Wonderland Recovery Blog

The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently cited between fifty and seventy risk factors for drug abuse 1)the individual’s peers 2)the individual’s family 3)the individual. The largest risk factor for drug abuse is an untreated childhood mental disorder including trauma and PTSD. Two other major reasons people take drugs are to “feel good” or to “feel better” (self-medication).

Scientific research, mainly in neurobiology, has produced significant studies of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The findings through brain imaging demonstrate that trauma can affect the body and brain much more than had previously been understood (Van der Kolk 1996). Traumatic memories are stored not only in the mind but throughout the body as what scientists call cellular memory.

Whether a person’s addiction is caused by trauma or whether trauma intensifies addiction, our therapists, psychiatrists and doctors use the latest techniques to support recovery. This includes:

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy helps you explore and understand the unconscious aspects of the trauma and its personal meaning for you. This form of treatment may be necessary for multiple traumatic events experienced over time (e.g., childhood abuse in a dysfunctional family).

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). The premise of EMDR is that many traumatic events are not properly “processed” by the memory network of the brain, and that the eye movements of EMDR help a person “reprocess” the traumatic memory through “rapid learning” so that it no longer has negative psychological effects.

Pharmacotherapy refers to the use of medication to help alleviate serious symptoms, such as anxiety and insomnia, so that psychotherapy can be effective.

Group Therapy may be used for social support and to help individuals understand and resolve the social aspects of their symptoms.

Creative Arts Therapies are sometimes used in conjunction with other treatment.

I had an interesting experience upon my return from Wonderland. As I was withdrawing some money from an ATM machine in a local convenience store near my house, a lady who has worked there for some time and was familiar with me approached me and indicated that I had been gone for a while and that she missed me,. She then asked if I had gone somewhere to get help. I was a bit taken aback for two reasons, one that she would recognize my extended absence as hundreds of people must walk through the doors of the store everyday and two, that she would presume that I had gone to get help for my substance abuse. Now it is fair to say she was aware that I was a heavy drinker as I purchased a lot of alcohol from this store. But her inquiry was one of clear concern, sincerity and she said “I looked very good”.

A week or so later when that same lady was working the register and I was purchasing my usual stock of diet coke and diet Rockstar, she stated to me that, prior to my stint at Wonderland and return to Baton Rouge, she felt that my spirit walked with angels but that she could tell that my heart was lost and that she prayed consistently that God would help me to find peace. I found this truly astounding that someone who was merely an acquaintance could have taken such an interest in me and volunteered such information unsolicited.

On my next visit, I engaged the same lady in conversation, she commented that here comes that sweet sweet man as I approached the register. She was very close. Again I was stunned that she had taken such a continued interest in my well being and truly seemed to care about my welfare. She further indicated that she had often talked about me with her co-workers and was truly concerned about my welfare and was very much relieved to see that I had gotten help and found some element of happiness and hoped that I continued on the sobriety path that I had begun. I am not altogether sure what the moral or message is in this story, but it is truly evidence of our impact on others in life whether we recognize it or not and that there does exist some higher power that perhaps makes itself known through others.

Relapse is a tragic reality of addiction (alcoholism). Addiction is a complex but treatable brain disease. It is characterized by compulsive drug craving, seeking, and use in the face of severe consequences. Relapse to drug abuse occurs at rates similar to those for other well-characterized, chronic medical illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. As a chronic, recurring illness, addiction may require repeated treatments to increase the intervals between relapses and diminish their intensity, until abstinence is achieved.

I have relapsed while in treatment many times. In fact out of my 10 treatment experiences - I used, tried to use, or left to use, 50% of the time. 80% of the time, I relapsed within the first year of my recovery. Addiction is a brain disease. The brain controls our behavior. Therefore relapse is part of the disease. It will occur in most attempts at recovery. What steps can we take to help our addicts and alcoholics when they relapse?

Increase the amount of containment; Increase the amount of structure; Increase accountability
Increase education; Increase or modify therapy; Increase medical or psychiatric care; Increase the number of 12 Step meetings; Encourage spiritual practices; Encourage healthy exercise and nutrition; Reduce the shame of relapse and encourage honesty; Just for today, let’s stop living in denial! Relapse is part of the disease and therefore part of our recovery.