FAQ
Is it true, once an addict, always an addict?
It’s probably every addict’s dream to one day be able to use a substance or engage in an activity recreationally or in a controlled manner. The only problem is that it is impossible to do so. Forgetting that addiction is permanent can (and often does) occur at any time during sobriety. It is also common for the addict to forget that, regardless of how many years one has been sober, one-time use means relapse.
Forgetting, disbelief or doubt is denial rising to the occasion, in synch with the dependency. They work in tandem; one never exists without the other. The longer time the addict stays sober, the easier it is for him or her to forget that s/he will never be able to use without getting hooked all over again.
However, at any moment, the thought could pop into one’s mind: I could use on a once-in-a-while basis without any consequences. The addict will then go on to prove him/herself wrong, but not until s/he bottoms out.
The addict will always be susceptible to relapse. The effect or high is irreversible; that is, the substance or activity forever remains as an extraordinarily powerful need-gratifying agent guaranteed to provide extraordinary relief.
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About Daniel Linder, MFT
Relationships. I was born with a keen sense about relationships, was always assessing how close and intimate people are with each other. I had a knack for relationships. The importance of relationships cuts to the core of who I am. The combination of clinical training, 25 years of professional experience treating dysfunctional, non-intimate couples and families, as well as rigorous self analysis has given me a lot to work with. I put what seemed to come naturally to me under a microscope in an effort to break the process of building healthy relationships down to concrete essentials: Understanding of Basic Principles, Communication Skills, Self-realization and Intimacy.