Addiction: Drug Rehabilitation Facts

Question: Why do some people go back to bad habits or addictions when they get under stress?

(Posted by: Jamesr2d2 on 2010-02-04 14:19:50)

How can this problem be stopped? A guy I know returned to a bad habit this week and today when a stressful problem came up. I had a guy I worked with who started using Cocaine again during stressful times in his marriage. I think he ended up in rehab about 3 times. He lost his job the last time I think. Some guys go back to viewing porn after they gave it up. Some women go on a shopping spree when under stress.

Posted by: Kelly + Eternal Universal Energy on 2010-02-04, 14:30:40

I think it has to do with how they are raised.. Especially where men are concerned. These people who revert to addictions and self medication when under stress simply didn't learn how to cope in other ways. Men for example, in society men are encouraged to not show emotions, not cry or talk about problems, men are taught to be strong and tough and independent. Because of this many men are emotionally crippled, they don't know how to express their emotions in a healthy productive way to reduce stress. So they turn to drugs or alcohol or sex to suppress their negative emotions rather than facing them and dealing with them. It's a vicious cycle and one I've seen all too often in my life.. society is the cause, stereotypical views of men and women further the problems. People don't know how to communicate their emotions or how to cope with emotions. They turn to whatever addiction they can find that makes them feel better for a little while.. it's a bad tradeoff in the end really, people are replacing long-term emotional health for short term pleasures that help them forget their problems instead of dealing with them. Problem is the problem always comes back again and again until you really deal with it. It takes a lot of time to fix a problem like that, and it involves learning how to deal with negative emotions in a constructive manner, rather than a destructive manner. Art, poetry, hobbies, video games, writing.. all these things are constructive outlets for stress or other negative emotions. It's really hard to show someone how to change their bad habits by replacing them with good habits.. it all starts with the parents and upbringing I think. It's better for parents to teach their kids how to deal at an early age, unfortunately nobody is perfect and there are a lot of people whos parents didn't teach them how to cope.

Posted by: ʎəʌəə� ʎəʌəəd ʎəʌəəls on 2010-02-04, 14:23:13

Because they still want to do it and they found an excuse

Posted by: Godboy on 2010-02-04, 14:27:57

The sow has returned to it's mire / the dog to it's vomit= weakness and lack of understanding. I have quit sins by understanding why it is a sin. Others I do out ofignorance or weakness

Posted by: Neil on 2010-02-04, 14:28:03

When someone completely surrenders to God. He can take all those desires out. It happens all the time if you read Christian testimonials.

Posted by: Abasi on 2010-02-04, 14:29:21

Because that is how they are use to dealing with stress and they have not developed another means to do so help the person find another outlet

Posted by: LottaLou on 2010-02-04, 14:30:42

Because they don't take their cares to Jesus. Jesus told us to cast all our cares to Him for He cares for us. And when we refuse to go to God regarding our problems or life's trials, we go to something else to help us cope. And these turn into addictions. I used to go to tobacco when stressed, until Jesus healed me of that addiction. But when I tried to handle a stressful situation & doubt God had healed me... The temptation came back strongly. I then repented to God for not trusting God, and the temptation ran away the moment I submitted to God. Submitting to God is just praying to God His Promises of His Faithfulness to us. Repenting for doubting God... Being thankful for what God has done... Submit to God, resist the devil & the devil runs away.

Posted by: Lilly45 on 2010-02-04, 14:46:46

Because it gives them comfort and an opportunity to forget their stresses - like sucking a thumb. In order to stop - they would need counseling - to learn positive actions - when being triggered by stress ♥ vitiligocover.com/ wp-content/ uploads/ stress1.jpg

Posted by: Michelle on 2010-02-04, 15:04:00

Your question has many answers. In times of difficulty, we don't always think clearly. We just want some relief and security from our pain quickly (and don't think of the past or possible consequences). We cope with what we have. If we don't have positive, healthy good habits, then we rely on the negative, unhealthy bad habits to cope. Its easy to return to a bad habit because most bad habits are easy to use (short term) and at one time they provided relief.... If you're one of those people who aren't patient and can't dely gratification, then they're also likely to go towards the quick and easy solution, even if it's something negative and healthy.... It's also hard to change something that we've done for years and is almost a part of us....How we deal with a situation also depends on our support system. We need a strong and positive support system of family and friends in difficult times. When we don't have it, we're more likely to do bad stuff.... Look at this way...A baby cries when they are hungry. Crying helps a baby deal with the pain of being hungry and also communicates that pain. Because the baby doesn't know how to talk or what else to do, that's one of only things that the baby can do. It's effective because when a baby cries, his/ her parent feeds them. As the baby gets older she/ he learns to speak and verbally communicate. When she/ he becomes hungry she/ he deals with the pain of hunger and communicates that pain by verbally communicating. It's effective because a child is fed when they communicate that they are hungry. Many times when a child is really hungry or isn't given food right a way they may go back to what was successful in the past, which is crying. When a child hasn't learned to be patient or dealy gratification or whatever, they maybe more likely to cry quickly. What would have happened though if the child had never learned to verbally communicate she/ he was hungry? Or what if verbally communicating didn't get the results she/ he needed? Or what if she/ he didn't feel strong enough to verybally communicate? This example is sort of the same thing as the guy in your example. Just keep in mind though that he's a grown man. His behaviors, experiences and etc have been with him for years and is sort of a part of him, which means it may be harder to change. Maybe he doesn't feel there's anything wrong with what he's doing? Maybe he doesn't know how to change or have the support to change. Addiction is hard.