Dr Shannon

The Pseudo-Alcohol Trigger

By Dr Shannon on April 6, 2011 12:55 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

One of the hardest times to remain sober is during the holidays. Unfortunately, holidays come around nearly every month and most of them are notorious for involving alcohol.

Some people may think having an O'Doul's or other non-alcoholic beer is a safe alternative to the real deal, but when you're working to maintain your sobriety it is never a good idea to consume any non-alcoholic alternative. The feel of a beer bottle in your hand, or even the familiar taste of a virgin apple martini can instantly trigger you into desiring something more, which brings you that much closer to a relapse. No matter how long you have been sober- a week or a year- a pseudo-alcohol trigger could cause you to crumble.

Many in recovery maintain a false sense of security and believe that they are able to control themselves and the situation. The familiar cognitive responses you once had while celebrating with an alcoholic beverage come back, along with the feelings of happiness, confidence and acceptance. The major downfall is that the virgin version won't be enough, and the trigger causes you to crave the real thing.

This kind of trigger is never a safe alternative because as alcoholics, our brains are too good at tricking us into thinking we are capable of handling ourselves, which our past life has proven we are not. You may have examples of friends or occasions when you yourself used a virgin drink as a replacement. I am not suggesting it will always lead to relapse but I am suggesting it often does. Why make things harder on yourself then need be? Your sobriety should not be tested in situations that once were standard reasons for you to drink. The trigger is too powerful, and too dangerous. Stay true to your new self and your new sober life.

6 Tips to Choosing Your Right Rehab

By Dr Shannon on April 2, 2011 3:29 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

When a person struggles with drinking or drug abuse there are many routes to take in order to find recovery. Typically a person will try to exhaust the least restrictive environments first, such as attending a 12-Step program, seeking therapy or trying to quit on their own. However it is often the case that a more restrictive environment is needed and that's when you may decide to choose an inpatient program like rehab. There are many things to consider in choosing a treatment program, and here are 6 tips to get you started.

1. Find a location that specializes in the chemical or chemicals you use. Do you drink, do drugs, or do both? Typically treatment centers are geared for both but you want to be certain when making your selection.

2. Consider your age and gender and be certain that the location is suited for both. A great deal of treatment occurs as clients interact with the each other during group sessions. Ideally, you want to fit well into the environment in order to get maximum benefit.

3. Ask questions about the treatment philosophy. Some placements are strictly 12-Step whereas others are more diverse in their approach.

4. Do you have additional mental health issues that are contributing to your current need for treatment? Examples may be anxiety, depression or an eating disorder. If this is the case, then you want to pick a dual diagnosis location where staff is trained to deal with these co-occurring problems.

5. The location of the facility is something to be considered. If family therapy is essential then you may want to pick a site that is close enough that the needed family members can get there with reasonable efforts. Conversely, if you are at risk of slipping out with a friend, then maybe picking a site that is further away may be more beneficial so that you are removed from your temptations.

6. Does the placement offer step-down services? After completing the initial treatment, clients often need additional services but with less restrictions then those of a rehab setting. Does the site you are considering offer outpatient services or a transitional living? Do they have a referral program for ongoing therapy or can you continue to work with your existing therapist even after discharge? Are aftercare services offered following discharge?

In addition to the considerations just discussed, you always want to check if your insurance covers the program you have found and want to check the reputation of the facility. Ultimately, you want to make sure you pick a placement that meets your needs and fits you best in order to increases the likelihood of effective treatment.

3 Potential Attitudes as Clients Leave Rehab

By Dr Shannon on February 10, 2011 12:33 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Whether one goes into a rehab due to a court order, based on family encouragement/insistence or for their own self recovery, they should be applauded. It is not easy to take the first step in recovering from addiction. However, the true test of one's sobriety happens when the person leaves the safety of a highly monitored rehabilitation facility.

There are many people that leave treatment really wanting to be sober but also fearing they may not be able to stick to sobriety and abstinence. They are aware that abstinence was maintained because they were removed from their familiar environment and relationships, and were housed in a safe, sober environment with extreme monitoring. These patients recognize the importance of carrying over as much of the rehab structure as they can into their old lives when they return home. Aftercare services, such as remote monitoring devices, support groups, and other sources of accountability will greatly increase the chances that these patients will remain sober.

Then there are the few who feel overly confident. They report feeling invincible and do not think they need support once they leave rehab. Those who fall in this group are thought of as still being in their addictive thoughts. They may have maintained a string of days without drinking but they are still in the alcoholic mindset of doing it their way. They have not surrendered to help and will most likely reject further accountability and other aftercare services. As a result they have a far greater likelihood of falling into old drinking

patterns and even having their drinking patterns accelerate to fatal levels.

Additionally, there is the group of patients who have every intention of drinking or using once they leave rehab. They have spent a great deal of time thinking about ways of getting around consequences and plan on doing a better job of hiding their use from whoever put them in rehab- the spouse, the boss, the law. This group would also initially reject aftercare support if given the choice; however they might be demanded to use aftercare services by their spouse or employer.

If a person is going to maintain sobriety, they need to want it for themselves and then must have the tools to help them effectively change their behaviors. I would say the vast majority of post rehab patients are in the category of wanting to maintain sobriety upon discharge. It has been found that monitoring services greatly decrease the rate of relapse and therefore should be a tool that is incorporated into their aftercare plan.

How to Talk About Underage Drinking

By Dr Shannon on February 8, 2011 12:32 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

When was the last time you spoke to your teen about drinking? This may include your drinking, their drinking or just the topic in general. This may seem like a silly question, but in fact it is an extremely important and often overlooked step in combating underage drinking.

In working with parents, I find that few have actually spoken directly to their child about the topic.

Those who have discussed the topic admit to doing so on one or two occasions, but then never again. It seems to be a difficult subject to approach and yet it is so important in influencin

g your teen's behavior. The problem is that parents are not asking the teen directly and aren't engaging in regular discussions about the topic. We need to change this and

start discussing the topic more openly and more regularly.

First it is important for you to express your desire directly. Tell your child you do not want them drinking and explain why. The goal is not to get into a power struggle but to set clear expectations about their choices. Just because you set a clear boundary does not mean they will stick to it but it does improve the chances that they will make good choices.

Also consider your own actions as you are asking them to consider theirs. If you tell them not to drink but then they witness you repeatedly drinking excessively, then they are less likely to respect your boundary. This does not mean you can never drink, but rather that encourages you to make appropriate choices as an example to your child.

Finally, continue to educate your child by openly and frequently bringing up the subject. Do not lecture but rather invite discussion by asking questions. By asking questions you give them a chance to share what they know and you get insight into their thoughts and feelings about the subject. Ask them what they know about alcohol. Ask them when the last time was that someone offered them a drink. Ask how they handled the situation. You can even practice with them so they get comfortable turning down a drink.

You may even notice changes in how they discuss it with you. A change in their openness may indicate a change in their drinking habits. These changes can alert you to potential problems or reassure you of their obedience to your boundaries.

Ideally you can continue these conversations with enough regularity that your child knows what you expect of them and know that they can approach you if, and when, they need to. The goal is to create safety around the subject. You do not want your silence to imply consent so do not be silent on the subject. Get educated so that you can educate them about underage drinking.

2 Powerful Reasons Why the Minimum Drinking Age is 21

By Dr Shannon on February 1, 2011 3:28 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Why is the drinking age set at 21? This question is usually asked by the minor who wants to drink or is already drinking. In working with an adolescent population, I hear the litany of justifications that youth have for drinking underage and why they feel the laws are unjust. The problem is that they also share these

thoughts with their parents, and often times the parents may accept one or more of these justifications as a reason to be lenient on the child's behavior.

There are many important facts that lead to a minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) of 21. These facts should be considered by parents when talking with their child in order to avoid being coerced by their adolescent logic. I have explained 2 powerful facts below, in hopes that parents can use the information when talking about underage drinking.

1. It is true that there is a universal MLDA of 21 within all states. There was a time when each state had the power to set different age limits, however we found there to be more risk not less. From 1970 to 1975, there were several states that reduced the drinking age to 18, 19 or 20 years old. Because there were different MLDAs, there was an increase of teens crossing state lines in order to get alcohol which increased risk of drinking and driving and alcohol related fatal car accidents. During this period we also found an increase in school problems and violence such as rape. This ultimately resulted in Congress passing the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984. States were given a financial incentive to change the age limit to 21, and eventually all states did meet that guideline.

2. It is also true that other countries do not all hold the same age limit. Some countries even have no legal regulations on consumption age. Many teens will report that other countries with more liberal views of drinking have less alcohol related problems. Their logic being that our country is "too uptight" and we should therefore normalize drinking like these cultures. However, statistics again show that these cultures have more, not less, alcohol related problems.

The simple answer to why the drinking age is 21 is because we have found it to be safer for all concerned. Teenagers my use rationalizations to justify their behavior but the bottom line is that safety has motivated the regulation. In order to ensure the safety of our youth, we need to advocate adherence to this age limit.