Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 9/25/2006

Question
forgive me for the length of this email. I am writing this for my friend who just hit rock bottom and it took so much for me to write this on her behalf. I was ready to end my relationship with her but i just cant turn my back on her. Since she doesnt know where to go. She is living with her mom in NJ and the problem she is facing is finding a place that will help her. Nj has a thing about getting help without insurance.

I think that just because she stops without medical treatment to detox herself, she is susceptible to go back. Which she has twice this month alone. So having a very bad soul searching weekend, i went over there today and told her i would help her in any way possible.

Not having any problems with addictions i felt a lil out of my league to say anything to her. So here i am. This is what i told her. She needs to get treatment and she is on meds to help somewhat,prescribed by her moms doctor. So thats helping. She starts a new job on 9-27. So that will help her focus. But i feel that all the new stuff aside, those cravings will always be there to fall back on when stress comes a knocking.

I told her i would try to be there as much as i could and get her thru this. She has her mom to help her as much as possible, but it strains on her as well. Thats where i am going to help in any ways possible. I just need some pointers in order where to go next. She is making steps to get help, getting a new job, but needs serious help. Id like to see her go away for awhile and get detoxed. But not having ins, she may have to go this way for now.

She has no car, her mom drivers her to and from work.She has no independance and cant really get to any dealers. Plus the fact that shes in a new place will help with that. The 2 times she slipped she drove down to De. to score. I was one of the people that got her a car, not knowing how bad her situation is. Since then, i am more aware and really want to help. I was telling her today that addiction is a mental thing that takes over common sence and it puts your mind like a childs, You see a balloon and your only focused to get that balloon.

Once you stop chasing the balloon, you can let it go. I told her that it may seem trivial to compare it that way, but again i have no experience in this. This is a first for me. I told her that i would be there for her in whatever she needs. The less stress she endures the more she can concentrate on her addiction, and kicking it. I said this will never go away for the rest of her life. It's all about coping. I also said its like running a marathon. Staying on the road and not veering off.

Again I do apologize for the length of this email, but i was just looking for some pointers. I appreciate anything you can do.

Regards
Rick

Answer
Addiction is a real problem. I see it as a physical disease rather than a “:mental” illness.

Please read:

“Treatment of Drug Addiction”
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/treatment_drug_addiction.html

“Alcoholism (Addiction) is a Treatable Disease” at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/alcoholism_treatable.html

I think this should be done under the supervision of a Nutritional Doctor or a Clinical Nutritionist.


Jurriaan Plesman
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