about addiction, treatment, intervention, detox, therapy,
coaching and helping families with healing.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and we welcome
you to Addiction 911!
Debbie Sherrick/Editor

Addiction 911 Magazine | Page 3

The Guilt-Ridden
Addict

I have often heard it said that addicts did not know how to feel
their feelings when they were using. This is a message given routinely to addicts new to recovery.
Addicts tend to buy into this message for a number of reasons: This
is explained to them by a sympathetic counselor, addicts like to
think of themselves as a special
sick case needing special handling
and attention, everyone around
them seems to agree with this assessment, etc. Sometimes things
are said so often they are simply
taken for granted to be true.
The idea that addicts were or are
incapable of feeling their feelings
is nonsense. I would file it in the
category of platitudinous rhetoric.
Items in this category sound nice
and might make us feel warm and
Page 4 | Addiction 911 Magazine

fuzzy, but simply have absolutely


no basis in fact and fall apart under
careful scrutiny. Lets take a look at
what is underneath this concept.
The idea that an addict ingesting
a drug like Heroin is anesthetizing themselves makes sense. As
a nurse I routinely give patients
Morphine and other powerful
narcotics. These patients are in
a great deal of physical pain and
the medication eases their suffering, reduces Cortisol levels, and
promotes physical healing. These
same patients after receiving pain
medication are able to continue
experiencing their emotions.
When I address clients in facilities
we explore this concept together.
I ask them if they ever experienced
any of the following while using:
Shame, guilt, remorse, self-pity,

isolation, degradation, hopelessness, or despondency. I have yet


to find a client that tells me they
never experienced these feelings
while using. How can an addict hit
bottom and experience desperation enough to seek help if they
didnt feel their feelings?
Lets be clear. Unless they are sociopathic, addicts feel their feelings.
True enough we didnt like our feelings much. It is also true that we
used in response to our feelings.
Nonetheless we felt our feelings
weather we liked it or not. Using
really didnt take our feelings away.
At most we experienced a fleeting
moment of ease and comfort while
under the influence and tried in an
obsessive way to recapture those
feelings of ease and comfort by using over and over again.

If we can agree that addicts probably did experience their emotions


while using we are beginning to
work on a solution from a standpoint of truth and embracing reality. We are no longer offering the
addict an excuse to continue their
using because they are convinced
that they are a special sick case.
For addicts, one of the most difficult feelings to reconcile is guilt.
Addicts in general are insecure
and suffer from chronic self-esteem issues. This isnt helped by
the people still stinging from the
misdeeds of addicts reminding
them of the horrible things that
they have done. Occasionally this
is meant to be a disincentive to
the addict to continue their using.
Often it is used as a bludgeon by
those who have been wronged to
fortify a position of control as the
dispenser of forgiveness or to simply exert control. Not to say that
people dont have a right to feel
wronged and to express their feelings to the addict, but to continuously do so does nothing to help
the addict find recovery, in fact it
may have the opposite result.
So, when I am addressing addicts I
bear in mind what they have done,
what they have been through and
what they have felt. I know because
I have had the same experiences. I
talk to them about the Basic Text
of Narcotics Anonymous. To legitimize this particular book I point
out that it was written and produced by a consortium of addicts
asking themselves if the concepts
within the book were true for all or
most addicts. If it was found to be

so it made its way into the book.


Therefore we can rely on this book
for an intimate look into the nature
of the addict and recovery.

addict while using or relieve them


of any responsibility for making
proper amends. What I am doing
is pointing out that which is so seldom pointed out. That is that givOne of the things the basic text en a choice, 99% of addicts would
talks about is the concept of be- not choose to debase themselves
ing powerless over our addiction. by selling their bodies for money.
It says that powerlessness means Given a choice most addicts would
using against our will. This is a not have done most of the things
profound statement that I relate to that they did.
on a visceral level. It is absolutely
descriptive of my experience and I often ask the clients that I address
the experience of the hundreds of to ask themselves if they, now that
addicts that helped to produce the they are clean, would repeat those
Basic Text and the millions of peo- same behaviors. The answer is an
ple that have relied on the Basic obvious no. I ask them if, even
Text for decades.
when they were using and doing
those behaviors for which they
Lets take this a step further. If Pow- now carry so much shame, they
erlessness means using against didnt feel a small voice inside of
our will can it not also mean acting them saying no, dont do this.
against our will? Using doesnt oc- There is general agreement on this.
cur in a vacuum. There are things We have a conscience. If we didnt
we must do in order to continue we wouldnt have reached a point
our using. First of all we must push of emotional and spiritual despair
everyone away that might interfere that motivated us to seek help.
with our using. Various mechanisms
are used to this end but especially To help the addict to understand
anger, hostility and even violence.
the real nature of addiction and recovery is essential. We have to adWhat about when our resources dress real issues in a real way. Our
run out, we find ourselves broke owning of our addiction must
and unable to buy more drugs to be authentic and based on truth;
recapture the ease and comfort thereafter we can embrace recovwe once knew (while using)? We ery with the same principles. For
were capable of almost anything. more information on this and othWe may have sold ourselves, stolen er vital topics please refer to the
from our family or friends or em- recovery workbook From Darkployers, abandoned our families, ness to Light: A Primer for Recovetc. Being powerless to control ery available at the website http://
our using we were therefore pow- www.recoveryresourcesinc.com
erless to control the things that we
did in order to procure more.
Richard Anderson Recovering
I am not trying, nor have I ever from addiction for over 28 years
tried, to excuse the behavior of the Recovery Resources Inc.
Addiction 911 Magazine | Page 5

Understandingaddiction

To understand what addiction actually is and what it means is monumentally important. We may angrily deny we are addicts when it
is suggested even though we have
no idea what that concept even
means. Addicts often use anger to
push others away so that we can
use our drugs in peace.
Unfortunately, there are a good
number of people that dont really
understand addiction and we are
up against it to find anyone that really does. Before we can decide we
are not something, we should have
an idea of what we are really denying in the first place. For many addicts the signs are there long before
we can make the formal admission
to ourselves that yes, we are adPage 6 | Addiction 911 Magazine

dicts. To make this admission can


be frightening and conjure images
in our minds of weakness or lacking in some fundamental skill of
humanity. These concerns are born
of ignorance. We simply dont know
what we dont know.
There are two things that we know
of that make up true addiction:
Obsession and compulsion. The
Basic Text of Narcotics Anonymous
explains these two concepts. It defines obsession as the fixed idea
that takes us back to our particular
drug, or some substitute, to recapture the ease and comfort we once
knew. Compulsion means that
once we start that process with
the first hit, pill, drink or whatever,
we have no ability to stop through

our own power of will. Addiction is


described as a violent and destructive power greater than ourselves.
We simply have no control or ability to stop when we want to. The
addiction is in control, not us.
Lets get a few things straight. Addiction is not about weakness.
Strength, courage and discipline
do not work for addiction any more
than they do with diarrhea. It is
completely untrue that addicts are
weak or lacking in discipline. We
tend to be some of the strongest
most disciplined people in the
world. We tend to be intelligent by
and large and capable of tremendous creativity. We have these traits
in spades! We simply are unable to
use these traits to successfully con-

trol addiction. No addict can.


Addiction doesnt discriminate. Addicts come in every conceivable
shape and size. Addiction does not
respect intelligence, strength, good
upbringing, education, or social status. There are addicts both actively
using and actively recovering in every corner of every society on earth.
Male, female, old, young, rich, poor,
privileged, destitute, professional,
or street walker, addiction crosses
every conceivable boundary.
Addicts in general tend to share an
inner gnawing dissatisfaction with
self. We tend to feel inadequate
and unable to measure up. We feel
a vacancy inside of us that nothing
has ever been able to fill. Mostly
we feel ill-at ease and uncomfortable. These feelings predate our
using of chemicals. Our feelings of
inadequacy and emptiness are often seen to date back to our earliest childhood memories.
To be clear it isnt the drugs that
turn us into addicts, rather it is being an addict that turns us onto
drugs. When we found drugs we
were absolutely certain that we had
finally arrived at our solution. Drugs
gave us a feeling of being at ease
and comfortable. It is in the desire
to escape our feelings of being ill-at
ease and uncomfortable with ourselves that our addiction resides.
Many of us realize that these feelings have always been there.
Recall the definition of obsession:
Going back time and time again to
our particular drug or some substitute to recapture the ease and
comfort we once knew. Prior to
and during our drug use we may

have tried any number of remedies


for our lack of self-acceptance. We
may have sought relief in relationships, even bad relationships. As
long as there was someone there
to approve of us by being present in our lives we may have been
willing to put up with any sort of
nonsense. We may have felt like
we didnt deserve anything better
than what others were willing to
dish out as long as they continued
to tell us that they approved of us
enough to stay with us.
Other substitutes we may have tried
or continue to try might include shopping, working long hours, sex, pornography, eating, not eating, working
out, gambling, tattooing, promiscuity,
etc. We may go to great lengths and
make our lives a complete wreck,
drive ourselves to the point of financial ruin in order to fill something inside ourselves that nothing could ever
fill. Drugs worked the best for many of
us, but they are certainly not the only
possible outlet for our addiction. Substitution for drugs can come in any
form. We may have tried to replace
drugs with one of these other behaviors. In the end we are not so much
substituting for the drugs, what we
are really substituting for is recovery.
The goal for addicts is to stop using
and find recovery. To stop using we
most often need the help of others
that have been in our shoes and can
help us to find a way to sanity. Abstinence, or simply not using, is not
our only goal. Abstinence is only
the starting point. It is from abstinence that we are able to launch
into meaningful recovery. Recovery
is our goal. We must find a way to
change our feelings of being ill-at
ease and uncomfortable and learn
to really and truly love ourselves. We

need an awakening of our spirit. It


isnt an easy road, but the journey to
our spiritual awakening is beautiful
beyond measure.
I began my journey some decades
ago. I havent ever regretted finding recovery or continuing to grow
in my recovery. Not only is it better
than the hell I lived while using, my
life is better than I could have ever
imagined it could be.
For more information on addiction
and much more information on recovery please refer to the recovery
primer: From Darkness to Light: A
Primer for Recovery. This is more
than just a book, it is a workbook
that will help to get you started on
the right path in recovery. It will
help you to make plain to yourself
how addiction is and has been a
part of your life and will help you
to begin using practical tools to
start building a life you can feel
justifiably proud of.
We dont get self-esteem from saying nice things to ourselves in a
mirror, or riding a horse, learning
better nutrition, getting acupuncture, aroma therapy, sound therapy,
lasers, hypnosis, or any of the other
smoke and mirrors nonsense so often suggested. We get self-esteem
by doing esteemable things. We
stop doing things that make us feel
bad about ourselves and start doing things that we feel proud of. We
get recovery by working a program.
We find a competent sponsor and
start working steps. Real recovery
can only be found in real step work.
Richard Anderson
Recovery Resources Inc.
www.recoveryresourcesinc.com
Addiction 911 Magazine | Page 7

Teen Heroin Addiction Sweeping the Nation


There has been a recent rise in
heroin use by teenagers. You
may even know someone who
has been directly affected by this
growing epidemic.
What is going on? Since when
did heroin become the drug of
choice of so many teens? When
I was a teenager in the 80s, cocaine and pot were popular. I never knew anyone who did heroin.
My sons, who are 20 and 21 years
old though, have friends who have
died from heroin overdoses.
In recent years, with the popularity
of prescription drugs, in particular,
OxyContin (known as synthetic
heroin) many teens have become
hooked on these pills. With the
crackdown by pharmaceuticals
and the shutdown of pill mills,
OxyContin and other prescription
drugs that are often abused have
become harder to access. Heroin
on the other hand, is cheap and
easy accessible.
It is very common for heroin addiction to start with the use of pain
pills. Since the cost of pain pills
have skyrocketed, teens have now
turned to heroin which costs less
money and is easier to find. A teen
can get hooked instantly by using
a pill called a button that costs
$10 or by using tar heroin, which
comes in a brown powder or black
sticky substance.
Because heroin can be injected,
inhaled or smoked, the drug goes
to the brain very quickly. Many
Page 8 | Addiction 911 Magazine

teens have overdose the first time


they used heroin because of their
bodys reaction to the drug. Since
they are not injecting heroin into
their arm with a needle, a teen
may have a false sense of security
by smoking or sniffing the drug.

Heroin addiction has touched the


lives of so many families. Parents
should have open communication
with their teens and watch for any
telltale signs that they may be having a problem. Keep your eyes and
ears open and do not assume that
your child would never do heroin. It
Some of the telltale signs that a is everywhere. Heroin use is impactteen is using heroin are:
ing teens from all walks of life. You
can find teens using heroin on colEuphoria, drowsiness, impaired lege campuses, upscale suburban
mental functioning, constricted neighborhoods and athletic teams.
pupils
and
slowed
down
respiration.
The treatments that are used for
teen heroin addiction are behaviorSigns of a heroin overdose are:
al and pharmacologic treatments,
Shallow
breathing,
pinpoint which can be beneficial in restoring
pupils, clammy skin, convulsions brain function and behavior. If you
and coma.
suspect your teen may be doing
heroin, it is critical that you get him
According to the Center for Disease or her treatment immediately.
Control and Prevention, within the
last five years drug overdoses have Christina Rowe
become one of the top three killers Publisher, Addiction 911 Magazine
of 15 to 19 year olds.
www.bestrehabsinflorida.com

Confessions from a
Codependent
Part 1

Click here to listen to the podcast

Part 2

Click here to listen to the podcast


Listen as we interview Debbie Sherrick, a certified Holistic Health Counselor and Codependency Life Coach teaching people how to unite mind,
body and spirit for a successful healthy life style. Debbie was brought
up in an abusive, alcoholic home in a little Indiana farm town. The oldest of four children, she learned to rescue, care take, enable, deny self,
direct, and become a young adult at a very early age. Debbie has been
teaching holistic wellness to those in recovery for 22 years. She has lead
codependency groups at Trinity Church International and Home safe in
Lake Worth Florida, and many local seminars.
Debbie explains how co-dependency is often rooted in childhood and
how co-dependency can hurt the addict in your lives, despite your best
intentions. She shares strategies to help you with your co-dependency
issues and provides resources for families of addicts who may be feeling
guilty, overwhelmed and unable to let go and stop enabling their children. You can reach Debbie at Debbie@insideoutwellnesscoach.com and
watch her Empower Hour Show at www.empowerhourshow.com/live
Addiction 911 Magazine | Page 9

Mixing
Pills and
Alcohol
A Dangerous High

I had a friend once who confided in me


that her and her husband would enjoy
a Percocet and a few glasses of wine.
I was shocked. I am someone who is
afraid to drink alcohol if I had a Tylenol,
so her confession sounded very risky. I
voiced my concerns, but sadly they fell
on deaf ears. This woman continued to
mix prescription drugs and alcohol. I do
not speak with her anymore, so I do not
know if she continues this practice.

Page 10 | Addiction 911 Magazine

The belief that alcohol is not dangerous leads


to many people mixing drugs with alcohol.
What I do know is that mixing alcohol and prescription drugs can kill you. My ex-husband spent 2 weeks
in ICU after taking Xanax, OxyContin and drinking alcohol. The doctors did not know if he would live, but
he pulled through after suffering strokes, heart problems and other long term side effects.

Alcohol dissolves the coating in time release medications. This leads to the person receiving the full dose
right away, instead of a delay, which is the way the
dosage should be received.

For people who have difficulty sleeping and take


sleeping pills, the mixture of sleeping pills and alThere are some very adverse effects when alcohol cohol is particularly dangerous. The combination of
and prescription drugs are mixed. The National Insti- sleeping pills and alcohol cause the body to relax
tute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism lists reactions more than normal. Since the breathing process slows
such as; internal bleeding, heart problems, difficulty down, blood pressure can drop which can lead to
breathing, headaches, drowsiness, fainting and loss some harmful effects to the body.
of coordination.
The belief that alcohol is not dangerous leads to many
For those who are suffering from depression and take people mixing drugs with alcohol. Also, a person who
antidepressants while using alcohol, the symptoms regularly takes prescription drugs for a medical conof depression may get more severe. It then becomes dition sometimes will drink alcohol without realizing
a vicious cycle because in order to get into a better that the drug is still in their system.
mood, more alcohol is consumed.
Taking alcohol with an antidepressant may worsen We frequently hear about celebrities who either pass
the symptoms of the depression. If a certain type of away or have a serious medical problem when they
antidepressant is mixed with alcohol, it can also cause mix alcohol and prescription drugs. Many young iman increase in blood pressure.
pressionable people see these celebrities using drugs
and may think that it is okay to use drugs sometimes.
There are frequently warning labels on medications They do not realize how dangerous this line of thinkstating that mixing alcohol with the medicine can ing is.
cause severe reactions. It is always a good idea to
carefully read the labels on the medications. This will Remember, it is never okay to mix alcohol and prelet you know the active ingredients in the medicine, scription drugs! It is not worth risking your life for a
dosage, warnings, etc. Some over the counter and temporary high. If you know someone engaging in
herbal products can also cause harm when taken such dangerous behavior, make sure to educate them
with alcohol.
of the dangers of this practice so they can make a better decision.
Taking alcohol with diet pills can cause liver damage.
Diet pills have stimulants called uppers and alcohol Christina Rowe
has stimulants called downers, which are both hard Publisher, Addiction 911 Magazine
on the liver.
www.bestrehabsinflorida.com
Addiction 911 Magazine | Page 11

Breaking the Chains to Your Addict

How to Free Yourself


Part of the dynamics of codependent relationships, is knowing
where I end, and you begin. It
gets blurry to us. Maybe being with
someone you love and seeing each
other as one sounds romantic, but
in reality, no two people are alike.
Page 12 | Addiction 911 Magazine

People can be similar, but each of


us is unique in our family history,
our personalities, thoughts, how
we respond and perceive things,
and our preferences and convictions. Your boundaries are crossed
when others assume what youre

thinking, feeling, or think they


know whats right for you, or when
others think you should think and
feel the same way they do. Respecting others individuality and
differences honors their separateness.

People with weak or no boundaries feel vulnerable being in close


relationships where they lose
themselves and their identity.
They get into them quickly, say Yes
when they mean NO. They trust
too quickly and reveal everything
about themselves too quickly;
they have no personal identity,
friends, hobbies or lack self-empowerment. When this boundary
between you and someone else
doesnt exist or is very blurry, it is
called enmeshment These relationships produce alot of fear and
are painful.
One way to tell if you are enmeshed is that you feel responsible for and react to your partners
feelings, moods, decisions and
problems and obsess about them,
but cant take responsibility for
your own feelings and behaviors. I
call this being a thermostat. Its Im
happy if your happy, or Im sad if
your sad If you have a problem,
then I have a problem Everything
we do and feel, is based on the

other persons life and decisions.


If you have worked with me about
coda coaching, you have heard me
say that you cant take care of your
own feelings and someone elses
at the same time.
I remember the first time I told my
alcoholic Father that he couldnt
come to my home drunk anymore
because I didnt want my children
exposed to that as I had been as
a child. I was more worried about
his reaction, then taking care of
myself and setting that boundary
for myself! My very wise therapist
at the time taught me that his reaction doesnt matter, nor does it
have to hurt me or upset me. I was
setting a healthy boundary for me
and taking care of me. I was taught
to be such a caretaker growing up,
I thought I was responsible for others feeling too!
INTERDEPENDENT
RELATIONSHIPS
Codependents think the ideal relationship is when we are

one. Mainly because they are


so needy to have someone make
them whole. When we first meet
someone, it is natural to want to
be with that person alot. Over
time, their lives and routines become intertwined. They like helping, talking, and encouraging each
other. They need, depend upon,
and are affected by each other.
The difference is they realize they
are different, and take responsibility for fulfilling their own lives individually as well as contributing
to the relationship. Their lives are
interdependent. They dont fear intimacy, sharing feelings, asking for
what they need in the relationship
(different from what we want);
they dont give up friends, hobbies and activities that they enjoy
apart from the other person. Independence is not seen as a threat
in the relationship. In fact, the relationship gives them each more
freedom to be themselves. They
respect and support each others personal individuality, but are
committed to the relationship too.

The bottom line is people in healthy


relationships seek closeness.not
oneness.

Debbie Sherrick/Holistic Codependency Coach


http://www.insideoutwellnesscoach.com
Addiction 911 Magazine | Page 13

Surviving the Holidays with an Addict


How to set boundaries and resist temptation to enable your
addicted loved one during the holiday season

Podcast

Click here to listen to the podcast


The holidays are such an emotional time for the families of addicts and the temptation is so great to give in
and enable your addict so that you and your family can
have a normal holiday. Unfortunately, giving in to your
addict during the holiday can have serious and sometimes deadly consequences, with more overdoses/suicides occurring around the holidays--and at home. In
this compelling interview with Robin Guterman, LCSW
from F.A.R. of Boca, we explore tips and strategies for
surviving the holidays without giving in to your addicts
demands, feelings of sadness, depression and helplessness that occur this time of year when dealing with an
addictive loved one and how your addicts behavior affects all members of the family during the holidays.
Robin Guterman is a licensed clinical social worker who
specializes in family therapy and addiction recovery.
Robin, originally from NY, has worked in the addiction
field for over 20 years.. She has been a therapist
and clinical director in some of the most successful
Page 14 | Addiction 911 Magazine

treatment centers in the country. She has implemented


family programs into treatment centers and believes
that the entire family system needs to change for
successful recovery to occur.. Presently working in
private practice, Robins passion is in helping the
families dealing with the impact of addiction on their
lives. To contact Robin Guterman, please call : 561 235
2292 or visit her website at: www.farofboca.com

Does Brain Chemistry


Imbalance Cause Addiction?
Podcast

Click here to listen to the podcast


Can restoring your childs brain chemistry resolve their addiction? Could this be the answer you are
looking for? In this interview with Dr. Charles Tracy Sands from Transformations Treatment Center in
Delray Beach, Florida, we discuss an exciting new approach to addiction treatment. Dr. Sands explains
how imbalances in brain chemistry cause addicts to self-medicate and by utilizing a holistic approach of
nutrition and supplements, serotonin and dopamine levels can be naturally restored and end your childs
addiction. Dr. Sands website is athttp://www.masterholisticformulations.com/ and he can be reached
directly at tsands@masterholisticformulations.com/
Addiction 911 Magazine | Page 15

Are you being

emotionally
abused by an
addict?
Sad to say, but abuse is pretty common in
relationships that include an addict. It can be
because of their guilt and shame, unresolved
childhood and family of origin issues, the
effects of drugs and alcohol and many other
factors, those who suffer from the verbal and
emotional abuse of an addict can suffer greatly
and feel powerless and trapped. The cycle
can continue day after day until you feel so
worthless and worn down, believing you have
no choice but to endure and suffer through.
Fear is also a huge factor when being abused
and having the courage to walk through that
fear can be overwhelming.
As a codependency coach to others involved
with addicts and from my own personal
experience, I know all too well what its like
to be the recipient of this behavior and how
it destroys and deteriorates the very soul and
spirit of a person. Healing and recovery from
this can take a long time as you begin your
healing journey and gain your self- worth
back. However, there is hope and it is so worth
it! There are ways to break the cycle and take
your power back so that you can start taking
responsibility for yourself.
Emotional abuse can take on many forms
such as blaming (a frequent tactic of addicts)
belittling, name calling, ignoring, corrupting,
acting cruel, isolating, sarcasm, ordering
Page 16 | Addiction 911 Magazine

around, being critical, lying,


interrogating,
manipulation,
rejecting and withholding love,
control of what you wear, where
you go and who you see, passive
aggressive behavior, and scaring
another person. This can lead
to ultimately winning control
over the person being abused.
Emotional abuse is a form of
brainwashing and can be very
damaging to the victim. It may be
so familiar to your addict, that it
is normal for them to be abusive
if they have been allowed to do
so. I remember my ex-husband
holding me under a shower
one time as a punishment. An
example of abuse that subtly
builds over time could be telling
a spouse they are ugly, fat, no
good, and useless repeatedly.
Emotional abuse slowly eats away
at a victims self-confidence until
they feel they can no longer
trust not only anyone else, but
possibly even themselves, as they
lose their sense of self-worth.
It can sometimes be outwardly
displayed in a persons behavior
or it can be something completely
hidden, so emotional abuse is not
always easy to spot by the eyes of
an outsider. My addict husband
was always a charming gentleman
in public so no one ever knew
what I was suffering at home.
With verbal abuse a person may be
continually yelled at or humiliated
when abused. They may be told
they will be hurt or killed, thus
they constantly live in fear for their
life and learn to walk on eggshells
and people please the addict to
feel safe and gain some sense of
control. They may be teased or

have confusing inconsistencies in


their life, like when an alcoholic
parent or spouse comes home
happy one night and angry the
next. This is how my home was
growing up. I never knew when
the other shoe was going to drop.
I never knew who I would will be
dealing with. Any and all of these
events, among others, can create
deep emotional scarring. Often, if
help is not provided, a person who
has been abused as a child may
continue the cycle as an adult with
his or her own family.
One thing I have found is that
those involved with an addict with
this kind of behavior dont have
healthy emotional boundaries
themselves. If your feelings and
needs were neglected growing
up and you were abused as a
child, you may feel that this is
normal and its just part of the
addiction you have to put up with.
You may have trouble knowing
when your boundaries are being
disrespected. You also, because of
your low self-worth, do not feel
you are entitled to assert your
rights and be treated with respect.
You may have the impulse to do
something when your addict is
upset and is being abusive in order
to take care of them emotionally.
You may allow their problems and
responsibilities to become yours.
You may also feel that you are
totally powerless with how your
addict treats you and speaks to
you. A wonderful therapist told
me many years ago Debbie,
when it comes to abuse in any
form, there are no victims, just
volunteers That statement was
the beginning of me changing my

life with my addict and how I was


allowing myself to be treated.
One thing we must first realize is
that hurting people hurt other
people. Your addict is very sick.
He is acting out of his own pain
and misery. However, you cannot
keep using that as an excuse for
their behavior and not hold them
responsible for it. WE TEACH
PEOPLE HOW TO TREAT US. If
your addict is treating you in an
abusive way, you have taught him
along the way that its ok to do
so. I know that can be a hard nut
to swallow. It was for me. I wanted
to blame the addicts in my life for
being sick jerks! It wasnt my fault
that they were being abusive. Or
so I thought. I too had to learn
this valuable lesson of treating
myself with self-respect and
self-love FIRST before the addict
would treat me that way in return.
It had to begin with me taking
responsibility for what I would
allow and what I would not. I had
to learn what was a deal breaker
for me. I had to learn that walking
on eggshells and people pleasing
the addict to not upset him was
not working. I was powerless over
the addict, but I was not powerless
over myself and my life.
If you are allowing this behavior of
abuse, your boundaries are weak.
Do you feel at fault when blamed
and react instead of saying I do
not take responsibility for that, or
I disagree and I wont do that?
No is a complete sentence. There
needs to be consequences that are
followed through when someone
is abusive in any way. Creating and
implementing boundaries with
Addiction 911 Magazine | Page 17

your addict on what you will and


wont allow in your relationship
is healthy and loving for you
and the addict. Once you start
showing respect for yourself and
not allowing it anymore, it will give
them guidelines of what they can
and cannot get away with. Yes, they
probably will give you backlash
and test you on it. You can count on
that. But the results in the long run
are so very rewarding for both you
and the abuser. Following through
with your boundaries and having
support to lean on is imperative. I
cannot stress this enough.
I remember when I started setting
boundaries with my addict and
how scared to death I was. He used
his anger and rage to control me. I
could not have done it without the
support of my coda therapist and
support group. I started saying NO
without defending and debating
with my addict. I learned to walk
away and take care of me. I learned
to not take things personal and
implement consequences if he
crossed the line. I made it very
clear of what I expected in terms
of respect and behavior towards
me and what I would not tolerate
anymore. When I work with those
who have addicted children living
at home, we draw up a contract
that the parents and child must

sign if they want to continue to


live there. If the contract is broken,
the consequences are outlined
in the contract. It works wonders
in the home as everyone is clear
what the rules of NO ABUSE are.
Zero tolerance.
Here is a testimony of
a woman in one of my
support groups:
I recalled (in a whisper) all the
harsh words: Youre so fat. You
look like a cow. No one would
ever want you. Especially with
two kids. You are too f-ing fat.
F-ing B. Ugly F-ing B. I had married
my one and only boyfriend from
the age of 12 (we would write
notes to each other ). I had a
son at 18 and a daughter at 21.
The verbal abuse started after
my son and got worse after my
daughter. I told no one. No one
what I was living. Being young,
two kids and going to college I
felt so stuck so I just took it. Till
one day I was tying my sneaker
while sitting on the couch and
he tapped my on the head with
his foot. It wasnt hard. It was the
act itself of demeaning me that
he kicked me in the head with
his foot because I was beneath
him. I quit pharmacology school
and landed a job where I could
support my kids on my own. I

begged him to leave or I would


and he did. The moment the
door closed behind him I started
cleaning and rearranging the
house like crazy. I bought pizza
that night for the kids and
the negativity in the air had
completely lifted. The kids and I
had a beautiful evening together.
My son was 5 and my daughter 3.
My son may not remember a lot
but he definitely was affected by
it. Never went back to that. Ever.
If someone even uses the word
stupid towards me it all comes
back and I refuse, refuse, REFUSE
to take that ever again.
If you are suffering abuse at the
hands of the addict, know you can
stop the madness and break the
silence of your abuse. There is help
out there. You dont have to suffer
alone. You can learn to gain your
self -worth back and also help your
addict learn responsible behavior.
Learning to detach in love and set
boundaries, getting your power
back, letting the addict have their
own consequences and your own
personal healing ARE possible. I
have seen it over and over again.
You are not trapped. You deserve
love and respect. Please reach out
and start the healing process for
yourself. You also, will not regret it.
May your healing begin

You deserve love and respect. Please reach out and


start the healing process for yourself. You also,
will not regret it. May your healing begin
Debbie Sherrick/Holistic Codependency Coach
http://www.insideoutwellnesscoach.com
Page 18 | Addiction 911 Magazine

Obamacare and

Addiction
What you need to know
Interview with Medivance

Podcast

Click here to listen to the podcast


In this episode we interview Neisha Zaffuto and William McCormick of Medivance Billing. They share
with us what every addicts mom needs to know about Obamacare and how it will affect those suffering
with addiction.
Addiction 911 Magazine | Page 19

Resources
Unity Recovery Center
Hobe Sound, FL, USA
877-772-5505
www.unityrehab.com/

Starting Point Detox


208 SW Port St Lucie Blvd, Port
St Lucie, FL 34984
(561) 855-6000

Transformations Treatment
Center
14000 South Military Trail #202,
Delray Beach, FL 33484, USA
(877) 408-3222
transformationstreatment.com/

Lakeside Treatment Center


1240 U.S. 1, North Palm Beach,
FL 33408
(877) 494-8522
www.lakesidedrugrehab.com

F.A.R of Boca. Robin Guterman


310 Camino Gardens Boulevard
#201g, Boca Raton, FL 33432,
USA
561 235 2292
www.farofboca.com

Changing Tides Transitional


Living
North Palm Beach
855-295-5473
www.changingtidesflorida.com
Page 20 | Addiction 911 Magazine

Debbie Sherrick, Holistic


Codependency Coach
Delray Beach, FL, USA
561-252-1440

Dr. Paula Liebeskind, NLP


Practitioner
1861 NW 123rd Ave
Pembroke Pines Fl. 33026
954 435-9779 office
abelaudio@aol.com

Hollys Place Sober Living


Home
Fort Lauderdale, FL
www.hollysplace.org
Tiffany (Manager):
973-735-3783
After 8pm call Bill:
607-237-4686
Diane: 954--854-4373
Margurite: 954-644-9452
Marg2396@yahoo.com
Our Solutions Recovery Outpatient
Treatment Center
4331 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
954) 489-3031
www.oursolutionsrecovery.com

Medivance Billing Service, Inc,


4750 North Hiatus Road, Sunrise,
FL 33351, USA
954-746-8232
www.medivancebilling.com

National Institute on Drug Abuse


www.drugabuse.gov

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services


Administration
www.samhsa.gov

Narcotics Anonymous
www.na.org

For 24-hour alcohol


and drug information,

call 800-662-HELP.

Addiction 911 Magazine | Page 21

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