Gonna start school to be addiction therapist!!!

[abritt121222]

I have went over this in my head so many times to do it or not but finally made up my mind. After my time fighting with my own addiction talking to doctors that wanna act like they know how I feel but have no idea has made me think about it ALOT. Now that I am and have been sober for a couple years I almost feel like I need to do it because I know how much easier it can make things to talk to someone that has actually been there before and understands and is not doing it for the money

[abritt121222]

It's hard for me not to feel that way about I would say 75-85% of the doctors I went toto be completely honest. Not all doctors are like that and understand enough to know if it was so easy there wouldn't be a prescription drug epidemic going on in the U.S. RIGHT NOW and they also know the reason for the problem is because of the doctors out there that could care less about the person they are giving just ridiculous amounts of pain meds that would really be enough meds for 5-6 ppl a month and just care about getting their money and that's where I become very angry because they ABSOLUTELY KNOW they are ruining people's lives but yet continue to write these unreal prescriptions

[weaver71]

In my alcohol and drug rehab class, I always say, you can teach a person to ride a bike, if you have never done it, but having ridin a bike makes it easier. The difference in the school of medicine and recovery will get you pumped. Scientists know that the frontal lobe of the brain is cut off by the meso-cortex, and addicts are more like prehistoric animals than humans. It changes us physically. The DSM V came out this month, and includes addiction as a medical condition. Insurance will cover addiction in a way it never has, real soon. I have similar feeling toward the medical field as you, I'm working on that, but we can be a part of the solution. I try to focus on that, it helps so far. Here's to the best things starting from something bad.

[abritt121222]

Thanx to everyone for the feedback. And just like u said weaver this is something VERY positive coming from a horrible thing but some of the best things start from something bad and I just know as an addict myself while I was In active addiction talking to a addict that has got themself sober and straitened their life out is so much easier then talking to a doctor or someone that will judge us because even tho they think they know what's goin on and what it's like they have no idea because someone can read all they want on paper and in books about addiction and they still have not even the slightest clue what its really like and without having been down this hard road they are very quick to just think well why can't you just stop and quit and its just not that easy and trying to explain that to a person with no substance abuse problem makes them automatically go to well u can't quit cause you just don't really want to and that's complete ******** excuse my French it just really brings back the feeling I have now towards many doctors and ppl I thought were my friends that just think they know everything but down here in the real world are completely ignorant in terms of how hard it really is. Haha sorry for rambling I think I said pretty much the same thing three or four different times just using different words HAHA but thanx again everyone for the feedback

ABritt

[weaver71]

I tried to make sense of my life of drugs and am doing the same thing. It actually gives all my screw ups a purpose. I have about 4 years of school to do it, so I should be clean long enough by then. I wish the best for you. It feels weird to be in school in my 40's, but I like it. You will be a great counselor.

[Norco1947]

Hi Abritt,
You have made a great choice , No job could be better then really careing and helping people get thier lifes back . We know what it's like to be addicted and to use that to help others  is a real payback . You make me proud , In our present world it's nice to see people who care about others .
Good luck in school , Post your story , keep us informed ......Ron

[ChoosingLife]

HI! I think its awesome that you want to give back and use your experiences to help others. Because you have been there, you will have the insight to help other addicts better than anyone else could. I just finished school for Social Work and eventually want to work in the area of substance abuse. I'm just now starting the process of recovery..so I definitely have to get some serious clean time before I can do that. However you have clean for a couple years and by the time you finish school you will be in a great place to do this. Follow your calling and don't give up..you can make a difference...Good Luck!