The blog is updating a little late this week because of the holiday. I hope that you all had wonderful Thanksgivings, and that you got the opportunity to spend time with your families and think about the things in life you’re thankful for. Though eating and shopping have become large traditional parts of this weekend, it’s always worthwhile to stop and reflect on what we are grateful for in our lives.
It’s always difficult to feel thankful when you’re suffering from a long-term illness, and the disease of addiction has a uniquely destructive effect on the lives of those it afflicts. The behavioral and psychological aspects of the disease often lead to broken families, as theft, lies, and betrayal take their toll on relationships with parents, spouses, and children. The financial drain of drugs and treatment can prevent addiction patients from being able to provide a large Thanksgiving feast. It’s a long, hard road to emerge from this disease, and it’s difficult at any point to feel particularly thankful for the troubles it brings.
But there are still reasons to be grateful. We now live in one of the few decades in history where an effective treatment for addiction is generally available. That treatment is not a cure, and it is not as widely available as I would like, but there is more hope of a normal life for addicted patients than there has ever been before. With more understanding of and education about this disease, the family members of addicted patients can learn to help their suffering loved ones and make treatment easier. And it is my sincere hope that understanding and treatment will only continue to improve.
Thanksgiving is now over, but I think it is worthwhile to remember what we have to be thankful for every day of the year. I am thankful for the ability to help my patients, and I will continue to reflect on that opportunity on Monday. Until then, I wish you all happy holidays.