Sometimes a difficulty when seeking help is what we want is not essentially what we need, and what we really need is not what we want. The following are seven reasons why many persons seek treatment, some reasons relatively good while some certainly upon consideration need a reevaluation.

1. A facility with a nice swimming pool or tennis court etc, a recreational and semi-vacation like setting.

2. Exercise programs and vitamin supplements with better overall nutrition.

3. Freedom and limited structure and even maybe a girlfriend/boyfriend, or just a social environment to “chill with interesting people”.

4. Lots of rules and discipline with a highly supervised environment, to be protected from “out there.”

5. Better self-management, budgeting of finances, assertiveness, decision making, problem solving skills and better use of time. Learning to be “responsible”.

6. Get the family, friends, law, etc “off my back.” Or better to get life back in order, and stop all these consequences.

7. To change the underlying personality to be more ethical and spiritual, with a sense of purpose, inner peace and serenity. To find an entirely new way of life.

We strongly feel that personality change and spiritual growth is indispensable. Inner commitment to this truth even supersedes the importance of any outward structure, as even in a very strict and controlled environment people may externally “behave”, but not change internally in any significant way. Buildings and aesthetic vacation-like settings are nice but contribute almost nothing to an individual’s personal growth. Health measures are also important practices but won’t keep anyone clean, so it is not really the main focus in addiction treatment. Seeking stimulating forms of socialization and finding acceptance feel good but are temporary and upon study still superficial. Removing the outer consequences or providing a safe haven is only a temporary answer, as anyone who has experience in trying to stay clean will profess. Thus permanent recovery with happiness can only be accomplished through an “inner” spiritual program, which number “seven” above testifies to. We need a whole new life, not just an improvement of the old.

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