THE ROAD MORE TRAVELLED

I got a call from a woman tonight. At first I thought that I knew her from somewhere but she quickly identified herself as a person that was simply searching for some help.

I won`t mention her name in order to respect her confidentiality. This woman was my age however, lived and worked near bye me, and suffered from an issue that I am very familiar with.

She said that she felt hopeless. She was married for 15 years. She had some issues with substance abuse and finally went to treatment in Toronto. Upon her finishing the Program, she returned home with high hopes only for her husband to leave her.

Now, she has fallen back into her cycle of addiction again. She drank last night, she feels awful at work today. She feels guilty and hopeless. She wonders what options are out there for her.

I gave her some ideas of action that I hope will help and we are meeting for a coffee next week. I also told her that she could phone me at anytime of the day or night. This is the real support that I think people really need.

The truth is that at some point physically she past the point of no return. She was now physically addicted to this substance. Obviously emotionally there are core issues that need to be examined and realistically she needs to figure out how to forgive herself, love herself and move on.

Easier said than done. She knows what she needs to do, but can`t seem to embrace herself enough. Embracing a concept and actually taking the appropriate actions are not one in the same.

I don`t really have to say that most people use many coping methods to get through the pressure and daily disappointments of daily existence. Some unfortunately are more deadly and counterproductive than others.

Nobody starts out by saying , I want to be an asshole, I want to be a glutton, I want to ruin my friendships, I want to have anonymous sexual encounters and I want to lose my self esteem. It just happens to some people. Not to all, but to some.

Because of various psycho-social reasons and genetics, some people are more susceptible to these issues. Their coping mechanisms become the reason they need to have coping mechanisms.

There are solutions however and the general public need to know that they have nothing to do with will power. Will power is not the solution. It is a small component.

Cleaning up the wreckage of your past,self honesty, goal setting, nutrition, personal responsibility and spirituality are the most important elements that need to be addressed.

I humbly am very happy to play some part in anybody`s recovery from the diseases that are the epidemics of our day.

I hope I am gifted enough and compassionate enough to channel the right information and affection necessary to do some good.

In terms of the woman that called me tonight. I hope she calls me soon and whenever she is facing a tough moment.

Then there is the healing power of humour and laughter. I absolutely do not take myself too seriously and I think that is also a powerful message.

You matter, you need to change, however the world doesn`t revolve around you and your denials. That is not really that funny actually.......OR MAYBE IT CAN BE.