As we begin 2016 many of us are keen to make some positive changes in our lives. Here one of our support workers talks about the complexities surrounding change, and why it’s not an easy process for the people we support.
‘Now that the festivities and celebrations are over and the New Year has arrived, there is still one classic tradition to consider; your New Year resolutions. Now is the time, again, for a clean sweep and detox. Perhaps, to eat healthier, lose weight, get fit, stop smoking, drink less ? All wonderful goals but already I want to throw the towel in just thinking about them because I’m getting a strong sense of déjà vu.
New Year resolutions often go in one year and out the other. Most of us will start out resolute and end up frustrated and back to square one in no time at all. In view of past failures, many of us will simply decide to give up making any resolutions ever again. It seems the status quo is just too hard to break, but why? We are led to believe that it is easy and straight forward to make change and yet those failed New Year resolutions keep piling up. What about will power and the ability to be self disciplined, to resist the temptations that are everywhere? Well it seems that each of us only has a finite supply of will power and it can be very quickly depleted when we draw on it. We can only go so far before we need to take a break or risk lapsing back into our old ways.
So what do you do when the need for detoxification is not simply a fleeting notion of self improvement but a matter of life and death? This is the situation for many homeless people. Someone can end up on the streets for a whole range of reasons and one of the most insidious reasons is addiction. Individuals can become addicted despite their best intentions or strength of character. It can often happen as a result of self medicating with drugs and or alcohol, as an attempt to deal with early trauma and abuse. Addiction can alter people’s brains and greatly diminish their impulse control. It can induce intense cravings, in the face of which, will power alone is rarely sufficient. It is no longer a matter of choice but a necessity.
Inevitably, over the years people will develop significant and serious health issues, often life threatening. The physical symptoms of withdrawal can include, chronic sweating, uncontrollable tremors, seizures, painful cramps, hallucinations, nausea, diarrhoea all of which can test the strongest person. Most people I meet on the streets desperately want to regain control but can be overwhelmed by their circumstances. Every difficulty or obstacle is magnified ten times over when living on the streets. Moreover, many will try and avoid addressing their addiction because of the powerful and unwelcome emotions it can cause to come surging back. In view of this can you imagine how difficult it must be for anyone on the streets to even start considering these deeply rooted addictions?
There is such a huge contrast between the effort required to keep a New Year resolution and that needed to deal with addiction. There is the constant pressure and physical distress that never leaves someone who is dependent and trying to move in a different direction. The incredible levels of endurance and resilience that are needed to deal with the ever present fear and pain. The overwhelming sense of dread which is all consuming and causes panic and desperation. The immense feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness.
In contrast most New Year resolutions are light weight and yet within the first six weeks the majority of these resolutions will have been broken and people will have lapsed back into their old habits, often accompanied by a sense of resignation and relief. Normal life re-asserts itself and we soon forget our failures. After all we are only imperfect humans trying our best and we let ourselves off lightly. As such, perhaps we could spare a thought for those who are still in the relentless fight, whose struggle is a lot tougher and from which any release is difficult to achieve. Let’s resolve to use the same forgiving perspective we allow for ourselves when we fail in our resolutions, to those battling addictions.’