AboutDerek Johnson Expertise Any behavior in which you are compelled to engage in when you do not want to can lead to an addiction.
Experience I offer counseling (http://www.kasamba.com/derek-johnson) of all types -drugs, alcohol, sexual, anger, depression, co-dependency, anxiety, grief, stress, eating disorders, distortions of thought, compulsions, mood disorders, controlling behaviors, inferiority, marriage and family, motivation, life coaching, relapse prevention and recovery counseling- from an eclectic approach.
My abilities are being refined daily by supervising a counseling center that offers counseling to 120 clients. I have 10 years of direct care in all counseling arenas. I also have 2 years experience working with the mentally handicapped. Additionally, I have 2 years experience in Marriage and Family relationship issues. I have personally and unfortunately experienced sexual abuse, a suicide attempt and many addictions. This gives me a unique perspective in helping others.
Organizations Teen Challenge of Florida Florida Certification Board International Society for Mental Health Online International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium
Education/Credentials Certified Mental Health Professional # 50190 (MA)/ Certified Addiction Professional #3279 (MA) / Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology / Internationally Certified Counselor #24570 / Certified by the Florida Certification Board / Certified by International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium / NET Institute Diploma for Counseling and Addiction Studies.
Expert: Derek Johnson Date: 6/18/2008 Subject: My roommate went to rehab years ago, and is starting to drink again.
Question Before I moved here and made all the wonderful friends I did, my roommate was a terrible alcoholic. Everyone hated him and he drank massive amounts a day. Then he met this woman who inspired him to sober up. He went to rehab and stopped drinking for almost 3-4 years. When she broke up with him, he started to fall back into it. I live with him. I came into the house one day, and he was drinking a beer. He told me, "I'm sick of not being able to drink a beer." I felt that was ok, but not totally. Then I walk in, and he's drinking a bottle of red wine, completely by himself. Then I walk in and he's drinking lemonade and whiskey, and he's leaving later to buy more liqiour. He's also going out and getting drunk with a woman he's seeing, but I can't blame that on her.
His attitude is getting more irritable, and he's getting more impossible to live with, when before I loved every moment.
I don't know whether I should tell her about his previous life, because I don't know if she knows. I don't really want to get involved, because he is very stubborn (and always has been... he is the type), and irritable all the time right now. He has been taking things I leave around the apartment and actually placing them in my room, which I find very rude! He has never done this before.
I don't want to confront him, because he is justifying his actions. But I feel he is slipping.
I just... don't know what to do. Any ideas? Help!
Answer I would agree he is slipping - that is an understatement. The bottom line is that you are either going to have to confront him or simply put up with any and all behaviors that come your way. I can understand your apprehension with regard to confronting him however.
His actions are affecting you and are under the same roof that you are under. This gives you the responsibility, for your own emotional health, to request that his actions do not encroach upon you and cause the stress that it is causing.
I also agree with you not thinking it wise to talk to the other girl. There is nothing good that usually will come from that. You will become the focus of his frustration.
