Transitioning back to work after addiction treatment is a challenging and daunting process. You may feel like a completely different person. You may wonder how your co-workers will respond to you. You may feel isolated and alone.

However, returning to work is one of the most important steps you can take in your recovery. A job will focus your energy and attention on productive uses, lessening your risk of relapse. Work will also introduce you to more people, who may become instrumental in providing you with the support and friendship you need.

Follow these tips as you transition back to the workplace to ensure the greatest level of success.

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anais Nin

Today is the day. Tuesday, October 11, 2011. I want to remember this day forever.

The day I decided to stop drinking.

The sunrise was beautiful this morning. Possibly the best one I’ve ever seen. Pink and blue hues in the sky sprayed with just the right amount of clouds, the brilliant orange sun barely peeking over the fall trees, as if uncertain of making its appearance.
There are knots in my stomach. I can’t breathe (allergies). I am on my period.

I am incredibly exhausted from being awake all night, tossing and turning and trying to banish the unwanted thoughts that kept racing through my head, taking up space where happy memories should be.

As an organisation, the British Association of Anger Management has counselled many people when anger has been affecting their lives.

When working with individuals who have had addiction in their lives, we have found that, after the initial rehabilitation process, feelings and emotions come to the surface. If left unaddressed they have the potential to affect lives in unhealthy ways.

One of the strongest of these feelings is anger. In principle this is a neutral feeling but how we express it makes it healthy or unhealthy. Unhealthy anger can be expressed passively by being internalised or externally through aggression.

In our experience there are two main triggers of anger in rehabilitating addicts. These are

Most people have heard the words “monkey on my back” used as a term for defining addiction. Personally, I find the word “addiction” too soft a word to describe the monster every addict or alcoholic battles in daily life. It’s too clinical, too sterile, and just doesn’t pack the same punch as the monkey analogy.

As a hardcore alcoholic for more than half my life, I learned a few things about the monkey. First, he never knows when to keep his mouth shut. It’s not that he’s loud. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The monkey prefers to whisper, at least during the early stages of addiction. Day in, day out, he whispers in the addict’s ear, reminding the addict that it’s time to party. He whispers because he doesn’t want others to hear him. “They don’t understand you the way I do”, he whispers. “I’m your only true friend. It’s you and me, brother. Besides, it’s nobody’s business but our own.”

The monkey is also persistent. He never, ever leaves the addict’s side. He’s always there to remind the addict that one drink or one puff never hurt anyone. Sure, he makes himself a little scarce when trouble arrives, but he’s always watching from behind the scenes while the addict works things out. The monkey never leaves for long because

As a recovering alcoholic, married to a recovering alcoholic, also the daughter of alcoholics I don’t believe that alcoholism/addiction can be cured alone. We all need help especially with issues relating to denial.

Growing up surrounded by alcoholics and drug addicts meant that my teenage years were plagued with unmanageability and chaos. The abnormal became the normal and drinking, drug taking and violence was an everyday occurrence.

Once I became a mother myself something within me changed and I had a moment of clarity. I knew I wanted a better childhood for my children than I had myself. This new way of thinking for me was only the start. I tried to stop drinking by myself only managing a few days until I thought maybe just a few drinks at the weekend would be fine. Once the weekend came and the drinks began then I could not stop again I had set off the craving which then began the whole vicious cycle again. I had a few more failed attempts at doing it alone and began to lose hope.

My father and my husband had been working a 12 step programme so I decided I should try it also. Life slowly became less unmanageable and a lot more serene. With the help of other recovering alcoholics I managed to abstain from alcohol and have done so for nearly six years now. I am positive that I would not have been able to do this by myself as my own and my family’s failed attempts in the past to do it alone is all the proof I needed.

I continue to look to other alcoholics for support and guidance as again I have seen other alcoholics who think they no longer need help and can do it alone have relapsed and very quickly sank back into a life of unmanageability.

My life has turned around since I found recovery. I am now working with an addiction agency, undergoing a degree at my local University and leading a happy life. I am encouraged when my friends now tell me that it gets better ….

I am impressed with the work of Addictions UK and wish them well in their work.

What plans do the Home Office and other important Departments of State like Health and Work and Pensions have to ensure the active involvement of the Private Sector in the implementation of its policy?

The reasons for our questions stem from the fact that there is little if any, involvement of private sector organisations in the regional and local bodies charged with overseeing your strategy and policy. The Government is running down or closing the RDA, the PCTs and the Regional Health Authorities and it is anticipated that the remaining public sector agencies, joined, possibly, by selected third sector agencies will be “running the show” alone. Bearing in mind that the Government’s drug and alcohol policies will, surely, rely on the private sector to create jobs, to influence sales of alcohol, to provide services and to direct both current and future trends, can this be right? The active involvement of the private sector in local partnerships is going to be essential to its successful delivery and future success.

Addictions UK have been disappointed with the attitude of the various Drug and Alcohol Public Sector Agencies over the last several years with those such as the Drug and Alcohol Teams (DAATs) excluding us completely in spite of our being able to demonstrate innovative and effective treatment as a home-based Addictions Treatment Agency – the leader in its field in the UK. Our Agency is consistently getting high success rates and our costs are well below that of other agencies. We have proved that we can reach clients that cannot be reached by traditional means.

Home alcohol detox programmes are highly beneficial for those who require a detox programme for alcohol related issues, but are unable to enter a residential treatment programme. There are many reasons why for some people, residential treatment is not suitable for them. The advantage of a home alcohol detox programme is that you need not have to leave your home to enter a stay at a rehab clinic, allowing you to get the immediate treatment you need without having to step a foot out of your door.

Some people are unable to get the time off work or have family commitments which means they are unable to enter a residential programme. The benefit of an home alcohol detox programme is that you can stay in the familiar surroundings of your home and can get treatment without having to let family or work colleagues know your circumstances. A home alcohol detox plan will always be carried out discreetly and safely.

After an initial assessment to see if you are suitable to a home alcohol detox programme and are successful, you will be prescribed medication that will help you to detox from alcohol safely and comfortably. Your home alcohol detox plan will be supervised by our expert team of medical staff. We highly recommend that you never attempt to detox from alcohol on your own without medical supervision. The withdrawal symptoms for some people can be very unpleasant and in some cases, even fatal. Some of the side effects can include vomiting, hallucinations, shakes and fits.

Al-Anon Groups help the friends and families anonymously – they work in the same way as Alcoholics Anonymous. They do not offer advice but do share strength hope and experience amongst their members.

Al-Anon Family Groups provide support to anyone whose life is, or has been, affected by someone else’s drinking. Al-Anon (the sister organisation of Alcoholics Anonymous) believe alcoholism affects the whole family, not just the drinker. They are an international organisation with over 800 support groups in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Al-Anon is a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience in order to solve their common problems.

Addictions UK suggests to family members and friends of alcoholics that they might well gain help and assistance from this organisation.  It is not for all – but many people find support and fellowship here.  There are meetings throughout England Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland.

Al-Anon’s Confidential Helpline:
Tel: 020 7403 0888
Fax: 020 7378 9910
Al-Anon is available 10 am – 10 pm, 365 days a year

Al-Anon can also be contacted at: enquiries@al-anonuk.org.uk

For meetings in the United Kingdom or throughout the world Al-non have provided some excellent links on their website.
Click here for Al-Anon Family Groups Meetings in the UK

Al-Anon Family Groups hold regular meetings where members share their own experience of living with alcoholism. Al-Anon does not offer advice or counselling, but members give each other understanding, strength and hope.

For the Addictions UK 24/7 carers helpline:
Tel: 0845 4567 030.

I cannot express how important it is to find an agency that can do home detox for alcohol safely and that has treatment attached to it. For years I have had loads of medication – but never linked with treatment. Addictions UK provided me with a doctor and nursing care quickly and efficiently and sorted out treatment the next day.

In the addictions UK web page AUK printed the following:

The Benefits of our Home-based Detox

• Prompt: Our appointed doctor can normally visit you within two working days at a time that suits you both. In some parts of the UK it may take a day or two more to fit in your appointment.
• Healthy: The doctor will examine you and, whenever appropriate, will prescribe medicines to help your body adjust to being without alcohol or drugs. This treatment avoids the sudden changes which can bring on seizures or fits and will help you avoid the discomfort and anxiety of “cold turkey” reactions. Your system will steadily re-balance as the medication is gradually reduced but, at the start, you will be given a strong sedative and something to help you sleep.
• Convenient: Unlike signing in for treatment in a clinic which isolates you from your normal pattern of life; home-based treatment allows you to carry on with many of your regular activities.
• Affordable: The cost of residential treatment is obviously much higher than living at home through your detox. Even if you require additional support at home, the expense will be less than similar treatment services as a resident.
• Discreet: You may worry about the possible effect on your career by going away for treatment; you may fear what might happen to your family or social life. Being treated in your home ensures confidentiality. It may not be necessary even to inform your GP.
• Supported: Following the initial prescribing consultation, you will receive visits from a nurse. Our 24/7 helpline will deal with any urgent questions you may have and with any complications you need to report. You will also need help from a skilled therapist to help you remain free from addiction. Our programme includes the first month of ongoing support treatment which you will need to help you avoid addiction in future.
• On-going: We have a range of coaching services which can also continue to support you and, where appropriate, your family and friends, including through our 24/7 helpline.

After Home-based Detox

Detox is not a cure! It is the start of a progress toward continuing recovery, focussed on avoiding the first drink or drug use which brings renewed addiction. With that aim we offer:

• Daily Home-based Recovery Therapy using the telephone or other customised arrangements that can be reduced in frequency as recovery progresses.
• Weekly Relapse Prevention and Extended Care through customised one-to-one sessions (the frequency may be increased).

This is all good stuff! I recommend it to others in my position.

Most of the time, Intervention is something that a family considers only when a crisis occurs. Our loved one ends up in jail, overdoses, or causes major wreckage and THEN the family decides that it is time to do an intervention. An addiction intervention is a carefully controlled process where a trained professional sets up a meeting to mediate a controlled confrontation with the addict. The direct result of this meeting is that the addict immediately enters treatment.

Families often try to facilitate this process themselves and it turns into a screaming match where everyone feels attacked and it ends up causing more damage the family system. Another problem with families doing an intervention themselves is that