Addiction Therapies

Addiction Therapies and Counselling

http://healaddiction.blogspot.co.uk/

Ibogaine

I believe that in spite of still having so many questions, I have actually found some of the answers. The most hopeful treatment for all additions (as I write) is a hallucinogen called Ibogaine (see links) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibogaine and http://www.ibogaine.org/ but it is still undergoing medical trials in the USA. There are potentially many other psychiatric conditions for which this therapy could prove effective. It is theorised that depression and addiction are controlled by the same neural mechanisms in the brain's limbic system. Ibogaine or perhaps a derivative could also be useful for other types of depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive compulsive disorders [OCD]. See what David Graham Scott says about his experience: http://davidgrahamscott.wordpress.com/ and watch his video Detox Or Die.  http://vimeo.com/25291673  

However, in spite of thousands of successfully treated ex-addicts leaving the clinics in Mexico [the only place it is legal to use it] to date there are still no Ibogaine trials planned for the UK. For now British patients would need to go abroad. This treatment was discovered in the 1960s. However, after taking out several patents to prevent others from researching or promoting it, the finder failed to develop it himself while thousands more people continue to die unnecessarily. One problem is safety, on account of the fact that out of hundreds possibly thousands since the 1970s who have taken Ibogaine about 12 who had undiagnosed heart conditions died.

The patents have been expired since 2000, and there have been plans for research in Miami in Florida, for several years. There seems to be one delay after another and it is all moving much too slowly. I believe that the main problem is that in spite of how much addiction (not to mention depression) is costing governments globally, there are too many powerful people making far too much money out of it for research into curing it to be allowed to progress unhindered. Governments also need to consider how many jobs would be lost in pharmaceutical industries combined with the increased demand for jobs if large numbers of psychiatric patients suddenly became fit to work again.

However effective Ibogaine is people still need counselling or therapy to bring them to the point where they are ready to stop. Although in recent years, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has replaced Gestalt Therapy, there are many reasons why Gestalt Therapy is particularly useful for healing addiction because it can be used to change perceptions about responsibility, and encourages honesty with ourselves and others.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestalt_therapy

http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=7IsC1gX6Pv4C&oi=fnd&pg=PA328&dq=gestalt+therapy&ots=EO74okuuyX&sig=OZ8EeQrHo03VSGg3pMMn8Ah78ag#v=onepage&q=gestalt%20therapy&f=false

http://www.gestalt.org/yontef.htm

Gestalt therapy is an existential approach that was first presented by Fritz Perls but the majority of modern therapists have switched to CBT, which has been very successful for many psychological conditions.

http://data.psych.udel.edu/abelcher/Shared%20Documents/5%20Psychotherapy%20and%20Preventive%20Intervention%20(42)/Butler,%202006.pdf

The problem with most therapies is that the patient needs a therapist or counsellor for the therapy to work. The problem is that few addicts seek counselling or even accept it when it is offered, but I have never heard of anyone who regretted their experiences of counselling. A better solution for some might be meditation or self-hypnosis, both of which can be learned relatively easily, although this might require at least one trip to a professional in addition to reading about it. Therapy is especially useful when addiction is combined other conditions like depression, or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is frequently the case. Addiction is seldom an addicts only psychological problem but it is often the only one acknowledged or treated.