FAQs - About Addiction Treatment

What is addiction?

The term "addiction" refers to a strong dependence or habitual use of a substance or practice, despite the negative consequences of its use. This may refer to substance addictions, (e.g. alcohol, illicit or prescription drugs) or behavioural addictions, (e.g. work, food, sex, gambling, relationships, computers, pornography, cutting etc.). An addiction may be harmful to a person's mental, physical and spiritual health, their connections with family and friends, their work life and economic functioning.

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How does The Bay view addiction?

The Bay Approach™ sees destructive patterns of thought and behaviour, such as chemical and other dependencies, as an individual's changeable creative adaptation for survival in the face of life events. Rather than seeing them as embedded for life, The Bay holds the view that these adaptations can change.

We see addiction as a direct response to an unmet spiritual need: A misguided search for inner peace, for connection, for a sense of fulfillment and for a release from pain.

The Bay Approach™ to healing and recovery has been developed in order to meet this spiritual need, utilising the therapeutic pillars of awareness, meditation and connection. We use evidence-based psychological practice, teamed with mindfulness meditation techniques to gently and expertly guide each person towards wholeness.

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What role does therapy play in addictions treatment?

The role of therapy in the treatment of chemical or other dependencies is to explore, uncover and integrate issues underlying the addiction. Addictive behaviours are often used to mask, disguise or avoid the experience of certain feelings such as loneliness, anxiety, depression, pain, trauma and so on. We do not see these issues or the resulting feelings as the original source of addiction, but as indicators that point to deeper, sometimes unconscious, wounds. These feelings become potential triggers for addictive behaviours.

Once these underlying issues are understood and new coping skills are adopted, the opportunity comes to choose alternative, less harmful means of dealing with internal conflict. The aim then, is to effectively resolve unconscious wounds and liberate awareness to make space for a meditative depth, where authentic lasting transformation and healing occur.

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Why are trauma and addictions related?

Dual diagnosis of trauma or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse is common. For survivors of trauma the difficulty in controlling distressing symptoms may lead to attempts to self-regulate with potentially addictive substances. Substance use becomes a coping strategy in the absence of more adaptive skills.

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What is dependency counseling?

At The Bay, our qualified dependency counselors work with you to develop understanding and awareness around the specifics of your dependency. They offer practical information and support around the management of addictive behaviours and the psychophysiology of addiction. Dependency counselors also provide education and tools for relapse risk management.

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What role do natural therapies play in addictions treatment?

The Bay Approach™ works with the whole person - body, mind and spirit. Natural therapies have been developed with centuries of wisdom and are employed at The Bay to ensure your recovery process is as deep, complete, comfortable and enjoyable as possible. These therapies are highly effective at repairing, rejuvenating, nourishing and balancing the body. A range of effective natural therapies such as acupuncture, naturopathy, shiatsu and massage are built into your program at The Bay. There are many other forms of natural and alternative therapies available, each with its own value. If you choose, your clinical team can introduce other modalities into your program as appropriate, such as cranio-sacral balancing, homeopathy, skin cleansing, and so on.

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Do I have to give up drinking (or other substances) for the rest of my life?

At The Bay, we advocate abstinence in the first phase of treatment for all clients, to deeply understand all levels of what is happening for them. If at some point in your treatment, you and your therapist decide that controlled use may be an appropriate path for you, then we will work with you to this end.

We do not see substance misuse or chemical dependency as necessarily a disease and so it may be, that for some people controlled use is possible, and for others perhaps not. It is an individual decision that can be made with support, in an environment that will help you to safely explore your options and discover what is right for you.

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Will I receive medications?

In accordance with our wholistic approach, we will provide additional medications only as necessary. If you are engaged in detoxification, you are likely to be prescribed some temporary medication to support your detox. If you come with medications, our doctors will review these and discuss them with you to assess their relevance to your current needs.

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How do I know if I am an alcoholic?

Evaluating yourself is a healthy starting point for those who are uncertain about the most appropriate treatment for them. There are some very easy and good on-line self-assessment tests. Check out www.alcoholscreening.org for a quick 5 min test.

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Will I have to go to Twelve Step Meetings?

While The Bay addictions program is not based on the Twelve Steps we do recognise the value of the Twelve Step Fellowship. We can include attendance at meetings as part of your program if you choose.

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What is Work Addiction?

Work addiction can be somewhat hidden as material success is highly rewarded in our society, but it can potentially be as life threatening and destructive as chemical addictions. Work addiction can lead to stress, anxiety, relationship dysfunction with long-term effects on children, psychological pain and despair. Ultimately it can lead to severe physical problems such as heart attack.

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What is co-dependency?

Co-dependency is a term that refers to a set of behaviours in which someone exhibits too much and often inappropriate caring for another person's struggles. For some, these behaviours can become quite extreme and cause upheaval and pain in significant relationships. Family members and significant others learn these behaviours to survive in an emotionally painful and stressful environment. They are often passed on from generation to generation whether an addiction is present or not.

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What is wholistic care and how does it fit in to recovery?

Wholistic care at The Bay refers to a treatment approach that addresses the whole person - mind, body and soul. This may include traditional and alternative medicine and therapy such as acupuncture, naturopathy, nutrition, shiatsu, massage, cranio-sacral therapy, meditation, chi kung, yoga, psychotherapy, art therapy, hypnotherapy and so on. Part of a wholistic approach to recovery includes being in nature. Finding a safe, serene and natural environment can refresh the soul and provide the opportunity to pursue whatever form of spirituality moves you.

Wholistic approaches to addiction and alcoholism can be of great assistance throughout the stages of recovery. From detox, to stress reduction and improving mental and physical well being, wholistic approaches play a vital role in regaining personal balance.

For the recovering addict, The Bay's wholistic care offers a comprehensive approach alongside a professional, medically oriented treatment plan and can be effective well beyond the initial recovery phase.

Recent scientific studies concerning a wide variety of life challenges, have demonstrated dramatically improved success rates with the addition of wholistic treatment approaches.

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Why is massage included in my program?

Massage therapy releases endorphins that counteract depression, anxiety and cravings. It provides emotional and physical balance: increasing wellbeing, decreasing stress symptoms and improving energy levels. Massage enhances immunity by stimulating lymphatic flow and circulation, this enables the body to more quickly and efficiently eliminate toxins.

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Why is naturopathy included in my program?

In naturopathy, each person is seen as an individual in the approach to management, treatment, support and health. Naturopathy is effective when working with detoxifying and cleansing the body. A combination of many modalities, including nutrition, herbal medicine, exercise and supplementation will be part of the naturopathy program, designed to support you during each stage of your treatment and ultimately assisting you in developing your own practical understanding of good health and well being.

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