Although it is still common to label drug addicted persons as “bipolar”, the fact remains that the bipolar label is still just that — a label. It’s not a physical illness by legitimate medical standards and there is no physical test, that can be done on a person, which shows a “chemical imbalance” or “bipolar”.
I’ve [...]
Displaying posts written by
Sigal Adini
who has written 15 posts for Sobering Thoughts.
Are Drug Addicts Bipolar?
Drug Addicts Have Rights – and So Do You
Once in a while I get the question: Can the addict check himself out of treatment once they are in? Or are there any programs that don’t allow you to check out once you check in?
When I get that question, I know exactly why it is being asked: The addict has been to three, [...]
Does Your Child Know When to Call 911? Are You SURE?
This week, an amazing story was posted on the LA Times site “A Teen Party, a Mysterious Death — and a Town’s Unanswered Grief.” It really brought home the message that we, as adults, can and often do underestimate what our kids know. For the safety of your children, I highly recommend you read [...]
Marijuana Users’ Rights
Yesterday, an article came out in the Los Angeles Times about the crack down on medical marijuana dispensaries. From my point of view, that’s very good news.
Several months ago, I received a call from a mother who wanted help with her 21 year old son. At that point, he was just starting to use [...]
Cracks in My Psyche
“Well, sometimes I think that when you get high or when you drink – when you alter your consciousness – it weakens you psychically [mentally], like it creates cracks and then bad stuff can seep into those cracks and maybe never go away.”
This quote comes from a scene in the movie, Sunshine Cleaning. As [...]
Helping Others Is Therapeutic
There is something that I learned a long time ago: helping others is therapeutic.
Many of us, and I am not just talking about drug users, tend to focus inward and individuate. It’s not bad to be an individual – in fact you must be yourself first before you can successfully be part of a [...]
Is a Drug User Trying to Die?
ometimes when we look at the actions of the drug or alcohol user we think, “This person is surely trying to kill himself!” I mean, what else could a rational person think when they see that their loved one is doing everything possible to bring on their own demise?
Last week, I spoke to a [...]
Cell Phone Recycling Saves Lives
I cannot think of a better way to protect our environment and help kids learn the truth about drugs at the same time.
Until recently, I had no idea how many used cell phones get thrown out or are retired every year. The numbers are in the millions! How many of us don’t have a [...]
Free or Low Cost Drug Addiction Treatment Close to Home
any of the calls I receive are from persons that are looking for low-cost or free drug rehabilitation or treatment close to home. That is the number one question that I am asked as a referral specialist.
Many times the person calling has already called about five or twenty different places, left messages, sent [...]
Am I or am I not a _____?
his week I met a wonderful blogger who inspired me to write this blog. Her name is Magnolia and she and I have been having a very fascinating conversation about alcoholism and specifically the label “alcoholic”.
I really learned something from this conversation – it was something that I already knew but never really [...]