Denial can be a powerful force in alcoholism and drug addiction. Often alcoholics and drug addicts feel they need to lie to others because they cannot face the truth about their situations themselves. Alcoholics Anonymous says that it is important that a person be rigorously honest with themselves. Alcoholics Anonymous also says that there are some who may be “constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves.” I have only come across a few people in my many years of working with alcoholics and addicts in addiction treatment who I actually felt were constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. Their level of denial is so extreme, so ingrained into their being, that it is virtually impossible for them to see the reality of their situation. These people usually end up relapsing shortly after getting sober and often die from alcoholism and drug addiction. What appears to happen with these people is that they have lied to others and particularly themselves for so long that they have begun to believe their own lies. As they began to believe their own lies, their true self (i.e., the part of themselves that knew who they are and what they are), or their soul, becomes worn so thin that it is almost impossible for them to face the truth about themselves without a complete mental breakdown. When people get to this stage of their alcoholism and drug addiction, there is no hope for them at all, except help come from God.
Author
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Paul Alexander is the CEO, President & Founder of Northbound Treatment Network in Newport Beach, California. He believes wholeheartedly in transformational leadership, organizational health and effective, fully integrated substance use disorder and mental health treatment. With over 27 years of experience in behavioral healthcare, Paul has extensive knowledge of “in vivo” treatment modalities, clinical development, operations, strategy, marketing and financial planning. He has been widely recognized for his development of collegiate-based residential treatment programs for students in recovery and authored a research study at The University of California confirming this modality’s effectiveness.
Paul’s comprehensive professional experience, willingness to innovate, and emphasis on organizational health are vital factors in Northbound’s continued success. Paul received his Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist training at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA, and was awarded Outstanding Alumni Service Award in 2002. Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology, Law and Society, Summa Cum Laude, from University of California, Irvine, and a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles. Paul currently serves on The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) board. In addition, he serves on The Family Recovery Foundation board and The CarePossible board in Orange County; both organizations are committed to raising funds for family recovery and treatment for former military personnel. Paul is in recovery himself and lives in Orange County with his wife Silvana and his two young sons, Noah and Dean.
