Daily life can be filled with issues and conflict. On top of that there can be other stressors and people can get burned out. It’s no wonder that some individuals can go looking for refuge and end up with unhealthy habits as a form of escape.
Creating a Fantasy World
Ecstasy (MDMA) was created as a result of technological innovations in the field of chemistry. Amphetamines have long been used as appetite suppressants. What should have been merely an easy weight control method, had become a drug popular for its other side effects, such as hallucinations and euphoria. Ecstasy can begin to take the place of real human connection. Individuals who prefer to stay hooked on Ecstasy prefer to stay in their fantasy world, rather than the real world, since it’s easier and they don’t have to deal with any of their problems.
What Happens when Ecstasy Stops Working
While individuals with an Ecstasy addiction can find escape for a few hours at a time, the euphoria is short lived. Any relationships formed due to the drug are not healthy. Isolation becomes a way of life for them. So what next?
Instead of the individuals looking for a new high, they would be better served by asking themselves a few searching questions:
- Why do they continue to run away from their problems instead of facing them?
- What can they do to feel more comfortable in their own skin?
- How can they choose healthy relationships to empower their growth?
- How can they finally leave the fantasy world?
How to Get Back to the Real World
When an individual with an addiction reaches the point where the isolation and the drug produced euphoria are not enough, then they should start taking steps to get back to the real world. Here are three steps to consider:
- Finding Good Role Models
Finding a mentor is a good way to start. Mirroring their behavior can give the individual
with an addiction a tool to deal with their own life.
- Safeguarding Intimacy
All individuals crave relationships with others. But in this situation perhaps it is safer to take some time to heal before resuming relationships or meeting new people. Spending time alone, maybe with a book, would be far more beneficial.
- Asking the Hard Questions
Looking back over life’s choices and why one made the decisions one did at certain points can be cathartic. Doing so leads to learning why bad choices were made and who they affected.
Recovery is hard work but you don’t have to do it alone. Call The Villa to find out how we can support your goals for sober living.