August-
the month from whence a slew of festivals begin in India from Raksha
Bandhan, Onam, Ganesh festival , Dussehra, Diwali, Eid, Christmas
etc.
India
is a melting pot of cultures- however, one culture that seems to be
alarmingly on the rise is that of popping the cork for every
celebration pan socio- economic groups and cultures.
Where
there is alcohol there is alcoholism, where there are drugs there is
drug addiction. It is the addictive personality of the individual
that leads to indulgence in substances to the extent that they get
addicted to it. Then ,it is the substance that takes control over the
personality and every physical and psychological action of the
individual ; at the same time maintaining the illusion that it can be
controlled by the individual. It makes the person think, act and
behave like a person afflicted by a mental ailment. As a consequence
, most times they are mis diagnosed with having psychiatric ailments
like Bi polar disorder, psychosis or schizophrenia etc. This mis
diagnosis results in the person being medicated wrongly in the name
of addiction treatment , a label is applied and the person is
discriminated and ostracized by family and society as being mentally
unstable - hence ,often treated as a non entity .The person afflicted
is thus stripped of all shreds and semblances of dignity.
The
cries for help go un - recognized . The person who drinks and uses
and falls in a stupor on the road or in his plush bed or lashes out
is also trying to control his usage. He is no longer able to use the
way he wants to and it is only to keep away pain . Unlike other
chronic ailments that evoke sympathy and compassion in people , this
ailment evokes disgust, hatred and fear due to lack of awareness and
lack of the desire to invest the time and effort to enable these
suffering individuals to turn around their lives and get beyond their
addictions. Resultantly, they become victims of being picked up like
animals and dumped in involuntary facilities where they are heavily
medicated , labelled as being psychiatrically unstable and do not see
the light of freedom for months or even years. Is this actual
treatment or is it “treatment” to allay the fears and anxiety of
the family who also require as much therapy? The treatment in such
facilities meted out to those afflicted by dependency on substances
is many times inhuman and animalistic as evidenced by articles in
newspapers , the latest being wherein in one center, the patients
were hung upside down as “ treatment” .
Those
afflicted are extremely intelligent, socially manipulative and are
unable to deal with and manage their emotions. It is this last trait
that results in repeated indulgence in usage under the illusion of
the temporary relief from emotional pain.
In
reality, they require an environment that is loving, non judgmental [
they judge and demean themselves worse than anyone one else can] ,
accepting and compassionate. This is a space where they can be
themselves without fear or shame- for, these are the only
circumstances where they can accept themselves, begin loving
themselves , at the same time taking responsibility for their lives
and learn to enjoy living and reach a stage within themselves of not
finding the need to use substances. This enables them to own their
dignity.
Such
an ambience is provided by us at Anatta and we have found through our
experience that this is the only crucible in which real change can
take birth and grow.
So
let us welcome and celebrate this festive season with love and
compassion towards ourselves first and our fellow beings.
