ADDICTION IS THE ISSUE “Addiction is something which many are challenged by, and it may not always have anything to do with using a substance,” Sands says. “Unfortunately, these behaviors are carried over to include substances, which make the behaviors even more dif cult to change.” Additionally, as Dr. Glasser would put it, every human is driven by the same basic needs, and if these needs are not satis ed, the person experiences a perceptual error. This perceptual error can lead to a number of daily challenges. “What used to be pleasurable now has become painful, and to get rid of the pain becomes that person’s objective,” Sands explained. “This is when use of a substance evolves into dependence and the pain of continued use creates a perceptual error.” Additionally, addiction challenges the individual’s physical, mental and spiritual health and until these The rst and most important ingredient for a person to change is their personal desire to want to change, Sands says. In treating addiction, “there is no such thing as 'one size ts all,' because treatment should always be tailored to each individual's needs, culture and ability to interpret the information.” Sands is in the process of completing an accredited course in hypnosis, to add to his repertoire of approaches to help those who don't respond to traditional therapeutic methods. ABA Health Services is a comprehensive provider of both mental health care and addiction treatment. For consumers who have co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse issues, treating the addiction is essential. An addiction can only be changed by teaching the individual to change their thinking and behavior, and reframe their belief system; the life of that person can be dramatically altered and positively redirected, Sands says. Psychologically, much of the addiction consumer’s thinking stems from struggling with low self-esteem, Sands says. “For certain ethnic groups, this becomes a more pronounced issue. To have an addiction problem only adds to their frustrations in life. To recover from these challenges, the consumer must be able to see the value in living differently.” are brought back in line, the individual's “perceptual error” grows even larger.
ABA's substance abuse treatment component has shown its effectiveness in helping consumers develop more effective lifestyles and establish relapse prevention plans, Sands says. Another bene t for those who successfully complete addiction treatment – and those around them – is that “most develop the need to radiate this positive new lifestyle and feeling to others. “This is what we are working toward at ABA Health Services: showing people a more effective way to live.”
”MOST DEVELOP THE NEED TO RADIATE THIS POSITIVE, NEW LIFESTYLE AND FEELING TO OTHERS.” – Clay Sands
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