News & References

Information about addiction

Addiction is a disease that affects a significant portion of the world's population. In South Africa and abroad, millions of people struggle with alcoholism, drug addiction, various other types of dependencies and eating disorders. Oasis Centre in Plettenberg Bay provides a safe place for addicts to find recovery, and has become one of the leading drug treatment faciltlies in South Africa.

The information and news below helps to enlighten individuals about the disease of addiction, and provides useful insight into addiction treatment and rehabilitation. Contact Oasis Centre in Plettenberg Bay to find out more about our drug treatment facility, or for more information about alcohol and drug addiction, dependencies, eating disorders and dysfunctional behaviours.

Pride could so very easily have turned me into one of those 'unfortunates,' incapable of self honesty. Without honesty a man or woman, in my opinion, has very little chance of sustained sobriety in relation to the Oasis 12 Step recovery programme, or for that matter, similar programs anywhere else.

It is constantly a source of cringing to me, just how disagreeable a person I was when I started this journey; and honestly that is putting it very mildly indeed. I know this as some of the people I began my awakening with are now close friends.

Perhaps the greatest joke of my recovery to date is that what I thought to be pride, was in reality a delusion; an elaborate mask; a complex system of defences tailored in their creation to keep any and all people at a substantial distance from my deepest fears and worries. Scarily, I had no idea at all what I was doing.

For my first seven weeks at Oasis I dreaded the toll of the bell that announced the imminence of group therapy. Almost every day I was in the 'hot seat.' Sitting in a circle among equals and counsellors I did battle on almost a daily basis. Having one's defects pointed out, not always in the most pleasant of terms, made me squirm. It made me fight. For sure, the chair got hot. I became a cornered leopard with a tongue of pure venom. I would deflect feedback wherever possible; hurt my peers in whatever ways I needed to, all to make them get off my back. It became a game of hurt and avoidance. I would look at people and work out what would hurt them. It is important for me to say that I did at the time really like some of these people. I would have done anything necessary in order for my naked fear not to be exposed.

Picture this: You are sitting in a circle in a fairly sterile-type of room. One of your peers begins the group 'discussion' by announcing to all present in what ways they consider you to be a brat. Another peer chimes in and announces that he is scared of you. Another will say that you are a rotten orange in a bag, infecting and destroying the others by proxy.

That very situation was sprung on me. Well, actually I created the whole sorry episode. In fighting the entire process, I began to feel fear unlike fear I have ever felt before. My peers were trying to disarm my defences. If they succeeded they would discover what lay beneath, and how could anyone possibly like me then?

After seven weeks of bone weary battling I raised a white flag. I had fought my fight. I could not lie to myself for another day; could not delude myself into saying that I did not care for anyone or anything any longer. I really did care that people I really liked thought I was rotten. I did not want to be lonely any longer. In not changing I was repeating the behaviour that was continuing to make my life hell. I was a fool for expecting anything but the same result.

I try to do things differently on a daily basis. It is not easy, but it certainly is less tiring. I do not hurt people nearly as much as I did, and certainly not in the same way. I truly regret that it took me so long to wake up. I could never have said that I was preparing to change or even that I wanted to. I guess much like someone finding some faith for the first time, it just felt right. I continue to have revelations on a weekly basis, none of which I would have if it were not for my peers and the magic of the hot seat.

To find out more about the philosophy upheld by the addiction recovery counsellors at Oasis, contact Oasis Counselling Centre in Plettenberg Bay today.