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06/30/2014

Are Addiction Stereotypes Influencing your Denial?

Home › Blog › Are Addiction Stereotypes Influencing your Denial?

The stereotypical image of an addict in many people’s minds is someone who uses drugs or alcohol everyday, looks unhealthy and unkempt and lives in dodgy housing, or possibly on the streets. In fact, less than 10% of all addicts live up to that stereotype. However, due to these typecasts, many addicts stay in hiding – dealing with the disease all alone.

Are Addiction Stereotypes Influencing your Denial

Who is an addict? What does an addict look like? The media fuels many stereotypes that lead us to believe we can answer these questions. Addicts are unemployed, live on the streets and uneducated. They are criminals, prostitutes, and otherwise deviant from mainstream society. They drink every day and take drugs in alleyways or abandoned buildings. They look unkempt, underweight and sickly.

The reality is the majority of addicts don’t fit within these common negative stereotypes. In fact, less than 10% of all alcoholics are the homeless, chronically using and mentally ill men portrayed in movies and media. Most people struggling with addiction have jobs, families, and may not even use every day. They are able to keep up appearances and support their habit without turning to stealing or prostitution. They are women and men of all ages, classes, and ethnicities.

Parents are encouraged to look out for signs of substance abuse such as slipping grades, strange behaviour and symptoms of depression. While it is true these red-flags exist and shouldn’t be ignored, a problem can go unnoticed if the young user is able to keep up with his or her responsibilities.

The gap between stereotypes and reality contributes to the pervasive denial characteristic of addicts and their families. As long as someone is non-violent, employed, keeps up a home and otherwise functions as a productive member of society we find it easier to overlook the possibility of addiction. Denial is a key ingredient in keeping addiction alive and it manifests in many ways over time.

With stereotypes in mind people are able to minimise their behaviour in comparison to what they think an addict really looks like and rationalise decisions based on their external successes.  Friends and family are also sucked into denying their loved one has a problem based on their misconceptions about addiction. As the disease progresses, denial by the addict becomes stronger and loved ones begin to enable addictive behaviour.

The idea that an addict must hit “rock bottom” before they can change is another stereotype prevalent in society that contributes to denial. Often hitting bottom is portrayed as a dramatic event in which an addict has no choice but to face reality as he or she has lost everything. With this storyline in mind addicts and families prolong denial for years and even decades when things don’t ever completely fall apart. The truth is the internal struggle of addiction is present whether one’s life is seemingly all together, or completely out of control. “Hitting rock bottom” looks different for everyone and the outward drama that we might expect is often missing.

So what does an addict look like? An addict looks like a parent, child, co-worker, boss or friend. Asking questions early and gaining knowledge about what addiction really looks like can lead you or your loved ones to seek the help they need. As with any disease the earlier it is detected the better chance one has to overcome it.

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How to tell a child that you are going to rehab for treatment
Blog | Recovery

How to Tell a Child that You are Going to Rehab for Treatment

Once you are able to fully admit to yourself that you have a problem, you have begun on the right path; deciding this takes a lot of conviction, courage, and strength. However, it is common for parents to feel they should not tell their child/children that they have an addiction and are going to rehab...
09/03/2012
Addiction-Recovery-Guide
Infosheet | Recovery

Your Guide to Staying Sober in Addiction Recovery

Abstaining from drugs and alcohol is the cornerstone of addiction recovery, but without making other positive lifestyle changes and following a relapse prevention plan your chances of staying sober in the long-term are slim. The following guide will help you keep on track with your recovery and give you an overview of the things you...
08/12/2015
Australian Women at High Risk for Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol Addiction Treatment | Blog

Australian Women at High Risk for Alcohol Abuse

Part of the problem, according to the experts, is that many drinkers do not know what constitutes a standard drink. Since they can get four (very full) glasses of wine from a single bottle, they assume that a bottle of wine has four servings. In fact, a typical bottle of wine is actually 7 to...
03/31/2014
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  • Home
  • What We Treat
    • Addiction
      • Alcohol Addiction Treatment
      • Drug Addiction Treatment
      • Amphetamine Addiction Treatment
      • Cocaine Addiction Treatment
      • GHB Addiction Treatment
      • Heroin Addiction Treatment
      • Ecstasy Addiction Treatment
      • Marijuana Addiction Treatment
      • Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment
    • Mental Health
      • Anxiety treatment programme
      • Depression treatment programme
      • Co-treating Addiction and Trauma Disorders
      • Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring Disorders
    • Behavioral Addiction
      • Co-Occurring Disordered Eating Treatment
      • Internet Addiction Treatment
      • Rehab for Gambling Addiction Treatment
  • Our Programme
    • Changing Pathways Addiction Programme
      • Physical Therapy
    • The Kintsugi Programme
    • Disordered Eating Programme
    • Continuing Care
    • Recovery House at The Cabin
    • Sunday Excursions
  • About Our Rehab
    • About the Cabin
    • Accommodation and Facilities
    • Gallery
    • The Cabin Group
    • Our Team
    • Client Testimonials
    • In The Press
    • Blogs
  • Admissions
    • Admissions Process
    • How Rehab Works at The Cabin
    • Online assessment
    • FAQ
    • Family Advice
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Referring a Client