Made an Appointment with an Addiction Counselor

I just wanted to let everyone know that I finally made an appointment with my old addiction counselor and my appointment is tomorrow at 4:00.  It's been two years since I have seen her.  Man that was a hard call to make but I had to do it.  Yesterday I was taking Lortabs 10 pills at a time all day.  I was at work and felt ok for a while but I eventually passed out at my desk.  Luckily noone noticed.  I don't think I was out long but I made it to the bathroom and just sat there thinking about my life.  I am worth more than this and I am going to beat this addiction no matter what it takes.  I still have some more pills left but not many.  So when they are gone that's it.  I feel like a looser saying that but I just can't make myself throw them away.

[Calzy]

Great to hear you are ready for a change. I would not tell you to throw alway your pills, thats up to you, you will be sick when they wear off and you might need something until you get help or can begin to withdraw. We talk about the energy we get from the pills while we pass out at work, i did the same thing as you. It's the pills that took our energy in the first place. Good luck with your counselor, only good can come out of it.

[david0263]

Thanks.  I am going to need lots of support and will post often.  Not too sure about NA or AA but I don't want to get to far ahead of myself.  I'll see the counselor and see how that goes first.  I am so excited to finally doing something positive even if it was just a phone call.

[liscamdave]

Hey, listen, don't you think that you have made progress already by looking at your life and not wanting to be where you are. I have done the same thing, and I am honestly done with this part of my life. We are all here for you. Please let us know how it goes. I wish you all the best, I truly do...

Lisa

[Sydney Smyth]

Not sure if u meant a counselor or those who call themselves"addiction specialist".Counselor or psych great but the so called addiction specialists are just another form of a drug dealer,suboxone,blah blah.You do what is best for u no one else knows that but please do not get on methadone.I am soo against it!I was on it for four to five years and just like all other drugs your dose has to keep getting higher and higher for you to feel "normal".Plus they brainwash you that methadone is great and is the only way to live a normal life.You have to go to the clinic every morn take the methadone,to me it's just replacing one for another.Yeah it beats chasing drugs all day but the hype about tapering off methadone is bull,you'll start using again once you feel the taper.Take my advice please from someone who is under thirty and has been through all the options already.Best of luck!!!

[beachtowel]

Its a good thing that your going to see an addiction counselor but may I ask why you want to see her......your still using and won't get rid of your remaining pills what benefit or help do you think she will be is you still want to keep using?

[beachtowel]

your statements that all addiction counselors are nothing more than drug dealers is so far out there I'm not even sure how to respond to it.....
when i take my tests this november to get my addiction counselor certificate it will be 100% to help people get to recovery....
your words I think are pretty lame..........

[david0263]

You are right.  I am so tired.  Well not really tired but physically exhausted from the addiction.  I just want to go somewhere and talk with someone who understands, really understands what I am going through.  I can't fight this anymore.  IT'S OVER.  I want my life back and I am prepared to do what it takes to get it back.  Reading this site everyday has helped me to realize that I am not alone and I can beat addiction.

[beachtowel]

Thank god for the addiction counselor I saw in 2005 who finally got me off all drugs after a 37 yr active addiction.........

[beachtowel]

good for you that is a great attitude if I may give you some advice just be honest...........and don't hold back all your thoughts and emotions...........
Honesty is the key to recovery......

[Savas]

What's the class load/course work like for a certification as an Addiction Counselor? Is it a one year or two or four year? I never really thought about going that route...I picked the MFT for ease and quick completion (don't want to graduate at 50!), but I do see the appeal with working in a field you're 'intimately familiar with' if you know what I mean...;)  

Oh, Sydney, do you mean a Pain Management Specialist"?

Ugh, sorry if I'm not clear, but the nicotine withdrawal is getting to me...

[angel47630]

I so agree with you and want to thank you personally to make it your life's goal to counsel others like us.  

You see, I have been to a counselor and a psych, but if they have not walked in my shoes they cannot understand what it IS I am dealing with..............

When you are hanging up your certificate, be so proud of yourself!!


Thanks for your time here,
Karen

[david0263]

Ya know Beach you are right, but I am sure that in all of your years of active addiction you understand where I am comming from.  It's a scary thing to throw those pills away and tada now I'm without.  I want to meet with her and hear some reassuring words that everything will be ok, that as time goes on things will get better and I wont feel so lonely.  Right now those pills are my security blanket and I am not ready to be alone right now.  It makes me feel like a little child saying that but honestly that how I feel.

Smyth:  I am not going to take sub or methodone or anything else for that matter.  I have known this counselor for many years although I have not been to see her for more than two years.

[beachtowel]

Addiction Studies - Undergraduate Certificate | Office | Website

Description

The Addiction Studies program educates students in the knowledge and skills required to provide prevention, assessment, referral and treatment services for individuals and families who suffer from addictive disorders. The curriculum places major emphasis on chemical addictions while exploring the broader range of addictive behaviors. The interplay of mental illness and addiction is a focus as well. The program is interdisciplinary, including courses in the behavioral and physical sciences, the humanities as well as addiction studies. The practical experience of the internship is an important part of the curriculum.


Students can conveniently pursue the Bachelor of Science or the Undergraduate Certificate on a part-time or a fulltime basis. Transfer credit will shorten the program. Courses are scheduled evenings and weekends to accommodate the working student.


The B.S. curriculum satisfies the prerequisites for the M.A. in Addictions Counseling or Agency Counseling and for the M.A. in Clinical Psychology at UDM. Both the B.S. and the Undergraduate Certificate meet the education and internship requirements for the Certified Addictions Counselor credential (CAC) awarded by the State of Michigan.


Undergraduate Certificate in Addiction Studies
This Certificate is intended for students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in a professional discipline that would enable them to be effective in the prevention of, intervention into, or treatment of addictive disorders. Because of the education and professional training that the student brings to the program from his or her own major discipline, it is possible to provide a curriculum of course work and field experience in Addiction Studies totaling 18 credit hours that prepares the student to work effectively on behalf of those adversely affected by addictive disorders.



Degree Requirements

Curriculum - three components:
1. A core of four required courses totaling 12 credits:  
   cr. rec. st. cl. lab.
ADS 100 Introduction to Substance Abuse  3    
ADS 120 Assessment, Referral, and Treatment Methods   3    
ADS 241 Techniques of Individual Counseling   3    
ADS 436 Family Theory and Therapy   3    




2. One elective course totaling 3 credits from the following:  
   cr. rec. st. cl. lab.
ADS 417 Chemical Dependence and Youth   3    
ADS 421 Gambling and Sexual Addiction   3    
ADS 443 Group Methods   3    
ADS 447 Employee Assistance Programming   3    
ADS 450 Prevention and Intervention in Substance Abuse   3    
ADS 460 Spirituality and Recovery   3    
ADS 495 Addictive Populations   3    




3. A clinical component totaling three credits to be fulfilled as a field placement of 300 hours in an addiction prevention or treatment agency. It can be done in conjunction with a clinical requirement in the student's major field.  
   cr. rec. st. cl. lab.
ADS 242   3    
Total: 18 cr. The certificate will be awarded when the student has met all other requirements for the bachelor's degree.




  

On this Page
Degree Requirements




  
    

[lunachick]

so it's a total of only 12 credits for this degree? wow

[beachtowel]

this would get you your CAC but I would also like to get my CAC1

[beachtowel]

If you knew the path in life that brought me to this point "only 12 credit hours" ......I had to climb a mountain to get there.....and needed help from so many to get here you wouldn't even believe it.....
The day when I get my certificate I hope I don't have a heart attack and to have my mom there to see it tears will probably flow down my face.........
I hurt her so many times over the years to achieve this goal so late in my life is proof that anybody can do it if they really want to.......

[beachtowel]

and believe me this is not a real high paying job that is not why I went this direction,,,,,,I really want to help people and be with people........
If they can see that I could fight my way out of active addiction to get here maybe I can give them hope that they can do it too........

[Savas]

So it's part of a B.S. degree? You need 16 for the core, and however many else the school requires? Huh, that's pretty good.  I wonder if they'd let you do the core credits and add on if you already have the BA/BS...probably not...heck, maybe I'll just go back into the business world...

I'm NOT enjoying being a student again. I enjoy the reading and work well enough, but the whole "study for tests" part is just...ugh...probably not a good time to think of all this, I';ve been running a headache for two days straight now.

[beachtowel]

I had to get a sponsership from Professor Franklin to get in..............

I have recieved help from so many so many unexpected avenues.......

[david0263]

Ya know, all I was looking for was a little encouragement toady.  It may not seem like a big thing for some of you but contacting an addiction counselor to me was the beginning of a long road to recovery and it was not easy.  It's not that I don't care what it takes to become a counselor but that has nothing to do with why I started this thread.

Beach let me just say that I respect your opionion and think you are of great value to this forum but if I may offer a bit of advice myself; try not to get so caught up in yourself that you have to write a disertation to correct every perseived mistake you see posted.  You highjacked this thread and although it's no big deal it is quite rude.

[beachtowel]

one thing about the way this site is set up all bunched together like this is I left you in this thread a long time ago and moved on......
but some of us find that hard to do.......

[david0263]

i don't have any idea what you mean.  I'm not trying to start something. God knows I do not need or want drama in my life.  I just felt it rude that my thread about going to see an addition counselor which to me is a big deal end up being about the requirements for becomming one.

[beachtowel]

by the way I really wasn't looking for any advice.......
Savas and lunachick changed the subject and we changed the conversation sorry if you felt left out............
your comments of me being caught up with myself if talking about being positive and changing my life around seems that way to you I can't help that..........
I am very proud of my accomplishments and don't feel like I am boasting about myself that seems like your problem............

[lunachick]

I'm sorry if you feel like the thread was hijacked. I think it's a very big and important step for you to see an addiction counselor regardless of whether you are using or not. The important thing is that you are taking some sort of step toward getting clean, even if it's just getting some info or some support. I'm sure the counselor can start pointing you in the right direction helping you out to get started on your recovery. Many people (like myself) are too proud to ask for help and just suffer in silence, and you are doing a really brave thing. I wish you lots of luck in receiving the help and info you are looking for..

[beachtowel]

Well said and my thoughts exactly..............

[david0263]

"your statements that all addiction counselors are nothing more than drug dealers is so far out there I'm not even sure how to respond to it.....
when i take my tests this november to get my addiction counselor certificate it will be 100% to help people get to recovery....
your words I think are pretty lame.......... "

I'm tired and going to bed but from the above copied post on YOU hijacked this thread.  I'm not looking for a fight I just thought it rude that you would do this.  I understand why you would be proud of your accomplishments as well you should be.  I quit school in the 10th grade and went on to become a Mechanical Engineer but I'm not going to hijack a thread to tell the world about it.

You really seem like a good person and I know you mean well but please stop boasting about you accomplishments.  It undermines what you are trying to accomplish.

[wait2long]

you should repost your question or comment in order to get some good advice and help and support from others on this forum...i feel sorry that your post has turned into THIS...personally i think you are doing right for you, everyone is different and if you think this addiction counselor/addiction specailist can help you then you go for it hun...i too went the same route, i contacted an addiction specailist and used right up until the day of my appointment, some of them actually test your urine in order to make sure you are an addict...mine did, she didnt want to prescribe suboxone to someone who wasnt an addict and could eventually sell them on the street...then she tests to make sure you arent using ...but i dont know of any drug addicts that have thrown their pills away before any plan was in place for their sobriety or recovery, so dont feel bad about that, and no need to explain yourself either.  just as long as you have a start with someone to help you will make all the difference i the world, just knowing that i had someone on my side to try to beat this addiction made it almost easier to start the process.   are you seeing an addiction counselor or an addiction specailist?  have you thought of the suboxone route?   repost your question or comment so others can respond and support you...

[wait2long]

maybe you should have "moved on" yourself if you found it hard to listen and support, maybe you should start your OWN thread....

[lunachick]

i don't think encouraging him to take a pill right now is the best thing....???

[david0263]

My point exactly.  Thank you.  Maybe I do not understand this forum.  At the top is the title describing what this discussion is about and nowhere does it say anything about the requirements to become an addiction counselor.

One last thing.  Beach you sure seem to have thin skin.  I would think an addiction counselor would need aligator hide to deal with an addict.  We are a hard headed bunch.

[wait2long]

wheres all the support this person is asking for?

[GA Guy]

OK everyone..lets lay our heads down on our desks until break. No more arguing or I'm keeping you all in at lunch. (Hope this works...it does for my wife's 7th grade math class).

[GA Guy]

I think seeing an addiction counselor is a wonderful step. We all need to find out what works in this fight...and this very well may be the thing that helps your recovery. I'm thinking of seeing someone myself, and I'd appreciate an update when you have some information.

[wait2long]

seriously hun, just repost your question/comment...there are ALOT of people on this forum who are more than willing to help and support you in anyway...so just start over, K?

[lunachick]

for sure. If I had insurance I'd be at one right now....well...not right this second since it's like 8:30PM

[david0263]

Good night.  I did not mean for this to get out of control.  I truely respect all of you and hope there are no hard feelings.  I'll post tomorrow and let you know how the meeting went.

[wait2long]

good luck and we are hear if you need us, so make sure you DO come back....

[FLaddict]

Drop it...don't keep dragging this out..

[lunachick]

wtf? does this mean anyway? And no i wasn't ignoring I had to get off the computer and attend to my family....

[Calzy]

It i may speak for beach and i hope i read this right but it was an attempt to point out all the positive remarks you and others made in regard to lift David up as he takes a big step in the right direction in removing the addiction out of his life.I would have been thrilled to get over 40 responses if i asked a question or was making a statement. Even if the subject shifted some it still talked about the success that can come from a healthy recovery such as going back to school and talking about what subjects to take about becoming a counselor. I know when you first post here you are so hungry to recieve all the words of encougement you can or praise you for  trying to quit and it seemed that David felt that changing the subject was insensitive to his needs but it's all about good healthly talk again and trying to lighten spirits up. When some of us first get here we are pretty wound up from getting all our emotions wrapped up for years and years for some and it's hard to let go at first and if things dont go just right, feels can and do get hurt until a person can open up and feel free again. David you said you would get back with us after your appt so i hope all went well and please share if you feel up to it.  

[lunachick]

umm ok?

[Calzy]

So my attempt to explain what was said came out as clear as mud, LoL  but there was no knocks against you in anything you said. I'll quit now while i'm still behind, had 1 hour sleep last nite.

[wait2long]

thankfully alot of the posts have been deleted, you didnt see the whole thread.

[lunachick]

exactly..i still don't understand what this guy Beach was trying to do...copy pasting what i said over and over. I don't know what he was trying to get across....??? All we did was try to make the guy feel better, but i guess that made someone else feel a little insecure and dumb for being unkind to the guy...who knows when it comes to this forum? Some things aren't allowed to be said while some things that are inappropriate totally are allowed to slip by. Oh well. i'm growing tired of the un-fairness anyway, and will be staying off the forum for the day...tata to my friends...

[Calzy]

Well, once again you offered solid advice and asked David to re-post which he did and i just notice it after i posted here so it's time to bail from here and let this post drift away.

[Savas]

My apologies mate. I tend to be casual and wander, maybe it's a sign of old age. :)

I thought your post was from a few days ago when I saw the thread, so went along with the "hijacking".

But we tend to digress here (well, some of us), but it usually does all come to the same end result.

Here's a question for you; how DID your meeting with the addiction counselor go? Did you get out of it what you expected?

[david0263]

I hope there are no hard feeling from last night.  I had a really bad day and was feeling pretty depressed because of the amount or Lortab I had been taking all day.  It's over now so lets let this thread die.  I'll start a new one with the results from my meeting with the addiction counselor.  


David (who is not yet sober but made some great headway today)