Comments on: Low Self-Esteem and Drug Abuse http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2008/04/29/low-self-esteem-and-drug-abuse/ Drug rehab blog from Gatehouse Academy. Gatehouse is a long term drug rehab and alcohol rehab and extended care treatment center for young adults offer the opportunity for young adults age 17-25 to recover from their dependencies. Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:33:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Doug Phillips http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2008/04/29/low-self-esteem-and-drug-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-653 Doug Phillips Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:14:29 +0000 http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2008/04/29/low-self-esteem-and-drug-abuse/#comment-653 I could not agree more with Sandy - especially the aspect of therapeutic SUPPORT as it relates to recovery. I would take it a step further and suggest that therapeutic support is actually authentic relational support that was likely missing in the addicts early life. By focusing on positive relational callings - I am loved, I am worthy, I do not need to be perfect- self esteem is instilled that allows the recovering person to build an authentic identity including all assests and liabilities. Hope all is well!! Doug Phillips MS The Foresight Group I could not agree more with Sandy – especially the aspect of therapeutic SUPPORT as it relates to recovery. I would take it a step further and suggest that therapeutic support is actually authentic relational support that was likely missing in the addicts early life. By focusing on positive relational callings – I am loved, I am worthy, I do not need to be perfect- self esteem is instilled that allows the recovering person to build an authentic identity including all assests and liabilities.

Hope all is well!!

Doug Phillips MS
The Foresight Group

]]> By: Sandy Richardson, MS http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2008/04/29/low-self-esteem-and-drug-abuse/comment-page-1/#comment-378 Sandy Richardson, MS Sat, 03 May 2008 15:34:17 +0000 http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2008/04/29/low-self-esteem-and-drug-abuse/#comment-378 Self esteem is a crucial component of recovery. Many addicts began using substances because they believed that they could never fit in with their peers, or felt unloved or rejected by family members. The 12 Steps of AA offer a blueprint for improved self-esteem; helping us identify and acknowledge our character defects and trust in a higher power to empower us to become the people that we want to be. Therapy is also helpful as we explore how these character defects have functioned as defense mechanisms against pain that we don't know how to handle. Gatehouse Academy is a unique long term program which offers a year to live the 12 Steps with therapeutic support. This coupled with daily opportunities to succeed at life can form the basis of a healthy and sober self-esteem. Self esteem is a crucial component of recovery. Many addicts began using substances because they believed that they could never fit in with their peers, or felt unloved or rejected by family members. The 12 Steps of AA offer a blueprint for improved self-esteem; helping us identify and acknowledge our character defects and trust in a higher power to empower us to become the people that we want to be. Therapy is also helpful as we explore how these character defects have functioned as defense mechanisms against pain that we don’t know how to handle. Gatehouse Academy is a unique long term program which offers a year to live the 12 Steps with therapeutic support. This coupled with daily opportunities to succeed at life can form the basis of a healthy and sober self-esteem.

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