Aa
Advice
I am a recovering alcoholic who is studying to be a chemical dependency counselor. I sponsor a man who is in his early sixties. He is clean off of alcohol now for about 130 days, but has a history of meth use. He has been off the meth for about a year. I recently found out that he is on xanax for anxiety attacks, effexor for depression, vicadin for back pain and ambian for sleeping. I can see the effects of the drugs on him all the time. He wants to get off of the prescription drugs, but Im a little worried to steer him wrong. Other counselor friends of mine are telling me he needs to go to medical detox; however, not having insurance is an issue. I was just wandering if i can get some input. I have another question. This Xanax is a whole different game to me. its different than street drugs or alcoholism..my question is why are doctors prescribing these kinds of drugs and not recommending going to counselors or treatment facilities. in my line of work most of us believe that we must fix the cause of the problem, not just treat the alcoholism or the addiction. Just wanting some oppinions. thanks.
It makes me really sad to hear so very many vets say that the VA has done absolutely nothing to help them. Or else has just handed them scripts for benzos and pain killers and sent them on their way........no help for the emotional/mental nightmare so many are living with. And why the hell doesn't the VA treat with the 12 step program? That just seems really insane to me since so many vets are trying desperately to hold onto their sobriety.
I'm sorry to hear that your sponsoree is having to deal with a son who is still in the bad place. That must be so heartbreaking for him. We can only hope and pray that seeing his father get clean will eventually motivate him to follow suite. I'm glad you are there to help him deal with these issues.
I am not sayint that a medical detox is not the way to go. I'm saying that it's usually the last, and sometimes, only choice. It is a very unpleasant experience, even when done under the supervision of a good medical facility. There are just easier ways to detox but they do take a great deal longer. So if speed is of the essence for some reason here, then talk to the folks at the detox center. But if there is no time constraint, it's simply a gentler way to get off all the stuff.
It's just like this forum..........there are as many opinions as there are folks here. I know people who swear by the detox centers and can't praise them enough. And I've heard horror stories from others. So, it's more a matter of who you want to listen to. Both ways have their pros and cons, no doubt about that. I'm one who thinks the "kinder, gentler" way is better. But that is MY opinion.
With all the meds he is taking, and the kinds of meds he's taking, I'm not the least bit surprised he has no clarity of mind! My guess, and that is all it is, it that the meds are doing this to him. Not knowing the dose level really doesn't make that much difference, because mixing these is going to cause some pretty heavy duty "brain fog," which translates into him not being able to focus on much of anything. He really needs to be seen by a good doctor who will supervise his meds and he desperately needs some therapy to deal with what feels like to me, a boatload of trauma and sadness.
My response will push this back to the top and I hope someone else will come forth with some more ideas for you.
Keep us posted please..........
Peace
Greenlydia
I'm sorry to hear that your sponsoree is having to deal with a son who is still in the bad place. That must be so heartbreaking for him. We can only hope and pray that seeing his father get clean will eventually motivate him to follow suite. I'm glad you are there to help him deal with these issues.
I am not sayint that a medical detox is not the way to go. I'm saying that it's usually the last, and sometimes, only choice. It is a very unpleasant experience, even when done under the supervision of a good medical facility. There are just easier ways to detox but they do take a great deal longer. So if speed is of the essence for some reason here, then talk to the folks at the detox center. But if there is no time constraint, it's simply a gentler way to get off all the stuff.
It's just like this forum..........there are as many opinions as there are folks here. I know people who swear by the detox centers and can't praise them enough. And I've heard horror stories from others. So, it's more a matter of who you want to listen to. Both ways have their pros and cons, no doubt about that. I'm one who thinks the "kinder, gentler" way is better. But that is MY opinion.
With all the meds he is taking, and the kinds of meds he's taking, I'm not the least bit surprised he has no clarity of mind! My guess, and that is all it is, it that the meds are doing this to him. Not knowing the dose level really doesn't make that much difference, because mixing these is going to cause some pretty heavy duty "brain fog," which translates into him not being able to focus on much of anything. He really needs to be seen by a good doctor who will supervise his meds and he desperately needs some therapy to deal with what feels like to me, a boatload of trauma and sadness.
My response will push this back to the top and I hope someone else will come forth with some more ideas for you.
Keep us posted please..........
Peace
Greenlydia
Yes, he is a vet. I think that is half of the problem. Im a vet also, however, I won't deal with VA. For some reason VA counselors and doctors are one of the biggest prescribers of benzos, which is the case with my sponsoree. I went to treatment at a facility that was not associtated with VA. The VA in the town I live in does not treat with the 12 step program. I work the 12 steps. My sponsoree deals with a lot of loneliness and a son that is an addict/alcoholic which is always hitting up for money. I can help him deal with that. You say that med detox is not the way to go...why do you recommend that it isn't. Another question is that he says that he has no clarity of mind, I can understand that but i have a hard time getting him to focus sometimes, is that an effect of the drug or is this a different problem?
First off, congratulations on your sobriety! And you are to be truly commended for studying to be a CDC! Talk about paying it forward..................
This fellow that you are sponsoring has been clean and sober for at least 130 days. That's great and I'm sure you are responsible for much of his success.
Now you find that he is taking Xanax, Effexor, Vicodin and Ambien. That's quite a stew of medication, most of which is not to be taken lightly, if you know what I mean.
You say that some of the other counselors are recommending a medical de-tox. THAT is a really rough row to hoe. I'm glad you are seeking possible other alternatives for this poor guy. He is 60 years old. Is he a vet? Do you have the option of the VA stepping up to the plate and offering him some help? How and where does he get the meds he's on? Who treats him for all his various troubles? They should be the one's he sees to help him get the help he really needs rather than just keeping him doped up all the time.
Does the place you are training at have a resource counselor who may be able to help you get him the help he needs? Have you contacted the Dept. of Health and Welfare? Is he on disability? Has he ever been treated by a therapist? In my humble opinion, he needs one now desperately. It's good that he wants to get off the meds. But he can't do it alone and for God's sake, don't let him go cold turkey!
Your question about why doctors prescribe Xanax and don't bother to get their patients into therapy is one most of us on the anxiety forum would like an answer to as well! Not to diss ALL doctors, as there are probably many out there who advise their patients to "consider" therapy as they're writing out the script. It's the follow through were they really fall down! So much easier to just refill the prescription.
Most of us on this forum have learned the hard way that we must fix the root problem of our panic/anxiety before we can hope to recover. It's really not that much different than being an alcoholic. You first had to admit to YOURSELF you had a problem before you could take any steps to help yourself. We are pretty much in the same leaky canoe. It takes some of us YEARS to face up to the fact we need help that DOESN'T come in pill form.
I don't think I was much help to you in seeking help for your friend. I know there are others on this forum who will be able to offer you more. If you write it, they will come! Please keep checking back! I think you are wonderful for what you've done for yourself and what you now want to do for others. A hero. Bless your giant, giving heart.
Peace
Greenlydia
This fellow that you are sponsoring has been clean and sober for at least 130 days. That's great and I'm sure you are responsible for much of his success.
Now you find that he is taking Xanax, Effexor, Vicodin and Ambien. That's quite a stew of medication, most of which is not to be taken lightly, if you know what I mean.
You say that some of the other counselors are recommending a medical de-tox. THAT is a really rough row to hoe. I'm glad you are seeking possible other alternatives for this poor guy. He is 60 years old. Is he a vet? Do you have the option of the VA stepping up to the plate and offering him some help? How and where does he get the meds he's on? Who treats him for all his various troubles? They should be the one's he sees to help him get the help he really needs rather than just keeping him doped up all the time.
Does the place you are training at have a resource counselor who may be able to help you get him the help he needs? Have you contacted the Dept. of Health and Welfare? Is he on disability? Has he ever been treated by a therapist? In my humble opinion, he needs one now desperately. It's good that he wants to get off the meds. But he can't do it alone and for God's sake, don't let him go cold turkey!
Your question about why doctors prescribe Xanax and don't bother to get their patients into therapy is one most of us on the anxiety forum would like an answer to as well! Not to diss ALL doctors, as there are probably many out there who advise their patients to "consider" therapy as they're writing out the script. It's the follow through were they really fall down! So much easier to just refill the prescription.
Most of us on this forum have learned the hard way that we must fix the root problem of our panic/anxiety before we can hope to recover. It's really not that much different than being an alcoholic. You first had to admit to YOURSELF you had a problem before you could take any steps to help yourself. We are pretty much in the same leaky canoe. It takes some of us YEARS to face up to the fact we need help that DOESN'T come in pill form.
I don't think I was much help to you in seeking help for your friend. I know there are others on this forum who will be able to offer you more. If you write it, they will come! Please keep checking back! I think you are wonderful for what you've done for yourself and what you now want to do for others. A hero. Bless your giant, giving heart.
Peace
Greenlydia
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