My Book

About…..I began a career in De-Addiction and Mental Health in 1995in India. Over the last 19 years, I’ve had a wonderful journey inassisting addicts and their families to deal with the overpoweringinfluence of alcohol and drug addiction in their lives. I have beenworking with individuals of all ages who are looking to explore,inquire, and work towards resolving emotional distress which hasaffected their daily lives in some capacity.

If you need your loved one to walk on the pathway to recovery,not only do you need to be the one giving them a gentle pushtowards it, you need to walk beside them! Anyone who is willingto change can get well...

Contents include….

1. Identifying Addiction ....122. Uncovering the Layers ....303. Characteristics of An Addict’s Family4. Putting your foot down5. Personality Sketch of An Addict ....586.The Neil Paul Addiction Recovery Model ....1607. Frequently Asked Questions by Families ....1708. Doing It Right ....177Concluding Remarks… ....180Stories That Inspire… ....184

Neil Paul Counseling

Neil Paul Counseling

To order book visit:http://www.diamondbook.in/the-pathway-to-

addictionrecovery.html

“Doing what’s right isn’t the problem. It’s knowing what’s right.”– Lyndon. B JohnsonOne of the most basic and pertinent questions that I find myself addressing as an addiction counselor is to do with the identification of addiction. Family members often wonder whether excessive use of alcohol or drugs is addiction or is it simply a lifestyle choice or a habit. Identifying the problem, I believe, is the first step towards solving one.Lifestyle choices or even habits for that matter have an element of free will or choice. Drugusers start to need the drug just to feel normal. That is addiction, and it can quickly take over a person’s life.

Factors, such as genetics, age of first use, environment and mental health may play a part in someone becoming addicted. Factors that can increase the risk of addiction are:• Family history of substance use and/or mental health• Childhood experiences – abuse, neglect, trauma, grief• Mental health diagnoses: depression, anxiety, borderline personality and

eating disorders• Pre-teen or teenage drug, alcohol and/or tobacco use• External factors causing stress, fatigue, other pressures• Resentments that haven’t been resolved

Identifying Addiction

Uncovering the LayersThere are many different kinds of addictions, from drugs to risky activities. Although these diverse addictions vary in many ways, there are common roots that bind them together. There are several theories that model addiction: genetic theories, exposure theories (both biological and conditioning), behavioural and cognitive theories, etc. As a concerned family member, it is natural for you to want to know the reason behind this debilitating illness. There is no single answer to this question as there are different approaches and perspectives to addiction. We will discuss a few here. The Moral Model Biological Theories Biochemical Model Behavioural Theory Personality Theory Cognitive Theory Social Theory Cultural Theory Family Systems Theory

Putting Your Foot DownAddicts who refuse help can be very difficult to reach in the struggle to overcome addiction. The struggle becomes even more difficult for the family members who are emotionally weakened by the persistent stresses of living with an addict. In general, the person with the most erratic behaviour controls the behaviour of those around them. Prepare Yourself

There are a few major points you need to cover to prepare yourself when confronting someone with addiction.

First, know why you’re confronting them. What is it about their behavior that is causing problems?

Second, explore the addiction. You need to know all the facts so you can have an informed conversation with the addict.

Tread Lightly Take a Stand Cut Off Funding Detach Emotionally Ask Them to Leave Refuse Legal Aid Find the Right Scare Tactic

Personality Sketch of An AddictOne of the biggest questions in addiction research is why some people become dependent on alcohol and drugs, while others are able to use these in moderation. Certainly some of the risk lies in the addictive potential of the substances themselves, but still the vast majority of individuals who have used alcohol and drugs never become dependent on them. This then leads to the question, is there really such a thing as an “addictive personality”, and what puts someone at a greater risk for addiction?1. Impulsivity2. Sensation Seeking3. Denial4. Low Self Esteem5. Poor Frustration Tolerance6. Heightened Stress and Anxiety7. Compulsivity8. Proneness to Negativity9. Attention Seeking Behavior

Recovery ModelMost addicts will absolutely not be able to stop without getting some professional help. I am here to help. I am qualified to assess the level of addiction and provide the appropriate type of help needed. Once the addict has been stabilized, it is imperative that the addict stays in treatment to work through the psychological pain that brought him into the addiction cycle. The only way to manage addiction is through healthy methods and behavior modification with an addiction professional. DurationThe program requires roughly one month of frequent, periodic visits to my clinic. The frequent visits are planned with the hope of accelerating the initial phase of change and recovery. Long gaps between sessions often reduce the momentum of growth and change that is usually acquired right in the beginning of therapeutic work. Each session is of 2 hours.. Number of SessionsIn this one month, 12 sessions are conducted on a three times a week basis. These sessions involve individual as well as family therapy sessions. The sessions are well planned and goals clearly outlined at the outset

Week 11. Session 1 – Detailed Case History & Psychological Assessments2. Session 2 – Psycho-Education Session3. Session 3 – Redefining Honesty

Week 21. Session 4 & 5- Anger Management2. Problem Solving

Week 31. Session 7- Twelve Steps (This session is dedicated to the famous

‘12 steps’ of the Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A), a support group that has been a strong pillar in addiction recovery since many decades.)

2. Session 8 & 9- Family Issues

Week 41. Session 10-12- Relapse Prevention

Contact neilpaul1960@gmail.com

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