Finding Hope in Recovery from Addiction
Online, October 27, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Statistics show that nearly half of those individuals suffering from substance abuse have been in treatment up to 5 times before. Jose Gomez, a local substance abuse counselor, says that this is largely because recovering individuals find that life becomes too difficult to manage once they are outside a controlled therapeutic environment. Gomez says that most individuals who relapse feel like they need a break or a well-deserved escape. The problem becomes worse when they feel guilty about their substance use, when such guilt should be taken as an indicator that the individual is trying to make positive change.
Gomez maintains that clients can make progress in their recovery if they learn to capitalize on the relapse experience. He reminds recovering individuals that recovery is a life-long process that is actually part of the individual's life experience as a whole, which includes making mistakes. The key is to be in a state of constant development. Gomez says that if clients learn to look at life with a broader focus, they will realize that setbacks are only one part of the much broader picture that is life.
Gomez says that the wellness approach is critical to recovery because it helps clients broaden their focus by learning to balance their physical, intellectual, spiritual, social, environmental, and emotional needs. Gomez says addiction develops when one of these areas takes precedence over all the others. "We can become addicted to anything," says Gomez, "whether its relationships, work, or substances, which makes it difficult to readjust our sights and broaden our focus to consider the importance of all the other areas in our lives. Recovery, and indeed, life itself, becomes a more rewarding experience when one learns the importance of balancing all the factors that comprise wellness."
Gomez holds a Bachelor of Arts in the Social Sciences and has completed a graduate level course of study in community counseling, psychology, and addictions counseling. In addition to individual and group substance abuse therapy, he also conducts substance abuse evaluations for those seeking driver's license restoration.