Being Myself

Welcome Friends,

My name is Sheetal Bidkar & I am a psychologist. I am working with people suffering with substance abuse. In other words; those who are addicted or hooked to alcohol, drugs, gambling etc From last eight years I observe clients, their families, recovering people & therapist involved in this area.

After the completion of Master degree in clinical psychology; I use to think that awareness about the nature of disease, treatment & remedial methods may help many people with chronic mental illnesses. This belief became stronger during two years of M.Phil psychology. As I started working I experience the same.

EYE OPENING INTERVIEW:

During the research work; I came across the relapse patient. A chronic alcoholic & drug addict who was fully aware about his disease, treatment options & remedial therapies.

He said, ‘I know I can stop drugs but the challenge is staying stopped.’

I got surprised that all these things were not helping this young person to recover. He was in need of something more which could help him in staying stopped.

He was introducing himself as an addict; he was talking about all the treatment centres & therapies he underwent etc

I was thinking deep inside that if he is aware about everything then why he is still suffering?

I decided to find out the answer for this. My journey towards understanding the addiction started from that day.  

I started interviewing patients with substance abuse disorder. Every patient gave a different shade of this illness.  I have observed the hopelessness, frustration, and defeat within the recovering people. I have seen the many manipulative features of the disease of addiction. I have heard peoples pain.

My clients were telling more than the books, the journals I studied.

Eventually I started interviewing wives of addicts. I learned lot of issues which were missing in textbooks. Real life experiences made me aware about the families’ sufferings.  I got another opportunity to study the disease of co-dependency. Children of alcoholics reveal the countless queries about the disease of addiction. It was hard to empathize with the children who brought up seeing their parents in addiction. Their emotional world was full with unhealed wounds. Most of them were also hunting for the relief & someone who could allow catharsis. The active listeners who can empathize with their pain, insecurity, guilt, hate rate & shame.

Today, many of my patients were on the path of recovery. They are drug-free. They are enjoying drug-free life. They are helping themselves. At the same time few of them are still struggling with the disease. Sometimes they are away from the obsessive use of chemicals but sometimes they relapse. However, the desire to recover is not enough. I feel each one of them should get equipped for staying stopped.  

Whenever I discharged patient my mind asks me........

Will he be able to stay stopped?

SHEETAL BIDKAR

Psychologist

Addiction Counselling & Rehabilitation centre

NOTE:- I would like share my experience & observations which made me/compelled me studying addiction closely. All that I will express is my view & opinions on different subjects. I request all the visitors to share their view & opinions as well. I will be happy to learn from all my friends & well-wishers. Feel free to share your thoughts on this blog.