that's why they call it addiction. :(

Don't know about rehab. I would avoid that but if you need it you need it. All I can say about your job though is that it really depends on where you live. In some states their are laws protecting those who seek treatment. But where I live there is no law like that. They aren't suppose to fire you for it, but there is nothing that says they have to keep a spot open for you while you are in rehab or hire you back after you get out. :(

Many people do not go to rehab for that reason. But I will say if you do go expect to be lied to (to get you in the door) and have a shocking revelations about what rehabs really are. Unless you have good enough health insurance that will cover a good one. But I saw doctors and nurses wind up right next to junkies who were running the streets. All kinds of addicts not just the stereo typical ones people think of when they hear the word addict.

Also if you are already going to NA and following a 12 step program there really is not much of a point in going to rehab. That is all they are any how, a 24 hour NA with lots of cleaning and supervision. Plus butt loads of contradicting rules. It's very confusing. One minuet they will tell you not to feel guilty they next it's your fault. Confusing to any one let alone some one just coming off drugs or alcohol. But one good thing about it is that you can be reasonable sure to be clean for however long you are there. Still some people do manage to sneak and use drugs in rehab.

Good luck hun I feel your pain. And do what you have to do to get clean. It's a long hard process and takes people years to successfully get clean. How long they stay clean is another story. :(

actually what ever one said about being ready is not true.

I went into rehab planning to use again once I got out. but I had lost every thing so they through me into a six month program. Some where during that time I decided it was time to get clean and got serious about it.

Every addict is different.

And sorry but all of you who made comments but are not addicts you should probably butt out as you do not even know what you are talking about. It is not an addicts fault if they are not able to get clean. It IS listed as a mental illness and viewed as such by psychology. It has been scientifically proven that there is a chemical change that happens in the brain of an addict or alcoholic that is permanent damage. They don't call them mind altering substances for nothing. It permanently changes your brain. We all know how bi polar effects us, well addiction is even harder to over come and you have about as much control over it as you do hallucinations. It takes some people years of therapy NA meetings and personal work to get and stay clean. Even then it is a struggle and a process which can include relapse. If you can be helpful and supportive it's best not to say anything. Making him feel bad will probably make him use more not get help.

Magemichael if you need to talk PM me. I wont judge you.

it happens, I don't know many addicts or alcoholics that haven't had any crashes along the way.

but whatever you do, don't let it stop you from thinking that you can quit. I've got a year sober myself right now and still consider myself far from feeling in a safe zone...so I understand that it can make you feel like you aren't strong enough to do it....second guess yourself and reasons for wanting to quit all together.

sending a great big supportive hug your way!

wow doorknob,

you say you won't judge MM but you judged the hell out of the rest of us.

I went to a rehab center many years ago in the US and it was a great experience.. I really wanted help and change in my life.. I think that is the huge part of getting clean is knowing you want your life to change and that you dont want to live with an active addiction any more...Im sure if you needed a sick leave and a doctors letter said you did your job shouldnt be effected .. addiction is a slow suicide..I think seeking the help you need is paramount when you're ready.. big hug and a blessing for you..x

Sorry I came off as judgmental about it. I admit I went a bit over board. (And I don't think that was directed at you mushroom7 but thank you for pointing it)

But some people don't realize that when you blame some one for their addiction it doesn't help them. It just makes them feel hopeless and want to use again.

As for rehabs it really depends. Some of them might be very good usually the rich ones like celebrities go to. But mine was a horror story. And having an undiagnosed mental illness and being unmedicated made it a living hell for me. 30 day programs are very stressful (they are actually a 90 day treatment crammed into 30 days). Even a non addicted person would be stressed out by it.

Also it depends on where you live. People assume that you won't be reprimanded for going to rehab but where I live you can lose your job for either rehab or going to the hospital for mental illness. This is a right to fire state. They can let you go for no reason at all. And they don't have to give (a reason) one or prove that they had the right to fire you. But in some states they have laws in place that protect people who need to get help. Like I said it really depends on where you live.

I'm not knocking rehabs but there are a lot of rehabs that are more about money and will lie to addicts just to get state funding and even better yet if you have insurance which pays more. I can list a number of things that I was lied to about to get me in their doors. (free day care is one example). And once you are there unless you have some where to return to there's pretty much no getting out of it. Also your options might be very limited depending on where you live so unless you want to get transferred out of state (if you are even that lucky) then have fun.

Also I find that rehabs have low success rates (for a good reason). Their methods lack any application of real psychology often employ workers who are also addicts who lack much formal training in the field if any at all. The things they tell you are often contradictory and very confusing. The rules change with the shifts of the employees. Some one just coming off of drugs will be confused as well as stressed. The one that I went to is known as a therapeutic community. The whole mechanism behind it is that the community polices it's self with the supervision of employees (who are also not always healthy or sound of mind IMO). Not very bright if you ask me. You have some really sick people in there giving advice that is not healthy or sound (yet you are suppose to take that advice and not question it). It's a mish mash of addicts coming from all walks of life. It sounds good on paper in reality it has a low success rate. So if you can find one that is not a therapeutic community then go ahead and try it out and let me know. I'd be very interested in it.

But moving on from the whole rehab topic. There are other options than just a full time live in rehab. There are also outpatient options for people who need to work with varying degrees of sessions group and times for attendance. Also NA might work just as well. But you have to get a sponsor and work the 12 step program other wise the whole keep coming back thing is a crock. You can attend all the meetings you want but if you aren't working the program you will end up using sooner or later. There are lots of options so try them first. There should be a government run alcohol/drug addiction agency listed some where in the phone book. If not just look in the yellow pages under Alcohol Abuse & Addiction treatment. Start calling around and find out what's available.

Basically don't give up until you've tried all your options. There are more than you know about.

And I don't mean to scare any one out of rehab. I'm glad I went even though it was a living hell for me. I do agree I wouldn't be clean today if I wasn't kept away from drugs long enough for my mind to start to clear. But I was in one for 6 months. I think that makes a huge difference. But I wouldn't tell some one to go until they've tried every thing else first. I didn't even know about those other things to give them a try or I would have.

That fits the other saying of, " One is too many and a thousand is never enough!"

Thanks so much to all of you. I'm doing well and will be going to NA and AA. If that doesn't work I will look into rehab. I'm pretty sure I can't be fired for it. It would be considered a medical leave. In my case if it was only a month then they would keep my position.

Okay, just FYI- I have three sisters and one brother. This sister that I am speaking about is the one who is closest to me in the birth order.

My sister R. went to Narcotics Anonymous and also AA and it really helped her. I don't know if she ever went into therapy, but I am thinking perhaps so. Anyway, she's been sober off of both for about 20 years, so it can be done, with a lot of gritting teeth. She is so worth it--really sweet and intinitely intelligent.

My brother also struggled with some addictions and my father and my other sister, the one who lives near me, but she's different, she quit cold turkey without help (which I DO NOT recccomend). Anyway, just wanted you to know that if it is something as simple as quitting smoking, or it is drinking or if it is drugs or whatever, it is possible to stop an addiction. Letting go is one of those things.....I'm codependent and very addicted (dangerously, seriously, don't laught) to coffee and so......I'm having some problems with my digestive system and I'm wondering if maybe the ADHD is not a problem and I need stimulants.) I'm going to the doctor for an overhaul on April 26th./

Ekatepnha - thanks for your input. About ADHD, I take ritalin and it really helps me. I don't drink as much coffee now and I'm alot more focused. It has really helped me with my ADHD.

We all take the journey we need to take. Some do it easier than others. It is good to just start with meetings so you can be sure you can do it without those 35 thousand dollar big books like the Betty Ford Clinic.

I went to a county run place that cost $19 a day and had to wash and clean the place everyday. That was healthy activity I needed.

I just wanted to give you my support. I do not judge you. I have had problems with alcohol in the past, but am not sure I would say I was an alcoholic. I have smoked pot, but was too scared to continue using do to fear of the legal system. Positive sober vibes sent your way ((((HUGS))))

Im sorry to hear that I to just got of a 10 day bingege didnt eat shower take my meds that was rough,shaking like a leaf thought i was gonna die,i try not to drink but sometimes it is so hard..best of luck

I tell you what. Addictions are difficult. I remember when the second child in the family, my brother CCS, had a really bad bout with alcoholism. We had an ice storm where I lived in the northern part of the state. C literally went out with his chain saw and sawed tree limbs and helped clear the roads. He did this as an act of service and to symbolize that he was committed to his fellow man and not to the drink. He has been sober for over 20 years!! He is in AA.

Dad is in AA and has been since I was 6. C has been in AA since 1993 and RS has been in AA and NA since 1990. JB quit all her stuff pretty much cold turkey. Anyway, if you work the programs in AA and NA, you can get better. I have a whole entire family of happy yuppies to prove it. LOL!! :-)

You might have had trouble spelling, but at least you don't repeat the same thing twice! Jeez! I'm tired.